Friday, August 29, 2014

Shoftim - Quiet Protection

What is the concept of the prohibition against extending one's borders into that of one's fellow? How does that apply to the spiritual borders that define a person's purpose in the world? How does that apply to the personal relationship one has with Hashem?

Find out in this week's parsha podcast.

Running time: 24:11

Friday, August 22, 2014

Re'eh - Climbing God's Mountain

Why does the Torah command the people of Israel to place the blessings and curses on mountains? What is the concept of a mountain? What is the connection between ratzon-will and shemo-God's name? How does  a false prophet have the ability to perform a true miracle? How does one use that power in its proper way - in one's service of Hashem?

Find out in this week's parsha podcast.

Running time: 21:26

Friday, August 15, 2014

Ekev - Inheriting the Land


When it comes to inheriting the land of Israel, why does the Torah repeatedly stress that it is not in the merit of anything that the Jewish people have done? What does it mean that we are redeemed and given Israel 'for the sake of Hashem's name?' What does it mean that the fruit trees in Israel and in the wilderness would grow and produce fruit in one day?

Find out in this week's parsha podcast.

Running Time: 23:02

Friday, August 8, 2014

Vaeschanan - Expanding and Defining Borders

Why is Moshe not allowed to enter into Eretz Yisrael despite his 515 entreaties? What is the concept of him looking into the land? Why do we switch out of mourning on the 9th of Av and straight into joy and relationship? What is the parallel between the month of Tammuz that seems to extend until the 9th and 10th of Av, and Elul, which extends until the 10th of Tishrei - Yom Kippur? What are the concepts of four, five and six?

Find out in this week's parsha podcast.

Running Time: 15:01

Friday, August 1, 2014

Devarim & Tisha b'av - Stars and Fire

What is the difference between the light of stars and the light of fire? Why does the verse mean when it says that we will be like the stars and also numerous? How will the Jewish people be like Hashem in the future, and how do we access that light now? What is the central theme of Tisha B'av? Is its purpose to look at all the times that we have been victims, or to build from the ashes?

Find out in this week's parsha podcast.

Running time: 22:50