The Spirit of the Torah – Details, episodes & analysis

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The Spirit of the Torah

Rabbi Daniel Raphael Silverstein

Religion & Spirituality

Frequency: 1 episode/7d. Total Eps: 13

Spiritual insights and related practical exercises arising from the Hebrew calendar or weekly Torah portion.

Hosted by Rabbi Daniel Raphael Silverstein, founder of Applied Jewish Spirituality (AJS).

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https://www.appliedjewishspirituality.org/
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https://www.sefaria.org/Ba&apos
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Rosh Hashanah: Joseph Remembers the Future

Season 1 · Episode 1

Monday, September 30, 2024 • Duration 18:36

Welcome to The Spirit of the Torah from Applied Jewish Spirituality (AJS).

In every episode, Rabbi Daniel Raphael Silverstein explores insights arising from the Hebrew calendar or weekly Torah portion, and related practices that can help us to effect positive change in our lives.

Rosh Hashanah, our new year festival, has a lot to teach us about beginning, and our relationship with our own future self.

In this, our first episode, we will explore how the story of Joseph is intrinsically connected to the essence of the day, and what this can teach us about building a relationship with the person that we wish to become.

You can find the sources referred to in this episode below:
https://www.sefaria.org/Rosh_Hashanah.10b?lang=bi
https://www.sefaria.org/Yoma.35b.11?lang=bi
https://www.sefaria.org/Sotah.36b?lang=bi

Thank you for listening to The Spirit of the Torah from Applied Jewish Spirituality (AJS) - https://www.appliedjewishspirituality.org/

In every episode, Rabbi Daniel Raphael Silverstein explores insights arising from the Hebrew calendar or our weekly Torah portion, and related practices that can help us to effect positive change in our lives.

The intro and outro music is Shiviti by Dreamers - https://linktr.ee/dreamersmusic

Your support makes these podcasts possible.
To support future episodes of this podcast, please click here: https://www.appliedjewishspirituality.org/donate

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The Kabbalah of Yom Kippur: Narrative Therapy and Self-forgiveness

Season 1 · Episode 2

Sunday, October 6, 2024 • Duration 11:53

Welcome to The Spirit of the Torah from Applied Jewish Spirituality (AJS).

In every episode, Rabbi Daniel Raphael Silverstein explores insights arising from the Hebrew calendar or weekly Torah portion, and related practices that can help us to effect positive change in our lives.

Yom Kippur is our holy of holies, and its central theme is forgiveness. Our sages teach that the day itself can erase our past mistakes, if we harness its unique power.

This episode about Yom Kippur explores key ideas from the Kabbalah about this special day, including its association with the quality of Binah (Understanding) and Olam Haba (The World that is Coming).

From these kabbalistic concepts, we draw some concrete insights and practices to enrich our experience of this powerful period in our calendar.

Below are the sources referred to during the episode.

Space, Time and Being:
https://www.sefaria.org/Sefer_Yetzirah.6.1?lang=bi

Yom Kippur, The Soul and Life-force of the Year:
https://www.sefaria.org/Me'or_Einayim%2C_Ha'Azinu.2?vhe=Me%27or_Einayim_--_OYW&lang=bi

Binah, the Upper Mother or Womb of Our Being:
https://www.sefaria.org/Zohar%2C_Vayechi.22.179?vhe=Vocalized_Zohar,_Israel_2013&lang=bi&with=all&lang2=en
https://www.sefaria.org/Shenei_Luchot_HaBerit%2C_Aseret_HaDibrot%2C_Chullin%2C_Torah_Ohr.116?vhe=Shenei_Luchot_HaBrit,_based_on_Amsterdam,_1698_ed._Part_II&lang=bi

Olam Haba – The World that is Coming

Sukkot: The Divine Embrace and Manifesting Unity

Season 1 · Episode 3

Sunday, October 13, 2024 • Duration 15:38

Welcome to The Spirit of the Torah from Applied Jewish Spirituality (AJS).

In this episode, we explore the spiritual meaning of the beautiful festival of Sukkot and its emphasis on joyful, embodied, earth-based practices.

