You sit in shul. The shofar blows. What do you feel? You may not want to admit it, but for many of us the answer is: nothing. For a long time, that’s how Imu felt also. Until a chance observation, one historic Erev Rosh Hashana, sparked a conversation with Rabbi David Fohrman that would change everything. Come along on this deep dive through the Torah, revealing a hidden story from the Burning Bush to Mount Sinai to the walls of Jericho—that will finally make the shofar blast truly mean...

Come spend Tisha B'Av with us! We’re going to be having a live online event in the afternoon. It’s a chance to join hundreds of Jews from around the world to learn together, connect and make this day about community instead of being alone. Click here to learn more. A Book Like No Other is a product of Aleph Beta, and made possible through the generous support of Shari and Nathan Lindenbaum. Aleph Beta is a Torah media company dedicated to spreading the joy and love of meaningful Torah learnin...

After thoroughly dissecting every verse of Shir HaMaalot, the season finale attempts to put all the pieces back together. The first three verses were about moving from dreams to true joy; the second three were about Joseph and Jacob's saga. Could both of these themes somehow be related? A Book Like No Other is a product of Aleph Beta, and made possible through the generous support of Shari and Nathan Lindenbaum. Aleph Beta is a Torah media company dedicated to spreading the joy and love of me...

Do you really know what Joseph's dream of the wheat sheaves was about? We'll bet you missed something big. And perhaps, so did Joseph. See how the ambiguity of the dream presents Joseph with a choice: am I destined for power, or for benevolence? A Book Like No Other is a product of Aleph Beta, and made possible through the generous support of Shari and Nathan Lindenbaum. Aleph Beta is a Torah media company dedicated to spreading the joy and love of meaningful Torah learning worldwide.

The beginning and end of Shir HaMaalot discuss dreams and sheaves of wheat. Where have we heard this before? Rabbi Fohrman and Imu explore the clear parallels between this chapter or tehillim and Joseph - a dreamer and a captive. They discuss Joseph's outpouring of tears, compared to Jacob's persistent weeping, and offer a consoling message that the tears we spill for those we mourn may not be in vain. A Book Like No Other is a product of Aleph Beta, and made possible through the generous sup...

This season's focus is on Tehilim (Psalm) 126, otherwise known as Shir HaMaalot. You know, the one that Jews sing before bensching on Shabbat and festivals. This short but powerful poem tells us that when the redemption comes we will be "like dreamers." But is this a good thing? What if our dream state prevents us from coming to terms with the actual redemption? And if so, how do we "wake up"? Listen to this entertaining but groundbreaking investigation of a familiar text. A Book Like No Othe...

PLEASE FILL OUT OUR SURVEY: https://bit.ly/BLNOlistenersurvey In the season finale, Rabbi Fohrman and Imu explore the final commandment—“Thou shalt not covet”—through the emotional reunion of Jacob and Esau. As they unpack the psychological wounds left by their father’s perceived favoritism, a deeper truth emerges: healing comes not from acquiring more, but from seeing the divine in one another. Through a close reading of the text, they reveal how these once-bitter rivals move beyond envy, of...

PLEASE FILL OUT OUR SURVEY: https://bit.ly/BLNOlistenersurvey What drives someone to steal? And why does the Bible warn so strongly against false testimony? In this episode, Rabbi Fohrman and Imu Shalev examine how the story of Jacob, Rachel, and Lavan provides surprising insight into the psychology behind the 8th and 9th commandments. From Rachel's theft of her father's idols to Lavan's self-righteous covenant at Gal'ed, this episode reveals how our deepest pains can lead to actions that ult...

PLEASE FILL OUT OUR SURVEY: https://bit.ly/BLNOlistenersurvey Continuing their journey through the Ten Commandments, Rabbi Fohrman and Imu examine murder and adultery through the lens of the Genesis Deception story. They unpack why Esau—usually painted as the bad guy—holds back from killing Jacob even when he knows exactly where to find him, giving us a fresh take on "Do not murder." Then they explore how Laban's meddling in Jacob's marriage to Rachel offers a surprising spin on adultery—show...

PLEASE FILL OUT OUR SURVEY: https://bit.ly/BLNOlistenersurvey Continuing their analysis of the Ten Commandments through Genesis 27, Rabbi Fohrman and Imu focus on two pivotal commands: Shabbat and honoring one's parents. They begin by uncovering surprising connections between Rebecca's plea for Jacob's safety and the concept of divine rest. How does Jacob's exhausting fourteen-year labor under Lavan transform our understanding of Shabbat? And what can this teach us about finding true rest in ...

