In this episode of Torah from Boca, I share a story I love—a hilarious (and surprisingly deep) tale of a silent debate between a pope and a Jew named Moishe. It's funny, yes—but like so many Jewish jokes, there’s truth beneath the humor.

Watching the world await the white smoke of the papal election, I felt something stir in me. Not jealousy, but what Bishop Krister Stendahl once called sacred envy—the ability to admire another religion’s spiritual beauty without wanting to imitate it.

But then I turned to this week’s Torah portion, Acharei Mot-Kedoshim, and was reminded of how Judaism offers something radical and powerful: the democratization of holiness. We don’t have a pope. We don’t wait for one person in a robe to bring us close to God. The Torah teaches that each of us—yes, even those with broken Hebrew or bad Latin—can live lives of holiness through our actions.

Join me as I reflect on what this parashah teaches us about leadership, holiness, and the sacred challenge of showing up fully—no titles required.

Ever faced an invitation you didn't know if you should accept? This week on Torah from Boca, I reveal a decision I've never shared publicly—turning down a meeting with Vice President Mike Pence during the first Trump administration. I had a good reason: it was my son's siddur ceremony (when he received his first prayer book) at his school.

But what if that meeting hadn't conflicted with my son's special day? Honestly, this podcast isn't really about that meeting, but it's about all the meetings we may have with people with whom we disagree with, or that our friends disagree with.

It is about a question I explore the Torah's teachings on how we should treat those we strongly disagree with, discussing whether rabbis—and all of us—should engage privately with controversial and even dangerous individuals. Join me in wrestling with one of Judaism’s toughest ethical questions: Can we truly love our neighbor—even when it's hard?

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Why do I keep kosher? Why do any of us?

Why do I keep kosher—and why don’t so many Jews today?

In this episode of Torah from Boca, I share a story that says so much about modern Jewish life: a congregant once emailed me outraged that BaconFest was scheduled for Yom Kippur… because he wanted to go. It’s a funny moment—but also a real one.

We live in a culture that prizes indulgence and immediate satisfaction. Kashrut offers something radical in response: a spiritual discipline of restraint. In Parashat Shemini, we revisit the kosher laws—not as relics of the past, but as an invitation to a more mindful, ethical, and holy way of living.

I reflect on what happens when “because I said so” is God’s reason—and why that might be enough. We explore Adam and Eve’s vegetarianism, Noah’s concessions, the concept of basar ta’avah (meat of craving), and how what we consume shapes not just our bodies, but our souls.

This is a deep dive into kashrut—not as a diet, but as a daily practice of connection.

🎙️ Listen, reflect, and share if it speaks to you.

Check out my website: www.rabbidavidbaum.com for more Torah From Boca