JOI to the World

Menachem Lehrfield
  • 5.0 (4)
  • Judaism
  • Updated Weekly

JOI to the World is a collection of podcasts by Rabbi Lehrfield of JOI that explore diverse aspects of Jewish life, learning, and culture. Each episode offers a unique perspective, drawing from the rich tapestry of Jewish thought and tradition. You can subscribe to this podcast to get weekly episodes or you can subscribe to the individual shows to receive the monthly episodes as they air.Zero Percent: Discover the profound outsided impact of a people that make up less than 0.2% of the world.Dear Rabbi: Practical answers to questions about Judaism.reConnect: Bridging the gap between ancient wisdom and modern life, this series offers a deep dive into the relationships that matter most.Yada Yada Yiddish: A Jewish perspective on Seinfeld, using the show’s iconic moments as a springboard for exploring Jewish concepts and values.Kids Say the Deepest Things: Meaningful lessons from the funny and insightful things kids say, with reflections on life, parenting, and Jewish tradition.

  1. 1d ago

    YouTube Title: Why Aren't Dinosaurs Mentioned in the Bible?

    🎧 Listen to this and other episodes at www.joidenver.com/podcasts In this episode of Dear Rabbi, I tackle a fascinating question: Why don't we find any mention of dinosaurs in the creation story in the Bible? The answer reveals how we should read and interpret biblical texts. First, let me point out that we also don't find any mention of oranges in the creation story, yet no one doubts that oranges exist. The Bible simply doesn't mention every single thing that was created. It provides categories and highlights certain creations, but it's not an exhaustive inventory of all creations. However, there's an interesting possibility. In Genesis 1:21, the Bible describes the creation of animals and gives different categories. One category is "tannin." Gerald Schroeder, a brilliant MIT physicist, explains that in Exodus 3, the word "tannin" (singular of tannin) refers specifically to a snake. Since the general term for a snake or the category is "reptile," he translates "tannin" as "large reptiles," and the Greek word for a large reptile is "dinosaur." So Schroeder believes the "tannin" mentioned on day five of creation was actually a dinosaur. According to oral tradition and the Midrash, these large creatures (tannin golem) were long extinct before humans came onto the scene. This aligns with what we know about dinosaurs from fossil records. Dinosaurs do raise important questions about the age of the universe, which is a separate discussion. For deeper exploration of both topics, I recommend Gerald Schroeder's books, particularly "The Science of God" and his smaller work "What About the Dinosaurs?" CONNECT WITH US: 🎧 Listen to all our podcasts: [www.joidenver.com/podcasts] Follow us for more: Website - https://www.joidenver.com Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/joidenver Facebook - http://www.facebook.com/JOIdenver  YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/c/JOIdenver Pinterest - http://pinterest.com/jewishdiy Subscribe to "JOI to the World" to access all our podcasts, including Yada Yada Yiddish, Kids Say the Deepest Things, Reconnect, and Dear Rabbi. Join us as we uncover the treasures in our backyard and ex

    3 min

  2. 6d ago

    Parshat Balak: Blessings Disguised as Curses

    📖 Parshat Balak This Week: King Balak hires the prophet Bilam to curse the Jewish people. Bilam opens his mouth to curse, but God transforms every curse into a blessing. 'How goodly are your tents, O Jacob!' Instead of destruction, he pronounces protection. Instead of weakness, he proclaims strength. The curse becomes a blessing. How often do we live this backwards? We're going through something difficult, a job loss, a rejection, or a setback, and we think it's a curse. We can't see past the pain. But sometimes hidden deep inside that difficulty is a nugget of blessing. The lesson that forced growth. The relationship that deepened through struggle. The strength discovered through adversity. Your curses might be blessings in disguise. Look deeper. Shabbat Shalom. ✨ Follow us for more: Website - https://www.joidenver.com Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/joidenver Facebook - http://www.facebook.com/JOIdenver YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/c/JOIdenver Pinterest - http://pinterest.com/jewishdiy Subscribe to "JOI to the World" to access all our podcasts, including Yada Yada Yiddish, Kids Say the Deepest Things, Reconnect, and Dear Rabbi.

    1 min

  3. Jun 19

    Parshat Korach: Is It About the Problem or About You?

