The Tefilah Podcast

Rabbi Matt Schneeweiss

My name is Rabbi Matt Schneeweiss, and this is the hub for all of my shiurim (classes) on Tefilah (Prayer) and related topics, such as Tehilim (Psalms) and Berachos (Blessings)! The shiurim I upload here are given in a variety of formats with different lengths and intended for different audiences. The common theme which unites all of these shiurim is our focus on strengthening our relationship with Hashem through Avodah she'ba'Lev (Service of the Heart). If you have any questions feel free to email me at rabbischneeweiss at gmail. Thanks for listening!

  1. 4H AGO

    Tehilim 29: Mizmor le'David, Havu la'Shem Bnei Elim (Part 2 - One and a Half Approaches)

    Have any questions, insights, or feedback? Send me a text! Length: 1 hour Synopsis: This evening (2/18/26), in our Wednesday night Tehilim shiur, we resumed our analysis of this perek after a little break. After reviewing the translation, our pivot point theories, and the questions, we came up with an original approach which ended up being fantastic! After that, we ventured into the unknown by reading the commentary of the Sforno. Next time, the plan is to read the extended version of Sforno's commentary, as written by his student R. Elia di Nola, and attempt to understand the perek according to that reading. ----- מקורות: תהלים כט רש"י - בראשית יא:א רמב"ם - מורה הנבוכים ב:מח בבא בתרא דף טז עמוד ב ספורנו ----- The Torah content for the month of February is sponsored by the Koffsky family in memory of Adira Rose Koffsky a”h, whose third yahrzeit is on the 11th of Shvat. Adira was a gifted writer, a deep thinker, and an exceptionally kind soul. I am grateful to have been able to call her my student.תְּהֵא נִשְׁמָתָהּ צְרוּרָה בִּצְרוֹר הַחַיִּים (May her soul be bound up in the bundle of life.) ----- If you've gained from what you've learned here, please consider contributing to my Patreon at www.patreon.com/rabbischneeweiss. Alternatively, if you would like to make a direct contribution to the "Rabbi Schneeweiss Torah Content Fund," my Venmo is @Matt-Schneeweiss, and my Zelle and PayPal are mattschneeweiss at gmail. Even a small contribution goes a long way to covering the costs of my podcasts, and will provide me with the financial freedom to produce even more Torah content for you. If you would like to sponsor a day's or a week's worth of content, or if you are interested in enlisting my services as a teacher or tutor, you can reach me at rabbischneeweiss at gmail. Thank you to my listeners for listening, thank you to my readers for reading, and thank you to my supporters for supporting my efforts to make Torah ideas available and accessible to everyone. ----- Substack: rabbischneeweiss.substack.com/ YU Torah: yutorah.org/teachers/Rabbi-Matt-Schneeweiss Patreon: patreon.com/rabbischneeweiss YouTube Channel: youtube.com/rabbischneeweiss Instagram: instagram.com/rabbischneeweiss/ "The Stoic Jew" Podcast: thestoicjew.buzzsprout.com "Machshavah Lab" Podcast: machshavahlab.buzzsprout.com "The Mishlei Podcast": mishlei.buzzsprout.com "Rambam Bekius" Podcast: rambambekius.buzzsprout.com "The Tefilah Podcast": tefilah.buzzsprout.com Old Blog: kolhaseridim.blogspot.com/ WhatsApp Content Hub (where I post all my content and announce my public classes): https://chat.whatsapp.com/GEB1EPIAarsELfHWuI2k0H Amazon Wishlist: amazon.com/hz/wishlist/ls/Y72CSP86S24W?ref_=wl_sharel

    1h 1m
  2. FEB 5

    Tehilim 29: Mizmor le'David, Havu la'Shem Bnei Elim (Part 1 - Translation and Questions)

