Noach - Hearing the Intuitive God-Voice

Why does the Torah first tell us that Noach is to bring the animals to the ark, but then it seems they came on their own? Why do the animals again gather on their own in the future time after the war of Gog Umagog? What is meant by the fact that the animals will be 'nourished from the bodies of the mighty' in the aftermath of the battle? What is the concept of eschewing the character of Adam and instead being like a 'beast' to be saved by Hashem? Why is it that the simple man saves the king while the great ministers of the king are lost in the flood in the parable of R' Nachman?

Find out in this week's Parsha Podcast.

Running time: 29:28

Bitachon 281 - Faith Alongsided Efforts

We begin a discussion of the different opinions as regards to having Bitachon and doing efforts - do we have to do every effort, only a little effort, or no effort?

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Running time: 20:58

Breishis - Return of Transcendent Light

What is the concept of the 'Toldos-generations' of the Heaven and Earth? Why is the word Toldos here written 'full,' with an extra vav? What is implied by the only other place in the Torah it is 'full' being in the context of the generations of Peretz, the forebear of Dovid Hamelech and Moshiach? What were the six items that were originally created which were lost as a result of the sin of Adam Harishon? What is the concept of the light that was hidden away for the righteous, and what is the lesson of it not being hidden for 36 hours, until after Shabbos, despite the sin of Adam Harishon?

Find out in this week's Parsha Podcast.

Running time: 30:06

Bitachon 280 - The Manna and the Copper Snake

We look at more sources in the Torah for the concept of Bitachon, and we focus on the concept of the Manna in the wilderness and the copper snake which saved the Israelites from venomous snake bites - through the power of strengthening their bitachon.

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Running time: 23:34

Bitachon 279 - Simplicity With Hashem

We discuss the source in the Torah for the idea of Bitachon-faith - which a number of commentaries consider one of the 613 mitzvos - and that is the obligation to not make many calculations and seek to know the future, but rather, to live simply with Hashem. According to some, it is also a negative commandment - not to fear in the face of danger and challenges.

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Running time: 19:47

Succos - Ascending the Spiritual Mountain

What is the concept of the water that is poured on the altar in the Beis Hamikdash on Succos? What is the secret of it going down to the center of the Earth? Why were these holes created during the six days of creation? What is the idea of being 'oleh l'regel' - which is to make a pilgrimage to Jerusalem during the holiday? Why does it literally mean to 'raise up the foot?' Why are these 'footsteps' so beautiful, and how do they relate to Avraham Avinu, the first of the proselytes? Why does the Jewish people praise Hashem 'from His crown' and on down, while Hashem praises Israel 'from the feet' and up?

Find out in this week's Parsha Podcast.

Running time: 29:39

Bitachon 278 - Facing The Tough Times

We continue our discussion of the idea of trusting Hashem when times are tough, and the different opinions as to whether that is the main challenge of Bitachon, or also trusting Hashem and believing that He is providing a person with success.

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Running time: 22:50

Haazinu-Yom Kippur - Portals Into Heaven

What is the understanding of the song of Haazinu? How do we relate to the cycle it describes of a state of redemption, followed by a loss of closeness to Hashem, followed by exile, and ultimately followed by another redemption? What is the concept of the Shofar and how does it 'confuse the Satan' every year? How does it act as a portal into the space Am Yisrael was in at Har Sinai and the world we will inhabit with the advent of Moshiach? What are the other portals that get us into that consciousness and silence the Satan? How does this relate to Yom Kippur?

Find out in this week's Parsha Podcast.

Running time: 29:18

Bitachon 277 - In Times of Trouble

We continue our discussion in the sefer Bitach Bashem with the concept of specifically trusting Hashem in times of trouble that He will take us out of the challenging situation and bring us to a place of resolution.

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Running time: 21:29

Rosh Hashana - The Light Before Regrets

Why does Rosh Hashana parallel the 'light' of chapter 27 of tehillim, 'L'dovid Hashem Ori,' while Yom Kippur parallels the 'salvation' of that same passuk? Why does the 'light' or Rosh Hashana come first, and only then the 'salvation' of Yom Kippur, which denotes Hashem forgiving us for our sins? Wouldn't it make more sense to first be forgiven, and then renew our relationship with Hashem as King of the Universe? Why are the 'wicked filled with regrets' and yet they can not change? How does first being involved with proclaiming Hashem our King, and recognizing He remembers, and mentioning the concept of the Shofar - how do all these serve to help our regrets to be effective in bringing about change? What was the method of the Chofetz Chaim to keep a 'spiritual scorecard' that parallels how businesses keep a reckoning of what works in their business?

