Machshavah Lab

Have any questions, insights, or feedback? Send me a text!

Length: 1 hour 8 minutes
Synopsis: This morning (1/9/25), in our Friday morning Machshavah Lab series for women, we changed course. I explain my reasons at the beginning of shiur and justify them based on how the meforshim approach Iyov, but the upshot is that we're going to switch into high gear and cover "Round 1" of the debate between Iyov and his three friends in a broad overview fashion instead of analyzing the pesukim in-depth. After going over the new plan, we did a brief review of what we...

Have any questions, insights, or feedback? Send me a text!

Synopsis: This is the audio version of the 2-page article I wrote and published on rabbischneeweiss.substack.com/ on 1/9/25 titled: Shemos: The “Second Chumash”? No, this isn’t a reference to apocrypha. It’s a real book, and it’s the subject of the Netziv’s preface to Sefer Shemos. Read this, and you may never look at Shemos the same way again.

-----

The Torah content for the month of January is sponsored by Naomi Schwartz in memory of her father, Dovid Yitzchok ben...

Have any questions, insights, or feedback? Send me a text!

Length: 1 hour 34 minutes
Synopsis: This evening (1/8/25), in our Thursday night Pirkei Avos shiur for women, we finally concluded our analysis of Avos 1:6. In many ways, this was a follow-up to our Rambam Shiur on friendship, both because I originally intended to cover Rabbeinu Yonah in that shiur, and because Rabbeinu Yonah complements the Rambam. We ended up building on the foundation of the previous shiur, but this one can still be listened to as a standalone. I found Rabbeinu Yonah's focus to be a bit more...

Have any questions, insights, or feedback? Send me a text!

Synopsis: This is the audio version of the 6-page article I wrote and published on rabbischneeweiss.substack.com/ on 12/26/25 titled: Vayigash: Hulk Yehuda Threatens to Kill Yosef for Wanting Binyamin as a Sex Slave?! Despite my preference for peshat, this midrash is so wild and so against the peshat that I couldn't resist the urge to work on it. I may not have answered all the questions, but here are my findings.

-----

SPECIAL CHANUKAH DISCOUNT—EXTENDED THROUGH JANUARY 2026: I originally offered 50% off my...

Have any questions, insights, or feedback? Send me a text!

Length of article: 4 pages
Length of audio: 12 minutes 36 seconds
Synopsis: This is the audio version of the 4-page article I wrote and published on rabbischneeweiss.substack.com/ on 12/19/25 titled: Mikeitz: And Then They Got DRUNK. Why does the Torah mention that Yosef’s brothers got drunk? Here are four distinct approaches, each with its own methodological aim, and my take on each.

-----

SPECIAL CHANUKAH DISCOUNT: For the eight days of Chanukah, I’m offering 50% off my paid Substack subscription, just $5 per...

Have any questions, insights, or feedback? Send me a text!

Length: 1 hour 21 minutes
Synopsis: This morning (12/12/25), in our Friday morning Machshavah Lab series for women, we analyzed Iyov's "post-breakdown monologue" in Chapter 3 through the eyes of the Malbim and the Rambam, comparing and contrasting their approaches. Although we answered all the questions we initially asked, there are some outstanding difficulties that remain to be solved. Next on the agenda is Eliphaz's first speech, in which he attempts to prove Iyov wrong.
-----
מקורות:
איוב א:יג - סוף פרק ג
מלבי"ם - הקדמה לפרק ג; ג:כד
רמב"ם - מורה הנבוכים ג:טז
Lenn E. Goodman, "The Guide to the Perplexed: A New Translation" (2024)
----- Duration: 01:22:16

Have any questions, insights, or feedback? Send me a text!

Length: 1 hour 57 minutes
Synopsis: This evening (12/11/25), in our Thursday night Pirkei Avos shiur for women, we learned one of my favorite Rambam passages of all time: his mini-discourse on friendship. I can honestly say that this was the most comprehensive shiur I’ve ever given on the topic. We took the mishnah, raised every question we could, then read the Rambam, raised every question we could on that, and then answered all of them. I mentioned in shiur that the first time I learned this Rambam, it...

Have any questions, insights, or feedback? Send me a text!

Length of article: 1 pages
Length of audio: 4 minutes 31 seconds
Synopsis: This is the audio version of the 1-page article I wrote and published on rabbischneeweiss.substack.com/ on 12/11/25 titled: Vayeishev: Yosef ha’Tzadik – A Role Model in Sin. In this short dvar Torah, we compare two readings of Mrs. Potiphar’s attempted rape of Yosef and ask which portrays him as the better role model.

-----
This week’s Torah content is sponsored by Rifka Kaplan-Peck in memory of her grandpa, Izrail Kaplan...

Have any questions, insights, or feedback? Send me a text!

Length: 1 hour 11 minutes
Synopsis: This morning (12/5/25), in our Friday morning Machshavah Lab series for women, we began by reviewing the facts from last time. From there we took up a Vayishlach/Iyov side-quest, examining the midrash that Iyov’s wife was Dinah, a midrash for which I have found zero explanations. After that, we continued reading the sefer through the end of Iyov’s “post-breakdown monologue” in Chapter 3, and we concluded by raising some of the most urgent questions. Next time (בג"ה), we will analyze Iyov’s monologue in...

Have any questions, insights, or feedback? Send me a text!

Length of article: 4 pages
Length of audio: 14 minutes 8 seconds
Synopsis: This is the audio version of the 4-page article I wrote and published on rabbischneeweiss.substack.com/ on 12/4/25 titled: Vayishlach: Does Rashi Slander Dinah and Leah? Abravanel takes Rashi to task for blaming Dinah’s rape on Leah’s conduct. While I ordinarily side with the peshat, I’d like to show that I can learn Rashi too.

-----
This week’s Torah content is sponsored by Joey and Estee Lichter (and family...

Have any questions, insights, or feedback? Send me a text!

Length of article: 3 pages
Length of audio: 10 minutes 57 seconds
Synopsis: This is the audio version of the 3-page article I wrote and published on rabbischneeweiss.substack.com/ on 12/1/25 titled: Did Rambam Actually Praise Ibn Ezra and Trash the French Jews (for Eating Salsa)? You may have heard that the Rambam endorsed Ibn Ezra’s commentaries. Maybe you even heard he made disparaging remarks about the French. Well, I have some news ...

-----
This week’s Torah content is sponsored by Joey and Este...

Have any questions, insights, or feedback? Send me a text!

Length: 1 hour 4 minutes
Synopsis: This morning (11/21/25), in our Friday morning Machshavah Lab series for women, we had a shorter shiur in the usual. We spent the first portion clarifying some points from Part 3 - specifically, whether Ralbag would be considered a kofer (heretic) according to the Rambam. We then read through the remainder of the narrative about Iyov's suffering, using Malbim's commentary as our guide. Next time (בג"ה) we'll examine Iyov's reactions in greater depth, then read his monologue after his breakdown.
-----
מקורות:
רמב"ם - פירוש המשניות: סנהדרין, הקדמה לפרק חלק
אני מאמין
איוב א:יג - ב:יג
מלבי"...

Have any questions, insights, or feedback? Send me a text!

