💫 Why This Mitzvah Matters

“Abraham rushed to greet them . . . and brought water and food.” —Genesis 18:1–8

Welcoming guests is one of Judaism’s most beautiful values. It transforms a table into a sanctuary and a home into a refuge. This mitzvah is about radical hospitality, about making others feel seen, nourished, and cared for.

✅ Practice Challenge

• Invite someone new to a Shabbat dinner, coffee, or walk.

• If you can’t host, bring food to someone else or join a friend’s table.

• Make your space more welcoming—candles, warmth, music, blessings.

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💫 Why This Mitzvah Matters

“Keep far from a false matter.” –Exodus 23:7

Jewish tradition treats truth-telling as sacred. Speaking with honesty, avoiding deceit, and choosing words carefully are mitzvot that preserve trust and dignity. It’s not just about being right—it’s about being real and respectful.

✅ Practice Challenge

• Be mindful this week to speak truth without exaggeration or spin.

• If you catch yourself saying something untrue or harmful, pause and repair.

• Compliment someone sincerely—truth is kind, not just correct.

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💫 Why This Mitzvah Matters

“Let your home be a meeting place for the wise.” –Pirkei Avot 1:4

The Beit Midrash is a place not only of study, but of dialogue, wrestling, and sacred community. Entering this space—even virtually—connects us to generations of seekers and questioners.

✅ Practice Challenge

• Join a Jewish study session, online or in person, even just once this week.

• Set aside 20 minutes for chevruta (partnered learning) with a friend or family member.

• Start a personal Beit Midrash: a notebook of questions, insights, and texts.

✡️Did you know that Conversion and Darshan Training students get FREE access to Pluralistic Rabbinical Seminary’s Community Beit Midrash?

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By Rabbi Patrick Beaulier

I need to state my bias.

As a child of the 80’s and 90’s, I was in peak alien culture. From movies like Star Wars, E.T., Aliens, and Contact, countless shows like The X-Files, Roswell docudramas and alien autopsy videos, and Whitley Strieber’s Communion at every big box book retailer, extraterrestrials felt less like science fiction and more like an unanswered question.

While I did not have an “I Want to Believe” poster or shirt, I seriously wanted to believe.

With the ongoing release of UAP footage and documents by the US government, it begs the question what a Jewish response would be to the confirmation of alien life.

Read more

💫 Why This Mitzvah Matters

“For six years you shall sow your field . . . but the seventh year shall be a sabbath for the land.” –Leviticus 25:3–4

Shmita, the sabbatical year for the land, teaches rest, justice, and ecological humility. It reminds us that the earth doesn’t belong to us—it belongs to God.

✅ Practice Challenge

• Let one area of your life “rest”—declutter, pause, or stop producing for a day.

• Learn about regenerative agriculture or support a local farm.

• Share your resources with someone in financial hardship, echoing the justice of the land resting.
  

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By Rabbi Patrick Beaulier

Let’s start with an uncomfortable admission: religions love to take credit for things they didn’t invent. It’s like the father in My Big Fat Greek Wedding who insists every word comes from Greek. It’s charming. It’s also not true.

In that spirit, before I can talk about democracy, I have to admit that Judaism didn’t invent democracy. But it did do something more interesting: it refused to let you idealize it. Because if you’re looking for a Torah that says, “follow your heart” or “the people are always right,” then you’re not going to find it. Instead, you get something far more empowering, and at the same time, something that feels like it lacks the justice gusto one might hope for. Shulchan Arukh, Choshen Mishpat 163:1 puts it plainly: that a community gathers, everyone is required to voice their opinion, and then they follow the majority—and if the minority refuses, they can be compelled to comply.

That’s not inspirational in the least bit. There is no “tzedek, tzedek tirdofe.” It’s something that does not come from a protest. It comes from someone likely named Debbie who works in HR and won’t let you get away with it (whatever “it” is). It lacks all passion, because that’s governance.

And it leads to the first hard truth: in a functioning system, no one is fully satisfied.

We like to imagine justice as clean, obvious, morally satisfying. But the Torah pushes back immediately. Do not favor the powerful, but also do not favor the poor out of pity (Exodus 23:2–3). Justice is not about compassion, as harsh as that sounds. It’s not about powerful elite either. It’s about something much, much harder—restraining oneself to be objective, even when it hurts.

