Tetzaveh - The Holy Ripple Effect

Why did Hashem instruct Moshe to appoint Aharon as Kohen Gadol, instead of Hashem speaking directly to Aharon? What was the advantage of Moshe in his role of bringing the Torah to Am Yisrael, as opposed to Aharon as Kohen Gadol? What is behind the teaching of successive 'whittling down' from the whole world, to Israel, to the Beis Hamikdash, to the Holy of Holies? How does this parallel the 'whittling down' from all the nations, to Israel, to the Levi'im, to Aharon? Why are the Levi'im counted from the age of one month, whereas everyone else is counted only from the age of 20? How does this parallel Yocheved, daughter of Levi, who was counted as part of the 70 who came down to Egypt while she was in utero? How do these concentric circles form and connect to Hashem, sending light out from the center in a Holy Ripple Effect?

Find out in this week's Parsha Podcast.

Running time: 29:28

Bitachon 198 - The Challenge is Also Good

We study together the passuk in Tehillim chapter 86 passuk 2, which is Dovid Hamelech's statement that he wishes for protection because of the fact that he is a Chasid. This is explained to mean that he realizes that all of Hashem's judgments really stem of His kindness. With that realization, which is another way of talking about Bitachon, we can expect Hashem's protection.

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Running time: 21:13

Terumah - Building With What I've Got

What is the depth of the idea that any individual can build the Mishkan single-handedly? Why did the gems of the Kohen's Choshen appear alongside the Mon (Manna) of the righteous for them to be able to donate? How did Yaakov know to set aside Cedar wood for the building of the Mishkan which would take place hundreds of years later? How were these beams kept for all those years? Why does the Torah speak of the mishkan before the sin of the Golden Calf if the chronology was different?

Find out in this week's Parsha Podcast.

Running time: 26:26

Bitachon 197 - End of the Exile

We continue our study in Tehillim perek 84 passuk 13, and continue to try to understand the concept of trusting Hashem insofar as how it relates to the end of the Exile and the building of the third Beis Hamikdash.

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Running time: 17:40

Mishpatim - Why We Serve Hashem

What is behind the richness of the parsha of Mishpatim in its many laws? In what way are we like servants to Hashem, and how were we 'acquired' through the 10 plagues? What is the 'daughter' of Hashem that He allows us to capture, so long as we show it proper respect? How do we avoid 'cursing' our spiritual father and mother - which are Hashem and His Torah? How does this manifest in our relationships with others?

Find out in this week's Parsha Podcast.

Running time: 26:50

Bitachon 196 - So Fortunate to Trust II

We continue our study in Tehillim perek 84 passuk 13, and continue to try to understand the background behind the statement that we are so fortunate to be amongst those who place their trust in Hashem.

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Running time: 19:50

Yisro - Who Was Here First?!

Why does the Torah preface the revelation of the Ten Commandments with the statement that Hashem spoke 'all of these matters?' What is the depth of the concept of duality in the face of Hashem's absolute Unity? How do we understand what seems like darkness if Hashem is all 'light?' What is the depth of the idea of 'everything returning to the way it was at first?' How can the Jewish people be considered 'first' if there were many who preceded us? What is the true concept of 'first?' How does Hashem manifest as both a warrior and a gentle teacher?

Find out in this week's Parsha Podcast.

Running time: 29:14

 

Bitachon 195 - So Fortunate to Trust!

We continue our study in Tehillim perek 84 passuk 13, and we study the whole chapter to try to understand the background behind the statement that we are so fortunate to be amongst those who place their trust in Hashem.

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Running time: 24:35

Beshalach - Forcing Redemption

What is the root of the story of the abduction of Sarah by Pharaoh and Avimelech? In what way are they forced to release her? How does this serve as a precedent for the servitude of the Jewish people in Egypt? Why does Egypt need to enslave the Jewish people, and what happens when they are released? How do the nations of the world seek to misdirect the talents and abilities of the Jewish people, down to this very day? What is the correct use of these powers, and what does the final redemption look like?

Find out in this week's Parsha Podcast.

Running time: 30:11

Bitachon 194 - Restoring Our Bitachon

We study together perek 78 passuk 22 which speaks about what happens when we do not have Emunah and Bitachon in Hashem, and the proper approach to gaining back that Bitachon - by recognizing that the difficulties we face are a result of turning away from Hashem. The imperative is therefore to turn back to Him.

