A few months ago, my son asked me if he could read Hitler's Mein Kampf. His reason: "Abba, I need to know our enemy. I want to know why they hate us." This week, we returned from Israel to a New York City mayor calling Jewish organizations and their supporters "monsters" — the same word Hitler used for Jews in his manifesto. Same hatred. Different century.  In this episode, I explore the oldest mystery in Jewish history: why are we hated, and why does the language never really change? And I turn to Parashat Balak — where a pagan prophet hired to curse Israel can only bless us — for a 3,000-year-old answer. They called us monsters. But We Are Lions. Which one are you going to be? Shema Israel. Rise like a lion.

The oldest physical evidence of the Torah? Not the Dead Sea Scrolls! An archaeologist tried to get rid of an annoying kid. The kid found a 2,600-year-old treasure. My sermon from last Shabbat - Naso and the story of the priestly blessing spanning from 7th BCE to the 23rd century, when a Jewish Vulcan named Spock introduced the world to a certain secret handshake that turned out to be a blessing #HistoryFacts #Archaeology #Torah #AncientHistory #DidYouKnow #Naso - Want to learn more? Check out https://unpacked.media/jerusalems-hidden-scrolls-the-earliest-evidence-of/

What does Parashat Emor have to say about smartphones, social media, antisemitism, and the pressure of representing the Jewish people in public? In this episode of Torah From Boca, Rabbi David Baum explores the ancient Jewish concepts of Kiddush Hashem and Hillul Hashem through some of today’s most difficult realities: viral outrage, public scandals, Israel, and the uncomfortable truth that in the digital age, every Jew is seen as a representative of something larger than themselves. Drawing on Torah, the Talmud, and recent events, this sermon asks: Is it fair that the actions of one Jew can affect how the world sees all Jews? And if it isn’t fair… does that change our responsibility? From the butcher shop examples in Tractate Yoma to the endless audience created by social media, this message argues that we are all public figures now. 📍 Torah From Boca with Rabbi David Baum 📖 Parashat Emor 📍 Congregation Shaarei Kodesh | Boca Raton, Florida #TorahFromBoca #ParashatEmor #Judaism #Israel #Jewish #Torah #Antisemitism #KiddushHashem #JewishIdentity #RabbiDavidBaum

Your family argues about Israel. Your cousin won’t budge, your uncle talks too loud, and somehow… you’re all still coming to the Seder. Right now, across the Jewish world, these conversations are straining relationships and even synagogues, with deep disagreements about Israel shaping how we see ourselves and each other. But maybe that’s not a failure of the Seder, maybe it’s the point. Pesach was never about uniformity; it’s about telling a shared story across difference, holding multiple voices at one table, and choosing to stay in relationship even when it’s hard. The question isn’t how we stop arguing, it’s whether we can keep showing up.  This Passover - Stay At The Table🍷

When Jews Gather, the Sanctuary LivesTorah from Boca with Rabbi David Baum What makes a synagogue the “largest” in America? Is it the size of the building, the beauty of the architecture, or the number of people who belong to it? In this episode of Torah from Boca, Rabbi David Baum explores that question through the lens of Parashat Vayakhel-Pekudei and the Torah’s description of the Mishkan, the portable sanctuary built by the Israelites in the wilderness. At a time when synagogues around the world are facing threats and attacks, this teaching reminds us of a deeper truth in Jewish tradition: long before we had buildings, we were already a people. The Mishkan was not only about gold, silver, and sacred design. It was about a community gathering together to create holy space. Because in Judaism, the sanctuary truly lives when Jews gather together. 📖 Parashat Vayakhel-Pekudei🎙 Torah from Boca with Rabbi David Baum📍 Congregation Shaarei Kodesh – Boca Raton, Florida - www.shaareikodesh.org Subscribe to Torah from Boca for weekly reflections on Torah, Jewish life, and the questions that shape our world today.

In this episode of Torah from Boca, Rabbi David Baum reflects on an unexpected source of inspiration: the Super Bowl halftime show and the cultural conversation that followed. After a personal Facebook post about growing up Jewish in Miami reached far beyond his usual audience, Rabbi Baum turned the moment into a sermon exploring Parashat Mishpatim and the Torah’s repeated command to care for the stranger. “What Does Home Sound Like? A Miami-Born Rabbi on Bad Bunny and the Torah of the Stranger” weaves together memories of a multilingual childhood, a powerful encounter with a stranger, and Jewish teachings about empathy, belonging, and American identity. This episode invites listeners to consider how music, culture, and Torah can expand our understanding of what it means to feel at home, even when the rhythm is unfamiliar.

