Podcasts by Hineni

Episode 69: Minutes of Torah Devarim, Final Words, Tisha B'Av and Lamenting from 2019-08-10T15:18:45

On this Shabbat, we enter into the last book of the Torah. We begin the book of Devarim also known as the Deuteronomy.  In Hebrew, Devarim means words an...

Episode 68: Minutes of Torah: Naso, Forgiveness and Restitution from 2019-06-14T13:55:29

Episode 67: Minutes of Torah. Kedoshim: We Are Holy Beings from 2019-05-10T18:26:13

Episode 66: Minutes of Torah: It's Passover Y'all! Time to Clean from 2019-04-18T22:25:35

Episode 65: Minutes of Torah. Pekudei: Be Strong from 2019-03-08T18:32:37

The Cloud is a guiding force for the Israelites and for all of us 

Episode 64: Minutes of Torah. Yitro: Revelation from 2019-01-25T21:04:01

Episode 63: Hineni (Here I Am) - Minutes of Torah: A Hanukkah Story from 2018-12-06T16:15:32

Episode 62: Hineni (Here I Am): My Authentic Identity from 2018-12-03T13:21

On November 1, 2018 I gave a talk on Authentic Identities at Elon University, where I serve as the Campus Rabbi. The talk was shortly after the horrible events in Kentucky and Pittsburgh. I shar...

Episode 61: Minutes of Torah - Vayishlach: A Wrestling Match from 2018-11-22T12:00

Episode 60: Minutes of Torah - Toledot - Rosh Hodesh - Rebecca Cried Out to God and God Responded from 2018-11-09T13:42:20

In honor of Rosh Hodesh. I am dedicating this week's Minutes of Torah to all the women who have felt silenced 

Episode 59: Jewish Prayer - Asher Yatzer - Thank you God for Making Me Exactly Who I Am from 2018-11-05T12:00

Welcome to Episode 59 of Hineni Jewish Prayer. Today we will focus on the prayer that is often called the bathroom blessing. Thanking God for allowing one to do their business in the morning. I ...

Episode 58: Minutes of Torah - Chayei Sarah: Building a World of Love After a Week of Violence from 2018-11-03T16:07:28

Welcome to this episode of Minutes of Torah. This past week has been hard for many of us and I am dedicating this podcast to speak about the violence in our country. Olam Hesed Yibaneh -We will ...

Episode 57: Minutes of Torah - Vayeira: Faith and Justice from 2018-10-26T04:00

This week we are in the Torah Portion Vayeira. My plan for today was to continue our conversation on faith but something jumped out at me as I was reading this we...

Episode 56: Minutes of Torah - Lech Lecha: Going Out on Faith from 2018-10-20T13:32:01

This week we have another story about going out on faith. This week we read Torah portion Lech Lecha Listen

Episode 55: Minutes of Torah: Noah and Faith from 2018-10-12T20:09:13

This week we enter into the Torah Portion Noach where God tells Noah to build an enormous Ark. God instructs Noah to build this Ark because God is going to destro...

Episode 54: Minutes of Torah - Bereishit: Created in the Image of God from 2018-10-04T12:00

This week’s torah portion is all about creation; creation of the world and all things that dwell on the earth. We learn that Human beings are created B'tzelem Elo...

Episode 53: MInutes of Torah - Balak: Blessing the Stranger from 2018-06-28T19:38:38

In this week’s Torah portion Balak.  Fear of the other is alive and well. The text opens with a fearful king dreading the arrival of the Israelites to his land of...

Episode 52: Minutes of Torah-Chukat: Asylum Seekers from 2018-06-20T21:46:48

One of the things that I love about the weekly  Torah portion is that so often when I need a passage to speak to me about what is happening in our world today the...

Episode 51: The Omer and Me. from 2018-04-27T14:23:51

Every Spring we begin counting the Omer on the second night of Passover. What is an Omer? The Omer is a sheaf or a measure of barley or wheat. The Omer is also th...

Episode 50 Jewish Prayer Elohai Neshama God Don't Make Junk from 2018-04-06T15:15:09

Episode 50 Jewish Prayer Elohai Nehsama God Don't Make Junk

Episode 49: Minutes of Torah - Passover A Time of Our Freedom from 2018-03-29T20:03:37

This coming shabbat is the start of passover we also call this holiday zman cherutainu - זְמָן חֵרוּתֵנוּ - a time of our freedom.

