Aleph Beta is a Torah media company. We create videos, podcasts and other adult learning resources that focus on in-depth analysis of Torah text, covering topics such as parsha, holidays, prayer, the meaning behind mitzvot, and much more. We’re sort of a hybrid between a beit midrash and a video/audio production studio, taking sophisticated Torah insights and packaging them into beautifully animated videos and highly-produced podcasts, deep dive courses and easy-to-use printable study guides, all of which can be easily accessed — via desktop or app — in our extensive, easy-to-browse Torah library. All of the content on our site comes from Rabbi David Fohrman, our founder and lead scholar, or from one of his students. 

We hope you’ll find that when you study Torah with Aleph Beta, you don’t have to choose between intellectual rigor and deep spiritual meaning. As our CEO, Imu Shalev, puts it, “We're on a mission to help people fall in love with Torah, to glimpse the beauty and profundity of the Torah. The truth is, it's so hard to talk about, but it's so easy to grasp what I mean by simply just watching one of our videos. Go watch the video on the splitting of the sea and creation, go watch the video about Abraham's journey and why he was chosen. Go watch the video on the the meaning of the laws of the Tabernacle. I guarantee you, they won't just blow you away, but they will change your life; they will mean something to you. That to me is what Aleph Beta is all about.”

For more about our content and what makes it unique, keep on reading…

Give me the short answer.

Okay! Aleph Beta focuses on in-depth analysis of Torah text, yielding meaningful insights that are relevant to your modern life.

I’ll hear the long answer, too…

Great. For starters, you’ll find a variety of media at Aleph Beta: 10-minute animated videos for a quick dose of Torah, highly-produced podcasts for learning on-the-go, deep dive courses for those craving a deeper understanding that spans larger portions of the text, recorded lectures from Rabbi Fohrman, and printable transcripts and guides for stimulating lively Shabbos table conversation or for chevruta (partner) study. 

Our library is centered around in-depth analysis of Torah text that yields meaningful insights which are relevant to your modern life. That’s the heart of our approach. A lot of Aleph Beta's close reading methodology includes seeing patterns, parallels, unique structures, and wordplay in the text. (For more on this, see the “Our Methods” section below.) Through that lens, we cover a wide range of Torah topics: the weekly parsha, the holidays, mitzvot (laws), Tanakh stories, big questions in Judaism, and more. So when you click on an Aleph Beta video which explores the mitzvah of immersion in a mikvah, don’t expect to find a list of do’s and don’t’s about how to properly immerse. Instead, expect to find a journey through the biblical text — one fueled by curiosity and the spirit of discovery — that begins with the Torah verses which mandate mikvah immersion and reads them closely, mining them for meaning… with the aim of uncovering the Torah’s insights about what this mitzvah means, why God commanded us to do it, and how we can perform it meaningfully. You’ll find that same spirit of curiosity, reverent attention to the Torah text, and thirst for spiritual meaning in all of our content.

For starters, our Torah is geared for adults. You’ll probably feel at home here if any of the following describes you: you love Torah, you want to love Torah, you appreciate in-depth textual study, you want to ask big questions and be rewarded with satisfying answers, and you’re thirsting for spiritual meaning and a deeper connection to God. 

Note that we didn’t say anything about being an “experienced” learner, or, for that matter, a “beginner.” Rabbi Fohrman’s approach to Torah study is intellectually and spiritually sophisticated (i.e., there’s nothing “dumbed down” here), but also clear and accessible. As a result, we hear from our users — those who have been learning in yeshiva for years, as well as those who are just beginning their Torah journeys — that Aleph Beta consistently provides them with meaningful and surprising insights into the Torah that they can’t find anywhere else.

Rabbi Fohrman’s affiliation is Orthodox, as are the scholars of Aleph Beta Labs, students of Rabbi Fohrman’s who also contribute to this site, and the same is true for many people who are attracted to our website, but certainly not all. So give us a chance and watch a video (this is a great one to start with: Why Aren’t Dinosaurs Mentioned in the Torah?). If you like it, then you’re in the right place — regardless of labels.

What about kids? Well, while we create our content with adults in mind, there are many young people who appreciate Aleph Beta’s Torah. We constantly hear from Jewish day school educators who regularly use Aleph Beta resources in their classrooms. A high school student, or a bright and mature middle school student, may well become an Aleph Beta fan to rival the best of them. And if you’re after some great family viewing for younger children, we highly recommend our shorter parsha videos. The content in our courses is multi-layered and younger children will also be able to get something out of it.

But don’t make the mistake of thinking that because our videos are animated, they’re for kids. Adults also benefit from having a visual aid! Seeing an incredible, intricate pattern unfold in the text for yourself is far more meaningful and impactful than just hearing about it, or reading an article about it. This video on the hidden structure of the Ten Commandments is a perfect example of that. Animation also brings the ideas and stories in our videos to life. Torah learning should be a fully engaging and immersive experience; at least, that’s what we strive for here. Just watch this video on the meaning of morning prayers, and tell us if the stunning sunsets don’t make Rabbi Fohrman’s message that much more real for you.

Rabbi Fohrman is Aleph Beta's founder and lead scholar, and is the creator of most of the content you see on the site. Rabbi Fohrman has also trained a team of scholars in his close reading techniques. Aleph Beta Labs was introduced to create a space for these scholars to bring their unique perspectives and experiences to the interpretation of the text. You can read more about Aleph Beta Labs and the scholars you'll encounter across the site here.

Subscribing to Aleph Beta costs $18 per month (or $15 per month if you opt for an annual plan — a 17% savings). That gives you:

Unlimited access to our library of 1,000+ beautifully animated Torah videos, top-rated Torah podcasts, and deep-dive courses

Printable transcripts for Shabbat reading and Torah study guides for group discussion

Invitations to exclusive webinars with Rabbi Fohrman

But if you’re not yet ready to commit, we get it. That’s why we offer you the chance to sign up for a free trial. You can choose a 7-day or a 14-day free trial period - whichever works best for you. No strings attached - you can cancel your trial anytime you want! There’s really nothing to lose here. Our goal with this free trial is to help you feel not only comfortable, but excited to join our Aleph Beta community of learners. 

In fact, we’re so confident that you’ll fall in love with our content that even after you’ve been charged, if our Torah content doesn't knock your socks off, we'll give you your money back, no questions asked. And Aleph Beta is always free for anyone who can't afford it. 

At the end of the day, we’re not here to make a profit. We’re just a group of idealists — researchers, editors, producers, animators, website developers, etc. — who are passionate about Aleph Beta’s mission: giving our users the tools to fall in love with the Torah and with God, its Author. So we're hoping you don't look at us like any other app that you pay for – but rather as a cause that you'd be proud to support. We know we’d be proud to have you alongside us.

Our most dedicated members committed to supporting Aleph Beta on a deeper level and gaining access to some special perks choose to join our inner circle and become Patrons. You can learn more about Patrons here.

We have a dedicated customer happiness team to help you with any questions or concerns about your membership that you can reach at info@alephbeta.org or through the chat box on our website and app.

We have a blog post about that! Check it out here.