Length of article: 4 pages
Length of audio: 16 minutes 8 seconds
Synopsis: This is the audio version of the 4-page article I wrote and published on rabbischneeweiss.substack.com/ on 11/21/25 titled: Toldos: How Different Were Yaakov and Eisav? I was tempted to title this "When Teaching Rashi to Children Promotes Kefirah (Heresy)" but I decided that was too bold and relegated it to the subheading. Many thanks to Rabbi Pesach Sommer for providing me with the angle and structure of this article (and for granting me permission...

Have any questions, insights, or feedback? Send me a text!

Length: 1 hour 27 minutes
Synopsis: This morning (11/14/25), in our Friday morning Machshavah Lab series for women, we continued learning through the prologue of Iyov (1:1 - 3:1). We began with a question of Iyov Methodology: Which commentaries would I recommend? This led to another important tangent (the second in three sessions!) about the ikkarim (fundamentals of Judaism). I'm particularly interested in what people think about what was said. We then read through Iyov 1:6-12 at a more leisurely pace than our quick overview last time, and we concluded by...

Have any questions, insights, or feedback? Send me a text!

Length: 1 hour 29 minutes
Synopsis: This evening (11/13/25), in our Thursday night Pirkei Avos shiur for women, we continued with the clause we worked on last time. We spent the first part of shiur reviewing everything we covered last time, answering the questions we left off with and sharpening some of the insights we had. Then we moved on to the Meiri, who gave us several different interpretations of the first two clauses of the mishnah. We read and discussed all of them but one, and were intrigued...

Have any questions, insights, or feedback? Send me a text!

Length of article: 2 pages
Length of audio: 9 minutes 8 seconds
Synopsis: This is the audio version of the 2-page article I wrote and published on rabbischneeweiss.substack.com/ on 11/13/25 titled: Chayei Sarah: Sarah’s Years — A Peshat-Style Alternative to Rashi’s Midrashic Reading. Rashi’s drash on Sarah’s 127 years is well known and conveys profound ideas, but I prefer a different style of drash, one that speaks in my language: peshat.

-----

The Torah content for the remainder of October is sponsored...

Have any questions, insights, or feedback? Send me a text!

Length: 1 hour 4 minutes
Synopsis: This morning (11/7/25), in our Friday morning Machshavah Lab series for women, we reviewed the first five pesukim and answered our questions based largely on the Malbim's commentary, setting the stage for the drama that unfolds in the remainder of Chapters 1-2.
-----
מקורות:
איוב א:א-יב
מלבי"ם - איוה א:א-ה
---
This week's Torah content is sponsored by Joey and Estee Lichter in commemoration of the yahrzeits of Joey’s mother, Faiga bas Yehuda, and Estee’s father, Yisroel ben R’ Moshe.
---
If you've gained...

Have any questions, insights, or feedback? Send me a text!

Length of article: 4 pages
Length of audio: 15 minutes 19 seconds
Synopsis: This is the audio version of the 4-page article I wrote and published on rabbischneeweiss.substack.com/ on 11/7/25 titled: Vayeira: Maybe Lote Wasn’t the Bad Guy Rashi Makes Him Out to Be.In Rashi’s “world of midrash,” Lote’s the bad guy—but in the “world of peshat,” Radak paints a different picture. Which view is more compelling and relevant?

-----

The Torah content for the remainder of October is sponsored by...

Have any questions, insights, or feedback? Send me a text!

Length: 1 hour 29 minutes
Synopsis: This evening (11/6/25), in our Thursday night Pirkei Avos shiur for women, we went back and learned the beginning of the mishnah we started last week. We spent most of the time mining the depths of Rashi on the first clause-and-half. We then moved on to Rambam and Rabbeinu Yonah, attempting to compare and contrast them to discern how much they overlapped ... but then I got tired because of the clock change and ended shiur. Our plan is to come back for another...

Have any questions, insights, or feedback? Send me a text!

Length: 1 hour 17 minutes
Synopsis: This morning (10/31/25), in our Friday morning Machshavah Lab series for women, we began our unit on what I call the Prologue to Sefer Iyov (1:1 - 3:1). The initial plan was to have a brief introduction, then read and translate the entire Prologue, then analyze 1:1-5. Instead, our intro led to a rant (on my part) about the Rambam's 13 ikkarim, as misunderstood by anti-Maimonideans and hyper-Maimonideans alike. I thought it was a productive discussion (many thanks to Rabbi Dr. Joshua Berman), but as a...

Have any questions, insights, or feedback? Send me a text!

Length of article: 2 pages
Length of audio: 8 minutes 45 seconds
Synopsis: This is the audio version of the 2-page article I wrote and published on rabbischneeweiss.substack.com/ on 10/31/25 titled: Lech Lecha: Shadal on Jewish vs. Egyptian Circumcision. Contrary to what some might assume, circumcision did not originate with Jews. It was practiced in Egypt thousands of years earlier. What do we make of this? Shadal offers a profound answer.

-----

The Torah content for the remainder of October is sponsored by...

Have any questions, insights, or feedback? Send me a text!

Length: 2 hours
Synopsis: This evening (10/30/25), in our Thursday night Pirkei Avos shiur for women, we took up the famous precept of being dan l'chaf zechus. We ended up raising twenty questions total and answering most (if not all) of them through our in-depth analysis of Rambam and Rashi. If you're interested in a deep-dive into this topic which addresses the topic theoretically and practically, then this shiur will give you plenty of food for thought!
-----
מקורות:
אבות ד:טז
ויקרא יט:טו
שבועות דף ל עמוד א
רמב"ם
רש"י
רש"י - שבת דף קכז עמוד א-ב
רמב"ם - משנה תורה: ספר המדע, הלכות דעות ה:א,
-----<...

Have any questions, insights, or feedback? Send me a text!

Length of article: 4 pages
Length of audio: 15 minutes 24 seconds
Synopsis: This is the audio version of the 4-page article I wrote and published on rabbischneeweiss.substack.com/ on 10/24/25 titled: Noach: Did All Humanity Really Speak One Language? Though Malbim, R. Mecklenburg, and Rav Hirsch shared a common milieu and similar educational aims, each approached this question in a distinct way.

-----

The Torah content for the remainder of October is sponsored by Yael Weiss in honor of her parents, and in c...

Have any questions, insights, or feedback? Send me a text!

Length: 40 minutes
Synopsis: This morning (10/23/25), in lieu of our usual morning Mishlei, we had a Q&A session! We discussed the following three questions: (1) According to the Rambam, if Olam ha'Ba is non-physical, and if our desires only relate to physical enjoyments, how can we desire Olam ha'Ba? (2) What do we mean in the short vidui when we say ti'ta'nu, which some translate as "You have let us go astray"? (3) Should every person strive to attain the "Crown of Torah"? In going over these answers, I...

Have any questions, insights, or feedback? Send me a text!

Length: 1 hour 2 minutes
Synopsis: This evening (10/22/25), in our Wednesday night Tehilim shiur, we began the next perek in our "Tehilim we say at Kabbalas Shabbos" series. This one was very ... "Tehilimmy"! As usual, we spent the bulk of the first session translating the perek with all its nuances. I couldn't help but add my commentary as to why this part of the process is so important. We then began our analysis and identified some of the major themes, questions, and problems. Next time (בג"ה), we'll venture a the...

