Moment of JOI
Introducing Moment of JOI – a short, weekly podcast where Sarah and Rabbi Menachem Lehrfield (of the Jewish Outreach Initiative - i.e. JOI) bring you a dose of inspiration in under 90 seconds. Each week they offer a fresh insight from the weekly Torah Portion, offering a spark of JOI to enrich your week with meaningful, relevant wisdom. Whether you're looking for a quick thought to elevate your day or a deeper connection to the Torah, join us for a moment that’s uplifting, thought-provoking, and always inspiring.
Parshat Korach: The Art of Sacred Disagreement
📖 Parshat Korach This Week: 'Two Jews, three opinions'—we're famously argumentative people! But this week's story of Korach's rebellion seems to condemn disagreement. So which is it—are arguments good or bad? Jewish wisdom teaches us about 'machloket l'shem shamayim' (מחלוקת לשם שמים)—arguments for the sake of heaven. Korach's rebellion was driven by jealousy and ego, focused on tearing down rather than seeking truth. But when we argue with genuine curiosity, seeking to understand different perspectives and uncover deeper wisdom, our disagreements become sacred. The goal isn't to win—it's to grow beyond our limited viewpoint and discover truth together. Argue well. Shabbat Shalom. 🤝
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Parshat Shelach: The Danger of 'But'
📖 Parshat Shelach This Week: The spies returned from the Promised Land with glowing reports, 'It's amazing!' but then came the word that changed Jewish history: 'BUT the people are giants and we can't conquer it.' The Hebrew word they used was 'efes' (אפס), which means 'zero', and that's exactly what it did to everything positive they'd just said. When we say 'but,' we erase all the good that came before it. 'You did great, BUT...' 'I love you, BUT...' Next time you want to give feedback or share concerns, try using 'and' instead. It honors both the po...
Parshat Beha'alotcha: When Leaders Need Leaders
📖 Parshat Beha'alotcha This Week: Even while eating miraculous manna from heaven, the Jewish people complained about missing the 'free' fish from Egypt—conveniently forgetting they were slaves at the time! Moses, overwhelmed by their constant grumbling, cried out to God: 'Did I give birth to these people? Why is this all my responsibility?' God's response wasn't 'tough it out'—instead, He appointed 70 elders to share the burden. Whether you're leading a community, raising children, or just navigating life's challenges, remember: you weren't meant to carry it all alone. Even Moses needed help. Asking for support isn't weakness—it's wisdom. Shabbat S...
Parshat Nasso: Success with Purpose
📖 Parshat Nasso This Week: Every Friday night, we bless our children with the ancient words of the Birkat Kohanim' May God bless you and protect you' (יברכך ה' וישמרך). But here's the beautiful paradox: we ask for blessing (material success) and protection from that very blessing. True prosperity isn't about what we accumulate, but what we do with what we're given. When we use our blessings to elevate others and express our highest selves, we transform success from a potential trap into a tool for goodness. May we all be blessed—and protected from letting those blessings define us. Shabbat Shalom. 🙏
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Parshat Bamidbar: The Value of Every Soul
📖 Parshat Bamidbar This Week: When the Torah commands Moses to count the Jewish people, it doesn't use the word for 'counting', it says כִּי תִשָּׂא אֶת-רֹאשׁ, literally 'lift up their heads.' What a profound difference. The Nazis sought to dehumanize by reducing people to numbers, but the Torah does the opposite, it elevates each person's dignity. We're not meant to be counted like objects, but to be lifted up and recognized for our unique worth and irreplaceable contributions to our community. Every soul matters. Every person counts not just in number, but in value. Shabbat Shalom. ✨
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Parshat Bechukotai: Judaism as a Way of Walking
📖 Parshat Bechukotai This Week: Many of us compartmentalize Jewish identity—keeping it for synagogue, Hebrew school, or holiday celebrations. But this week's Torah portion challenges that limited view. When God says 'Im bechukotai teilechu'—'If you walk in My ways'—the language is deliberate. Not 'follow My rules' or 'obey My commands,' but 'walk in My ways.' Judaism isn't a destination; it's a journey we carry. This is why Jewish law is called 'Halacha,' literally meaning 'walking.' From morning blessings to evening gratitude, from how we treat strangers to how we conduct business, Jewish values aren't confined...
Parshat Emor: Making Each Day Count
📖 Parshat Emor This Week: We're currently in a rare moment when our Torah reading perfectly mirrors our calendar. As we count the Omer, the 49 days between Passover and Shavuot, we read about this very practice in Parshat Emor. Curiously, we name this period after the 'Omer' a barley offering brought at the beginning of this journey, rather than after receiving Torah at its conclusion. Why? Barley was animal fodder in biblical times, while at Shavuot, we bring wheat bread, human food. This progression symbolizes our spiritual evolution. The counting isn't merely marking time until a destination; it's about the transformation alo...
