- 14
- Episodes
- 7
- Ratings
- 2019
- First episode
About Jewish Wisdom
Authentic Jewish teachings, insights and advice from the Bible, Talmud and Kabbalah.
- Publisher
- Rabbi Arnie Singer
- Category
- religion & spirituality · religion & spirituality · religion & spirituality
- Language
- en
- Explicit
- No
- First episode
- 12 Mar 2019
- Latest episode
- 4 Apr 2025
Latest episodes
14 episodes in the feed.
4 Apr 2025
Parshat Vayikra – Korban – Closeness
The post Parshat Vayikra – Korban – Closeness (https://www.jewishwisdom.co/uncategorized/parshat-vayikra-korban-closeness/) appeared first on Jewish Wisdom (https://www.jewishwisdom.co).
2 Apr 2025
Parshat Vayikra – No Distance
The post Parshat Vayikra – No Distance (https://www.jewishwisdom.co/uncategorized/parshat-vayikra-no-distance/) appeared first on Jewish Wisdom (https://www.jewishwisdom.co).
31 Mar 2025
Parshat Pekudei – Investing in Our Future
In last week’s Torah portion of Pekudei, towards the end, we read how Moshe basically finishes building the Mishkan. He stops all donations, no more money is necessary, all the vessels have been constructed, everything’s ready to roll, and they put up the Mishkan. Moshe supervises that, and then it says that the cloud of God, representing the Shekhinah, the Divine Presence, rests on the Mishkan, the tabernacle, and after that, Moshe can no longer enter the tabernacle, because at the end of the day, even though he is the greatest prophet of the Jewish people that ever lived, he’s still not a Kohen, he’s not part of the priestly class, so he’s not allowed to enter into the midst of the Mishkan. It’s such a powerful lesson that we learn from this, because we see that Moshe, putting all his energy, everything that he has, into building this Mishkan, and at the end of the day, he can’t fully benefit from the fruits of his labor. And, in fact, we see this also later on, where he does everything to bring the Jewish people to the land of Israel, and yet he himself cannot partake in that incredible reward of actually entering the land. And the lesson here is that the purpose of our work, and all the effort that we invest, is not necessarily to enjoy the fruit of our labor, it’s the actual, the work itself, the investment, because what we’re really doing is investing in the next generation, and by them being able to benefit from that, then that’s how we gain our reward, that’s how we partake in the fruit, through our generations, through our children, through our grandchildren. So, we should just understand that even though we might not see the fruit of our labor, that doesn’t mean that all the effort that we’re expending, all the investments that we’re making, are not worthy. In fact, just the opposite, it’s all the work, the effort that we’re investing, that’s how we get our reward, and the fruits of our investment in our labor will come, God-willing, from our children, our grandchildren, and the generations that we will, God-willing, be leaving behind. So, may God bless us all to be able to make these kinds of investments, and give us the strength to put the effort in, and that even though we might personally not see the fruits of our labor, that shouldn’t discourage us, but it should give us chizuk, it should give us strength, in the knowledge that we will be benefiting through our children, and grandchildren, and all the generations that we leave behind. The post Parshat Pekudei – Investing in Our Future (https://www.jewishwisdom.co/uncategorized/parshat-pekudei-investing-in-our-future/) appeared first on Jewish Wisdom (https://www.jewishwisdom.co).