Which leads to the second hard truth: corruption destroys everything. Completely. Predictably. Every time.

I believe that corruption is the single greatest moral problem of our era. And it’s corruption everywhere, and to the benefit of every kind of group, cause, identity, value, persuasion, political opinion, etc. It’s so pervasive that people know it’s happening the way fish know that water exists. And yet, because we swim in it, we know no other way.

The Torah is relentless about this. Do not take bribes—not even if you plan to judge fairly (Deuteronomy 16:19). Because you won’t. Rashi is blunt: once a judge accepts a bribe, it is impossible not to incline toward the giver (on Deuteronomy 16:19). Impossible, always.

Corruption isn’t just illegal behavior. It’s psychological distortion. And it extends beyond courts. “Do not place a stumbling block before the blind” (Leviticus 19:14) is not just about physical blindness. It’s about exploiting vulnerability. If you put money, influence, or pressure in front of decision-makers—even ones you agree with—perhaps especially the ones you agree with—you are weakening the system. And the system is worth more than the moment, more than yours or anyone else’s benefit. Because ultimately, the benefits are short lived compared to the loss of objectivity.

Which brings us to the third hard truth: democracy should be dull.

Not exciting. Not dramatic. Not emotionally satisfying. It should not make the news (unless it absolutely has to). It should not be anxiety inducing on X or aesthetically challenging on Instagram.

Judges. Officials. Procedures. Systems. Democracy should be a day at the DMV, not a rave. The Torah’s vision is not protest movements or viral moments. It’s courts in every city, structures that function, decisions that are made and enforced (Deuteronomy 16:18).

I mentioned “justice, justice shall you pursue” (Deuteronomy 16:20). I get it, not a Jewish protest has come and gone without it on a poster. But the classical interpretation is almost disappointing. Rashi explains: go find a reliable court (on Deuteronomy 16:20). That’s it. Not “become justice.” Not “feel justice.” Find a system that works and do it, over and over again, until it’s dull. Because if you don’t build those things, something else fills the vacuum. Granted, it’s more exciting. But I want to live in an era where culture is exciting and government is boring. Perhaps I’m the only one who feels this way, but I doubt it. Because as Pirkei Avot 3:2 puts it, without the fear of government, people would swallow each other alive. That’s not poetic. That’s realistic.

Perhaps it’s middle age. Perhaps it’s married with an adult child. But more than a romantic vision of Edenic political paradise, I’d like a sober, disciplined, almost stubborn commitment to building systems that work—even when they’re frustrating, imperfect, and deeply unsatisfying (again, like the DMV).

I guess what I am saying is: make democracy boring again.

PS: I’d like to publicly apologize to DMV’s everywhere (especially the Virginia Department of Motor Vehicles) for my jokes. I hope you have a sense of humor. If you don’t, then good for you: because you get the assignment.

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💫 Why This Mitzvah Matters

“Turn it and turn it, for everything is in it.” –Pirkei Avot 5:22

Talmud Torah, the study of Jewish texts, is a lifelong mitzvah. It’s not about memorizing facts—it’s about wrestling with meaning. Torah invites us into a sacred conversation across generations, sharpening our minds and softening our hearts.

✅ Practice Challenge

• Read the weekly Torah portion with a friend or in chevruta (study pair).

• Pick one verse that speaks to you and journal about it.

• Join an online or local class—don’t worry about being “advanced.”
  

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Our sister program Pluralistic Rabbinical Seminary has launched their new Substack: jewishpluralism.substack.com.

Their Substack is for people who are thinking seriously about rabbinical training—whether you’re just beginning to explore or already deep in the process.

They’ll be publishing:

• A deeper look at PRS, whether that’s comparing their program to other options, or meeting the staff, educators, students, and alumni who make PRS possible.

• Reflections on the evolving rabbinate, including what rabbis actually do today, and how that’s changing.

• Behind-the-scenes perspectives from PRS; in other words, how they think about training, leadership, and pluralism.

As a bonus, they’ll also provide learning opportunities from some of their courses—for free.

So, if you’re exploring, questioning, or simply paying attention, subscribe below!

