Podcast

Best Book Ever

Judaism, Religion & Spirituality

Every week, Rabbi David Kasher takes us on a 15-minute dive into the Parsha (the weekly Torah portion), to see some of its layers and complexity. We'll try to get a feeling for why this text has captured the human imagination for millennia, and why the Torah truly is the greatest story ever told.

Judaism chart
#161
Episodes
163
Releases
Weekly
Typical length
59 min
On air since
2021
Latest episode
4 days ago

Episodes

163 episodes, newest first

  1. Prophecy & Politics in the Age of Miracle: A Tanakh Beit Midrash Session 1

    Season 5787

    Show notes

    Source Sheets + Learn More: https://ikar.org/events/1st-session-10-28-26-of-5787-prophecy-politics-in-the-age-of-miracles-a-tanakh-beit-midrash/

    The sudden rise of Elijah marks a major shift in the leadership of Israel, from the King to the Prophet. This transition raises all the thorny questions about the relationship between religion and politics that we continue to grapple with today. Fire from heaven, resurrections, sea-splitting, and more – come study some of the wildest, most riveting stories in all of Tanakh (the Hebrew Bible) in a monthly Beit Midrash led by Rabbis David Kasher, Sharon Brous, and Morris Panitz

    1 hr 26 min
  2. God in Plain Sight / Parashat Vayeira

    Show notes

    Source sheet: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1hlpqp0BKeHkCuogEfSPAeN6BG_EsFr0cQUnJxn5RZiA/edit?usp=sharing

    This is a recording of the Weekly Parashah - Rabbi David Kasher's Torah study class co-sponsored by Hadar and IKAR. Please note that the first few minutes of this week's class were not recorded due to a technical issue. We apologize for the inconvenience.

    1 hr 1 min
  3. Call Him Ishmael / Parashat Lekh Lekha

    Show notes

    Source sheet: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1Nfl-fSyOCyo0dyD8X417K9lBUu56LepJ/view?usp=sharing

    This is a recording of the Weekly Parashah - Rabbi David Kasher's Torah study class co-sponsored by Hadar and IKAR. Please note that the first few minutes of this week's class were not recorded due to a technical issue. We apologize for the inconvenience.

    54 min
  4. After the Flood / Parashat Noah

    Show notes

    Source sheet: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1y2T1DiQxUoOGxy9u526GfyNrkRc_Z3Nx/view?usp=sharing

    This is a recording of the Weekly Parashah - Rabbi David Kasher's Torah study class co-sponsored by Hadar and IKAR. Please note that the first few minutes of this week's class were not recorded due to a technical issue. We apologize for the inconvenience.

    1 hr 3 min
  5. The Knowledge of Sweet and Bitter / Parashat Bereishit

    Show notes

    ⁠Source sheet: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1JAg6k6KfzAw-1PN1l6Vk7cWxiL13leRM/view?usp=sharing⁠

    This is a recording of the Weekly Parashah - Rabbi David Kasher's Torah study class co-sponsored by Hadar and IKAR. Please note that the first few minutes of this week's class were not recorded due to a technical issue. We apologize for the inconvenience.

    26 min
  6. The Jewish Art of Resolving Contradictions / Parshat Naso

    Show notes

    This is a recording of Rabbi David Kasher's weekly parsha study class from 5.27.2026, co-sponsored by Hadar and IKAR.

    59 min
  7. Don't Forget the Poor on Shavuot! / Parshat Shavuot

    Show notes

    This is a recording of Rabbi David Kasher's Weekly Parsha Study class from 5.20.2026, co-sponsored by IKAR and Hadar

    58 min
  8. Firstborn All Over Again / Parshat Bamidbar

    Show notes

    This is a recording of Rabbi David Kasher's weekly parsha study class from 5.16.2026, co-sponsored by Hadar and IKAR.

    58 min
  9. The Curse of Exile: ‘If’ or ‘When’? / Parshat Behar-Behukotai

    Season 5786

    Show notes

    This is a recording of Rabbi David Kasher's weekly parsha study class from 5.6.2026, co-sponsored by Hadar and IKAR.

    59 min
  10. Shabbat and Holidays: Two Timelines / Parshat Emor

    Show notes

    On Monday May 4, join Hadar West and Rising Song's R. Deborah Sacks Mintz for a festive Hilula - uplifting gathering of song and story - to mark this evening. ⁠https://hadar.org/learn/classes-events/hadar-west-lag-baomer-rising-song⁠

    This is a recording of Rabbi David Kasher's weekly parsha study class, co-sponsored by Hadar and IKAR.

    1 hr 2 min
  11. The Difference Between Justice and Holiness / Parshat Aharei Mot-Kedoshim

    Show notes

    This is a recording of Rabbi David Kasher's Weekly Parsha Study Class from April 22, 2026 co-sponsored by Hadar and IKAR.

    1 hr 1 min
  12. Sickness in the Torah: Two Models / Parshat Tazria-Metzorah

    Show notes

    This is a recording of Rabbi David Kasher's class The Weekly Parashah from 4.15.2026, co-sponsored by IKAR and Hadar.

    1 hr 3 min
  13. The Kli Yakar’s Psychology of Wealth and Poverty / Parashat Vayikra

    Show notes

    This is a recording of Rabbi David Kasher's class The Weekly Parashah from 3.18.2026, co-sponsored by IKAR and Hadar.

    1 hr
  14. The End of Exodus / Parashat Vayakhel-Pekudei

    Show notes

    This is a recording of Rabbi David Kasher's class The Weekly Parashah from 3.11.2026, co-sponsored by IKAR and Hadar.

    59 min
  15. Taking Responsibility in Public Office / Parashat Ki Tisa

    Show notes

    This is a recording from 3.4.2025 of Rabbi David Kasher's Weekly Parashah class, co-sponsored by Hadar and IKAR. There were technical difficulties in the last 10 minutes of class and Rabbi Kasher had to join from a different device.

    55 min
  16. Wisdom of the Heart / Parashat Tetzeveh

    Show notes

    This is a recording from 2.25.2025 of Rabbi David Kasher's Weekly Parashah class, co-sponsored by Hadar and IKAR.

    1 hr
  17. A Crimson Thread / Parashat Terumah

    Show notes

    This is a recording from 2.18.2025 of Rabbi David Kasher's Weekly Parashah class, co-sponsored by Hadar and IKAR.

    59 min
  18. Lost on Mount Sinai / Parshat Mishpatim

    Show notes

    This is a recording from 2.11.2025 of Rabbi David Kasher's Weekly Parashah class, co-sponsored by Hadar and IKAR.

    57 min
  19. Lost on Mount Sinai / Parshat Mishpatim

    Show notes

    This is a recording from 2.11.2025 of Rabbi David Kasher's Weekly Parashah class, co-sponsored by Hadar and IKAR.

    57 min
  20. Midrashic Origin Stories / Parshat Yitro

    Show notes

    This is a recording from 2.4.2025 of Rabbi David Kasher's Weekly Parashah class, co-sponsored by Hadar and IKAR.

    1 hr 2 min