Skip to main content
In the Podsha: A Weekly Parsha Conversation

In the Podsha: A Weekly Parsha Conversation

By Sam Reinstein

In the Podsha is a discussion based Parsha podcast. Each week I will discuss two ideas with a guest educator surrounding the weeks Torah portion. They'll bring their own insights and personalities to that week. I hope it is insightful and accessible.

Now it's easier than ever before to learn on the go, Enjoy!
Available on
Apple Podcasts Logo
Castbox Logo
Google Podcasts Logo
Overcast Logo
Pocket Casts Logo
RadioPublic Logo
Spotify Logo
Currently playing episode

Parshat Naso with Jeremy Borovitz

In the Podsha: A Weekly Parsha ConversationJun 13, 2018

00:00
28:53
Parshat Mishpatim with Shlomo Pill

Parshat Mishpatim with Shlomo Pill

For Parshat Mishpatim, I speak with Lawyer and Law professor at Emory U, Rabbi Shlomo Pill about the purpose of Mishpatim. How do these laws create the society we want? What is the purpose of these laws, and why are they after the Ten Commandments? 


Shlomo Pill is a Professor of Law at Emory University. He Specializes in American Law and the intersection between Muslim and Jewish Law. He is the founding Director of the Institute for Jewish Muslim Action (IJMA), a policy-action group building cooperative relationships between American Jews and Muslims through educational programming, policy research, and political and legal advocacy on issues of mutual interest in American public life

Jan 31, 201931:21
Parshat Yitro With Rabbi Joshua Berman

Parshat Yitro With Rabbi Joshua Berman

I was honored to have on Rabbi Joshua Berman of Bar Ilan University to talk about his book Created Equal. In the conversation he discusses, the purpose of using Near Eastern texts to explain the Torah, what is going on with the Ten Commandments and how we each have a special relationship with G-d. 


Rabbi Dr Joshua Berman is a Professor of Bible at Bar Ilan University. He is the author of various Academic books on Torah including Created Equal and Inconstancies in the Torah. You can see more of his work here: https://bible.biu.ac.il/en/node/559 

Jan 23, 201933:35
Parshat Bo with Zahava Bauer

Parshat Bo with Zahava Bauer

For parshat Bo, I hang out with Zahava Bauer, teacher of Literature and Halakha at Torah Academy of Greater Philidelphia, about the meaning of Firstborns for the Egyptians and the Jewish people and the importance of marking time. 

Jan 09, 201929:17
Parshat Vaera with Miriam Gedwiser

Parshat Vaera with Miriam Gedwiser

I talk with Miriam Gedwiser, Judaic studies teacher at Ramaz upper school, about Moshe's job is a communal one, how we learn things even if we dont realize it, and why all the plagues had to happen.


Miriam Gedwiser teaches Talmud and Tanakh at the Ramaz Upper School and is on the faculty at Drisha. She has a B.A. in the History, Philosophy, and Social Studies of Science and Medicine from the University of Chicago and a J.D. from N.Y.U. School of Law.   She also serves on the board of the Center for Modern Torah Leadership and is a consulting Editor at the Lehrhaus. 

Jan 02, 201936:02
Parshat Shmot with Alvin Reinstein

Parshat Shmot with Alvin Reinstein

For Parshat Shmot, I chat with my dad about his Bar Mitzvah Parsha. We talk about why Moshe was chosen as a leader for the Jewish people, while going through buts of Torah along the way, and detail some of the Hero's journey Moshe goes through this week.

Yes, my dad and I were really in smicha together, you can see more about that here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2SbY0S5nldQ

Dec 24, 201835:22
Parshat Vayechi with Roy Feldman

Parshat Vayechi with Roy Feldman

For Parshat Vayechi, I chat with Roy Feldman, Rabbi at Congregation Beth Abraham-Jacob in Albany, NY, about the purpose of the book of Genesis, what Joseph's brothers must have felt and some musings on the Rabbinate.
Dec 18, 201833:07
Parshat Vayigash with Eli Lebowicz
Dec 13, 201839:43
Parshat Miketz with Dan Margulies

Parshat Miketz with Dan Margulies

In this week's Podsha I hang out with Dan Margulies, Rabbi at The Riverdale Minyan, where we talk about how Yoseph interpreted the dreams, how Yoseph could solve alot of our problems wether personally, financially or religiously, and why Yoseph did all the tricking of his brothers.

