Pinchas - Just Say Thank You

Why does Hashem refer to the Korbanos (sacrifices) as 'My sacrifice, My bread, My fire-offering?' Does Hashem need to 'eat' the sacrificial animals or drink the wine and water libations? What does the passuk in Tehillim 50 mean when it says that Hashem does not care about the sacrifices, all He wants is a 'Gratitude offering?' What is the concept of the 'wicked one' who speaks of lofty spiritual matters, but is actually spiritually bankrupt? Why would Hashem, Who has everything, ask something of the human being, who honestly has so little? What is it really that we offer Hashem, as it were, which brings Him satisfaction?

Find out in this week's Parsha Podcast.

Running time: 32:56

Bitachon 217 - Har Tzion - Foundation Stone

We study together the passuk in Tehillim perek 125 passuk 1, which speaks of the one who trusts in Hashem as compared to Har Tzion (Mount Zion), which is unshakeable in its connection to Hashem. We also discuss the rock that Yaakov stood up as a monument which represented the combined power of his 12 sons, the foundation of the Jewish People, and the foundation stone of the world.

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Running time: 22:54

Balak - Israel is Blessed

What was the greatness that Bilaam lost when he came to try to curse the Jewish people? If, in the end, he blessed them, why was Bilaam considered so wicked? What was the ingratitude that both he and Balak had to the forefathers of the Jewish people? How did he and Balak unintentionally bring curses upon themselves? Why was it that he could not curse the Jewish people? Where do we see that the Jewish people are intrinsically loved and blessed by Hashem, no matter what they have done wrong?

Find out in this week's Parsha Podcast.

Running time: 30:12

Bitachon 216 - Ultimate Answer to Enemies

We study together the passuk in Tehillim chapter 119 passuk 42, which speaks of Dovid Hamelech's response to those who were sharp with him and embarrassed him. The response is the fact that ultimately it was his Bitachon in Hashem that brought about the salvation he sought. This proves that the taunting of his enemies all along was meaningless and empty.

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Running time: 22:17

Chukas - Whose Power is it Really

What is the idea behind Moshe working on behalf the Jewish people, despite the great setback he had because of them? What is the 'debt' that was paid by the Jewish people on behalf of the nation of Edom, and what modest request did the people of Israel have to make of them in return? What is the proper etiquette when coming through another person's land, and why should one not eat from their own food in that context? Why did Moshe stress that the Jewish people were not poor and could pay their own way? What is the lesson the Jewish people are to learn from the refusal of the Edomites to let us pass through their land?

Find out in this week's Parsha Podcast.

Running time: 32:12

Bitachon 215 - Trusting the Most Generous One

We complete our study together of the passuk in Tehillim Chapter 118 passuk 9, which speaks of how we are better off trusting in Hashem than in humans, but this time it refers to them as 'generous ones.' One idea that we talk about is the honor (and self esteem) that comes from placing our trust in Hashem - just like be associated with a generous person is an honor, certainly it is such an honor to be associated with Hashem, Himself.

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Running time: 21:20

Korach - Israel is Forever

What is the concept of the Covenant of Salt which Hashem offers to the Kohanim-Priests? What is behind the dual aspect of salt - that it both preserves as well causes a lack of growth? How do the difficulties and the boundaries that are inherent in a relationship both endanger and strengthen that relationship? What is the concept of 'Ani' - 'I' - in reference to Hashem, and why does it sometimes denote judgment and other times denote His Mercy? What is the concept of the tithing that Yaakov did from his sons - in the person of Levi - that parallels the tithe the Jewish people are to give to them? How does this all apply to the Jewish people today in the land of Israel as we encounter danger and difficulty, which also serves to preserve our relationship with Hashem and His eternal covenant?

Find out in this week's Parsha Podcast.

Running time: 29:56

Bitachon 214 - Don't Put Faith in Humans

We continue our study together of the passuk in Tehillim Chapter 118 passuk 9, which speaks of how we are better off trusting in Hashem than in humans, but this time it refers to them as 'generous ones.' One understanding of this is that we must trust in Hashem that we not come to trust in humans, for trusting in humans is a recipe for disaster! Alternatively, it means that we must completely trust in Hashem even when we must come to others for help. The human being is no more than Hashem's messenger.

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Running time: 21:40

Shlach - Finding Hashem in the Pause

What was at the root of the sin of the spies? Why do so many of the ego's wiles center around impatience? If Hashem gave atonement to the Jewish people for their crying over the fear of entering Israel, why did they all die in the wilderness? Should we be waiting for Moshiach, or demanding Moshiach now? What is the concept of waiting in the story of Yosef, where Yaakov waited to see how the dreams would unfold? Why did Hashem wait until Yom Kippur to forgive the Jewish people for the sin of the spies? What is the idea of waiting for 40 years in the wilderness, and how does that relate to finding Hashem in the pause, or in the waiting? What is the difference between Mind and Heart?

Find out in this week's Parsha Podcast.

Running time: 27:49

Bitachon 213 - What You Can Do

We study together the passuk in Tehillim Chapter 118 passuk 9, which again speaks of how we are better off trusting in Hashem than in humans, but this time it refers to them as 'generous ones.' The Chofetz Chaim explains that the 'generous ones' are the angels of mercy. And yet, it is better to have Hashem be our judge, not the angels. The path in to getting Hashem to be the judge - for He is full of the greatest compassion - is by living a life of compassion and kindness for others. This is especially important right now as we face a great threat from the enemies of the people of Israel.

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Running time: 25:21