Episode 48: Minutes of Torah - Tzav and Giving Thanks from 2018-03-21T20:13:38

This week week we are in the the Torah portion Tzav. And I want to talk about giving thanks. In this week’s torah portion We learn that one who offers a korban aka sacrifice for the purpose of givi...

Episode 47: Minutes of Torah - Vayikra: The Calling from 2018-03-15T23:36:33

What is your purpose in life? Are you called to something?

Episode 46: Minutes of Torah - Mikeitz and Hanukkah from 2017-12-14T19:08:20

My thoughts on the Torah portion Mikeitz and Hanukkah

Episode 45: Minutes of Torah - Vayeishev: Dare to Be Different from 2017-12-04T17:41:24

Joseph is someone who dared to be different and he dared to dream big. In what ways are you like Joseph.

Episode 44: Minutes of Torah - Vayetze: God is In This Place from 2017-11-22T16:55:54

We are often reminded of the awesomeness of God in the spectacular moments in our lives and those are moments when we may find ourselves especially open to a connection with God But it's also possi...

Episode 43: Minutes of Torah - Toldot Never Seek Your Sibling’s Blessing from 2017-11-13T18:40:50

There is a lot happening in this week’s Torah Portion. Do you have a sibling? Are you rivals? Check out this week’s podcast.

Episode 42: Minutes of Torah Vayeira and Hospitality from 2017-10-31T20:44:39

Let’s talk about what it means to be a good host. In this week’s podcast, we have two examples of hospitality, one good and one gone mad.

Episode 41: Minutes of Torah: Was Noah a Righteous Dude? from 2017-10-19T21:53:43

Was Noah a Righteous Dude?

Episode 40: My Sukkot Message for 2017 from 2017-10-05T21:48:51

I’ve spent quite a bit of time thinking about the kind of Jewish community that I want to help build and be a part of, not just as a Rabbi but as a member of the community. It’s important for me as...

Episode 39 Oseh Shalom a Prayer for Peace from 2017-09-26T20:47:37

"A universal truth in Christianity, Judaism and Islam is the idea of treating others the way we want to be treated. Or Love your neighbor as yourself. This is often referred to the Golden rule. " i...

Episode 38: Days of Awe from 2017-09-22T00:12:37

Episode 38: Days of Awe by Sandra Lawson

Episode 37: Minutes of Torah -Nitzavim -Vayeilech. We Stand Before You and Choose Life from 2017-09-15T16:49:25

I'm really excited about this podcast. I've made some changes and I hope you like them. We are entering the holiest time of the year beginning with the Jewish New Year Rosh Hashanah. This week’s To...

Episode 36: Waking up with gratitude -The Jewish Prayer Modah Ani from 2017-09-09T22:32:40

This is our first episode on Jewish Prayer. Let’s Talk about Modah Ani or if you identify as male it’s Modeh Ani I really am a morning and it’s so important to start your day off with gratitidude. ...

Episode 35: The Times are a Changing from 2017-09-09T19:05:37

In this episode I'm discussing future changes for the podcast

Episode 34: Minutes of Torah -Ki Tavo - Remember Where You Came From from 2017-09-08T19:47:29

Episode 34: Minutes of Torah -Ki Tavo - Remember Where You Came From by Sandra Lawson

Episode 33: Minutes of Torah Ki Teitzei - Be Mindful of Our Behavior from 2017-09-01T17:55:10

Episode 33: Minutes of Torah Ki Teitzei - Be Mindful of Our Behavior by Sandra Lawson

Episode 32: Minutes of Torah - Shoftim - Justice Justice You Shall Pursue from 2017-08-24T22:24:39

This week's Torah portion urges us repeatedly to pursue justice. The Torah uses the phrase “Tzedek tzedek tirdof” צֶדֶק צֶדֶק, תִּרְדֹּף (“Justice, justice, you shall pursue”) The verb tirdof is...

Episode 31: Minutes of Torah Re'eh Choose Your Path from 2017-08-16T20:34:14

We are human beings with free will and we get to choose the right and just path. The right path is to follow God and strive to always do what is right.