Dan Margulies very recently became the Rabbi at The Riverdale Minyan in Riverdale, NY. He also writes monthly for Morthodoxy, and is a guest writer at the Lehrhaus.
Dec 04, 201835:37
Parshat Vayeshev with Gershon Albert

Parshat Vayeshev with Gershon Albert

(Apologies for static in parts of the episode, tried to get rid of it and it is only there for parts)

This week for Parshat Vayeshev, I have Gershon Albert!
Gershon is the Rabbi at Beth Jacob Congregation in Oakland, and was in my class at Yeshiva University!

Here we talk about what Yosef was thinking when he was telling his brother the dreams, what they actually might have meant, and who actually sold Yosef.
Nov 28, 201834:30
Parshat Vayishlach with Sara Wolkenfeld

Parshat Vayishlach with Sara Wolkenfeld

In the Podsha is back! Thanks for being patient, I had to take a break to work on an actuarial exam and the holidays.

This week I chat with Sara Wolkenfeld about all the good thing
Sefaria.org is doing, Yaakov's name change's odd formulation, and Esav's and Yaakov's intentions while meeting again.

Subscribe and like to get more episodes of In the Podsha!

Sara Tillinger Wolkenfeld is the Director of Education at Sefaria.org. She has taught Talmud and Jewish Law at the Drisha Institute, and served as JLIC educator and Director of Education at the Center for Jewish Life - Hillel at Princeton University. Sara has taught at The Hampton Synagogue in Westhampton Beach, NY, at United Orthodox Synagogues of Houston, TX, where she was an intern for two years, and as a Beit Midrash Fellow at S.A.R. Academy in Riverdale, NY. She lectures in synagogues and Hillels on a variety of topics, and also teaches Hilkhot Nidah to brides and engaged couples. Sara holds a BA in Judaica and Comparative Literature from the University of Pennsylvania, and has studied Talmud and Jewish Law at Midreshet Lindenbaum, Drisha, Pardes, Nishmat,and Beit Morashah. She lives in Chicago, IL with her husband and four children.
Nov 21, 201831:54
Parshat Ki Tavo with Rivka Herzfeld

Parshat Ki Tavo with Rivka Herzfeld

In this week's Podsha, I talk to Rivka Herzfeld about being grateful for our bad history, and we let everyone know a secret about the curses promised if we don't listen.


Rivka got her MA in Bible from Revel, and has taught in a variety of Jewish settings.
Aug 28, 201837:32
Podsha Ki Teitzei with Jon Leener

Podsha Ki Teitzei with Jon Leener

In this week's Podsha, I talk with fellow Crown Heights resident Jon Leener about the nature of all the interpersonal commandments in Ki Teitzei, and how one thing leads to another in our personal and spiritual lives.

Jon, with his partner Faith, run BASE BKLN in crown heights, Brooklyn.

BASE is the home of a Rabbinic family which serves as a home-base, a grounding point for students, young adults, and their friends. While each Base reflects the personality of the Rabbinic couple and embodies their vision for a vibrant Jewish community, every Base is committed to pluralism and is founded upon three core values: hospitality, learning, and service.
Aug 22, 201829:53
Parshat Shoftim with Tzipporah Machlah Klapper

Parshat Shoftim with Tzipporah Machlah Klapper

Enjoy this free flowing conversation with Tzipporah Machlah from the Center for Modern Torah Leadership about the responsibility of our leaders to be part of the community, how those responsibilities are split up, and how our actions influence our personalities.


Rate and subscribe to In the Podsha wherever you get your podcasts
Aug 12, 201829:06
Parshat Re'eh with Josh Botwinick

Parshat Re'eh with Josh Botwinick

In this week's Podsha, I talk with Josh, Co-director of JLIC in Herzeliya, about how the rules of Avodah Zarah (foreign worship, usually understood as idol worship) can be relevant today, and how limiting can be a holy practice.
Aug 05, 201829:57
Parshat Eikev with Hannah Dreyfus

Parshat Eikev with Hannah Dreyfus

This week, I have some family time with an excellent Journalist, Hannah Dreyfus.
We talk about how the abuses of power that happen in the Jewish community (and beyond), the power of love over fear, and what Hannah should do with all the cattle she has.

