Rosh Hashana - The Light Before Regrets

Why does Rosh Hashana parallel the 'light' of chapter 27 of tehillim, 'L'dovid Hashem Ori,' while Yom Kippur parallels the 'salvation' of that same passuk? Why does the 'light' or Rosh Hashana come first, and only then the 'salvation' of Yom Kippur, which denotes Hashem forgiving us for our sins? Wouldn't it make more sense to first be forgiven, and then renew our relationship with Hashem as King of the Universe? Why are the 'wicked filled with regrets' and yet they can not change? How does first being involved with proclaiming Hashem our King, and recognizing He remembers, and mentioning the concept of the Shofar - how do all these serve to help our regrets to be effective in bringing about change? What was the method of the Chofetz Chaim to keep a 'spiritual scorecard' that parallels how businesses keep a reckoning of what works in their business?

Find out in this weeks Parsha Podcast.

Running time: 30:15

Bitachon 276 - When to Have Bitachon

We discuss the idea of whether one can (and should) have Bitachon-faith even on the smallest matters or if it is only to be employed when we are facing serious difficulties.

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Running time: 22:48

Nitsavim-Veyelech - The Truth is Inside

What is the idea behind 'those who are here and those not here' being part of the covenant? How can 'those not here' be included? What is the power of the idea that every new Torah idea was told to Moshe at Sinai? What is the unique power of even a single person doing teshuva (repentance)? How does Teshuva relate to redemption? What is the 'space between the mouth and heart' which is the center of Teshuva that anyone can access?

Find out in this week's Parsha Podcast.

Running time: 29:29

Bitachon 275 - It Will All Be Good

We continue our exploration of the opinion of the Chazon Ish in Bitachon, which stresses the importance of knowing that all that happens to a person - whether good or not so good - it is all a decree from heaven and ultimately must be embraced as such. Furthermore, this opinion contends that one can depend on a positive outcome if one is in a proper relationship with their Creator.

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Running time: 19:35

Ki Savo - Indestructible Garments

Why does the Torah stress that the clothes the Jews wore in the wilderness never wore out? Where did these clothes come from? How are they connected to the clothes of Yaakov which he wore when he came in to steal the blessing of Esav? What was special about the revelation at Mount Sinai and the angels who appeared with gifts for the Jewish people? How did the clothes still fit children who received them in their youth? What is the idea of them being Royal Blue or Purple? What is the concept of the 'good smell' that reaches from one end of the earth to the other?

Find out in this week's Parsha Podcast.

Running time: 30:00

Bitachon 274 - Accepting the Challenges

We continue our exploration of the opinion of the Chazon Ish in Bitachon, which stresses the importance of knowing that all that happens to a person - whether good or not so good - it is all a decree from heaven and ultimately must be embraced as such. This is a lofty level of Bitachon-Faith.

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Running time: 23:15

Ki Seitze - Death of the Ego

What is the fundamental spiritual mistake of someone who speaks Lashon Hara (gossip)? How is that hatred and Lashon Hara cause the Divine Presence to be repelled? What is the concept of the destruction of the ego in the beginning of the times of Moshiach? How does it relate to the Ruach Hakodesh (Holy Spirit) and Shechinah (Divine Presence) that will be present on mankind in those times? How can we taste these aspects even today?

Find out in this week's Parsha Podcast.

Running time: 30:08

Bitachon 273 - Desire vs. Bitachon

We study together the teaching about Bitachon of the Gra, which is based on R' Chaim Vital's teaching on the topic in his sefer Shaarei Kedusha. In it we explore the concept that Bitachon is the fundamental middah (character trait) that impacts the human being in positive way, as opposed to Chemdah-desire which is never satisfied and leads a person far astray from spiritual values.

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Running time: 21:30

Shoftim - Forgiveness is a Gift

What is the deeper concept of peace? What is the depth of the teaching about the peace that comes when Hashem returns the souls of the idol worshippers for another day of life despite their denial of Him? Why did R' Meir allow the woman to 'spit in his face' to satisfy her husband who was not allowing her to come home? Why is Jerusalem associated with the concept of peace? Why is the ultimate redemption connected so intimately with peace? What is the approach to peace and forgiveness with others who have hurt us?

Find out in this week's Parsha Podcast.

Running time: 29:59

Bitachon 272 - Positivity for the Future

We discuss at length the opinion of the Chazon Ish, who seems to say that one can not have bitachon that good things will happen, as well as those who try to explain this to mean that this is referring to after the fact - that one can assume that even a seemingly negative event is Hashem's will for us, and will ultimately be good for us.

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Running time: 24:12