Here are the sources referred to in this episode:

The embrace or hug of the Divine Right Hand of Chesed (Loving-Oneness):

https://www.sefaria.org/Pri_Etz_Chaim%2C_Gate_of_Sukkot.1.3?vhe=Pri_Etz_Chaim&lang=bi

The joyful ancient celebration of Sukkot, as described in the Mishnah:

https://www.sefaria.org/Mishnah_Sukkah.5.1?vhe=Torat_Emet_357&lang=bi&with=all&lang2=en

Returning to the physical and practical:

https://www.sefaria.org/Olat_Reiyah%2C_Between_Yom_Kippur_and_Sukkot?lang=bi

Dwelling in the Clouds of Glory:

https://www.sefaria.org/Sukkah.11b.15?vhe=William_Davidson_Edition_-_Vocalized_Aramaic&lang=bi

Combining the natural and super-natural:

https://he.wikisource.org/wiki/%D7%A2%D7%99%D7%9F_%D7%90%D7%99%D7%94_%D7%A2%D7%9C_%D7%A9%D7%91%D7%AA_%D7%99%D7%91_%D7%90

The Infinite Spiral of Compassion - Simchat Torah, VeZot HaBracha & Breishit

Season 1 · Episode 4

Monday, October 21, 2024 • Duration 23:21

On Simchat Torah, we conclude our year-long reading of the entire Torah, and then immediately begin it once again.

What is the kabbalistic meaning of this endless circle of Torah?

Here are the sources referred to in this episode:

When we've learned the entire Torah, then we understand that we actually don't know anything at all.
https://www.sefaria.org/Me'or_Einayim%2C_Bereshit.48?vhe=Me%27or_Einayim_--_OYW&lang=bi

Creation could not endure unless Compassion (Rachamim, aka Emet and Tiferet) preceded Judgement (Din) -
https://www.sefaria.org/Genesis.1.1?lang=bi&aliyot=0&p2=Rashi_on_Genesis.1.1&lang2=bi

The greatest thing Moses did was breaking the tablets! -
https://www.sefaria.org/Deuteronomy.34.12?lang=bi&aliyot=0&p2=Rashi_on_Deuteronomy.34.12.3&lang2=bi

The beginning of Hashem's Word (Torah) is Truth (Emet) -
https://www.sefaria.org/Psalms.119.160?lang=bi&with=all&lang2=en

Truth (Emet is Hashem's seal, i.e. identifying mark -
https://www.sefaria.org/Shabbat.55a.12?lang=bi&with=all&lang2=en

Before Creation, Truth says don't create humanity because they will be full of lies, and Hashem "throws Truth to the ground" (Daniel 8:12), but when the angels protested that Truth is Hashem's own seal (i.e. identifying mark), Hashem relented and said "Let Truth sprout from the earth" (Psalms 85:12) -
https://www.sefaria.org/Bereshit_Rabbah.8.5?lang=bi

The real nature of Truth is to bring close, and not to distance; The last letters of the first three words of the Torah spell "Emet", and as soon as we end the Torah (with the breaking of the tablets), we begin it again, which demonstrates that we don't know anything at all, and we must never let ourselves be distanced or pushed away by what seems to be the Truth, rather that we have to begin again in every moment because the actual, real, deepest Truth is that Hashem's Compassion knows no limits, and so we should always begin once again to pray -

Noach: Kabbalistic Perspectives on Being a Righteous Person

Season 1 · Episode 5

Sunday, October 27, 2024 • Duration 20:00

Rashi, the great French medieval commentator on the Torah, comments on the opening of our weekly Torah portion in a very provocative manner.

Through bringing multiple perspectives on the righteousness of Noach, he challenges us to consider: What does it mean to be a righteous person (Tzadik)?

Here are the sources referred to in this episode:

The Torah calls Noach a Tzadik (Righteous Person).
How is that discerned?
Is it innate, or is it relative to one's context?
https://www.sefaria.org/Genesis.6.9?lang=bi&aliyot=0&p2=Rashi_on_Genesis.6.9&lang2=bi

The Tzadik turns the quality of Judgement/Severity to Compassion:
https://www.sefaria.org/Bereshit_Rabbah.73.3?lang=bi&with=all&lang2=en

The Righteous fall but keep getting up - seven times:
https://www.sefaria.org/Proverbs.24.16?lang=bi&with=all&lang2=en

Joseph *just* passes his test to become a Tzadik: https://www.sefaria.org/Sotah.36b.11?lang=bi&with=all&lang2=en

This is what makes him a Tzadik, and enables him to be a channel for life to flow through him:
https://www.sefaria.org/Zohar%2C_Miketz.4.35?vhe=Vocalized_Zohar,_Israel_2013&lang=bi&with=all&lang2=en

The Righteous One is the foundation of the world:
https://www.sefaria.org/Proverbs.10.25?lang=bi&with=all&lang2=en

All of us are righteous:
https://www.sefaria.org/Mishnah_Sanhedrin.10.1?lang=bi&with=all&lang2=enA Tzadik is someone who enjoys serving G!d:We're all potential Tzadikim and the world needs multiple Tzadikim to each do their bit:

Lech Lecha: A Tribe Called Quest

Season 1 · Episode 6

Sunday, November 3, 2024 • Duration 12:05

Kabbalah teaches that our lives are a quest. How do we keep going in the right direction, one step at a time?

