The Greatest Parasha Podcast

In this week's episode, we discuss the story of Akedat Yishak. Specifically, how could Abraham, the paradigm of Hesed, be willing to commit child sacrifice, and how does this relate to what the test of the Akedah is? Must Abraham surrender his conception of morality in the face of Hashem's command, or does Abraham's ultimate refusal to sacrifice Yishak represent the assertion of what he believes is just?

We are honored to have Rabbi Ricky Hidary join us as our first guest of the season to discuss Parashat Lekh Lekha! In this episode, we explore the deep symbolism behind Berit Ben HaBetarim. Then, we examine its connection to Berit Milah and explain how these two Beritot can help us understand the two stories of Abraham journeying to Eres Kenaan. Rabbi Hidary tops it all off with a powerful message about how the two Beritot can help us think about our Jewish identity.

In this week's episode, Emily Tarrab and Asher Melamed discuss the story after the Mabul, where Noah plants a vineyard, gets drunk, and undresses in his tent. The hosts offer a few different ideas for what was going through Noah's mind and what the Torah wants us to learn from this story.

To kick off the new cycle and our first episode as hosts on The Greatest Parasha Podcast, Emily Tarrab and Asher Melamed discuss several possible answers to the question of why Hashem accepts Hevel's Minha but not Kayin's.

In this week's episode, we examine how Moshe's blessings relate to the character, inheritance, and potential of each tribe.

In this week's episode, we are joined by Ronnie Mizrachi to compare the teshuvah process as it appears in Tehilim 81 and Perashar Haazinu.

This week we host Rav Yitzchak Blau for his second time on the podcast, to walk through four approaches to the Berit obligating future generations!

In this week's episode, Emma Dayan and Raymond Ashkenazie are joined by Rabbi Albert and Yoetzet Halacha Yaffa Setton to explore the question: Can a covenant command us to feel joy?

“If a child can’t recognize authority, how can you expect a community to?”

We are honored to have on Rabbanit Shani Taragin who currently serves on the advisory committee for the Mizrachi Olami Shalhevet program, as Rosh Beit Midrash for the women in Yeshiva University’s new academic program in Israel, and together with her husband, Reuven, as Educational Director for Mizrachi Olami.

In this week's episode, Raymond Ashkenazie and Emma Dayan are are joined by Rav Itamar Eldar to compare the descriptions of Ir Miklat in the books of Bemidbar and Devarim, and to note the important moral lessons that arise from those differences.

Rav Itamar Eldar is the Head of the hesder yeshiva Orot Shaul in Tel Aviv,.

We are joined by Rabbi Jeremy Teichman (of Ramaz and KJ) to take a deep dive into Tzedaka and its practical implications and its fundamental significance.

Essay attached: https://docs.google.com/document/d/19C9xDD6WgwHoUmpw5KJvRanNeyq93rI7VOTaYXxJKsE/edit?usp=sharing

Rabbi Joey Mizrahi joins us to explore how Eretz Yisrael is fundamentally different from Egypt: it is not sustained by the Nile and predictable irrigation, but by rain that depends on Hashem. We discuss how the perasha frames life in the land as a relationship built on trust, mitzvot, and moral responsibility rather than self-sufficiency.

The conversation also widens into a discussion of Avodah Zarah, segulot, and the danger of trying to manipulate divine outcomes instead of living with real emunah.

In this week's episode, we are joined by Ms. Yael Leibowitz to discuss the institution of prophecy. Together, we examine whether having designated neviim was the ideal way to transmit God's word to the nation or whether all of Bnei Yisrael was meant to receive prophecy.

In this week's episode, we are joined by Rabbi Naftali Besser to understand how our blind spots—shaped by ego, biases, and misjudgments—are the root causes of tragedy and misunderstanding.

Most forms of tribalism threaten national unity, but what does the Torah teach about balancing difference and collective responsibility? How do tribal distinctions help a community flourish? This episode explores Jewish tribal identity, Torah, and modern nationhood in the context of Matot-Masei and America’s 250th birthday.

This week we are joined by Rabbi Shmuel Phillips to discuss zealotry and what true peace means in the Torah.

To learn more about Rabbi Phillips and his two incredible books: https://www.talmudreclaimed.com

This week, we are joined by Rabbi Soffer to discuss the kiddush Hashem that was supposed to happen at Mei Meriva and what we can learn from it today.

We are joined by Rabbi Joey Faur to discuss why the story hinges on the concept of kedusha as divine rather than magical, and what that means for leadership today.

Horizontal Society by Chacham Faur: https://korenpub.com/products/the-collected-works-of-hakham-dr-jose-faur?srsltid=AfmBOooONELCVQCRyFIS-jbxi1kd5b0S29heOIrK62XY7mFMAx1K3373

In this week's episode, we are joined by Mrs. Esther Hidary to unpack the deeper ideological issue underpinning the refusal of Bnei Yisrael and the spies to enter the land of Israel.

This week, we’re joined by Binyamin Fox, who picked one of the Rav’s best-known derashot on Beha’alotekha. Together, we trace how a scattered-feeling parsha turns into a single story about a redemption that was almost ours.