Find out in this weeks Parsha Podcast.

Running time: 30:15

Bitachon 276 - When to Have Bitachon

We discuss the idea of whether one can (and should) have Bitachon-faith even on the smallest matters or if it is only to be employed when we are facing serious difficulties.

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Running time: 22:48

Nitsavim-Veyelech - The Truth is Inside

What is the idea behind 'those who are here and those not here' being part of the covenant? How can 'those not here' be included? What is the power of the idea that every new Torah idea was told to Moshe at Sinai? What is the unique power of even a single person doing teshuva (repentance)? How does Teshuva relate to redemption? What is the 'space between the mouth and heart' which is the center of Teshuva that anyone can access?

Find out in this week's Parsha Podcast.

Running time: 29:29

Bitachon 275 - It Will All Be Good

We continue our exploration of the opinion of the Chazon Ish in Bitachon, which stresses the importance of knowing that all that happens to a person - whether good or not so good - it is all a decree from heaven and ultimately must be embraced as such. Furthermore, this opinion contends that one can depend on a positive outcome if one is in a proper relationship with their Creator.

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Running time: 19:35

Ki Savo - Indestructible Garments

Why does the Torah stress that the clothes the Jews wore in the wilderness never wore out? Where did these clothes come from? How are they connected to the clothes of Yaakov which he wore when he came in to steal the blessing of Esav? What was special about the revelation at Mount Sinai and the angels who appeared with gifts for the Jewish people? How did the clothes still fit children who received them in their youth? What is the idea of them being Royal Blue or Purple? What is the concept of the 'good smell' that reaches from one end of the earth to the other?

Find out in this week's Parsha Podcast.

Running time: 30:00

Bitachon 274 - Accepting the Challenges

We continue our exploration of the opinion of the Chazon Ish in Bitachon, which stresses the importance of knowing that all that happens to a person - whether good or not so good - it is all a decree from heaven and ultimately must be embraced as such. This is a lofty level of Bitachon-Faith.

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Running time: 23:15

Ki Seitze - Death of the Ego

What is the fundamental spiritual mistake of someone who speaks Lashon Hara (gossip)? How is that hatred and Lashon Hara cause the Divine Presence to be repelled? What is the concept of the destruction of the ego in the beginning of the times of Moshiach? How does it relate to the Ruach Hakodesh (Holy Spirit) and Shechinah (Divine Presence) that will be present on mankind in those times? How can we taste these aspects even today?

Find out in this week's Parsha Podcast.

Running time: 30:08

Bitachon 273 - Desire vs. Bitachon

We study together the teaching about Bitachon of the Gra, which is based on R' Chaim Vital's teaching on the topic in his sefer Shaarei Kedusha. In it we explore the concept that Bitachon is the fundamental middah (character trait) that impacts the human being in positive way, as opposed to Chemdah-desire which is never satisfied and leads a person far astray from spiritual values.

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Running time: 21:30

Shoftim - Forgiveness is a Gift

What is the deeper concept of peace? What is the depth of the teaching about the peace that comes when Hashem returns the souls of the idol worshippers for another day of life despite their denial of Him? Why did R' Meir allow the woman to 'spit in his face' to satisfy her husband who was not allowing her to come home? Why is Jerusalem associated with the concept of peace? Why is the ultimate redemption connected so intimately with peace? What is the approach to peace and forgiveness with others who have hurt us?

Find out in this week's Parsha Podcast.

Running time: 29:59

Bitachon 272 - Positivity for the Future

We discuss at length the opinion of the Chazon Ish, who seems to say that one can not have bitachon that good things will happen, as well as those who try to explain this to mean that this is referring to after the fact - that one can assume that even a seemingly negative event is Hashem's will for us, and will ultimately be good for us.

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Running time: 24:12

Re'eh - Israel's Victory is Spiritual

What is the concept of the blessings that come, and how do we access them? How do these blessings contrast with the verses from the end of the previous parsha that speak of victory over our enemies - when we love Hashem and keep the commandments? What is the spiritual power that we have against the 'mazikin'-demons, and how do we get the angels to protect us? What is the message of the story of Elisha and the battalions of Aram that he was able to defeat without a fight - only with the aid of angels? What is the elevated path that saves us from the depths of darkness that are represented by the nations of the world?

Find out in this week's Parsha Podcast.