The Rabbi Claman Torah Podcast

The Untold Prequel & Aftermath of Purim

Sun, 01 Mar 2026 22:53:28 -0400

Ki Tisa and Luchos 2.0

Sat, 28 Feb 2026 21:18:29 -0400

Mordechai, Esther… and Yosef?

Wed, 25 Feb 2026 14:39:46 -0400

Tetzaveh and How to Shape your Heart

Sat, 21 Feb 2026 19:30:00 -0400

When Survival is No Longer Enough (Bo & Beshalach)

Wed, 21 Jan 2026 14:49:22 -0400

Classical commentators struggle with Moshe’s strange request to leave Egypt for only three days, despite knowing the ultimate goal was permanent freedom. This shiur explores a new framework: that Moshe sought a temporary restoration of Jewish identity within exile — until Parashat Bo teaches that identity without sovereignty over time cannot survive. A deep dive into Shemot, Rashi, and the turning point where redemption stops being negotiated.

The Pattern within the Chaos of 10 Plagues (Vaera)

Wed, 14 Jan 2026 14:47:24 -0400

The Birth of a Nation Begins with United a Family

Thu, 08 Jan 2026 14:20:04 -0400

Sefer Bereishit is the Jewish people as a family , and Sefer Shemot is the Jewish people as a nation. But what if these two descriptions are one and the same ? In this class Rabbi Claman re visits the mission statement the Moshe was given at the burning bush, and sees so much “Yosef” within it. Enjoy! Reach out to rabbiclaman@tbdj.org for any questions or comments.

Inside Out: The Two Lights of Chanukah

Mon, 15 Dec 2025 22:33:16 -0400

Judaism demands a rare balance: fierce inward holiness and bold outward influence. In this episode, we uncover how Chanukah weaves these two missions into one—through Sukkos, Beit Shammai, the Maccabees, Rav Kook, and the great duos of Jewish history. From the private miracle of the oil to the public miracle of victory, Chanukah teaches us how a strong Jewish home becomes a light to the world. For any questions or comments please be in touch at rabbiclaman@tbdj.org

What is Your Dream? (Vayeishev)

Wed, 10 Dec 2025 14:09:51 -0400

In this episode Rabbi Claman explores the counterintuitive way that Yosef realizes his destiny and dreams. Yosef’s destiny turns not when he shares his dreams, but when he asks someone else about theirs. To illustrate this lesson, Rabbi Claman points to inspiring stories of Omer Shem Tov in captivity and of Rav Nosson Tzvi Finkel z'l when he met the former CEO of Starbucks. I For any comments or questions, please reach out to rabbiclaman@tbdj.org

You Can Run, But You Can’t Hide (Vayishlach)

Wed, 03 Dec 2025 15:14:31 -0400

Yaakov prepares for war, but finds himself wrestling a very different opponent: his own past, his doubts. This class uncovers some life lessons that are encoded in this journey Yaakov takes when facing his long lost brother , Eisav. For any comments or questions, reach out to rabbiclaman@tbdj.org

Yaakov’s Dream on Temple Mount: The Ladder Between Two Worlds

Wed, 26 Nov 2025 15:16:33 -0400

Why does Yaakov experience his great vision at the exact midpoint between intense spiritual immersion and the messy physicality of building a family in Lavan’s house? Why a ladder? Why angels rising and descending? This episode uncovers the meaning behind the dream that connects heaven and earth — and how Yaakov's life becomes the model for intertwining two worlds into one mission. For any questions or comments , reach out at rabbiclaman@tbdj.org.

3D Judaism and the Mysterious Life of Yitzchak (Toldot)

Wed, 19 Nov 2025 15:25:52 -0400

In this class, we explore the unique spiritual legacy of each of the three patriarchs and how they embody the essential pillars of a life rooted in Torah. In our parsha, we turn our attention to Yitzchak—whose story is told with striking brevity—and uncover the depth hidden within those few verses. This insightful session aims to enrich your own spiritual life, offering a fresh lens through which to understand your daily avodah and the quiet power of consistency, faith, and inner strength.

