Beshalach - Miracles of Livelihood

What is the concept behind the punishment of Pharaoh as it coincides with the Jewish People's redemption from Egypt? How does this parallel the punishment of Pharaoh in Genesis and the accompanying redemption of Avraham and Sarah at that time? What is the depth behind the statement of our sages that the difficulty of a person's livelihood is on par with the difficulty of the splitting of the sea? Why do we specifically read this special praise of Hashem - that He gives food to each creature - on the night of the Pesach Seder?

Find out in this week's Parsha Podcast.

Running time: 21:35

Bitachon 42 - Never Fear!

We begin studying the sefer of the Beis Halevi on Bitachon, and he starts with the teaching that Bitachon is not only an obligation, but it is actually a sin to lack bitachon. The result is that the very thing that we fear can be caused by our fear. The only answer is to rely completely on Hashem, and this, in turn, protects us and also encourages all those around us.

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Running time: 16:18

Bo - Meriting Redemption

What is the idea behind the heaviness or difficulty for Hashem, as it were, when it comes to dealing with those who defy him, in comparison to the lack of difficulty in creating the mountains and valleys? Why are the Jewish people compared to a stone? Why are we compared to the sand? What happens when the Jewish people do not fulfill their role? How does Hashem use our enemies in order to save us and bring about our redemption?

Find out in this week's Parsha Podcast.

Running time: 23:35

Bitachon 41 - Only Bitachon

We come to the close of our study of the Alter of Novardok's discussions on Bitachon, and we learn that it is imperative to work on Bitachon, not only because it's a mitzvah, but because it steers us far away from the trap of believing that we are accomplishing anything on our own.

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Va'era - Seeing the Whole Picture

Why does Moshe challenge Hashem by bringing up the difficulty the Jewish people have endured since he spoke to Pharaoh, if Hashem had told him that He would harden Pharaoh's heart? What was the mistake of Shlomo Hemelech (King Solomon) in believing that he could take many wives despite the Torah's command that a king limit the amount of wives he marries? Why does Hashem respond to Moshe at first with judgment and firmness and then switch to compassion and mercy?

Find out in this week's Parsha Podcast.

Running time: 24:02

Bitachon 40 - Complete Bitachon

We begin the final chapter of the section on Bitachon in Sefer Madreigas Ha'adam by the Alter of Novardok, in which he emphasizes that the correct path for someone who truly seeks spiritual greatness, and strives for fear of Heaven and commitment to Torah, is to put one's faith completely in Hashem and not rely on his own efforts at all.

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Shemos - Clear Boundaries

What was the unique power that Yaakov bequeathed to his children, such that all twelve of them were righteous, and such that they could survive the difficult Egyptian exile? What mistake did Avraham make with his son Yishmael, and what mistake did Yitzchak make with Esav? How can we survive the desperate challenge that surrounds us in the Western world, a world with no boundaries? How can we raise our children with a healthy balance of love and boundaries?

Find out in this week's Parsha Podcast.

Running time: 23:44

Bitachon 39 - Path to Spiritual Greatness

We complete the 12th chapter of the Alter of Novardok's discussion of Bitachon, which ends with a call to renounce the excuses of social pressure and the 'easy' solutions to the problems of life, in order to focus ourselves on doing what's right in the eyes of Hashem, and reinforce our confidence in His constant providential guidance and help.

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Vayechi - Revealing the End of Days

Why does the Torah leave no space between the current and previous parsha's? What is the thread that runs through the three different explanations? Why was Yakov unable to reveal the End of Days? What happens when the End is revealed, for example, in the case of Yosef and his brothers? What is the reason for not mentioning a person's own death? When is it appropriate to contemplate the day of death? How does this apply to the revelation of the final redemption and the process we are currently experiencing in the world?

Find out in this week's Parsha Podcast.

Running time: 25:18

Bitachon 38 - Lishma & Bitachon

The Alter of Novardok continues his discussion on the importance of Lishma - acting with pure motives - despite the surrounding culture; and having Bitachon-Faith that all of the answers to life's questions will be answered through our spiritual dedication to Torah.

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Running time: 21:19