Sivan Says: Taking the Torah Personally

Bereshit

Fri, 17 Oct 2025 15:34:00 -0000

In this week’s parsha, the story begins: God creates the world, light breaks through darkness, and humanity takes its first breath. But Bereshit is more than a tale of beginnings. It’s an invitation to start fresh, to choose connection and creation once more.

This week, that sense of renewal feels especially real. Twenty hostages returned home just before Simchat Torah, and across the world, Jews are finding their way back: lighting candles, learning Torah, rediscovering what it means to keep Shabbat.

So what does it mean to begin again, not only in the Torah but in our own lives? Tune in to find out.

Sukkot

Mon, 06 Oct 2025 20:30:00 -0000

This week, we pause the regular Torah reading for Sukkot, the festival of joy, unity, and fragility. Sivan reflects on how entering the Sukkah connects us to generations who found stability in something temporary. The Sukkah mirrors our history: delicate in form but enduring in spirit, a reminder that strength often begins with humility and faith.

Sivan shares a letter from Masha, a listener from California who grew up far from Jewish life. After October 7, she began studying Torah, keeping Shabbat, and reconnecting with her heritage. Her story captures what it means to be an “October 8 Jew,” part of a new wave of Jews rediscovering their roots in the aftermath of tragedy.

As we gather under the Sukkah this year, the question feels especially relevant: what can this fragile shelter teach us about resilience, connection, and joy in uncertain times? Tune in to find out.

Ha'azinu

Tue, 30 Sep 2025 19:41:00 -0000

In this week’s parsha, Moshe sings of God’s care for Israel, of the dangers of complacency, and of the eternal covenant that binds us still. As Yom Kippur gives way to Shabbat, his words echo through time: ha’azinu—listen.

Across Israel, new generations are doing just that: students gathering on Zoom to prepare for Shabbat, young people filling hotels in Jerusalem to greet its light, first-timers discovering peace in a day without phones.

So how do we carry the fire of Yom Kippur and the first Shabbat of the year into the second, and the third, and the days beyond? Tune in to find out.

Vayelech

Thu, 25 Sep 2025 23:10:00 -0000

In this week’s parsha, the shortest in the Torah, Moshe offers a final charge: Though God may hide His face, He will never abandon His people. Again we hear the refrain chazak v’ematz—"be strong, take courage"—as the gates of repentance stand open before us.As Yom Kippur nears, the invitation is to shed pretense and step into our truest selves. What does it mean to begin the year with strength, sincerity, and joy? Tune in to find out.

Nitzavim

Wed, 17 Sep 2025 04:00:00 -0000

This week’s parsha is short, but it holds some of the Torah’s deepest principles. Moses gathers the people before God, reminding them that unity is the starting point of Jewish life: “You are standing today, all of you.” He speaks of exile and return, of redemption, and of freedom of choice. Life and death, blessing and curse are set before us and it is up to us to choose.

As Rosh Hashanah approaches, the message feels especially timely. Nitzavim reminds us that Torah is not distant or abstract. It is within reach, ready to be lived and acted upon. Renewal is possible, change is attainable, and the work of teshuvah can be done with joy.

So how do we take that first step into the new year, with resolve, with community, and with gladness? Tune in to find out.

Ki Tavo

Wed, 10 Sep 2025 15:47:00 -0000

This week’s parsha introduces the mitzvah of bikurim—bringing the first fruits to Jerusalem, handing them to the priest, and speaking words of thanks. It’s not enough to feel gratitude; we must declare it out loud, with joy, and connect our personal harvests to the larger story of our people.

So what are the “first fruits” in our own lives today, and how can we offer them with joy and purpose? Tune in to find out.

Ki Teitzei

Wed, 03 Sep 2025 04:00:00 -0000

This week’s parsha opens with a farewell speech from Moses and lays out 74 commandments, the most of any single Torah portion. They cover everything from inheritance laws to caring for lost property, from ethical treatment of workers to remembering Amalek’s assault.

Amid so many instructions, one mitzvah stands out this Elul: Lo tachalel alem—“Do not remain indifferent.” If you see a lost ox, a stray sheep, or a person in need, you cannot just walk by. The Torah doesn’t politely suggest; it commands that we act. And our commentators expand this: the principle applies to every corner of life, from forgotten objects to “lost souls” disconnected from their community.

The lesson is simple but profound: each mitzvah is a chance to connect the physical and the divine, to bring holiness into the world. Whether returning a lost item, giving charity, or observing daily rituals, we are invited to participate in a partnership with God, sanctifying our lives in concrete, tangible ways.

So as the school year begins and Elul marches on, how can we turn everyday acts into opportunities to reveal goodness and care in the world? Tune in to find out.

Shoftim

Wed, 27 Aug 2025 04:00:00 -0000

This week’s parsha opens with Moses’ command: "Appoint judges and officers at all your gates." On the surface, it’s about building a legal system. But our commentators go deeper: every person is a city, with gates of eyes, ears, and mouth. And just as a city needs judges and guards, so do we.

Elul is the season of checking what enters and leaves those gates. What do we choose to see? What do we let ourselves hear? What words do we send into the world? To judge ourselves is hard; to guard ourselves is even harder. But this month, Moses’ call is clear: take one step, however small, toward making those gates holy.

So how do we begin—by lofty resolutions or by one small, practical change?

Tune in to find out.

Re'eh

Wed, 20 Aug 2025 04:00:00 -0000

This week’s parsha, Re’eh, opens with a challenge: See, I set before you today a blessing and a curse. Moses tells the Israelites that faith isn’t just about words; it’s about the power of choice. Every moment offers us the chance to step toward blessing, or away from it.

The timing is no accident. As we prepare to enter the month of Elul—the 40-day journey toward Yom Kippur—this call to “see” becomes even more urgent. These days are not just about repentance, but about vision: What do we want to change? Where do we want to begin again? Re’eh reminds us that choosing blessing often happens in small, decisive moments that ripple out for decades.

So how do we train ourselves to truly see and to begin today to walk in the direction of blessing?

Tune in to find out.

Eikev

Wed, 13 Aug 2025 04:00:00 -0000

In this week’s parsha, Moses warns the Israelites about the greatest spiritual danger they’ll face: not hunger or enemies, but comfort. As they prepare to enter a land flowing with milk and honey, he tells them to remember who gave it to them. Eat, be satisfied, bless, but don’t forget. Because forgetting leads to pride, and pride leads to thinking you did it all yourself.

