Friday, December 30, 2016

Miketz - Real Peace

When Benjamin was caught with the 'stolen' goblet, what was the beginning of the conversation about between Yosef and Yehuda? Why were the brothers innocent even as they were guilty? What did Yosef mean when he said that he would only keep Benjamin as a slave and the others could return 'in peace' to their father? What was Yehuda's response to this 'peace?' What was the meaning of the heavenly voice that declared that 'peace is to those who love Torah?'

Find out in this week's parsha podcast.

Running time: 20:26

Friday, December 23, 2016

Vayeshev - Yosef and Chanukah

What is the lesson in the story of Yosef and his challenges? Why do we always read these passages during our celebration of Chanukah? Why does Chanukah occur toward the end of the Jewish month of Kislev? Why does the miracle of Chanukah occur in the winter? Why does it happen at a point in history where most of the Jewish people had taken on a Hellenistic way of life, and only a few remained steadfast to their traditions? What does it mean that Hashem is the 'One Who waits?'

Find out in this week's parsha podcast.

Running time: 20:05

Friday, December 16, 2016

Vayishlach - Rising Above Angels

How can we understand the contrast between when Jacob returns to Israel and battles with the angel, as opposed to when he left Israel and just passively observed them climbing and descending the ladder? What is the depth of the idea of the name of Esav's angel, which denotes 'blinding?' Why does Jacob have all these traumatic experiences on his return to Israel? Why is the battle with the angel in the center of the description of his encounter with Esav - before he even meets him? Why did Jacob 'remain behind by himself?' Why did this bring about the struggle with the angel? What is the meaning of the midrash's statement that 'all the Hashem will do in the future, the righteous do in this world?'

Find out in this week's parsha podcast.

Running time: 24:44

Friday, December 9, 2016

Vayetzei - Drawing Hashem into the Darkness

What is the idea of the vow that Jacob makes as he leaves the land of Israel? Why does he ask for such basic things - bread and clothing? What is the understanding of R' Bachya's teaching that he received much more than bread and clothing? What is the depth of R' Yeshoshua's explanation to the proselyte that when Hashem promises 'bread and clothing' it means Torah and eternal spiritual life? What is the connection between Jacob's vow and all future vows of the people of Israel? What is the connection between Jacob's vow and the future redemption of the Jewish people?

Find out in this week's parsha podcast.

Running time: 26:44

Friday, December 2, 2016

Toldos - Clothes of Dominion

What were the special clothes that Rivka made sure Yakov wore when he stole the blessings from Esav? Why did wild animals become docile when they saw these garments? Why did Esav wear them whenever he served his father? How were they connected to Adam's naming of all the animals? Why did they give Adam dominion over all of the creations in the world? Why does Adam name all the animals right in the middle of the Torah's account of Hashem's creation of Eve? Why is Yakov sent to marry immediately after he receives the blessings? Why does Yakov include animal descriptions in his blessings of his children?

Find out in this week's parsha podcast.

Running time: 24:58

Thursday, November 24, 2016

Chayei Sarah - Death and Rebirth

What does the midrash mean when it says that Esther became queen over 127 provinces paralleling the 127 years of Sarah's life? Why did Esther go through a similar experience to Sarah in becoming young again after becoming old? How does that parallel the state of the Jewish people at the time? Why does Sarah's death coincide with Rivka's birth? Why does the binding of Yitzchak coincide with the birth of Rivka? Why are Sarah, Rivka and Esther all taken by kings?

Find out in this week's parsha podcast.

Running time: 22:02

Thursday, November 10, 2016

Lech Lecha - Fame and Fortune

Why does Hashem stress to Avraham that he will become a great nation and have great fame? Is fame something that is positive from a spiritual perspective? What is the greatness of Hashem's promise to Avraham that he will have a great nation descend from him - didn't Noach have 70 nations descend from him? Why is the event of Sarah and Avraham's youthfulness returning at an advanced age such a pivotal one? What does it mean that that event is depicted on a coin, which subsequently made Avraham and Sarah famous? What is the significance of the coins that were minted for Joshua, David and Mordechai, which made each of them famous as well?