Have any questions, insights, or feedback? Send me a text!

Length of article: 5 pages
Length of audio: 14 minutes 57 seconds
Synopsis: This is the audio version of the 5-page article I wrote and published on rabbischneeweiss.substack.com/ on 10/10/25 titled Sukkos 5778: I Hate Sukkah (In a Good Way). Here's a newly edited version of my first (and favorite) article on Sukkos, originally published on 10/4/17. It captures a huge part of how I relate to mitzvos.

-----

The Torah content for the remainder of October is sponsored by Yael Weiss in honor of h...

Have any questions, insights, or feedback? Send me a text!

Length of article: 1 page
Length of audio: 3 minutes 46 seconds
Synopsis: This is the audio version of the 3-page article I wrote and published on rabbischneeweiss.substack.com/ on 10/6/25 titled: Sukkos 5786: Musings on the “Branding” of Chag ha’Sukkos. 
Two years ago, a student of mine asked a question about Sukkos using one quirky word that set off a cascade of thinking. I hope it does the same for you!

-----

The Torah content for the remainder of October is sponsored by Yael...

Have any questions, insights, or feedback? Send me a text!

Length of article: 3 pages
Length of audio: 11 minutes 24 seconds
Synopsis: This is the audio version of the 3-page article I wrote and published on rabbischneeweiss.substack.com/ on 10/5/25 titled: Haazinu: What If You Find Torah Empty? Chazal would respond, “The fault is yours—you didn’t toil in Torah.” But what about those who have toiled and still find Torah empty? Here are my thoughts.

-----

The Torah content for the remainder of October is sponsored by Yael Weiss in honor of her p...

Have any questions, insights, or feedback? Send me a text!

Length of article: 2 pages
Length of audio: 9 minutes 18 seconds
Synopsis: This is the audio version of the 2-page article I wrote and published on rabbischneeweiss.substack.com/ on 10/1/25, titled: Yom ha’Kippurim 5786 / Acharei Mos: The Order of Vidui. Here’s a quick article I wrote this morning. The idea isn’t fully developed, but I hope it gives some food for thought on Yom ha'Kippurim. Gmar chasimah tovah!

-----

The Torah Content for this week is sponsored by Rifka Kaplan-Peck in memory...

Have any questions, insights, or feedback? Send me a text!

Length of article: 2 pages
Length of audio: 8 minutes 36 seconds
Synopsis: This is the audio version of the 2-page article I wrote and published on rabbischneeweiss.substack.com/ on 9/29/25, titled: Approaching the “Sweet Secret” of Ha’Melech ha’Mishpat. Does the grammatically anomalous "ha'Melech ha'Mishpat" contain a secret? Some Rishonim think so. Here's my best (incomplete) attempt to understand that secret.

-----

The Torah Content for this week is sponsored by Rifka Kaplan-Peck in memory of Shira Malka (a”h) "who taught me that se...

Have any questions, insights, or feedback? Send me a text!

Length: 1 hour 26 minutes
Synopsis: This morning (9/26/25), in our Friday morning Machshavah Lab series for women, we concluded (I think?) the introductory portion of our Iyov shiurim by taking up the question of when and whether Iyov lived. We read through the ten plus opinions in the Gemara, raised questions on what Chazal were trying to do, and then tried to answer them with a speculative theory (since I haven't found any satisfactory answers in the traditional or modern commentaries). We then surveyed the views of three...

Have any questions, insights, or feedback? Send me a text!

Length of article: 3 pages
Length of audio: 12 minutes 25 seconds
Synopsis: This is the audio version of the 3-page article I wrote and published on rabbischneeweiss.substack.com/ on 9/25/25, titled: Vayeilech: When Hashem Hides His Face. Twice in this parashah Hashem says He will hide His face: once for sin, and again even after we admit we were wrong. Here are five solutions to this difficulty.

-----
The Torah Content for the month of September is sponsored by Meir Areman in loving memory o...

Have any questions, insights, or feedback? Send me a text!

Length: 1 hour 10 minutes
Synopsis: This morning (9/19/25), in our Friday morning Machshavah Lab sreies for women, we began with a comprehensive review of what we covered in Part 1, adding and clarifying the points we previously discussed. It was so comprehensive, in fact, that it took up the majority of our shiur! We used the remaining time to wrap up the question of Sefer Iyov's authorship, paving the way for our next planned topic: the question of historicity. When did Iyov live, if he was even a real...

Have any questions, insights, or feedback? Send me a text!

Length: 1 hour 43 minutes
Synopsis: This evening (9/18/25), in our Thursday night Pirkei Avos shiur for women, we took up the first of two mishnayos in our perek about the relationship between Olam ha'Zeh and Olam ha'Ba. At first, we thought the mishnah was obvious. Then, after learning through four meforshim, we found ourselves with eight points that needed to be explained. Despite my coming to shiur with only a few answers, together we managed to come up with explanations for all eight points AND answer all our...

Have any questions, insights, or feedback? Send me a text!

Length of article: 2 pages
Length of audio: 8 minutes 20 seconds
Synopsis: This is the audio version of the 2-page article I wrote and published on rabbischneeweiss.substack.com/ on 9/16/25, titled: Nitzavim: Was Moshe Rabbeinu Pro-Philosophy or Anti-Philosophy? This article's intended audience is those who feel strongly either way, those who think they know my answer, and those who deny the validity of the question.

-----
The Torah Content for the month of September is sponsored by Meir Areman in loving memory of his...

Have any questions, insights, or feedback? Send me a text!

Length: 1 hour 33 minutes
Synopsis: This morning (9/12/25), in this year's first Friday morning Machshavah Lab shiur for women, we began our (hopefully) year-long series on Sefer Iyov! I began by recapping my prior experience with Iyov, but to my delight, this turned into a really great discussion about the various challenges of learning the sefer. We then attempted to list all the major questions that ought to asked about the sefer BEFORE learning it. The last half of shiur was spent on the question of authorship: who...

Have any questions, insights, or feedback? Send me a text!

Length: 1 hour 48 minutes
Synopsis: This evening (9/11/25), in our Thursday night Pirkei Avos shiur for women, we learned the next mishnah in our chapter. This one was more practical, more approachable, and less metaphysical than the last. After raising a ton of questions, we learned the explanations of three commentaries: Rambam, Meiri, and Sforno. I believe we did justice to each one and learned ideas that are relevant to our lives, especially those of us who are teachers and students!
-----
מקורות:
אבות ד:טו
רבינו יונה - משלי א:כב
רמב"ם
רמב"ם - משנה תורה: ספר המדע...

Have any questions, insights, or feedback? Send me a text!

Length of article: 2 pages
Length of audio: 8 minutes 28 seconds
Synopsis: This is the audio version of the 2-page article I wrote and published on rabbischneeweiss.substack.com/ on 9/5/25, titled: Ki Teitzei: Ibn Kaspi's Radical Rationale for Sending Away the Mother Bird. He'd sum up the rationale by saying: "You're nothing but a lowlife ass, a cabbage, and a dumb rock who'd cannibalize his own father. Become a vegetarian!"

