Thursday, March 6, 2014

Vayikra - Soul Desire

Why does the Torah refer to the one who brings a flour offering as 'one who offers his soul?' What is the difference between an animal offering and a flour offering? How is the concept of ratzon-desire related to nefesh-soul? How can one come close to God if he has no good deeds to show for himself?

Find out in this week's parsha podcast.

Running time: 20:36

Thursday, February 27, 2014

Pekudei - Spiritually Infused Livelihood

Why does the Mishkan seem to construct itself? Why does the Torah use similar language in regards to the way the Mishkan was constructed and the way that work is to be done during the six days of the week? How does one infuse one's livelihood with this aspect of the mishkan, where it is done on its own?

Find out in this week's parsha podcast.

Running time: 21:58

Thursday, February 20, 2014

Dovid, Yosef, the sixth hour and the seventh hour


I thought that title would get your attention. And, to boot, this is post number 607. Cool. Someone recently left a comment on the blog that they miss my moshiach messages. I wrote back that the messages are still there, you just have to know how to hear them.

I don't need to say too much, but I will say that if you listen carefully to this parsha podcast, you will get a good idea of where we are holding and we are headed. It also has the potential to explain a lot of what is going on now. But you will have to put all the old pieces together to get it. If you listen carefully, you will understand why I don't blog or speak too much about Moshiach anymore. But I explained that before. Review is good.

In any event, here's how the podcast appears everywhere else I've put it up:

Vayakhel - Moshiach, Mishkan and Shabbos (21:42)
What is the significance of the fact that all that was done in constructing the Mishkan (tabernacle) is the foundation of the prohibitions on Shabbos? What is the difference between the service of Hashem through the Mishkan as opposed to Shabbos? How is Shabbos connected to Dovid and Moshiach ben Dovid, as opposed to the Mishkan, which is connected to Yosef and Moshiach ben Yosef? Why is the Mishkan the atonement for the sin of the Golden Calf? What is the depth of the fact that the sin occurred at the end of the sixth hour, when Moshe was late in returning? What was at the root of the sin of the Golden Calf?

Find out in this week's parsha podcast.

Thursday, February 13, 2014

Ki Sisa - Light Your Unique Flame


What is the concept of the counting of the Jewish people? Why are we to be counted if it entails danger? Why, indeed, is there danger in counting Jewish people? What is the concept of the 'flame of one's heart' that is somehow an expression of the light of Hashem? How does one balance his own light with the light others are meant to shine?

Find out in this week's parsha podcast.

Running time: 19:51

Thursday, February 6, 2014

Tetzaveh - Do We Have Free Will?

If God is all-knowing, how do we have free will? What is the significance of the miracle of the western candle of the menorah that always stayed lit? Why did the kohen gadol start lighting and end lighting there? What is the significance of the fact that Moshe could not succeed in forming the menorah? What is the relationship between the number seven - as represented by the seven-armed menorah - and the numbers eight and fifty?

Find out in this week's parsha podcast.

Running time: 21:54

Friday, January 31, 2014

Terumah - Drawing Down Holiness

What is the difference between the Mishkan (Tabernacle) and the Mikdash (Holy Temple)? What is the significance of the connection of the Mishkan to Yosef, as opposed to the Mikdash which is connected to Yehudah/David? How does this tie in to the concept of the month of Adar?

Find out in this week's parsha podcast.

Running Time: 15:55

Wednesday, January 22, 2014

Mishpatim - Redeeming Truth From Darkness


Why does a thief have to pay double if he steals, and four or five times if he slaughters and sells the animal he stole? How does falsehood dress itself up as truth? What is the amazing power of Truth to dispel the darkness? How does one access Emes L'amito - the True-Truth?

Find out in this week's parsha podcast.

Running time: 20:24

Friday, January 17, 2014

Yisro - Number Three and Relationships


What is the significance of the fact the Torah was given in the third month - the month of Sivan? Why is the Torah not given immediately after the Jews leave Egypt? What is the significance of the number three? What is the significance of the zodiac signs of Nissan - the sheep, Iyar - the ox, and Sivan - the twins? What do the twins have to do with the aspect of three and the giving of the Torah?

Find out in this week's parsha podcast.

Running time: 23:29

Friday, January 10, 2014

Beshalach - Transcendent Song


Why does the Torah refer to the song that was sung at the sea of reeds in both past tense and future tense? What is the concept of the Hebrew word 'az' - then? Why does the Exodus climax with a song? What does Rashi mean when he says that Moshe's heart was inspired to sing when he saw the miracle?

Find out in this week's parsha podcast.

Running Time: 16:37

Friday, January 3, 2014

Bo - Finding Spiritual Alignment


What is the significance of the commandment of sanctifying the new moon being the first of the commandments? What does it mean that the Torah should have begun with this commandment? What is the connection between this mitzvah and God's gift of Israel to the Jewish people? Which is the main part of the lunar month - when the moon is full or when it wanes completely? What is the concept of the extra month that is added in a Jewish leap year? What is the secret of true spiritual alignment?

Find out in this week's parsha podcast.

Running Time: 22:46