In the Purim spirit, I’m sharing some (embarrassing!) bloopers and outtakes that were filmed during a recent Torah Live video shoot. Enjoy them!

By the way, I plan to be in London right after Purim (Mar 12,13, and 14) and hope to meet potential donors and train educators to use Torah Live material. If you can think of either, please let me know so I reach out to them and arrange to meet in person.

Wishing you and yours a very happy Purim! Rabbi Dan Roth and the Torah Live team.

The Torah Live Stunning Megillah, approved by Rabbi Yitzchak Berkovits of the Jerusalem Kollel and Rabbi Yisroel Reisman, Rosh Yeshiva of Yeshiva Torah Vodaath and Rav of Agudath Israel of Madison, Brooklyn NY, will soon be available for quick and easy purchase via download. (See here for approbation)

Check back to this spot on Sunday evening to download. If you’d like to be notified when the Stunning Megillah becomes available, send an email to stunningmegillah@torahlive.com.

+Each slide will have the verse in Hebrew and English along with a picture (see sample above). There will be 167 slides (that’s how many verses there are!) and 42 pictures. (i.e. each group of 4 or 5 verses will share the same picture)

+To show the material during megillah you will need someone to press a button to move the slides along in sync with the baal koreh.

+Unlike Torah Live’s other presentations, the Megillah material will have NO video or animations, which would be too distracting during the Megillah reading. Just still images.

+The material will be available by digital download. (No time to send out discs). People wanting a physical disc as back up will be able to add $14.95 to their order. Please realize that they will only get it after Purim.

+If you are able to post the project on kiruv or shul lists, please do so.

+Anyone wishing to dedicate the project in honor or memory of someone, should write to sponsorthefuture@torahlive.com

+You will need a computer, projector and screen (or white wall) to project the images on to.

+The license will be a lifetime license. No recurring yearly fees. The price scheme is as follows:
-Private tutor license $14.95 (screening up to 5 people)
-Classroom teacher license $29.95 (this is per classroom, not per school. i.e. 3 teachers in one school = 3 licenses)
-Shul / outreach organization license $59.95 (limited to one location)

Haskamas for the project from Rabbi Yitzchak Berkovits of the Jerusalem Kollel and Rabbi Yisroel Reisman, Rosh Yeshiva of Yeshiva Torah Vodaath and Rav of Agudath Israel of Madison, Brooklyn NY can be viewed here.

Anyone who sends decent pictures of the audience where the material was screened will receive a free Torah Live disc!

Purim Samaech!

The demand for the Megillah project has been pouring in. Over 30 schools and outreach organizations throughout the world – in Mexico, South Africa, Australia, England, Canada, and across North America – have expressed great interest in this necessary program – including the US Army Chaplin!

The final version will have the Hebrew text alongside the English and Rabbi Yitzchak Berkovits of the Jerusalem Kollel as well as Rabbi Yisroel Reisman, Rosh Yeshiva of Yeshiva Torah Vodaath and Rav of Agudath Israel of Madison, Brooklyn NY, have given their whole hearted endorsement to the idea of screening visual aids during the Megillah reading.

“Holding the attention of the congregation for the duration of the entire Megillah has been a concern for centuries,” Rabbi Berkovits writes. “It is for this reason that four pivotal verses are read aloud by the entire congregation. The issue is even more pronounced when the Megillah is read for beginners – young and old – unfamiliar with the Hebrew text. Torah Live, known for its innovative approach to Torah education, has once again created a state-of-the-art production to keep one’s interest and follow the Megillah reading. Very much like the illustrated Megillas of old, the reading is accompanied by a most beautiful slide show of scenes from the Megillah along with the entire text in both the original as well as an English translation. I firmly believe that this visual aid will indeed succeed in helping so many who would otherwise find it difficult – if not impossible – to fulfill the mitzvah of Kriyas Hamegillah.”

Rabbi Reisman writes, “Paying proper attention to the Megillah reading is one of the most difficult mitzvos to perform. Halachah requires that the listener be attentive during the entire reading. This is always difficult, but all the more so for people who are not familiar with the meaning of the Hebrew text. I join with HaRav Yitzchak Berkovits in celebrating the Torah Live Megillah production, which will allow these individuals to follow the Megillah reading in a meaningful way. My dear friend, Rabbi Dan Roth has once again used his imagination and considerable talents to place Torah Live at the cutting age of Torah Chinuch.”

