If God loves us, why does God let bad things happen to us? This question may be impossible to answer, but on Tisha b’Av it’s just as impossible to ignore.

It’s one of life’s biggest questions. A surprising verse in Parshat Bereishit may hold the key to uncovering our true purpose.

The most fundamental question we all want to answer is this one: What is the meaning or purpose of our lives? Rabbi Fohrman argues that the answer lies at the very beginning of the Bible, in Genesis.

At the end of the story of creation, the Torah makes a big deal of telling us that God rested. Have you ever wondered why God needed to rest? Sure, creating the world in six days was a lot of work, but that’s not going to tire out an omnipotent God!!  And it is not just God’s rest that is puzzling. The Torah commands us to celebrate Shabbat every week to commemorate God’s creation of the world. But how do we actually celebrate it? We rest, just as God did on the seventh day. Apparently, we are really commemorating not the creation, but God’s rest that followed it. Somehow, it seems, this rest was even more important than the creation itself. How is that possible? In this course Rabbi Fohrman uncovers what true rest really means and just why it is so important. He explains why God needed to rest and how we are meant to incorporate this kind of rest into our Sabbaths and into our lives.

How does God, the infinite, exist in this world of finite? In this lecture series, we consider our perspective of God in this world based on the physical make-up of the Temple. Does God still dwell among us today?

We often talk about God's love for us, but does God really have emotions? In this week's parsha, Rabbi Fohrman explores an odd midrash about God's names and explains how incredible and inscrutable God's love is.

Is there ever a point of no return in my relationship with God? In Parshat Ki Tisa, Moses explores this exact question as he bargains with God on behalf of the nation after the Sin of the Golden Calf. How is it possible that this lawyering session could possibly change God's mind after such an atrocious sin? What could this mean for me and my relationship with God?

In Numbers, God seems so angry and cruel dooming Israel to die in the desert. But by carefully examining the book, Rabbi David reveals a more nuanced view of God's love and justice.

Why do the Rabbis call marriage an “acquisition”? It seems so primitive and backwards. Does the Torah really think that married women are just the property of their husbands? But what if we’ve got it all wrong? What if “acquisition” isn’t about ownership at all?  A closer look at Bereishit can help us understand the deeper relevance for us today.

Does it make you uncomfortable that every day, Jewish men thank God for not making them women? Watch this video to learn how the blessing may not mean what you think it does.

How could the Torah leave out such a big part of history? Does it mean Torah and science are at odds? The answer lies in how we read the Torah.

In this week’s parsha video, Rabbi Fohrman examines one of God’s names and reveals how the Rabbis suggest the Big Bang theory can coexist with belief in God as the Creator.

The Documentary Hypothesis claims that the Torah is a compilation of many manuscripts with several authors. In this Q&A from a lecture, Rabbi Fohrman explores how the Torah’s structure—its chiasms and intertextual parallels—demonstrates its singular authorship. For more on this, take a look at A Tale of Two Names: Elokim and YHVH, a dynamic audio lectures series with Rabbi Fohrman that delves into Genesis 1 and Genesis 2 and demonstrates how these two texts are proof of how the Torah is a unified book with one author - God.

Does vegetarianism have a source in the Torah? What would the Torah say about our current method of consuming meat?  Beth explores these questions and more. 

Do these laws reflect outdated values? This video explores how the laws of female servitude may contain a message with lasting relevance.

This lecture series tackles the Akeidah, a shocking narrative in which Abraham is ordered to sacrifice Isaac. But how are we supposed to make sense of this story that seems to pit obedience to God against our most basic sense of morality?

We probe the Ten Commandments, illuminating the hidden layers in the text and revealing the single core truth that lies beneath them all.

Tanakh is filled with warnings to not worship idols, but it seems like a temptation no one faces today. So are these laws just irrelevant?

Is there anything more pure than the birth of a new baby? Well, the Torah seems to think so. Because apparently, giving birth makes a mother ritually impure. Confused? Join Ami as he untangles this strange set of laws.

In Parshat Tazria, we are introduced to the concepts of Tumah and Tahara. Some translate them as cleanliness and uncleanliness, some say ritual purity and impurity, but we never seem to get a clear and relevant understanding of what they actually are. Join us in Part I of this quest as we begin to tackle both what Tumah and Tahara are, and how these new definitions can truly impact our lives today.

Can we know what God wants from us, or should our only motivation be that God says so? In this episode of Meaningful Judaism, we explore the complexities of understanding the purpose behind mitzvot and why that quest for meaning is essential.

Using sacrifices as a way to connect with God seems alien. How are we supposed to connect with the myriad of details associated with animal sacrifice in the modern day? Join Rabbi Fohrman as he explores this fundamental question by reexamining the three categories of sacrifice, and discover how the ancient tradition creates a modern framework for how to connect with God.

In this video, Imu and Daniel explore how the census in Bamidbar reveals the Levites' unique role in transmitting the nation's core values.

Is the Torah’s command a call for genocide? Ami Silver explores unexpected connections to Yibum, revealing how this mitzvah remains relevant today.

The curses in Parshat Ki Tavo seem so sadistic and cruel. What are we meant to learn from these troubling verses?

The seder is full of songs praising God for taking us out of Egypt – but He decreed to Abraham that we’d be slaves in Egypt centuries beforehand in the Brit Ben Habetarim. So did He save us or put us into slavery in the first place?

If God wanted to free us from slavery, why not just take us out? Why the plagues, the blood on the doorposts, the hardening of Pharaoh’s heart—why all the extra steps? Rabbi Fohrman uncovers how these puzzling details reveal something much deeper: what it truly means to be God’s ‘firstborn.’

In this lecture series, Rabbi Fohrman delves into the origins of antisemitism, suggesting that it may trace back to the story of Jacob and Esau.

Rabbi Fohrman reveals how the often-overlooked 'shotrim' of Egypt provide a framework for understanding divine justice after the Holocaust. A powerful Passover exploration of how God responds when no punishment seems adequate.

In this timely course, Rabbi Fohrman considers how God's response to ancient trauma speaks directly to our present moment after October 7th.

Is there a reason Judaism has two sets of laws? Isn't that confusing? Join Rabbi Fohrman in this deep dive, with your guide, Imu Shalev.

If we stop and think about it, is the miracle of the oil such a big deal that it's worth creating a whole new holiday?

The Torah’s description of an agricultural celebration seems totally disconnected from the rabbinic tradition of the Sinai revelation. In this video, Rabbi Fohrman demonstrates how both aspects are fundamentally intertwined to create one holiday.