Here are the sources referred to in this episode:

The Infinite one tells Avram to "go forth" or "go to yourself" or "go for your own benefit" -
https://www.sefaria.org/Genesis.12.1?lang=bi&with=Rashi&lang2=en

Also Rashi (on "the land that I will show you"): Hashem didn't tell Avram where he was going, in order to make the place more beloved to him.

"The Land of Israel" (both the actual place and the corresponding spiritual state) is a place of great desire, intimacy and awe. To attain it, we must learn how to appreciate it, which happens through us journeying step by step, overcoming challenge by challenge.
https://www.sefaria.org/Likutei_Halakhot%2C_Orach_Chaim%2C_Laws_of_Washing_One's_Hands_for_a_Meal.6.106?vhe=Likutei_Halachot:_Orach_Chaim_1&lang=bi

Hashem's telling Avram to "Go forth!" or "Go to yourself!" is a message to every one of us to re-turn to our own highest self, our spiritual root, our soul (Neshamah), which requires many ups and downs.
Wherever we are going, whatever is happening, we need to intend / direct (lekaven) ourselves to our deepest soul-root, and ignore the many distractions and confusions we may encounter from our family, our homeland, our culture or civilization, etc -
https://www.sefaria.org/Likutei_Halakhot%2C_Orach_Chaim%2C_Laws_of_the_Sabbath.7.75?lang=bi

This journey can also be described a journey to our deepest inner truth, which in other teachings (see the Breishit episode) Reb Noson points out correlates to Rachamim (Compassion). We can cultivate truthfulness / compassion by speaking our truth to our Creator, thereby bringing these qualities into our consciousness and our lives -
https://www.sefaria.org/Likutei_Halakhot%2C_Choshen_Mishpat%2C_Laws_of_Theft.5.6.1?vhe=Likutei_Halachot:_Choshen_Mishpat_2&lang=biBefore every successful step forward, there is some kind of confusion. We need to seek and search relentlessly, trusting in the infinite compassion of the Creator -

Vayera: Teaching the Angels a Lesson

Season 1 · Episode 7

Sunday, November 10, 2024 • Duration 18:21

Reb Noson / Rav Natan of Breslov's Chasidic interpretations of the Torah, Kabbalah and Midrash are deeply resonant for me at the moment, and also providing so much guidance that translates into actual practice in our daily lives.

Here are the sources referred to in this episode:

The amazing teaching from Reb Noson's masterpiece, Likutei Halachot, that this week's entire episode is based on, which says that eating is our ultimate spiritual practice, and which ties together all the sources below:
https://www.sefaria.org/Likutei_Halakhot%2C_Orach_Chaim%2C_Laws_of_Meals.5.49?vhe=Likutei_Halachot:_Orach_Chaim_1&lang=bi

Opening of the parsha:
https://www.sefaria.org/Genesis.18?lang=bi&aliyot=0

Uzza and Azael mentioned in the Talmud:
https://www.sefaria.org/Yoma.67b?vhe=William_Davidson_Edition_-_Vocalized_Aramaic&lang=bi

Fuller version of the story of the fallen angels:
https://www.sefaria.org/Zohar%2C_Bereshit.20?vhe=Vocalized_Zohar,_Israel_2013&lang=bi

Moses ascends to heaven to receive the Torah:
https://www.sefaria.org/Shemot_Rabbah.28?lang=bi

The angels appear to be eating:
https://www.sefaria.org/Bereshit_Rabbah.48?lang=bi

We can't survive without the Torah:
https://www.sefaria.org/Psalms.119.92?lang=bi

Many centuries later, shortly before the birth of Samson/Shimson...the angel refuses food, and the angel's ascent is described as a wonder, like our bodily functions: Resources for the blessing "Asher Yatzar" (to be said after going to the bathroom):

Chayei Sara: Just Like Starting Over

Season 1 · Episode 8

Sunday, November 17, 2024 • Duration 15:55

In this episode, we'll be exploring Reb Noson / Rav Natan of Breslov's Chasidic interpretations of the Torah, Kabbalah and Midrash, centered on this week's Torah portion.

