The Daily Derech from Exploring Judaism – Détails, épisodes et analyse

In this introductory episode, Rabbi Marcus Rubenstein introduces The Daily Derech.

The Daily Derech is a 15-minute podcast released Sunday through Friday, structured into three five-minute segments: parashah study, practical Jewish law, and character development. The goal is to make daily Torah learning accessible, clear, and realistic for Jews who want to learn but struggle with time or knowing where to begin.

Content will be drawn from Me’am Loez, Mishneh Torah, and Menorat HaMaor, presenting rabbinic Judaism in a format designed for the modern Jew.

In this episode, RabbI Rubenstein lays out the structure, purpose, and heart of the project.

Learn more at exploringjudaism.org/thedailyderech

Reach out to Rabbi Rubenstein here.

In this introductory episode, Rabbi Marcus Rubenstein explains the three foundational works that will shape The Daily Derech.

For parashah study, we're learning from the Me’am Loez, the 18th-century Ladino commentary that weaves Talmud, Midrash, halakhah, and ethical teaching into a flowing, story-like presentation designed for the broader community.

For practical Jewish law, we're learning from Maimonides’ Mishneh Torah, the comprehensive 12th-century code written to present clear, organized halakhah without requiring navigation of complex Talmudic debates.

For character development, we're learning from the Menorat HaMaor, the medieval ethical work of Rabbeinu Yitzhak Abuhav, which gathers classical rabbinic sources into an accessible framework focused on middot, mitzvot, prayer, repentance, and communal life.

In this episode, Rabbi Rubenstein outlines why these texts were chosen and how they together create a stable, normative, and accessible framework for daily Torah learning.

Learn more at exploringjudaism.org/thedailyderech and reach out to Rabbi Rubenstein here.

In this episode of The Daily Derech, Rabbi Marcus Rubenstein explores Parashat Ki Tisa, Hilchot Chametz uMatzah, and preparation for Pesach.

From Me’am Loez, he teaches the principle of ein mukdam umuchar baTorah, explaining that the Mishkan was commanded after the sin of the Golden Calf, reframing failure as misdirected spiritual energy that can be redirected toward serving God.

In Rambam’s Hilchot Chametz uMatzah, he outlines the severity of eating a kezayit of chametz on Pesach, the concept of karet, and the prohibitions against eating, benefiting from, or owning chametz.

From Menorat HaMaor, he highlights the rabbinic practice of reviewing the laws of Pesach thirty days in advance, emphasizing preparation before entering sacred time.

Learn more at exploringjudaism.org/thedailyderech and reach out to Rabbi Rubenstein here.

In this episode of The Daily Derech, Rabbi Marcus Rubenstein explores Parashat Ki Tisa, Hilchot Chametz uMatzah, and the brit bein habetarim.

From Me’am Loez, he explains why God commands a census after the Golden Calf, framing it as a message that each person still counts even after transgression.

In Hilchot Chametz uMatzah, he outlines the laws of chametz sheavar alav Pesach and the difference between full chametz and mixtures after the holiday.

From Menorat HaMaor, he reflects on Avraham’s covenant and the promise that suffering will ultimately lead to redemption.

Learn more at exploringjudaism.org/thedailyderech and reach out to Rabbi Rubenstein here.

In this episode of The Daily Derech, Rabbi Marcus Rubenstein explores Parashat Parah, the laws of Erev Pesach, and the deeper meaning of exile and redemption.

From Me’am Loez, he reflects on the mitzvah of the Parah Adumah, the red heifer, and the mystery of purification from contact with death as preparation for Pesach.

In Hilchot Chametz uMatzah, he outlines when chametz becomes prohibited on Erev Pesach, explaining the Torah prohibition from halachic noon and the rabbinic fences that move the restriction earlier.

From Menorat HaMaor, he continues the teaching on the brit bein habetarim, emphasizing the Midrashic message that just as exile and suffering are certain, so too is redemption.

Learn more at exploringjudaism.org/thedailyderech and reach out to Rabbi Rubenstein here.

In this episode of The Daily Derech, Rabbi Marcus Rubenstein explores Parashat Vayakhel, Hilchot Chametz uMatzah, and the deeper lessons of the brit bein habetarim.

From Me’am Loez, he reflects on the word vayakhel and the power of kehilah. After the sin of the Golden Calf and the forgiveness of Yom Kippur, Moshe gathers the people together, teaching that the first step after failure is rebuilding community.

