The Shema Podcast for the Perplexed

To understand the current state of Israel and the Jewish people, we must first explore our history, beginning with the formation of the Jewish people through Abraham. Significant events in history set the stage for future developments, and the conflicts between Isaac and Ishmael—stemming from Isaac’s birthright as the progenitor of the Jewish people—and between Jacob and Esau over the birthright have echoed through the ages. In this episode, Rabbi Ken Spiro helps us gain insight into our past, present, and future as we strive to resolve this long-standing sibling rivalry.

To understand the Jewish people's current situation in history, it's important to recognize the three exiles we've endured and the fourth exile of Edom we face today. This exile of Edom has been the longest and most challenging because it lacks a specific ideology, unlike the exiles of Babylon, Persia, and Greece. Instead, Edom represents a mental exile, influencing us through remnants of those past nations and, most importantly, discouraging Jews from asking questions. Discover how to free your mind and break free from the exile of Edom.

In this episode, I delve into a profound teaching from Rabbi Nachman that underscores the importance of aligning our knowledge (Daas), compassion (Tiferes), and foundation (Yesod). This alignment serves as a powerful conduit for channeling blessings from Hashem into the world. It involves the skillful use of prayer, likened to a finely honed spiritual sword. These insights hold universal relevance and can guide us into the upcoming year, ensuring that you not only attract but also receive a bountiful supply of spiritual and material blessings for both you and your loved ones.

While my guest on this episode is literally a Jewish rock star, he would still be one even if he had chosen a different profession. Listen in as we discuss how, when a Jew embraces their relationship with Hashem and His Torah, it does not change them; it simply allows them to actualize who they truly are and bring out their potential and unique creative nature to the world. When we align our spiritual selves with our physical selves, we can each achieve rock star status.To pre-order his new book, Suspended by No String: A Songwriter’s Reflections on Faith, Aliveness, and Wonder click here.

For Jews not born religious, we often share a common journey. Initially, we experience a honeymoon phase with Hashem, much like the Jews at Mt. Sinai. However, just as the Jews at Mt. Sinai faced 42 encampments or challenges after their first year with Hashem, we too encounter similar experiences that help us grow.In this episode, I share some recent challenging experiences and the lessons I've learned along the way. This episode is dedicated to Rabbi Aryeh Wolbe, Rabbi Shea Lazenga, and Rabbi Lazer Brody for being in my corner of the boxing ring, offering their wisdom and encouragement as I prepare to fight my next round.

Now that Shavuos is behind us, we find ourselves in a wilderness void of holidays to spiritually charge us, outside of Shabbos. We have Tisha B'av in August, and then Rosh Hashanah does not arrive until October. But this is not actually the case. We have the monthly holiday of Rosh Chodesh that, for many, goes unnoticed but is packed with incredible meaning. It is the mitzvah that Hashem gave to the Jewish people as the guardians of time. He placed control of time in our hands to remind us that we are in control of our redemption. Join us as Rabbi Bucsko reveals the depth of this monthly holiday and how we can embrace it to actualize our mission in the world.

Join us for a thought-provoking conversation with our special and beloved guest, Morty Roth, as we prepare for Shavuos by reflecting on what the Parsha of Bamidbar, which most often precedes Shavuos, conveys to us about how we can best prepare for our recommitment to the Torah at Shavuos and the wilderness we find ourselves in before the next Yom Tov of Rosh Hashanah.

At the core of being a Jew is the belief that Hashem orchestrates every detail of our lives with love and for our ultimate good. This raises a fundamental question: if everything in our lives is already perfectly constructed by Hashem in that moment then why do we pray for things we feel we lack, if we are to believe that we everything is already perfect? In this episode, Rabbi Aryeh Wolbe joins us to explore this apparent paradox. We delve into the relationship between Emunah (faith) and prayer and discuss the roles of segulos (spiritual remedies) and asking tzaddikim (righteous individuals) to pray on our behalf.

We all celebrate personal milestones like birthdays and wedding anniversaries throughout the year. Many of us are accustomed to measuring time according to the Gregorian Calendar, a man-made system, rather than the Hebrew calendar, which was established by the Creator of time. In this episode, Rabbi Nagel joins us to explore these important questions: 1) Should we acknowledge the Gregorian calendar? 2) How do we serve Hashem during these significant personal milestones in the year? 3) For those who have converted or are married to converts, how do we honor previous birthdays and wedding anniversaries that may seem less relevant post-conversion? Join us for an enlightening discussion on harmonizing these calendars and embracing these sacred times in our lives.

It is now the Counting of the Omer.    These 49 days between Pesach and Shavous create a bridge that allows one to leave their mental restrictions and move towards a more expanded consciousness.   In this episode, Rabbi Chaim Buscko breaks down for us how to tap into the spiritual energies now present.   By doing so, we will forge ourselves into vessels that will allow us to absorb the wisdom of Torah and catapult us to a higher level of closeness to our Creator.