Category Archives: Holidays

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Ep. 81: Hostage Rescues and Ransoms in Jewish History and Law

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The Jewish people are at war. Our brethren in Israel are in midst of a fierce war in Gaza against the terrorist organization Hamas. The objectives of the campaign are the complete elimination of Hamas leadership and infrastructure, and the safe return of the more than 200 hostages captured by the terrorists on the brutal attacks of October 7th, 2023. Ever since the war began, one soldier was rescued, four hostages were returned, and two hostages were found dead in Gaza. As of the time of this recording, Israel and Hamas were on the cusp of finalizing a hostage exchange deal. In this sprawling episode of the Jewish History Podcast, we explore the history and the laws governing hostage rescues and ransoms. What is the Jewish way? How have our antecedents addressed this tragic and unfortunate circumstance? What value do we place on the rescue and ransom of hostages? What are some of the political, military, and security considerations of prisoner swaps? As we pray for the success of our troops and the hostage efforts in Gaza, we look back at the fascinating and often tragic story of hostages in our history.

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This Jewish History Podcast is dedicated by Eddie & Lottie Setton in honor of their children Ralph & Michael who are studying in Israel and their love of Jewish History.

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DONATE: Please consider supporting the podcasts by making a donation to help fund our Jewish outreach and educational efforts at https://www.torchweb.org/support.php. Thank you!

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The Profound Mystery of Cheshvan with Rabbi Shmuly Botnick

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Rabbi Shmuly Botnick returns to the podcast with his most mind-bending and dynamic contribution hitherto. In this exhilarating roller-coaster of a podcast, Rabbi Botnick weaves the generation of Enosh, the Flood, the placement of Moshe into the water, his retrieval by Pharaoh’s daughter, his complaint to God about the initial efforts to save the nation, the splitting of the Sea, the Golden Calf and its perpetrators, Moshe’s sin of striking the rock, Solomon’s marriage to Pharaoh’s daughter and his building of the Temple, and Jerobam’s rebellion into one symphonic tapestry. This podcast will enrich and educate and entertain — Rabbi Botnick is back with great flair and panache!

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The Joy of Sukkos

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The festival of Sukkos is called “the time of our joy.” The entire festival is associated with joy. Sitting in the Sukkah is joyous, shaking the Lulav is joyous, the traditional celebratory festivities are known as the “Joy of the Drawing.” Why are these days so intimately associated with joy? In this special podcast, we offer seven explanations that will enhance our Sukkos and suffuse it with joy.

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DONATE: Please consider supporting the podcasts by making a donation to help fund our Jewish outreach and educational efforts at https://www.torchweb.org/support.php. Thank you!

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Jonah: The Yom Kippur Reading on a Deeper Level (Rebroadcast)

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On Yom Kippur afternoon, we read the 48-verse Book of Jonah, which tells of a renegade prophet, Jonah, who defies the directive of God and refuses to castigate the people of Nineveh and instead escapes from God to Tarshish – with mixed results. A simple reading of the story reveals a tale of repentance, both of the protagonist, Jonah, and of the people of Nineveh. But our Sages let us in on a secret that the Book of Jonah contains a hidden, kabbalistic story embedded beneath the story – which also teaches us powerful, topical messages for the Day of Atonement.

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DONATE: Please consider supporting the podcasts by making a donation to help fund our Jewish outreach and educational efforts at https://www.torchweb.org/support.php. Thank you!

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Repentance Conundrums

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The days spanning from Rosh Hashanah to Yom Kippur are known as the Ten Days of Repentance. Over the course of these days, we have extra prayers and supplications, and make an extra effort to improve and correct our ways, culminating of course, with the greatest day of them all, Yom Kippur. But repentance is a tricky subject. In this special podcast, we explore some of the confounding conundrums of repentance. Listening to this episode will surely enhance your experience of repentance.

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DONATE: Please consider supporting the podcasts by making a donation to help fund our Jewish outreach and educational efforts at https://www.torchweb.org/support.php. Thank you!

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Rosh Hashana Opportunities

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Rosh Hashana is a day of repentance. But unlike Yom Kippur, there is nary a mention of sin in all the ceremonies, prayers, and liturgies of Rosh Hashanah. What is the nature of repentance decoupled from acknowledgment of sin? When we study the sources related to Rosh Hashanah, we discover several fascinating opportunities that differentiate Rosh Hashanah from all other days. On Rosh Hashanah, we can accomplish things that are completely infeasible any other day. In this special Rosh Hashanah podcast, we probe and ponder the unique nature of the day that starts it all off.