This warning feels just as urgent today, in a world where abundance is only a click away. When everything is easy, where is the sacrifice that once bound us to God?

When the blessings pile up, how do we keep our hearts connected to the Source of it all?

Tune in to find out.

Va’etchanan

Wed, 06 Aug 2025 04:00:00 -0000

In this week’s ⁠parsha⁠, Moses pleads with God to enter the land of Israel and is told no. Instead, he turns to the people, delivering some of the most iconic words in the Torah: the Ten Commandments, the Shema, the Ve’ahavta; words that shape Jewish identity across generations. But what happens when those words are forgotten?

As we move from Tisha B’Av to Tu B’Av, from destruction to love, what kind of Jewish memory are we rebuilding?

Tune in to find out.

Devarim

Wed, 30 Jul 2025 17:47:00 -0000

In this week’s parsha, we begin the book of Devarim, Moses’ final words to the Israelites before they enter the Promised Land. After four books of epic events, this one slows down. No plagues, no miracles, just a speech. But it’s a speech that matters. Because before a people can move forward, they have to remember where they’ve been. Devarim is a reminder that the most powerful tool a nation has isn’t its army or its land. It’s its story. As we enter the Shabbat of vision, what kind of future does this moment dare the Jewish people to imagine?

Tune in to find out.

Matot-Masei

Wed, 23 Jul 2025 04:00:00 -0000

This week's parsha opens with what looks like just a long list—42 places the Israelites traveled through on their way from Egypt to the Promised Land. But those stops aren’t just historical footnotes. They’re reminders that every leg of the journey matters. As Jews, we’re always walking, always evolving. Mas’ei asks us to look back at our own paths and ask: What have I learned? What was the purpose of that detour, that delay, that disaster? Can the act of remembering become its own kind of movement? Tune in to find out.

Pinchas

Wed, 16 Jul 2025 04:00:00 -0000

In this week's parsha, we watch as Moshe’s leadership begins to pass to the next generation. He won’t enter the land of Israel with the people he led out of slavery, but his story isn’t a failure. It’s a reminder that sometimes, we play a vital role in a journey we’ll never see completed. What does it mean to be part of a story bigger than yourself? Tune in to find out.

Balak

Wed, 09 Jul 2025 04:00:00 -0000

In this week’s parsha, Balak hires the prophet Bilam to curse the Israelites. But every time he opens his mouth, blessings come out instead. From these unexpected prophecies, we get some of our most enduring ideas, like the image of Israel rising “like a lion,” and the quiet holiness of privacy ("How good are your tents, O Jacob").

Thousands of years later, the contrast still feels familiar—between those who build and those who destroy, between the noise of social media and the sanctity of a home with the front door closed.

What does it mean to live as a blessing even when others root for your failure? Tune in to find out.

Chukat

Wed, 02 Jul 2025 04:00:00 -0000

In this week's parsha, Miriam and Aharon die, and Moshe learns he won’t enter the land either. It’s a moment of grief, transition, and disorientation. But even as leaders pass, the Mishkan remains as the spiritual center that holds the people together.

This week, as we mark the Lubavitcher Rebbe’s yahrzeit, we’re reminded that true leadership leaves a lasting imprint. How do you stay grounded when everything else shifts? Tune in to find out.

Korach

Tue, 24 Jun 2025 04:00:00 -0000

On this week’s parsha, we meet Korach, who challenges Moshe’s leadership and Aaron’s priesthood, arguing that the entire nation is holy. But Rav Sivan Rahav-Meir reminds us that holiness doesn’t mean sameness—and that dissatisfaction with your role in life can quickly turn destructive. What do you do when you feel stuck—or are you never really stuck at all? Tune in to find out.

Sh’lach

Wed, 18 Jun 2025 04:00:00 -0000

In this week’s parsha, Moses sends twelve spies into the land of Israel. Ten return with fear and doubt; only two return with faith. The Israelites, overwhelmed by the giants they imagine, choose fear and are condemned to wander the desert for forty years. But the parsha isn’t just about the past. It's about now. Who are we listening to today? The fearful majority or the faithful few? Are we grasshoppers in our own eyes or are we rising lions? Tune in to find out.

Beha’alotcha

Wed, 11 Jun 2025 04:00:00 -0000

This week's parsha opens with a command to Aharon: light the lamps of the menorah until the flame rises on its own. But this parsha isn’t just about lighting candles—it’s about raising people up, carrying light through darkness, and transforming inspiration into lasting action. What does it really mean to carry the light forward beyond yourself? Listen to find out.

Naso

Wed, 04 Jun 2025 19:57:00 -0000

In this week’s parsha, the after the Israelites have beencounted, we learn about the kohanim and their responsibilities . We then see a specific explanation about offerings given by each of the twelve tribes.What can this parsha tell us about the importance of each individual, even when taking a selfie? Listen and find out.

Bamidbar / Shevuot

Wed, 28 May 2025 19:40:00 -0000

In this week’s parsha, the Israelites are counted after being divided into the 12 tribes, each with their own mission. However, before they could take on those tasks, they needed to build the Mishkan, before all else, because the need for holiness should not be postponed. The holiday of Shevuot highlights the importance and urgency of this task and being unified.

What is your personal Mishkan and what should you do with it? Listen and find out.

Behar-Bechukotai

Wed, 21 May 2025 04:00:00 -0000

This week’s parashot, Behar and Bechukotai, bring us to the end of the book of Vayikra, also known as Leviticus. We begin with Mount Sinai, and finish with a promise that by following the commandments, the Jews will receive prosperity and security in the land of Israel, or be rebuked if they don’t.

Can you really have it all? Listen and find out.

Emor

Wed, 14 May 2025 04:00:00 -0000

On this week’s parsha, we read about the responsibilities of the kohanim and the rhythm of the Jewish calendar—from Shabbat to Passover, from Rosh Hashanah to Sukkot. But these are more than holidays. They're appointments with the divine—reminders that what matters should be part of your calendar, not just your dreams.

We also learn about Pesach Sheni, a “second Passover” granted to those who missed the first—proof that Judaism always makes room for second chances. What does it mean to sanctify time, even in moments of chaos? Tune in to find out.

