Tetzaveh-Purim - Praying at Moshiach's Door

What is the 'davar' - thing or word - that is the foundation of the inauguration of Aharon and his children as Kohanim-priests? How does this relate to the idea of 'returning' to Hashem? How does one atone for one's sins without any sacrifices? What is the concept of 'raising the dagger' in the story of Yehoshua and the conquest of the city of Ay? How does Mordechai have power over Haman, the offspring of Amalek? Why is it that after Mordechai is placed upon a horse and paraded around in the King's clothes - which indicates he is rising above Haman - why does he return to the king's gate in his sackcloth and ashes, and continue his fasting and prayer?

Find out in this week's Parsha Podcast.

Running time: 31:39

Bitachon 248 - Never Depend on Yourself

We study together the passuk in Mishlei (proverbs) perek 3 passuk 5. This is the classic verse brought at the beginning of the section on Bitachon of the Alter of Novardok in Madreigas Ha'adam. Shlomo Hamelech stresses the importance of completely depending on Hashem, and not making the mistake of assuming that our past experiences and successes are the map to use for our future success.

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Running time: 20:44

Terumah - Making Space for Hashem

What is meant when we say that Hashem speaks according to 'our power' and not 'His own?' How can we create a Mishkan-Tabernacle to contain Hashem's presence if He fills the entire universe? What is the idea that Hashem 'dwells on high' and also 'resides in the shadow' of the Mishkan? What is the idea behind the fact that Hashem 'sees but is not seen?' How does Hashem make space for us, and how do we 'make space' for Him?

Find out in this week's Parsha Podcast.

Running time: 27:12

Bitachon 247 - Trusting at the End of Days

We study together the pesukim in Tzefania perek 3 passuk 1-2, which speak of the Jewish people's special relationship with Hashem and how it can easily be broken if we are not connected to trust in Him. This is especially important as we live in the 'end of days' or the period immediately before the era of Moshiach.

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Running time: 22:05

Mishpatim - Embracing Natural Balances

What is the sobering message of the midrash in regards to the rich person giving to the poor person? Why does the Torah place such a great emphasis on the prohibition of charging interest when giving a loan? What is the idea of the different creations of Hashem that 'lend' to each other - the day and night; the moon and stars; Wisdom and Intuition; Torah and Mitzvos? Why do they seem able to 'lend' to each other and humbly ask for payment, while humans have a hard time with this? What is the concept of the natural balance of power in nature and how do we embrace that ourselves?

Find out in this week's Parsha Podcast.

Running time: 30:32

Bitachon 246 - Removing Our Idols

We study together the passuk in Yirmiyahu perek 48 passuk 7, which speaks of the power and wealth of the people of Moav, and how they were dependent upon an idol named 'kamush.' Ultimately, their lack of faith in the true God of the Universe is what causes them to go into exile alongside the idols they worshipped and the priests and princes who lead them in that worship.

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Running time: 23:28

Yisro - Hashem Speaks So We Can Hear

What is the idea behind Moshe and Aharon both hearing the same sound but receiving two different instructions, each on applying individually to them? What is the concept of the 'voice of Hashem' that 'travels around' and when it's heard in one place and one gets close, it's then heard in another place? What is the concept of the voice that was heard at Sinai which was split into 70 languages and was then heard by 70 nations? Why did the nations of the world get crushed by the voice, while the people of Israel were lifted up by it? What is the concept of hearing? What is the depth of the teaching that Hashem's voice sounded different to each individual, based on what they could personally endure?

Find out in this week's Parsha Podcast.

Bitachon 245 - Having All Your Needs

We continue our discussion of the passuk in Yirmiyahu, perek 17, passuk 6, which speaka of the one who trusts in Hashem, and how the result is that all the person's needs are met - and this can come about with the cessation of need at all, as one realizes that one is made whole by being connected to Hashem.

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Running time: 23:49

Beshalach - Hearing Hashem's Voice

Why does Hashem respond to Moshe's tefillah with the statement, 'why are you calling out to me?' Why should Moshe not be davening at this time, as the Jewish people are about to experience the miracle of the Splitting of the Sea? What are the two times that Hashem answers our prayers - sometimes before we pray, and sometimes as we are speaking? What type of Tefillah is always answered? Why should we seek to 'serve Hashem properly' before we 'direct our heart in prayer?' When does Hashem answer or prayer before we even speak? Why does Hashem know the heart of the tzadik more intimately, as it were?