Find out in this week's parsha podcast.

Running time: 23:50

Friday, November 4, 2016

Noach - Of Doves and Olive Branches

What is the Torah's teaching about the dove Noach sent to find dry ground? What is the significance of the olive branch in this context? Why is the Jewish Nation compared to a dove? Why is the tzaddik compared to a dove? Who was the woman who gave birth to 600,000 children? Why is that teaching found in the context of the dove? What is the significance of the numerical value of the Hebrew word for dove, which is 71? How does the dove provide light, and how does it parallel the Jewish Nation providing light?

Find out in this week's parsha podcast.

Running time: 26:38

Thursday, October 20, 2016

Vzos Habracha-Succos - Receiving Blessings

What is the concept of blessings? Why do the major blessings of the Torah, first given by the Patriarchs, and then by Moshe, have a certain level of continuity? How are the blessings connected to the praises embodied in the Psalms of David? What is the concept of the Succah and how does it relate to the mitzvah of the four species?

Find out in this week's parsha podcast.

Running time: 23:06

Thursday, October 13, 2016

Ha'azinu - Defying Nature

What does the verse mean when it says that nothing can be added to Hashem's creation? Why does Hashem sometimes change the order of creation? Why is it sometimes done for a righteous individual? Why does one midrash seem to indicate that it is done in order to impart a sense of awe, while another seems to indicate that it is done out of love? Why does Moshe ask the heavens to stop singing their song in order that he have a chance to sing his own song - the song of Haazinu?

Find out in this week's parsha podcast.

Running time: 22:06

Friday, October 7, 2016

Vayelech-Yom Kippur - Lengthening Lifespans

Is it possible to live longer than was decreed for a person at birth? How does one merit to live long, and how does one lose that merit? Why was the Angel of Death upset when he spoke to R' Shimon ben Chalafta? How does one change the decree of Rosh Hashana and make it into a good one? What is the judgment about during this time?

Find out in this week's parsha podcast.

Running time: 20:14

Tuesday, September 27, 2016

Nitsavim-Rosh Hashana - Breaking Barriers

In the verse speaking about the fact that the Torah and mitzvah of repentance are not distant from us, the Rabbenu Bachai says that there is a hint to the concept of circumcision - what does these concepts have to do with each other? How are we able to correct our behavior of the previous year, upon which we are being judged, if we are already standing in the new year after Rosh Hashana? What does the Torah mean when it says that the mitzvos and the concept of Teshuva are 'very close to you - in your mouth and your heart to do it?' How do we remove the barriers upon our hearts and mouths which prevent us from having a full relationship with Hashem, ourselves and others?

Find out in this week's parsha podcast.

Running time: 24:39

Sunday, September 18, 2016

Ki Savo - Rain Revival

What is the connection between the blessings of rain and the revival of the dead? Why is Hashem the only One Who can 'open' the door for them? How is rain connected to the general concept of earning a livelihood? How is it connected to the concept of fish? How does this teaching relate to the idea of 'opening,' 'hand,' and 'song?'

Find out in this week's parsha podcast.

Running time: 24:26

Wednesday, September 14, 2016

Nahama D'kisufa - Beating the Bread of Shame

Nahama D'kisufa is the Bread of Shame - which in the Ramchal refers to the experience we have when we receive something that we have not earned - a feeling of shame. But hey, don't you love getting a free gift? Where's the shame? Wouldn't you love to win the lottery? Where's the shame?

But it's the foundation of reality as we know it - we're here in this world to learn Torah and do Mitzvos, so we can 'earn' the light Hashem wants to give us; a light which would be too much to handle if we had not earned it.

But why is it called the 'Bread of Shame?' Why isn't it simply referred to as something like the 'uncomfortable principle?' Or something like that?