Acharei Mot–Kedoshim

Wed, 07 May 2025 04:00:00 -0000

This week’s ⁠parashot⁠, Acharei Mot and Kedoshim, take us from the grief of tragedy to the challenge of holiness. In the wake of Nadav and Avihu’s deaths, Aaron is commanded to carry on—ushering in the sacred rituals of Yom Kippur. And in Kedoshim, we’re told, “You shall be holy,” with dozens of mitzvot spelling out exactly how. What does it really mean to keep going—and to become holy—in a world that keeps breaking our hearts? Tune in to find out.

Tazria-Metzora

Wed, 30 Apr 2025 04:00:00 -0000

This week’s parashot explore the mysterious affliction of tzara’at, a physical ailment tied to spiritual misdeeds like gossip. What does it mean to be impure? And can the words we choose really shape the people we become? Tune in to find out.

Shemini

Wed, 23 Apr 2025 04:00:00 -0000

This week’s parsha includes the instructions about the laws of Kashrut, which remain some of the most complicated and baffling commandments in Judaism. How can the things we choose to eat—or not eat—define us? And can keeping a mitzvah truly transform us even if we’re not feeling transformed? Tune in to find out.

Sivan Rahav-Meir is a leading Israeli journalist, media personality, and Torah scholar. You can sign up for her The Daily Thought WhatsApp group, where Sivan sends small insights about Judaism and current affairs.

Check out Liel Leibovitz’s new book, How the Talmud Can Change Your Life: Surprisingly Modern Advice from a Very Old Book, available directly from the publisher or wherever you purchase books.

You can find all of Tablet’s podcasts at tabletmag.com/podcasts.

Shevi'i shel Pesach

Wed, 16 Apr 2025 04:00:00 -0000

As we celebrate Pesach, we’re reminded that the story of our freedom doesn’t end with leaving Egypt. It’s a continual process—one that asks us to look beyond the present moment, to imagine the future, and to carry the lessons of hope, unity, and perseverance forward. How do you become the best version of yourself? Tune in to find out.

Tzav

Wed, 09 Apr 2025 04:00:00 -0000

As we clean our homes and prepare for Pesach, this week’s parsha commands us to focus on what matters. The offerings, the rituals, the laws: it can all feel overwhelming. But sometimes, the holiest thing is the simplest one. Chametz is chametz. A mitzvah is a mitzvah. What does it mean to return to the basics—at the Seder and in life? Tune in to find out.

Check out Liel Leibovitz’s new book, How the Talmud Can Change Your Life: Surprisingly Modern Advice from a Very Old Book, available directly from the publisher or wherever you purchase books.

You can find all of Tablet’s podcasts at tabletmag.com/podcasts.

Vayikra

Wed, 02 Apr 2025 04:00:00 -0000

On this week’s parsha, we begin the book of Vayikra, often dismissed as a list of sacrificial rituals. But beneath the detailed laws lies a deeper truth: giving—whether through korbanot, acts of kindness, or personal sacrifice—creates love and strengthens our connections to others and to God. How does this idea tie into Pesach and the concept of redemption? Tune in to find out.

Pekudei

Wed, 26 Mar 2025 04:00:00 -0000

In this week’s parsha, the Israelites finally complete building the Mishkan, God’s temporary dwelling place on earth. But finishing a task, or pausing en route to the Promised Land, doesn’t mean that the journey is over or even on hold. What does a wise commentary by Rashi teach us about carrying on when we feel stuck? Tune in to find out.

Vayakhel

Wed, 19 Mar 2025 17:52:00 -0000

In this week’s parsha, the Israelites are faced with a pretty steep challenge: How do you bounce back from the sin of the Golden Calf? But instead of some cathartic, head-turning moment, we receive what sounds like a repetition of the instructions on how to build the Mishkan, God’s temporary dwelling place on earth. Why tell us things we’ve already heard? And what can this repetition teach us about bringing God’s divine wisdom down here to earth? Tune in to find out.

Ki Tisa / Purim

Wed, 12 Mar 2025 04:00:00 -0000

In this week’s parsha, the Israelites commit what may be their gravest sin: dancing in front of the Golden Calf. How do we make up for such a misstep? Maybe by observing the four commandments of Purim, which bring us back in touch with ourselves, our loved ones, and our community. How is a festive meal an act of spiritual affirmation? Tune in to find out.

Tetzaveh / Shabbat Zachor

Wed, 05 Mar 2025 19:15:00 -0000

In this week’s parsha, the Torah delivers detailed instructions about the priestly garments, but because it’s the Shabbat before the holiday of Purim, we also revisit the ancient commandment not to forget the evils of Amalek. Why must we remember Amalek’s wickedness, and what does the war against Amalek, still raging on, look like these days? Tune in to find out

Terumah

Wed, 26 Feb 2025 05:00:00 -0000

In this week’s parsha, the Torah instructs us how to build the Mishkan, God’s temporary dwelling place on earth. And whereas the entire creation of the whole entire world required 31 verses, instructions for building the Mishkan occupy a whopping 450 verses. Why is the Mishkan so important? And how did the hostages held captive by Hamas in Gaza give us all an inspiring lesson in the importance of taking charge of our own destiny, no matter how difficult life gets? Tune in to find out.

Mishpatim

Wed, 19 Feb 2025 05:00:00 -0000

After the grand revelation at Mount Sinai, this week’s parsha shifts from the dramatic to the practical, laying out 53 mitzvot that guide daily Jewish life—from civil laws to ethical responsibilities. But Mishpatim isn’t just a list of rules; it’s a blueprint for bringing Sinai into every moment. How do we take big, sacred ideas and make them part of our everyday lives? Tune in to find out.

Yitro

Wed, 12 Feb 2025 05:00:00 -0000

In this week’s parsha, Moses' father-in-law, Yitro, joins the Israelites after hearing about their miraculous escape from Egypt. He offers Moses crucial leadership advice just before the defining moment at Mount Sinai—the giving of the Ten Commandments. These commandments shape not just Jewish identity but the foundation of moral law, emphasizing both commitment and restraint. What does true unity look like, and why is the ability to say "no" just as important as saying "yes"? Tune in to find out.

Beshalach

Wed, 05 Feb 2025 05:00:00 -0000

On this week’s parsha, Moses parts the sea and the Israelites spend 40 years in the desert. But the real miracle in this pasha isn’t the stunning feats God performs. The miracle is how the Israelites responded to their circumstances. How can we be the miracle in our own lives? Tune in to find out.

