Tzav - Israel's Gift of Peace

Why is the Korban Toda (thanks offering) the only one that will remain in the future time? What is the concept of the korban Shelamim, whose root is related to Shalom-Peace? Why is it the last of the korbanos spoken of in the parsha? How does it bring about peace between all those involved in it? Why is peace the 'end all' of the prayers and blessings? Why does Hashem allow His name to be erased for peace? Why did R' Meir ask a woman who listened to his sermon to spit in his eye? What is the concept of peace in the future if there is no longer an inclination toward evil in the Messianic age?

Find out in this week's Parsha Podcast.

Running time: 28:41

Vayikra-Purim - Rejuvenation of Israel at 75

Why does Moshe 'stand by the side' at each point - at the burning bush, at the splitting of the sea, at Sinai, and at the building of the Mishkan? Why, in each case, does Hashem tell him that only he can do it? How does this parallel Mordechai's instruction to Esther to be the one to approach the king and serve as their redeemer? What is meant by our sages when they compare Esther to Sarah with the number 127, and when they compare her to Avraham who left for Israel at the age of 75? What is meant by the sages when they say that Tamar was the daughter of Shem if she lived so long after Shem? What is the significance of all of this in relationship to current events, which are occurring after 75 years since the Jewish state was founded?

Find out in this week's Parsha Podcast.

Running time: 27:46

Bitachon 153 - Always Start Alongside Hashem

We continue exploring the passuk in Tehillim ch. 37 passuk 5 which speaks of the idea to 'roll your ways onto Hashem.' The result is that 'when you trust in Him, he will do it.' This brings to the fore that we must always make sure that our intention in all our deeds is to serve Hashem. Furthermore, the efforts we put in - when we determine that we need efforts of some sort - must never replace our belief that it is always truly Hashem who is doing it for us.

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Running time: 19:37

Pekudei - Israel Gets Past the Tough Times

Why were the Jewish people unable to complete the construction of the Tabernacle? Why was it necessary for both Moshe Rabenu, who completed the Mishkan-Tabernacle, as well as Shlomo Hamelech (King Solomon) to have special spiritual assistance to complete the building? Why did the merchant who came to Jerusalem at first not sell his merchandise at all, but ultimately sold his merchandise very quickly? What is the 'last laugh' that Moshe had on his detractors? Why was he at first not involved in the construction of the mishkan, yet he completed it? Why did R' Shimon bar Yochai instruct his students not to leave Israel and not to strive to acquire wealth? Why is it built into acquiring Israel that in order to do so one must get past tough times?

Find out in this week's Parsha Podcast.

Bitachon 152 - Hashem Does For Israel

We explore the passuk in Tehillim ch. 37 passuk 5 which speaks of the idea to 'roll your ways onto Hashem.' The result is that 'when you trust in Him, he will do it.' This brings to the fore that we must always make sure that our intention in all our deeds is to serve Hashem. Furthermore, the efforts we put in - when we determine that we need efforts of some sort - must never replace our belief that it is always truly Hashem who is doing it for us.

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Running time: 23:01

Vayakhel - Israel's Source of Light

Why does the Torah refer to the creation of the Ark of the Covenant by Betzalel in the singular, seeming to imply he did it on his own? What was created first - the spiritual light of Creation or the Heavens and the Earth? What was Betzalel able to deduce from the creation of the light first? How does the Aron represent this light? What was the 'additional wisdom' of Noach and how did Betzalel use a similar kind of wisdom in deducing that the Aron should be created first, before the rest of the structure of the Mishkan?

Find out in this week's Parsha Podcast.

Bitachon 151 - Israel's Attachment to Hashem

We continue exploring the passuk in Tehillim ch. 37 passuk 4 which continues from our previous study and tells us about the connection to Hashem we experience in a state of Bitachon, which can manifest as an ecstatic state of joy or intense prayer. Either way, when it's real, it gets results!

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Running time: 21:38

Ki Sisa - The Artist's Many Names

Why does Hashem ask Moshe to 'look at the name' of Betzalel? Where was Betzalel's name to be seen? How was it that Betzalel was able to manifest such exquisite artistry if the Jewish people had been slaves and he had no chance to study his art? What is the significance of the 'many names' of Eliyahu and of Betzalel? Why does the Torah sometimes mention the person's name and also his parents' names and the name of his location? What are the many aspects that go into a person's personality and his ultimate purpose in the world? Why does Hashem have Betzalel, from the tribe of Yehuda, work alongside Oholiav, who is from the tribe of Dan?

Find out in this week's Parsha Podcast.

Running time: 30:03