The Shema Podcast for the Perplexed

Dan Kullman
  • 4.9 (25)
  • JUDAISM
  • UPDATED BIWEEKLY

A Baal Teshuva shares Torah insights, intertwined through personal stories and interviews with leading Torah Scholars to demonstrate the empowering qualities of Torah and mitzvos.

  1. DEC 15

    The Physics of Creation with Dr. Berel Epstein

    In this episode, we explore a big idea at the intersection of Torah and modern physics: Torah is the blueprint of creation, and as science advances, it often ends up catching up to truths Torah has pointed to all along. Joined by physicist Dr. Berel Epstein, we work through listener-submitted questions from the Shema Podcast WhatsApp community on the universe having a beginning, fine-tuning, the limits of what physics can explain, and what concepts like quantum entanglement and observation suggest about interconnectedness, perception, and responsibility. We also discuss artificial intelligence and why it pushes the conversation toward the deeper question of what a human being actually is, beyond information, productivity, and even intellect. By the end, you’ll walk away with a clear framework for how Torah and science relate: where they genuinely align, where science reaches its limits, and how to use scientific language as a tool without confusing it for the source of truth. Order the book, “Emunah and Physics”, on Amazon by click here What happens when a theoretical physicist takes on the deepest questions challenging Jewish belief? Emunah and Physics is a bold, brilliant response to centuries of skepticism and a framework for reclaiming faith.    Join the Conversation!  Be part of our growing community—join the Shema Podcast for the Perplexed WhatsApp group to share feedback, discuss episodes, and suggest future topics. Click here to sign up.

    53 min

  2. NOV 30

    The Nature of Our Relationship with Eisav and Yishmael with Rabbi Daniel Rowe

    In this episode, we are joined with Rabbi Daniel Rowe to unpack one of the most sensitive and misunderstood subjects in Torah: our ongoing relationship with Eisav and Yishmael. Are they eternal enemies, potential partners, or something more complex? Building on the theme from “Becoming a Nation of Priests” with Rabbi Yaakov Klein, Rabbi Rowe traces how the Torah and Chazal frame these two great civilizations as spiritual “cousins” whose roles are woven into creation itself. We explore how Christianity and Islam shifted the world from pagan cruelty toward a more Noahide, God-centered morality, why Jews are both uniquely loved and uniquely hated, and how antisemitism often masks a warped expectation that we live up to our mission.  If you’ve ever wondered how to make sense of global events, Jewish destiny, and our role within these ancient relationships, this conversation will give you a framework that changes the way you see history and the present moment. Continue learning from Rabbi Daniel Rowe. ·         You can follow his shiurim and lectures on YouTube: www.youtube.com/@RabbiDanielRowe ·         And stay connected to his ongoing Torah thoughts on Instagram: instagram.com/rabbidanielrowe Join the Conversation!  Be part of our growing community—join the Shema Podcast for the Perplexed WhatsApp group to share feedback, discuss episodes, and suggest future topics. Click here to sign up.

    55 min
  3. The Hidden Light of Kislev

    NOV 19

    The Hidden Light of Kislev

    In this episode Rabbi Pill returns to explore the deep spiritual current that runs from Tishrei through Cheshvan into the month of Kislev, revealing why this time is far more than a prelude to Chanukah. Together, we unpack Kislev’s core theme: the awakening of the Hidden Light—the Divine clarity concealed since Creation—made accessible again through trust, struggle, and the willingness to take spiritual risks. We examine the Samech, the stomach, sleep, and the tribe of Binyamin, showing how each expresses Kislev’s surrounding light, its support during our fall, and its invitation to internalize what once existed only outside us. And as Chanukah approaches, we discuss how the light of the menorah blends physical and spiritual illumination, guiding us to elevate the material world rather than escape it. This is an episode about hope in darkness, purpose in challenge, and discovering that the light we seek is already shining around us—waiting to be drawn within. Join the Conversation!  Be part of our growing community—join the Shema Podcast for the Perplexed WhatsApp group to share feedback, discuss episodes, and suggest future topics. Click here to sign up. Get the Companion Guide: The Power of the Months This free resource outlines the spiritual focus of each Hebrew month — including its mazal (zodiac sign), tribe, Hebrew letter, body part, and unique avodah. It also includes suggested actions you can take to align yourself with the energy of the time. Click here to download and keep this month-by-month guide as a tool for your own growth and reflection.

    1h 4m

  4. NOV 17

    Becoming a Nation of Priests with Rabbi Yaakov Klein

    In this episode, I sit down with Rabbi Yaakov Klein to explore one of the most misunderstood ideas in Torah: our destiny to become a nation of priests for all humanity.  We dig into what it actually means for the Jewish people to serve the nations—not through power or superiority, but through spiritual responsibility, clarity, and guidance. We speak honestly about antisemitism, the global hunger for meaning, and the uncomfortable gap between who we are today and who we’re meant to be. This conversation reframes the Jewish mission, the place of the non-Jewish world, and the future the Torah promises—one built on hope, consciousness, and the ultimate reunification of humanity under Hashem’s presence. Learn more from Rabbi Klein through his books: ·         Order the Story of Our Lives: An Epic Quest for the Soul of our Tradition.  ·         Order The Lost Princess Prayer: A Wide-Ranging Tefillah Companion to The Story of Our Lives.  ·         Order Sparks from Berditchov: An Inspirational Guide to Avodas Hashem Based On the Teachings of Rav Levi Yitzchak of Berditchov.   Join the Conversation!  Be part of our growing community—join the Shema Podcast for the Perplexed WhatsApp group to share feedback, discuss episodes, and suggest future topics. Click here to sign up.