Bo

Wed, 29 Jan 2025 05:00:00 -0000

On this week’s parsha, God delivers the last three of the Ten Plagues, and the Israelites are set free and receive no fewer than 20 new mitzvot. What do these commandments, interspersed as they are with the very dramatic tale of the Exodus, teach us about life under particularly trying circumstances? Tune in to find out.

Sivan Rahav-Meir is a leading Israeli journalist, media personality and Torah scholar. You can sign up for her The Daily Portion WhatsApp group, where Sivan sends small insights about Judaism and current affairs.

Check out Liel’s new book, How the Talmud Can Change Your Life: Surprisingly Modern Advice from a Very Old Book, available directly from the publisher, or wherever you purchase books.

You can find all of Tablet’s podcasts at tabletmag.com/podcasts.

Vaera

Wed, 22 Jan 2025 05:00:00 -0000

On this week’s parsha, Moses and Aaron beg Pharoah to let the Israelites go, and God sends plagues to Egypt. Moses relates God’s message to the Israelites, but they’re so beaten down that they don’t realize they’re about to be redeemed from their enslavement. How are we similarly blinded by the trials of our everyday lives and how can we pay attention despite distractions? Tune in to find out.

Check out Liel’s new book, How the Talmud Can Change Your Life: Surprisingly Modern Advice from a Very Old Book, available directly from the publisher, or wherever you purchase books.

You can find all of Tablet’s podcasts at tabletmag.com/podcasts.

Shemot

Wed, 15 Jan 2025 05:00:00 -0000

On this week’s parsha, the children of Israel multiply in Egypt and Pharoah tries to wipe them out. We meet Moses for the first time and the story of the Jewish people’s redemption begins. What can we learn from our first impressions of Pharaoh, Moses, and the Jewish people? Tune in to find out.

Check out Liel’s new book, How the Talmud Can Change Your Life: Surprisingly Modern Advice from a Very Old Book, available directly from the publisher, or wherever you purchase books.

You can find all of Tablet’s podcasts at tabletmag.com/podcasts.

Vayechi

Wed, 08 Jan 2025 05:00:00 -0000

On this week’s parsha, the last in the book of Genesis, Jacob blesses his descendants before his death. He gives his grandchildren, the sons of Joseph, a blessing that may strike us as strange. How do we develop our spiritual identity and independence? Tune in to find out.

Vayigash

Wed, 01 Jan 2025 05:00:00 -0000

On this week’s parsha, Joseph and his brothers reunite and meditate on that thorniest of topics: Identity. How can we maintain our sense of self even in a world often determined to make us conform? And how does one act of bravery in the tunnels of Gaza teach us an inspiring lesson for Hanukkah? Tune in to find out.

Check out Liel’s new book, How the Talmud Can Change Your Life: Surprisingly Modern Advice from a Very Old Book, available directly from the publisher, or wherever you purchase books.

You can find all of Tablet’s podcasts at tabletmag.com/podcasts.

Miketz

Tue, 24 Dec 2024 05:00:00 -0000

On this week’s parsha, Joseph interprets Pharaoh’s dreams to predict seven years of plenty and seven years of famine and becomes a governor of Egypt. Despite the trials that Joseph has endured, he never lost sight of his vision of how his destiny would unfold. What can we learn from Joseph seeing the bird’s eye view and taking an active role in how his story would play out? Tune in to find out.

Check out Liel’s new book, How the Talmud Can Change Your Life: Surprisingly Modern Advice from a Very Old Book, available directly from the publisher, or wherever you purchase books.

You can find all of Tablet’s podcasts at tabletmag.com/podcasts.

Vayeshev

Wed, 18 Dec 2024 05:00:00 -0000

On this week’s parsha, the Torah raises one of its most difficult questions: How could Jacob’s righteous sons, the forefathers of us all, treat their brother Joseph so harshly? How could they plot to kill him, and why did they eventually sell him off to slavery? The question resonates with us today, as we continue to fight among ourselves, but the Torah, thankfully, gives us a powerful prescription for ending this strife. How can we become closer and create unity in the Jewish world? Tune in to find out.

Check out Liel’s new book, How the Talmud Can Change Your Life: Surprisingly Modern Advice from a Very Old Book, available directly from the publisher, or wherever you purchase books.

You can find all of Tablet’s podcasts at tabletmag.com/podcasts.

Vayishlach

Wed, 11 Dec 2024 05:00:00 -0000

On this week’s parsha, Ya’akov returns home to face his fears and his brother Esau, and earns his eternal name, Israel, by fighting with an angel. But this story of extraordinary struggles contains a few key insights for us ordinary people trying to bounce back from very difficult blows. How is an ancient ruling about not eating one specific cut of meat a reminder of what we ought to do when the going gets tough? Tune in to find out.

Check out Liel’s new book, How the Talmud Can Change Your Life: Surprisingly Modern Advice from a Very Old Book, available directly from the publisher, or wherever you purchase books.

You can find all of Tablet’s podcasts at tabletmag.com/podcasts.

Vayetze

Wed, 04 Dec 2024 05:00:00 -0000

On this week's parsha, we meet Ya'akov as he flees his brother Esau's wrath. But as the story unfold, he transforms into a man in full, no long running away from something frightening but working towards a good and great goal. How can we, too, stop seeing ourselves as victims and connect instead to a higher, brighter calling? Tune in to find out.

Check out Liel’s new book, How the Talmud Can Change Your Life: Surprisingly Modern Advice from a Very Old Book, available directly from the publisher, or wherever you purchase books.

You can find all of Tablet’s podcasts at tabletmag.com/podcasts.

Toldot

Wed, 27 Nov 2024 05:00:00 -0000

On this week’s parsha, Toldot, the Torah gives us Isaac, a man with a dilemma: when the one and only Abraham is your dad, what do you do for an encore? The answer has to do with digging wells, an activity that may not sound glamorous but holds many key insights to happiness, community, and spiritual growth. What can we do in our lives to continue Isaac’s sacred and absolutely necessary well-digging? Tune in to find out.

Check out Liel’s new book, How the Talmud Can Change Your Life: Surprisingly Modern Advice from a Very Old Book, available directly from the publisher, or wherever you purchase books.

You can find all of Tablet’s podcasts at tabletmag.com/podcasts.

Chayei Sarah

Wed, 20 Nov 2024 05:00:00 -0000

On this week’s parsha, Chayei Sarah, the Torah gives us one profoundly brilliant life hack: always do more. But what does it mean in practice? And how can we apply this principle, embodied by Rebecca, to continue and grow as people in every area of our lives? Tune in to find out.

