Vaeschanan - Cities of Refuge

Why was Moshe insistent on setting aside the cities of refuge on the Eastern side of the Jordan river if they would not be activated until a number of years later? When was Moshe the beneficiary of a 'city of refuge,' or more accurately, a miraculous salvation from Hashem, after which he ran away from Pharaoh? What was the miraculous way he was saved? How did Hashem remind him of this salvation many years later when he was to be sent to save the Jewish people? What is the idea of Moshe 'singing a shira-song' for this salvation? Where is the place of refuge in our times?

Find out in this week's Parsha Podcast.

Running time: 25:48

Bitachon 121 - Good and Kindness Pursue Me

We continue with Tehillim ch. 23 verse 6, which speaks of Good and Kindness that pursue me forever. This indicates the desire to be able to live a spiritual life with connection to Hashem's Torah and opportunities to do kindness to others. According to the Chofetz Chaim, it also represents our desire that the challenges that are decreed upon us - and we are to experience in any event - that they come as a result of our dedication to Hashem and his Torah, and not just for meaningless reasons.

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Running time: 17:30

Devarim - Og's Piece of Cake

Why did the nations seem at first to fear the people of Israel, then come out bravely to attack us as we approached their territory? What was the strength they saw in us and what was our perceived weakness? Why did the Emori people ultimately bless 'the hands' of Moshe, even as they were being defeated? Why did Og, king of Bashn, receive his name from the word 'ooga' which means a piece of cake? What are the two ways of perceiving this Matza-cake? Why did Og talk about the 'puny' nature of Yitzchak when he was born and express his desire to 'crush him with his little finger?' How was Og ultimately felled, and what will be the feeling of the nations of the world as regards the Jewish people in the end of days?

Find out in this week's Parsha Podcast.

Running time: 32:37

Bitachon 120 - Torah and Abundance

We continue with Tehillim ch. 23 verse 5, which speaks of the 'set table' that Hashem places before us and across from our enemies, and the oil upon our heads and the overflowing cup. All of these represent the abundance Hashem wishes to bestow upon us when we follow his Torah.

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Running time: 16:21

Matos-Masei - Israel the Desired Land

What did Bircas Hamazon (Grace after Meals) look like when the Jews were still wandering in the wilderness? Why is Israel referred to as the 'desired land' in the second blessing of Bircas Hamazon, and why is it such a central theme to the blessing for food? Why do we refer also to the bris, the Torah, and life in this second blessing? Why did Hashem give this special land to the people of Israel? Why did the 31 kings desire this land for centuries, and what is meant by their desire to 'drink of its waters?'

Find out in this week's Parsha Podcast.

Running time: 26:15

Bitachon 119 - Times of Challenge

We continue with Tehillim ch. 23 verse 4, which moves on from the times of prosperity and open kindness, and acknowledges that there are times of challenge which come - in those challenges, our Bitachon reminds us that Hashem is there with us and is using the challenges for our ultimate growth.

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Running time: 22:37

Pinchas - Women's Intuition

Why does the story of the daughters of Tzlafchad immediately follow the statement of the Torah about the death of a generation because of the sin of the spies? What are the two instances where the women 'fixed that which the men broke?' What made the women defy the men and retain their trust in Hashem despite the many voices to the contrary? Why does the Torah enumerate the lineage of these righteous women? What was the lesson of the death of Uza, as he tried to catch the Aron (Ark) for Dovid and what was the lesson of the daughters of Tzlafchad for Moshe?

Find out in this week's Parsha Podcast.

Running time: 28:36

Bitachon 118 - Tranquility of the Soul

We continue in chapter 23 of Tehillim with the concept of the 'soul's tranquility.' The word for tranquility is 'yeshovev' which can actually be understood in a few different ways. The main idea of the verse is that when we have Bitachon we not only have all of our physical needs, but we are also promised to have our spiritual needs.

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Running time: 22:43