-----
The Torah Content for the month of September is sponsored by Meir Areman...

Have any questions, insights, or feedback? Send me a text!

Length: 1 hour 48 minutes
Synopsis: This evening (9/4/25), in our first Thursday night Pirkei Avos shiur for women of the 2025-2026 season, we took up a mishnah that happens to be on the same topic as Sefer Iyov, which will be a major focus of mine this year! In fact, this mishnah seems to undermine Iyov in its entirety! Thankfully, Sforno came to the rescue with a lengthy but rich commentary that answered every single question we raised on the mishnah. Not only that, but we came away...

Have any questions, insights, or feedback? Send me a text!

Length of FREE article: 2 pages (PAID version is 3 pages)
Length of FREE audio: 7 minutes 44 seconds (PAID version is 11 minutes 37 seconds)
Synopsis: This is the audio version of the FREE version of the 2-page article I wrote and published on rabbischneeweiss.substack.com/ on 8/20/25, titled: Re’eh: The Torah Temimah’s Counterintuitive Take on the Mitzvah to Live in Israel (and Rav Chaim Brisker’s Zionism). Yes, there is a third answer to the question of whether it is a mitzvah to live in Israel. And paid s...

Have any questions, insights, or feedback? Send me a text!

Length of article: 2 pages
Length of audio: 7 minutes 4 seconds
Synopsis: This is the audio version of the 2-page article I wrote and published on rabbischneeweiss.substack.com/ on 8/14/25, titled: Eikev: Slowing the Conquest ... For Animals? The Torah gives a bizarre reason for the slow conquest of Canaan. Two contrary explanations given by Rishonim shed light on how Hashem operates.

-----
This week’s Torah Content has been sponsored by me, with gratitude to whoever left the mysterious “Rabbi Schneeweiss” envelope in my mailbo...

Have any questions, insights, or feedback? Send me a text!

Length of article: 2 pages
Length of audio: 5 minutes 57 seconds
Synopsis: This is the audio version of the 2-page article I wrote and published on rabbischneeweiss.substack.com/ on 8/8/25, titled: Vaeschanan: The Loneliness of the Jew. Moshe Rabbeinu warns us not to add to or subtract from the Torah, but his reasoning is rather strange. Here’s an explanation I heard from my rebbi.

-----
This week’s Torah Content has been sponsored by me, with gratitude to whoever left the mysterious “Rabbi Schnee...

Have any questions, insights, or feedback? Send me a text!

Length of audio: 1 hour 6 minutes
Synopsis: This is the recording of the Tishah b'Av shiur I gave at the Island Synagogue on 8/3/25. Two things to note: (1) Unlike most other Tishah b'Av shiurim I've given, I don't think there are any chidushim (novel insights). Instead, I decided to focus on the basics. (2) Towards the beginning of the shiur, we read dthrough the kinnah in Hebrew and English. Unfortunately, the person reading the English was sitting far away, and since I was recording on my phone, I don't kn...

Have any questions, insights, or feedback? Send me a text!

Length of article: 5 pages
Length of audio: 18 minutes 3 seconds
Synopsis: This is the audio version of the 5-page article I wrote and published on rabbischneeweiss.substack.com/ on 8/1/25, titled: Tishah b’Av 5785: Metaphysical Trauma and the Aftermath of October 7th. I’ve revised and combined my four most important pieces on Tishah b’Av into a single article, with a new fifth section reflecting on October 7th.

-----
Since this week’s Torah content hasn’t been sponsored, I’ll use it as a reminde...

Have any questions, insights, or feedback? Send me a text!

Length of article: 2.5 pages
Length of audio: 8 minutes 44 seconds
Synopsis: This is the audio version of the 2.5-page article I wrote and published on rabbischneeweiss.substack.com/ on 7/24/25, titled: Masei: Leviim as Countercultural Role Models Against Cancel Culture. What can the Levite Cities of Refuge teach us about cancel culture in "progressive" America today? A lot more than you might think!

-----
With gratitude to Hashem, I’m pleased to announce that I am officially listed as a teacher on YUTorah! Special th...

Have any questions, insights, or feedback? Send me a text!

Length of article: 2 pages
Length of audio: 6 minutes 29 seconds
Synopsis: This is the audio version of the 2-page article I wrote and published on rabbischneeweiss.substack.com/ on 7/18/25, titled: Pinchas: Inheritance as a Non-Intuitive Mishpat. What’s the purpose of inheritance laws? Most don't even ask. They assume the answer is obvious. But the Sefer ha’Chinuch offers a non-intuitive explanation.

-----
This week's Torah content is sponsored by Avital, in gratitude to Hashem for completing an intense seven-week course, and with the...

Have any questions, insights, or feedback? Send me a text!

Length of article: 2 pages
Length of audio: 9 minutes 5 seconds
Synopsis: This is the audio version of the 2-page article I wrote and published on rabbischneeweiss.substack.com/ on 7/11/25, titled: Balak: How Bad Omens Can Harm You (Even According to the Rambam). Many people believe that bad omens are harbingers of real harm. Rambam is not one of them. But even he might hold by the exception noted by R' Yehuda ha'Nasi.

-----
This week’s Torah content is sponsored by Naomi and Ra...

Have any questions, insights, or feedback? Send me a text!

Length of article: 3.5 pages
Length of audio: 11 minutes 37 seconds
Synopsis: This is the audio version of the 4-page article I wrote and published on rabbischneeweiss.substack.com/ on 7/9/25, titled: The Dead Sea Scrolls and the Integrity of the Masoretic Text (Q&A Response) Part 1. 
Here's Part 1 of my response to a high school student's question about whether the Dead Sea Scrolls call into question the reliability of the Masoretic text.

-----
This week’s Torah content is sponsored by Naomi and Rab...

Have any questions, insights, or feedback? Send me a text!

Length of article: 4 pages
Length of audio: 14 minutes 36 seconds
Synopsis: This is the audio version of the 4-page article I wrote and published on rabbischneeweiss.substack.com/ on 7/4/25, titled: Chukas: A Maimonidean Explanation for Parah Adumah (from a Different Moshe). Yes, even the red heifer has a reason. Rambam paves the way but stops short of delivering. Another Moshe offers a theory that might make Rambam say, "Eureka!"

-----
This week’s Torah content is sponsored by Naomi and Rabbi Judah Dardik, wi...

Have any questions, insights, or feedback? Send me a text!

Length of article: 2 pages
Length of audio: 7 minutes 54 seconds
Synopsis: This is the audio version of the 2-page article I wrote and published on rabbischneeweiss.substack.com/ on 6/26/25, titled: Korach: Three Types of Machlokess (or “How Korach Wasn’t as Bad as You Think”) We’re quick to condemn Korach. But what if his motives weren’t entirely evil? And what if that insight changes how we see machlokess in our own communities?

-----
This week’s Torah content is sponsored by Chaim and Ri...

Have any questions, insights, or feedback? Send me a text!