“This is truly exciting news for all outreach shuls,” Rabbi Yakov Vann, Rav of the Calabasas Shul just outside of L.A., said. “In many cases, this is the very first time that the entire congregation of men, women and children can follow along with the reader. This is really deserving of a shechiyanu!”

The material will PG be available for download on Sunday 4th March.

Prices and more information can be found in the post above.

All the best,

Dan Roth

As many of our supporters use this time to give charity and finalize their ma’aser kesafim (monetary tithes) accounts, we think you will agree that these emails are timely and a great introduction to the new year. We will be adding a new video to the top of this post each day for the next 4 days, so be sure to keep checking back. (Scroll down to view earlier ones).

Video #4: Israel or Teaneck?

Video #3: All to one, or one to all?

Video #2: Charity Shmarity – Who says I must give?

Video #1: Priorities in Giving

I.R. asks, “I was planning on learning the Halachos of the Arba Minim with the boys in my Halacha class and now I can’t find the videos anywhere. What happened? If I can’t get these videos then it will really throw a wrench in my lesson plan. Is there anything that can be done to get them back on line? Thanks so much for your help.”

Wondering the same thing?

This year we have made a teachers version of the arba minim presentation. Unlike the previous web version, the teachers version includes speaking notes, pictorial summary sheets, extra section on how to hold the four species, how much to spend, and much more. It also contains the highly popular Sukkot: The Ultimate Shelter as well as an intriguing behind the scenes look at how this epic film was produced. The presentation comes as a download (no need to wait for cd to ship) and is available for just $45. Write to info@torahlive.com to purchase. Home version available here.

Now available on disc – click here to buy yours now.

Trying to buy a kosher set of the four species can leave you confused. If you are not totally familiar with all the pertinent laws, or find it difficult to apply what you’ve learned to actual practice – this amazing video is for you.

Using the latest multimedia technology, this presentation will guide you, step by step, with everything you need to know.

Includes breathtaking video, Sukkot: The Ultimate Shelter. Guaranteed to make your sukkot an entirely new experience.

Pick up Getting to Know Your Four Species today and enjoy a truly meaningful sukkot this year. Give as a gift to your family or friends. They’ll love you for it!

“Absolutely phenomenal!”
- Yona Monk

“Breathtaking, inspiring, and illuminating!”
- Reuven Poupko

“Brilliantly produced.”
- Danny Fine

“Unbelievable talent.”
- Miriam Kolko

“The best I’ve ever seen!”
- Vitali

“I’ve gone through several books and guides in my lifetime, This set of videos is by far the most concise and complete guide about the four species.”
- Shmuel Shimshoni

…can enhance your life forever, in this new video from Torah Live, entitled “King of the World”. Enjoy and be sure to let us know what you think in the comments section below.

This video is from Torah Live’s upcoming brachos presentation. Want more? Sign up here to be the first to know when we release new material.

Enjoy this video produced by Torah Live at the Jerusalem Biblical Zoo. It is a segment of the upcoming series of presentations on kashrut. Sign up on our connect page so we can let you know when the full presentation is available.

People don’t believe the Ultimate Shelter video [view the video here ] was really shot in the desert. They say it had to have been “Photoshopped” or digitalized in! So here are the pictures to prove that I really sat in my armchair on the edge of the cliff! I must admit though, I was really scared! The wind was so strong it blew the sukka down the cliff. Thank G-d Bentzy and Daniel, our jeep drivers, were equipped with rope to drag it all back up. One things for sure: I ain’t going back to Egypt to shoot a Pesach film!

If you’d like to get a full picture of  Torah Live’s mission and vision for future, check out our new video and click here to download (pdf) our full color BusinessPlan. What do you think?  Let us know in the comment section below.

Torah Live releases an original video, “Sukkot: The Ultimate Shelter”. It is viewed more than 30 thousand times and is crossposted on notable sites including ou.org, aish.com and chabad.org

Torah Live traveled to an esrog pardes (orchard) to capture detailed footage for our upcoming series on the Four Species of Sukkot. [Update: Click to view the completed video (6 min)]