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This special Rosh Hashana Podcast is sponsored by the Gelb, Goldman and Shacknofsky families in honor of our parents David and Susan Gelb. Wishing them and all of Klal Yisrael a happy, healthy, and sweet New Year. Shana Tova Umetuka.

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DONATE: Please consider supporting the podcasts by making a donation to help fund our Jewish outreach and educational efforts at https://www.torchweb.org/support.php. Thank you!

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The Rosh Hashana Torah Reading – Day Two (Rebroadcast)

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On the second day of Rosh Hashana, we read the Torah section of Genesis chapter 22 that tells the very famous and quite troubling episode of the Binding of Isaac. Abraham – the same Abraham who railed against the ways of child sacrifice of the pagans – is instructed by God to take Isaac – the same Isaac who was declared as the one who will be Abraham’s true progeny – and offer him as a sacrifice on Mount Moriah. In this podcast we attempt to understand the many connections that this reading has with the themes and ideas of Rosh Hashana.

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DONATE: Please consider supporting the podcasts by making a donation to help fund our Jewish outreach and educational efforts at https://www.torchweb.org/support.php. Thank you!

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Rosh Hashana Roundtable with the TORCH Podcasters

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Rosh Hashanah is the beginning. It is the beginning of the High Holidays. It is the beginning of the 10 days of repentance. It marks the beginning of humanity. On this day, Adam was created. Rosh Hashana marks the beginning of God’s Dominion and Kingship over the world, because a king absent a nation is no king. We mark these beginning with the festival of Rosh Hashanah. On this day, every human is judged. Every human passes before God like individual sheep. This is a day that we must prepare for if we want to make something of it. To help prepare for Rosh Hashanah, I gathered my colleagues at the TORCH Centre in Houston to share ideas and insights that will help elevate and transform our Rosh Hashanah.

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DONATE: Please consider supporting the podcasts by making a donation to help fund our Jewish outreach and educational efforts at https://www.torchweb.org/support.php. Thank you!

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The Rosh Hashana Torah Reading – Day One (Rebroadcast)

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The Torah readings for the two days of Rosh Hashana were not arbitrarily chosen. There are very good reasons why on the first day of Rosh Hashana we read Genesis chapter 21, which tells of the conception and birth of Isaac, and the banishment of Ishmael, his brush with death, and his salvation. In this podcast we attempt to understand the many connections that this reading has with the themes and ideas of Rosh Hashana.

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DONATE: Please consider supporting the podcasts by making a donation to help fund our Jewish outreach and educational efforts at https://www.torchweb.org/support.php. Thank you!

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Elul for the Unprepared and the Undeserving

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The month of Elul is upon us. Over the course of the next few weeks, Jewish communities worldwide will prepare for the high holidays of Rosh Hashana and Yom Kippur with special prayers and with a daily blast of the shofar. We are preparing. We are getting ready for the awesome days upcoming. But what about those who are not preparing? What about those who are undeserving? Is there a shortcut to Elul? Is there a cheat sheet for someone who wants to tap into the awesome powers of this auspicious time? In this podcast, we learn how to connect with these propitious days – even if we’re not prepared, even if we’re not deserving.

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DONATE: Please consider supporting the podcasts by making a donation to help fund our Jewish outreach and educational efforts at https://www.torchweb.org/support.php. Thank you!

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The Kabbalistic Backstory of Tisha B’av with Rabbi Shmuly Botnick

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The Ninth Day of the month of Av is the saddest day of the Jewish calendar. On this day, the First Temple was destroyed by the Babylonians. On this same day the Second Temple was destroyed by the Romans. The Bar Kochba rebellion was stamped out with violent finality on this day. This is a day that is designated for tragedy and misfortune. What are the roots of this day? What can we do to help rectify and remedy it? In this exquisite podcast, the great Rabbi Shmuly Botnick weaves a complex, Kabbalistic tapestry on the roots of this sad day.

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DONATE: Please consider supporting the podcasts by making a donation to help fund our Jewish outreach and educational efforts at https://www.torchweb.org/support.php. Thank you!

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