Tetzaveh - Valuing our purpose

Why does the Torah specify that the pure olive oil is to be brought to Moshe? How does one tap into the aspect of Lishma - pure motivation? How does one recognize one's true purpose and move out of jealousy of others? What is represented by the clothing of Aharon? How does this connect to the special coat of Yosef?

Find out in this week's Parsha Podcast.

Running time: 20:44

Terumah - Secret of Lishma

Why does the Torah refer to the donation to Mishkan as 'taking?' What is the concept of Lishma? Why do we refer to a pure motive as 'for the sake of Hashem's name?' Why is this a requirement specifically in regards to the commandment of building the Mishkan? Why is Hashem's name found in correlation to the concept of Love and Unity?

Find out in this week's Parsha Podcast.

Running time: 22:52

Mishpatim - Closeness and Tikkun

Why is the narrative of the revelation at Sinai interrupted with the laws of Mishpatim? Were these laws given at this point? In light of the statement of Chazal that the Jewish people had returned to the state of Adam before the sin, why were did they receive commandments that seem inapplicable to them? Why doesn't the Torah wait until after the sin of the Golden Calf, when they fall from that state, to teach these laws? Why does the Torah begin with the tikkun aspect of the slave, instead of the sin that caused him to be sold into slavery? What is the connection between Adam Harishon and the Hebrew slave?

Find out in this week's Parsha Podcast.

Running time: 20:55

Yisro - Stages of completion

Why is the story of Yisro the preface to receiving the Torah? What is the connection between the fifteenth of Shvat and the receiving of the Torah? Why do we eat fruit on this day, if it is not about the product, but about the first budding? What is the deeper meaning of the concept of 'the end product is in the first thought?'

Find out in this week's Parsha Podcast.

Running time: 20:07

15 Shvat - 25 Adar

Tu b'shvat is exactly forty days before the 25th of Adar. My chevrusa, Yaakov Raice told me that it is brought down that just as we have a concept of "forty days before the fetus begins to take form", we have a similar concept here. The 25th of Adar is the moment of Bereshis, according to one opinion in the Gemara in Rosh Hashana. It is when the world took its form. Forty days before is the day of Tu b'shvat, when the conception of the world occurs. This is true each year, as the world is renewed, and the trees begin to bud, showing this first thought, the מחשבה תחילה.

May we be zocheh to see the budding of the צמח דוד - the 'plant of David,' speedily and in our days. Amen.

Beshalach - Removing husks, revealing soul

Why does Hashem allow the Jewish people's food to run out before providing them with the Manna? What is the significance of this happening in the month of Iyar? Why does this occur again with the water? Why do the Jewish people question if Hashem is in their midst? Why does the war with Amalek immediately follow, in the same place, Refidim? Why do these events take place in the interim period between the Exodus and receiving the Torah? What is the concept of the altar that Moshe calls 'Hashem nisi' - 'Hashem tested me,' or 'Hashem raised me up?'

Find out in this week's Parsha Podcast.

Running time: 23:17