Parshah Pinchas: Transition and Trust
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IeL_NU-XyWM This week’s Torah portion is about accepting change. And I’m not talking about loose change. A guy named Zelophehad dies…and unlucky for him, Zelophehad had...
View ArticlePunkTorah Afternoon Prayer Service
We held our first afternoon prayer service today and it was awesome. Interacting with everyone was great! We would love for everyone to come and participate. ALL ARE WELCOME! They will be held Monday,...
View ArticleWhy Mixing Isn’t Always What It’s Cracked Up To Be: A Lesson on Leshon Hara
Jewish Mixers and a lesson on why mixing isn’t always what it is cracked up to be: A lesson on Leshon Horrah…. So it is clear that Jewish mixers are an invention from the Jewish grandmother. They’re...
View ArticleAsk The Alterna-Rebbe: What Does the Torah Really Say About Marijuana?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VhaY_G_bfZ0 What does the Torah really say about marijuana? Surprisingly little. Check it out.
View Article7 Jewish Kids At Church?
I ran into one of my elementary school teachers just the other day. I used to love seeing her at school because she was the only Jewish teacher and I also could see her at temple with her twin girls....
View ArticleWomen Who Say Shema Should Put On Tallis and Tefillin
We know that there have been a lot of discussion about whether or not women should or can wear tallis and tefillin. Patrick and I wanted to point out this article on our friend Heshy Fried’s blog that...
View ArticleAsk The Alterna-Rebbe: Jews and Organ Donation
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6OdnCUqH42M What does Judaism say about organ donation? Is it permitted? Find out!
View ArticleI Named My Avayrot (sins) “Willow” and “Phoebe”
There is a very large debate in some sects of the Jewish world about pets and how to deal with their “circumstances”. Some people believe you cannot spay or neuter a pet because it is against Torah....
View ArticleParshah Devarim
Deuteronomy 1:1-3:22 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SpxUt1J2SNY It’s hard enough imagining a time without the internet, let alone books. But that’s what it’s like to be an ancient Hebrew. Moses keeps...
View ArticleWhat’s Up With Tzitzit?
The who, what, why, how, and when of tzitzit. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oGwkKri0N2A
View ArticleYou’re not Jewing it Right!
I had a friendly debate with a gentlemen I was meeting about what it means to be Jewish. He challenged my opinions, but I did not feel like he was being rude or even trying to convince me another way....
View ArticleTisha B’Av: We Messed Up!
PunkTorah will be holding an interactive online Lamentation. Together we will mourn and lament. Right here! At 9:15 PM Central. Participate in the “build-a-lamentation” where we will work together to...
View ArticleParshat Va’etchanan
Religion, for many Jews, is a meritocracy. Where you went to college/yeshiva, what branch of Judaism ordained you, what rabbis you studied under, what level of kashrut, negiah, shabbat you keep. This...
View ArticleTo Make A Kiddush Hashem Or To Do The Right Thing?
(Originally posted here) That is the question… In yeshiva I found a wallet while riding my bike once, after telling someone, I forget who, possibly a beis medrish guy – he told me some shocking news....
View ArticleParshah Re’eh
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wHDsuVuSJhA Monotheism in a nutshell, all laid out. Make the change you want to see! Deuteronomy 11:26-16:17
View ArticleA Letter to my Besheret (Soul Mate)
Dear Besherit: Thanks for not showing up again. Oh, wait… I should start this out a little nicer...
View ArticleWhat Is Jewish Community?
What does community look like in the 21st Century? Can you have a Jewish community online? We say yes. Tell us if you agree. Or if you don’t! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3933T1a7aPQ
View ArticleParshat Shoftim: Quit Being a Power Nazi
This week's Torah portion talks justice, but justice can't be administered by one person...
View ArticleOneShul: The First Completely Online Synagogue
PunkTorah is proud to announce the fund-raising launch for OneShul.org, the world’s first web-based, community run synagogue. OneShul was inspired by group of PunkTorah volunteers who began meeting...
View ArticleParshah Ki Teitzei
More commandments in this Torah portion than any other. So this will be like a dvar on a dvar. How do we make these commandments work in daily life? Two ways: taking the past and make yourself an...
View ArticleThe Importance of Fringes
(Originally posted here by our friend Ketzirah) In the traditional morning prayer service, it is a common practice to gather the fringes (tzitzit) of the prayer shawl into your left hand while saying...
View ArticleLove The Stranger
By Danny Stauffer One day as I was studying the Torah I noticed that the commandment to love the stranger was repeated several times. I’m sure as good Jews we’ve all read the Torah and noticed the same...
View ArticleIs B’Nai Noach Proof That Something Is Wrong With Judaism?
My inbox is filled with emails about the Noachide Movement (aka B’nai Noach), most recently an article by Gordon Haber in Killing the Buddha. Noahides are, according to Haber, gentiles who believe that...
View ArticleLesson of the Tribe: Cheshvan (Oct. 7 – Nov. 7)
Check out Ketzirah at PeelAPom! Lesson of the Tribe The tribe of Cheshvan is Menasheh (מְנַשֶׁה), the first-born but officially second son of Joseph. That means the first two months of the spiritual...
View ArticleWho Needs A Siddur Anyways?
A prayerbook is an interesting thing. It begs the question, how well can someone else’s words describe your inner feelings, your deepest needs and desires? Why do we even need a siddur anyways? Isn’t...
View ArticleD’var Torah For Sukkot: Let My People Camp!
A retro repost from last year. Yea! It’s time for Sukkot, or “The Feast Of Booths” or “Tabernacles”. What the heck does that mean? It means “Go Camping!” Seriously though, Sukkot is the holiday where...