Check out Liel’s new book, How the Talmud Can Change Your Life: Surprisingly Modern Advice from a Very Old Book, available directly from the publisher, or wherever you purchase books.

You can find all of Tablet’s podcasts at tabletmag.com/podcasts.

Vayera

Wed, 13 Nov 2024 05:00:00 -0000

On this week’s parsha, Vayera, the Torah teaches us that if we want to help people, we have to do more than merely offer them food, drink, and other basic necessities. True charity, we learn, involves giving people the education they need to have faith and strive to uplift themselves and others. What can we learn from Abraham about being kind to strangers? Tune in to find out.

Check out Liel’s new book, How the Talmud Can Change Your Life: Surprisingly Modern Advice from a Very Old Book, available directly from the publisher, or wherever you purchase books.

You can find all of Tablet’s podcasts at tabletmag.com/podcasts.

Lech Lecha

Wed, 06 Nov 2024 05:00:00 -0000

On this week’s parsha, Lech Lecha, the Torah gives us a master class on journeys, not just towards destinations unknown but also, and more importantly, into our own souls, our own destinies, and our own best selves. But what must we do when we’re seized by doubt and uncertainty? Tune in to find out.

Check out Liel’s new book, How the Talmud Can Change Your Life: Surprisingly Modern Advice from a Very Old Book, available directly from the publisher, or wherever you purchase books.

You can find all of Tablet’s podcasts at tabletmag.com/podcasts.

Noach

Wed, 30 Oct 2024 04:00:00 -0000

On this week’s parsha, Noach, the Torah reminds us that we can’t really expect to make it through the flood of life unless we have an ark of our own, a safe and sturdy vessel to carry us when things get too choppy. What’s the best sort of ark we can find now that the challenges that plague us are a bit more modern than a good, old fashioned flood? Tune in to find out.

Check out Liel’s new book, How the Talmud Can Change Your Life: Surprisingly Modern Advice from a Very Old Book, available directly from the publisher, or wherever you purchase books.

You can find all of Tablet’s podcasts at tabletmag.com/podcasts.

Simchat Torah

Tue, 22 Oct 2024 04:00:00 -0000

This week, our parsha-less streak reaches its home stretch, as we celebrate the holiday of Simchat Torah. It's a loaded one this year, as this otherwise joyous holiday marks the one year anniversary of the October 7 massacre. What do the families of those murdered on that dark day think we should do now that we're heartbroken yet are commanded to sing and dance and be merry? Tune in to find out.

Check out Liel’s new book, How the Talmud Can Change Your Life: Surprisingly Modern Advice from a Very Old Book, available directly from the publisher, or wherever you purchase books.

You can find all of Tablet’s podcasts at tabletmag.com/podcasts.

Introducing Dreyfus: A Very Modern Affair

Tue, 15 Oct 2024 23:44:00 -0000

Dreyfus: A Very Modern Affair is an October 7th story, but one that begins not in 2023, but in October of 1894 with the arrest of French military officer Alfred Dreyfus, who also happened to be a Jew. The implications of his framing, arrest, incarceration and the fallout of his eventual exoneration reverberate today. Over this five-episode series, we examine how these events unfolded, and how they connect to the antisemitism that exists today.

Visit https://www.tabletmag.com/dreyfuspodcast or search for Tablet Studios on your podcast app for the rest of the series.

Sukkot

Tue, 15 Oct 2024 17:18:36 -0000

This week, we continue with our parsha-less streak, celebrating the High Holidays And this week, it’s time for Sukkot, the festival that commands us to take all of our meals for one week in a rickety outdoor hut. But could it be that this rickety hut is actually more stable than our homes? And is Sukkot the natural antidote to a life made so much more complicated and stressful by digital technology? Tune in to find out.

Check out Liel’s new book, How the Talmud Can Change Your Life: Surprisingly Modern Advice from a Very Old Book, available directly from the publisher, or wherever you purchase books.

You can find all of Tablet’s podcasts at tabletmag.com/podcasts.

Yom Kippur

Wed, 09 Oct 2024 04:00:00 -0000

This week, there’s no parsha. Because this Friday evening we mark the beginning Yom Kippur, the only Jewish festival that we celebrate even when it falls on Shabbat. Most of us consider it a solemn, somber day of awe, but is it also, maybe, joyous? And what does it have to teach us about not letting our good ideas and good intentions just fade away without action? Tune in to find out.

Check out Liel’s new book, How the Talmud Can Change Your Life: Surprisingly Modern Advice from a Very Old Book, available directly from the publisher, or wherever you purchase books.

You can find all of Tablet’s podcasts at tabletmag.com/podcasts.

Ha'Azinu

Tue, 01 Oct 2024 04:00:00 -0000

This week, we continue to read the Torah, but are focused on celebrating Rosh Hashanah. What is the holiday’s central mitzvah, and why is it, surprisingly, not about doing anything but merely about stopping, paying attention, and taking stock? Tune in to find out.

Check out Liel’s new book, How the Talmud Can Change Your Life: Surprisingly Modern Advice from a Very Old Book, available directly from the publisher, or wherever you purchase books.

You can find all of Tablet’s podcasts at tabletmag.com/podcasts.

Nitzavim-Vayelech

Wed, 25 Sep 2024 04:00:00 -0000

On this week’s parashot, a double-header of Nitzavim and Vayelech, the Torah gives us a practical guide to life, a reminder that we can tackle even the most daunting of tasks and that nothing we’re commanded to do is too great for our earthly powers. What does a famous story about a small child visiting a zoo have to teach us about our true potential? Tune in to find out.

Check out Liel’s new book, How the Talmud Can Change Your Life: Surprisingly Modern Advice from a Very Old Book, available directly from the publisher, or wherever you purchase books.

You can find all of Tablet’s podcasts at tabletmag.com/podcasts.

Ki Tavo

Wed, 18 Sep 2024 04:00:00 -0000

On this week's parsha, Parshat Ki Tavo, we discuss how to act when we enter the land of Israel. With all sorts of terrible things that can happen, what should we focus on? How should we act? As Sivan explains, one verse directs us: "Because you did not serve God with happiness and gladness of heart when you had an abundence of everything." We should pay attention to what we have. Thank God for what we are given. Appreciate the privilege in our lives. But how can we be happy after such a challenging year? How can we create happy Jewish futures? And what does this have to do with the famous Israeli singer Ishay Ribo? Tune in to find out.