Length of article: 2 pages
Length of audio: 7 minutes 15 seconds
Synopsis: This is the audio version of the 2-page article I wrote and published on rabbischneeweiss.substack.com/ on 6/20/25, titled: Shelach: Rabbeinu Bachya on the Meraglim, Mishlei, and the Current War With Iran. I don't know who needs a Bitachon 101 (Trust in God) refresher course for this war with Iran, but Rabbeinu Bachya provides one in his intro to Parashas Shelach.

-----
This week’s Torah content is sponsored by Chaim and Rifka Pe...

Have any questions, insights, or feedback? Send me a text!

Length of article: 5 pages
Length of audio: 17 minutes
Synopsis: This is the audio version of the 5-page article I wrote and published on rabbischneeweiss.substack.com/ on 6/19/25, titled: The Potentially Problematic Line in Sheva Berachos (and What to Do About It). The fourth of the Sheva Berachos is prone to misunderstanding. Abudarham warns it could lead to "severe heresy." Thankfully, there are at least three solutions.

-----
This week’s Torah content is sponsored by Chaim and Rifka Peck, the awesome parents of...

Have any questions, insights, or feedback? Send me a text!

Length of transcript: 3 pages
Length of video/audio: 9 minutes 4 seconds
Synopsis: Here's the audio of the graduation charge I delivered to the NEJA Graduating Class of 2025 on June 8th, 2025, complete with all my speech tics.

-----
This week’s Torah content is sponsored by Chaim and Rifka Peck, the awesome parents of two of my NEJA students, in honor of the marriage of my dear talmidim, Chayim Zifkin and Shira Stein. Though they don’t know the couple personally, the Pecks chose to d...

Have any questions, insights, or feedback? Send me a text!

Length of article: 2 pages
Length of audio: 6 minutes 53 seconds
Synopsis: This is the audio version of the 2-page article I wrote and published on rabbischneeweiss.substack.com/ on 6/13/25, titled: Behaalosecha: The Non-Symbolic Trumpets. What’s the reason for the mitzvah of the chatzotzeros (trumpets)? The Sefer ha’Chinuch reminds us that sometimes, the simplest answer is the most compelling.

-----
Summer is almost here, and I’m planning to level up my Substack game. In addition to my weekly article on the parash...

Have any questions, insights, or feedback? Send me a text!

Length: 1 hour 1 minutes
Synopsis: This Wednesday evening (6/11/25), in our last Tehilim shiur of the 2024-2025 season, we ended up doing a chaotically orderly experimental Chumash exploration instead of Tehilim. If you've ever looked at English translations of the siddur, you may have noticed that the word "Ashrei" is translated differently by different people in different contexts. Tonight, we conducted a survey of the various sources at our disposal to see if we might be able to get at "the real meaning." Our analysis focused on the...

Have any questions, insights, or feedback? Send me a text!

Length of article: 4.5 pages
Length of audio: 14 minutes 23 seconds
Synopsis: This is the audio version of the 4.5-page article I wrote and published on rabbischneeweiss.substack.com/ on 6/6/25, titled: Naso: Twelve Identical Offerings. Why does the Torah repeat the twelve identical offerings in Parashas Naso? This article explores a peshat answer, two midrashim, and their methodology.

-----
Summer is almost here, and I’m planning to level up my Substack game. In addition to my weekly article on the parashah, I’ve got a...

Have any questions, insights, or feedback? Send me a text!

Length: 47 minutes
Synopsis: This morning (6/5/25) we had what will likely be our last Q&A of the 2024-2025 season! We discussed the following five questions: (1) Have my views on Mishleic fatalism changed? (If you're not familiar, don't worry - we review it.) (2) What insight can I offer on the types of high-stakes life decisions that tend to start cropping up as one enters adulthood? (3) What advice would I give for reading Halakhic Man? (4) What are some guidelines for learning Pirkei Avos? (5) What mistakes do I see...

Have any questions, insights, or feedback? Send me a text!

Length of article: 2 pages
Length of audio: 8 minutes 15 seconds
Synopsis: This is the audio version of the 2-page article I wrote and published on rabbischneeweiss.substack.com/ on 5/30/25, titled: Bamidbar: Dust, Sand, and Stars. Hashem reiterates His promise to multiply Avraham’s offspring using three metaphors. What does each mean? How do they shed light on our present state?

-----
The Torah content from now through Isru Chag Shavuos is sponsored by Rabbi Chaim and Sara Weiss in honor of the yahrzeit of...

Have any questions, insights, or feedback? Send me a text!

Length of article: 2 pages
Length of audio: 9 minutes
Synopsis: This is the audio version of the 2-page article I wrote and published on rabbischneeweiss.substack.com/ on 5/23/25, titled: Bechukosai: Does Hashem Ever Truly Loathe Israel? Our gut reaction to this question is, "No!" but the verses in the blessings and the curses indicate that the answer is not so simple.
-----
The Torah content from now through Isru Chag Shavuos is sponsored by Rabbi Chaim and Sara Weiss in honor of the yahrzeit...

Have any questions, insights, or feedback? Send me a text!

Length: 1 hour 45 minutes
Synopsis: Tonight (5/22/25), in our final Thursday night Pirkei Avos shiur for women of the 2024-2025 season, we took up a mishnah that is relevant to us all, and is particularly appropriate as we approach Zman Matan Toraseinu. If you're someone who plans to relocate or who needs to relocate or whose relationship with Torah is in need of a boost, this mishnah is for you!
-----
מקורות:
אבות ד:יד
רמב"ם
רבינו יונה
"A Taste of Torah: Through the transcribed tapes of Rabbi Morton Moskowitz z"l"
רש"י Duration: 01:45:15

Have any questions, insights, or feedback? Send me a text!

Length of article: 1.5 pages
Length of audio: 5 minutes 55 seconds
Synopsis: This is the audio version of the 1.5-page article I wrote and published on rabbischneeweiss.substack.com/ on 5/15/25, titled: Lag ba’Omer PSA: The Falsehood of Rabbi Shimon bar Yochai’s Yahrzeit. Mark Twain said, “Be careful about reading health books. You may die of a misprint.” Rumors of Rashbi’s death on Lag ba’Omer have been greatly exaggerated. They trace back to a misprint from 1802.

Note: This is a corrected and expanded ver...

Have any questions, insights, or feedback? Send me a text!

Length of article: 2 pages
Length of audio: 8 minutes 41 seconds
Synopsis: This is the audio version of the 2-page article I wrote and published on rabbischneeweiss.substack.com/ on 5/2/25, titled: Kedoshim: “Love Thy Neighbor as Thyself” – Not the Greatest Principle in Torah. R’ Akiva calls “Ve’ahavta l’reiacha kamocha” a great Torah principle. Ben Azzai disagrees. Wessely attempts to reconcile them with an original interpretation.
-----
SPECIAL OFFER: I’m planning to write more on my Substack this summer than I have in the past few years...

Have any questions, insights, or feedback? Send me a text!

Length: 1 hour 13 minutes
Synopsis: This past Thursday night (5/8/25), in lieu of our usual Thursday night Pirkei Avos shiur for women, we took up a topic in Parashas Kedoshim - arguably the most important mitzvah mentioned therein. Many people are familiar with R' Akiva's famous statement, "This is a great principle in the Torah." Fewer people are familiar with Ben Azzai's disagreement, and his identification of ANOTHER pasuk as an even GREATER principle. We analyzed this machlokess through the eyes of a little-known commentator: N.H. Wesseley...