I realized today that the 'Bread of Shame' is actually a play on the passuk which speaks of the response Hashem gave to Adam's sin. He was told he would 'eat bread by the sweat of his face.' (actually it's literally 'sweat of his nose.') Whereas the bread he ate before in the Garden of Eden was given to him without any need for effort on his part - it literally grew on trees - now he would have to be involved in the process of bringing the bread from the earth.

But notice that it doesn't say he would have to work for his bread. It just says that he would have to sweat for it. It would require effort.

So what is the way out of the 'bread of shame?' The way out is through perspiration.

Naturally, we could think that this means that whereas before it came on its own, without any effort, now I must expend much effort to receive the bread.

But it's not so.

The bread that I receive is actually still received without effort. (Just go to the supermarket if you don't believe me!) But I have to sweat in order to remove the shame of receiving something without effort.

Before, in the garden of Eden, I could receive without feeling shame, without needing to earn it by putting in effort. It felt like it was mine. And it was, because as a child of Hashem, it is my birthright to have my needs provided for. (Look around at the animal world.)

But after Adam's sin, I still receive it for free - only after I earn it.

And I can earn it in different ways.

The chiddush here is that the effort and sweat I put in does not have to directly result in the bread I receive. The effort just takes away the shame.

I can also lose the shame by going through challenging circumstances. Or by going through a process of teshuva which brings me back to Hashem and aligns me closer to the original state of Adam.

Another chiddush that comes out of this idea is that the concept of nahama d'kisufa is a state which is only applicable post-sin of Adam. Previous to it, Adam and Eve could receive great blessings without feeling shame.

It's worth thinking about how this applies to the passuk which talks about their being unclothed and not being ashamed.

Perhaps thoughts for another time...

Sunday, September 11, 2016

Ki Seitze - Honest Accounting

Why does the Torah focus on the sin of Miriam, one of the greatest prophetesses of all time, when warning us of the sin of Lashon Hara (gossip)? Why does the midrash specifically point out the individual sins of Eve, Sarah, Rachel, Leah and Miriam? Why does the Midrash teach us that in Moshe's prayer for Miriam, he recalled his own sin in speaking Lashon Hara? How can we honestly look at our shortcomings and become greater people? Why is the person with Tzara'as (spiritual leprosy) enjoined not to touch or disdain their affliction?

Find out in this week's parsha podcast.

Running time: 25:14

Tuesday, September 6, 2016

Shoftim - Winds of Peace

Why do we call out for peace when we go out to war? Why does Hashem order things in the celestial and spiritual realms so that there will be peace if there is no jealousy or competition in those realms? How was Moshe able to contradict Hashem and look for peace or mercy when Hashem seemed to want war and judgment? Why did Hashem ultimately agree to Moshe?

Find out in this week's parsha podcast.

Running time: 26:50

Friday, September 2, 2016

Re'eh - Hearing and Transcending

Why does the Torah speak about 'seeing' and 'hearing' in the context of our free will choices? What do we learn from the 'listening' that Adam did as opposed to Avraham? What is the depth of the concept of voice, sound and hearing? How does it relate to the mitzvah of blowing the shofar on Rosh Hashana?

Find out in this week's parsha podcast.

Running time: 26:55

Friday, August 26, 2016

Ekev - Parallel Spiritual Levels

What is the significance of the fact that there are blessings that are manifest for the human being itself, a person's animals, and a person's produce? How can fulfilling a mitzvah connected to the land atone for a different sin? Why do we 'need' the nations of the world to bless us? What is the concept of physical and spiritual continuity which is connected to the blessings?

Find out in this week's parsha podcast.

Running time: 25:33

Friday, August 12, 2016

Devarim-Tisha B'av - Unifying Duality

Why is the lesson of Devarim before Tisha B'av? How did Moshe become able to speak so eloquently when he originally categorized himself as 'heavy of tongue?' What does it mean that the Torah 'cures the tongue?' What is the significance of the teaching that a sefer Torah can be written in any language, or at least in Greek? What is the idea of the description of the tablets as being written 'on both sides?' Why is 'both sides' also the description of the fruit trees that grow from the river that flows from the Holy Temple of the future?