Find out in this week's Parsha Podcast.

Running time: 29:41

Shachris at Kever Yosef for the first time in 25 years

If this is not a sign of the MBY process moving forward, I don't know what is!!!

Bitachon 244 - Complete Release from Troubles

We continue our discussion of the passuk in Yirmiyahu, perek 17, passuk 6, which speak of the one who trusts in Hashem, and how Hashem becomes the guarantor, as a result. We explore the idea of keeping the focus of one's life on the spiritual, and the automatic result is a release from troubles.

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Running time: 20:36

Bo - At Moshiach's Door

What is the idea behind the two sets of three days of darkness? What is the concept of the seventh day of darkness and why does it wait until the Jews are about to experience the splitting of the sea? What is the idea behind there being darkness for the Egyptians and light for the Jews? Why did they use this spiritual light to see where the Egyptians held their valuables, but did not take them? How does this scenario repeat itself at the sea, with the clouds of glory that separate between the Egyptians and the Jews, sending darkness toward the Egyptians, while providing light for the Jews? Why is this the center of the three unique pesukim in a row that contain exactly 72 letters? How does all this apply so clearly to our times as we face off with existential adveristy?

Find out in this week's Parsha Podcast.

Running time: 29:39

Bitachon 243 - Placing our Trust Correctly

We continue our discussion of the passuk in Yirmiyahu, perek 17, pesukim 5 & 6, which speak of the one who trusts in a human being as opposed to the one who trusts in Hashem. We explore what the correct approach is to using Bitachon-Trust, and what is the right thing to be trusting about.

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Running time: 22:36

Va'era - Getting Godly Powers

What does Hashem mean when He tells Moshe to be an 'Elohim' (god) to Pharaoh? What is the idea behind Shlomo Hamelech (King Solomon) being unable to bring the box containing the Ark of the Covenant into the Beis Hamikdash (Temple) at its inauguration? Why did he bring out the casket of his father Dovid Hamelech, and why did the gates open for him? What is the idea of Hashem being referred to as the 'King of Honor?' Why does Hashem give honor to those who revere Him? What is the concept of revering Hashem, and how does this make onen into a Godly person? What is special about the meeting of Pharaoh - the man who thinks he is god - and Moshe - the one who is actually Godly?

Find out in this week's Parsha Podcast.

Running time: 30:06

Bitachon 242 - True Source of Power

We continue our discussion of the passuk in Yirmiyahu, perek 17, passuk 5 which speaks of the one who trusts in a human being - but does so without any understanding that Hashem is the true source of even that person's power. With the awareness that Hashem is the true Source of power, the trust one places in others is raised up.

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Running time: 21:27

Shemos - Accessing Personal Redemption

What is the concept of the unique name of Hashem - 'Ehkyeh asher Ehkyeh' which only appears in our parsha and nowhere else? What is this unique name as it relates to the concept of Redemption? Why does Hashem also enumerate His other names - Elokim, YKVK, Tzvakos, Kel Shakai? What do each of these names represent? How does Hashem establish His relationship with the Jewish people? What are we to keep in mind as we try to relate to the Creator of the Universe, is beyond the scope of our understanding? How do we access our own personal redemption?

Find out in this week's Parsha Podcast.

Running time: 29:34

 

Bitachon 241 - Sustenance From the Source

We begin a discussion of the pesukim in Yirmiya, perek 17, pesukim 5-10. These speak of the contrast between the one who trusts in a human being, and then experiences ruin, versus the one who trusts in the True Source of life, which is Hashem, and the resulting good that comes from a correct dependence.

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Running time: 21:54

Vayechi - Miracle of Good Livelihood

What is the idea of the 'angel of redemption' in the bracha of Yaakov to his grandsons Menashe and Efraim? What is the concept of 'etzev' and 'itzavon' that are part of the curse of Adam and Chava? What blocks us from seeing miracles in our livelihood? Why are the miracles of livelihood greater than the miracle of the splitting of the sea? What is the concept of the 'fish' that is part of the blessing to Yosef's children? How do we avoid the 'evil eye' so that we are not affected by others' negativity? How do we find Hashem in our hearts such that all our experiences are rooted in Him?

Find out in this week's Parsha Podcast.

Running time: 29:56