Have any questions, insights, or feedback? Send me a text!

Length: 1 hour 30 minutes
Synopsis: Last night (5/1/25), in our Thursday night Pirkei Avos shiur for women, we resumed our learning of Chapter 4, after nearly a month's hiatus. (Yes, I skipped 4:12, in case you were wondering.) This mishnah is quite short, and . We spent the bulk of the time comparing Rabbeinu Yonah's more intuitive reading with Rashi's highly specific reading. I attempted to convey a theory about Rashi which I realize might not be persuasive. Curious to hear what you think! We also spent a little time on...

Have any questions, insights, or feedback? Send me a text!

Length of article: 2 pages
Length of audio: 8 minutes 39 seconds
Synopsis: This is the audio version of the 2-page article I wrote and published on rabbischneeweiss.substack.com/ on 4/25/25, titled: Tazria/Metzora: How Niddah Protected Women. What if the laws of niddah weren’t designed to oppress, but to protect? This article examines a leading Leviticus scholar’s theory and its implications.
-----
The total cost of producing my five podcasts in 2024 came to $1,455—an expense I would have otherwise had to cover myself. I’m de...

Have any questions, insights, or feedback? Send me a text!

Length of article: 2 pages
Length of audio: 7 minutes 22 seconds
Synopsis: This is the audio version of the 2-page article I wrote and published on rabbischneeweiss.substack.com/ on 4/25/25, titled: Mortimer J. Adler's Mussar for Religious Educators. This excerpt from a lecture by Mortimer Adler to Catholic educators speaks just as powerfully to Jewish educators. If we truly took his words to heart, Jewish education would be in a far better place.
-----
The total cost of producing my five podcasts in 2024 came to $1,455—an...

Have any questions, insights, or feedback? Send me a text!

Length: 45 minutes
Synopsis: This morning (4/24/25) we had Q&A! We discussed the following six questions: (1) If perfection of middos is a prerequisite to perfection of the intellect, how do we explain individuals like Achitophel and Doeg ha'Edomi, who were great chachamim who did evil things? (2) Anti-Israel activists have engaged in malicious editing of Wikipedia articles to promote their cause. What do we think of this tactic, and should we use it as well? (3) What do I think of Rabbi Zimmer's "World of Midrash" approach? (4) What do...

Have any questions, insights, or feedback? Send me a text!

Length of article: 3 page
Length of audio: 8 minutes 40 seconds
Synopsis: This is the audio version of the 3-page article I co-wrote and published on rabbischneeweiss.substack.com/ on 4/11/25, titled: Egypt Reflections as a Jew (by My Brother). My globetrotting brother’s reflections on his trip to Egypt—poignant words that move me to tears every time I read them, especially going into Pesach. And yes, I started crying while making the audio.
-----
The Torah content from now until Erev Pesach has been spon...

Have any questions, insights, or feedback? Send me a text!

Length of article: 3 page
Length of audio: 10 minutes 5 seconds
Synopsis: This is the audio version of the 3-page article I wrote and published on rabbischneeweiss.substack.com/ on 4/10/25, titled: Why WE Eat Matzah vs. Why THEY Ate Matzah. Every year we read Rabban Gamliel's explanation for why we eat matzah on Pesach, but why did the Israelites in Egypt eat matzah on the night of the Exodus? Here are three approaches.
-----
The Torah content from now until Erev Pesach has been sponsored...

Have any questions, insights, or feedback? Send me a text!

Length of article: 1 page
Length of audio: 4 minutes 31 seconds
Synopsis: This is the audio version of the 1-page article I wrote and published on rabbischneeweiss.substack.com/ on 4/4/25, titled: Mit’chilah: Defining Avodah Zarah and Avodas Hashem. How would you define avodah zarah and avodas Hashem—and how would you do it in a 500-word dvar Torah for Jewish day school families?
-----
The Torah content from now until Erev Pesach has been sponsored by Yehudis Korn l'zecher nishmas Moshe ben Yeshayahu Yehuda.
...

Have any questions, insights, or feedback? Send me a text!

Length: 1 hour 43 minutes
Synopsis: Last night (4/4/25), in our Thursday night women's shiur, we explored a question posed to me by two of my students (shout out to Moshe and Shmarya) about a song found at the end of most Haggadot: “Is there an inherent problem with saying Adir Hu?” The concern is that, on the surface, Adir Hu seems to exemplify the type of excessive adjectival praise condemned by R’ Chanina in Berachos 33b. Our session was more of a “Machshavah Lab”-style exploration than a formal shi...

Have any questions, insights, or feedback? Send me a text!

Length: 38 minutes
Synopsis: This morning (3/20/25) we had a rare (this year) Q&A! We discussed the following questions: (1) How should a person use their outside-of-yeshiva "downtime" with their rabbeim: to talk about Torah or about other things? (2) What do we make of the tension between acknowledging God as the cause of evil and the Rambam's position in the Moreh that God doesn't directly cause evil? (3) What, exactly, was given at Sinai? (4) Which principles or factors should determine when, how, and whether to share what we've learned...

Have any questions, insights, or feedback? Send me a text!

Length of article: 3 pages
Length of audio: 11 minutes 6 seconds
Synopsis: This is the audio version of the 3-page article I wrote and published on rabbischneeweiss.substack.com/ on 3/17/25, titled: Ki Tisa: Shadal’s Anti-Rationalist Rational Explanation of Ayin ha’Ra (the Evil Eye). What if I told you there’s an explanation of ayin ha’ra that is neither purely rationalistic nor mystical? True to form, Shadal offers just such an explanation.
-----
The Torah content for this week has been sponsored by my friend...

Have any questions, insights, or feedback? Send me a text!

Length of article: 3 pages
Length of audio: 10 minutes 53 seconds
Synopsis: This is the audio version of the 3-page article I wrote and published on rabbischneeweiss.substack.com/ on 3/7/25, titled: Tetzaveh: Philosophical Pants. The most underappreciated item of the bigdei kehunah (priestly vestments) is the undergarments. In this article, we analyze these "philosophical pants" and uncover the many Torah ideas they embody.

-----
The Torah content for this week has been sponsored by Rifka Kaplan-Peck in tribute to the Bibas family. May Hashem...

Have any questions, insights, or feedback? Send me a text!

Length: 1 hour 23 minutes
Synopsis: Tonight (3/6/25), in lieu of our Thursday night Pirkei Avos shiur for women, we continued learning the Ralbag's toalos ("beneficial lessons") on Megilas Esther, picking up were we left off last year, at the beginning of Chapter 6. Unlike last year, in which we JUST read the Ralbag, we decided to read and discuss the pesukim this year before learning the toeles. This resulted in a slower pace, but (I hope!) a richer learning experience. We only got through five toalos, but we delved...

Have any questions, insights, or feedback? Send me a text!

Length: 1 hour 52 minutes
Synopsis: Thoughts of vengeance have been on the minds of Jews worldwide since October 7th. In less than two weeks, we’ll celebrate Purim — a holiday in which vengeance is a dominant theme. We are commanded to emulate Hashem’s ways, and He is explicitly described as "vengeful" throughout Tanach. Are we meant to emulate Him in this regard? How does this align with the Torah’s halachic and ethical stance on revenge? How does it fit into the Torah's broader philosophy of ethics...

