Skip to main content

Search Trends Ads Appearances Podcasts API

We value your privacy

We use cookies to understand how you use our platform and to improve your experience. Click “Accept All” to consent, or “Decline non-essential” to opt out of non-essential cookies. Read our Privacy Policy.

Parsha with Rabbi David Bibi

Parsha with Rabbi David Bibi

Taking the Fire Home - Esh Dat Lamo - simchat torah

Oct 2, 2026 · 14 min · 7 segments

What does it really mean when the Torah describes itself as “Esh Dat Lamo” — a Torah of fire? As we reach the final words of the Torah on Simḥat Torah, we discover a remarkable tradition…

What does it really mean when the Torah describes itself as “Esh Dat Lamo” — a Torah of fire? As we reach the final words of the Torah on Simḥat Torah, we discover a remarkable tradition surrounding the Baal Shem Tov and the name of his daughter, Adele—a name connected to the very letters of Esh Dat Lamo. From Ḥanokh the shoemaker to a pair of torn shoes that changed a family’s future, an unexpected thread begins to emerge: Torah is not meant simply to be studied or even held. It is meant to become a fire that we carry into ordinary life and then pass forward. For me, this teaching became deeply personal. My mother was Adele, and she lived to 98\. At 95, she was still working out and teaching women a fifth of her age how to train safely with weights—and there is a photograph I treasure of her at that age holding her tiny great-granddaughter, Orly Adele. This week, another Adele in our family celebrates with her husband the brit milah of their long-awaited first child. On Simḥat Torah we finish the Torah and immediately begin again, because in Judaism nothing holy is meant simply to end. The greatest blessing is not merely that our children carry our names. It is that they carry our fire.

What does it really mean when the Torah describes itself as “Esh Dat Lamo” — a Torah of fire? As we reach the final words of the Torah on Simḥat Torah, we discover a remarkable tradition…

Speakers: David BibiHost

Top entities: Torah×50 Baal Shem Tov×8 Shemini Atzeret×4 Simchat Torah×4 Moshe Chaim Ephraim of Sudilkov×2

The Torah as Fire0:12 – 2:11

D

0:12

On Simcha Torah, there's a moment that I always found remarkable.

D

0:16

We spend an entire year traveling through the Torah.

D

0:20

We begin with creation.

D

0:22

We'll begin again with creation on Sunday.

D

0:26

We meet Abraham and Sarah.

D

0:28

We descend with Yaakov into Egypt.

D

0:30

We suffer with our ancestors.

D

0:31

We leave Egypt.

D

0:33

We stand at Harsinai.

D

0:34

We wander through the desert.

D

0:36

And finally, after an entire year, we arrive at the end.

D

0:40

Moshe Rabbeinu is about to leave us.

D

0:43

He gives his berakha to the tribes, to the Shevatim.

D

0:47

He looks back at the extraordinary relationship between Hashem and His people.

D

0:51

And near the beginning of his final berakha, Moshe describes what happened at Har Sinai.

D

0:59

Vayyomar, Adonai misinai ba, mimino esh dat lamo.

D

1:06

Hashem came from Sinai from his right hand.

D

1:10

Then it says, esh dat lamo.

D

1:13

Three mysterious words.

D

1:16

Esh dat lamo.

D

1:18

A Torah of fire? Rashi speaks of the Torah given as black fire upon white fire.

D

1:26

If we look into the Tipunei Zohar, we see that Torah is not merely information.

D

1:34

Torah is fire.

D

1:37

And perhaps that is an appropriate image with which to finish the Torah.

D

1:43

Because what is unique about fire? If I have a dollar and give it away, I have a dollar less.