Here are the sources referred to in this episode:

Opening of the parsha with Rashi:

https://www.sefaria.org/Genesis.23.1?lang=bi&aliyot=0&p2=Rashi_on_Genesis.23.1&lang2=bi

We need to constantly begin anew, seeing ourselves as if we have not even yet begun our journeys, constantly adding sanctity and vitality each and every day – that is the real meaning of “long life”:

https://www.sefaria.org/Likutei_Halakhot%2C_Orach_Chaim%2C_Laws_of_Phylacteries.5.38?lang=bi

The cave was called Machpeilah or “double” because righteous people, such as those buried there, are constantly re-doubling in sanctity and vitality, and they are constantly making “Teshuvah on Teshuvah” - that is returning to, and re-integrating, the previous steps on their journey into their constantly growing self:

https://www.sefaria.org/Likutei_Halakhot%2C_Orach_Chaim%2C_Laws_of_Phylacteries.5.39.1?lang=bi

It's not possible to acquire sanctity without effort. Therefore Avraham rejected the idea of receiving the cave as a free gift, and instead paid 400 shekel for it, corresponding to the “400 Worlds of Desire” (Zohar):

https://www.sefaria.org/Likutei_Halakhot%2C_Choshen_Mishpat%2C_Laws_of_Gifting.4.11?lang=bi

Desire, will, Ratzon, is essential to our path:

Toldot: Our Patriarchs as Kabbalistic Archetypes

Season 1 · Episode 9

Sunday, November 24, 2024 • Duration 21:16

In this episode, we explore a foundational idea in Kabbalah. The Sefirot (qualities, emanations or characteristics) of the Divine which make up the Tree of Life are said to correspond to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. How do we see this in the Torah, and through the commentaries of the Ba'al Shem Tov and his students?

Here's the parsha: https://www.sefaria.org/Genesis.25.19?lang=bi&with=all&lang2=en

Firstly, we learn from the Patriarchs that everyone has to find their own unique path of Divine service:

https://www.sefaria.org/Ba'al_Shem_Tov%2C_Vayetzei.6.1?lang=bi

Abraham, corresponding to Chesed (Overflowing Lovingkindness, Generosity, Oneness) fathers Isaac, corresponding to Gevurah (Contraction / Severity / Lack / Concealment).

Why? Chesed needs Gevurah to manifest in the world; there has to be a lack or need for giving to be possible.

Hence it is through Gevurah (corresponding to Isaac) that Chesed (corresponding to Abraham) can actually come into the world and affect it.

https://www.sefaria.org/Ba'al_Shem_Tov%2C_Toldot.1.1?lang=bi

Jacob was simple / perfect (tam) and “dwelt in tents.” (Gen. 25:27)

Jacob embodies the quality of Tiferet (Beauty, Truth, Compassion or Harmony, which connects the micro to the macro, the specific detail to the universal).

Through learning Torah, which is a microcosm of reality, and also relates to the quality of Tiferet, Jacob raised up sparks / fixed reality in many different places.

https://www.sefaria.org/Ba'al_Shem_Tov%2C_Lech_Lecha.22.1?lang=bi

This quality is illustrated by the land folding up under him.

Vayeitzei: Living the Dream-Ladder

Season 1 · Episode 10

Sunday, December 1, 2024 • Duration 14:08

Happy Moon! Chodesh Tov! In this week's episode we'll explore Jacob's dream of the ladder, which is an absolute centerpiece of Jewish spirituality.

Below are some of the life lessons we can learn from it, according to our spiritual teachers.

Start of the parsha: https://www.sefaria.org/Genesis.28.10-32.3?lang=bi&aliyot=0

When we unify ourselves with the "lowest level of existence" then our consciousness can expand infinitely: https://www.sefaria.org/Toldot_Yaakov_Yosef%2C_Vayetzei.17?vhe=Eichen_edition._Jerusalem,_2011&lang=bi

When we engage with worldly and material matters, let our consciousness be connected to the infinite heavens: https://www.sefaria.org/Ben_Porat_Yosef%2C_Vayetzei.257?vhe=Eichen_edition._Jerusalem,_2011&lang=bi

To grow, we have to face steeper opposition than we ever have before, and to fail / fall. Awareness (Da'at) will help us realize that an apparent fall is really just a part of the process of growth. Just like the angels, rising and falling is a part of our service.
https://www.sefaria.org/Likutei_Halakhot%2C_Choshen_Mishpat%2C_Laws_of_Gifting.4.12?vhe=Likutei_Halachot:_Choshen_Mishpat_2&lang=bi

Hashem is everywhere, even in the places of our shame / suffering etc
https://www.sefaria.org/Likutei_Halakhot%2C_Orach_Chaim%2C_Laws_for_Afternoon_Prayer.7.90?vhe=Likutei_Halachot:_Orach_Chaim_2&lang=bi

Life is going to be full of ups and downs, it's natural - try to expect this, and to cultivate equanimity around it:
A powerful way to embody the ladder, which is rooted in the ground and reaches to infinity, is to speak the truth. The voice is created by our humble and physical human body, yet when we speak the truth, it reaches infinite heights, and can bring us up with it.

The Spirit of the Torah – Details, episodes & analysis

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