Torah Cafe – Details, episodes & analysis

Central to Judaism is the belief that there will come a time when the world with its challenges and problems as we know it will end and we will enter a new era without evil, struggling and challenges. There will be an individual who will lead us to this period called Moshiach - the anointed one.

A fascinating discussion about the Jewish belief in the coming of Moshiach and what we believe will happen at the end of times.

The Temple Mount in Jerusalem is the holiest site in Judaism. However, on the Temple Mount sit the Al Aqsa Mosque and the Dome of the Rock, Muslim shrines, marking the sites importance to Islam. Since Israel captured East Jerusalem in 1967, Jews have been able to go to the Temple Mount under limited conditions.

Are Jews supposed to be going up to the Temple Mount? While it is the holiest spot in Judaism, is it too holy for us to be going there? Would Jewish law forbid us from exercising control over Judaism's holiest spot?

A fascinating look at the debate over where Jews may go to the Temple Mount today.  

One of the worst tragedies that befell our people was the ant-Jewish pogroms during the Khmelnytsky uprising in Poland and Ukraine in 1648-1649. The Khmelnitsky Pogroms, known to Jews as Gzayrois Tach Vetat decimated Jewish communities across Eastern Europe and was one of the most cataclysmic events in the history of Eastern European Jewry.
Learn the story of this horrific tragedy and understand its impact on Jews until today.

Sir Moses Montefiore was probably the most prominent and most impactful Jew in the 19th Century. His legacy lives on in the hundreds of synagogues, schools, Jewish hospitals, nursing homes and cemeteries and other Jewish organizations that bear his name more than a hundred years after his death.

Who was Sir Moses Montefiore? What was his impact? Why was he so venerated by Jews around the world?

Prayer is central to Judaism. We pray 3 times a day with special prayers for special occasions and lots of other prayers to be said at various times. Does G-d really need our prayers? Doesn't he know what we want without us telling him? Can't he just give us everything we need to start with? What is the purpose of prayer?

A fascinating discussion about the deeper meaning of prayer in Judaism.

One of the great tragedies to befall our people is the expulsion of the Jews from Spain in 1492. It marked the end of over 1,000 years of the Jewish community there and the beginning of many trials and challenges for the exiles.

We believe that we all have an obligation to not only do good ourselves but also to ensure that others do good. We are expected to make a positive impact on those around us. How can we effectively influence people?

Learn about the Torah's teachings on how to effectively influence people.

Our people first entered the land of Israel over 3,300 years ago. Yet over the years they were expelled or persecuted and forced to leave. As long as we have been away from the Land of Israel, our people have always yearned and attempted to return.

The current Yishuv - Jewish settlement can be traced to a number of major Aliyot - Group Immigrations over the past 500 years.

A fascinating discussion about the movement to settle the Land of Israel

The Kotel, the Western Wall of the Temple Mount in Jerusalem is the holiest place Jews are allowed to go to today. People come from around the world to the plaza in front of the Kotel to pray and talk to G-d.

Learn about the history of the Kotel and what it means for Jews today.

One of the biggest cultural differences between Jewish traditions and our modern western culture is the interaction between men and women. Jewish traditions put strong limits on interactions and physical touch between men and women.

A discussion about the Jewish traditions on interactions between men and women.