Check out Liel’s new book, How the Talmud Can Change Your Life: Surprisingly Modern Advice from a Very Old Book, available directly from the publisher, or wherever you purchase books.

You can find all of Tablet’s podcasts at tabletmag.com/podcasts.

Ki Teitzei

Wed, 11 Sep 2024 04:00:00 -0000

In this week's parsha, Parshat Ki Teitzei, we read seventy four mitzvot, the largest number out of all the parshot in the Torah. But Sivan zeroes in on just one: HaShavat Aveda, or lost and found. That if you see something astray, you are commanded to return it to its owner. Yes, this relates to physical objects in the world. But it's also about those who are spiritually lost. That when one strays away, we must help bring them back. How do we help others return to themselves? How do we help ourselves if we've gone adrift? What's this got to do with Sivan's first time keeping shabbat? Listen to find out.

Check out Liel’s new book, How the Talmud Can Change Your Life: Surprisingly Modern Advice from a Very Old Book, available directly from the publisher, or wherever you purchase books.

You can find all of Tablet’s podcasts at tabletmag.com/podcasts.

Shoftim

Wed, 04 Sep 2024 04:00:00 -0000

On this week's parsha, Parshat Shoftim, we focus on a particular verse that can help us through this challenging week: "Tamim Tihiyeh Im Hashem Elokecha" - that we become wholehearted, blameless, innocent before God. At the funeral of Hersh Goldberg Polin, Sivan explains, we had an opportunity to see this command in action. In their eulogies, Hersh's parents praised God for gifting them their son. They thanked the nation of Israel for supporting them through their battle to bring him home. They asked Hersh to shine his light on them from above. Wondering how to take action in light of tragedy? To help support the families of the hostages? To become innocent before God, and to do so in this holy month of Elul? Tune in to find out.

Check out Liel’s new book, How the Talmud Can Change Your Life: Surprisingly Modern Advice from a Very Old Book, available directly from the publisher, or wherever you purchase books.

You can find all of Tablet’s podcasts at tabletmag.com/podcasts.

Re'eh

Wed, 28 Aug 2024 04:00:00 -0000

On this week's parsha, Parshat Re'eh, we learn to see. Of the fifty-five mitzvot laid out in the parsha, Sivan focuses on the very first verse, which, she explains, can help us keep them all: to see God's blessings and his curses. This is because the mitzvot are not there to be blindly obeyed. Nor are they there just for intellectual appreciation. It's about seeing the mitzvot clearly - about feeling God's spiritual world - and integrating them into your life. What's this got to do with the saying the mourner's kaddish for 10/7 victims? Tune in to find out.

Check out Liel’s new book, How the Talmud Can Change Your Life: Surprisingly Modern Advice from a Very Old Book, available directly from the publisher, or wherever you purchase books.

You can find all of Tablet’s podcasts at tabletmag.com/podcasts.

Eikev

Wed, 21 Aug 2024 04:00:00 -0000

This week's parsha, Parshat Eikev, is all about perspective. Because in Moses's closing speech, he tells the Israelites that if they fulfill the commandments, they will prosper, and if they don't, they won't. This, Sivan explains, is a warning to us moderns: that when one has everything, and in large quantities at that, we can easily lose focus on what really matters. Can we connect to the commandments and not just our pocketbooks? Can we zoom out, take a breath, and appreciate God's attention in the world? What's this got to do with fresh squeezed orange juice? Listen to find out.

Check out Liel’s new book, How the Talmud Can Change Your Life: Surprisingly Modern Advice from a Very Old Book, available directly from the publisher, or wherever you purchase books.

You can find all of Tablet’s podcasts at tabletmag.com/podcasts.

Vaetchanan

Wed, 14 Aug 2024 04:00:00 -0000

In this week's parsha, Parshat Vaetchanan, we talk about begging and repenting. Because when Moses begs to enter the promised land, his dream is not fulfilled. So how does he continue in the face of this hurdle? Tshuva, or repentance. The idea that you can falter and sin and still come back to yourself, others, and God. What does this have to do with survivors of the Nova music festival attack celebrating Shabbat? Listen to find out.

Check out Liel’s new book, How the Talmud Can Change Your Life: Surprisingly Modern Advice from a Very Old Book, available directly from the publisher, or wherever you purchase books.

You can find all of Tablet’s podcasts at tabletmag.com/podcasts.

Devarim

Wed, 07 Aug 2024 04:00:00 -0000

This week, as we start the Book of Deuteronomy, we begin with Parshat Devarim, which is about the words we speak. It's the words of Moses that guide us. In the parsha, Moses gives his final speech, telling the story of himself, and of us. In doing so, Sivan explains, he invites us to take part in this story. To transcend distractions and immediate satisfaction. To connect to collective meaning and universal truths. What's this got to do with Sivan waking up at 4am? Listen to find out.

Check out Liel’s new book, How the Talmud Can Change Your Life: Surprisingly Modern Advice from a Very Old Book, available directly from the publisher, or wherever you purchase books.

You can find all of Tablet’s podcasts at tabletmag.com/podcasts.

Matot-Masei

Wed, 31 Jul 2024 04:00:00 -0000

This week, as we come to the end of the Book of Numbers, we're met with a double parsha - Parashat Matot-Masei, or tribes and journeys. Sivan ties the parashot to her new free booklet, To Be a Jew: Faith and Hope in Challenging Times, where she channels Rabbi Jonathan Sacks thought to seek answers to the challenging questions that Jews face today. How can we better comprehend our personal journeys amidst the noise of our day to day lives? How can we escape the minutia of the moment and connect to the bigger picture - of oneself, and of the Jewish people? Why does this have less to do with politics and more to do with hugs? Tune in to find out.

Check out Liel’s new book, How the Talmud Can Change Your Life: Surprisingly Modern Advice from a Very Old Book, available directly from the publisher, or wherever you purchase books.

You can find all of Tablet’s podcasts at tabletmag.com/podcasts.

Pinchas

Wed, 24 Jul 2024 04:00:00 -0000

This week, on Parashat Pinchas, we focus on one single sentence. The most important verse in the entire Torah. Not "Shema Israel" or "Love Thy Neighbor," but something even grander: "The first lamb you shall sacrifice in the morning, and the second lamb you shall sacrifice in the afternoon." Come again? How is this sentence, neither well known nor all that interesting, the most important in our holy book? What does it say about our own lives, which are filled not just with passion and joy, but with constancy and repetition? And what's it got to do with Sivan personally, from preparing sandwiches for her kids to her career as a Knesset reporter? Listen to find out.

