Lema’an is a podcast exploring the biggest moral and civic questions confronting the Jewish people, Israel, and America today: purpose, pluralism and peoplehood. Through the lens of Jewish wisdom, story, and experience we will invite our guests and listeners to wrestle with these ideas and the relationship between them. 

Lema’an | למען is inspired by Deuteronomy 16:20, one of the most quoted biblical verses. 

צֶ֥דֶק צֶ֖דֶק תִּרְדֹּ֑ף לְמַ֤עַן תִּֽחְיֶה֙ וְיָרַשְׁתָּ֣ אֶת־הָאָ֔רֶץ אֲשֶׁר־יְהוָ֥ה אֱלֹהֶ֖יךָ נֹתֵ֥ן לָֽךְ 

Often, only the first part of the verse is quoted, leaving out the critical context that God calls on us to pursue justice lema’an, so that we may thrive in the land of Israel. This podcast seeks to reclaim the full verse in all its context and center the question of purpose as we consider our role as Jews who feel compelled toward the needs of the Jewish people and the needs of all humanity. 

Hebrew Text Source Sheet – Follow along with the verses we explore in this episode

Hosts:  
Rabbi Jill Avrin, JCRC Senior Educator and Director of Campus Affairs 
Sami Rahamim, former JCRC Director of Communications and Community Affairs 

Cover Art: Grossman Design Associates 
Music: Fishman Choral 

We dedicate this podcast in memory of all those slain on October 7 and in Hamas captivity. We pray that as we use our own voices, we give life to theirs.  

This is a podcast of the Jewish Community Relations Council of Minnesota and the Dakotas. Consider a donation to support our work.