Friday, August 28, 2015

Ki Seitze - Intuition and Transcendence

Why does the Torah only tell us the reward for two out of the 613 commandments? Why does it specifically tell us by honoring parents and sending away the mother bird? What is the deeper understanding of the idea of sending away the mother bird when taking the eggs or chicks? How does one access the light of transcendence without being blinded by its' light? How is the intuitive faculty a reflection of that light? How does this idea manifest in the days of the week?

Find out in this week's parsha podcast.

Running time: 25:55

Friday, August 21, 2015

Shoftim - King of Israel

What is the concept of a Jewish king? Why does the Torah command us to appoint a king, while it seems that it was not a good thing when the Jews asked for a king in the times of Samuel? Why do we pray three times daily for the king messiah, if the midrash states explicitly that we ultimately want God alone to be our king?

Find out in this week's parsha podcast.

Running time: 22:27

Friday, August 14, 2015

Re'eh - Israel - Mind of the World

Why does the Torah constantly connect the keeping of the commandments with the land of Israel? Why do we spend the ten weeks leading up to Rosh Hashana reading Moshe's speech at the threshold of Israel? Why do we focus on the destruction and future rebuilding of Israel during this time? Why does the Torah refer to God's divine providence in Israel as 'the eyes of God?' Why is Rosh Hashana called the 'head of the year' as opposed to the 'beginning of the year?'

Find out in this week's parsha podcast.

Running time: 24:49

Friday, August 7, 2015

Ekev - Accessing the Supernatural

Why does the midrash need to 'prove' that Hashem is trustworthy in His promises? What is the idea behind the promises being fulfilled such that we receive the fruits in this world, and the principle in the next? What is the proof of Hashem's trustworthiness from the righteous, like R' Pinchos ben Yair and R' Shimon ben Shetach? What is the deeper message of the supernatural events that are promised by the Torah for keeping the law, and those that surrounded the stories of R' Pinchos ben Yair?

Find out in this week's parsha podcast.

Running time: 26:06