Experience The Library

Have you ever wondered why The Book of Shemot is called 'Shemot' – meaning 'Names'? In English, we translate it to Exodus, which makse sense because there was an EXODUS from Egypt! So where do the names come in? Turns out that names play a larger role in the story of Shemot than you may have thought. Join Rabbi Fohrman in uncovering the unique meaning behind the name Shemot.

At first glance, it seems like God took away Pharaoh's free will when he hardened his heart – how could He do such a thing? In this video, we explore the different words used by the Torah – kaved and chazek. Rabbi Fohrman argues that this language shows that God did allow Pharaoh to pursue his free will, even if the vision was in defiance of God.

We all know the famous story of the unleavened bread- the Israelites had no time to let their dough rise as they ran out of Egypt, so they took their dough and let it bake on their backs as they fled. But why do we need to hear about this minute detail? As a matter of fact, there are a number of seemingly odd phrases in the verses describing Israel's exodus, and they all seem to lead us to one particular place in the Torah: Judah's plea to Jacob to let Benjamin go down to Egypt so that they could get grain. Join Rabbi Fohrman as he helps uncover the mystery between two seemingly separate stories, and see how we got there, and back again.

After crossing the Sea of Reeds, the nation of Israel sings a song of thanksgiving – but then Miriam leads the women in a second song. Why? In this video, Rabbi Fohrman uncovers a story about what it means to truly have faith.

It wasn't good for Moshe to judge alone. And it wasn't good for Adam to be alone in the Garden. Coincidence? Watch and find out the real lesson behind Jethro's (or Yitro) leadership advice to Moses.

Every year, we celebrate the strange Jewish holiday of Tu B’Shvat – according to the Talmud, it’s a birthday for all of the trees born in the previous year. And not just a birthday – it’s really a “new year” for the trees. How odd is that? In this video, Imu Shalev breaks down this strange holiday to uncover just what Tu B’Shvat really means to us today. Discover how Tu B’Shvat is actually all about gratitude to our Creator, for the fruits of the trees.

Why does dunking in the mikvah’s waters leave us feeling “pure”? The meaning of this mysterious ritual may not be what you expect.

What is so spiritually problematic about mixing milk and meat? Why is it so important to God that we abstain? 

Why does God command the wearing of tzitzit? Is it arbitrary, or is it supposed to teach us some deep spiritual lesson… and if so, what?

Why does God command the wearing of tzitzit? Is it arbitrary, or is it supposed to teach us some deep spiritual lesson… and if so, what?

Why would God want to keep husbands and wives apart? What does menstruation have to do with it? The Torah's laws reveal a surprising answer. 

Before God told Abraham to give up Isaac, God told him to give up Ishmael. This 8-part series probes the stories’ eerie similarities.

What was the meaning of Jacob's dream, a ladder with angels going up and down? It may just shed light on Israel’s mission in the world.

What was the Golden Calf really about? In this 12-part audio series, Rabbi Fohrman raises glaring questions and offers surprising answers.

What was so sinful about the spies' report? We tackle that question by considering the Sages' comment that the sin occurred on Tisha B'Av.

In this 2-part audio series, we explore how to read the Book of Job, and wrestle with the book's central question: Why does God let us suffer?

Why did God write down some laws in the Torah, and reserve others for the Oral Law? Explore this by studying the law not to mix milk and meat.

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

In this 7-part audio series, Rabbi Fohrman argues that the start of the Torah offers a surprising answer to this most essential of questions.

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

In this audio clip, we explore how the Torah text itself – its chiasms and intertextual parallels – proves its singular authorship.

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 approach the Torah as a book, and by grasping that Torah is meant to be a guidebook for life. 

Is midrash meant to be taken literally? Looking at a midrash about Pharaoh's daughter and her magic arm, we explore how to read midrash.

We look at an incredible chiasm, one spanning over 15 chapters, and ask: What does it teach us about the Book of Exodus?

Is there a hidden link between the stories of Genesis and the Torah's later laws? In the law of manslaughter, we find a startling answer.

Watch this 8-part interactive course lead by Rabbi David Fohrman on how to read the Torah in its original Hebrew Aleph Beta style.