    Have any questions, insights, or feedback? Send me a text! Length: 1 hour 1 minute Synopsis: This evening (2/4/26), in our Wednesday night Tehilim shiur, we continued in our learning of the so-called "Kabbalas Shabbos" perakim, jumping back to 29. As usual, we devoted this first session to translating the perek and raising a bunch of questions. Does this have any thematic connection with 95-99? On the surface, it doesn't seem so, but we'll have to wait until next time to find out! ----- מקורות: תהלים כט תרגום אונקלוס - בראשית ג:כב ----- The Torah content for the month of February is sponsored by the Koffsky family in memory of Adira Rose Koffsky a”h, whose third yahrzeit is on the 11th of Shvat. Adira was a gifted writer, a deep thinker, and an exceptionally kind soul. I am grateful to have been able to call her my student.תְּהֵא נִשְׁמָתָהּ צְרוּרָה בִּצְרוֹר הַחַיִּים (May her soul be bound up in the bundle of life.) ----- If you've gained from what you've learned here, please consider contributing to my Patreon at www.patreon.com/rabbischneeweiss. Alternatively, if you would like to make a direct contribution to the "Rabbi Schneeweiss Torah Content Fund," my Venmo is @Matt-Schneeweiss, and my Zelle and PayPal are mattschneeweiss at gmail. Even a small contribution goes a long way to covering the costs of my podcasts, and will provide me with the financial freedom to produce even more Torah content for you. If you would like to sponsor a day's or a week's worth of content, or if you are interested in enlisting my services as a teacher or tutor, you can reach me at rabbischneeweiss at gmail. Thank you to my listeners for listening, thank you to my readers for reading, and thank you to my supporters for supporting my efforts to make Torah ideas available and accessible to everyone. ----- Substack: rabbischneeweiss.substack.com/ YU Torah: yutorah.org/teachers/Rabbi-Matt-Schneeweiss Patreon: patreon.com/rabbischneeweiss YouTube Channel: youtube.com/rabbischneeweiss Instagram: instagram.com/rabbischneeweiss/ "The Stoic Jew" Podcast: thestoicjew.buzzsprout.com "Machshavah Lab" Podcast: machshavahlab.buzzsprout.com "The Mishlei Podcast": mishlei.buzzsprout.com "Rambam Bekius" Podcast: rambambekius.buzzsprout.com "The Tefilah Podcast": tefilah.buzzsprout.com Old Blog: kolhaseridim.blogspot.com/ WhatsApp Content Hub (where I post all my content and announce my public classes): https://chat.whatsapp.com/GEB1EPIAarsELfHWuI2k0H Amazon Wishlist: amazon.com/hz/wishlist/ls/Y72CSP86S24W?ref_=wl_sharel

    1h 2m
  3. JAN 29

    Tehilim 100: Mizmor le'Todah - A Psalm of Thanksgiving (REDUX)

    Have any questions, insights, or feedback? Send me a text! Length: 1 hour 7 minutes Synopsis: This evening (1/28/26), in our Wednesday night Tehilim shiur, we took a brief detour from our we've so-called "Kabbalas Shabbos" perakim of Tehilim. We recently finished 95-99, and although the next perek according to the mainstream Ashkenazi minhag is 29, we unanimously decided to (re)learn 100, since it's part of the same series (a.k.a., "Moshe Rabbeinu's Tehilim") and we wanted to attempt to learn it in the context of the Yemos ha'Moshiach theme we've been developing. Plus, there ARE some Sephardim who say this in Kabbalos Shabbos. Thankfully (ha!), we were able to start AND finish it all in a single night, and man what a great perek it was! If you're looking to level up in how you relate to gratitude, you're in for a treat! If anyone happens to (re)listen to the shiur I gave on this perek in 2022, let me know what we said, and if the ideas still hold up! ----- מקורות: תהלים ק תרגום כתובים - תהלים ק:א מצודת דוד - תהלים ק:א רד"ק רמב"ם - משנה תורה: ספר שופטים, הלכות מלכים ומלחמות יב:ה מאירי - תהלים ק:ב ----- The Torah content for the month of January is sponsored by Naomi Schwartz in memory of her father, Dovid Yitzchok ben Chaim Yeruchum Fishel z”l, who dedicated his life to learning and teaching Torah to countless students b’simcha. His first yahrtzeit is the 23rd of Teves. ----- If you've gained from what you've learned here, please consider contributing to my Patreon at www.patreon.com/rabbischneeweiss. Alternatively, if you would like to make a direct contribution to the "Rabbi Schneeweiss Torah Content Fund," my Venmo is @Matt-Schneeweiss, and my Zelle and PayPal are mattschneeweiss at gmail. Even a small contribution goes a long way to covering the costs of my podcasts, and will provide me with the financial freedom to produce even more Torah content for you. If you would like to sponsor a day's or a week's worth of content, or if you are interested in enlisting my services as a teacher or tutor, you can reach me at rabbischneeweiss at gmail. Thank you to my listeners for listening, thank you to my readers for reading, and thank you to my supporters for supporting my efforts to make Torah ideas available and accessible to everyone. ----- Substack: rabbischneeweiss.substack.com/ YU Torah: yutorah.org/teachers/Rabbi-Matt-Schneeweiss Patreon: patreon.com/rabbischneeweiss YouTube Channel: youtube.com/rabbischneeweiss Instagram: instagram.com/rabbischneeweiss/ "The Stoic Jew" Podcast: thestoicjew.buzzsprout.com "Machshavah Lab" Podcast: machshavahlab.buzzsprout.com "The Mishlei Podcast": mishlei.buzzsprout.com "Rambam Bekius" Podcast: rambambekius.buzzsprout.com "The Tefilah Podcast": tefilah.buzzsprout.com Old Blog: kolhaseridim.blogspot.com/ WhatsApp Content Hub (where I post all my content and announce my public classes): https://chat.whatsapp.com/GEB1EPIAarsELfHWuI2k0H Amazon Wishlist: amazon.com/hz/wishlist/ls/Y72CSP86S24W?ref_=wl_sharel