Have any questions, insights, or feedback? Send me a text!

Length of article: 3 pages
Length of audio: 11 minutes 33 seconds
Synopsis: This is the audio version of the 3-page article I wrote and published on rabbischneeweiss.substack.com/ on 2/21/25, titled: Mishpatim: Judaism's Stance on (Extrajudicial) Witch Hunts. The Torah prohibits witchcraft under the penalty of death, but if you think you know what that means and why, then you may be in for a surprise.
-----
The Torah content for the entire month of February has been sponsored by Y.K. with gratitude to...

Have any questions, insights, or feedback? Send me a text!

Length: 1 hour 27 minutes
Synopsis: This evening (2/20/25), in lieu of our regularly scheduled Pirkei Avos Shiur for women, we took up the topic that I'm currently writing about for my Friday substack article. We began by asking all the questions we could on this three-word pasuk, and by the end of the shiur, we answered all but one. The shiur itself focused on a highly disturbing minority view (expressed by only 3.5 meforshim) about what the Torah wants us to do to witches. For the shorter version of...

Have any questions, insights, or feedback? Send me a text!

Length of article: 4 pages
Length of audio: 13 minutes 53 seconds
Synopsis: This is the audio version of the 5-page article I wrote and published on rabbischneeweiss.substack.com/ on 2/14/25, titled: Yisro: Shadal’s Unfortunate Stance on Idolatry, Belief, and the Value of Knowledge. Perhaps this article will expose me as a fool, an ignoramus, a haughty dilettante—or all three. But I had to write it, if only to be shown how wrong I am. Either way, we're gonna learn some Shadal!
-----
The Tora...

Have any questions, insights, or feedback? Send me a text!

Length of article: 3 pages
Length of audio: 10 minutes 30 seconds
Synopsis: This is the audio version of the 3-page article I wrote and published on rabbischneeweiss.substack.com/ on 2/9/25, titled: Beshalach: What Did the Splitting of the Sea Look Like? After seeing this magnificent photo, I was inspired to write a bonus article on Beshalach - an article I've been meaning to write for years. Surprise!
-----
The Torah content for the entire month of February has been sponsored by Y.K. with gratitude...

Have any questions, insights, or feedback? Send me a text!

Length: 1 hour 53 minutes
Synopsis: Last night (2/6/25), in our Thursday night Pirkei Avos shiur for women, we did something a little unusual: analyzing TWO mishnayos with only ONE commentary. When I sat down to prepare for this shiur, I noticed the parallel wording in 4:11 and 5:17. When I read the Meiri, I saw that he gave a similar interpretation of both, but it was JUST different enough to raise a host of problems. Our goal was to emerge with a unified understanding of his full view, and I'm...

Have any questions, insights, or feedback? Send me a text!

Length of article: 5 pages
Length of audio: 17 minutes 27 seconds
Synopsis: This is the audio version of the 5-page article I wrote and published on rabbischneeweiss.substack.com/ on 2/7/25, titled: Beshalach: Moshe’s Role in the Mahn Confusion and its Implications for Teachers. This article explores one of the most perplexing narratives in Shemos, addressing a key question: How was Moshe at fault for the fiasco with the mahn? It concludes with five takeaways for teachers.
-----
The Torah content for the entire month of...

Have any questions, insights, or feedback? Send me a text!

Length of article: 4 pages
Length of audio: 15 minutes 29 seconds
Synopsis: This is the audio version of the 4-page article I wrote and published on rabbischneeweiss.substack.com/ on 1/16/25, titled: Shemos: Two Views of Hishtadlus. Intended to write a short dvar Torah article about Yocheved as model of bitachon (trust in Hashem), but I ended up writing out my entire "hishtadlus rant."
-----
It’s a new year on the Gregorian calendar, a new year of my life (I turn 41 on January 10th), and a...

Have any questions, insights, or feedback? Send me a text!

Length of article: 2 pages
Length of audio: 7 minutes 38 seconds
Synopsis: This is the audio version of the 2-page article I wrote and published on rabbischneeweiss.substack.com/ on 1/9/25, titled: Vayechi: How Never to Be Angry at Anyone or Hate Anyone (Part 1: Questions). Yes, this is the second week in a row that I've written a "questions only" article. Unlike last time, I plan on writing Part 2 (for paid subscribers). I published this today because I'll be traveling.
-----
It’s a new year on...

Have any questions, insights, or feedback? Send me a text!

Length of article: 2 pages
Length of audio: 8 minutes 19 seconds
Synopsis: This is the audio version of the 2-page article I wrote and published on rabbischneeweiss.substack.com/ on 1/3/25, titled: Vayigash: Who Sent Yosef to Egypt? (Part 1: The Questions). Yosef answers this question three times, and we assume we know what he meant, but Ibn Kaspi hints at a different interpretation in the Rambam - one that raises a few problems of its own.
-----
This week's Torah content has been sponsored l'zecher nishmas...

Have any questions, insights, or feedback? Send me a text!

Length: 1 hour 35 minutes
Synopsis: Tonight (1/2/25), in our Thursday night Pirkei Avos shiur for women, we took up an intriguing mishnah about the effects of mitzvos and aveiros. We ended up with two solid interpretations - one that emerged during the shiur, and another based on an article I wrote back in 2012 - as well as a fundamental discourse on reward and punishment according to Rabbeinu Bachya, which we (sadly) didn't have time to fully tie back into our understanding of the mishnah. Definitely a worthwhile learning...

Have any questions, insights, or feedback? Send me a text!

Length of article: 3 pages
Length of audio: 9 minutes 12 seconds
Synopsis: This is the audio version of the 3-page article I wrote and published on rabbischneeweiss.substack.com/ on 1/1/25, titled: The Rabbi Schneeweiss Substack Update: 66 Changes I'm Considering for January 2025. After last year's cabin retreat, I made three writing-related anti-resolutions for 2024. In this post, I examine this year went, and what I envision for 2025.
-----
The Torah content through the end of Chanukah is sponsored by Feiga W., with the following dedication: "With deep...

Have any questions, insights, or feedback? Send me a text!

Length of article: 2 pages
Length of audio: 8 minutes 59 seconds
Synopsis: This is the audio version of the 2-page article I wrote and published on rabbischneeweiss.substack.com/ on 12/13/24, titled: Vayishlach: Bnei Yaakov at Beis-El and Bnei Yisrael at Sinai (Part 1: Questions). This week's article contains questions: "traditional" questions as well as the literary analysis questions taken up by "the Gush Tanakh Method." If you have answers or ideas, please let me know!
-----
This week's Torah content has been generously sponsored by Ann...

Have any questions, insights, or feedback? Send me a text!

Length: 1 hour 36 minutes
Synopsis: This evening (12/12/24), in our Thursday night Pirkei Avos shiur for women, we learned another mishnah about how to achieve the proper learning-work balance. This mishnah was strange in that each clause seemed to be an idea that wasn't a chidush because it's already been covered elsewhere in Pirkei Avos. Additionally, the relationship between the three clauses wasn't apparent. Thankfully, we were able to arrive at a unified theory, picking up on several other ideas along the way!
-----
מקורות:
אבות ד:י
רש"י
רמב"ם
ר...