Parshat Acharei Mot-Kedoshim: The Mirror of Leadership
📖 Parshat Acharei Mot-Kedoshim This Week: Parents often envision their children will become kind, compassionate individuals, making a difference. But how often do we turn inward and examine our contributions to that vision? Our Torah portion describes the High Priest's atonement ritual, notably instructing him to atone 'for himself and then for the people.' This profound ordering teaches us a timeless principle: true influence begins with personal example. Children mirror what they witness, not what they're told. If we want to raise compassionate souls, we must show compassion. If we desire respect from our children, we must respect them first. Our...
Parshat Tazria-Metzora: The Power of Perspective
📖 Parshat Tazria-Metzora This Week: Have you noticed how two people can experience the same event yet walk away with completely different perspectives? In this week's double portion, the word 'nega' (נֶגַע) or 'affliction' appears repeatedly. Remarkably, these same Hebrew letters rearranged spell 'oneg' (עֹנֶג), 'delight' or 'pleasure.' The only difference? The placement of the letter 'ayin' (ע) means 'eye.' Where we choose to place our vision and perspective determines whether we experience life's challenges as afflictions or opportunities for joy. The world doesn't just happen to us; we actively interpret it. How will you position your 'ayin' this week? Shabbat Shalom. 👁️
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Parshat Shmini: The Power of Silence
📖 Parshat Shmini This Week: After the unimaginable loss of his sons, the Torah simply states 'vayidom Aharon' (וַיִּדֹּם אַהֲרֹן)—'and Aaron was silent.' Sometimes in our deepest pain, words cannot express what we feel. As we support loved ones through difficult times, remember that just being present—sitting beside someone in their silence—can be the most profound expression of love. Not every hurt needs immediate words; sometimes what's needed most is simply our quiet presence. Shabbat Shalom. 🤍
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Parshat Shvi'i shel Pesach: Taking the First Step
📖 Shvi'i shel Pesach This Week: When trapped between the Egyptian army and the sea, God told the Israelites something unexpected: 'Don't pray, move forward!' The Midrash teaches us that the sea finally split only when Nachshon ben Aminadav waded into the water up to his nostrils. Faith isn't just about prayer; it's about taking that first brave step, even when the way forward seems impossible. God promises to be with us, but we must initiate the journey. Shabbat Shalom and Chag Sameach! 🌊
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Parshat Tzav: The Fresh Start Effect
📖 Parshat Tzav This Week: Before beginning each day's service, the Kohanim had first to remove yesterday's ashes from the altar. What a powerful metaphor! Like Professor Milkman's 'fresh start effect,' we don't need to wait for special occasions to begin anew. Every morning allows us to clear away yesterday's residue and approach life with renewed purpose. The key to transformation isn't finding the perfect moment, but recognizing that each day brings its sacred opportunity. Shabbat Shalom. 🔥
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Parshat Vayikra: Answering Life's Daily Call
📖 Parshat Vayikra This Week: In the Torah scroll, the first word of Vayikra contains a small aleph (וַיִּקְרָא). Without it, the word becomes 'vayikar'—meaning God merely 'happened upon' Moses instead of purposefully 'calling' him. Our daily challenges aren't random occurrences; they're invitations to greatness. Will we see life's moments as mere happenstance, or recognize them as sacred callings that can transform us? The choice is ours. Shabbat Shalom. 📜
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Parshat Pekudei: Accounting for Our Gifts
📖 Parshat Pekudei This Week: Just as the Torah conducts a detailed audit of the Tabernacle's materials, we're invited to review our own resources and talents. How are we using our gifts? Are they serving only ourselves, or are they helping to make the world more meaningful? True accountability means asking: Am I using my strengths to create light beyond my own needs? Shabbat Shalom. 🌟
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Parshat Vayakhel: The Power of Coming Together
📖 Parshat Vayakhel This Week: Before building the Mishkan, the first thing Moses did was gather the people 'vayakhel' (וַיַּקְהֵל). Community isn't just a nice addition to spirituality; it's the foundation. When we unite with purpose, bringing together our diverse strengths and perspectives, we create a dwelling place for the Divine in our world. True godliness begins with human connection. This is our mission as a people. Shabbat Shalom. 🤝
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Parshat Ki Tisa: Essential Pieces of the Puzzle
📖 Parshat Ki Tisa This Week: A census in Hebrew isn't just about counting; it's about 'raising heads' (כִּי תִשָּׂא אֶת-רֹאשׁ). Like a puzzle missing just one piece, our community is incomplete without each individual's unique contribution. We're not meant to get lost in the crowd but to understand how irreplaceable we are to the whole. You don't just count; you matter profoundly. Shabbat Shalom. 🧩