TorahBook SeriesScripture
98%50 mentions
Baal Shem TovPersonHealer
94%8 mentions
Shemini AtzeretEntityHoliday
90%4 mentions
Simchat TorahEntityHoliday
87%4 mentions
Moshe Chaim Ephraim of SudilkovPersonRabbi
83%2 mentions
Brit milahEntity
79%2 mentions
JudaismEntityReligion
75%4 mentions
Torah scrollEntity
71%1 mention
EgyptCountryCountry
67%2 mentions
Hasidic JudaismEntityReligion
63%3 mentions
Messiah in JudaismEntity
60%2 mentions
Book of DeuteronomyBookBook
56%1 mention
MosesPersonTeacher
52%1 mention
AlephEntity
48%2 mentions
ShiurEntity
44%1 mention
DaletEntity
40%1 mention
Nachman of BreslovPersonRabbi
37%1 mention
Yom KippurEntityHoliday
33%1 mention
EnosPersonSeth's son
25%1 mention
KenanPerson
25%1 mention
MahalalelPerson
25%1 mention
Beth midrashEntity
17%1 mention
GemaraEntity
13%1 mention
HakafotEntity
10%1 mention
GodEntitySupreme being
6%2 mentions
YiddishLanguageSpoken language
2%1 mention

Jewish CultureCulture
Baal Shem TovHistory > Jewish History > Historical Figures
Simchat TorahReligion > Judaism > Torah > Tradition
Tradition PassingFamily > Generational Values > Parenting > Cultural Heritage
Cultural SignificanceEducation > Religious Education > Torah Study
Teaching ValuesEducation > Religious Education > Torah Study > Cultural Significance
Hasidic TraditionHistory > Jewish History > Historical Figures > Baal Shem Tov
TorahReligion > Judaism
RitualsCulture > Jewish Culture > Traditions
Religious EducationEducation
Historical FiguresHistory > Jewish History
Jewish HistoryHistory
Generational ValuesFamily
ParentingFamily > Generational Values
TraditionReligion > Judaism > Torah
JudaismReligion
SymbolismCulture > Jewish Culture > Traditions > Rituals
TraditionsCulture > Jewish Culture
Torah StudyEducation > Religious Education
Cultural HeritageFamily > Generational Values > Parenting
History
Religion
Education
Family
Culture

The Torah as Fire0:12 – 2:11

D

0:12

On Simcha Torah, there's a moment that I always found remarkable.

D

0:16

We spend an entire year traveling through the Torah.

D

0:20

We begin with creation.

D

0:22

We'll begin again with creation on Sunday.

D

0:26

We meet Abraham and Sarah.

D

0:28

We descend with Yaakov into Egypt.

D

0:30

We suffer with our ancestors.

D

0:31

We leave Egypt.

D

0:33

We stand at Harsinai.

D

0:34

We wander through the desert.

D

0:36

And finally, after an entire year, we arrive at the end.

D

0:40

Moshe Rabbeinu is about to leave us.

D

0:43

He gives his berakha to the tribes, to the Shevatim.

D

0:47

He looks back at the extraordinary relationship between Hashem and His people.

D

0:51

And near the beginning of his final berakha, Moshe describes what happened at Har Sinai.

D

0:59

Vayyomar, Adonai misinai ba, mimino esh dat lamo.

D

1:06

Hashem came from Sinai from his right hand.

D

1:10

Then it says, esh dat lamo.

D

1:13

Three mysterious words.

D

1:16

Esh dat lamo.

D

1:18

A Torah of fire? Rashi speaks of the Torah given as black fire upon white fire.

D

1:26

If we look into the Tipunei Zohar, we see that Torah is not merely information.

D

1:34

Torah is fire.

D

1:37

And perhaps that is an appropriate image with which to finish the Torah.

D

1:43

Because what is unique about fire? If I have a dollar and give it away, I have a dollar less.

Sign up to see more

The rest of this transcript — segmented and speaker-labeled, so you land on the exact moment something was said
Search every transcript — by keyword, by phrase, or by meaning, across every show Radar indexes
Trends — what is surging across podcasts, measured against its own baseline
Alerts — when a name you follow appears in a newly indexed episode

Create an account Already have an account? Log in

No account is needed to search Radar.