Hannah Dreyfus is a Staff Writer for the Jewish Week. Check out her writing (hannahdreyfus.com) and her podcast (The Chutzpah Podcast)
Aug 02, 201832:31
Parshat Vaetchanan with Dovi Nadel
Jul 23, 201831:49
Parshat Devarim with Margot Botwinick

Parshat Devarim with Margot Botwinick

In this week's Podsha, I bring back my sister Margot!
We talk about Moshe's unique ability to make a weakness a strength, the purpose of the book of Devarim, and Margot is far too kind to me.
Jul 15, 201830:20
Parshiot Matot-Maasei with Dasi Fruchter

Parshiot Matot-Maasei with Dasi Fruchter

This week I talk to Rabbanit Dasi Fruchter, Assistant Spiritual Leader at Beth Sholom Congregation and Talmud Torah in Potomac, MD. We talk about people's responsibility to be honest when asking for things, some guy that sounds like Dumbledore, and Dasi's love for Feminist documentaries.
Jul 11, 201828:30
Parshat Pinchas with Tal Attia

Parshat Pinchas with Tal Attia

Tal Attia, director of JLIC at Brandeis, joins me to talk about Pinchas, what it means to be zealous for G-d, whether Pinchas did the right thing, and why we should aim to be more like Joshua and less like Moshe
Jul 03, 201836:57
Parshat Balak with Sarah Robinson

Parshat Balak with Sarah Robinson

For Parshat Balak, I talk with Sarah Robinson about how we should relate to Balak as a character, why there is an entire Parsha from a non-Jewish perspective, how different challenges deserve different approaches, and Karma throughout the Bible.

Sarah graduated from Stern and GPATS (YU's Graduate Program for Advanced Talmudic studies), and now teaches Judaics in High School MDS, and previously Kushner, and has had a variety of teaching opportunities in MJE and Merrick, NY.
Jun 25, 201831:10
Parshat Chukat with MaNishtana

Parshat Chukat with MaNishtana

This week, I got to sit down with MaNishtana, from MaNishtana.net, where we talk about Miriam's death and her integral place in our story, how we have to understand each of our power, and how we need to be careful at reacting even when people do things that are wrong.
Jun 18, 201825:42
Parshat Korach with Isaiah Rothstein

Parshat Korach with Isaiah Rothstein

Loved spending some time with Isaiah, Rabbi at Hazon, Bechol Lashon, and Zayah and a whole bunch of other stuff. We speak about Korach's rebellion and how we each find our value in a world where we don't feel counted.
Jun 13, 201839:09
Parshat Shelach with Willie Balk

Parshat Shelach with Willie Balk

In this week's Podsha, I talk to Willie Balk, Academic Advisor at YU, about the meaning of the blue string added to the fringes of garments, who was actually at fault in the spies episode and G-d's place in our lives.
Jun 13, 201831:04
Parshat Bahaalotecha with Rachel Weber Leshaw

Parshat Bahaalotecha with Rachel Weber Leshaw

In this week's Podsha, I speak with Rachel Weber Leshaw, teacher at WebYeshiva and Torah V'Avodah and a graduate at the Yoetzet program, about how Judaism feels about making up lost chances, and how being humble is an essential Jewish trait.
Jun 13, 201826:40
Parshat Naso with Jeremy Borovitz

Parshat Naso with Jeremy Borovitz

In this week's Podsha I talk to Jeremy Borovitz, creator of the Brooklyn Beit Midrash, about why we don't practice the Sotah ritual today, some Holocaust controversy, and the ethics of donating to institutions.
Jun 13, 201828:53
Parshat Bamidbar With Margot Botwinick (Reinstein)

Parshat Bamidbar With Margot Botwinick (Reinstein)

Welcome to episode #1 of IN THE PODSHA!
This week I talk with Margot Botwinick (Reinstein) about what the Jews are doing in the desert, what is the Levites role, what it means to be an educator, and a bit about our parents and Margot's Aliyah adventure
Jun 13, 201827:17
Welcome to IN THE PODSHA

Welcome to IN THE PODSHA

Introduction episode for In the Podsha with Rabbi Sam Reinstein.

Jun 13, 201800:49