Skip to main content
Life Imitates Torah

Life Imitates Torah

By Maharat Ruth Friedman

Join Maharat Ruth for a weekly podcast: "Life Imitates Torah," as she explores relevant topics in the weekly Parsha to enhance our lives.
Available on
Apple Podcasts Logo
Google Podcasts Logo
Overcast Logo
Pocket Casts Logo
RadioPublic Logo
Spotify Logo
Currently playing episode

Tazria-Metzora 5781

Life Imitates TorahApr 15, 2021

00:00
14:27
Matot-Masei 5782

Matot-Masei 5782

Parashat Masei opens with a long and detailed recounting of all of the Israelites' journeys throughout the wilderness. This list takes up 49 verses, which prompts us to ask the basic question of why God felt that this should be included in the Torah. In this week's episode we contrast Rashi's opinion with the Seforno's, and what they can teach us about the beauty of relationships.

Jul 28, 202208:46
Pinchas 5782

Pinchas 5782

Parashat Pinchas contains the beginning of the story of B'not Tzlofchad, and then the conclusion is at the end of Parashat Masei. In each of these places the 5 daughters' names are mentioned, but they appear in a different order. In this week's episode we discuss a gemara in Bava Batra that explains why they appear in different order, and consider the implications for how we classify others with kindness and compassion.

Jul 21, 202211:27
Balak 5782

Balak 5782

The story of Balak and Bilaam is oddly out of place in the Torah; it doesn't concern the Israelites, nor does it affect them. This forces us to ask the question of - why is this story in the Torah? What does it come to teach us? In this week's episode we consider one possible answer to this question. 

Jul 14, 202212:30
Chukat 5782

Chukat 5782

Parashat Chukat contains the brief story of Israel's encounter with Edom as they marched through the wilderness. In this week's episode we discuss this interaction and its significance in the story of Yaakov and Esav. 

Jul 07, 202213:05
Korach 5782

Korach 5782

Parashat Korach tells the incredible story of a man who led an uprising against Moshe and Aharon's authority. In this week's episode we take a careful look at what the complaints were, and what the story can teach us about toxic leadership. 

This week's sound effects are brought to you by Cocoa the dog, and my two kids. 

If you would like to follow along with Rabbi Leibtag's analysis of the story you can do so here https://tanach.org/bamidbar/korach/korachs1.htm

Jun 30, 202215:09
Behaalotcha 5782

Behaalotcha 5782

Parashat Behaalotcha is wonderfully rich with short incidents that happened to Moshe and the nation in the midbar. One of them is the story of Eldad and Medad, which strikes us as a tense exchange between Moshe and Yehoshua. In this week's episode we discuss the story of Eldad and Medad in context, and consider the interpretation of the Kli Yakar, who sees it in a much different light.

Jun 16, 202215:37
Nasso 5782

Nasso 5782

Parashat Nasso is named for the opening command to count the members of the family of Gershon, Levi's oldest son. The commentators ask why Gershon is counted second, when he is the first born. In this week's episode we study their responses, and explore how this process serves as a corrective for the sibling rivalry that abounds in Breishit. 

Jun 09, 202210:08
BaMidbar 5782

BaMidbar 5782

Parashat BaMidbar is largely devoted to getting the nation organized on what is supposed to be the eve of their entering the land of Israel. Part of this process involves dividing up the camp by tribe, each with a corresponding banner (or flag). In this week's episode we examine three explanations for what these banners looked like, and what these three explanations can teach us about how we bring our personal histories with us into new experiences.

Jun 02, 202211:12
Bechukotai 5782

Bechukotai 5782

Parashat Bechukotai is one of two parshiyot in the Torah that contains the tochecha, or God's warning to the people about the numerous ways that God will afflict them if they do not heed God's commandments when they enter the land of Israel. One of the key words in this section is קרי, a word that appears nowhere else in the Torah. In this week's episode we examine multiple interpretations of this mysterious word and what it can tell us about how societies fall apart.

May 26, 202214:49
Kedoshim 5782

Kedoshim 5782

The 5th pasuk of our parsha tells us that a sacrifice can only be offered to God if there is a רצון, or a will. This opens a big question - is it according to God's will, or our own? In this week episode we consider three different opinions, and what this can teach us about the true meaning of holiness.

May 05, 202208:22
Acharei Mot 5782

Acharei Mot 5782

In the first verse of our parsha, God speaks to Moshe after the death of Aharon's two sons. However, the Torah does not actually tell us what they discussed. In this week's parsha we look at these verses more closely through the lens of Rashi and the Kli Yakar, and consider what the connection is between the laws in Acharei Mot and the death of Nadav and Avihu.

