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Tefillah Series

Videos on Jewish Prayer, recorded in a single day

These were made with relatively small budgets, and a relatively awesome set of Rabbis in Chicago.

 
The Ashrei is one of the most fundamental prayers in the Jewish prayer service. Learn what it is, how it is constructed and what it means in this short explainer video. Great for students, educators and those new to regular Jewish prayer.

Wrote and narrated this myself to show at the live one day session with the Rabbis, to show as an example of what we were looking to make.

Take a guided meditation of Birkat Kohanim, the Jewish Priestly blessing, featuring Rabbi Jordan Bendat-Appell from the Institute of Jewish Spirituality in Chicago.

I had fun coming up with a super simple visual style for these motion graphics, as the first step in the video asks the viewer to close their eyes.

How do Jews get ready to pray? Every morning Jews warm up with a series of blessings known as the Pesukei D'Zimra. Learn more about this special warm up prayer with Rabbi David Russo of Anshe Emet Synagogue in Chicago. Pesukei D'Zimra, or in Verses of Song, has been recited for at least 2,000 years.

For some reason, I decided nothing says Pesukei D’Zimra like an 80’s motif.

The Amidah is the core of Jewish worship service and refers to a series of blessings recited while standing. Learn more this prayer with Rabbi David Wolkenfeld of Anshe Sholom B'nai Israel Congregation in Chicago. The Amidah includes three distinct sections. The first section includes prayers that praise.

We did two shoots. One at a local Jewish high school and the other at an Orthodox synagogue. In an ideal world, we could have done two or three more locations, but I don’t live in that world.

 
 
The Birkat Kohanim is an ancient prayer from the Torah that speaks to our highest hopes for blessing. Learn more about this priestly blessing with Rabbi Jordan Bendat-Appell from the Institute of Jewish Spirituality in Chicago.
Did you just finished a delicious meal? Now it's time to say the Birkat Hamazon. Learn more about this blessing with Rabbi Michael Balinsky of the Chicago Board of Rabbis. This video was created at the Chicago Rabbinic Writers Lab, a program where 10 rabbis wrote Introduction to Tefillah videos in chevruta as a group.
 

Stu Sufrin animated the two pieces above. As an observant Jew and an incredible animator, he’s an absolute pleasure to work with on these.

 
12 videos about Jewish death and mourning rituals: https://www.bimbam.com/judaism-101/jewish-mourning/ The Kaddish is a Jewish prayer full of praise that is recited during Jewish prayer services and associated with death and mourning. Learn more about the meaning behind the prayer with Rabbi Danya Ruttenberg.
 
The Mi Shebeirach is the Jewish prayers for healing. Learn the meaning and rituals around this prayer from Rabbi Reni Dickman, the Director of InterfaithFamily in Chicago. While the Mi Shebeirach is most often recited during a Jewish service, you can say (or sing) this prayer anywhere you'd like.
Hallel is a Jewish prayer that is recited in community as an act of praise and gratitude. Learn more about this powerful prayer in this video featuring Rabbi Josh Feigelson of the University of Chicago Divinity School. Special thank you to Joey Weisenberg & The Hadar Ensemble for use of "Bina's Nigun (Live)" from the album, "Joey's Nigunim, Vol.

Jeanne Stern animated the three above. The Kaddish is my favorite of the set. Jeanne is a long time collaborator and I was happy to get to work with her on these.

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Old Videos

Directed these in 2012 - 2014. Jeanne Stern animated.

 
Sound advice from both a poor Rabbi and a rich Rabbi in this classic Hasidic folktale about how to avoid sticky, er, muddy situations. -- Subscribe to us on YouTube: http://bit.ly/2dFrxnn Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/heybimbam Twitter: https://twitter.com/heybimbam -- BimBam (formerly G-dcast) is a new media studio making Jewish videos, apps and animated series that are joyful, empowering introductions to Jewish ideas and life for kids & adults.

I did this back in 2013 with Jeanne Stern. It was the first piece I finished at BimBam, and while I’ve come a long way from here, it was a fun place to start.

 
Moses asks the Israelites "Are you ready for G-d?" - a key question in Torah Parshat Beshalach, during their epic flight out of Egypt.

Really fun narrator to work with and direct.

If Nadav and Avihu, two of Aaron's sons, were killed for incorrectly approaching God, what chance do the rest of us have to do it right? Jana Jett Loeb delves into the need for a patient engagement with those we love - and how that's better than bringing fire of our own.

I never thought I’d ever learn so much about the 50+ steps involved with ancient Jewish priest’s sacrifices. Really, not a subject that had crossed my mind.

 
2000 years ago, Beit Hillel and Beit Shammai knew how to engage in "Machloket L'shem Shemayim", meaning "Disagreements for the Sake of Heaven" or constructive conflicts. Today, we can learn from their example in order to manage our own personal or communal disagreements in a healthy and constructive way.

This is one of a few pieces that I made in both Hebrew and English. Localization skills? Apparently something I can do.

The four pieces below are also illustrated and animated by Jeanne Stern. She’s been an absolutely amazing partner in crime on all of these.

 
 
Nechama Tamler digs into the family infighting of our ancestors, from Jacob tricking Esau into giving up his birthright to Rebekah's part in the scheme. -- Subscribe to us on YouTube: http://bit.ly/2dFrxnn Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/heybimbam Twitter: https://twitter.com/heybimbam -- BimBam (formerly G-dcast) is a new media studio making Jewish videos, apps and animated series that are joyful, empowering introductions to Jewish ideas and life for kids & adults.
Abraham was chosen to drop everything and lead the Israelites back in Bible times? Was it Abe's willingness to open his house to strangers? Here's a playful set of answers based on historical rabbinic interpretations.
When Joseph first tests his brothers, Judah gets a chance to prove how far he's come. Rabbi Sydney Mintz tells about the three moral compasses of three very different brothers. -- This is an episode from the weekly Torah cartoon from BimBam.com.
This week's Torah parsha is about the tribes who ask Moses if they can stay on the far side of the Jordan when the Israelites go in to settle the Promised Land. Eliana Light and Matt Bar from Bible Raps lay it down. A deal is struck. Check it.