Wrestling and Dreaming: Engaging Discussions on Judaism
Religion & Spirituality
About
This podcast features thoughts on issues of Jewish tradition and faith by Rabbi Rob Dobrusin from Ann Arbor, Michigan. Presented in informal and conversational style, Rabbi Dobrusin shares his interpretations of traditional Jewish texts and concepts often illustrated with examples taken from contemporary life. The discussions are designed to be accessible and thought-provoking to all.
Episodes
- Shavuot 2026
Rabbi Dobrusin shares a perspective on the upcoming holiday of Shavuot.
- Episode 278: More Serious and Less Serious
In this edition, Rabbi Dobrusin explains a critical concept relating to Jewish law. The discussion begins with an example from a rather unexpected place.
- Episode 277: Thoughts From a Warm Summer Evening
In this episode, Rabbi Dobrusin shares thoughts on some phrases from a familiar source. The thoughts can teach us some lessons about Teshuvah, repentance, appropriate not only at the High Holy Day season but at all seasons.
- Episode 276: An Ethical Question from the Talmud
Rabbi Dobrusin shares a question raised in the section of Talmud he has been studying with his Talmud study group this year. How do you "undo" a wrongful act?
- Episode 275: An Introduction to Judaism
In this episode, Rabbi Dobrusin shares the introduction to Judaism that he gave recently to a very interested group of students.
- Episode 274: The Line From Egypt
In this edition, Rabbi Dobrusin shares a thought on one of the blessings said during the Pesach seder.
- Episode 273: Plagues: Then and Now
In this edition, Rabbi Dobrusin looks back on the events of the past week and discusses an issue of importance regarding a section of the Seder.
- Episode 272: How Did I Get Here?
In this edition, Rabbi Dobrusin suggests a way to make this year's Seder personally meaningful.
- Episode 271: A Sermon and A Tribute
In this edition, Rabbi Dobrusin shares a sermon on this week's parasha and a memorial tribute to his father.
- Episode 270: What's In A Name?
In this edition of the podcast, Rabbi Dobrusin shares thoughts on the meaning of the name of the holiday of Purim and its meaning for today.
- Episode 269: Uplifting Music
In this edition, Rabbi Dobrusin considers the power of music to lift us and honors two musical performers, one from the recent past and one from the present day.
- Episode 268: Realizing How Right I Was
In this edition, Rabbi Dobrusin shares a story about a d'var Torah he wrote more than 40 years ago and how his feelings about the words he wrote have changed over the years.
- Episode 267: Signs of Spring
In this edition, Rabbi Dobrusin discusses the holiday of Tu B'shvat, the "New Year of the Trees", sand two different blessings said on the occasion of seeing beautiful trees.
- Episode 266: Seeing
How do we respond to what we see? Rabbi Dobrusin considers this question in this week's podcast.
- Episode 265: Packing for a Journey
In this edition, Rabbi Dobrusin asks us to consider the full meaning of two words that appear in the Torah. What does it mean when the Torah says: blichtecha baderech, when you go along the way, in the paragraph which is related to the say…
- Episode 264: The One Frog
In this edition, Rabbi Dobrusin considers the varied implications of a brief passage in the Talmud relating to this week's Torah portion.
- Episode 263: Alone and Together
In this edition, Rabbi Dobrusin gives his midrash, his interpretation, of one of his favorite movies in tribute to the late Rob Reiner.
- Episode 262: December 31
This week, Rabbi Dobrusin posts a repeat edition of the podcast, originally posted on December 31, 2020, marking this important date on the calendar. This episode features a discussion of the importance of the Jewish calendar in our lives.
- Episode 261: Visiting Parents
In this episode, Rabbi Dobrusin shares a personal story and relates it to a brief story told in this week's Torah portion.
- Episode 260: A Week Which Has Shaken Us
In this edition, Rabbi Dobrusin looks back on the events of this past week, notably the horrific anti-Semitic terror attack in Sydney Australia.
- Episode 259: Four Words
In this edition, Rabbi Dobrusin focuses on a short phrase recited during the rituals of Hanukkah which are particularly meaningful.
- Episode 258: On the Road
In this edition, Rabbi Dobrusin onsiders what some might consider an issue facing our society today but which he feels reflects a serious crisis in our nation. He then offers a way to affect a small amount of change in this one particular…
- Episode 257: Saying and Doing
What impact should a statement of intention make? Rabbi Dobrusin shares a scenario presented in the Talmud and discusses the answer that the traditional texts give us.
- Episode 256: Above Average
Rabbi Dobrusin shares a d'var Torah which he delivered last week for Parashat Vayera. What can we learn from Abraham's "bargaining" with God regarding the city of Sodom?
- Episode 255: Which Is More Important
In this edition, Rabbi Dobrusin teaches commentaries on this week's Torah portion which can lead us to a conclusion as to the relative importance of different aspects of Jewish tradition.