Reach out with any questions or comments at rabbiclaman@tbdj.org

Why God Tests His Favourite People (Vayeira)

Wed, 05 Nov 2025 18:07:13 -0400

The Moment Superhuman Emuna was Born (Lech Lecha)

Wed, 29 Oct 2025 11:50:06 -0300

The Sukkah: Where Everything Matters

Fri, 10 Oct 2025 16:16:43 -0300

Special episode recorded under the schach! Questions and comments ? Please reach out at rabbiclaman@tbdj.org

Opening the Machzor to Uncover Core Themes of Rosh Hashana

Fri, 19 Sep 2025 18:09:30 -0300

You Start, God Finishes; From a Needle’s Eye to a Highway of Teshuva

Wed, 03 Sep 2025 14:05:56 -0300

In Elul, Hashem doesn’t ask us to move mountains — just to take the first step. We start with the poke of a needle, and He expands it into a sixteen-lane highway. That’s the secret of lasting growth: when we begin, Hashem magnifies. In this episode we understand this from the vantage point of the Elul origin story and how the same messages then, apply to us today.

The Smile Beneath Tisha B’av

Wed, 30 Jul 2025 16:07:12 -0300

This weeks episode is generously sponsored laliyat neshama of Yocheved bat Yehuda a'h Shifra bat Dov a”h Tisha B’Av is the saddest day of the Jewish year—a Mo’ed of tears and heartbreak. Yet Chazal call it a festival, and they promise that whoever mourns for Jerusalem will one day see its joy. In this class, we explore the deep paradox of Tisha B’Av: why it is called a Mo’ed, the connection between Ayeka and Eicha, and how our tears themselves are the guarantee of redemption. Along the way, we reflect on the Baal HaTanya’s childhood game of hide-and-seek, Napoleon’s astonishment at a nation still crying after 1,700 years, and the quiet smile hidden beneath our mourning.

The Day Peace Died (Matos/Masei)

Thu, 24 Jul 2025 17:12:56 -0300

Maharam Meruttenberg: Captivity, Ransom, and the Jewish Enemy Within

Tue, 22 Jul 2025 21:59:08 -0300

This episode is a recording of part 4 in Rabbi Claman's Great Jewish Books & Thinkers series.

He was one of the greatest poskim of Ashkenaz. His teachings shaped centuries. Yet he died in prison—captured because a fellow Jew turned him in. This is the story of the Maharam Meruttenberg: his captivity, his refusal to be ransomed, and the haunting lesson of betrayal from within our own people.

Peace Through Strength: Are War and Peace Truly Opposites? (Pinchas)

Wed, 16 Jul 2025 13:55:53 -0300

If there were a Nobel Peace Prize in Tanach, Pinchas might have gotten it — but for the most jarring reason imaginable.

Can a man commit a violent act and be rewarded with a covenant of peace? In this shiur on Parshat Pinchas, we explore the deep tension between war and peace in the Torah’s value system.

Through the lens of Pinchas and Aharon, we uncover a duality within the concept of shalom — one that synthesizes seemingly opposite forces: zeal and compassion, truth and peace. We then trace this duality through the contrasting legacies of David, the warrior-king, and Shlomo, the builder of peace.

Are war and peace truly opposites — or can they be two parts of the same divine mission?

The Aish Kodesh and a Revolution Buried in the Rubble of Auschwitz

Tue, 15 Jul 2025 22:18:26 -0300

This episode is a recording of Part 3 in Rabbi Claman's "Great Jewish Books & Thinkers Series.

Rabbi Claman uncovers the life and vision of Rav Kalonymus Kalman Shapira, the Piaseczno Rebbe—known to the world as the Aish Kodesh. In the ashes of the Warsaw Ghetto, he dreamed of a spiritual renaissance that was never allowed to blossom.

What did Rav Shapira hope to build after the war? What kind of inner world did he believe every Jew could access? And what can we still learn from a revolution that never happened?

For questions or comments please reach out to rabbiclaman@tbdj.org

The Danger of Defining Yourself by What You’re Not (Balak)

Wed, 09 Jul 2025 13:58:38 -0300

What do Balak, Korach, antisemitism and modern politics have in common? A failure to build identity from within. In this episode we explore the Torah’s warning against reactive identity — and the call to live with purpose, not just protest. For any questions or comments reach out to rabbiclaman@tbdj.org

The Kuzari and the Problem with Philosophy

Mon, 07 Jul 2025 14:16:31 -0300

This episode is a recording of Part 2 in Rabbi Claman's "Great Jewish Books & Thinkers" series.

Rav Yehuda HaLevi was one of the greatest poets of the Jewish people — and one of its most daring thinkers. In this episode, we journey through his life, from the golden age of Spain to his fateful pilgrimage toward Jerusalem, exploring the personal longing that pulses through both his poetry and his philosophy. Through The Kuzari, HaLevi challenges the idea that truth can be found through reason alone, arguing instead for a Judaism rooted in lived experience, national destiny, and divine encounter. Why did he reject the philosophical trends of his time? What did he believe the soul was truly searching for? And how did his poems give voice to a yearning that still echoes today?

