Balak - Forces and Counter-forces

Why is Balak so bent on destroying the Jewish people? Why does his desire for their destruction not wane despite the miracles Hashem performs on their behalf? Why does Hashem give power to those who will wield it for such evil? What is the depth of the nature of Amalek in contrast to the people of Israel?

Find out in this week's parsha podcast.

Running time: 22:03

Yosef breaking the illusion

The amazing power of the sitra achra - the other side - is to bring us to believe that we need something that we do not; to have an experience of lack, to feel broken, when in reality we are whole. This is followed by the false belief that we can become whole through whatever it is that the sitra achra wants us to be drawn into. Walking into that illusion brings pain and a deeper sense of lack. We can keep grabbing at what looks like that which will fill the gap.

But it does not work.

Because the gap isn't real.

Yosef hatzadik recognizes the illusion. Potiphar's wife proves to him that they are destined to be together, to share progeny. She has every way of showing Yosef that they are meant for each other.

But Yosef just responds simply with the truth. How could I do such a thing? My master trusts me with his house, with everything in it. And you are his. This would be a sin to God.

It's really an illusion.

And through Yosef's challenge to the side of evil, his staunch integrity to what is truly real, he finds himself deeper in the bowels of evil - in the depths of the prison of Egypt. He resides with those that even the decadent Egyptians acknowledge as decadent! It seems that his commitment to truth has earned him nothing but more lies!

But there he stays for twelve years, with only the hope that was given him by a dream he had so many years before. A glimmer of the reality of the veracity of his moral and spiritual leadership. And he maintains his love and fidelity toward God, Whose name is constantly on his tongue.

And ultimately, this commitment to the truth paves the way for his salvation, and the salvation of Egypt and the entire world at the time... And the crowning achievement is his leadership for the Jewish people, who join him there, through the twists and turns of the path Hashem would have them walk.

Moshiach ben Yosef's job is no different than that of his forbear Yosef. He comes into a world that is morally and spiritually decadent, to shine the light of integrity and honor for God's name. He teaches love and truth. And remarkably, he is the one who brings a new world of prosperity into existence. Just as Yosef channeled the money of the world into the coffers of Egypt, which were under his sole control, so too, Moshiach ben Yosef will teach us how to use the wealth that is becoming more and more apparent in the world in its proper way.

We can see the wealth in Israel - Tzion - which is the gematria of Yosef. Whatever happens to Yosef happens to Tzion. We need but watch the evolution of Israel to see what is going on behind the scenes with Yosef. We can see the hatred of brothers raising a scepter of abuse and misunderstanding to mete out judgment on those who toil in their relationship with Hashem. "That which was, is that which shall be." The stories repeat themselves. The themes are the same, and even the characters in the stories are the same.

But the focus comes, and will come, from Moshiach ben Yosef. He has a dream that was dreamt so many years ago, for his dream is the same as Yosef himself. That dream is still waiting to be fulfilled. As we move through time, we get ever closer to the promised age of Moshiach. Hashem carries us through a process - for Yosef is about process; and process involves pain. We are to rise up from the ashes, from the bowels of the deepest, darkest spiritual depths. To find the light that was hidden away in the dream of a Yosef. That light inspires us even as we sit in darkness, and recognize that Hashem is our light.

Yosef's greatness is brought to the fore through the very challenges he faces. He is born in Tammuz, which is the beginning of the months of the summer, the months that Esav and the forces of evil that he represents have power. Yosef is that power that offsets the forces of evil, that ultimately destroys Amalek, who is the embodiment of that evil. And it is here, in Tammuz and Av - in the center of the destruction that was wrought by Esav, that Yosef finds himself. Still clinging to the dream. Watching the process unfold. Recognizing the light of God that begins to shine in the greatest darkness. Looking for love and forgiveness. Letting go of sadness and resentment. Looking past the differences and the hatred and the darkness. Seeing the light of God's goodness that is hidden within that which seems to be its opposite.

Chukas - Song of Salvation

What is the concept of the song of the well? Why are these songs always sung after some miraculous salvation? What is the song that will be aroused in the future? What is the concept of the 'one who knows how to rebuke?'

Find out in this week's parsha podcast.

Running Time: 21:20

Yosef and the number five

In honor of Yosef's yahrtzeit today, I would like to share a recent email conversation I had about Yosef. The questions came from a fourth grade teacher, whose students asked the following:

Binyamin got 5 portions form Yosef of food and clothing.

Yosef took 5 brothers to meet Pharoah.

1/5 of the fields the mitzriyim had to give to pharoah.

All is initiated by Yosef.

Is there a connection between Yosef and the number 5?

why is it his favorite number?

To which I responded:

These three fives are all different. The first five is five times the amount each of the other brothers got. The second five is five out of twelve - 5/12. And the third five is one out of five, or 20%. So, to say there is a theme of five here may not be accurate.

