AVODAH ALIVE

Building a Home for Torah

Mark Margulies — Thu, 11 Jun 2026 01:24:55 GMT

Rabbi continues to show the parallel between marriage and learning, and it'll make you shake your head and wonder why no one ever uncovered this for you before. But that's why Rabbi's insights are so important to our daily life. Enjoy the next step ijnto developing a strong Torah bond than ever before.

Questions Keep the Connection Alive

Mark Margulies — Thu, 28 May 2026 19:50:35 GMT

Today, Rabbi discusses how answers don't stimulate growth. Only when you question and continue to question, can you unlock the many layers the Torah has to offer. It's similar to a marriage - by asking questions, you deepen the relationship and learn more and more about each other. Same when you 'marry' the Torah. Listen, and discover.

Shavuos creates our marriage

Mark Margulies — Thu, 21 May 2026 02:54:21 GMT

Some look at the holiday of Shavuos not only as our receiving the Torah, but more like a bridegroom and a bride coming together in marriage. The Torah is more than just our rules and laws - it's the fabric that holds Jews together. Rabbi elaborates on this and the idea that Shavuos is also a time to challenge yourself to not just settle for mastering something, but to use it as a jumping off point to something even greater.

Sharing Your Worldview

Mark Margulies — Thu, 14 May 2026 23:10:36 GMT

It's not about learning until your comfortable. Learning is an ongoing situation, and in this discussion. Rabbi explains that, if you're comfortable and filing information away, you're not growing. Come take a journey and listen as Rabbi changes the way your learn Torah and perform mitzvahs

Internalizing Your Learning

Mark Margulies — Thu, 07 May 2026 22:32:10 GMT

We have a tendency to learn something, and then store it away in a box somewhere in our mind. And that's OK for about 99% of what we do on a daily basis. Rabbi wants you to look deeper when it comes to Torah study and understand, unless you internalize and stop trying to put Torah learning in a box, to be taken out when convenient, growth will be difficult and will feel cumbersome. Learning while keeping the Torah lessons current, makes it part of your life and helps you grow in many new and exciting ways. Listen and see if you don't agree.

TORAH AS A GIFT

Mark Margulies — Thu, 30 Apr 2026 03:57:43 GMT

When something is a go9ft, learning it becomes a joy, not a chore. Once Moshe was gifted the Torah at Mount Sinai by Hashem, it was easy to learn, and for the rest of us to carry inside us. Take a listen and discover a new way to access what's already inside you

BEING THE TORAH, NOT JUST DOING

Mark Margulies — Thu, 23 Apr 2026 19:01:23 GMT

Shavuos is coming, a celebration of the Jewish people accepting the Torah some 3300 plus years ago. So once we received the Torah, why do we celebrate every year? Surely, we have all the laws and decrees - what more is there? Plenty - and Rabbi is about to bring you a few thoughts on the idea that Hashem wants us to BE the Torah, not just DO what it says. Fascinating ideas await you.

Hashem is Behind the Pesach Miracle

Mark Margulies — Thu, 26 Mar 2026 23:47:16 GMT

The story is amazing - what's more amazing is Hashem's love for his people. Listen as Rabbi explains the hidden miracle of Hashem and a history of promises kept

Live the Story , Not the Facts

Mark Margulies — Thu, 19 Mar 2026 19:48:58 GMT

It's a great story - the Exodus from Egypt. So why are we worried about turning i into a class each year? Rabbi takes the time to explore this phenomenon and why you need to step back and remember why we were touched by the story to begin with. One of Rabbi's most important and meaningful discussions.

Focus on Growth, Not Goals

Mark Margulies — Thu, 12 Mar 2026 20:26:33 GMT

It's the Rabbi's turn to take on a huge issue in the Jewish world - that, of motivation. It may be the number one factor that causes Jewish people to doubt their connection to G-d. How do you motivate and stay motivated..? Rabbi discusses how it's not about setting or even reaching goals . It's all about growth instead. A fascinating discussion of why growth become smore important in your journey - and how to grow so you stay motivated.

Ratzon as the Bigger Picture

Mark Margulies — Fri, 06 Mar 2026 18:24:42 GMT

If Judaism has become nothing more than checking boxes, you're missing the point. In this podcast, Rabbi explores how ratzon offers a different, more vibrant approach to everything in Judaism, from celebrating Pesach to every day davening. If you're looking for a better way to develop meaning in your spiritual life, this is a must-listen to

Purim Question - Have you Seen My Father?

Mark Margulies — Fri, 27 Feb 2026 04:47:38 GMT

On one hand, we're told to eliminate Amalek from our thoughts. And yet, the Torah then instructs us to remember what Amalek did to us. So which is it? Well, Rabbi digs into all that, along with the connection to Purim and Haman and how deep your belief level could actually leave you short. A truly powerful podcast.

