The Torah Podcasting Paradox: Speaking to Yourself

The journey of sharing wisdom can often feel lonely, especially when it seems like nobody is listening. Join us as we delve into themes of motivation, personal growth, and the transformative power of self-discussion. Rabbi Mendelsohn shares his experiences with the Motivation Congregation and reflects on the complexities of engagement in the digital world. With insights drawn from the teachings of Ibn Ezra, we explore the hidden lessons that arise when we speak openly about what we love, even on challenging days. The conversation shifts from the struggle for audience connection to the rich knowledge gained through self-dialogue. 

In a world where external affirmation sometimes falls short, our hosts remind us that the simplest act of talking can spark profound understanding and personal growth. This episode invites listeners to rediscover the power of their voice and reminds us all that the love of sharing ideas is something worthy of pursuit. Tune in and let your voice be heard, because every discussion matters, no matter how small the audience. Don’t forget to subscribe, share your thoughts, and help us spread the message of the transformative power of meaningful dialogue!

Chapters

• 0:00 The Struggles of an Unheard Voice
• 25:00 Wisdom from Ibn Ezra on Dark Days
• 58:00 Learning by Speaking: The Power of Discussion

Transcript

Speaker 1: 0:01

There are many days here at the Motivation Congregation that nobody listens to the podcast, nobody reads the halakhic quotes, promotions documents that we try to publish here.

Speaker 1: 0:17

Sometimes very few people read Rabbi Mendelsohn's great halakha comments. No one listens to the motivational talks, no one cares about the yardsticks. There are times that out of the 6,500 subscribers, if you include podcast and WhatsApp status, that hardly anybody listens to the Torah that myself and some of my friends are trying to spread and it can feel rather demoralizing to spread and it can feel rather demoralizing. There are times the only people that tune in my mama and my grandma, there are times that even they don't turn tune in probably shouldn't say that. They probably always tune in. But I'm trying to say is that there are days that it doesn't go as planned and the motivation congregation doesn't give me the sense of satisfaction and growth and production that I'd hoped. And on the dark days I pull out this Ibn Ezra, old and worn out because I've carried it around with me for a great deal of time. I pull it out in Ibn Ezra, one of the great medieval commentators, commenting on chapter 119, psalm 119 in Tehillim, verse 99. Keep it in your back pocket for the dark days and for what can be perhaps the most inspiring way to connect to Hashem and never have an off day.

Speaker 1: 1:38

The Pesach says, dovah Namalech says and declares Mikol Milam Dayaskalti, from all of my teachers, I have become wise. Ki eidosecha sikhali For your statutes, your laws, they are my sikh, they are my discussion. From all of my teachers, I have become wise because your statutes, your laws, your Torah, god, it is my haqq, it is my siha. The Ebon Ezra says David Amalek needs to convey the lesson that he became wiser than his teachers. It taught him more to. He learned more from his own personal discussions, sir, sir. It taught him more to lamdini, ma'asher, lamduni, milamada, milamda. He learned more from his own personal discussions and the production of his own podcasts.

Speaker 1: 2:32

See, ladies and gentlemen, it seems there's this magic that when you talk about something, it takes you over and you care about it personally. You see people argue by the water cooler about nonsense, and then you see people arguing or discussing things by the water cooler, in this very average, mundane way. But what you talk about, you best be careful because you're listening to it and it takes a real rosham, a real effect on you. And David Al-Mahf declares that he learned more from all of his rabbin, more than Mipi Boishas, more than whoever else he studied by, maybe David Ben Yishai, maybe even more than what David learned from his father Yishai. He learned even more from the amount that left his own mouth, because, melamda Yiskalti, who is a Sefasi Khali For my discussions About your Torah, that's what made me wise.

Speaker 1: 3:31

On the days that no one listens to the podcast, it just re-inspires us to say who are we really talking to? We're really talking to ourself, I'm really talking to me. And when you have to start talking and you force yourself to have to learn and even teach, and it leaves your mouth and you have to formulate the idea using your own brain, it does force you to gain a little bit of insight. Mo'ahav diterasech davra melech, continue with how much I love your Torah, I talk about it.

Speaker 1: 4:08

Ladies and gentlemen, the trick is to talk about it. The trick is to hack about it. The trick is to use this magic power of the voice that you have and discuss God's holy laws, and what a relief it is. It matters, not Even grandma, mom, great grandma Anyone listens. It matters only that we will never stop talking, no matter where or how, because Torah. It is my haqq session because Torah is my haqq session. Torah is my little idea that I love to schmooze about. E'doysecha sihali Davana Malach says and our own words comes out of our mouth. Teaches us far more than what anyone else could ever teach us.