    1h 8m
  4. JAN 15

    Tehilim 99: Hashem Malach Yirgezu Amim (Part 2 - Main Idea)

    Have any questions, insights, or feedback? Send me a text! Length: 1 hour 6 minutes Synopsis: This evening (1/14/26), in our Wednesday night Tehilim shiur, we managed to "land the plane"! After reviewing the translation, questions, and observations from last time, we tossed around a few approaches, and then learned the Meiri, who held the key to a unified theory with a very practical message. And with that, we finished the portion of "Kabbalas Shabbos" perakim from the 90s. I have to think about where we go next. Do we give 100 another try, since it seems to be part of that same series? Do we delve into the minhag of reciting these as part of Kabbalas Shabbos? Or do we follow the minhag by going back to 29? Tune in next time to find out! ----- מקורות: תהלים צט תהלים ד:ה רמב"ם - משנה תורה: ספר המדע, הלכות תשובה ח:ד מאירי ----- The Torah content for the month of January is sponsored by Naomi Schwartz in memory of her father, Dovid Yitzchok ben Chaim Yeruchum Fishel z”l, who dedicated his life to learning and teaching Torah to countless students b’simcha. His first yahrtzeit is the 23rd of Teves. ----- If you've gained from what you've learned here, please consider contributing to my Patreon at www.patreon.com/rabbischneeweiss. Alternatively, if you would like to make a direct contribution to the "Rabbi Schneeweiss Torah Content Fund," my Venmo is @Matt-Schneeweiss, and my Zelle and PayPal are mattschneeweiss at gmail. Even a small contribution goes a long way to covering the costs of my podcasts, and will provide me with the financial freedom to produce even more Torah content for you. If you would like to sponsor a day's or a week's worth of content, or if you are interested in enlisting my services as a teacher or tutor, you can reach me at rabbischneeweiss at gmail. Thank you to my listeners for listening, thank you to my readers for reading, and thank you to my supporters for supporting my efforts to make Torah ideas available and accessible to everyone. ----- Substack: rabbischneeweiss.substack.com/ YU Torah: yutorah.org/teachers/Rabbi-Matt-Schneeweiss Patreon: patreon.com/rabbischneeweiss YouTube Channel: youtube.com/rabbischneeweiss Instagram: instagram.com/rabbischneeweiss/ "The Stoic Jew" Podcast: thestoicjew.buzzsprout.com "Machshavah Lab" Podcast: machshavahlab.buzzsprout.com "The Mishlei Podcast": mishlei.buzzsprout.com "Rambam Bekius" Podcast: rambambekius.buzzsprout.com "The Tefilah Podcast": tefilah.buzzsprout.com Old Blog: kolhaseridim.blogspot.com/ WhatsApp Content Hub (where I post all my content and announce my public classes): https://chat.whatsapp.com/GEB1EPIAarsELfHWuI2k0H Amazon Wishlist: amazon.com/hz/wishlist/ls/Y72CSP86S24W?ref_=wl_sharel