The Wisdom of Not Knowing (Chukas)

Wed, 02 Jul 2025 21:43:14 -0300

This episode explores the deep paradox at the heart of Judaism: a tradition obsessed with understanding — that also commands us to embrace the unknowable. In Parshas Chukat, the chok of the para aduma (red heifer) challenges our need for logic and control. We’ll talk about ta’amei hamitzvot, the Golden Calf, Rav Tzadok’s insight on spiritual panic, and how true faith begins where explanation ends.

The Iran War and the Power of Perspective (Shlach)

Wed, 18 Jun 2025 20:26:53 -0300

In a world torn by war and fear, this week’s parsha gives us more than a historical account — it gives us a blueprint for how to see. Yehoshua and Kalev weren’t just brave; they chose a different lens. While ten spies saw defeat, they saw destiny. In this episode, we explore how the power of perspective shapes everything — from how we understand Parshat Shelach to how we respond to today’s war between Israel and Iran. Why do we cover our eyes during Shema? How do we remind ourselves that we are living through biblical times — maybe even writing the 25th book of Tanach? Listen as we reflect on what it means to see with “God Glasses” — and why, especially now, our vision determines our future. For questions, rabbiclaman@tbdj.org

The Credit You Didn’t Know You Earned (Baha’alotcha)

Wed, 11 Jun 2025 16:04:20 -0300

In this week's episode we discuss Parshat Baha’alotcha and how Aharon HaKohen feels left out of the inauguration of the Mishkan — until Hashem reveals that his role in lighting the Menorah holds a deeper and more enduring significance. According to the Ramban, this alludes to the future miracle of Chanukah, led by the Kohanim. In this episode, we explore how inspiring others to act can reflect back on us with spiritual credit — even generations later. Your influence matters more than you think.

Abarbanel and the Fragility of Jewish Success

Fri, 06 Jun 2025 17:01:52 -0300

This episode is a recording of Part 1 in Rabbi Claman's "Great Jewish Books & Thinkers" series.

From Portugal, Spain and Italy - the Abarbanel lived a life which is a reminder of the fragility of Jewish success in the diaspora.

Shavuot: The Why of Judaism

Thu, 29 May 2025 17:56:48 -0300

In this episode we explore the deepest “why” of Judaism - the reason we began this journey in the first place.

Mark Twain, Nachmonides and the National Water Carrier (Bechukotai/Yom Yerushalayim)

Wed, 21 May 2025 19:28:29 -0300

In honour of upcoming Yom Yerushalayim I share two powerful divrei Torah on this week’s Parsha that are deeply connected to Yom Yerushalayim. The first touches in the deep connection the Jewish people have to the land of Israel. The second touches on the importance of unity within the Jewish people. Contact me at rabbiclaman@tbdj.org for any questions.

Training Wheels for the Soul; Why Real Growth Begins after Inspiration Fades

Wed, 14 May 2025 14:12:17 -0300

In this episode which was recorded at the weekly lunch and learn at TBDJ, we described the deep meaning of the Omer days and why it is so important to connect Pesach to Shavuot. Through real life experiences we uncover that importation is so important , but not as important to what must come after…

Alone in NYC at the Age of 13 - (Acharei/Kedoshim)

Wed, 07 May 2025 16:27:48 -0300

A powerful story of Rav Ya’akov Yosef Herman all alone in New York as a young boy helps us understand a troubling Pasuk and how to channel pain. We also connect the Rashbi, Iyov and the sons of Ahron to understand how loud silence can speak.

The Story we Choose to Tell - Yom Hazikaron and Yom Haatzmaut Reflections

Wed, 30 Apr 2025 16:26:04 -0300

In this episode, we share powerful and personal stories that bring new meaning to Yom HaZikaron and Yom HaAtzmaut. From Rav Gustman’s conversation with professor Aumann after his son fell in battle, to a Holocaust survivor who couldn’t bring himself to touch a siddur—until a perspective was offered. We also talk about the moving legacy of Maoz Feinstein Hy”d, and how his story continues to bring people together. Plus, a deeper look at the two birds in this week’s Torah reading and what they might be telling us about pain, freedom, and hope.

Esther Rises & Mordechai Shifts: The Power of Reinvention in a Changing World

Thu, 20 Mar 2025 19:47:23 -0300