Vayakhel - A Good Name

What is the concept of a good name? How does one get a good name? Why is a 'good name better than oil?' What does oil represent? What is the difference between a superficial appointment to power, versus a leader who is connected to his spiritual essence? Why are the words shemo-name, mekor-root, and ratzon-desire all the same gematria, and what is their connection? Why is 'the day of death greater than the day of birth?' What was the difference between the great prophets and Aharon's sons, Nadav and Avihu?

Find out in this week's Parsha Podcast.

Running time: 21:18

Bitachon 48 - Facing Challenges with Bitachon

The Beis Halevi gives us two approaches to looking at a situation of challenge. The first is to realize that we need to look inside ourselves for what we may have done wrong to deserve this situation, and the second is to limit our desires to wanting what Hashem wants for us.

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Ki Sisa - Planting the Future

What is the idea of Hashem counting the Jewish people? What is behind the analogy of the Jewish people being compared to wheat/seeds? Why does a farmer count his seeds before planting, and then count again after he sees the full yield? What is the argument between the wheat, the chaff and straw all about? How does this parallel the conversation between the Jewish nation and the nations of the world?

Find out in this week's Parsha Podcast.

Running time: 26:46

Bitachon 47 - Seeing it in Hindsight

We talk about two different stories where one can see in hindsight that the Bitachon 'worked,' or that the challenge was really a good thing. We also continue in the Beis Halevi who talks about what drives a person to use illegal means or means that are antithetical to the Torah's teaching, and how it is rooted in a lack of Bitachon.

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Running time: 20:00 

Tetzaveh - Shining Our Light

How does the pure olive oil of the Mishkan-Tabernacle correspond to the essence of the Jewish people? What is unique about the process of creating the olive oil, as opposed to other fruits, and how does it relate to the process the Jewish people go through in exile? What is unique about the properties of oil as opposed to other liquids, and how does that relate to the uniqueness of the Jewish people? What is the power of the Mishkan and Beis Hamikdash that purifies a person and allows one's light to shine out? Why do the nations of the world all acknowledge the beauty and light of Jerusalem and the Beis Hamikdash, and follow that very light which shines from the Jewish people?

Find out in this week's Parsha Podcast.

Running time: 21:03 

Bitachon 46 - It's Not Us - It's Hashem!

The Beis Halevi says an unbelievable idea, which is that the seeming cause of our success is not at all the cause - the success was decreed by Hashem, and that was what brought us the opportunity which seems to have brought the success. Ultimately, it's not us, it's only Hashem.

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running time: 15:51

Terumah - Light of the Torah

What is the concept behind 'taking' in relationship to the giving of contributions to the Mishkan-tabernacle? What are the amazing properties of the Torah, which is likened to a 'purchase' which is greater than silver and gold? What is the incredible value of the Torah, as indicated by the light of Moshe's face? What is the idea behind the statement of the Midrash that when we acquire the Torah, Hashem Himself, as it were, comes along with it?

Find out in this week's Parsha Podcast.

Running time: 20:44 

Bitachon 45 - Why Put in Efforts?

The Beis Halevi explains the idea behind the concept of hishtadlus-efforts - why we have the necessity at all, and what the proper approach is when we are doing hishtadlus. Ultimately, the results are not related to our efforts, and the truth is that one can be in a state that does not require efforts at all, where his needs are provided for miraculously.

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