    1h 7m
  5. JAN 8

    Tehilim 99: Hashem Malach Yirgezu Amim (Part 1 - Translation and Questions)

    Have any questions, insights, or feedback? Send me a text! Length: 1 hour Synopsis: This evening (1/7/26), in our first Wednesday night Tehilim shiur of 2026, we commenced our analysis of the next perek in our "Kabbalas Shabbos" series, which also happens to be the last perek in the 95-99 cluster before the minhag takes us back to 29. As usual, we spent the first two thirds of shiur translating the perek and the last third raising all the questions and problems we could. Next time, we'll attempt to come up with our own answers and theories before seeing what the meforshim have to say! ----- מקורות: תהלים צט תרגום כתובים Artscroll Neima Novetsky Robert Alter ----- The Torah content for the month of January is sponsored by Naomi Schwartz in memory of her father, Dovid Yitzchok ben Chaim Yeruchum Fishel z”l, who dedicated his life to learning and teaching Torah to countless students b’simcha. His first yahrtzeit is the 23rd of Teves. ----- If you've gained from what you've learned here, please consider contributing to my Patreon at www.patreon.com/rabbischneeweiss. Alternatively, if you would like to make a direct contribution to the "Rabbi Schneeweiss Torah Content Fund," my Venmo is @Matt-Schneeweiss, and my Zelle and PayPal are mattschneeweiss at gmail. Even a small contribution goes a long way to covering the costs of my podcasts, and will provide me with the financial freedom to produce even more Torah content for you. If you would like to sponsor a day's or a week's worth of content, or if you are interested in enlisting my services as a teacher or tutor, you can reach me at rabbischneeweiss at gmail. Thank you to my listeners for listening, thank you to my readers for reading, and thank you to my supporters for supporting my efforts to make Torah ideas available and accessible to everyone. ----- Substack: rabbischneeweiss.substack.com/ YU Torah: yutorah.org/teachers/Rabbi-Matt-Schneeweiss Patreon: patreon.com/rabbischneeweiss YouTube Channel: youtube.com/rabbischneeweiss Instagram: instagram.com/rabbischneeweiss/ "The Stoic Jew" Podcast: thestoicjew.buzzsprout.com "Machshavah Lab" Podcast: machshavahlab.buzzsprout.com "The Mishlei Podcast": mishlei.buzzsprout.com "Rambam Bekius" Podcast: rambambekius.buzzsprout.com "The Tefilah Podcast": tefilah.buzzsprout.com Old Blog: kolhaseridim.blogspot.com/ WhatsApp Content Hub (where I post all my content and announce my public classes): https://chat.whatsapp.com/GEB1EPIAarsELfHWuI2k0H Amazon Wishlist: amazon.com/hz/wishlist/ls/Y72CSP86S24W?ref_=wl_sharel

    1h 1m
  6. 12/25/2025

    Tehilim 30: Mizmor Shir Chanukas ha'Bayis le'David (Part 3 - Complete Radak Analysis)