Check out Liel’s new book, How the Talmud Can Change Your Life: Surprisingly Modern Advice from a Very Old Book, available directly from the publisher, or wherever you purchase books.

You can find all of Tablet’s podcasts at tabletmag.com/podcasts.

Balak

Wed, 17 Jul 2024 04:00:00 -0000

On this week's parsha, Parashat Balak, King Balak orders the prophet Balaam to curse the people of Israel. And Balaam tries and tries - even by way of a talking donkey! - to fulfill the king's wishes. Yet each time he tries, he gives blessings instead. Why does King Balak care more about destroying the Israelites than he does about caring for his own kingdom? What can this teach us about our own blessings and curses? And what's it got to do with Mohammad Deif and Donald Trump? Tune in to find out.

Check out Liel’s new book, How the Talmud Can Change Your Life: Surprisingly Modern Advice from a Very Old Book, available directly from the publisher, or wherever you purchase books.

You can find all of Tablet’s podcasts at tabletmag.com/podcasts.

Chukat

Wed, 10 Jul 2024 04:00:00 -0000

Today's episode, on Parashat Chukat, is full of heifers, and snakes, and curses, and blessings. It's also full of goodbyes, to some of our holy book's holiest heroes. This week, Sivan tells us, it's Miriam's time to shine. She explains that after 40 years of tough desert wandering, so close yet so far to entering the promised land, Miriam's song, dance, and prayer inspired others, with hope, optimism, and faith. But how was Miriam able to maintain this positivity without seeing the way out of darkness? And how can you yourself keep the faith like Miriam did, even through ups and downs? Listen to find out.

Check out Liel’s new book, How the Talmud Can Change Your Life: Surprisingly Modern Advice from a Very Old Book, available directly from the publisher, or wherever you purchase books.

You can find all of Tablet’s podcasts at tabletmag.com/podcasts.

Korach

Wed, 03 Jul 2024 04:00:00 -0000

On this week's episode, Liel and Sivan join us from the road to talk about Parshat Korach. Motivated by jealousy and a sense of entitlement, Korach leads a rebellion against Moses and Aaron. But he fails, and as punishment the earth opens up and swallows him and his followers whole. What can we learn from this split among our people? How, unlike Korach, can we better figure out our own life missions? And what's this all got to do with the Lubavitcher rebbe? Listen to find out.

Check out Liel’s new book, How the Talmud Can Change Your Life: Surprisingly Modern Advice from a Very Old Book, available directly from the publisher, or wherever you purchase books.

You can find all of Tablet’s podcasts at tabletmag.com/podcasts.

Shelach

Wed, 26 Jun 2024 04:00:00 -0000

On Parashat Shelach, spies are sent into the Land of Israel, and report back on its flowing milk and honey. But the majority are scared to enter. Many Israelites even want to go back to Egypt. Now imagine yourself in the desert, Sivan asks. Would you go with the majority opinion, not confident in your and your people's abilities? Or would you find the inner optimism needed to succeed? What's this got to do with the great rebbe Jerry Seinfeld? Tune in to find out.

Check out Liel’s new book, How the Talmud Can Change Your Life: Surprisingly Modern Advice from a Very Old Book, available directly from the publisher, or wherever you purchase books.

You can find all of Tablet’s podcasts at tabletmag.com/podcasts.

Beha'alotekha

Wed, 19 Jun 2024 04:00:00 -0000

With this week's parsha, Parshat Beha'alotekha, we ask the question: how do we want to want? Sivan ties the parsha's disparate stories together, from Aaron's lighting of the menorah to Miriam being punished with leprosy, through the theme of wanting to take ourselves higher. Desiring to raise ourselves up. Aspiring to help others and connect with those around us. Sounds like a lot, right? So how can we do all that and more? Tune in to find out.

Check out Liel’s new book, How the Talmud Can Change Your Life: Surprisingly Modern Advice from a Very Old Book, available directly from the publisher, or wherever you purchase books.

You can find all of Tablet’s podcasts at tabletmag.com/podcasts.

Naso - Shavuot

Mon, 10 Jun 2024 04:00:00 -0000

This week, we're skipping Parshat Naso and bringing you an episode all about Shavuot. To celebrate this great holiday where we received the Ten Commandments at Mount Sinai, Sivan brings us five things we can each do to strengthen our connection to Judaism. From checking out Torah translations, like ArtScroll, to reading Liel and Sivan's latest books, to listening to beautiful Jewish music, like Thinking of Her by Aaron Razel, Sivan asks each of us to find ways to connect to Judaism, to ourselves, and to those around us.

Check out Liel’s new book, How the Talmud Can Change Your Life: Surprisingly Modern Advice from a Very Old Book, available directly from the publisher, or wherever you purchase books.

You can find all of Tablet’s podcasts at tabletmag.com/podcasts.

Bamidbar

Wed, 05 Jun 2024 04:00:00 -0000

Today we begin the Book of Numbers with Parshat Bamidbar. In the Sinai Desert, God commands the Israelites to conduct a census. It's about numbers, and counting, sure. But, as Sivan explains, the parsha is really about making sure each person feels like they personally count. It's about validating others and raising their heads high. It's about experiencing oneself as an essential part of a whole. What's this got to do with Jewish leaders, from Moses to the Rambam, Rabbi Jonathan Sachs to the Lubavitcher Rebbe? Listen to find out.

Check out Liel’s new book, How the Talmud Can Change Your Life: Surprisingly Modern Advice from a Very Old Book, available directly from the publisher, or wherever you purchase books.

You can find all of Tablet’s podcasts at tabletmag.com/podcasts.

Bechukotai

Wed, 29 May 2024 04:00:00 -0000

Parshat Bechukotai's got a lot of blessings, and a lot of curses. Follow God's commandments, you're in the clear. Don't follow ’em, some gnarly stuff can happen. Persecution. Exile. A divine wrath. But could it be that it's all a blessing, even the curses? That the worst sin isn't some particular action, but apathy toward our connection to God? Tune in to find out.

Check out Liel’s new book, How the Talmud Can Change Your Life: Surprisingly Modern Advice from a Very Old Book, available directly from the publisher, or wherever you purchase books.

You can find all of Tablet’s podcasts at tabletmag.com/podcasts.

