Rabbi Joe’s Torat Tel Aviv

THINK Eliyahu #3: Showdown at Har Carmel

Gathering the people to Har Carmel, Eliyahu attempts to force the wavering people to believe with an irrefutable demonstration of God's power, challenging the prophets of the Ba'al to the ultimate win-all lose-all contest
One of the greatest stories in Tanakh and one of the most remarkable chapters in the history of Jewish faith - an episode which appears to recreate the revelatory experience of Har Sinai but as understood by the midrash exemplifies the challenges and limits of miraculous proofs
Source sheet here
THINK is generously dedicated by Elaine Diller in loving memory of her parents, Michael and Sarah Marton z”l , through the Michael and Sarah Marton Family Foundation. Our learning should be an aliyah for their neshamot

THINK Eliyahu #2 - Eliyahu & Ovadyahu, or, Zealotry vs. Compromise

After three years of hiding as a fugitive, Eliyahu is commanded by God to appear before Achav (Melakhim I 18:1) and potentially bring an end to the droughtOn the way to appearing before Achav, Eliyahu meets Ovadyahu - a man who has risked everything for the sake of Hashem and his prophets, but who has gone about doing so in a way totally different from that of EliyahuTonight's class provides a study in two different religious-political personalities - one of zealotry and one of compromise - as relevant now as then.Source sheet hereTHINK is dedicated by Elaine Diller in loving memory of her parents, Michael and Sarah Marton z”l , through the Michael and Sarah Marton Family Foundation.

Miklat Torah #3 - Benji Jones on Parshat HaChodesh

For tonight's Miklat Torah, Benji Jones shares insights into Parshat HaChodesh and the significance of the Torah's emphasis on counting the months.

Miklat Torah #2: Dani Jacobson on The Conclusions of Shemot

When you're in the miklat tonight - or even if you're not! - hear some beautiful Torah from Dani Jacobson on the parshiyot of Vayakhel Pekudei as they conclude the multiple themes of Shemot

THINK Eliyahu #1: Introducing The Prophet Of Fire

This THINK we begin a new course on Eliyahu HaNavi - Elijah the larger than life prophet. Eliyahu has a role in Jewish folklore and imagination unlike any other Biblical character. He features at havdala, visits each brit mila and is a central character on Seder night. Over the course of our study we will discover the original Biblical Eliyahu, the many lessons of his story and understand why he continues to be so important for Am Yisrael.Tonight's class introduces Eliyahu - his declaration of war against Achav, his years as a fugitive and the question of what Hashem wishes Eliyahu himself to learn about the role of a prophet
This class took place and is recorded during the March 2026 war with Iran - the recording is interrupted partway through by a siren. Source sheet here
THINK is dedicated by Elaine Diller in loving memory of her parents, Michael and Sarah Marton z”l , through the Michael and Sarah Marton Family Foundation.

Miklat Torah #1: Shushan & Tel Aviv & Moshe's Radiant Humility

Rabbi Joe Wolfson opens a short series of Torah reflections from Tel Aviv during the current conflict - words of Torah that can help frame our moment or offer us a respite and escape from the stresses of the moment. offering spiritual perspective beyond the news and daily stress.
Today's piece reflects on a potential existential parallel between the Jews of Shushan and Israel and shares a beautiful midrash as explained by the Ohr HaChaim about Moshe's humility as he returns from Har Sinai

THINK: The Faith Of The Tunnels - Reflections On The Religious Experiences Of Returned Hostages

Purim is often described as the festival of finding faith within the darkness. This was our claim in last week's THINK. Yet we do not need to look to ancient Persia 2,500 years ago to discover an instance of Jews recommitting to their faith and their people in the most trying of circumstances - in fact we have experienced it within our very recent lifetimes in the testimonies of many hostages who returned alive from Gaza and describe intense and powerful religious experiences in 'the darkness within the darkness'.This shiur examines the hostages descriptions in their own words and parallels them with classical sources which echo and deepen many of the experiences they describe - and then considers some of the deeper lessons that their experiences provide for us.
Source sheet here. And if you would like to contribute to our very meaningful matanot l'evyonim project you can do so here.
Mentioned in this class:
Shiur on this topic by Rav Elchanan Nir (Hebrew)
Yosl Rakover Speaks To God 

THINK: Megillat Esther - The Upside Down Megillah

It's Adar so let's learn Megillat Esther!At tonight's THINK we share an approach based on an essay by Rav Yoel bin Nun noting how so many critical elements of the megillah are the opposite of what we would expect to find in a book of Tanakh - and that this may explain the megillah's most important contribution to our understanding of the history and the possibility of finding God and meaningful Jewish existence in the darkest of timesSource sheet here

Kibbud Av v'Em #4 - What (Not) To Do With An Annoying Parent

The Rambam and the Raivid differ as to whether a child, in extreme circumstances confronted with unreasonable demands by their parents, may run away. Their dispute appears to reflect different readings of the story of Rav Assi leaving his mother and her outrageous demands to go and live in Israel. We read this difficult story closely and suggest interpretations of relevance to everyone in their relations with their parents
Source sheet here - it is recommended to read the story in the gemara at least once alongside listening to the audio.THINK is sponsored by Dr. Alan Wecker and family, in loving memory of his dear uncle and   aunt, Yechiel and Chaya Kleinman, ז״ל and we were honoured to be joined by the Weckers. We begin the class with a dedication to his uncle and aunt, remarkable educators who lived in Tel Aviv

Kibbud Av v'Eim #3 - Mother vs. Father

In tonight's class we move from kibbud av v'em as a lofty ideal to a challenging reality exploring a short Talmudic story about how a child is to cope with conflicting demands from the parents and reflecting on the difference between halacha (law) and agadda (reality)
Source sheet here