Episode 30: Matot-Massei - Cities of Refuge from 2017-07-18T22:01:52

This is the last Torah Portion from the book of numbers. The Israelites are so close to the promised land but before they can enter the promised land God tells Moses that they must create cities of...

Episode 29: Balak - Ma Tovu a Curse Becomes a blessing from 2017-07-06T23:33:13

Ma tovu….How great are your tents, O Jacob, your dwelling places, O Israel! These words are the opening lines of a prayer that many Jews say when entering a synagogue. These words appear in this we...

Episode 28: Chukat, Grief and Loss from 2017-06-26T17:22:05

In this week’s Torah portion we learn that Miriam dies She is the sibling of Aaron and Moses. A funny thing happens when Miriam dies; all of a sudden the Israelites are without water. Rabbis of our...

Episode 27: Korach - Jealousy is Destructive from 2017-06-19T17:29:18

Korah's Rebellion: He was Jealous and paid the ultimate price with his life

Episode 26: Shelach Lecha and Courage from 2017-06-12T15:19:12

The lesson that we learn from this week’s Torah portion is simple. If you think you can you will and if you think you can’t then you won’t. It’s all about attitude. In this week’s Torah portion, Mo...

Episode 25: Behaalot'cha and Gratitude from 2017-06-07T19:01:41

Always be grateful and thankful for what you have and not the things you think you want. And you can never move forward in life if you are always looking at the past.

Episode 24: Bemidbar - The Wilderness from 2017-05-26T17:39:24

This week we enter into the book of Numbers

Episode 23: Behar-Bechukotai - You Shall Proclaim Freedom from 2017-05-19T16:57:51

In this week's Torah portion, Behar - Bechukotai (Leviticus 25:1-27:34)God tells Moses to speak to the Israelites and say to them when you enter the land that I assign to you the land shall observe...

Episode 22: Emor - Be Kind from 2017-05-11T18:34:37

This week's Torah portion is Emor (Leviticus 21:1–24:23)and the Torah is reminding us to be kind. "And when you reap the harvest of your land, you shall not reap all the way to the edges of your fi...

Episode 21: Acharei -Kedoshim - Let’s talk about Love from 2017-05-01T16:30:55

Let’s talk about Love This week’s torah portion Acharei Mot Kedoshim. Is about love. And it contains what we often call the holiness code. A blueprint for how we as a people living in a society sho...

Episode 20: Tazria-Metzora - The Importance of Health to Maintain our Closeness with God from 2017-04-24T18:52:25

This week’s Torah Portion is a double portion Tazria-Metzora and it is portion we love to hate because it’s all about skin diseases, bodily emissions, and other health conditions. These physical co...

Episode 19: Shemini - Kosher and holiness from 2017-04-20T22:13:07

Why Keep Kosher?

Episode 18: Passover from 2017-04-10T18:18:59

Every year at Passover Jews retell the story of Israel's exodus from Egypt, and their escape from slavery and oppression. Our tradition reminds us that the Exodus narrative is not just any story, b...

Episode 17: Tzav - King and the Eternal Flame Shine forever from 2017-04-04T23:38:13

Episode 17: Tzav (Leviticus 6:1–8:36)- King and the Eternal Flame Shine forever

Episode 16: Vayikra - Are you Ready to Receive God's call from 2017-03-31T01:01:08

The way God calls to us is very personal, and we have to listen to hear the call.

Episode 15: Vayakhel-Pekudei from 2017-03-24T21:17:17

This week we read a double portion Vayakhel-Pekudei. Moses assembles the people and tells them about the sanctuary they are to build but before that happens Moses tells them that God commands them ...

Episode 14 Ki Tisa: Shabbat and the Golden Calf from 2017-03-13T15:47:38

Every week, we get to renew our covenant with God and we pause to notice the sacredness of creation.

Episode 13: Terumah: God's Sanctuary from 2017-03-02T20:52:02

Today in our modern times we as Jews don’t have one Mishkan we have synagogues and we worship God not just in the Tabernacle but wherever we might be. And where we are located can have a significan...