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Parshat Tetzaveh: Beauty from Life's Pressures
📖 Parshat Tetzaveh This Week: 'Crushed for the light' is a powerful description of the olive oil used in the Temple menorah. Like olives that release their precious oil only when pressed, our most difficult moments often bring forth our inner light. We don't seek challenges, but when they find us, perhaps they're transforming us into something more refined, more illuminating. From life's crushing pressures comes our purest essence. Shabbat Shalom. 🕯️
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Parshat Terumah: Authentic Spirituality
📖 Parshat Terumah This Week: Why gild the Ark with gold on the inside where no one would see? Because true spirituality isn't about appearances—it's about integrity. 'Tocho K'varo' teaches us that our inner spiritual life should match our outer actions. Our growth isn't for others' approval or admiration but a genuine expression of our soul's journey. Like the Ark holding the Torah, may our actions reflect our authentic inner light. Shabbat Shalom. ✨
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Parshat Mishpatim: The Courage of Independent Thought
📖 Parshat Mishpatim This Week: In the great Sanhedrin, the highest judges spoke last to prevent their opinions from swaying others. Next time you discuss world events at your dinner table, try posing questions instead of stating opinions. Let your children form their own perspectives. True leadership isn't about influencing thoughts, it's about creating safe spaces where independent thinking can flourish. Shabbat Shalom from Jerusalem. 💭
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Parshat Yitro: The Power of Deep Listening
📖 Parshat Yitro This Week: In a world of endless scrolling, we often hear without truly listening. When Yitro 'heard' (וַיִּשְׁמַע) about God's miracles, he didn't just absorb information—he internalized it so deeply that it transformed his life. Like the Shema, true listening means letting wisdom penetrate our hearts and shape our actions. Instead of chasing more content this week, find one meaningful message and let it truly change you. Shabbat Shalom. 👂
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Parshat Beshalach: A Million Personal Miracles
📖 Parshat Beshalach This Week: At the splitting of the sea, millions sang 'This is my God' not our God. Even in shared miracles, each person's experience is uniquely their own. Like our ancestors at the sea, every spiritual journey is deeply personal, and every relationship with the Divine is distinctly individual. Your path is yours alone to walk. Shabbat Shalom. 🌊
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Parshat Bo: The Sacred Dance of Time
📖 Parshat Bo This Week:
Our first mitzvah as a free people wasn't about what to do—but about how to mark time itself. Like the moon's eternal cycle of renewal, we too have the power to reinvent ourselves. Each month brings a fresh canvas, a new opportunity to grow and transform. Freedom isn't just about where we go, but how we choose to use our most precious gift: time. Shabbat Shalom. 🌒
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Parshat Va'era: Rewriting Our Inner Narrative
📖 Parshat Va'era This Week: The stories we tell ourselves can be our greatest limitation or our most powerful tool. Like Moses learning that the people's resistance wasn't about him, we're reminded that our assumptions often say more about our inner struggles than external realities. Pause, reflect, and choose compassion—for yourself and others. Shabbat Shalom. 💭
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Parshat Shemot: The Power of One Act
📖 Parshat Shemot This Week:
Sometimes the most profound moments of courage come when we stretch beyond our comfort zones. Like Pharaoh's daughter extending her hand to save Moses, we all have the power to create ripples of change that extend far beyond our reach. One act of bravery, one moment of defying expectations, can alter the course of history. Shabbat Shalom. 🌊
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Parshat Vayechi: Building Our Own Legacy
📖 Parshat Vayechi This Week: When we bless our children to be like Ephraim and Menashe, we're blessing them with the strength to thrive against the odds. These brothers, raised in Egypt yet steadfast in their values, teach us that greatness isn't inherited—it's chosen and earned through determination. True blessing lies not in who we're born as, but in who we choose to become. Shabbat Shalom. 🙏
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Parshat Vayigash: Divine Confidence
📖 Parshat Vayigash This Week: Even when facing life's most daunting challenges, remember—you carry an incredible secret weapon within. Like Judah standing before the Egyptian viceroy, true strength comes from knowing that God believes in us, even when we doubt ourselves. Remember when the world seems overwhelming, 'God is in me.' Shabbat Shalom. ✨
