The 20 Lessons Podcast

Hear Rabbi Idan Scher delve into the 20 lessons you need to learn to be an informed Jew. Whether you are studying towards conversion or you just want to really understand who we are and what we believe, this series is for you.

Lesson 18: A Day in the Life of an Observant Jew 2.5 & Foundational Features of Jewish Identity

In this episode we cover a parents obligations to their children, the laws and ideas that inform the marriage relationship (mikvah, niddah, etc..), making decisions around end-of-life issues, Jews as the “chosen people” and five unique features the Torah tells us about the Jews.

08-07
52:08

Lesson 17: A Day in the Life of an Observant Jew - Part 2

In this episode we cover the many blessings we recite everyday including: before and after eating, before doing mitzvot, after using the washroom, and in gratitude to so much we’d otherwise take for granted. We also cover “Amen” and grace after meals. We then move on to the Torah’s guidance around values and character development. We look at the verses of the Torah and find a very clearly value system that is also expressed through the practice of the mitzvot.

07-29
55:07

Lesson 16: A Day in the Life of an Observant Jew - Part 1

In this episode we cover Mitzvot - what are they and what’s the point of them, why the focus on details in Judaism, time markers in Halacha (the Jewish legal tradition), how an observant Jew gets up in the morning, ritual hand washing, the Kippah/yarmulka, how to get dressed Jewishly, the Jewishness of the beard, mitzvot for males - tall it and tefillin, the Mezuzah, and a quick review of the daily prayer services.

07-25
57:03

Lesson 15: The Jewish Approach to Death and Mourning - Part III (Burial vs. Cremation)

Why does Judaism place such significance on burial?

09-01
42:35

Lesson 14: The Jewish Approach to Death and Mourning - Part II (The Burial)

The significance of burial in Judaism....

08-26
35:30

Lesson 13: The Jewish Approach to Death and Mourning: Part I (Observances and Rituals)

We go through the details and meaning of the Jewish observances related to death and mourning...

07-27
34:35

Lesson 12: The Joy and Meaning of the Jewish Lifecycle

We go through the details and meaning of the joyous Jewish lifecycle events...

07-27
51:10

Lesson 11: Jewish Fast Days and Jewish Sad Days

We cover the Jewish fast days (history and details), Jewish sad days, why we fast, and what it accomplishes...

04-21
54:04

Lesson 10: Jewish Holidays and Jewish Time

A crash course on the Jewish Festivals, Jewish Time, and the Jewish Calendar

04-13
59:44

Lesson 9: Shabbat - The Greatest Day

A crash course on the meaning, beauty, and observances of Shabbat

01-06
59:59

Lesson 8: The Truth About Prayer

Many have a complicated relationship or no relationship at all with prayer in general and the Jewish prayer service more specifically. In this episode, Rabbi Scher breaks down the layers of depth in Jewish prayer. 

07-03
46:36

Lesson 7: Demystifying Kosher - The Details and The Meaning

In this episode, Rabbi Scher discusses kosher, a hallmark of Jewish identity for thousands of year. 

07-03
01:01:19

Lesson 6: Jewish History In Under Two Hours - Part II

Picking up at 66ce, Rabbi Scher continues to break down Jewish history in under two hours as he wraps up Lesson 5 of the 20 Lessons Podcast. 

07-03
57:31

Lesson 5: Jewish History In Under Two Hours - Part I

In this two-part episode, Rabbi Scher begins unraveling Jewish history, starting with the biblical narrative. 

07-03
51:11

Lesson 4: Tzedakah - A Revolutionary Perspective On Charity

In this episode, Rabbi Scher focuses on the mitzvah of charity, a commandment which is foundational to who we are as a people. 

07-03
40:32

Lesson 3: A Survey of Evidence for God And the Torah

In this episode, Rabbi Scher answers why one should believe in the existence of God and why we as a nation, believe in God. 

07-03
49:27

Lesson 2: The System Of Jewish Practice And Thought

In this episode of the 20 Lessons Podcast Rabbi Scher unpacks the system of Jewish practice and thought. 

07-03
50:15

Lesson 1: God & The 10 Commandments

In this episode Rabbi Scher introduces the 20 Lessons to becoming an Informed Jew Podcast with a discussion of God and The Ten Commandments. 

07-03
35:47

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