Find out in this week's parsha podcast.

Running time: 26:50

Friday, August 5, 2016

Matos-Masei - Stops on the Journey

Why does Hashem instruct Moshe to 'reminisce' about the many stops along the journey through the wilderness, especially in light of the Midrash's statement that all these places were spots where the Jewish people angered Hashem? Why does the midrash state that in the future the wilderness will become inhabited and the habitation will become wilderness? Why will the days we mourn the destruction of the Temple become days of rejoicing? What do we learn from the cow of Elijah?

Find out in this week's parsha podcast.

Running time: 27:16

Friday, July 29, 2016

Pinchas - Spiritual Intuition

Why do we need so many different voices pointing out which piece of the land of Israel is given to which tribe? What does it mean that the lottery ticket itself spoke? What is the message of the midrash in saying that the women of Israel were able to close the spiritual gap created by the men? When the daughters of Tzelafchad asked for their inheritance, why did each judge defer to a higher judge until Moshe deferred to Hashem Himself? How is the mantle of leadership passed from Moshe to Yehoshua and what does this teach us about spiritual inheritance?

Find out in this week's parsha podcast.

Running time: 27:46

Friday, July 22, 2016

Balak - Final Refinement

Why does Hashem lead the Jewish people to a place where they will sin? What is the significance of the waters of Shittim that the Jews drank of, which was also the spring that the people of Sodom drank from? Why does the midrash seem to make a clear connection to Abraham, sodom and the story of Lot and his daughters? Why does the midrash stress the fact that the Jewish people were at the threshold of Israel, like a princess about to marry?

Find out in this week's parsha podcast.

Running time: 28:48

Friday, July 15, 2016

Chukas - Pure From Impure

Why is the Red Heifer specifically red? Why must it be completely burnt? How is it that the one involved in preparing it becomes impure, and yet it causes those who use it to become pure? What is the depth behind the midrash's statement that numerous great people were the progeny of individuals who were wicked? What is the idea behind a chok - statute law? Why is there this type of law that we can not understand? Why is the methodology of our sages one of questioning? How is the word chok - law - related to chakak - sculpting or engraving?

Find out in this week's parsha podcast.

Running time: 22:41

Friday, July 8, 2016

Korach - You Can Have It All

Why does Korach indicate that he is looking for social equality, if he really wants to take over as high priest? Why does the midrash indicate that he wanted to be the prince of the family of Kehos, if Moshe seems to indicate he was after the high priesthood? Why does Moshe tell the Levites that they already 'have much' - isn't it good to want a lot when it comes to spiritual matters? What do our sages mean when they say that in the spiritual realm 'a full vessel is one that holds, and an empty vessel can not hold?' Why does Esav say 'I have a lot,' while Yaakov says, 'I have it all?'

Find out in this week's parsha podcast.

Running time: 22:29

Wednesday, June 29, 2016

Shlach - Seeing Through the Lie

Why does Hashem respond so harshly to the Jewish people's lack of faith when they cry with the spies' report? Why were the Jewish people so afraid to enter Israel if they had just seen, and continued to see, the many miracles Hashem performed on their behalf? Why did they not believe they would continue to experience miracles? What is the parallel between this event and the story of Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden? What is the difference between the spies that Moshe sent and the spies that Yehoshua sent 40 years later? What can one do, if one finds oneself in a place of distance from Hashem, in order to return to that relationship?

Find out in this week's parsha podcast.

Running time: 24:26

Friday, June 3, 2016

Bechukosai - Finding the Balancw

Which was created first - the Heavens or the Earth? How can we really talk about 'first' if it was before there was time? Who was greater - Moses or Aaron? Why does the verse reverse the order of the patriarchs, speaking of the covenant with Jacob, Isaac and Abraham? Why is this verse surrounded on both sides by the curses that can befall those who do not maintain their relationship with Hashem? What is greater - honoring one's mother or one's father?