Have any questions, insights, or feedback? Send me a text!

Length of article: 3 pages
Length of audio: 12 minutes 36 seconds
Synopsis: This is the audio version of the 1-page article I wrote and published on rabbischneeweiss.substack.com/ on 12/6/24, titled: Vayeitzei: Yaakov's (Scandalous?) Kiss (?). How, exactly, did Yaakov kiss Rachel? This article explores the full spectrum of interpretations—from Ibn Kaspi to the Hasidic masters—through the lenses of methodology and sociology.
-----
This week's Torah content has been generously sponsored by Ann, a dedicated supporter of the Rabbi Schneeweiss Torah Content Fund. Thank you...

Have any questions, insights, or feedback? Send me a text!

Length: 1 hour 31 minutes
Synopsis: Last night (12/5/24), in our Thursday night Pirkei Avos shiur for women, we learned a mishnah about the relationship between wealth, poverty, and living a life of Torah. Even though we only fully learned one commentary (Rabbeinu Yonah), the ideas we discussed here are relevant to most of us, and have major implications for how we structure our lives.
-----
מקורות:
אבות ד:ט
רש"י
רמב"ם
רבינו יונה
מאירי
רמב"ם - משנה תורה: ספר זרעים, הלכות שמיטה ויובל יג:יב-יג
קהלת ז:כט
משלי ל:ז-ט
אברהם בן הרמב"ם - בראשית כח:כ
-----
This week's Torah content has been generously sponsored by Ann, a dedicated supporter of the Rabbi Schneeweiss Torah Content Fund. Thank yo...

Have any questions, insights, or feedback? Send me a text!

Length of article: 1 page
Length of audio: 4 minutes 58 seconds
Synopsis: This is the audio version of the 1-page article I wrote and published on rabbischneeweiss.substack.com/ on 11/22/24, titled: Bereishis: (How) Did Hashem Speak to Kayin?  In lieu of an article on Chayei Sarah, I've decided to publish an article on Bereishis which is a sequel to last week's article on Vayeira. If you thought that Radak was controversial, check this out!
-----
The Torah content for the remainder of November has been s...

Have any questions, insights, or feedback? Send me a text!

Length: 1 hour 21 minutes
Synopsis: Last night (11/14/24), in our Thursday night Pirkei Avos shiur for women, we learned the next mishnah. Like the previous one, this mishnah is a warning to judges not to judge alone, no matter what their level of expertise, and what not to do once they're on a court with peers who aren't experts. After familiarizing ourselves with the facts about the cases in which one is permitted to judge alone, we learned through three interpretations of our mishnah, and even though none...

Have any questions, insights, or feedback? Send me a text!

Length of article: 1 page
Length of audio: 4 minutes 19 seconds
Synopsis: This is the audio version of the 1-page article I wrote and published on rabbischneeweiss.substack.com/ on 11/15/24, titled: Vayeira: Vox Intellectus Vox Dei (The Voice of the Intellect is the Voice of God). Avimelech clearly sinned against Avraham and Sarah, but in what sense did he sin against God? Radak's answer expresses what it truly means to be a "rationalist."
-----
This week’s Torah content has been sponsored by Yael Weiss. I...

Have any questions, insights, or feedback? Send me a text!

Length of article: 3 pages
Length of audio: 10 minutes 50 seconds
Synopsis: This is the audio version of the 2-page article I wrote and published on rabbischneeweiss.substack.com/ on 11/8/24, titled: Lech Lecha: Avraham Avinu – a Vial of Perfume in a Cemetery. This week's article is part Mishlei, part midrash, and part insight into the pshat of the parashah - all thanks to Rabbeinu Bachya's introductory drashah, which centers upon a strange analogy.
-----
This week’s Torah content has been sponsored by Yael Weiss. I fo...

Have any questions, insights, or feedback? Send me a text!

Length: 1 hour 21 minutes
Synopsis: Tonight (11/7/24), in our Thursday night Pirkei Avos shiur for women, we continued learning Chapter 4. On its surface, this mishnah is directed at judges, but the advice it gives is counterintuitive. Despite the seemingly narrow audience, we were able to derive practical insights for us normal folk, as well as perspectives on halachic jurisprudence.
-----
מקורות:
אבות ד:ז
רש"י
רמב"ם
רבינו יונה
מאירי
רמב"ם - הקדמה לפירוש המשניות
רמב"ם - משנה תורה: ספר שופטים, הלכות סנהדרין והעונשין המסורין להן כ:ז-ח; כב:ד
רמב"ם - משנה תורה: ספר המדע, הלכות תלמוד תורה ה:ד
-----
This week’s Torah content has been sponsored by Yael Weiss. I forgot to ask her for a dedication message in advance, but in the meantime, I’ll dedicate this Torah content to the entire Weiss family: Rabbi and...

Have any questions, insights, or feedback? Send me a text!

Length: 1 hour 37 minutes
Synopsis: This morning's YBT Sunday shiur (11/3/24) was a bit different than usual, focusing more on reading and discussing sources than in-depth analysis. This was intentional, since this shiur was intended to be a setup for the REAL shiur. My original goal was to present Sforno’s view that the nachash in Gan Eden represents the yetzer ha’ra. However, I realized two preliminary issues needed to be addressed: (a) clarifying Sforno’s understanding of the tzelem elohim, and (b) addressing a shiur by my Ros...

Have any questions, insights, or feedback? Send me a text!

Length of article: 2 pages
Length of audio: 8 minutes 18 seconds
Synopsis: This is the audio version of the 2-page article I wrote and published on rabbischneeweiss.substack.com/ on 11/1/24, titled: Noach: Why Was Noach's Family Saved? I've always assumed they were saved because of Noach's righteousness, or for the sake of repopulating the world. According to Sforno, neither is true.
-----
This week's Torah content is sponsored by Ayala, who says, "Thank you, Rabbi Schneeweiss, for the countless Torah and life insights you share...

Have any questions, insights, or feedback? Send me a text!

Length: 1 hour 21 minutes
Synopsis: This morning (10/11/24), in our Thursday night Pirkei Avos shiur for women (rescheduled to Friday morning, Erev Yom ha'Kippurim), we took up the final clause of the first mishnah in chapter 2 because it mentions the concept that all our deeds our written in a book. I chose this because I hoped it would shed light on all the book-talk at around this time of year, and if not, then at least it'll be instrumental in teshuvah and avoidance of transgression. Turns out, I...

Have any questions, insights, or feedback? Send me a text!

Length: 1 hour 16 minutes
Synopsis: This Erev Rosh ha'Shanah morning (10/2/24), I gave an incomplete shiur on the phrase "ha'Melech ha'Mishpat" with which we conclude the 11th berachah of the Amidah during the Aseres Ymei Teshuvah. Last year I wrote 3/4ths of an article on this topic - everything but the main idea, which didn't come together in time. This year, I had planned on finishing the article in time to post on Erev RH, but that hasn't happened yet. So I decided to just go through all...