A rav for the English-speaking world
Rabbi Zev Leff is the rav of Moshav Matityahu in Israel and one of the most widely heard English-speaking Torah teachers of his generation. Born and raised in the United States before settling in Eretz Yisrael, he has long served as a bridge for English-speaking Jews seeking depth in hashkafa — the worldview and machshava that sit behind Jewish practice. His clear, systematic style has made his shiurim a staple for learners far beyond his own community.
What marks his teaching is order. He tends to build an idea carefully, defining terms and following a line of reasoning to its conclusion, so that a listener leaves not just inspired but genuinely understanding the point. This makes his recordings useful for serious study, not only for a lift of encouragement, and it is a large part of why they have been trusted in homes and classrooms for years.
The calendar: from the simcha of Purim to Tisha B'Av
The Jewish calendar is a constant subject. His holiday shiurim move across the year — "The Simcha of Purim," a "Special Tisha B'Av Chizuk," and talks on Elul and the Days of Awe — each drawing out the particular avodah of the season. He treats the festivals not as commemorations to observe but as recurring opportunities, each with its own spiritual task to take on.
His approach to Rosh Chodesh reflects the same instinct: even the quiet monthly marker becomes a subject worth teaching. Across the calendar he helps listeners understand what a given day is meant to accomplish in a person's inner life, so that keeping the Jewish year becomes an active practice rather than a routine one simply moves through.
Pirkei Avos, adversity, and the meaning of life
Rabbi Leff is also a noted teacher of Pirkei Avos and of the larger questions of Jewish life. Talks such as "Elul and the Meaning of Life" and "Dealing with Adversity" show him applying Torah thought to the situations people actually face — hardship, purpose, and how to hold steady when life is difficult. He does not offer slogans; he works through the ideas.
That seriousness extends to the hardest moments. His "Divrei Chizuk and Hesped" marking twelve months from the passing of the Sassoon children is an example of a teacher meeting communal grief directly and drawing meaning from it. Across his catalog the aim is consistent: to give listeners a coherent Torah framework for making sense of their lives.
Finding kosher Torah video for your family
FilteredTube is a kosher video service built for Jewish families — every single video is approved against one written standard before it can appear, with no open feed, no comments, and no surprises. It is a calm, safe place to look for the Torah and Jewish music you love.
If your family enjoys teachers like Rabbi Zev Leff, search FilteredTube for the speakers and topics that matter most to you. With a daf yomi shelf, a weekly parsha shelf, topic shelves, audio-only listening for the car, and a kids mode with a PIN, kosher Jewish video is easy to reach — and the approved catalog keeps growing every day.
At a glance
Key takeaways
- Rabbi Zev Leff is the rav of Moshav Matityahu in Israel and a leading English-speaking teacher.
- He is known for clear, systematic hashkafa that builds an idea step by step.
- His holiday shiurim draw out the specific avodah of each season, from Purim to Tisha B'Av.
- He teaches Pirkei Avos and applies Torah thought to adversity and the search for meaning.
- Search FilteredTube for kosher, approved Torah video — the catalog grows every day.