In Hilchot Chametz uMatzah, he explains bitul chametz, the practice of nullifying chametz in one’s heart before Pesach, emphasizing that preparing for the holiday is not only physical but also a shift in values.

From Menorat HaMaor, he continues the teaching on the brit bein habetarim, exploring how the golden calf and later idolatry in the northern kingdom reveal the dangers of impatience, political convenience, and abandoning shared religious centers.

Learn more at exploringjudaism.org/thedailyderech and reach out to Rabbi Rubenstein here.

In this episode of The Daily Derech, Rabbi Marcus Rubenstein explores Parashat Vayakhel–Pekudei, Hilchot Chametz uMatzah, and the symbolism of the sacrifices in the brit bein habetarim.

From Me’am Loez, he explains why the Torah reminds the people about Shabbat just before the work of building the Mishkan. Even the sacred task of building a dwelling place for God does not override the need to stop, rest, and recognize that the world ultimately belongs to God.

In Hilchot Chametz uMatzah, he discusses the practical laws of bedikat chametz, including the use of a candle for searching, where one is required to look for chametz, and when it is acceptable to rely on bitul.

From Menorat HaMaor, he continues the midrash on the brit bein habetarim, exploring how the goat and the ram symbolize later periods of Jewish history, the challenges of the Second Temple era, and the hope for redemption in the future.

Learn more at exploringjudaism.org/thedailyderech and reach out to Rabbi Rubenstein here.

In this episode of The Daily Derech, Rabbi Marcus Rubenstein continues exploring Parashat Vayakhel, Hilchot Chametz uMatzah, and the symbolism of the Temples in Menorat HaMaor.

From Me’am Loez, he explains how the 39 categories of labor forbidden on Shabbat come from the work used to build the Mishkan. The same activities that build God’s dwelling during the week are precisely what must stop on Shabbat, reminding us that worship includes both sacred work and sacred rest.

In Hilchot Chametz uMatzah, he examines the rabbinic obligation of bedikat chametz, the search for chametz before Pesach, and discusses when chametz must be removed and when nullification is sufficient.

From Menorat HaMaor, he explores the wells dug by Yitzchak and how their names symbolize the three Temples: struggle around the first, opposition during the second, and the hope for a future era of spiritual expansiveness.

Learn more at exploringjudaism.org/thedailyderech and reach out to Rabbi Rubenstein here.

In this episode of The Daily Derech, Rabbi Marcus Rubenstein continues exploring Parashat Vayakhel, Hilchot Chametz uMatzah, and a teaching from Menorat HaMaor about Abraham’s vision in the brit bein habetarim.

From Me’am Loez, he reflects on a midrash that imagines the Torah worrying that once the Jewish people enter the land and become busy with work, they will stop studying. God’s response is Shabbat: a day set aside not only for rest, but also for Torah learning and spiritual focus.

In Hilchot Chametz uMatzah, he discusses responsibility for bedikat chametz when renting a home before Pesach, explaining when the obligation falls on the tenant and when one can assume the owner already checked.

From Menorat HaMaor, he explores a midrash about Abraham being shown four realities: Gehinom, the kingdoms of the world, the Torah, and the Temple. The teaching emphasizes that when the Jewish people remain engaged in Torah and divine service, they are protected from the harsher forms of judgment.

Learn more at exploringjudaism.org/thedailyderech and reach out to Rabbi Rubenstein here.

In this episode of The Daily Derech, Rabbi Marcus Rubenstein explores Parashat HaChodesh, Hilchot Chametz uMatzah, and a teaching from Menorat HaMaor about redemption and God’s enduring presence with the Jewish people.

From Me’am Loez, he reflects on the command that the Jewish calendar begins with the month of Nisan, the time of the Exodus. Through a parable about a king celebrating the return of his kidnapped son even more than his birth, he explains how Jewish time is defined by redemption while also balancing the universal significance of creation marked by Rosh Hashanah.

In Hilchot Chametz uMatzah, he discusses the obligation to search one’s home for chametz on the night of the 14th of Nisan and gather it to be destroyed the next morning before Pesach.

From Menorat HaMaor, he explores the teaching that the Shekhinah accompanies the Jewish people in every exile, expressing the depth of God’s love and commitment to remain with Israel even in times of struggle.

Learn more at exploringjudaism.org/thedailyderech and reach out to Rabbi Rubenstein here.