Notwithstanding that, the first thing that comes to mind on this is that the 20% number - one fifth - is significant as follows. There are ten sefiros. The sefiros are split into two groups, the top three and the lower seven. Yosef and Dovid correspond to the last two (six and seven), which are Yesod (Tzaddik yesod olam - Yosef), and Malchus (Dovid). These two sefiros are the place where heaven and earth touch - they are Friday (six - Yosef) and Shabbos (seven - Dovid). These two represent the perfect balance between heaven and earth, where all of the spiritual influx are focused. If you take these two out of the whole series of sefiros, we are looking at 20%. This is who Yosef was - the tzaddik (yesod) who is in a position of kingship (malchus). He's got the balance and therefore is the conduit for all of the livelihood of the whole world. That balance is expressed in the 20% that he takes from the Egyptians - it is his due, as it corresponds to him.

It seems to me that the five out of twelve brothers are an expression of the concept of the number five, which is the gematria of the letter Heh. Heh is the female letter, and therefore expresses the aspect of physical weakness (as per the drasha of chazal that the extra Heh of 'yodchah' teaches that the tefillin are worn on the weaker hand - the left hand). These five were the weaker of the brothers, and Yosef wanted Pharaoh to see that his brothers were not to be taken and used.

The five times clothing refers to the five different things that Mordechai (from Binyomin) would wear when he was raised up at the end of the story of Purim. This is very interesting, because it also is the ascendency of the tzaddik to a position of rulership and power, much like Yosef; only this time it manifests in Binyomin's progeny, Mordechai and Esther. Mordechai is the Tzaddik (yesod - six), Esther is the queen (malchus - seven). Still, it is five times, which means that there is an aspect of multiplicity that is inherent in the character of the tzaddik. The tzaddik is the neshama kolleles - the soul that includes all of the Jewish people within him, so this could be hinted to in the fact that Binyomin/Mordechai got a multiplicity of garments. They are also called a 'change of garments' - because through the advent of Moshiach ben Yosef there is a changing from the old order, to the new. Garments are the result of the sin of Adam harishon. The changing of garments is brought about through the deeds of the tzaddik (MBY) and his leading the Jewish people - changing their garments from regular physical garments to garments of mitzvos (as per Rashi in Bereishis in reference to Adam being naked of commandments through his sin).

This five could also have to do with the five universes (Asiyah, Yetzirah, Beriyah, Atzilus and Adam Kadmon) which correspond to the five aspects of the name Yud Kei Vav Kei.

Needs more thought.

Korach - Aharon's Transcendent Peace

What is the fundamental attribute of Aharon? What is the fundamental attribute of Korach? What is the depth of the fact that God ratifies the path of Aharon?

Find out in this week's parsha podcast.

Running time: 19:44

Shlach - Inclusive Spirituality

Why does the Arizal indicate that the spies and their generation were on a level that was beyond the land of Israel? How does this reconcile with the fact that they sinned in speaking negatively of the land? What is the antidote for the challenge of the description of Israel as a 'land that swallows its inhabitants?' Is one meant to be only spiritual, or to include the mundane within the spiritual?

Find out in this week's parsha podcast.

Running time: (15:48)

Behaaloscha - Holiness Amidst Impurity

In this week's parsha podcast, we study the lesson of R' Nosson on the verses which speak about the Pesach Sheni - the second chance at bringing the Passover sacrifice, which was revealed through the request of those who were impure, and therefore unable to bring the Pesach sacrifice in its correct time. This is an analogy to how we can call out to God from wherever we are, even if we are mired in darkness and impurity.

Running time: 15:59

Nasso - Serving Hashem Intuitively

What is the significance of the special offering of the Nesi'im, the princes of the tribes of Israel? How did they know to give the wagons and oxen which would transport the tabernacle? Why was Moshe upset that the command did not come through him? What was Hashem's response to Moshe? Why did this idea come from the tribe Yissachar? Why does the midrash tell us that these oxen never died? Why is it considered as if they carry the world with God?

Find out in this week's Parsha Podcast.

Running time: 21:50

Bimidbar - Counting the Uncountable

Why does the parsha of Bimidbar always come out before Shavuos? What is the concept of counting? Is counting a positive thing or a negative thing? If counting shows Hashem's love for us, why do we find there is danger in counting? Why will we be uncountable in the times of Moshiach (the Messiah)?

Find out in this week's Parsha Podcast.

Running time: 19:47

Behar-Bechukosai - Giving it back to God

Why does the Torah place the concepts of Shmitah, Yovel and the prohibition of charging interest next to each other? What is the depth of these concepts? What is the message of Shmitah, and what is the deeper message of Yovel?

Find out in this week's Parsha Podcast.

Running time: 19:55