    📖 Parshat Korach This Week: If we see something wrong, we should fix it. That's our responsibility. But here's the hard question: Does the solution always point back to you? Does fixing the problem somehow benefit your ego, advance your career, or give you what you want? If yes, maybe it's not about the problem at all. Korach challenged Moshe's leadership. He claimed the system was wrong, that everyone should be equal. But really? He wanted to be in charge. We do this all the time. 'So-and-so isn't qualified for that job' really means 'I want that position.'' The leadership needs to change' really means 'I want that power.' Before you criticize someone else's leadership, ask yourself: Is there a bias here? Is something in it for me? Is this really about fixing the situation, or is it about my ego? That question changes everything. Shabbat Shalom. 🪞 Follow us for more: Website - https://www.joidenver.com Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/joidenver Facebook - http://www.facebook.com/JOIdenver YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/c/JOIdenver Pinterest - http://pinterest.com/jewishdiy Subscribe to "JOI to the World" to access all our podcasts, including Yada Yada Yiddish, Kids Say the Deepest Things, Reconnect, and Dear Rabbi.

    1 min

  4. Jun 17

    Can Someone With a Tattoo Be Buried in a Jewish Cemetery?

    🎧 Listen to this and other episodes at www.joidenver.com/podcasts In this episode of Dear Rabbi, I address a common misconception: Can a person with a tattoo be buried in a Jewish cemetery? The short answer is yes, someone with a tattoo can absolutely be buried in a Jewish cemetery. That's not to say tattoos are condoned by Judaism. The Torah makes it very clear that it is forbidden to get a tattoo. But why? I explain that we look at our bodies as holy receptacles for our souls. Just like you wouldn't borrow a Bentley from someone and put bumper stickers all over it, we believe our bodies are, so to speak, borrowed. They're here to fulfill a specific purpose, housing our souls and allowing us to connect spiritually through action in this world. Therefore, we don't want to permanently mark them up with those proverbial bumper stickers. However, having a tattoo doesn't disqualify someone from Jewish burial. This is just one of many misconceptions people have about Jewish law and burial practices. The reality is far more compassionate and nuanced than the myths suggest. Whether you have tattoos yourself, know someone who does, or are simply curious about Jewish burial customs and what actually disqualifies someone from Jewish cemetery burial, this episode clears up a widespread misunderstanding. CONNECT WITH US: 🎧 Listen to all our podcasts: [www.joidenver.com/podcasts] Follow us for more: Website - https://www.joidenver.com Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/joidenver Facebook - http://www.facebook.com/JOIdenver  YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/c/JOIdenver Pinterest - http://pinterest.com/jewishdiy Subscribe to "JOI to the World" to access all our podcasts, including Yada Yada Yiddish, Kids Say the Deepest Things, Reconnect, and Dear Rabbi. Join us as we uncover the treasures in our backyard and explore what makes the Jewish people extraordinary! 🕎📚🎙️

    2 min

  5. Jun 12

    Parshat Shelach: Belief Shapes Reality

    📖 Parshat Shelach This Week: Ten spies and two enter the same land. They see the same giants, they see the same walls, they see the same challenges. But the ten say, "We cannot do it." Yehoshua and Kalev say, 'We can do it.' Same reality. Different conclusions. Who’s right? The actual story? They both are.” The people who think they’ll win and the people who think they’ll lose are both making prophecies that come true. Because belief makes reality. If you enter a challenge thinking you are going to fail, you have already lost. If you go in thinking you're going to win, you've already won. The mind is won or lost first on the battlefield. Your beliefs are not just mirrors of reality; they are creators of it. What world are you building with your beliefs? Shabbat Shalom. 🧠 Follow us for more: Website - https://www.joidenver.com Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/joidenver Facebook - http://www.facebook.com/JOIdenver YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/c/JOIdenver Pinterest - http://pinterest.com/jewishdiy Subscribe to "JOI to the World" to access all our podcasts, including Yada Yada Yiddish, Kids Say the Deepest Things, Reconnect, and Dear Rabbi.

    1 min

  6. Jun 10

    Why Don't Jews Mix Milk and Meat?

    🎧 Listen to this and other episodes at www.joidenver.com/podcasts In this episode of Dear Rabbi, I answer a fundamental question about Jewish dietary laws: Why don't Jews mix milk and meat? The short answer is simple: because God said so. But there's so much more to understand about this ancient practice. I explain that kashrut laws are essentially a spiritual diet for our souls. Just as certain foods clog our physical arteries, there are foods that clog our spiritual arteries. God shares this with us because if we want to get the most spiritually out of life and be open to spiritual realities, we must ensure our diet is in line with that goal. When we explore reasons for specific mitzvot, we need to understand that these reasons are layered, not definitive. The Hebrew word for reason is "tam" the same word as "taste." Just as God could have created bland food for survival but instead made magnificent foods with beautiful colors, tastes, and textures, the reasons for mitzvot enhance our intellectual and spiritual connection to them. There are multiple reasons given for not mixing milk and meat. On the practical side, pagan idolaters mixed milk and meat, so by avoiding this practice, Jews distinguish themselves from pagan worship. On the kabbalistic side, milk represents life (it's white, representing purity and sustenance), while meat represents death. By keeping them separate, we acknowledge the clear distinction between life and death two fundamental forces we must never intermingle. CONNECT WITH US: 🎧 Listen to all our podcasts: [www.joidenver.com/podcasts] Follow us for more: Website - https://www.joidenver.com Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/joidenver Facebook - http://www.facebook.com/JOIdenver  YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/c/JOIdenver Pinterest - http://pinterest.com/jewishdiy Subscribe to "JOI to the World" to access all our podcasts, including Yada Yada Yiddish, Kids Say the Deepest Things, Reconnect, and Dear Rabbi. Join us as we uncover the treasures in our backyard and explore what makes the Jewish people extraordinary! 🕎📚🎙️