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Recorded 4/29/26.

Music: “Shir Shir (A Sing Song)” by Maurice Perez | 2002 | www.israelidances.com

Rabbi & Son - Hot takes on news, pop culture, and religion. Hosted by Rabbi Patrick and his son Javon. Spiritual. Irreverent. Always fearless. Produced by Darshan Yeshiva.

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💫 Why This Mitzvah Matters

“Seek peace and pursue it.” –Psalm 34:15

Rodef Shalom is the mitzvah of being a pursuer of peace—not just avoiding conflict, but actively creating harmony. It’s about compassion, compromise, and bridging divides.

✅ Practice Challenge

• Initiate peace in a strained relationship—apologize, forgive, or soften.

• Compliment someone you usually compete with or avoid.

• Say a prayer for peace daily this week—in your home, your city, or the world.
  

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💫 Why This Mitzvah Matters

“For you are a holy people to the Lord your God.” –Deuteronomy 14:2

Kashrut is more than dietary law—it’s a spiritual discipline. By choosing what and how we eat with intention, we train ourselves to live with boundaries, awareness, and reverence. It’s about turning meals into mitzvot.

✅ Practice Challenge

• Choose one meal to eat this week that aligns with your personal kashrut values.

• Learn about the deeper reasons behind kosher laws.

• Host or attend a kosher-style meal and reflect on the experience.
  

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We are thrilled that Rabbi Zachary (he/him) has joined the Darshan Yeshiva mentoring staff!

Rabbi Zachary is a Post-Denominational rabbi, spiritual director, and yoga teacher based in Georgia. He was ordained at Pluralistic Rabbinical Seminary (Class of 2022) and graduated from Stillpoint’s spiritual direction program last spring.

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💫 Why This Mitzvah Matters

“Blessed are You...who brings forth bread from the earth.” –Traditional blessing

Saying brachot before eating, drinking, or experiencing something beautiful is a practice of mindfulness and gratitude. It helps us slow down, acknowledge the Source, and savor the sacred in the everyday.

✅ Practice Challenge

• Say a blessing before eating—even just once this week.

• Use a blessing before seeing a rainbow or hearing thunder.

• Create a personal blessing for something ordinary in your life.
  

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💫 Why This Mitzvah Matters

“Hear, O Israel: Adonai is our God, Adonai is One.” –Deuteronomy 6:4

The Shema is Judaism’s central declaration of faith. Reciting it morning and night connects us to Divine unity and personal responsibility. It’s both a meditation and a mission statement—a reminder to listen, love, and act with purpose.

✅ Practice Challenge

• Say the Shema each morning and night this week—aloud or silently.

• Cover your eyes and pause to feel its meaning.

• Write your own version of the Shema that speaks to your truth.
  

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💫 Why This Mitzvah Matters

“You shall look upon them and remember all the commandments.” –Numbers 15:39

Tzitzit are ritual fringes worn on a four-cornered garment, reminding us of mitzvot. They call us back to awareness, humility, and commitment. Whether you wear them physically or not, this mitzvah teaches about being visibly accountable to your values.

✅ Practice Challenge

• Notice what visible symbols you wear. Do they reflect who you are?

• Explore the meaning of tzitzit, even if you don’t wear them.

• Choose one mitzvah you want your “spiritual fringe” to remind you of this week.
  

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💫 Why This Mitzvah Matters

“You shall write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates.” –Deuteronomy 6:9

The mezuzah marks your home as a sacred space. It reminds us of God’s presence, our values, and the mitzvot we live by. It’s not a charm—it’s a declaration that what happens inside our home matters.

✅ Practice Challenge

• If you have a mezuzah, touch it when entering your home with kavanah.

• If you don’t, explore getting one and learning how to affix it.

• Write a blessing or affirmation and post it near your door.
  

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By Rabbi Patrick Beaulier

There’s a strange detail in the Exodus story. When the Israelites leave, they don’t just walk out empty handed. They take things with them. Gold. Silver. Clothing. Dolphin skin (yes, well, kinda).

Some call it reparations. Others say it was spoils of marauding. Take your pick. Either way, freedom, it turns out, is not a clean break. It’s complicated, like most things.