Find out in this week's parsha podcast.

Running time: 21:58

Friday, May 27, 2016

Behar - Sharing the Wealth

What is the Torah's approach to charity and 'spreading the wealth?' Why does the midrash place the idea of spiritual wealth beside the concept of material wealth? What are the mechanics of the spiritual principle behind the fact that when I share what I have - both in wisdom and in material matters - I get more myself? How does one deal with the automatic feelings of constriction when approached by a poor person? What does it mean that 'the words of the poor of the land of Israel are spiritual teachings?'

Find out in this week's parsha podcast.

Running time: 25:00

Friday, May 20, 2016

Emor - When the Righteous Err

What is the connection between those who seek the advice of soothsayers and the Kohanim of our parsha? Why was King Saul referred to as a righteous individual despite his many mistakes? Why did Hashem seem to go along with Saul's desire to speak to Samuel (who had already died) if he did it in a way which was against the Torah? Why did King Saul go out to battle with his sons by his side if he knew it was to be his final battle, and both he and his sons would die?

Find out in this week's parsha podcast.

Running time: 29:56

Friday, May 13, 2016

Kedoshim - Tzion, Yosef and Kedusha

What is the concept of Kedusha-holiness? Are we to separate ourselves completely from this world? Why does the verse seem to say that we are to be holy because Hashem is holy? Why is the concept of kedusha connected to Tzion, which is Jerusalem and the Temple? Why do the blessings of redemption come from Tzion and Kedusha? How does all of this connect to Yosef and the power he received from Pharaoh?

Find out in this week's parsha podcast.

Running time: 26:46

Friday, May 6, 2016

Acharei Mos - Biding the Time

Why is the concept of the Avodah-service of the High Priest on Yom Kippur sandwiched between the death of Nadav and Avihu and the forbidden relationships? What does the midrash mean when it says Nadav and Avihu wanted the 'old guys' to move on so they could take over? What is the concept of 'sustaining the eyes' by viewing a spiritual experience in the wrong time? Why does the midrash use a similar language in talking about what is lost by looking at things forbidden? Why is it that the result of not 'sustaining the eyes' inappropriately is that one receives a revelation of the Divine presence?

Find out in this week's parsha podcast.
Running time: 20:43

Tuesday, April 26, 2016

Pesach 2 - Rewards of Challenge

Why do the Jewish people experience an awesome revelation in such a dangerous place - in the Sea of Reeds? Why is this the climax of the Exodus? Why does Israel's angel - Michael - step aside in the face of the challenge of Egypt's angel (uza)? What is the significance of Hashem Himself responding on Israel's behalf? How do we know that Hashem's promise to stand up for the people of Israel still exists in our time? How do we know that all challenges result in spiritual reward - even those of seemingly lesser significance?

Find out in this week's parsha podcast.

Running time: 24:22

Friday, April 22, 2016

Pesach - Ecstatic vs Measured Spirituality

What is the connection between Pesach and Succos? Why do they both occur in the middle of the month? What is the difference between the respective mitzvos of each holiday? Why does Succos involve a lot of movement, while Pesach seems to be more static? Why does Shmini Atzeres come immediately after Succos, while Shavuos is 50 days after Pesach? What is the character of each of these months - Nissan and Tishrei? Why do we have a seder on Pesach, but not on Succos?

Find out in this week's parsha podcast.

Running time: 18:50

Wednesday, April 13, 2016

Metzora - Pride and Humility

What are the seven sins that result in tzara'as - spiritual leprosy? What was the sin of the daughters of Zion? Why did they originally focus on the Jewish young men, and ultimately end up with the 'generals of the enemy?' Why did R' Yanai need the spiritual teaching of the 'peddler' if he was already spiritually advanced? What is the contrast between R' Yanai and the daughters of Zion?

