This weeks episode is generously sponsored laliyat neshama of Yocheved bat Yehuda a'h Shifra bat Dov a”h Tisha B’Av is the saddest day of the Jewish year—a Mo’ed of tears and heartbreak. Yet Chazal call it a festival, and they promise that whoever mourns for Jerusalem will one day see its joy. In this class, we explore the deep paradox of Tisha B’Av: why it is called a Mo’ed, the connection between Ayeka and Eicha, and how our tears themselves are the guarantee of redemption. Along the way, we reflect on the Baal HaTanya’s childhood game of hide-and-seek, Napoleon’s astonishment at a nation still crying after 1,700 years, and the quiet smile hidden beneath our mourning.

This episode is a recording of part 4 in Rabbi Claman's Great Jewish Books & Thinkers series. He was one of the greatest poskim of Ashkenaz. His teachings shaped centuries. Yet he died in prison—captured because a fellow Jew turned him in. This is the story of the Maharam Meruttenberg: his captivity, his refusal to be ransomed, and the haunting lesson of betrayal from within our own people.   

If there were a Nobel Peace Prize in Tanach, Pinchas might have gotten it — but for the most jarring reason imaginable. Can a man commit a violent act and be rewarded with a covenant of peace? In this shiur on Parshat Pinchas, we explore the deep tension between war and peace in the Torah’s value system. Through the lens of Pinchas and Aharon, we uncover a duality within the concept of shalom — one that synthesizes seemingly opposite forces: zeal and compassion, truth and peace. We then trace this duality through the contrasting legacies of David, the warrior-king, and Shlomo, the builder of peace. Are war and peace truly opposites — or can they be two parts of the same divine mission?

This episode is a recording of Part 3 in Rabbi Claman's "Great Jewish Books & Thinkers Series.  Rabbi Claman uncovers the life and vision of Rav Kalonymus Kalman Shapira, the Piaseczno Rebbe—known to the world as the Aish Kodesh. In the ashes of the Warsaw Ghetto, he dreamed of a spiritual renaissance that was never allowed to blossom. What did Rav Shapira hope to build after the war? What kind of inner world did he believe every Jew could access? And what can we still learn from a revolution that never happened? For questions or comments please reach out to rabbiclaman@tbdj.org

What do Balak, Korach, antisemitism and modern politics have in common? A failure to build identity from within. In this episode we explore the Torah’s warning against reactive identity — and the call to live with purpose, not just protest. For any questions or comments reach out to rabbiclaman@tbdj.org

Rav Yehuda HaLevi was one of the greatest poets of the Jewish people — and one of its most daring thinkers. In this episode, we journey through his life, from the golden age of Spain to his fateful pilgrimage toward Jerusalem, exploring the personal longing that pulses through both his poetry and his philosophy. Through The Kuzari, HaLevi challenges the idea that truth can be found through reason alone, arguing instead for a Judaism rooted in lived experience, national destiny, and divine encounter. Why did he reject the philosophical trends of his time? What did he believe the soul was truly searching for? And how did his poems give voice to a yearning that still echoes today?

This episode explores the deep paradox at the heart of Judaism: a tradition obsessed with understanding — that also commands us to embrace the unknowable. In Parshas Chukat, the chok of the para aduma (red heifer) challenges our need for logic and control. We’ll talk about ta’amei hamitzvot, the Golden Calf, Rav Tzadok’s insight on spiritual panic, and how true faith begins where explanation ends.

In a world torn by war and fear, this week’s parsha gives us more than a historical account — it gives us a blueprint for how to see. Yehoshua and Kalev weren’t just brave; they chose a different lens. While ten spies saw defeat, they saw destiny. In this episode, we explore how the power of perspective shapes everything — from how we understand Parshat Shelach to how we respond to today’s war between Israel and Iran. Why do we cover our eyes during Shema? How do we remind ourselves that we are living through biblical times — maybe even writing the 25th book of Tanach? Listen as we reflect on what it means to see with “God Glasses” — and why, especially now, our vision determines our future. For questions, rabbiclaman@tbdj.org

In this week's episode we discuss Parshat Baha’alotcha and how Aharon HaKohen feels left out of the inauguration of the Mishkan — until Hashem reveals that his role in lighting the Menorah holds a deeper and more enduring significance. According to the Ramban, this alludes to the future miracle of Chanukah, led by the Kohanim. In this episode, we explore how inspiring others to act can reflect back on us with spiritual credit — even generations later. Your influence matters more than you think.

This episode is a recording of Part 1 in Rabbi Claman's "Great Jewish Books & Thinkers" series. From Portugal, Spain and Italy - the Abarbanel lived a life which is a reminder of the fragility of Jewish success in the diaspora.     

In this episode we explore the deepest “why” of Judaism - the reason we began this journey in the first place.

In honour of upcoming Yom Yerushalayim I share two powerful divrei Torah on this week’s Parsha that are deeply connected to Yom Yerushalayim. The first touches in the deep connection the Jewish people have to the land of Israel. The second touches on the importance of unity within the Jewish people. Contact me at rabbiclaman@tbdj.org for any questions.

In this episode which was recorded at the weekly lunch and learn at TBDJ, we described the deep meaning of the Omer days and why it is so important to connect Pesach to Shavuot. Through real life experiences we uncover that importation is so important , but not as important to what must come after…

A powerful story of Rav Ya’akov Yosef Herman all alone in New York as a young boy helps us understand a troubling Pasuk and how to channel pain. We also connect the Rashbi, Iyov and the sons of Ahron to understand how loud silence can speak.

In this episode, we share powerful and personal stories that bring new meaning to Yom HaZikaron and Yom HaAtzmaut. From Rav Gustman’s conversation with professor Aumann after his son fell in battle, to a Holocaust survivor who couldn’t bring himself to touch a siddur—until a perspective was offered. We also talk about the moving legacy of Maoz Feinstein Hy”d, and how his story continues to bring people together. Plus, a deeper look at the two birds in this week’s Torah reading and what they might be telling us about pain, freedom, and hope.