Episode 12: Mishpatim: Why Doesn't God Abolish slavery from 2017-02-21T22:00:03

Change is possible in human nature, but it takes time, maybe even a long time. We know now that slavery is morally wrong. Part of our relationship with God is that God does not force us to change f...

Episode 11 Yitro: The Torah of One Man is Not the Torah of a Nation from 2017-02-16T21:15:01

The Torah of one man, even a Moses, is not the Torah of a nation. Jethro’s plan is democratic, taking it out of the hands of any one individual and making it the property of the people. Exodus 18:1...

Episode 10 Yitro: The 10th Commandment is the Key to Happiness from 2017-02-13T01:08:29

This week’s Torah portion is Yitro and this is the Torah portion where we finally get the 10 commandments. Let’s focus on number 10 Thou shall not covet..Anything that is your neighbor’s. In other ...

Episode 9: Beshallach Not by Prayer alone from 2017-02-07T11:30:34

Israelites are finally free and they are moving fast to leave Egypt. Now they find themselves at the edge of the sea. There is no way out and Pharaoh's army is not far behind. They are trapped and ...

Episode 8: Bo: Freedom for All from 2017-02-01T23:12:05

This week we are in Parsha Bo (Exodus 10:1−13:16)and we are at the climax of Israel’s struggle for freedom. Plague after Plague has hurt Egypt and Pharoah is willing to let some of the Israelites g...

Episode 7: Vaera: Failure Leads to Success from 2017-01-27T21:10:04

Sometimes leaders succeed with ease and sometimes they fail. In this week's Torah portion Moses fails several times before he eventually becomes the man who leads the Israelites from to freedom. Wh...

Episode 6: Vaera: God has not Forsaken Us. from 2017-01-25T15:47:44

This week we are in the Torah portion of Vaera (Exodus 6:2 - 9:35). God tell Moses I am here to free the Israelites from slavery

Episode 5: Shemot: Names are Important and I Am What I Am from 2017-01-21T15:31:26

This week as we enter the book of Exodus. In hebrew we call this book Shemot the book of names. The Torah portion starts out with the names of the Israelites who came down to Egypt. Then later we l...

Episode 4: Shemot: Civil Disobedience and the Path to Redemption from 2017-01-18T15:24:28

This week we begin the book of exodus in the Torah Portion Shemot (Exodus 1:1–6:1). The Israelites are slaves and we follow them from slavery to freedom and then redemption. As we begin this journe...

Episode 3: Shemot and the Ordinary Burning Bush from 2017-01-16T11:49:04

Hello, and welcome to another Minute lessons from the Torah. This week we begin the book of Exodus with the Parsha Shemot (Exodus 1:1–6:1). The Israelites are now slaves in Egypt. Our hero Moses is...

Episode 2: Vayechi: Be Strong and Let Us Be Strengthened from 2017-01-14T16:30:05

Vayechi (Genesis 47:28–50:26): Be Strong and Let Us Be Strengthened When we finish a book of the Torah we close we close that book words with ‘chazak, chazak v’nitchazek’ (be strong, be strong and ...

Episode 1: Vayechi and Family Forgiveness from 2017-01-14T14:38:11

Today's lesson comes from the Torah Portion Vayechi - Genesis 47:28 - 50:26. This is the last Torah portion in the book of Genesis and today's lesson focuses on the importance of forgiving family.

Episode 0: Introduction and Welcome from 2017-01-14T14:34:54

Hello my name is Sandra Lawson and I am a rabbi to be. Welcome to my new Podcast. This Podcast grew out of my Torah Lessons on Snapchat and Instagram. It‘s a work in progress and has grown out of m...

Vayigash: To Draw Near and the Shabbat of Approaching from 2017-01-14T14:29:26

This is the first Shabbat of 2017. We are in the Torah Portion of Vayigash which means to draw near or to come close. My friend and Rabbi Yael Levy called it the Shabbat of approaching. We are appr...

Mikeitz And The Last Torah Message For 2016 from 2017-01-14T14:26:36

My last Torah message for 2016. This week we have been reading from the Torah portion Mikeitz, continuing the Joseph story. Joseph is the boy who dared to dream who turned into a man who was able t...

Hanukkah Message: Light Can Push Away Darkness from 2017-01-14T14:11:19

My Hanukkah message for 2016: Light can push away darkness