    4 min

  7. Jun 5

    Parshat Beha'alotcha: Enough is a Mindset

    📖 Parsha Beha’alotcha This Week's: The Jewish people are eating manna, the perfect food. It tastes like whatever they want, is totally nutritious, and leaves no waste. But they whine. They want the meat. God sends the quails. Finally! They think, I will be happy! But they are still not happy. Why?' Happiness was never about the meat. It’s about our innate human desire to want what we don’t have. We go after the next promotion, the bigger house, the new car, thinking, 'I'll be happy when I get this.' Then we get it and we feel hollow. The actual story? Happiness isn’t an event. It’s a mentality. It’s understanding that everything you have been given is yours to finish your mission. “You don’t need what you don’t possess. That’s not compromise, that’s wisdom. Shabbat Shalom.🙏🏻 Follow us for more: Website - https://www.joidenver.com Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/joidenver Facebook - http://www.facebook.com/JOIdenver YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/c/JOIdenver Pinterest - http://pinterest.com/jewishdiy Subscribe to "JOI to the World" to access all our podcasts, including Yada Yada Yiddish, Kids Say the Deepest Things, Reconnect, and Dear Rabbi.

    2 min

  8. Jun 3

    Why Can Jews Charge Interest to Non-Jews?

    🎧 Listen to this and other episodes at www.joidenver.com/podcasts In this episode of Dear Rabbi, I address a question about Jewish lending practices: Why are Jews allowed to charge interest to non-Jews? The answer reveals deeper Jewish values about family, community, and morality. First, let me be clear: there's nothing immoral about charging interest. If I rent out a car, there's a price for that rental. If I rent out my money, there's a price for that too. Interest is simply the price for renting money; it's a fair economic transaction. The reason Jews don't charge other Jews interest is because we see the entire Jewish people as a family. While there's nothing wrong with charging someone interest in a business transaction, if your brother asks to borrow money and you charge them interest, it's not the nicest thing to do. The Torah sets a very high bar for us, demanding that we lend to our brothers and sisters without interest. We lend to them because it's the right thing to do and because we love them and care for them, not because of the interest we might gain. This practice reflects the Jewish principle of seeing our people as one family bound together by covenant and mutual responsibility. CONNECT WITH US: 🎧 Listen to all our podcasts: [www.joidenver.com/podcasts] Follow us for more: Website - https://www.joidenver.com Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/joidenver Facebook - http://www.facebook.com/JOIdenver  YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/c/JOIdenver Pinterest - http://pinterest.com/jewishdiy Subscribe to "JOI to the World" to access all our podcasts, including Yada Yada Yiddish, Kids Say the Deepest Things, Reconnect, and Dear Rabbi. Join us as we uncover the treasures in our backyard and explore what makes the Jewish people extraordinary! 🕎📚🎙️

    2 min
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Ratings & Reviews

5
out of 5
4 Ratings

About

JOI to the World is a collection of podcasts by Rabbi Lehrfield of JOI that explore diverse aspects of Jewish life, learning, and culture. Each episode offers a unique perspective, drawing from the rich tapestry of Jewish thought and tradition. You can subscribe to this podcast to get weekly episodes or you can subscribe to the individual shows to receive the monthly episodes as they air.Zero Percent: Discover the profound outsided impact of a people that make up less than 0.2% of the world.Dear Rabbi: Practical answers to questions about Judaism.reConnect: Bridging the gap between ancient wisdom and modern life, this series offers a deep dive into the relationships that matter most.Yada Yada Yiddish: A Jewish perspective on Seinfeld, using the show’s iconic moments as a springboard for exploring Jewish concepts and values.Kids Say the Deepest Things: Meaningful lessons from the funny and insightful things kids say, with reflections on life, parenting, and Jewish tradition.

Information

  • Creator
    Menachem Lehrfield
  • Years Active
    2024 - 2026
  • Episodes
    190
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Copyright Menachem Lehrfield
  • Show Website
    JOI to the World