View ArticleRiding Uphill
(By our friend Leon Adato of EdibleTorah. Originally posted here.) When I find I’m in a competition with someone who is dead-set on winning, I will often play to lose just to get things over with and...
View ArticleRiding Uphill, part II
By Leon Adato (Originally posted here) One of the comments I got back from the post “Riding Uphill” was from my friend Phil, who said, “Davening is hard, although it gets easier after the first, oh,...
View ArticleHanukkah in 62 Seconds
Join us at OneShul on Dec. 1st at 7pm EST, as we light the menorah, tell stories and nosh! Hang out with your friends online for the holidays! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WiCMe3xOXYw Join us at...
View ArticleTevet: The Lesson of Dan
(cross-posted on PeelAPom) ~This is an excerpt from the Tevet Wheel of the Year Guide for Rosh Chodesh. Subscribe for free to receive the entire guide~ How do we know the difference between good and...
View ArticlePoint-CounterPoint: Youth Friendly? Why Not Just Plain Friendly?
(Originally posted here) POINT: By Leon Adato I had the good luck to grow up with Lee Unkrich, who’s been at Pixar since (just about) the beginning. He and I have talked about how the “traditional...
View ArticleThe Smell of Despair: Parsha Vayeshev
By Jessica Moore At first glance, Parsha Vayeshev seems like a pretty harsh and destructive time for G-d. Jacob is desperately praying that the generations of family woes will finally be over yet we...
View ArticleThe Proper Response to Darkness
By Leon Adato (Edible Torah) “As long as Hanukkah is studied and remembered, Jews will not surrender to the night. The proper response, as Hanukkah teaches, is not to curse the darkness but to light a...
View ArticlePunkTorah Radio: Ortho-what?!
What’s up ya’ll! This week we talk about conversion, Michael Jackson, and orthodoxy. Check it out! Ortho_what?! Or subscribe on iTunes here!
View ArticleShevat: The Lesson of Asher
~Excerpt from Shevat Guide – Subscribe for Free and Receive the Complete Guide Each Month ~ (Cross Posted From PeelAPom.com) “And Leah said: ‘Happy am I! for the daughters will call me happy.’ And she...
View ArticleMarley & DeScribe Are Livin’ For The Grind
By Gefiltepunker Emily Saex Drop that Starbucks like its hot! And pick this up instead! ‘Livin’ on the Grind’, the new single by Describe comes out today. The Shemspeed reggae hip hop musical...
View ArticlePunkTorah Radio: AIF Interview!
Shalom yall! This week we’ve got a special conversation with Kelly Wentworth of the American Islamic Fellowship, some music by Eprhyme, and Patrick’s secret photos in the Shemspeed vault. Check it out!...
View ArticleGod Doesn’t Care If You Wear A Black Hat
By Heshy Fried (Originally Posted Here) The RaHaF ZT”L in his sefer nefesh hahesh brings down a story of a man who left his body and went to the beis din sehl mala where he spoke to God about gaining...
View ArticlePunkTorah Radio: The Times, They Are A-Changing…
This week is part one of a talk with a good friend of ours, Rabbi Menachem Cohen of Mitztiut and The Night Ministry. Check it out! And take a look at his community if you are in the Chicago area!...
View ArticlePunkTorah Radio: RADIO!!
It’s here! It’s here! This week we try something a little different! The podcast is a half-hour glimpse into the musical habits of the PunkTorah World Headquarters. A solid thirty, uh, something,...
View ArticlePunkTorah Radio: Kosher Vegan Cookbooks and Birthday Trees
This week is all about Kosher Vegans, Tu B’Shvat and a big OneShul announcement! PunkTorah Radio: Kosher Vegan Cookbooks and Birthday Trees Also, subscribe on iTunes!
View ArticlePunkTorah Radio: Living A Jewish Life Online
This week we discuss whether it is possible to live a Jewish life online. You probably already know our answer, but there’s more! And, Werewolf Bar Mitzvah! Aaah-ooooooooooooooh! PunkTorah Radio:...
View ArticleWhy I Am PunkTorah
You’ve probably read Patrick’s Jewcy blog post called, “You Might Be PunkTorah If…”. If not, here’s a link. Read it. It’s good. It’s funny and it’s true. It’s funny because it’s true. It also made me...
View ArticleOneShul and JOU PRESENT Positive Psychology & Judaism
Join us for an amazing online class on Positive Psychology & Judaism on Wednesday, February 16th at 7:00PM EST. We’ll be streaming a class on the fundamentals of making life more fulfilling through...
View ArticleIntroducing PunkTorah Radio!
We are excited to announce the launching of PunkTorah Radio, our new radio station through 8tracks.com. You can find us on 8tracks at 8tracks.com/punktorah. Here, every mix we publish on PunkTorah...
View ArticlePatrick Aleph: Shema On Stage
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A03cW4GEBpw Patrick Aleph, director of PunkTorah, connects to God through the Shema…in his rock band. Filmed in Athens, Georgia.
View ArticleParshat Pekudei (Jodie Foster, Adult ADD and Zen Buddhism for Jews)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wnswnXcRnec Editor’s Note: It’s #FlashbackFriday with this old video from PunkTorah, originally posted March 2009! The insights I got from watching the really bad Jodie...
View ArticleWalgreens Brought Me Closer To G-d: Healthcare Reform and Jewish Innovation
For almost three months, I have had a sinus infection. Finally I went to my doctor, a nice older guy that my family has seen for years, to see if he could help. I had just changed insurance companies,...
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