Behar

Wed, 22 May 2024 04:00:00 -0000

In Parshat Behar, we're talking about community. From business dealings to first responders, Sivan explains how the week's parsha emphasizes the bond to "achicha" - in Hebrew, your brother. How do we build this brotherly bond with others? How can we create caring and engaged communities, based not just on mutual trauma but on love and support? Listen and find out.

Sivan Rahav-Meir is a leading Israeli journalist, media personality and Torah scholar. You can sign up for her The Daily Thought WhatsApp group, where Sivan sends small insights about Judaism and current affairs.

Check out Liel’s new book, How the Talmud Can Change Your Life: Surprisingly Modern Advice from a Very Old Book, available directly from the publisher, or wherever you purchase books.

You can find all of Tablet’s podcasts at tabletmag.com/podcasts.

Emor

Wed, 15 May 2024 04:00:00 -0000

Between Yom HaZikaron, Israel's memorial day, and Yom HaAtzmaut, its independence day, Parshat Emor's got us thinking about the difference between valuing life and valuing death. What can we learn from those who've fallen in defense of the Jewish state? How can they teach us to live fulfilling Jewish lives in the face of rising hate? And what's this got to do with stickers found on Israeli streets? Listen and find out.

Check out Liel’s new book, How the Talmud Can Change Your Life: Surprisingly Modern Advice from a Very Old Book, available directly from the publisher, or wherever you purchase books.

You can find all of Tablet’s podcasts at tabletmag.com/podcasts.

Kedoshim

Wed, 08 May 2024 04:00:00 -0000

In this week's parsha, Parshat Kedoshim, we get holy. With 51(!) mitzvot - about family, salaries, sex, blindness, gossip, neighborly love, you name it - Sivan explains how the parsha is really about...everything. It's about your life. The lives of those around you. About loving others, and also ourselves. It's about elevating our worlds by becoming just a little bit holier. Wondering how? Tune in!

Check out Liel’s new book, How the Talmud Can Change Your Life: Surprisingly Modern Advice from a Very Old Book, available directly from the publisher, or wherever you purchase books.

You can find all of Tablet’s podcasts at tabletmag.com/podcasts.

Acharei Mot

Thu, 02 May 2024 04:00:00 -0000

Parshat Acharei Mot is all about taking action. Sivan brings three examples - from Aaron, Moses' brother, to Elie Wiesel, and to the founder of Zionism himself, Theodor Herzl - and explains how each took charge, even in the wake of major crises. How can we follow their lead? Tune in to find out.

Check out Liel’s new book, How the Talmud Can Change Your Life: Surprisingly Modern Advice from a Very Old Book, available directly from the publisher, or wherever you purchase books.

You can find all of Tablet’s podcasts at tabletmag.com/podcasts.

Metzora

Wed, 17 Apr 2024 04:00:00 -0000

On this week's episode, Sivan tells us a bit about Parshat Metzora, and a lot about Passover. The word Seder, as Sivan explains, means order. And in a chaotic world, a little Monday night Seder is what Jews around the world need right now. But what about the unaffiliated Jews, still in exile, not invited to a Seder? And what's the difference between discussing and eating Passover values? Listen to Sivan to find out.

Check out Liel’s new book, How the Talmud Can Change Your Life: Surprisingly Modern Advice from a Very Old Book, available directly from the publisher, or wherever you purchase books.

You can find all of Tablet’s podcasts at tabletmag.com/podcasts.

Tazria

Wed, 10 Apr 2024 04:00:00 -0000

As we start hodesh ha'aviv, the rejuvinating Passover-prep filled spring season, Parshat Tazria tells us all about...tzara'at - supernatural plagues! Sivan takes us from the RamBam to the Lubvutcher Rebbe to Rebbenu Jonathan Sachs in order to answer the question: What does tzara'at have to do with lashon hara - evil speech - social media, and quarantine? Listen and find out.

Check out Liel’s new book, How the Talmud Can Change Your Life: Surprisingly Modern Advice from a Very Old Book, available directly from the publisher, or wherever you purchase books.

You can find all of Tablet’s podcasts at tabletmag.com/podcasts.

Shemini

Wed, 03 Apr 2024 04:00:00 -0000

This week we're talking Parshat Shemini, which tells the story of the death of Aaron's two sons, and gives insights into the laws of Kashrut. And, as Sivan tells us, the two go hand in hand: the death of Aaron's sons teaches us the importance of silence, while the laws of kashrut teach us how to differentiate. Got questions? Sivan's got answers.

Check out Liel’s new book, How the Talmud Can Change Your Life: Surprisingly Modern Advice from a Very Old Book, available directly from the publisher, or wherever you purchase books.

You can find all of Tablet’s podcasts at tabletmag.com/podcasts.

Tzav

Wed, 27 Mar 2024 04:00:00 -0000

On today’s episode, we discuss Parshat Tzav, the second parsha in the book of Leviticus, and it’s about…ANIMAL SACRIFICES. You would think sacrifices have very little relevance for us moderns. However, as Sivan explains, the parsha has two urgent messages: do hard things, and how gratitude, not attitude. How do you put these insights into practice? Sivan’s got you covered.

Check out Liel’s new book, How the Talmud Can Change Your Life: Surprisingly Modern Advice from a Very Old Book, available directly from the publisher, or wherever you purchase books.

You can find all of Tablet’s podcasts at tabletmag.com/podcasts.

Vayikra

Wed, 20 Mar 2024 04:00:00 -0000

Today is the debut of our brand new weekly parsha podcast, Sivan Says: Taking the Torah Personally. It’s with me, Liel Liebovitz, and Israeli journalist and Torah scholar Sivan Rahav-Meir.

And we start things off by talking about, well, not parsha, but Purim! Sivan tells us all about the story in Megillat Esther, the Book of Esther; explains how this year’s Taanit Esther - Esther’s Fast - takes on new meaning for the families of female hostages; and teaches four Purim commandments for us to do in our own lives.

Check out Liel’s new book, How the Talmud Can Change Your Life: Surprisingly Modern Advice from a Very Old Book, available directly from the publisher, or wherever you purchase books.

You can find all of Tablet’s podcasts at tabletmag.com/podcasts.

Coming Soon - Sivan Says: Taking the Torah Personally

Mon, 18 Mar 2024 15:49:47 -0000

Each week, Israeli journalist and Torah scholar Sivan Rahav Meir and Tablet’s own Liel Leibovitz discuss the week’s parsha, giving practical advice from our holiest book.