Parshat Miketz: Finding Light in Hidden Places
📖 Parshat Miketz This Week:
Just as the Maccabees discovered one small jar of oil that would illuminate for eight nights, sometimes life's miracles hide in plain sight. Like Joseph's journey from darkness to light, Hanukkah reminds us that even in our darkest moments, the solution to our miracle might be right beside us, waiting to be discovered. When challenges feel insurmountable, remember: that the light of hope is always there. Shabbat Shalom & Happy Hanukkah! 🕯️
Parshat Vayeshev: The Ripple Effect of Kindness
📖 Parshat Vayeshev This Week:
Sometimes life's most profound moments come through seemingly random encounters. Just as a mysterious 'stranger' changed Joseph's destiny, we too encounter angels in human form who alter our life's path. Every interaction can potentially change someone's world—perhaps you're someone's angel today. Shabbat Shalom. 👼
Parshat Vayishlach: The Strength in Struggle
📖 Parshat Vayishlach This Week:
Our victories do not define us, but by how we navigate our struggles. When Jacob becomes Israel, he teaches us that true strength lies not in winning, but in the courage, determination, and dignity we show during life's challenges. Our resilience shapes our identity. Shabbat Shalom. 💪
Parshat Vayetzei: The Power of Daily Perseverance
📖 Parshat Vayetzei This Week: Life's greatest challenges become manageable when we break them down into bite-sized moments. Jacob's love for Rachel teaches us that we can endure almost anything by focusing on just one day at a time. Embrace each moment, one day at a time. Shabbat Shalom. 💖
Parshat Toldot: The Unseen Depths of Parental Love
📖 Parshat Toldot: True love isn't conditional—it's about seeing the beauty within our children, accepting them exactly as they are. Rivka's love for Yaakov teaches us that unconditional love sees beyond faults, embracing each person's unique essence. 💖
Parshat Chayei sarah: The Quiet Battles of Faith
📖 Parshat Chayei Sarah: Sometimes life's greatest tests aren't the dramatic moments, but the quiet struggles that demand our patience and grace. Like Abraham's final test during his grief for Sarah - a powerful reminder that maintaining composure and kindness during everyday challenges truly reveals our character. The hardest battles aren't always the most visible ones. 🙏
Parshat Vayeira: How to Be God-Like: Lessons from Abraham’s Compassion
In this week's Torah portion (Parashat Vayeira), we encounter a powerful lesson on compassion and humility:
Abraham pauses in the middle of an intimate conversation with God to tend to a group of strangers in need. This act teaches us that sometimes, being like God—showing love, kindness, and compassion—can be even more meaningful than being in God's presence.
How will you bring this lesson to life in your interactions this week? Shabbat Shalom.
Parshat Lech Lecha - Beyond Appearances: The Gift of Seeing the Soul
In this week's Torah portion, we learn a beautiful lesson about seeing beyond the surface. As Abraham and Sara journey to Egypt, Abraham sees Sara’s reflection for the first time—an experience that shifts his perspective. Until that moment, he’d always seen her soul first, not just her physical appearance.
What if we approached our relationships the same way? Imagine the depth we’d unlock if we looked past appearances to truly connect with the essence of those around us. Shabbat Shalom. 🌸
Parshat Vayeira: How to Be God-Like: Lessons from Abraham’s Compassion
In this week's Torah portion (Parashat Vayeira), we encounter a powerful lesson on compassion and humility:
Abraham pauses in the middle of an intimate conversation with God to tend to a group of strangers in need. This act teaches us that sometimes, being like God—showing love, kindness, and compassion—can be even more meaningful than being in God's presence.
How will you bring this lesson to life in your interactions this week? Shabbat Shalom.
Parshat Noah: Lessons from Noah on Leading Through Crisis
In this week's Torah portion (Parashat Noah), we encounter a fascinating insight that feels eerily relevant to our times:
After the flood waters receded, Noah waited in the ark. Waited for God's permission to emerge and start rebuilding.
But here's what strikes me: A Rabbi once said that if he were there, he would've broken down those doors immediately.
Because when it comes to healing a broken world, sometimes the greatest leadership isn't in waiting – it's in taking that first brave step forward.
Think about it: Our world faces its own kinds of fl...
Parshat Bereshit: The Power of Connection and Community
Exciting News! 🎉
We're launching a new series where we share a quick insight on the weekly Torah portion, every Friday (or sometimes earlier for holidays!).
Our first topic dives into Parsha Beresheet – the story of creation, where we hear 'and it was good'... until it wasn't. The Torah's first 'not good' refers to loneliness, highlighting the importance of community and connection. Even when we're together, we’re reminded to retain our individuality.
Join us as we explore these timeless messages for today!