Apr 28, 202208:25
Metzora 5782

Metzora 5782

Chapter 14 of Parashat Metzora details the purification process for the metzora, including the application of blood to the right ear, right thumb, and right big toe. In this week's episode we consider the meaning of this process and how it affected the psyche of the metzora.

Apr 07, 202210:59
Tazria 5782

Tazria 5782

Parashat Tazria opens with the laws of purification for a woman after childbirth. These laws differ between boys and girls, and clearly favor boys over girls. In this week's parsha we contrast these attitudes with contemporary American society, and consider the fragility of women and childbirth. 

Mar 31, 202213:18
Shemini 5782

Shemini 5782

In the beginning of parashat Shemini, Aharon has the opportunity to offer an egel, or calf, as part of the inauguration of the mishkan as a means of closing the chapter on the sin of the golden calf. However, as soon as that situation is resolved, he is thrust into another tragedy - the loss of his two sons. In this week's episode we consider the parsha from Aharon's perspective and what it can teach us about how to navigate challenges in our own lives. 

Mar 24, 202210:11
Vayikra 5782

Vayikra 5782

There is a classic debate between the Rambam and the Ramban regarding the significance of sacrifices; are they a way to worship God in concert with how other nations worshipped at the time, or is there a greater meaning behind slaughtering an animal to atone for your sins? This week we discuss this debate and what the Ramban can teach us about cultivating empathy for each other.

Mar 10, 202212:34
Pekudei 5782

Pekudei 5782

After Moshe assembles the mishkan at the end of our parsha, Hashem's presence fills the space. As the Torah explicitly tells us, once Hashem's presence filled the mishkan, Moshe was not allowed in. In this week's episode we discuss the significance of this and what it teaches us about how the people perceived their relationship to Moshe.

Mar 03, 202209:01
Vayakhel 5782

Vayakhel 5782

One of the mysteries of the mishkan is where all of the rare and expensive materials used to build it actually came from. In this week's episode we study a machloket between Rashi and Ibn Ezra and discuss the tension between fantasy and reality in our interpretation of the Torah. 

Feb 24, 202210:30
Ki Tisa 5782

Ki Tisa 5782

At the end of our parsha Moshe comes down from the mountain with the two tablets. The torah says קרן עור פניו, or literally that the skin of his face was horned. In this week's episode we discuss three different interpretations of this perplexing description, and the different religious attitudes they have reflected over history.

Feb 17, 202211:06
Tetzaveh 5782

Tetzaveh 5782

Parashat Tetzaveh details the instructions to make the special clothing for the kohanim. God describes the garments as being for "kavod and tiferet," or "honor and glory." In this week's episode we study three rabbinic interpretations of these two words and what they can teach us about the complicated relationship we have with clothing and status in our society.

Feb 10, 202211:11
Mishpatim 5782

Mishpatim 5782

Parashat Mishpatim opens with the laws of the Hebrew slave. Coming right after the Exodus, these laws can be uncomfortable to study. In this week's episode we look at the experience of the Hebrew slave in greater detail and consider a way to view it not as a situation of submission, but of empowerment.

Jan 27, 202212:51
Yitro 5782

Yitro 5782

The commandment not to covet our neighbors family and property is a fascinating commentary on human nature. In this week's episode we study three rabbinic understandings of this commandment, and what they can teach us about society and ourselves. 

Jan 20, 202215:03
Beshalach 5782

Beshalach 5782

In chapter 14 verse 8 the Torah tells us that the Israelites left Egypt ביד רמה, or with a raised arm. In this week's episode we study different interpretations of this phrase and why it is significant for our understanding of power and victimhood.

Jan 13, 202213:16
Bo 5782

Bo 5782

In Parashat Bo God gives the Israelites the mitzvah of the korban Pesach in "real time" - as they are preparing to leave Egypt. In this week's episode we explore the mitzvah of placing the blood on the doorpost of the house and discuss the practical and emotional effects this had on the Israelites as they prepared to leave Egypt.

Jan 06, 202213:42
Shemot 5782

Shemot 5782

The 8th pasuk of the Book of Shemot represents the turning point in the Israelites' story in Egypt - A new king arose in Egypt who did not know Yosef. In this episode we discuss this pasuk in detail and what the gemara in Sanhedrin can teach us about the significance of memory in Egypt.

Dec 23, 202111:56
Vayechi 5782

Vayechi 5782

"Vayechi" means "and he lived." This seemingly innocuous statement is actually profound, given that until now Yaakov has focused his life's legacy around his death. In this episode we discuss the role of death and life in the parsha and what this can teach us about how we craft our life narratives.