What does it really mean to be part of the “Chosen People”? Is chosenness about privilege, identity, or responsibility? In this deeply personal and timely episode, Rabbi David Baum reflects on a powerful conversion story that raises one of Judaism’s oldest and most challenging questions. Through the lens of Parashat Yitro, the revelation at Sinai, and the courage of Queen Esther, this sermon explores the difference between being chosen and choosing covenant. Drawing on midrash, lived experience, and the realities of Jewish life after October 7, Rabbi Baum reframes chosenness not as superiority, but as sacred obligation. What does it mean to embrace Torah in a world that sometimes pressures Jews to feel small or silent? And how can a deeper sense of Jewish identity empower us to stand up for ourselves and for others? This episode invites listeners to rediscover Sinai as a living moment and to ask a timeless question: You are chosen. Now what will you do with that gift?

In this episode of Torah from Boca, Rabbi David Baum explores the overlooked opening verses of Parshat Beshalach, focusing on the surprising word chamushim and a powerful midrash that only one-fifth of the Israelites left Egypt and crossed into freedom. From Joseph’s bones carried through the desert to the ancient theme of memory, Rabbi Baum turns our ears toward what isn’t always seen in the dramatic climax of the Sea splitting. This week’s teaching is grounded in contemporary events that echo the ancient Torah’s themes. Israel has just recovered the remains of the last hostage held in Gaza, Ran Gvili, completing the return of every Israeli taken captive in the October 7, 2023 attacks and marking a painful but significant milestone in the ceasefire process. Stories like Gvili’s and the broader effort to bring everybody home remind us of our ongoing obligation to honor the living and the dead alike — an obligation deeply rooted in our tradition and exemplified in Moses’s promise to Joseph. Against the backdrop of Holocaust remembrance and Jewish continuity, this episode reflects on resilience, dignity, and the sacred task of never forgetting our people, their names, and their stories.

Rachel Kaplan & HaGal Sheli (My Wave) In this deeply moving episode of Torah From Boca, Rabbi David Baum is joined by Rachel Kaplan, a senior leader at HaGal Sheli – My Wave, an Israeli nonprofit using surf therapy to support youth at risk, trauma survivors, displaced families, and communities coping with PTSD — especially in the aftermath of October 7. Rachel focuses on partnerships and international outreach, helping connect HaGal Sheli’s life-changing work in Israel with Jewish communities and supporters around the world. Originally from the United States and now based in Tel Aviv, she brings together a background in international relations with a profound belief in the healing power of the ocean. Through her leadership and advocacy, HaGal Sheli has emerged as a powerful model of resilience — using the rhythm of the sea to help people regain strength, confidence, and hope when the ground beneath them no longer feels stable. 🌊 In this conversation, we explore: • Healing and trauma through embodied, relational work • What resilience looks like after October 7 • Why the ocean can become sacred space • How Jewish communities abroad can meaningfully partner in healing 🎥 Also included in this post: A powerful video from Zikim, capturing the return of Israeli hostages — moments filled with relief, sorrow, love, and collective breath. These scenes remind us that redemption is rarely simple, but it is deeply human and profoundly holy. 🔗 Videos featured: • Torah From Boca — Rachel Kaplan & HaGal Sheli: https://youtu.be/U1Zk0RFhJKw • Zikim — Hostage Returnees: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XNM2_kdz1lw 🙏 Support this holy work: If this conversation resonates with you and you would like to help sustain healing and resilience in Israel, please consider supporting HaGal Sheli – My Wave: 👉 Donate here: https://donate.stripe.com/eVabLa8Ac5EN5fa144

In this episode of Torah from Boca, Rabbi David Baum reflects on Parashat Va’eira through the lens of the moment we’re living in — a time when it can feel like one battle follows another. Beginning with a headline that hits uncomfortably close to home, Rabbi Baum explores recent acts of antisemitism alongside the Torah’s account of the plagues of Egypt. Why does Pharaoh grow more hardened with each blow? And what does Rashi teach us about the difference between becoming “battle-hardened” and losing our moral freedom? Drawing on Pirkei Avot and a deeply personal story of mitzvah and memory, this episode asks a powerful question: when darkness multiplies, how do we ensure that goodness does too? A thoughtful and timely reflection on resilience, responsibility, and the quiet power of choosing action over despair — one mitzvah at a time. https://youtu.be/E4Lo5kYf57A