    Have any questions, insights, or feedback? Send me a text! Length: 1 hour 15 minutes Synopsis: This evening (12/24/25), in our Wednesday night Tehilim shiur, we learned through the Radak's commentary a second time, refining our understanding of the main idea we developed by trying to discern every phrase in every pasuk. We may not have figured out every single nuance, but I am SUPER happy with how our analysis turns out. THIS three-part series is what it looks like to successfully learn a perek in Tehilim! Please feel free to leave your questions, insights, and feedback in the comments! ----- מקורות: תהלים ל רד"ק רמב"ם - משנה תורה: ספר המדע, הלכות תשובה ה:ב; ו:ד-ה ----- SPECIAL CHANUKAH DISCOUNT—EXTENDED THROUGH JANUARY 2026: I originally offered 50% off my paid Substack subscription for Chanukah ($5 per month, or $50 for a full year). Since I’m still finishing my Chanukah article, which will be behind the paywall, and since I’ll be heading off the grid for a solo cabin retreat next week, I’ve decided to extend the discount through the end of 2025. If the free articles, recordings, and shiurim I’ve shared this year have added real value to your learning and your life, and you’d consider them worth at least the price of a latte, this is a simple way to say “thank you.” You’re welcome to sign up, read, listen, or download whatever you’d like from behind the paywall, and then cancel so there’s no ongoing charge. Your support is what allows this work to continue at its current depth and consistency, and for that I’m genuinely grateful. ----- If you've gained from what you've learned here, please consider contributing to my Patreon at www.patreon.com/rabbischneeweiss. Alternatively, if you would like to make a direct contribution to the "Rabbi Schneeweiss Torah Content Fund," my Venmo is @Matt-Schneeweiss, and my Zelle and PayPal are mattschneeweiss at gmail. Even a small contribution goes a long way to covering the costs of my podcasts, and will provide me with the financial freedom to produce even more Torah content for you. If you would like to sponsor a day's or a week's worth of content, or if you are interested in enlisting my services as a teacher or tutor, you can reach me at rabbischneeweiss at gmail. Thank you to my listeners for listening, thank you to my readers for reading, and thank you to my supporters for supporting my efforts to make Torah ideas available and accessible to everyone. ----- Substack: rabbischneeweiss.substack.com/ YUTorah: yutorah.org/teachers/Rabbi-Matt-Schneeweiss Patreon: patreon.com/rabbischneeweiss YouTube Channel: youtube.com/rabbischneeweiss Instagram: instagram.com/rabbischneeweiss/ "The Stoic Jew" Podcast: thestoicjew.buzzsprout.com "Machshavah Lab" Podcast: machshavahlab.buzzsprout.com "The Mishlei Podcast": mishlei.buzzsprout.com "Rambam Bekius" Podcast: rambambekius.buzzsprout.com "The Tefilah Podcast": tefilah.buzzsprout.com Old Blog: kolhaseridim.blogspot.com/ WhatsApp Content Hub (where I post all my content and announce my public classes): https://chat.whatsapp.com/GEB1EPIAarsELfHWuI2k0H Amazon Wishlist: amazon.com/hz/wishlist/ls/Y72CSP86S24W?ref_=wl_sharel

    1h 15m
  7. 12/18/2025

    Tehilim 30: Mizmor Shir Chanukas ha'Bayis le'David (Part 2 - Radak's Approach)

    Have any questions, insights, or feedback? Send me a text! Length: 1 hour 11 minutes Synopsis: This evening (12/17/25), in our Wednesday night Tehilim shiur, we began with a quick review, then made it our mission to learn through the entire commentary of the Radak. Thankfully, he states his main idea at the very beginning, so we were able to see how he develops it in his commentary on each pasuk. We went a bit overtime so that we could finish it, and although we didn't quite manage to tie it together in a neat package this time, we DID come away with an insight about the relationship of this perek to Chanukah. Next time (בג"ה), we'll attempt to refine and polish our insights, and "land the plane." ----- מקורות: תהלים ל רד"ק מגילת תענית כג:ג רמב"ם - משנה תורה: ספר עבודה, הלכות תמידין ומוספין ג:יג https://rabbischneeweiss.substack.com/p/why-do-jews-wear-yarmulkes ----- SPECIAL CHANUKAH DISCOUNT: For the eight days of Chanukah, I’m offering 50% off my paid Substack subscription, just $5 per month. If the free articles, recordings, and shiurim I’ve shared this year have added real value to your learning and your life, and you’d consider them worth at least the price of a latte, this is a simple way to say “thank you.” You’re welcome to sign up, read, listen, or download whatever you’d like from behind the paywall, and then cancel so there’s no ongoing charge. And if you’d like to support my Torah in a more sustained way, you can lock in a full year for $50 at the same 50% discount. Your support is what allows this work to continue at its current depth and consistency, and for that I’m genuinely grateful. Happy Chanukah!  ----- If you've gained from what you've learned here, please consider contributing to my Patreon at www.patreon.com/rabbischneeweiss. Alternatively, if you would like to make a direct contribution to the "Rabbi Schneeweiss Torah Content Fund," my Venmo is @Matt-Schneeweiss, and my Zelle and PayPal are mattschneeweiss at gmail. Even a small contribution goes a long way to covering the costs of my podcasts, and will provide me with the financial freedom to produce even more Torah content for you. If you would like to sponsor a day's or a week's worth of content, or if you are interested in enlisting my services as a teacher or tutor, you can reach me at rabbischneeweiss at gmail. Thank you to my listeners for listening, thank you to my readers for reading, and thank you to my supporters for supporting my efforts to make Torah ideas available and accessible to everyone. ----- Substack: rabbischneeweiss.substack.com/ YU Torah: yutorah.org/teachers/Rabbi-Matt-Schneeweiss Patreon: patreon.com/rabbischneeweiss YouTube Channel: youtube.com/rabbischneeweiss Instagram: instagram.com/rabbischneeweiss/ "The Stoic Jew" Podcast: thestoicjew.buzzsprout.com "Machshavah Lab" Podcast: machshavahlab.buzzsprout.com "The Mishlei Podcast": mishlei.buzzsprout.com "Rambam Bekius" Podcast: rambambekius.buzzsprout.com "The Tefilah Podcast": tefilah.buzzsprout.com Old Blog: kolhaseridim.blogspot.com/ WhatsApp Content Hub: https://chat.whatsapp.com/GEB1EPIAarsELfHWuI