Choosing Judaism is not just about what you’re moving toward. It’s also about what you’re bringing with you—family expectations, old beliefs, cultural instincts.

Ways of seeing the world don’t disappear just because you stepped into something new. You don’t walk into the mikvah as a blank slate. You walk in as yourself, and are part of the Jewish people, still yourself.

Though I cannot find the quote directly, Rabbi Yaakov Malkin once remarked that a man can change his religion, but he cannot change his family. And this is true of people who not only try to leave Judaism, but also those who try to enter it.

If you read through student reflections and reviews of Darshan Yeshiva, a pattern emerges.

Not perfection. Not certainty. But honesty.

People talk about doubt. About fear. About feeling both drawn and unsettled. About realizing that this path asks more of them than they expected. And still they stay. And that’s the piece that often gets left out of the conversation around Judaism.

We like to present converting as either a purely spiritual journey or a checklist of requirements. And if you read our help desk, you’ll see that is the common question, and sometimes the tension.

But truthfully, converting isn’t either one—it’s both, it’s neither. Conversion is a process of becoming someone new categorically, but without pretending you were never someone else.

If I can offer any advice about converting, it’s to not pretend that you are someone else. This is not like high school, where you change your haircut, musical taste, and fashion to fit into some kind of “scene.” You’re not going through a ska phase: you’re committing to a human family who seeks your commitment.

No one who chooses Judaism does so because everything is resolved. They do it because something in them is unresolved, and they are willing to stay in that tension long enough for it to become something meaningful.

So, if you find yourself drawn to this path, the question isn’t, “Am I ready to leave everything behind?” or “How can I reinvent myself and destroy the past?” You won’t accomplish either.

The real question is, “What am I willing to carry forward, and what am I willing to let change?”

Freedom is not the absence of a past. It’s the ability to move forward without being defined by it. You are who you were, and who you are becoming, all at the same time.

Darshan Yeshiva is here for you through your journey, not for who we want you to be, or who you think you are supposed to be, but for who you really are and the stories you carry with you. While conversion asks you to no longer hold onto the beliefs and practices of the past, it does not ask you to become someone else. Darshan Yeshiva not only accepts you, but appreciates you.

Happy Passover, and may it be God’s will that all of us at Darshan Yeshiva play a role in your liberation.

Darshan Yeshiva provides Jewish learning for beginners + conversion to Judaism, all online.

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💫 Why This Mitzvah Matters

“You shall count for yourselves . . . seven complete weeks.” –Leviticus 23:15

Counting the Omer is a spiritual practice that builds mindfulness, patience, and intention. From Passover to Shavuot, it helps us move from freedom to responsibility—day by day, step by step.

✅ Practice Challenge

• Count one day of the Omer (even outside the season) with mindfulness.

• Reflect on a personal goal or transformation that requires daily steps.

• Keep a gratitude count for 7 days to parallel the theme.
  

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💫 Why This Mitzvah Matters

“For you were created in the image of God.” –Genesis 1:27

Taking care of your body is a mitzvah—it’s reverence, not vanity. Jewish tradition views health and self-care as spiritual obligations. Your body is a vessel for doing mitzvot, for prayer, and for showing up for others.

✅ Practice Challenge

• Move your body with intention: walk, stretch, breathe deeply.

• Choose nourishing food this week with gratitude before eating.

• Unplug and rest when your body signals the need.
  

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Recorded 2/22/26.

Music: “Shir Shir (A Sing Song)” by Maurice Perez | 2002 | www.israelidances.com

Rabbi & Son - Hot takes on news, pop culture, and religion. Hosted by Rabbi Patrick and his son Javon. Spiritual. Irreverent. Always fearless. Produced by Darshan Yeshiva.

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Thank you to our sponsors at Darshan Yeshiva for making this content possible. Darshan Yeshiva provides beginner level online Jewish learning including the very popular conversion to Judaism program, with sponsoring rabbis and students all over the world. Start your Jewish journey any place, anywhere and anytime with our Conservative, Reform, Reconstructionist, Jewish Renewal, Humanistic and Post-Denominational rabbi-mentors. Become the Jew you always wanted to be with Darshan Yeshiva.

Find the right learning course for you