Find out in this week's parsha podcast.

Running time: 22:46

Friday, April 8, 2016

Tazria - Levels of Appreciation

Why does the verse mention the conception of the child, why doesn't it skip straight to the birth, if that is the subject of the verses? What is the idea of the verse in Job which speaks of 'raising the intellect to afar to appreciate the righteousness of our Creator?' When do we 'sing' Hashem's praises, and when do we 'speak of' His praises? What are the two levels of appreciation of Hashem's kindnesses?

Find out in this week's parsha podcast.

Running time: 24:08

Friday, April 1, 2016

Shemini - Spiritual Elders

Why are the elders of Israel invited to inaugurate the Tabernacle if they don't seem to play any role there? Why are the elders compared to the wings of a bird? What is the concept of 'elder?' Why does Hashem 'honor the elders?' What does it mean that they 'belong to Hashem?' Why does Hashem sit with them and form them into a semi-circle around Him, as it were? Why does He ultimately create a dance and lead them in this dance, at it were?

Find out in this week's parsha podcast.

Running time: 22:49

Friday, March 25, 2016

Tzav - Expansion Within Constriction

Why are all of the Jewish people gathered at the entrance of the Tabernacle, and how do they all fit in such a small space? What is the significance of the fact that the first example of 'a great amount fitting in a small space' is during Creation when the primordial waters are gathered? What is the significance of each of the other examples the midrash brings - gathering to receive the Torah at Mount Sinai, water from the rock, between the staves of the Ark, and in the future when all the nations gather to serve God in Jerusalem?

Find out in this week's parsha podcast.

Running time: 23:14

Friday, March 18, 2016

Vayikra - Special Nation

What is the reason for the Jewish people's 'special nation' status? Why does the midrash stress this so much right here at the beginning of Vayikra with the founding of the Tabernacle? Why was it so important for the nations of the world that the Tabernacle be protected? Why were the nations unable to receive the Torah at any level at that time? What will change in the future when 'the honor of Hashem will be revealed to all flesh?'

Find out in this week's parsha podcast.

Running Time: 26:27

Friday, March 11, 2016

Pekudei - Counting Toward Unity

Why does the Torah speak of the 'counting' of the Tabernacle, and then speak of the Tabernacle as the 'tent of testimony?' How do the concepts of counting and testimony relate? What is the significance of the word 'these' in this context? Why did the Jewish people receive 'crowns' when they accepted the Torah upon themselves? Why is the root of the word 'crowns' in this context the same as the word for 'witnesses?' Why do the bold letters in the sentence of Shema - 'hear O Israel' -spell the word 'witness?' What is the connection between hearing and testimony? Why is the word 'these' also used in the context of ingathering of the exiles?

Find out in this week's parsha podcast.

Running time: 22:45

Friday, March 4, 2016

Vayakhel - Names of Godliness

What is the significance of the lineage of Betzalel - that he is the son of Uri, the son of Chur, and that he comes from the tribe of Judah? Why does the midrash state that the merit for the creation of world and its continued existence is in the merit of the Jewish people - it would seem that the world exists purely out of God's love? What does it mean that all of the hosts of the heavens have a single name, even as they all have individual names? What does it mean that this is also true in regards to human beings?

Find out in this week's parsha podcast.

Running time: 21:20

Friday, February 26, 2016

Ki Sisa - Receiving the 7th in the 6th

Why is the concept of Shabbos the introduction to the story of the Golden Calf? Why does Moshe study the Torah for forty days diligently, only to forget it and then receive it as a gift in the end? Why do the Jewish people use the Manna in their idolatrous worship of the Golden Calf? Why do they create the calf at the very moment Hashem is preparing the tablets of the law? What is the concept of extending the Sabbath - the 7th day - into Friday - the 6th? What is the concept of the number forty as it relates to six and seven weeks?

Find out in this week's parsha podcast.