Seder is Not Just for Pesach

Mark Margulies — Fri, 13 Feb 2026 03:31:39 GMT

In his continuing pursuit of das, Rabbi explores the idea of seder, or order as it's defined. By brining order to your world, from davening to personal relationships, you create more understanding of everything around you, and imbue your world with a new level of holiness.

It's Inside of You

Mark Margulies — Fri, 30 Jan 2026 23:03:29 GMT

The Torah is a tool. And it may seem overwhelming to try to learn. But as Rabbi explains in this segment of AVODAH ALIVE, the beauty of Torah already exists inside you. You will connect because it's in your Jewish DNA. Listen and hear what that all means.

Growth Through Das

Mark Margulies — Thu, 22 Jan 2026 19:53:48 GMT

We fall into a rut. And that means we stop 'listening' to the messages G-d is sending to us everyday. That red car you passed on the highway was a message. So was who you sat next to in shul last Shabbos. Listen, as Rabbi explains that the messages you need and seek from G-d are all around - we just have to learn to use Das, to 'hear' them.

Chanukah from the Inside

Mark Margulies — Fri, 19 Dec 2025 21:22:36 GMT

We grow up learning about and celebrating the military victory of the Maccabee against the Greeks - and of course, the miracle of the oil. But Chanukah is more about the battle of Torah versus the Greek way of life . It's developing from the outside versus from the inside. Come discover a different way to approach Chanukah with Rabbi Lebovits.

Embracing Tension

Mark Margulies — Wed, 26 Nov 2025 22:39:00 GMT

If we just get into a routine and stay there, where's the growth? Once you get into a rut, it's hard to get out. So in this installment, Rabbi Lebovits challenges you to escape the rut - by adding tension to your world. Tension, in the form of decisions, or alternatives, of making choices instead of just choosing the same old same old. See a new way to embrace your pursuit of Torah, one that opens an infinite amount of new doors.

Rebounding Process

Mark Margulies — Wed, 19 Nov 2025 22:36:00 GMT

How can a process of separation actually draw you closer to Hashem and your own feeling of spiritual connection? Rabbi Lebovits explains how four simple steps can change everything for you, and get you out of your routine.

Life with Das

Mark Margulies — Wed, 29 Oct 2025 21:32:00 GMT

Das is loosely translated as knowledge. Letting your Das take over and guide your movement forward is the true way to allow your spirituality to expand, and grow stronger. One can be doing the right things, but operating on autopilot. Living with das means becoming engaged at a whole new level.

Rejecting Routine

Mark Margulies — Thu, 13 Nov 2025 22:21:00 GMT

It would be so nice if life were smooth sailing everyday and we were never challenged by obstacles in the way. But Rabbi Lebovits brings down teachings, along with his own view of growth, that simply states, if you're happy with routine, and you go through life without paying attention, you're never going to grow, to reach your potential. Take a listen and see how you react to some out-of-the-box thinking.

Hislamdos

Mark Margulies — Wed, 17 Sep 2025 21:13:00 GMT

Seeking out new wisdom and then applying that wisdom to our lives'. That is one definition of Hislamdos, and in this segment, Rabbi Lebovits explains how this thought process is essential if you want to grow and expand your spiritual understanding.

Wanting More

Mark Margulies — Wed, 17 Sep 2025 21:09:00 GMT

When you have 100, you want 200. When you have 200, you want 400. Some tell us wanting more is not good thing. But why? In this segment , Rabbi Lebovits brings down ideas about why wanting more is good - and then injects his own original thoughts to help you understand why that is, Come along for his special journey.

Searching and Seeking

Mark Margulies — Wed, 03 Sep 2025 21:07:00 GMT

Taking on challenges is fine and that's a way to attain a certain growth. But by searching and seeking out ways to improve yourself spiritually, you're really on a path that will bring the most dramatic results. Growth is not about checking boxes and checking off 'things to do', it's about charting a path that offers results, and then inspires you to move on and do more.

Consistent Growth

Mark Margulies — Wed, 27 Aug 2025 21:05:00 GMT

Small steps. If you want to grow and you want to make an impact, take on small projects. Expand your davening. Go to Daf Yomi. Choose small, doable projects that won't dissuade you from continuing, even if they're hard for you to do. Big projects that fail mean it's too easy to give up totally. Try this, after hearing the reasoning behind it

Maintaining the High

Mark Margulies — Wed, 20 Aug 2025 21:02:00 GMT

Rosh Hashannah and Yom Kippur bring us to an amazing spiritual high, that slowly fades as they days and weeks pass. So, how do we maintain that level and build on it? Rabbi says, treat it like a business. A business?!? How are we supposed to do that? This is the place to learn what that means.

Respecting Will.

Mark Margulies — Wed, 23 Jul 2025 20:58:00 GMT

No one wants their will to be disrespected. But what about a will that's not like others. Nonetheless, Rabbi explores how respecting a person's will is tantamount to respecting yourself, and the only way for you to move forward.