Dec 16, 202113:21
Vayigash 5782

Vayigash 5782

Parashat Vayigash is named for the manner in which Yehuda approaches Yosef to reverse the terrible course that the previous parsha left us with. In this week's episode we study the word "vayigash" in great detail to understand the significance of Yehuda's intervention, and what this can teach us about how to heal damaged relationships. 

Dec 09, 202117:12
Miketz 5782

Miketz 5782

Last year we studied Yosef's ascent into the highest echelon of Egyptian power and how this ascent reflected on him. This year we examine this ascent in greater detail and discuss what it meant for both the Egyptians and the Israelites, and the eventual dismantling of the fantasy of life in Egypt.

Dec 02, 202117:35
Vayeishev 5782

Vayeishev 5782

Parashat Vayeishev tells the the first chapters of the disastrous story of Yosef and his brothers. In a curious scene in the second aliyah, Yaakov instructs Yosef to go down to Shechem and see how his brothers are doing. In this episode we consider the Seforno's interpretation of Yaakov's instructions, and what this can teach us about the importance of confrontation and being honest with each other. 

Nov 25, 202113:24
Vayishlach 5782

Vayishlach 5782

The first half of Parashat Vayishlach provides a detailed account of the preparation for, and then the actual scene, of the final encounter between Yaakov and Esav. The last time they have seen each other is 20 years ago, when Yaakov stole the blessing and Esav vowed to kill him. Though the scene in our parsha is detailed, there are multiple ways to interpret Yaakov and Esav's behavior. In this week's episode we review the scene in detail, and consider the dynamic through the use of the word "brother" throughout the text.

Nov 18, 202121:27
Vayeitze 5782

Vayeitze 5782

When Yaakov arrives in Haran he finds a group of shepherds at the well. They give him the impression that removing the stone from the well to access the water is a serious process that requires multiple people. Much to our surprise, Yaakov then seems to easily remove the stone himself to water Rachel's flock. In this week's episode we discuss rabbinic interpretations of this scene and what it teaches us about finding our own strength in new challenges.

Nov 11, 202113:44
Toldot 5782

Toldot 5782

Parashat Toldot contains the iconic scene of Yaakov stealing the blessing from his brother Esav. This scene is emblematic of their family's dysfunction, and can be analyzed through many lenses. This week we center our study around the word ציד, or hunt, to help us understand the sources of Yitzchak's favoritism of Esav and what this favoritism can teach us about ourselves and our own relationships. 

Nov 04, 202115:54
Chayei Sarah 5782

Chayei Sarah 5782

Right before Avraham appoints Eliezer to go find a wife for Yitzchak the Torah tells us that God had blessed Avraham "bakol" - in everything. In this week's episode we study different interpretations of what it means to be blessed in life, and what we are supposed to do with these blessings.

Oct 28, 202115:45
Vayera 5782

Vayera 5782

Parashat Vayera opens with the iconic scene of Avraham waiting for guests at the entrance of his tent, in the heat of the day. This scene becomes the model for welcoming guests, which is a key value in Jewish life. In this episode we consider this story with a more critical lens, and discuss how we can take the lessons from it to adapt how we view hosting in a post-covid era.

Oct 21, 202113:34
Lech Lecha 5782

Lech Lecha 5782

Parashat Lech Lecha introduces us to Avraham, yet the Torah does not actually provide any clues as to who he was. In this week's episode we consider Avraham's mysterious identity, and why God chose to leave out any background information.

Oct 14, 202113:52
Noach 5782

Noach 5782

In parashat Noach God makes the radical decision to destroy the world because "the earth had been corrupted and was filled with lawlessness." In this week's episode we discuss the different interpretations of what was so egregious about humanity's actions, and study a fascinating midrash about human behavior.

Oct 07, 202112:29
Breishit 5782

Breishit 5782

On the surface, the story of Kayin and Hevel seems like a simple story of ruthless murder, and punishment. However, upon close examination of the language and rabbinic sources, the moral ambiguity of the story becomes clear. In this episode we touch on the points of moral complexity, and study a midrash that portrays Kayin not as the first murderer, but as the first person to do teshuva.

Sep 30, 202117:35
Vayeilech 5782

Vayeilech 5782

Moshe opens Parashat Vayeilech by reminding the nation that he will not be able to join them on the next step of their journey to the land of Israel. The mefarshim ask why the verse first says "vayeilech," or "Moshe walked," before he shares this message. In this week's episode we study three different interpretations of "vayeilech" and explore the different ways loved ones say goodbye. 