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Running time: 20:43

Bo - Conversation with Moshiach

What does Hashem mean when he tells Moshe and the Jewish people that "This month [Nissan] is yours?" Why do the Jewish people respond to Moshe's announcement of the impending redemption with reasons why they should not be redeemed? What is behind Hashem's response, which is that He does not calculate things like them, that He looks at the good deeds of the righteous, and that He 'skips over' the Jewish people's sins of idolatry? How does this parallel the conversation the Jewish people will have with Moshiach when he arrives and announces that the final redemption is imminent?

Find out in this week's Parsha Podcast.

Running time: 26:57

Bitachon 193 - Learn Torah Get Bitachon

We study together Tehillim chapter 78 passuk 7 which speaks about how one gains Bitachon - by recalling the wondrous events and miracles Hashem has performed for us, and the relationship between Bitachon and keeping the Mitzvos - how Bitachon is the foundation for keeping Torah, and Torah's ultimate goal is to bring us to Bitachon - a real relationship with Hashem.

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Running time: 24:16

Va'era - Seeing Signs of Redemption

Why was it proper for Pharaoh to ask for a sign from Moshe when he asked to let the Jewish people go? Why did Noach, Chizkiyahu and Chananya, Mishael and Azarya receive signs? What is the concept of a 'sign?' What is the significance of Chizkiyahu and Chananya, Mishael and Azarya being saved specifically on the night of Pesach? What is the concept of this night that is 'saved' by Hashem for the righteous for salvation, and also for the future salvation of the entire Jewish people? How do we merit to see signs and merit to be called 'people of the sign?'

Find out in this week's Parsha Podcast.

Running time: 29:27

Bitachon 192 - Two Paths of Bitachon

We study together the two paths of Bitachon, as quantified by R' Yisroel Salanter in the Sefer Even Yisrael. One is the path of the Chovos Halevavos, which involves minimal hishtdadlus-efforts, and one is the path of the Ramban (which we've studied with the Alter of Novardok), which involves relying on a miracle. We explore to whom each of these paths apply, and how one must find his way between them.

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Running time: 22:54

Shemos - Seeds of Moshiach

Why is the book of Exodus also called the book of Names? How do the Names of the tribes relate to the redemption of the Jewish people? Why does Hashem appear to Moshe in a thorn bush? Why didn't Hashem appear in a great Cedar or other majestic tree? What is the difference between the non-Jewish outlook and the Jewish outlook as to where Hashem manifests His Divine Presence? Why did the mothers of Am Yisrael - Rachel and Leah - have to go through such difficult times, as referred to in the names they gave their children? How did these very names manifest later in the redemption? Find out in this week's Parsha Podcast.

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Running time (29:54)

Bitachon 191 - Be Careful What You Wish

We explore a piece in Rav Tzadok MiLublin (Siman 64) that speaks about a game-changing idea that relates very much to Bitachon - Ratzon-Will. Ratzon is so powerful that when someone wields it, he experiences tremendous Siyata Dishmaya - Divine Aid. But this does not prove that the path this person has willed is a good path - it just proves that his will is very strong. We discuss the ramifications of this issue.

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Running time: 21:16

Vayechi - Gathering in the End of Days

How does Yaakov communicate with his sons when he requests them to gather? How does this request filter down to our times, as ou nation gathers back in Israel? What is behind the parallels of four of the tribes to the four kingdoms that had power over us? How do Daniel from Yehuda and Mordechai from Binyamin take away the power of Bavel and Madai? How do Levi and ultimately Yosef take away power from Yavan-Greece and Edom-The West? What is the idea behind the seven days of mourning for Yaakov that parallel the seven days of celebration that will occur when the age of Moshiach commences?

Find out in this week's Parsha Podcast.

Running time: 29:53

Bitachon 190 - Closeness to Hashem is Good

We study together Tehillim chapter 73 passuk 28, which speaks of the reassurance needed for the tzaddik-righteous individual. This is that although sometimes the wicked seem to prosper, ultimately they wither away, while someone who values closeness to Hashem experiences a cleansing through one's challenges.

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Running time: 21:53

Vayigash - Moshiach ben Yosef in Jail

Why does Yosef suffer in Jail for 12 years before being released and becoming the leader over all the modern world of that time? Why does he send his brothers through such difficult tribulations before revealing himself? Why does Yeshaya Hanavi tell us that the prerequisite for the building of the Beis Hamikdash is a bringing back to order of our relationships between our fellows, besides for our relationship with Hashem? What is the concept of the light of the generation of Moshiach ben Yosef? Why does Moshiach ben Yosef, like his forebear Yosef, need to endure great pain at the hand of his own brothers? How does this very pain, alongside the derision of the nations of the world, lead to his having power over everyone?

Find out in this week's Parsha Podcast.

Running time: 37:49