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Explorations

Explorations

By Raphael Davidovich

My name is Raphael Davidovich. I want these podcasts to explore the deep and practical ideas to be found in Torah and Jewish Tradition.
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Currently playing episode

A new appreciation of the word Shevach

ExplorationsJun 13, 2022

00:00
06:02
Message to the Community

Message to the Community

This is the message I sent to my community in response to the tragedy in the Holy Land this past week.

Oct 13, 202307:40
Elokai, Neshama

Elokai, Neshama

Exploring the words "Tehora Hee" in the brocha thanking Hashem for our neshama.

Sep 05, 202302:53
Exploring Bikkurim- We must start at the very beginning

Exploring Bikkurim- We must start at the very beginning

Exploring the speech a Jew gives when he brings the first fruits in the Temple. Connected to Pesach Seder

Sep 01, 202303:59
Ki Seitzei and Pickup Sticks

Ki Seitzei and Pickup Sticks

Exploring the haphazard nature of this week's Mitzvos

Aug 25, 202305:30
Asher Yatzar Part 3 - Closing and opening

Asher Yatzar Part 3 - Closing and opening

More on Asher Yatzar: Exploring the dangers of opening a closed door, or closing an open door.

Aug 20, 202307:36
Asher Yatzar: It is revealed and known

Asher Yatzar: It is revealed and known

Exploring why we say that our body's functions are "revealed and known before Your Throne of Glory".

Aug 18, 202304:23
Judgment and Enforcement

Judgment and Enforcement

Exploring the importance of a system that enforces the right thing

Aug 18, 202304:40
Ask the Rabbi - Hot topics

Ask the Rabbi - Hot topics

We explored several topics - from issues of tension and controversy in our community, to unzoned shuls, to Jewish Schools that don't teach secular studies, to Moshe hitting the rock etc. We hope you'll enjoy it.

Jul 02, 202352:47
Chukas: The advantage of now

Chukas: The advantage of now

Exploring the nature of the inconvenience that Edom would not let the Jews cut through their territory to enter the Promised Land. Where was Edom 39 years earlier?

Jun 30, 202306:18
Asher Yatzar

Asher Yatzar

Exploring the Bracha a Jew makes after using the bathroom

Jun 29, 202305:00
Korach and the difference between Cohanim and Leviim

Korach and the difference between Cohanim and Leviim

Exploring Korach's beef with Aharon - and how it influences the way we approach the Torah

Jun 27, 202306:18
Models of Spiritual Leadership - a thought by The Lubavitcher Rebbe

Models of Spiritual Leadership - a thought by The Lubavitcher Rebbe

Exploring the Maamor: V'Ata Tetzaveh - An essay on Moshe and Mordechai's leadership

Jun 23, 202307:39
The Rebels' Wives

The Rebels' Wives

Exploring the sup-plot of the wives of Korach, Dasan and Aviram, and On ben Peles

Jun 23, 202304:22
Tanya Chapter 47

Tanya Chapter 47

Exploring Tanya Chapter 47, and its connecting the Mitzvah of Krias Shema to the Mitzvah to recall the Exodus.

Jun 23, 202304:53
Wheat and Wine

Wheat and Wine

Exploring why the Torah wants a side order of wheat and wine with each korban

Jun 16, 202305:25
Tanya Chapter 46

Tanya Chapter 46

Exploring Tanya Chapter 46, which teaches us to use the tool of reflecting love back to Hashem. A great tool to appreciating saying Shema.

Jun 13, 202304:13
The Torah of Traveling

The Torah of Traveling

Exploring the shenanigans of being on the road in the Torah - comparing Parshas Behaalosecha and Parshas Beshalach

Jun 09, 202304:49
Acquire Me

Acquire Me

Exploring how a possuk in Parshas Terumah, when repunctuated, redefines the purpose of Mitzvos.

Feb 24, 202303:60
Conflicts among Jews; ancient and current

Conflicts among Jews; ancient and current

Assessing conflicts Jews have had with one another over the past 3500 years!
Jan 17, 202339:28
Tanya Chapter 45

Tanya Chapter 45

Exploring how having compassion for God leads to loving God

Jan 17, 202303:53
Mitzvah 47: Courts must impose capital punishment for certain crimes

Mitzvah 47: Courts must impose capital punishment for certain crimes

Exploring the Mitzvah to impose capital punishment

Jan 17, 202306:22
Modeh Ani Part 4 - Melech Chai V'Kayam

Modeh Ani Part 4 - Melech Chai V'Kayam

Exploring the phrase "Melech Chai V'Kayam" in Modeh Ani.

Jan 16, 202302:58
Knowing Joseph and knowing God

Knowing Joseph and knowing God

Exploring Pharoah's failure to know Joseph and God. 

