Episodes

If you enjoy playing with your child's toys, that's ok. You are not alone. Research has shown that when adults play with toys, it actually reduces stress. But all stress aside, there is a lesson to be learned from here; a lesson about our relationship with Hashem, our Father in Heaven. Tune in to this week's episode of The Torah Sparks Podcast to hear about Hashem's endless love for us and how we can learn to find the beauty amidst the not-so-beautiful. Check out the Torah Sparks website at htt...

We do a lot of things. We daven, we learn, we do chessed. But instead of just going through the motions, we need to strive to live with emotions. The element of "you" is perhaps the single-most important aspect of living the best life possible. In this week's episode of The Torah Sparks Podcast we discuss the importance of YOU, the reason why the Parshah begins with the Menorah, a reason why we wear a costume/mask, and more. Check out the Torah Sparks website at https://www.torahsparks.com/ for...

As a creature that spends most of its time in the air, birds are quite unrelatable to us human beings. Yet, for some reason, Jewish wisdom teaches that the Jewish people are actually compared to birds. In this week's episode of The Torah Sparks Podcast, we talk about birds and bring out a fascinating idea based on a Chizkuni in Parshas Terumah. Check out the Torah Sparks website at https://www.torahsparks.com/ for the latest podcasts, videos and blog posts. If you enjoy this content, please sh...

If you have a negative association with red pens, you are not alone. Research has shown that when teachers use red ink pens to mark tests, it gives us sad, angry, and negative vibes. In this week's episode of The Torah Sparks Podcast, we discuss the usage of red pens and the importance of seeing the good in our lives, especially in ourselves! Check out the Torah Sparks website at https://www.torahsparks.com/ for the latest podcasts, videos and blog posts. If you enjoy this content, please shar...

There was nothing about Kodak filing for bankruptcy in 2012 that made it a "Kodak Moment." It was a moment of disaster and great failure for what was, one of the leading companies in the photograph industry. Kodak suffered from complacency, which led to their need to file bankruptcy. We learn an incredibly important life lesson about the power of "healthy dissatisfaction" and we see how Yisro, despite having "made it in life," realized there must be more to do and accomplish. Check out the Tora...

Have you ever wondered how National Geographic photographers are able to capture the most exquisite and picturesque footage? It's not their expensive cameras; rather, it's the risks that they are willing to take to get the breathtaking footage. We learn a life lesson about seeing "risks" as entrance ways into a life of greatness. Nachsho, the man - the legend - who jumped into the Yam Suf, teaches us exactly this. Check out the Torah Sparks website at https://www.torahsparks.com/ for the latest...

An elderly women struggles to let go of her fancy vase despite a blazing fire rapidly approaching. An egocentric football player gets stuck in his habitual norms. A fascinating approach in understanding "When there's a will, there's a way." This week's episode of The Torah Sparks Podcast is jam packed with parables, Torah, humor, and inspiration. Check out the Torah Sparks website at https://www.torahsparks.com/ for the latest podcasts and weekly blog posts. If you enjoy this content, please s...

Yogurt seems to have a mind of its own. It always manages to get on your shirt, and occasionally in your eye. Did you know, yogurt contains live and active cultures? By now, I'm sure you've realized that in The Torah Sparks Podcast, we learn life lessons from everything and anything. Even exploding yogurt? Especially exploding yogurt. In this week's podcast, we discuss exploding yogurt and how it teaches us an important lesson about our souls and our ability to become the greatest version of ou...

There have been hundreds of nations that have come and gone throughout the ages, and many of them far bigger and stronger than the Jewish people. Yet, despite everything, the Jewish people have not only survived, but thrived. In this week’s episode of The Torah Sparks Podcast we discuss one of the ingredients in the “secret sauce” of the Jewish people, and more generally we discuss the importance of bringing forth our individual light amidst what we darkness and challenge we may face. Check ou...

On January 2, 2023, during Monday Night Football, an NFL player - Damar Hamlin - suffered a cardiac arrest which brought the entire game of football, the stadium, and most of the country to a standstill. In this week's episode of The Torah Sparks Podcast we talk about the power of unity as well as three life-lessons that we can learn from the Damar Hamlin story. Check out the Torah Sparks website at https://www.torahsparks.com/ for the latest podcasts and weekly blog posts. If you enjoy this c...

Listen to a powerful story about a father's constant encouragement to his son and learn a valuable lesson for how to overcome the Yetzer Harah. Check out the Torah Sparks website at https://www.torahsparks.com/ for the latest podcasts and weekly blog posts. If you enjoy this content, please share with your friends, family, and neighbors. Be sure to leave a rating and write a review! NEW: Please subscribe to my new YouTube Channel (Rabbi Ori Strum) where I'll be posting meaningful videos: http...

Ironically, the smallest state - Rhode Island - officially has the longest name: Rhode Island and Providence Plantation. In this week's episode of The Torah Sparks Podcast, we discuss the incredible lesson learned from this random bit of information and we discover that the secret to the greatness of the Jewish people is their smallness. Check out the Torah Sparks website at https://www.torahsparks.com/ for the latest podcasts and weekly blog posts. If you enjoy this content, please share with...