- Episode 254: Abraham and the Idols
In this edition, Rabbi Dobrusin connects the story of Abraham in his father's Idol Shop with a situation taking place today in our nation.
- Episode 253: For Love of Animals
Rabbi Dobrusin shares a thought on animals- appropriate for this week in which Parashat Noach, the story of Noah. This edition includes a tribute to a remarkable teacher.
- Episode 252: One Human Being
In this edition, Rabbi Dobrusin shares a traditional Jewish text connected to the Biblical Creation story. This text alway has great relevance but is particularly meaningful at this time.
- Episode 251: The Symbolism of the Lulav and Etrog
In this edition, Rabbi Dobrusin considers one tradition regarding the lulav and etrog, symbols of the holiday of Sukkot, and relates that tradition to the reality within Jewish communities today.
- Introduction to Episode 250
In this very brief introduction, Rabbi Dobrusin clarifies a point about the timing of the recording of Episode 250.
- Episode 250: What Jonah Can Teach Us
In this edition, Rabbi Dobrusin considers the meaning behind the tradition of reading the book of Jonah on Yom Kippur. What can we learn from Jonah?
- Episode 249: Where Are You
In this edition, the final edition before the High Holy Days, Rabbi Dobrusin shares an additional thought relating to Teshuvah, returning to the proper path in life.
- Episode 248: Confession
In this edition, Rabbi Dobrusin focuses on one of the critical traditions regarding teshuvah, repentance in Jewish tradition and relates it to an issue in our nation today.
- Episode 247: Like the Old Days
Rabbi Dobrusin shares a thought based upon a verse in this week's Torah reading and a line from the daily prayers. These texts and a rabbinic interpretation reflect a critical thought for this time of year.
- Episode 246: That Was Before
In this edition, Rabbi Dobrusin discusses an important issue facing clergy and all of us as we wrestle with issues or aspects our lives.
- Episode 245: Comfort
In this edition, Rabbi Dobrusin shares a fascinating traditional aggada (legend) concerning comfort.
- Episode 244: Learning from the Observance of Tisha B'av
In this episode, Rabbi Dobrusin examines two unusual synagogue services and discusses their significance.
- Episode 243: Nostalgia and Tisha B'av
In this edition, Rabbi Dobrusin shares another thought relating to Tisha B'av, the fast of the 9th of Av, and its connection with nostalgia.
- Episode 242: Nostalgia: Importance and Limitations
This is part one of a two part episode relating to the upcoming observance of Tisha B'av. Rabbi Dobrusin tells a story which can shed light on the traditions of this fast day.
- Episode 241: Satisfaction
In this edition, Rabbi Dobrusin shares an interpretation on a section from the Shabbat morning liturgy which reflects a need all of us have.
- Episode 240: Telling the Story
The Talmud contains a fascinating discussion about whether the book of Esther should be included in the Biblical canon. In the course of the discussion, a provocative statement is made. In this edition of the podcast, Rabbi Dobrusin teache…
- Episode 239: Answers
In this edition, Rabbi Dobrusin teaches from a brief section of the Talmud which reflects an important principle in our lives. Before the teaching, the episode begins with a comment on a situation taking place in our nation today.
- Episode 238: The Four Children Part 3
Rabbi Dobrusin concludes his discussion of the Four Children section of the Pesach Haggadah detailing the tragic flaw in this otherwise insightful text.
- Episode 237: The Four Children part 2
Rabbi Dobrusin continues the discussion about the section of the Seder known as the Four Children.
- Episode 236: The Four Children: Part 1
Rabbi Dobrusin begins a 3 part series on one of the most distinctive texts in the Hagaddah: the section known as the Four Children. In this and next week's episodes, Rabbi Dobrusin will explore the text itself and in the third section shar…
- Episode 235: Reading and Interpreting
In this edition, Rabbi Dobrusin discusses a contrast between the observance of the holiday of Purim and the observance of Pesach. How are the rituals of the two holidays different?
- Episode 234: A D'var Torah for Purim Part 2
In this edition, Rabbi Dobrusin concludes the D'var Torah he began in the previous podcast episode.
- Episode 233 A D'var Torah for Purim Part 1
Rabbi Dobrusin shares the first half of a d'var Torah relating to a text for the holiday of Purim. You can find the text that the d'var Torah is based on here: https://www.hebrewsongs.com/?song=shoshanatyaakov
- Episode 232: Sh'ma Mina: Learn From This.
What can a rather odd text of the Talmud teach us about our lives today? Rabbi Dobrusin shares a lesson we can learn from an ancient text.
- Episode 231: A Chosen Name
Some in our community are being threatened and we must stand up for them. In this edition of the podcast, Rabbi Dobrusin shares a midrash which has deep implications for those individuals- and for all of us- in our nation today.