    1h 10m

  5. NOV 6

    A Nation Tailored In Fire

    In this episode, A Nation Tailored in Fire, I explore a powerful teaching from Rav Avigdor Miller about how Hashem created the Jewish people with a fiery nature—stubborn, passionate, and relentless—and then gave us a fiery Torah perfectly suited to that design. Each mitzvah acts like a custom-made suit, shaping and channeling that inner fire toward holiness instead of letting it burn out of control. Our very nature, which can seem difficult or defiant, was intentionally crafted for greatness. By the end of this episode, you’ll see how the Torah wasn’t given to restrain the Jewish spirit—it was given to refine it and reveal its divine strength. Join the Conversation!  Be part of our growing community—join the Shema Podcast for the Perplexed WhatsApp group to share feedback, discuss episodes, and suggest future topics. Click here to sign up. Explore The Art of Prayer Download a collection of beautifully designed blessings (brachos) including Modeh Ani, Asher Yatzar, Netilas Yadayim and more.  Free to download and perfect for your home by clicking here.

    38 min
  6. The Power of the Month of Cheshvan featuring Rabbi Pill

    OCT 27

    The Power of the Month of Cheshvan featuring Rabbi Pill

    In this episode, I sit down with Rabbi Pill to explore the power of Mar Cheshvan and discover that it’s not a spiritual lull at all, but the time when we’re meant to integrate the inspiration of Tishrei into everyday life. We discuss how Jewish time moves in an upward spiral, and how Cheshvan shifts us from “gadlus ha’mochin” (expanded consciousness) to “katnus ha’mochin” (constricted consciousness), when serving Hashem without emotional highs becomes the real avodah. Drawing from Torah, Kabbalistic, and Chassidic sources, we reflect on how our service counts most when the excitement fades, and how the letter Nun—representing both falling and divine support—reminds us that every descent can become the beginning of an ascent. We also connect Cheshvan to the Flood and the dedication of the First Temple, showing how this same month can hold both darkness and revelation. On a practical level, we talk about yearning honestly for renewed connection, resisting the urge to escape discomfort, and carrying even one small piece of Tishrei forward—whether a mindful bracha or a focused moment in tefillah. The message is that Cheshvan invites us to bring Hashem into our work, family, and daily routine, turning quiet consistency into true transformation. Join the Conversation!  Be part of our growing community—join the Shema Podcast for the Perplexed WhatsApp group to share feedback, discuss episodes, and suggest future topics. Click here to sign up. Get the Companion Guide: The Power of the Months This free resource outlines the spiritual focus of each Hebrew month — including its mazal (zodiac sign), tribe, Hebrew letter, body part, and unique avodah. It also includes suggested actions you can take to align yourself with the energy of the time. Click here to download and keep this month-by-month guide as a tool for your own growth and reflection.

    59 min

  7. OCT 20

    When Science Meets Sinai: A Conservation with Dr. Berel Leib Epstein

    In this episode, I sit down with physicist and author of Emunah and Physics, Dr. Berel Leib Epstein, to explore how modern physics—fine-tuning, quantum observation, and the wave-particle nature of light—doesn’t challenge emunah but illuminates it, revealing the Torah as the blueprint of reality. We discuss why Occam’s razor now favors belief, how the unity sought in physics mirrors Hashem Echad, and how gratitude and good middos open the heart to truth. You’ll come away with a clearer, more rational framework for Emunah and one that deepens awe, sharpens thinking, and highlights the profound harmony between Torah and science. Order the book, “Emunah and Physics”, on Amazon by clicking here! What happens when a theoretical physicist takes on the deepest questions challenging Jewish belief? Emunah and Physics is a bold, brilliant response to centuries of skepticism and a framework for reclaiming faith.    Join the Conversation!  Be part of our growing community—join the Shema Podcast for the Perplexed WhatsApp group to share feedback, discuss episodes, and suggest future topics. Click here to sign up.

    57 min

  8. OCT 5

    Under One Sukkah: The Necessity of the Four Species and Jewish Unity

    This Sukkos, as we sit together under one roof, the lulav and etrog in our hands carry a message far deeper than ritual. The four species are not symbols of difference but of interdependence — a call to unity that Baal HaSulam says is the very condition for receiving Torah itself. In this episode, we explore why the mitzvah can only be fulfilled when all four are bound together, and why the Jewish people can only fulfill their purpose when we are united as one. Join the Conversation!  Be part of our growing community—join the Shema Podcast for the Perplexed WhatsApp group to share feedback, discuss episodes, and suggest future topics. Click here to sign up. Explore The Art of Prayer Download a collection of beautifully designed blessings (brachos) including Modeh Ani, Asher Yatzar, Netilas Yadayim and more.  Free to download and perfect for your home by clicking here.

    39 min
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4.9
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A Baal Teshuva shares Torah insights, intertwined through personal stories and interviews with leading Torah Scholars to demonstrate the empowering qualities of Torah and mitzvos.

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