This episode is dedicated to the memory of the 2,996 victims of 9/11, in advance of the 20th anniversary this Shabbat.

Sep 09, 202110:47
Nitzavim 5781

Nitzavim 5781

When Moshe speaks about the covenant between God and the Jewish people he refers to it both as a brit and as an alah. In this week's episode we examine the word alah and its connection to Sotah, and discuss why Moshe chose to portray the covenant using this word. 

Sep 02, 202111:12
Ki Tavo 5781

Ki Tavo 5781

One of the blessings in Parashat Ki Tavo is that, if the Jewish people listen to God's commandments, we will be like the head (rosh) and not the zanav (tail). In this week's episode we study different rabbinic interpretations of this verse, and what it means for our second High Holiday season during the pandemic. 

Aug 26, 202113:29
Ki Teitze 5781

Ki Teitze 5781

Parashat Ki Teitze teaches laws about maintaining the dignity and sanctity of the camp when Israelite troops go to war. In this week's episode we study these verses in detail. We then discuss the Ramban's interpretation of these laws, and what they can teach us about the importance of maintaining respect and proper conduct within an army during a time of war. 

Aug 19, 202117:00
Re'eh 5781

Re'eh 5781

In Chapter 12 of Devarim Moshe provides a series of rules and regulations regarding sacrifices and meat consumption. In this week's episode we review these in detail, and discuss how they prepared the Israelites for a life of meat consumption in the Land of Israel. 

Aug 05, 202116:30
Eikev 5781

Eikev 5781

In Parashat Eikev Moshe continues to implore the Israelites to continue in God's path when they enter the land of Israel. He portrays the Israelites' future security and success as a system of meritocracy; if they listen to God's commandments, God will reward them and they will flourish. In this week's parsha we discuss the merits and harm of portraying the world as a meritocracy, and connect it to current events in America.

CW: sexual abuse

Jul 29, 202117:32
Vaetchanan 5781

Vaetchanan 5781

Parashat Vaetchanan opens with Moshe's plea to God to reverse the decree and allow him into the Land of Israel. We can feel Moshe's despair and sadness as he details God's angry refusal, and the compromise of Moshe being able to go up and see the land from afar. In this episode we study this scene and ask why Moshe shares this intimate moment with the nation.

Jul 22, 202117:11
Devarim 5781

Devarim 5781

Sefer Devarim is a series of Moshe's speeches to the Israelites before he dies and they enter the land of Israel without him. In this week's episode we introduce the book, and discuss two of the stories in the parsha - the spies, and the Edomites - to help understand the psychological tools Moshe uses to impart his messages onto his nation. 

Jul 15, 202116:25
Matot-Masei 5781

Matot-Masei 5781

The end of the book of BaMidbar is an epilogue to the story of Bnot Tzlofchad that is found in Parashat Pinchas. This epilogue serves as an important modifier of the original story. In this week's episode we study both components of the story in detail, and challenge ourselves to think about our own comfort (and discomfort) with social change.

Jul 08, 202116:07
Pinchas 5781

Pinchas 5781

Pinchas is the first קנאי, or zealot, featured in Tanach. Though Pinchas is rewarded for his behavior, the text is ambiguous about whether zealotry was a positive or negative. In this episode we explore that question further through a study of the word קנא in the Torah, and consider the common toxicities between jealousy and zealotry.

Jul 01, 202116:01
Balak 5781

Balak 5781

One of the mysteries of the story of Balak is why it is in the Torah at all; it does not involve any of the Israelites, nor does it have an impact on their lives, so its impact is unclear. In this week's episode we discuss the major themes of Balak and Bilaam's story, and its connections to Pharaoh and the failed strategy of trying to oppress outsiders into submission.

Our learning is dedicated to all of the victims of the building collapse in Miami. May they be found speedily, and safe.

Jun 24, 202112:40
Chukat 5781

Chukat 5781

The ritual of the parah adumah, or the red heifer, is one of the best examples of a chok, or a ritual law that we do not understand. In this week's episode we examine two opposing rabbinic approaches to the concept of chok, and discuss the human experience of grappling with the unknowable. 

Jun 17, 202114:58
Korach 5781

Korach 5781

The story of Korach is unequivocally a story of disaster. In this week's episode we examine this story in greater detail to ascertain exactly why the factions of rebels were complaining, why their punishment was so severe, and what this teaches us about how we treat each others in moments of crisis. 

Jun 10, 202115:50
Shlach 5781

Shlach 5781

In this week's episode we consider the Israelites' true fear of the Land of Israel and why the scouts' report struck such a strong chord with them. Recorded from Jerusalem!

Jun 03, 202106:02