Have you ever been cut off while driving? It's not fun, and naturally, we tend to feel anger and frustration. But what if we reframe our minds and think that this person is not really cutting me off, rather G-d is cutting on action and testing us to see how we react and respond? Interesting. In this week's episode of The Torah Sparks Podcast we discuss the idea of anger and the idea of not taking mental shortcuts. Check out the Torah Sparks website at https://www.torahsparks.com/ for the latest...

"Respect is Earned When No One is Looking" is the meaningful quote found on one of my tennis armbands. Many years prior to the manufacturing of this armband, though, Yaakov Avinu fought a battle when no one was looking, and he gained a tremendous amount of respect from that battle. Tune in to this week's episode of The Torah Sparks Podcast to find out more about the importance of fighting and working hard even when no one is looking. Check out the Torah Sparks website at https://www.torahsparks...

Have you ever wondered why the Claw Game at amusement parks are always filled with stuffed animals? Simple answer. Because no one ever wins. In this week's episode of The Torah Sparks Podcast, we reveal a secret for how to boost your chances of winning the Claw Game and we see how Yaakov Avinu tapped into this simple, yet brilliant, way of life. Check out the Torah Sparks website at https://www.torahsparks.com/ for the latest podcasts and weekly blog posts. If you enjoy this content, please sh...

RUUUUUUUNN! This word is usually associated with online deals that you don't want to miss. But if you think about it, this word is very much associated with Parshas Toldos. Rivka had two children inside of her, each one running in their own direction. In this week's episode of The Torah Sparks Podcast, we discuss an incredible Rashi in 25:22, and bring out a valuable lesson for our Divine service. Check out the Torah Sparks website at https://www.torahsparks.com/ for the latest podcasts and wee...

Backbones, worms, pencils, and more. In this week's episode of The Torah Sparks Podcast we attempt to connect all of these seemingly separate ideas, and emerge with a meaningful lesson to help us in our everyday lives. Check out the Torah Sparks website at https://www.torahsparks.com/ for the latest podcasts and weekly blog posts. If you enjoy this content, please share with your friends, family, and neighbors. Be sure to leave a rating and write a review! My book "Ready. Set. Grow." is avail...

The Proof of the Pudding is in the Eating. I'm sure you never heard this phrase before, even though this is actually the original phrase, as opposed to the more well-known, the "Proof is in the Pudding." In any case, in this week's episode of The Torah Sparks Podcast we discuss the great Abraham and how he passed the ultimate test given to him by G-d. We also talk about what in the world the "Proof is in the Pudding" has to do with yiddishkeit. I'll give you a hint: Everything! Check out the To...

Darwin spoke about humans and monkeys in a book called "The Descent of Man." In this week's episode of The Torah Sparks Podcast, we talk about the Torah's approach to life using the concept of, "The Ascent of Man." Check out the Torah Sparks website at https://www.torahsparks.com/ for the latest podcasts and weekly blog posts. If you enjoy this content, please share with your friends, family, and neighbors. Be sure to leave a rating and write a review! My book "Ready. Set. Grow." is available...

Toddlers are notorious for saying, "Myself!" They love trying to do tasks all by themselves, with no help. It's cute and all, and even healthy for a toddler to behave this way. But grown adults who constantly live with a "Myself!" mentality, not seeking help or assistance from others, are setting themselves up for failure. In this week's episode of The Torah Sparks Podcast, we discuss the idea that true success comes from teamwork and how haughtiness steers a person far away from real success. ...

Besides for the words ex nihilo and firmament, my next favorite English-translated word in the book of Genesis (also, a great word) is luminaries. In this week's episode of The Torah Sparks Podcast, we discuss a masterful idea from the Ibn Ezra who explains how the moon is indeed "larger" than the stars, contrary to what astronomers like yourself might have thought. Check out the Torah Sparks website at https://www.torahsparks.com/ for the latest podcasts and weekly blog posts. If you enjoy th...

Did you know that the first person convicted of speeding was driving a whopping 8 mph? Times have surely changed! Like everything, though, there is an important lesson to be gleaned from this, and it connects with the Song of Haazinu and the upcoming holiday of Sukkos. Check out the Torah Sparks website at https://www.torahsparks.com/ for the latest podcasts and weekly blog posts. If you enjoy this content, please share with your friends, family, and neighbors. Be sure to leave a rating and wr...

What is The Greatest City in America? Is this even a fair question? Tune in to this week's episode of The Torah Sparks Podcast to find out the truth about Teshuva and how Hashem's love for us is as real as real gets. Check out the Torah Sparks website at https://www.torahsparks.com/ for the latest podcasts and weekly blog posts. If you enjoy this content, please share with your friends, family, and neighbors. Be sure to leave a rating and write a review! My book "Ready. Set. Grow." is availab...

In this week's episode of The Torah Sparks Podcast, we discuss how an experience of writer's block actually gave the writer inspiration of what to write about. We also talk about the significance of the number 458 and 581 and their connection with Rosh Hashanah. Check it out. This is an episode you do not want to miss. Check out the Torah Sparks website at https://www.torahsparks.com/ for the latest podcasts and weekly blog posts. If you enjoy this content, please share with your friends, fami...