"Who is wise? One who learns from every person."
- Ben Zoma, Avot 4:1
Come on in!
I'm Sal Litvak, the Accidental Talmudist. My wife Nina and I share Jewish wisdom, humor, and music with over a million followers on Facebook. We also produce a weekly live show seen in over 70 countries.
This site features some our favorite posts and episodes. Let us know if we're missing one of your favorites.
You can also learn more about us while you're here, and support our goal of sharing Jewish wisdom with everybody.
ב”ה
Explore
Explore
All is foreseen, and freedom of choice is granted.
- Rabbi Akiva, Avot 3:15
Click an area you'd like to explore.
Learnings I'm excited about. Everything from mystical prayers to dietary laws.
My blog. Personal, rationally upbeat, and by Accidents I mean "Accidents."
Your dose of Jewish music, humor, and wisdom. Live and unscripted.
Stories of the little tribe that could, and those who bless us.
Amazing stories of courage, sacrifice, creativity, and inspiration.
My favorite Jewish jokes, accidentally edited.
Appearances
Appearances
The Ideal Speaker For Your Event!
Salvador Litvak is a Hollywood film director who became the Accidental Talmudist after an unexpected miracle launched him into seven years of daily Talmud study. Sal’s Accidental Talmudist blog has over a million followers in 70 countries, and his weekly live shows are wildly popular.
Viewers love his signature brand of smart, exuberant Judaism that’s accessible to all, from Chassidic to secular. Sal speaks all over the world, leaving audiences inspired and deeply moved. He is an ideal speaker, presenter or emcee for any event.
Topics include:
- An Evening With The Accidental Talmudist, or How An Immigrant Kid From Chile Ended Up Directing Movies in Hollywood And Sharing Torah With A Million People
- When Do We Eat? The Rollercoaster Tale of the Most Jewish Film Ever Made in Hollywood
- Shnooks At Sinai - Experience the Greatest Moment In Human History From The Perspective Of Two Yids In The Cheap Seats
- Beshertness - Surprising Anecdotes From The Accidental Talmudist Community
- Saving Lincoln - I Went Head to Head with Steven Spielberg and I'm Still Standing!
- Modern Politics And Talmudic Discourse - The more divided we become as a society, the more we can learn from our Sages on how to advocate for our causes in a manner that will actually open hearts and change minds.
With the broad reach of his Facebook page, Sal can also help you promote your event.
"Salvador's heartfelt address at the closing event was very powerful, and generated much discussion among the Chabad emissaries from around the world... I look forward to helping Salvador take his message, wisdom, and passion for Torah and yiddishkeit to Chabad Centers across North America and beyond."
- Rabbi Ephraim Mintz, Executive Director, The Rohr Jewish Learning Institute
"The response to Salvador Litvak's Accidental Talmudist talk at Partners in Torah's Winter Retreat was extraordinary. Speaking to an audience of 400, he inspired, amused, elevated, and left a permanent impression on the religiously diverse crowd."
- Rabbi Eli Gewirtz, National Director, Partners In Torah
"Salvador Litvak is an enthralling speaker. The story of his Accidental Talmudist journey deeply impressed me, and the whole room, at the event I attended."
- Lisa Bloom, New York Times bestselling author, civil rights attorney at The Bloom Firm, NBC News legal analyst
"We’ve hosted many politicians, athletes, New York Times bestselling authors, etc. and without a doubt Sal Litvak was one of our best. Sal brings a passion that cannot be imitated or faked. He also has a likable presence in the room. People gravitate towards Sal, and his message can give goose bumps."
- Jordan Mandelberg, The Jewish Federation of Greater Los Angeles
"Sal is a very impressive individual with a powerful personal story. He engaged all who attended with humour, spirituality and deep meaning. Attendance was excellent for the organized events. I strongly recommend introducing Sal to your community for an evening or Shabbaton."
- Rabbi Asher Jacobson, Congregation Chevra Kadisha, Montreal, Canada
"Sal was one of the most unique and inspiring speakers we've ever had. Our students loved An Evening With The Accidental Talmudist."
- Alex Amchislavskiy, Hillel Campus Director, Colorado State University
"I had the privilege of hearing Salvador Litvak speak multiple times at a Limmud conference in Australia. He attracted a large crowd and captivated them with his wit, charm, and inspiration."
- Gil Hoffman, Chief Political Correspondent and Analyst, The Jerusalem Post
"Sal Litvak weaves autobiography with philosophy, links his personal story with the story of the Jewish people and humanity at large, and uplifts with his enormous sense of good will and hope for the future. He is a treasure, and everyone who can should expose themselves to him, his writing, his teaching, his speaking, his very being."
- Rabbi Adam Kligfeld, Senior Rabbi, Temple Beth Am, Los Angeles
"Sal Litvak is an incredibly inspiring and warm speaker. He is a master communicator with a great message. Many attendees shared with me how moved they were by his talk. Listening to Sal, I felt the world a warmer and more connected place. Best of all, not one person nodded of during his Friday night talk!"
- Rabbi Yossi Mendelson, Machane Chodosh, Forest Hills, NY
Recent & Upcoming Appearances
Faculty
JLI National Retreat
Providence, RI
July 31-Aug 5, 2018
Scholar In Residence
Congregation Machane Chodosh
Forest Hills, NY
Scholar In Residence
Upscale Getaways Pesach Retreat
San Diego, CA
Scholar In Residence
Pacific Jewish Center
Venice, CA
Emcee - Team Friendship Shabbaton
Miami Marathon
Miami, FL
Scholar In Residence
Upscale Getaways Pesach Retreat
San Diego, CA
Featured Speaker & Honoree
Rohr-JLI Conference & Expo
Brooklyn, NY
Accidental Talmudist Shabbaton
The Kollel
Vancouver, BC
An Evening With The Accidental Talmudist
The Jewish Experience
Denver, CO
When Do We Eat? Screening and Q&A
An Evening With The Accidental Talmudist
JCC Boulder
When Do We Eat?
Screening and Q&A
Beth El
Durham , NC
When Do We Eat?
Screening and Q&A
Adat Shalom
Los Angeles, CA
Chesed Award Honoree
Chai Center Banquet
Los Angeles, CA
Accidental Talmudist Journey
Milken Community Schools
Los Angeles, CA
Shabbaton with Salvador Litvak
The Chevra
Montreal, Canada
How Do You Receive Torah?
Shavuot Learning
Temple Beth Am
Los Angeles, CA
When Do We Eat? screening
Hillel at CSU
Fort Collins, CO
Artist-in-Residence Weekend
Temple Beth El
Boca Raton, FL
Partners in Torah Winter Retreat
Appearing with Rabbi Yisrael Meir Lau
Former Chief Rabbi of Israel
Stamford, CT
How We Made Saving Lincoln
UCLA Producers Program
Westwood, CA
LimmudLA Fest
Brandeis-Bardin Institute
Simi Valley, CA
Talmudic Filmmaking
Camp Ramah
Ojai, CA
Limmud OZ
Melbourne, Australia
Kiddush & Kiddushin
Chabad of Melbourne
Melbourne, Australia
Love in the Talmud
Shira Hadasha
Melbourne, Australia
Rosh Hashanah Live
Sinai Temple
Los Angeles, CA
Sampling of film screenings with Q&A:
Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library & Museum
Los Angeles Jewish Film Festival (Opening Night )
Palm Beach Int'l Film Festival (Opening Night)
Jacob Byrne Film Center w/ Janet Maslin
San Diego Film Festival (Best Screenplay)
San Francisco Film Festival (Best Comedy)
Lake Tahoe Film Festival (Best Director)
Jerusalem Film Festival