Running time: 28:15

Wednesday, February 17, 2016

Tetzaveh - Passageway to Eternity

Why is the description of the incense altar left until after the entire construction of the mishkan? Why does it only speak of Ahron, the high priest, if it is permitted for any Kohen to perform that service? What is the special power of the ketores to bring joy and banish the forces of evil? Why does the incense play such a central role in the Yom Kippur service? Why is it hidden in the Kodesh, away from sight?

Find out in this week's parsha podcast.

Running time: 24:41

Friday, February 12, 2016

Terumah - Receving Torah, Receiving God

Why is the story of the revelation at Sinai placed immediately before the command to build a Tabernacle for Hashem's presence? Why is the center of the Tabernacle the place that houses the Ark of the Covenant and the Torah that is within it? Why does the Midrash introduce the command of building the Tabernacle with a description of the greatness of Torah? How is the Torah compared to a princess whose father, the king, comes along with it?

Find out in this week's parsha podcast.

Running time: 20:48

Friday, February 5, 2016

Mishpatim - Angel of Redemption

What is the depth of the three different teachings about what the angel is that Hashem sends to lead the Jewish people - a literal angel, a prophet and the ark of the covenant? What is the concept of an angel? Why does Hashem tell Yaakov to climb the ladder he saw in his dream - the one the angels were climbing? When does Hashem send an angel, and when does Hashem Himself lead the Jewish people? Why is the presence of an angel always accompanied by Hashem's presence and a redemption?

Find out in this week's parsha podcast.

Running time: 24:36

Friday, January 29, 2016

Yisro - Godly Essence

Why does Hashem openly reveal Himself to an entire nation which is only freshly removed from its spiritual filth? What is the power of the statement 'naaseh v'nishma' - we will do and we will listen? Why does Hashem remove Moshe from his 'post' as messenger for the first of the ten commandments? Why is the first commandment not a command, but rather a statement?

Find out in this week's parsha podcast.

Running time: 20:15

Friday, January 22, 2016

Beshalach - Stages of Redemption

Why do the sons of Efraim try to leave Egypt thirty years early? Why is the verse which speaks of moshe taking Yosef's bones out of sequence? Why is the depth of the idea of Moshe 'grabbing a commandment?' Why is there a double oath to take Yosef's bones out of Egypt? Why does Yosef want his bones to be 'returned' to Shechem? What are the two stages of redemption? How do we 'remember' the future?

Find out in this week's parsha podcast.

Running Time: 26:47

Friday, January 15, 2016

Bo - Nissan Month of Redemption

What is the concept of Nissan being the first of the months? Why is this the first commandment the Jewish people receive as a nation? What is the idea of the 'keitz' and the 'ibbur' in regards to redemption? What is the concept of 'the first' and how does it relate to Hashem, Jerusalem, Moshiach and Nissan? Why do the Jewish people enter into and continue our relationship with Hashem on a mountain?

Find out in this week's parsha podcast.

Running time: 24:27

Friday, January 8, 2016

Vaera- Balancing Fire and Ice

Why is the seventh plague - hail - the first that is performed by Moshe alone? Why is there a stress on the fact that he raises his hands 'to heaven?' What does it mean that Moshe has power over heaven and earth? Why does the hail coexist with fire? Why does Hashem's mercy join here with the Divine court of justice to produce this plague? Why is it stressed here that the purpose of the plagues was really to cause Pharaoh to repent? Why does Hashem make rules and then suspend the rules?

Find out in this week's parsha podcast.
Running time: 26:38

Friday, January 1, 2016

Shemos - Meriting Redemption

What does it mean that Hashem redeems us for the 'sake of His name and the sake of His covenant?' What is the difference between 'seeing' and 'knowing?' Why does Hashem 'see' our sins, but 'know' about our good deeds? How can we be redeemed in the merit of something we will do in the future? What is the idea of Teshuva-repentance? How can we be redeemed in the merit of something our patriarchs did?

Find out in this week's parsha podcast.

Running time: 20:15