About Modya Silver and David Gottlieb

Modya Silver is an author and psychotherapist based in Toronto. David Gottlieb is Director of Jewish Studies at the Spertus Institute for Jewish Learning and Leadership in Chicago.

Modya Silver is an author and psychotherapist based in Toronto. David Gottlieb is a faculty member in the Jewish Studies program at Spertus Institute for Jewish Learning and Leadership in Chicago.

NBN Episodes hosted by Modya:

"Righteousness" (tzedek) in Metzora

April 18, 2024

"Righteousness" (tzedek) in Metzora

On this week's episode, Modya and David are joined by the artist, writer, coach, and fellow podcaster Avrum Rosensweig to discuss parshat Metzora in t…

"Righteousness" in Tazria: Leviticus 12:1–13:59

April 11, 2024

"Righteousness" in Tazria

David and Modya know that beauty is more than skin deep. In this episode, they look at the parsha of tazria (Leviticus 12:1–13:59) through the lens of…

More on "Righteousness" (Tzedek)

April 4, 2024

More on "Righteousness" (Tzedek)

Modya and David take a deep dive this week into Shemini (Lev. 9:1-11:47) to explore the content for lessons in tzedek, or righteousness. How might det…

On "Righteousness" (Tzedek)

March 28, 2024

On "Righteousness" (Tzedek)

This week, Modya and David discuss what can be learned about tzedek, or righteousness, from Tzav in the book of Leviticus (Lev. 6:1-8:36). What do pri…

More on "Humility" with Rabbi Marc Margolius

March 21, 2024

More on "Humility" with Rabbi Marc Margolius

This week, Modya and David are joined by Rabbi Marc Margolius, Vice President of Faculty and Program at the Institute for Jewish Spirituality, to disc…

The Mussar Tradition and "Humility" (anavah): On Exodus 38:21-40:38

March 14, 2024

The Mussar Tradition and "Humility" (anavah)

This week, Modya and David discuss Pekudei (Ex. 38:21-40:38), the last Torah portion in the Book of Exodus, in light of the trait of Humility. Among t…

Building the Tabernacle: On Exodus 35:1-38:20

March 9, 2024

Building the Tabernacle

This week, Modya and David delve into Vayakhel (Ex. 35:1-38:20), the Torah portion that describes in great detail the specific materials and dimension…

The Character Trait of Humility (anavah)

February 29, 2024

The Character Trait of Humility (anavah)

This week, Modya and David discuss the Torah portion of Ki Tisa (Exodus 30:11-34:35) in light of the character trait of anavah (humility). Their wide-…

Physical Cleanliness and Spiritual Cleanliness (nekiut)

February 24, 2024

Physical Cleanliness and Spiritual Cleanliness (nekiut)

In this episode Modya Silver concludes our four week look into the middah of cleanliness. He reviews the focus on physical cleanliness and how it insp…

"Cleanliness" (nekiut) and the Hubble Telescope

February 15, 2024

"Cleanliness" (nekiut) and the Hubble Telescope

This week Modya presents solo on what we can learn about the middah of cleanliness (nekiut) from the Hubble telescope! Specifically, there are steps w…

More on "Cleanliness" (nekiyut)

February 8, 2024

More on "Cleanliness" (nekiyut)

On this week's episode, Modya and David discuss the Torah portion of Mishpatim (Ex. 21:1-24:18) through the lens of the character trait of nekiyut, or…

On the Idea of "Cleanliness" (nekiyut) in Exodus 18:1–20:23

February 1, 2024

On the Idea of "Cleanliness" (nekiyut) in Exodus 18:1–20:23

This week, Modya and David move on to the character trait of nekiyut, or cleanliness, and use it as a lense on the Torah portion of Yitro, in which th…

The Lessons of the Middah of "Deciveness" (harizut)

January 25, 2024

The Lessons of the Middah of "Deciveness" (harizut)

On this week's episode, Modya and David are joined by Rabbi David Jaffe, a writer, Mussar teacher, and organizer, to discuss lessons on the middah of …

"Decisiveness" (harizut) in Exodus 10:1-13:16 (Bo)

January 18, 2024

"Decisiveness" (harizut) in Exodus 10:1-13:16 (Bo)

In this week's episode, Modya and David delve into lessons on decisiveness (harizut) in the weekly Torah portion, Bo (Exodus 10:1-13:16). Our hosts di…

More on "Decisiveness" (harizut)

January 12, 2024

More on "Decisiveness" (harizut)

In discussing this week's Torah portion, Va'era (Exodus 6:2-9:35) in light of the character trait of Decisiveness, Modya and David ponder big questio…

The Trait of "Decisiveness" (harizut)

January 4, 2024

The Trait of "Decisiveness" (harizut)

In this week's episode, Modya and David explore Sh'mot, the first parsha in the Book of Exodus, in light of the trait of harizut, or decisiveness. The…

Naming The Need For Order

December 27, 2023

Naming The Need For Order

In this episode David and Modya look at the final Torah portion of Vayechi in the book of Genesis through the lens of order (seder). In this parsha th…

"Order" and the Big Reveal

December 20, 2023

"Order" and the Big Reveal

David and Modya explore the challenges of balancing relationships with getting things done in life. They see how in parsha VaYigash order and disorder…

More on Joseph and "Order": On Genesis 41:1-44:17

December 13, 2023

More on Joseph and "Order"

This week, Modya and David explore parshat Miketz (Gen. 41:1-44:17) and consider its lessons for the character trait of Order. As Joseph gains power a…

"Order" in Joseph's Extraordinary Dreams

December 7, 2023

"Order" in Joseph's Extraordinary Dreams

In this week's episode, Modya and David read Vayeshev (Genesis 37:1-40:23) and consider what can be learned about the character trait of Order from Jo…

Loving Acts Through Patience: On the VaYishlach

November 30, 2023

Loving Acts Through Patience

David and Modya complete their four episode exploration of patience by looking at the Torah portion of VaYishlach. The focus in this episode is on the…

Jacob, Leah, Rachel and the "Middah" of Patience

November 23, 2023

Jacob, Leah, Rachel and the "Middah" of Patience

In this week's episode, Modya and David discuss parshat Va-Yetzei (Gen. 28:10-32:3) and its lessons for the middah (character trait) of patience. Is t…

Building Wells of Patience

November 15, 2023

Building Wells of Patience

In this week's episode, David and Modya discuss where patience may be found within the Torah portion of Toldot. As they look into the text and are cha…

The Flow of Patience

November 9, 2023

The Flow of Patience

In this week's episode, Modya and David discuss the Torah portion of Hayyei Sarah and what it teaches about the middah (trait) of patience. They note …