The Portion
"The Portion" is a podcast where Aaron Roller, a curious Orthodox Jew, sits down with his brother-in-law, Rabbi Jonathan Bienenfeld, to discuss the portion of the Torah that is read each week by Jews around the world. The conversation is informal and friendly, but not afraid to delve into the wealth of Jewish wisdom and interpretation. Guests may join to offer their takes on the portion as well.
Episodes
72 episodes
Ki Tisa: Worse Than A Slippery Slope
In this episode, we are together again and talking about the Sin of the Golden Calf. Was is the id of the Jewish people run amok with their leader missing? Or was it a more high-minded decision that went off the rails? Join us for the discussio...
•
Season 2
•
Episode 20
•
26:13
Tetzaveh: Eternal Flame
A quick solo show on the important of consistency.
•
Season 1
•
Episode 19
•
8:30
Trumah: Let's Build Something Together
This week's Torah portion reads like a complicated set of building specs, as G-d presents Moshe with the instructions for building the Tabernacle. We talk about what it means for the Israelites to engage in a construction project following the ...
•
Season 2
•
Episode 18
•
25:42
Mishpatim: What is Justice?
In Mishpatim, the Torah seems to take a dramatic turn from narrative into a detailed discussion of Jewish law. How do we explain this change? And how should we think about the way that the word mishpatim is used in Genesis vs. the way it's used...
•
Season 2
•
Episode 17
•
22:49
Yitro: Delegation & Revelation
Something strange about the week's Torah portion, Yitro, is that the greatest divine revelation in human history is preceded by a seemingly unrelated story about Moshe delegating authority and setting up multi-tier courts. On this episode, Aaro...
•
Season 2
•
Episode 16
•
29:45
Beshalach: The Circuitous Path to Freedom
On this week's show, we talk about the difficult path the Israelites had to travel to achieve mental freedom even after they achieved physical liberation. We talk about the contrast between manna and matzoh, changing habits, and the deep lesson...
•
Season 2
•
Episode 15
•
24:00
Bo: Free & Flexible
In this episode, we spoke about Pharoah's hardened heart. Has G-d removed Pharoah's free will, or has He strengthened it? We contrast Pharoah's inflexible commitment to a corrupt ideology with the more fleet footed approach of the Patriarchs.&n...
•
Season 2
•
Episode 14
•
23:26
Vaera: Age of Miracles
In this week's episode, as the Torah portion introduces seven out of the ten plagues, we talk about the role of miracles and how direct divine intervention should impact our own perspectives.
•
Season 2
•
Episode 13
•
27:49
Shemot: The Making of Moshe
In this week's episode, we start Sefer Shemot - the Book of Exodus - with the question of what makes Moshe Rabbeinu the greatest Jewish leader in history.
•
Season 2
•
Episode 12
•
24:02
Vayechi: Lessons Before Dying
In this week's Torah portion, Vayechi, Yaakov Avinu, the third, and last, of the patriarchs, dies. On this week's episode, we talk about the lessons Yaakov teaches us at the end of his life.
•
Season 2
•
Episode 11
•
29:19
Vayigash: Down to Egypt
In this episode, we look at how Jacob and his children prepare to descend to Egypt and what that has to teach us today about moving into and within the diaspora.
•
Season 2
•
Episode 10
•
32:43
Miketz: Sibling Rivalry
In this episode, we delve into the dispute between Yosef and his brothers to try and understand why it never occurred to them to even suspect that the Egyptian viceroy giving them so much trouble might be their brother.
•
Season 2
•
Episode 9
•
32:08
Vayeshev: Up and Down and Up Again
In this week's episode, we try to make sense of Joseph and his violent journey from Yaakov's favorite child to the depths of a pit, and all his subsequent rises and falls. Along the way, we touch on a couple of points that make Joseph's journey...
•
Season 2
•
Episode 8
•
21:44
Vayishlach: Inner Demons/Outer Angels
In this week's Torah portion, Yaakov wrestles with a mysterious man, whom tradition considers to the Esav's "angel." In this week's episode, we talk about what this wrestling match represents and how it prepared Yaakov for his encounter with th...
•
Season 2
•
Episode 7
•
32:39
Vayetze: Super Duper or Super Duped?
In this week's discussion, we talk about Yaakov's trip to Padan-Aram to escape his brother and his decision to return back home. We look at the dream he has at the beginning of his journey and the vision he has at the end, and what that tells u...
•
Season 2
•
Episode 6
•
28:35
Toldot: Thanksgiving in Be'er Sheva
This episode, recorded on Thanksgiving with the turkey in the oven, discusses the question of how Jews give thanks to their host nations in exile, what that tells us about Thanksgiving, and how an antecedent is found in this week's Torah portio...
•
Season 2
•
Episode 5
•
34:04
Chayei Sara: The Devil Made Them Do It - Featuring Alan Sufrin & Miriam Brosseau
Aaron visited Chicago and recorded this episode with Alan J. Sufrin and Miriam Brosseau, the hosts of the podcast "Throwing Sheyd." On "Throwing Sheyd," Alan and Miriam examine the wide range of Jewish texts that deal with Sheydim, or demons, t...
•
Season 2
•
Episode 4
•
30:28
Vayera: Ties that Bind
Following in the same vein from last week's conversation about Abraham's trials, we discuss Abraham's final trial, the binding of Isaac. We look at the full, tragic irony of G-d's request that Abraham sacrifice the son whose very existence was ...
•
Season 2
•
Episode 3
•
27:50
Lech Lecha: The Trials of Abraham
In this week's episode, we talk about the idea in Jewish tradition that Abraham was tested ten times. Why? Why is being tested essential for Abraham's character? Does he pass all the tests? And what are we supposed to learn from that? Join us f...
•
Season 2
•
Episode 2
•
37:50
Noach: Fruit of the Vine
The Portion, Season 2 is on! Aaron and Rabbi Bienenfeld are back this week talking about Noah. This year, they're pretty much skipping the ark and the flood to talk about the vineyard that Noah plants after he gets off the flood. Why grapes? Wh...
•
Season 2
•
Episode 1
•
32:33
Vezot Habracha: And This Is It
This is it! The last episode of our first season, which strangely coincides with the conclusion of the weekly Torah readings and the end of the Book of Deuteronomy. The last Torah portion is bittersweet and cryptic, featuring Moshe's blessings ...
•
Season 1
•
Episode 52
•
37:47
Ha'azinu: A Song in Our Hearts
Rabbi Bienenfeld is back and he and Aaron take on the daunting poetry of Parshat Ha'azinu.
•
Season 1
•
Episode 51
•
41:26
Vayelech: Standing at the Tent
This week is an off-week, as Aaron hosts the show alone. Rabbi Bienenfeld is taking a break following the passing of his father, Jeffrey Bienenfeld. Aaron talks about the image of Moshe and Joshua standing at the tent of meeting and whether the...
•
Season 1
•
Episode 50
•
30:30
Nitzavim: Still Standing
How does the Torah expect us to correct other people's misdeeds in a society where being judgmental and telling others what to do is frowned upon? Following a comment by Rashi, in this episode we take up this question (among others). Rabbi Bien...
•
Season 1
•
Episode 49
•
35:52
Ki Tavo: Declarations of Dependence (on G-d)
In this week's show, we talk about two important rituals that the Jewish people haven't done in centuries, bringing offerings of first fruits to Jerusalem, and proclaiming vidui ma'aser, a declaration that all tithes have been appropri...
•
Season 1
•
Episode 49
•
29:51