PLEASE FILL OUT OUR SURVEY: https://bit.ly/BLNOlistenersurvey Picking up from last week's cliffhanger, Rabbi Fohrman and Imu tackle an uncomfortable and paradoxical question: How can a perfect being—God—choose vulnerability? This unsettling concept seems to be at the heart of the parallels they uncover between Genesis 27 and the Revelation narrative. By analyzing the blast of the shofar at Sinai alongside Esav’s anguished cry, they explore what it means for God, the perfect being, to open Him...

PLEASE FILL OUT OUR SURVEY: https://bit.ly/BLNOlistenersurvey We’re so grateful you’ve been listening to A Book Like No Other. Now, we’d love to hear from you! Podcasts can feel one-sided — we talk, you listen. But your voice matters. Please take 3–5 minutes to fill out this quick listener survey and help shape the future of the show. 👉 Take the survey here: https://bit.ly/BLNOlistenersurvey Your feedback is invaluable and will help us grow this show and build our community together. Thank yo...

What if the Torah provides its own commentary on its most pivotal moments? In this episode, Rabbi Fohrman and Imu continue uncovering a striking web of connections between Jacob’s deception in Genesis 27 and the Revelation at Sinai in Exodus 19. As they explore these interwoven parallels, they reveal a profound shift in roles—Father becoming Son, Son becoming Father—and examine how God’s choice to reveal Himself through cloud and sound echoes Jacob’s own veiled encounter with Isaac. But these...

At the heart of Judaism's chosenness lies an unexpected twist that few have noticed. Rabbi Fohrman stumbles upon a shocking connection between two of the Bible's most pivotal moments - one that completely transforms our understanding of what it means to be chosen. This discovery not only challenges centuries of religious interpretation but might just change how you see your own relationship with God. For more on Rabbi Fohrman's reading of the deception story, see this essay from his book Gene...

What if one of the Torah's most troubling stories - Jacob deceiving his father to get a blessing - is actually the key to understanding why God chose the Jewish people? In this episode, Rabbi Fohrman and Imu make a surprising discovery: the story of Mount Sinai mirrors Jacob's deception in unexpected ways. But rather than just repeating a tale of favoritism, God transforms it into something beautiful: a story about being chosen not for power, but to bring blessing to all nations. Ready to see...

In this final episode of the season, Rabbi Fohrman and Imu explore how Esther's narrative offers a redeemed perspective on Adam and Eve's story. Delving into Esther's courageous moments before King Achashverosh, Rabbi Fohrman highlights her heroism while challenging the simplistic view of Esther as merely a master manipulator. Instead, Rabbi Fohrman suggests a deeper understanding of Esther's character—one that transcends conventional morality grounded in objectivity and power. As they reflec...

Rabbi Fohrman shares a dizzying discovery: a competing Tree of Knowledge story in the Megillah. But instead of replacing the first cast of characters, Rabbi Fohrman and Imu analyze how this discovery adds another layer of meaning embedded in the Megillah. Esther, in particular, moves into the forefront, and Rabbi Fohrman and Imu discuss how her actions can be understood as a redemption of the Garden of Eden. A Book Like No Other is an exclusive product of Aleph Beta, and made possible through...

Rabbi Fohrman and Imu discover that it’s not only Haman who has a counterpart in Eden. There’s a whole list of characters from Megillat Esther who are playing out a version of the Tree of Knowledge story. But what is the Megillah trying to tell us by taking this story from the beginning of Genesis and replaying it here at the end of Tanach? It’s not just about Haman’s being a supervillain. There’s something for all of us to learn here about what happens when humans try to play God. A Book Lik...

Note for Premium Members: This episode is part of our free release of "A Book Like No Other." If you're a premium subscriber, you already have access to this content in your premium feed. Rabbi Fohrman and Imu explore parallels between Megillat Esther and the Garden of Eden, beginning from the hint in the Midrash that links Haman to the Tree of Knowledge. The familiar characters from these well-known stories suddenly appear in a new light, as Haman becomes even more villainous, and Adam’s def...

Note for Premium Members: This episode is part of our free release of "A Book Like No Other." If you're a premium subscriber, you already have access to this content in your premium feed. The Book of Esther has no Divine instructions, no prophecies, no outright miracles. God doesn't even get mentioned. We all love hearing how Mordechai and Esther saved their people in a time of crisis – but does this story have any moral message for us? As we're listening to the Megillah on Purim, what can we...