Vaeschanan - Hashem Answers Prayers

What is the meaning of the verse that says 'What great nation has a God so close each time they call to Him?' Does Hashem answer every prayer? What is the difference between prayer and repentance? What is unique about the wars of the Jewish people? How long does it take for Hashem to answer our prayers?

Find out in this week's Parsha Podcast.

Running time: 25:40

Chayei Sarah - Surrender and Sacrifice

Why is the description of the Akeida (Binding of Isaac) and Rivka's birth juxtaposed to Sarah's death? Why is it so hard for Avraham to purchase the location for Sarah's burial? Why must he pay top dollar? Why does Eliezer have to go so far to find a wife for Yitzchak? Why is it that in the merit of Avraham overcoming his mercy, he is able to ask Hashem to overcome His judgment?

Find out in this week's parsha podcast.

Running time: 21:48

Ki Savo - Power of Amen

What is the concept of the word 'Amen?' What is behind the three meanings of Amen - Oath, Admission, and Prayer? Why does one merit to say Amen in the next world if one says Amen in this world? Why does one merit to 'hear the voice of the bride and groom' in the future world if one 'hears' the Torah in this world? What is the depth of the concept of true commitment?

Find out in this week's parsha podcast.

Running time: 26:20

Tetzaveh-Purim - Power of Prayer

What is the concept behind the special clothes of the Kohanim? What is the Torah referring to when it says 'this is the thing that you shall do to sanctify the Kohanim unto me?' Why did Mordechai return to his fasting, praying and sackcloth even after he saw that the tide was turning and the Jews were soon to be saved? How can we atone for our sins without the sacrifices of the Temple? What is the true power of prayer?

Find out in this week's parsha podcast.

Running time: 22:53

Bo - Conserving Spiritual Power

What is the aspect of the 'First Born' as represented by the people of Israel? How is it counteracted by Amalek, which is 'first of the nations?' How does one maintain continuity in the face of what seems to a setback in one's spiritual achievements? Why do we preface our prayers with a mention of the exodus and the destruction of the first borns?

Find out in this week's parsha podcast.

Running Time: 18:27

Va'era - Surmounting Challenges

What is the parallel between the experiences of the Jewish people in the Exodus and the experience of every individual Israelite? How does one face off with and surmount the challenges that continuously arrive? What is the power of prayer and how does it partner with the power of commitment?

Find out in this week's parsha podcast.

Running Time: 19:49

Noach - Revealing Hidden Kindness

What is the difference between Noach and Moshe? Why is Moshe's generation saved while Noach's is destroyed? What is the concept of the secret hidden kindness of Hashem that keeps the world functioning despite people's distance from Him? How does one access that kindness?

Find out in this week's parsha podcast.

Running time: 18:53

Devarim - Song and Prayer of Redemption

In this week's Parsha Podcast, we study together the secret of the joy of Moshiach (Messiah) that is all about the revelation of God in the world, and how it is awakened through the female aspect, as is represented by King David, the great grandfather of Moshiach. We also explore the aspect of song and prayer as that which transforms the anguish and sadness inherent in the female aspect, which is separation, into the joy of Moshiach.

Running time: 20:31

Vayakhel-Pekudei - Prayers of a Lion

Why are Betzalel, from the tribe of Judah, and Oholiab, from Dan, specifically chosen for the building of the tabernacle? Why is the Tabernacle referred to as a lion? What is the concept of the lion? Why is the place of God's presence and our relationship with Him to be found in a place of Gevurah-strength? What is the prayer of the powerful righteous individual that is in the form of judgment? How does it pierce through the forces of evil? What is the understanding of the powerful and fiery relationship that is possible through prayer?

Find out in this week's Parsha Podcast.

Running time: 24:01

Vayechi - Blessings and Prayers

What is the general concept of a blessing? Why do I need to go to a tzaddik to get a bracha? What does a bracha do for me more than I already have, and why can’t I access it myself? When Yaakov gives the brachos, is he just stating a fact as to the nature of that person, or his he drawing down some spiritual reality upon that person? Why do these brachos come when the tzaddik is about to die, as we also see with Yitzchak? What is the deeper concept of prayer? How is prayer connected to blessings?

Find out in this week's Parsha Podcast.

Running time: 22:05

Vaeschanan - Resonating with Truth

Why does Moshe preface his request to enter Israel by appointing Yehoshua to lead the Jewish people into Israel? Why does Moshe form his prayer as a "תחינה" - a supplication asking for a free gift? What is the difference between the experience of spirituality outside of Israel as opposed to the experience inside of Israel? How does one bring himself into a place of deeper truth?

Find out in this week's Parsha Podcast.

Running time: 21:48

Vayikra - Prayer and sacrifice

What is the concept of the sacrifices? What is the connection between sacrifice and prayer? Why are both of these concepts called 'avodah' - service? What is the difference between service of Hashem and the service of idolatry? What is the deeper reason why the sacrifices were completely consumed by the body with no waste, like the manna?

Find out in this week's Parsha Podcast.

Running time: 30:19

Let it rain, let it rain, let it rain!

This winter has been terribly dry for us in Israel, as many of you may know. The water levels here are dangerously low, and the drought is having a devastating effect on this year's crops. We have been saying special tefilos for rain every day, and there was even a special fast not too long ago. Boruch Hashem we had a rainy Shabbos last week, and the weather reports were right about today's rain. Please keep us in mind in your tefilos!

Here is a recording I made of the rain today outside of the window of my studio/sealed room. You can hear some thunder, the birds in the tree, a truck passing by... and of course the rain!