Jan 12, 202304:12
Mitzvah 46 - Do not deprive your wife of food, clothing, shelter, and marriage time

Mitzvah 46 - Do not deprive your wife of food, clothing, shelter, and marriage time

Exploring a husband's mitzvah to provide for his wife

Jan 12, 202304:16
Tanya Chapter 44

Tanya Chapter 44

Exploring two insights into loving God.

Jan 12, 202304:36
Raba Emunasecha - Modeh Ani Part Three

Raba Emunasecha - Modeh Ani Part Three

Exploring the last two words of Modeh Ani

Jan 08, 202302:20
Those who taste the upcoming Shabbos merit life

Those who taste the upcoming Shabbos merit life

Exploring the minhag of partaking of some of the Shabbos food on Erev Shabbos

Jan 05, 202303:24
Vayechi - Yaakov asks Yoseph and all Jews to choose

Vayechi - Yaakov asks Yoseph and all Jews to choose

Exploring Yaakov's demand that Yosef swear to commit to not bury Yaakov in Mitzrayim

Jan 05, 202305:46
Tanya Chapter 43

Tanya Chapter 43

Exploring two fears and two loves

Jan 01, 202306:33
Modeh Ani - A concession speech

Modeh Ani - A concession speech

Exploring another facet of the Hebrew word "Modeh" in Modeh Ani

Jan 01, 202303:18
Mitzvah 45 - Not to sell a Jewish Maidservant

Mitzvah 45 - Not to sell a Jewish Maidservant

Exploring the Mitzvah not to resell a women you were meant to marry

Jan 01, 202303:09
Third time (famine) is a charm

Third time (famine) is a charm

Exploring the recurring famines and resulting departure from the Holy Land

Dec 23, 202204:39
Menorah on the left

Menorah on the left

An exploration into human nature as learned from the Halacha that the Chanukah Menorah should be placed on the left side of the doorway.

Dec 16, 202204:11
Tanya Chapter 42

Tanya Chapter 42

Exploring Chapter 42 - How to achieve the trait of Yirah

Dec 15, 202204:59
Modeh Ani

Modeh Ani

Exploring a facet of the awakening prayer "Modeh Ani"

Dec 12, 202204:08
Mitzvah 44 - Redeeming a Jewish maidservant

Mitzvah 44 - Redeeming a Jewish maidservant

Exploring the mitzvah to release a Jewish maidservant as soon as you have no intention of having her marry into the family.

Dec 12, 202204:20
Tanya Chapter 41

Tanya Chapter 41

Exploring Tanya Chapter 41 - How to fear and love God when doing a Mitzvah.

Dec 07, 202205:04
Mitzvah 43 - To marry off a Jewish maidservant

Mitzvah 43 - To marry off a Jewish maidservant

Exploring the mitzvah that someone who has taken a Jewish maidservant should marry her or have his son marry her. 

Dec 07, 202203:53
A facet of praying for rain

A facet of praying for rain

Exploring the inconvenience of rain and the prayer for rain

Dec 04, 202204:50
Shabbos is for the Jewish People

Shabbos is for the Jewish People

Exploring the Jewish particularism of Shabbos

Dec 02, 202203:35
Vayeitzei - Trust and Honesty

Vayeitzei - Trust and Honesty

What does the brief story of Yaakov at the well tell us about trust?

Dec 02, 202205:54
What Leah teaches us about Tefilla

What Leah teaches us about Tefilla

Exploring the rabbis' understanding of Leah Imeinu and her tefillos

Dec 02, 202203:29
Tanya Chapter 40

Tanya Chapter 40

Exploring Tanya Chapter 40 - how Love of God and Awe of God elevate mitzvos

Nov 29, 202205:09
Mitzvah 42 - The Eved Ivri

Mitzvah 42 - The Eved Ivri

Exploring the mitzvah of how to treat the Eved Ivri - A Jewish indentured servant.

Nov 28, 202204:17
Shabbos is for music

Shabbos is for music

A brief exploration of the role of music in the Shabbos experience.

Nov 25, 202203:14
Tanya Review - Chapters 18-25

Tanya Review - Chapters 18-25

A half-hour review of Tanya Chapters 18-25.

Nov 25, 202228:27
Tanya Review - Chapters 1-17

Tanya Review - Chapters 1-17

A half-hour review shiur of the first seventeen chapters of Tanya.

Nov 25, 202231:55
Two kinds of tastiness

Two kinds of tastiness

Exploring a deeper dimension to the tasty foods that Yitzchak requested.

Nov 24, 202203:31
Mitzvah 41 - Do not take steps to get up on the altar.

Mitzvah 41 - Do not take steps to get up on the altar.

Exploring the mitzvah not to use a ladder or staircase to get up onto the altar, and the inferred mitzvah to build a ramp. 

Nov 21, 202205:09
Umeivee Goeil - He brings a redeemer

Umeivee Goeil - He brings a redeemer

Exploring the phrase in the first bracha of Shmoneh Esrei that Hashem in the present tense beings Moshiach.

Nov 20, 202204:11