2 Dec 2024
Parshat Toldot – The Tears of Angels
In Parshat Toldot, we learn that Yitzchak became blind in his old age. Rashi cites three explanations from the Midrash and Talmud as to why this happened. One explanation is that Esav’s wives burned incense to idols, and the smoke from that idolatry caused Yitzchak’s blindness. This great tzaddik could not tolerate such tumah—such impurity. The second explanation is that Yitzchak’s blindness was divine intervention, ensuring he would not recognize Yaakov’s disguise, thereby allowing Yaakov to receive the blessings intended for Esav. The third explanation is less straightforward. It states that when Yitzchak was bound on the Akeidah and prepared to give his life as a sacrifice, the angels wept. A tear fell into Yitzchak’s eye, and this caused his blindness. While the first two explanations fit logically within the narrative, the third is more enigmatic. Why would the angels’ tears cause blindness? Why were the angels crying—out of joy, sadness, or something else? And why should Yitzchak be “punished” with blindness as a result? To understand this, we need to consider the unique relationship between angels and humans. The Midrash teaches that angels have always been in tension with mankind. They often question God’s decisions regarding humanity. For example, when God gave the Torah to the Jewish people, the angels protested, arguing, “Why give it to them? They will make mistakes and fail.” Angels, unlike humans, are entirely pure. They have no Yetzer Hara (evil inclination), no doubts, and no distractions. Their service to God is absolute, without struggle or deviation. Humans, on the other hand, are defined by free choice—Bechira Chofshit—which means we can overcome challenges, doubts, and inclinations. At the Akeidah, however, Yitzchak reached an extraordinary spiritual level. He was completely connected to God, free of doubts, and willing to give his life with perfect emunah (faith). In that moment, Yitzchak transcended his humanity and reached the level of an angel. The angels, witnessing this, cried. Why? Because they saw mankind—represented by Yitzchak—rising to their level, closing the gap between human imperfection and angelic purity. Their tears blinded Yitzchak. What does this blindness represent? Blindness symbolizes a lack of clarity, an inability to see things as they truly are. After the Akeidah, Yitzchak—and by extension, humanity—returned to a state where perfect, unwavering emunah was no longer accessible. Doubts and uncertainties became an intrinsic part of human existence. This blindness was passed down to his descendants. Yaakov, for example, was “blinded” to Yosef’s fate, believing for years that his beloved son was dead. His grief and uncertainty were part of this legacy of human doubt. For us, this blindness manifests in the struggle to see the goodness and divine plan behind life’s challenges. Often, things appear bleak or unfair, and our limited perspective clouds the truth that everything God does is ultimately good. Sometimes, clarity only comes generations later, when the full picture is revealed. We are not angels. We have a Yetzer Hara, and we experience doubt and uncertainty. Our emunah isn’t naturally perfect—it requires effort and growth. But this struggle is precisely what makes us unique. By overcoming doubts and resisting our Yetzer Hara, we engage in the ultimate human endeavor: to strengthen our bitachon (trust) and emunah in Hashem. The angels’ tears remind us of this paradox. While we may never achieve the perfection of the angels, our ability to struggle, grow, and triumph over doubt is what elevates us. It’s our work—our avodah—to strive for clarity, to strengthen our faith, and to trust in Hashem’s plan, even when we cannot see the full picture. The post Parshat Toldot – The Tears of Angels (https://www.jewishwisdom.co/parsha/parshat-toldot-the-tears-of-angels/) appeared first on Jewish Wisdom (https://www.jewishwisdom.co).
27 Feb 2024
Parshat Tezaveh – The Priestly Garments
In Parsha Tetzaveh, the Torah commands us to create clothing, special clothing, for Aaron and his sons, for the Kohanim. And the Torah says the reason for that clothing is l’kavod, for honor, or litifaret, and for beauty. Now, there’s no other mitzvah in the Torah that requires wearing special garments other than the garments of the Kohanim, [...] The post Parshat Tezaveh – The Priestly Garments (https://www.jewishwisdom.co/parsha/parshat-tezaveh-the-priestly-garments/) appeared first on Jewish Wisdom (https://www.jewishwisdom.co).
13 Sept 2022
Elul – Preparing Ourselves for the Day of Judgement
A Chassidic story: A wealthy merchant would regularly visit the Baal Shem Tov and would donate large sums of money for the Rebbe’s charitable causes. Eventually his fortune changed and his business failed, leaving him nearly penniless. When he went to visit the Rebbe again the Baal Shem, undoubtedly aware of the man’s dire straits, [...] The post Elul – Preparing Ourselves for the Day of Judgement (https://www.jewishwisdom.co/holidays/elul-getting-ready/) appeared first on Jewish Wisdom (https://www.jewishwisdom.co).
18 Aug 2022
A Life Lesson from Devarim
The Book of Devarim teaches us a very important life lesson about overcoming challenges and obstacles. Devarim is different than the other five books of the torah because it is a monologue spoken by Moses during the last few days of his life, while the Jewish People were camped in the Plains of Moab on [...] The post A Life Lesson from Devarim (https://www.jewishwisdom.co/parsha/life-lesson-devarim/) appeared first on Jewish Wisdom (https://www.jewishwisdom.co).