    1h 11m
  8. 12/11/2025

    Tehilim 30: Mizmor Shir Chanukas ha'Bayis le'David (Part 1 - Translation and First Impressions)

    Have any questions, insights, or feedback? Send me a text! Length: 1 hour 6 minutes Synopsis: This evening (12/10/25), in our Wednesday night Tehilim shiur, we (read: I) decided that we needed a break from the "Kabbalas Shabbos" series we've been learning. Since Chanukah is right around the corner, we took up the Shir shel Yom of Chanukah, which many people also recite every day. The translation took a bit more effort, so we didn't have a ton of time to develop our theories. Still, we had a nice start and there are already some interesting approaches brewing. ----- מקורות: תהלים צח רמב"ם - פירוש המשניות, חגיגה ב:א ----- This week’s Torah content is sponsored by Rifka Kaplan-Peck in memory of her grandpa, Izrail Kaplan (a”h), who never forgot to look up above and appreciate another day. ----- If you've gained from what you've learned here, please consider contributing to my Patreon at www.patreon.com/rabbischneeweiss. Alternatively, if you would like to make a direct contribution to the "Rabbi Schneeweiss Torah Content Fund," my Venmo is @Matt-Schneeweiss, and my Zelle and PayPal are mattschneeweiss at gmail. Even a small contribution goes a long way to covering the costs of my podcasts, and will provide me with the financial freedom to produce even more Torah content for you. If you would like to sponsor a day's or a week's worth of content, or if you are interested in enlisting my services as a teacher or tutor, you can reach me at rabbischneeweiss at gmail. Thank you to my listeners for listening, thank you to my readers for reading, and thank you to my supporters for supporting my efforts to make Torah ideas available and accessible to everyone. ----- Substack: rabbischneeweiss.substack.com/ YU Torah: yutorah.org/teachers/Rabbi-Matt-Schneeweiss Patreon: patreon.com/rabbischneeweiss YouTube Channel: youtube.com/rabbischneeweiss Instagram: instagram.com/rabbischneeweiss/ "The Stoic Jew" Podcast: thestoicjew.buzzsprout.com "Machshavah Lab" Podcast: machshavahlab.buzzsprout.com "The Mishlei Podcast": mishlei.buzzsprout.com "Rambam Bekius" Podcast: rambambekius.buzzsprout.com "The Tefilah Podcast": tefilah.buzzsprout.com Old Blog: kolhaseridim.blogspot.com/ WhatsApp Content Hub (where I post all my content and announce my public classes): https://chat.whatsapp.com/GEB1EPIAarsELfHWuI2k0H Amazon Wishlist: amazon.com/hz/wishlist/ls/Y72CSP86S24W?ref_=wl_sharel

    1h 7m

Ratings & Reviews

5
out of 5
3 Ratings

About

My name is Rabbi Matt Schneeweiss, and this is the hub for all of my shiurim (classes) on Tefilah (Prayer) and related topics, such as Tehilim (Psalms) and Berachos (Blessings)! The shiurim I upload here are given in a variety of formats with different lengths and intended for different audiences. The common theme which unites all of these shiurim is our focus on strengthening our relationship with Hashem through Avodah she'ba'Lev (Service of the Heart). If you have any questions feel free to email me at rabbischneeweiss at gmail. Thanks for listening!