Sinai and Civics

Lesson 4: The Separation of Powers

Is dividing government power just a mechanism to prevent tyranny, or does it serve a deeper purpose? Every civics class teaches how power is split among three branches of government. But the Torah described its own model of divided authority thousands of years earlier, for a very different reason. In this lesson, we look at how the king and the Sanhedrin divided power under Torah law, why even a king could be tried for breaking it, and what happens when a society removes that higher authority from its public life.

Sinai and Civics

Lesson 3: In G-d We Trust

Why is owning a home the ultimate symbol of the American Dream? The answer traces back to a radical biblical law: every fifty years, the Torah required land to return to its original family (Leviticus 25:10). Discover how that ancient idea shaped America's vision of opportunity, and what "In G-d We Trust" really means for how we work and earn today.

Sinai and Civics

Lesson 2: The Roots of Equality

Why did Thomas Jefferson call it "self evident" that all men are created equal, when for nearly all of human history it wasn't self evident at all? What did the Torah teach in Genesis 1:27 that no ancient civilization had ever imagined? And how did that idea find its way from Sinai into the Declaration of Independence? Join us for Lesson 2 to find out.

Sinai and Civics

Lesson 1: The Founders of the Covenant

Why has America been so welcoming to Jews, more than any other country in our 2,000 year Diaspora? In this opening lesson of Sinai and Civics, we trace the answer back to America's founding, and to a covenant made long before that, at Sinai.

What is Jewish mysticism? Why was Kabbalah kept hidden for centuries? And why do Chassidic teachings and the Tanya consider these ideas essential for every Jew today?

In this in-depth conversation with JLI, Rabbi Levi Dubov explores the origins of Jewish mysticism, tracing its roots back to Mount Sinai, the teachings of the Zohar, the revelation of Kabbalah, the Baal Shem Tov's spiritual revolution, and the publication of the Tanya by Rabbi Schneur Zalman of Liadi.

This discussion offers a powerful introduction to the inner dimension of Judaism and the transformative teachings of Chassidus.

If you've ever wondered:

Who am I? Why am I here? What is the purpose of life? What does God want from us?

This video explores the Jewish answers to those timeless questions.

#kabbalah #jewish #mystical #torah #bible

Produced by the Rohr Jewish Learning Institute.

For All Humankind

Lesson 4: It Will Get Better

Why be good if the world never gets better? Is history just an endless loop — or is there a destination? And if Judaism carries a message for all of humanity, can we really afford to keep it to ourselves? In this episode, we break the cycle, reclaim hope, and explore what it means to be a light unto the nations — not just in theory, but right now.

For All Humankind

Lesson 3: Educating ChildrenAre we raising good people — or just successful ones? In this episode, we unpack the uncomfortable gap between achievement and character, ask whether morality can exist without a Divine foundation, and explore why a simple moment of silence might be one of the most powerful tools in moral education. If you've ever wondered what we truly owe the next generation, this one's for you.

For All Humankind

Lesson 2: Is Morality Obvious?

We all agree murder is wrong. We all agree stealing is wrong. But why? In Lesson 2, we're putting logic, conscience, and social norms on trial — and finding out why none of them can actually hold the line. What does the Torah say morality is really rooted in? And what does that mean for how we're obligated to treat each other? Is morality obvious? You might be surprised how quickly the obvious answer falls apart.