Bechukosai - Israel is Hashem's Garden

Why does the Torah enumerate the avos in reverse order - Yakov, Yitzchak then Avraham - in speaking of Hashem remembering His covenant? How does this relate to the idea of the grapevine, which rests upon older wood from trees no longer alive? How do the people of Israel parallel the grapevine, whose main body is close to the ground, yet its branches extend far away? How do we understand the parallel of the lowly grapevine whose watchman sits above it, as opposed to other trees who tower above the watchman of their orchards?

Find out in this week's Parsha Podcast.

Bitachon 162 - Hashem Wants To Connect To Us

We continue our study in Tehillim chapter 39 passuk 8, which speaks of the desire to connect to Hashem through Bitachon, which is strengthened by the awareness that Hashem wants to connect to us.

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Behar - Times of Judgment, Times of Balance

What is the prohibition of Ona'as Devarim-Causing pain through our words? What is the prohitibiton of Ona'as Mamon-Causing pain through our money? Why does Hashem appear to the prophet Amos in front of a 'balanced wall' holding a builders 'balance tool?' Why does the Anach-Balance tool have the same root as the word Ona'ah-Pain? How does the pain and challenge that we experience bring us back into balance? What is the Ibur-Anger that we experience in the Ibur-Leap year? What can we work on when we see that Hashem's anger is manifest in our world? What is the idea of the anger which is like a pregnant women? 

Find out in this week's Parsha Podcast.

Running time: 28:18

Bitachon 161 - The Wicked Fall, Israel Rises

We continue studying Tehillim chapter 37 verse 40, which speaks of the double salvation that comes to someone who trusts in Hashem, and the fall of the wicked who try to circumvent Hashem's will.

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Running time: 24:11

Emor - Hashem Saves the Humans and Beasts

Why does the Torah require that an animal be eight days old before being used as a Korban (sacrifice)? How does this parallel the human being who needs to be eight days old to be given a bris (circumcision)? What is the concept of our desire to be 'drawn after Hashem' like an animal is 'drawn after its master?' In the comparison of a righteous individual to a mighty mountain, why is he sometimes compared to a grassy mountain, and sometimes to a mountain that has fruit trees? How do we use these tools - the animal and the righteous individual - to climb the mountain of Hashem?

Find out in this week's Parsha Podcast.

Running time: 28:56

Bitachon 160 - Israel's Double Salvation

We continue studying Tehillim chapter 37 verse 40, which speaks of the double salvation that comes to someone who trusts in Hashem.

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Running time: 20:40

Kedoshim - Planting Our Lives in Israel

How does planting a tree in Israel constitute the fulfillment of a mitzvah - a commandment? What is the idea of Yishuv Ha'aretz - settling the land of Israel? How does waiting three years before eating from a new fruit tree rectify the sin of Adam? If everything was already prepared for us when we originally entered Israel and took over the homes and vineyards of the previous inhabitants, why does the Torah instruct us to plant more? How do we understand the 'tree' that is planted in the context of the Torah being referred to as a tree? How does the support of Torah guarantee we will win in battle, without even trying very hard?

Find out in this week's Parsha Podcast.

Running time: 29:53

Bitachon 159 - Rabbi Perr zt"l and Bitachon

We continue exploring the passuk in Tehillim 37 passuk 34 which exhorts us to hope to Hashem and keep His way. The result will be that we will inherit the land and we will see the fall of the wicked. We also share a few thoughts about Rabbi Perr zt"l after his recent petirah (passing).

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Running time: 22:14

Acharei Mos - Israel - Rose Among Thorns

How is Rebecca, our matriarch, compared to a rose among thorns? How was she able to remain steadfast despite being surrounded by charlatans and liars? Why was it so difficult for Hashem, as it were, to take 'one nation out from another nation' at the Exodus? How are the people of Israel like a Rose among thorns? How was the Jewish people's receiving the Torah like a 'rose among thorns' that Hashem enjoyed 'smelling' as they said 'we will do and we will hear?'

Find out in this week's Parsha Podcast.

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Running time: 28:57

Bitachon 158 - Israel Will See Her Enemies Fall

We explore the passuk in Tehillim 37 passuk 34 which exhorts us to hope to Hashem and keep His way. The result will be that we will inherit the land and we will see the fall of the wicked.

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Running time: 22:44