19 Jul 2022
Commemorating a Yartzeit [A Brief Insight]
A Yartzeit is the yearly anniversary (on the Hebrew calendar) of a person’s death. The day is commemorated by the recitation of the Kaddish prayer by the children of the deceased, and by giving charity, performing good deeds and studying Torah. We commemorate the Yartzeits of parents, spouses, family members and great spiritual leaders. As [...] The post Commemorating a Yartzeit [A Brief Insight] (https://www.jewishwisdom.co/mourning/commemorating-yartzeit/) appeared first on Jewish Wisdom (https://www.jewishwisdom.co).
17 Jul 2022
Modeh Ani – The Jewish prayer of thanks first thing in the morning
The first prayer in the Jewish siddur is recited when we wake up in the morning, while we’re still in bed. Here is my translation of the prayer, from the original Hebrew: Thank you, oh living and eternal God, for mercifully returning my soul to me, great is your faithfulness. Let’s break down the prayer [...] The post Modeh Ani – The Jewish prayer of thanks first thing in the morning (https://www.jewishwisdom.co/jewish-prayer/modeh-ani-jewish-prayer-thanks/) appeared first on Jewish Wisdom (https://www.jewishwisdom.co).
20 Mar 2020
Weekly Parsha: Vayakhel [Podcast]
In this podcast episode Rabbi Singer discusses the weekly torah portion (parsha) of Vayakhel and explains a couple of major topics discussed in it. You can apply the important lesson you’ll learn from this teaching to your daily life. The post Weekly Parsha: Vayakhel [Podcast] (https://www.jewishwisdom.co/podcast/weekly-parsha-vayakhel-podcast/) appeared first on Jewish Wisdom (https://www.jewishwisdom.co).
10 Apr 2019
Passover Seder: The Meaning of Dayenu [Podcast]
In this podcast episode Rabbi Singer discusses the famous song Dayenu that we sing at the Passover Seder and explains the true meaning behind it. You can apply the important lesson you’ll learn from this teaching to your daily life. The post Passover Seder: The Meaning of Dayenu [Podcast] (https://www.jewishwisdom.co/podcast/passover-seder-dayenu-podcast/) appeared first on Jewish Wisdom (https://www.jewishwisdom.co).
19 Mar 2019
The Hidden Lesson of Purim [Podcast]
In this podcast episode Rabbi Singer discusses the fundamental theme of the holiday of Purim: Hiddenness. It is reflected in the absence of God’s name in the Book of Esther and the reason we dress up in costumes. You can apply the important lesson you’ll learn from this teaching to your daily life. The post The Hidden Lesson of Purim [Podcast] (https://www.jewishwisdom.co/podcast/lesson-of-purim-podcast/) appeared first on Jewish Wisdom (https://www.jewishwisdom.co).
13 Mar 2019
Focusing on the Important [Podcast]
In this podcast episode Rabbi Singer discusses the idea of focus. Based on a personal story, he explores the tension we all face when our thoughts are torn between focusing on trivial manner and important things like God, family and relationships. You can apply the important lessons you’ll learn from this teaching to your daily [...] The post Focusing on the Important [Podcast] (https://www.jewishwisdom.co/spirituality/focusing-on-the-important-podcast/) appeared first on Jewish Wisdom (https://www.jewishwisdom.co).
12 Mar 2019
Weekly Torah Portion – Vayikra [Podcast]
In this podcast episode Rabbi Singer discusses the weekly Parsha (Torah portion) of Vayikra. The subject of this teaching revolves around the true meaning of the sacrificial service — Giving. You can apply the important lessons you’ll learn from this teaching to your daily life. The post Weekly Torah Portion – Vayikra [Podcast] (https://www.jewishwisdom.co/podcast/weekly-torah-portion-vayikra-podcast/) appeared first on Jewish Wisdom (https://www.jewishwisdom.co).
Reach and audience
Public platform figures. Ratings count people who left a rating, not total listeners.
- Apple Podcasts (US)
- 5.0 / 5
- 7 ratings
Contact Jewish Wisdom
- Guest appearances
- Books guests
Based on episode analysis; this does not confirm that the show is currently accepting guests.
Host of Jewish Wisdom?
Claim your podcast to manage its listing and keep your show details accurate.
Pod Engine is an independent podcast discovery and analytics service and is not affiliated with or endorsed by this podcast. Artwork and show content belong to their owners. Full legal notice.
Explore this show
Podcast research with Pod Engine