This law is often quoted as a slogan or soundbite, but when you open up Lev. 19 to read it in context, a more nuanced meaning emerges.

Only two commandments promise a reward of "long life": honoring parents and sending away a mother bird. What's the common denominator?

A loving relationship that has come apart can be unbearably painful. But repair is possible. The story of Rachel and Leah shows us how.

Is there a parenting guide hidden in the Torah? In this video, Beth Lesch and Rabbi Fohrman share what may just be the closest thing.

What is humility, in the eyes of the Torah? A study of the life of Moshe suggests that humility may not mean what we think it means. 

How do we keep prayer from becoming an empty ritual? And does prayer actually "work"? The stories of Moshe and Adam offer answers.

In this series originally created for Rosh Hashanah, Rabbi Fohrman explores how Chana experienced closeness with God - and we can, too.

What is the unique power of Shacharit? How can we tap into it to infuse our prayer with intention and meaning? The Shema holds the key.

On Shabbat, we insert unique prayers into the Amidah. This webinar explores the deep secrets they reveal about the essence of Shabbat.

In this recording of a live lecture, Rabbi Fohrman delves into the text of Hallel, unearthing hidden clues to find surprising meaning.

Most people know the Book of Ruth as the story of Ruth’s unparalleled loyalty to her mother-in-law Naomi and Boaz’s kindness in redeeming Naomi’s land by marrying Ruth. But in this illuminating course, Rabbi Fohrman reveals that the story of Ruth goes far deeper. Through surprising connections to Adam, Noah, Abraham, and even the Tower of Babel, Rabbi Fohrman uncovers how Ruth’s story is really an expansion of the biblical theme of yibum—the tradition of redeeming family legacy after loss. Ruth’s unwavering faithfulness isn’t just to Naomi; it speaks to an ancient human kindness that honors the dead and uplifts the living through kindness, weaving a narrative that connects us all.

Are Ruth and Boaz truly biblical heroes? After all, the climax of their story is a night that seems to cross lines of seduction and impropriety—hardly what we might call virtuous. In this thought-provoking course, Rabbi Fohrman uncovers surprising links between Ruth’s bold actions and the stories of her and Boaz’s ancestors, connecting Ruth’s story to the uncomfortable tale of Lot’s daughters, as well as Tamar’s deception of Judah. Both stories reveal how yibum, an act meant to preserve family legacy, can go dangerously wrong when it’s forced or lacks true consent. Through Ruth’s relationship with Boaz, however, we witness a transformation in the meaning of yibum. While Ruth’s approach is audacious, she leaves Boaz’s choice in his own hands, bringing a new level of respect and integrity to this ancient tradition. Together, Ruth and Boaz reimagine yibum as an act not only of kindness, but one rooted in mutual respect and partnership.

Abraham is celebrated as the father of the Jewish people, the ultimate patriarch. Yet when the Torah first introduces him, it’s through a seemingly ordinary genealogy at the end of Parshat Noach. Why would the Torah introduce such a central figure in such a mundane way? And, perhaps more importantly, why was Abraham chosen by God in the first place? In this final lecture of the series, A Brief History of the World, Rabbi Fohrman uncovers a surprising answer: this genealogy may hint at an act of heroism by Abraham—yibum, stepping in to preserve the legacy of his deceased brother. This act, hidden within the family tree, may hold the key to why Abraham was chosen to shape a legacy of kindness for generations.

In this two-part series, Rabbi Fohrman uncovers a hidden layer in the Purim story that might just change the way you see Esther and Mordechai’s heroism. In Part One, he reveals how the most climactic moment in the Megillah contains a surprising reference to the laws of yibum (levirate marriage) found in Devarim. Then, in Part Two, Rabbi Fohrman deepens these parallels, showing how Esther and Mordechai, descendants of Benjamin, take on a unique mission to save the Judeans—a bold, almost yibum-like act of preserving their people’s future. (And for a deeper dive into the connections between Mordechai and Esther and Judah and Benjamin, check out this animated course.)  In stark contrast to Mordechai and Esther stands Haman, who is driven by self-interest, seeking only to promote his own name and legacy. Through these characters we see how the willingness to take on yibum responsibilities becomes the true measure of heroism and lasting success, inviting us to rethink the powerful message at the heart of the Purim story.