Pinchas - Power of Consistency

Podcast dedicated by Sarah Kukin in honor of her daughter's birthday. Why does the Torah place the story of the daughters of Tzlafchad next to the story of Moshe's request for a new leader to lead after his death? What is significant about the daughters of Tzlafchad receiving a portion of land on both sides of the Jordan river? Why is their inheritance referred to as 'passing' to them, as opposed to others who it is 'given' to? Why does Hashem tell Moshe that his own sons will not inherit his leadership? What is unique about the fig tree and why is Yehoshua's (Joshua's) learning compared to it? How is Moshe reassured by Hashem despite the leadership being given to a different tribe? What are the qualities of a true leader of the Jewish people, as embodied by Yehoshua?

Find out in this week's Parsha Podcast.

Running time: 29:01

Bitachon 169 - Hashem is With Us in our Pain

We turn to a new passuk in our studies, found in Tehillim chapter 46 passuk 2 which speaks of Hashem's presence which is found in a much deeper way when we are going through personal or national challenges.

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Running time: 22:52

Balak - Secret of Redemption

Why was Moshe unable to respond when Zimri challenged him in regards to his having married a Midianite woman? What does it mean that he 'lazy' in this regard? How is it that Moshe is punished for this 'laziness' by being buried alone - only by Hashem - and not by all of the Jewish people - if this lone burial is actually a reward for having worked hard to find the bones of Yosef before leaving Egypt? In that context, why does 'Segulah' - better known as Serach bas Asher - appear to reveal to Moshe where Yosef's bones are buried after he spends three days and nights searching for them? What is the 'secret of redemption' hinted to in her name?

Find out in this week's Parsha Podcast.

Running time: 29:50

Bitachon 168 - The Sin of Hishtadlus II

We continue our study of Bitachon together in perek 40 passuk 5 of Tehillim, where Dovid Hamelech guides us to turn away from the false efforts (hishtadlus) and people who seem like they can help us, and to place of all of our trust in Hashem, and to depend exclusively on Him for the means to achieve our needs. We learn from the case of Yosef who was on a very exalted level of Bitachon, that one who is on such a level can not afford to put in even the most minute amount of hishtadlus.

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Running time: 22:30

Chukas - My Personal Rock

Why does the midrash say that every single individual in the Jewish nation perceived themselves as being directly in front of the rock from which Moshe brought forth water? Why did the scoffers demand that Moshe bring forth water from a different rock than the one Hashem had commanded? Why does the midrash stress that ultimately water came out of the correct rock, and that water in fact also came out of every rock in the vicinity? What is the significance of the other places where the Jewish people perceived themselves as being directly in front of a particular location - the entrance to the Mishkan, the staves of the Aron (Ark)? How does this concept align with the idea that the Beis Hamikdash (Temple) miraculously holds much more than its physical space can bear? How does this relate to the teaching that all the nations will fit in the space of Jerusalem in the Messianic age?

Find out in this week's Parsha Podcast.

Running time: 30:02

Bitachon 167 - The Sin of Hishtadlus

We continue our study of Bitachon together in perek 40 passuk 5 of Tehillim, where Dovid Hamelech guides us to turn away from the false efforts (hishtadlus) and people who seem like they can help us, and to place of all of our trust in Hashem, and to depend exclusively on Him for the means to achieve our needs.

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Running time: 24:38

Korach - Knowing Our Place

After Korach and his fellow revolutionaries were either swallowed by the ground or burned by a spiritual fire, why did the Jewish people continue to complain? Why did it also continue even after they were struck by a plague as a result of their complaint? What was represented by the miracle of Aharon's staff which flowered and produced 'shkedim'-almonds? What was behind the desire for the bechorim-first born to serve in place of the Levites, and why were they wrong? What is the personal message for all of us?

Find out in this week's Parsha Podcast.

Running time: 25:25

Bitachon 166 - Songs of Bitachon and Praise

We continue our studies in chapter 40 passuk 4 which speaks of Dovid Hamelech's desire to sing the praise of Hashem for having helped him through his difficult times, and how this song inspires others to fear Hashem and trust in Him.

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Running time: 24:54

Shlach - Facing Our Fear of Greatness

Why did Hashem cause the leaders throughout the land of Canaan to die as the Israelite spies passed through their land? What was at the root of the spies denial of the Hashgacha Pratis (Divine Providence) of these deaths which was really to create a distraction from their presence? Why did the Jewish people step back from Mount Sinai when Hashem revealed Himself to them, and ask for Moshe to be between them and Hashem instead the direct revelation? Why did the Jewish people look suspiciously at the fact that there was no physical waste when they ate from the Manna in the wilderness? How can we face the higher levels of spirituality Hashem wants to bring to us without turning away in fear?

Find out in this week's Parsha Podcast.

Running time: 29:36

Bitachon 165 - Hope and Hope Again

We continue our study in Tehillim chapter 40 passuk 2, where King David exhorts us to constantly stay connected to the attribute of Tikvah-Hope. Ultimately, he promises that Hashem will lean closer and closer to us as we yearn to be close to Him.

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Running time: 22:53