Terumah - Excitement vs Joy

What is the difference between the Mishkan (Tabernacle) and the Mikdash (Temple)? Why does one constantly move, while one is only in a single location? What is the difference between the joy of the month of Adar and Purim as opposed to the month of Nissan and Pesach (Passover)? What is the depth behind the two ways people gave to the Mishkan - some from heirlooms passed for generations for this purpose, others from wealth they had just obtained? What is the difference between Moshiach ben Yosef and Moshiach ben Dovid?

Find out in this week's parsha podcast.

Running time: 24:20

Shoftim - Charity and Justice

Why does the verse imply that Justice and Charity are greater than bringing sacrifices in the Temple? In what ways are they indeed greater? Why did King David rejoice when his scoffers expressed their wish that 'the temple be built' when it meant the end of his own life? How did King David perform justice and charity? Why does the medrash refer to his charity and justice, while a similar account in the Gemara (Talmud) refers to his Torah learning?

Find out in this week's parsha podcast.

Running time: 26:50

Va'era - Hosting Godliness

What does the verse mean when it says that Hashem told Moshe he would be a 'god' to Pharaoh? Why was King Solomon unable to bring the Holy Ark into the Temple? Why did he need to invoke his father, King David's honor? Why is Hashem referred to as the 'King of Honor?' When does Hashem 'distribute His honor to those who fear Him?'

Find out in this week's parsha podcast.

Running time: 27:26

Vayechi - War of Gog Umagog

What is the parallel between the blessings of Jacob and that which occurs on Rosh Hashana and Yom Kippur? Why do the 10 tribes gather to the portions of Yehuda and Benjamin? Why do they need to 'show honor to Judah and Benjamin?' What is the idea of there not being 'any arguments' as a prerequisite for the advent of the Messianic age? Why did Jacob reveal the idea of the War of Armageddon to his sons? Why does this war center around Jerusalem? Why was all this revealed in the context of the revelation of the unique attributes of each tribe?

Find out in this week's parsha podcast.

Running time: 26:31

Devarim-Tisha B'av - Unifying Duality

Why is the lesson of Devarim before Tisha B'av? How did Moshe become able to speak so eloquently when he originally categorized himself as 'heavy of tongue?' What does it mean that the Torah 'cures the tongue?' What is the significance of the teaching that a sefer Torah can be written in any language, or at least in Greek? What is the idea of the description of the tablets as being written 'on both sides?' Why is 'both sides' also the description of the fruit trees that grow from the river that flows from the Holy Temple of the future?

Find out in this week's parsha podcast.

Running time: 26:50

Tzav - Expansion Within Constriction

Why are all of the Jewish people gathered at the entrance of the Tabernacle, and how do they all fit in such a small space? What is the significance of the fact that the first example of 'a great amount fitting in a small space' is during Creation when the primordial waters are gathered? What is the significance of each of the other examples the midrash brings - gathering to receive the Torah at Mount Sinai, water from the rock, between the staves of the Ark, and in the future when all the nations gather to serve God in Jerusalem?

Find out in this week's parsha podcast.

Running time: 23:14

Vayikra - Special Nation

What is the reason for the Jewish people's 'special nation' status? Why does the midrash stress this so much right here at the beginning of Vayikra with the founding of the Tabernacle? Why was it so important for the nations of the world that the Tabernacle be protected? Why were the nations unable to receive the Torah at any level at that time? What will change in the future when 'the honor of Hashem will be revealed to all flesh?'

Find out in this week's parsha podcast.

Running Time: 26:27

Nasso - Protecting the Blessings

What is the concept of Blessings? Why do they need protection? What does it mean that the 'vessel that holds blessings is peace?' Why did the priestly blessings take a different form in Temple? Why does the form of the blessings increase at it goes along? Why did Isaac want to give the blessings to Esau? How does one make proper use of one's blessings?

Find out in this week's parsha podcast.

Running time: 23:24

Tzav and Purim - North and South

Why is the korban olah (fully burnt sacrifice) related to the north, while the shelamim (partly burned, partly eaten) is related to the south? Why are the concepts of exile, Gog and Moshiach related to the north, while redemption, Gog's fall, and the rebuilding of the Temple related to the south? Why can't a northerly and southerly wind blow at the same time? What does it mean that both will blow in the future time? Why can't a groom enter the house before he is invited by his bride?

Find out in this week's parsha podcast.

Running time: 26:27

Terumah - Drawing Down Holiness

What is the difference between the Mishkan (Tabernacle) and the Mikdash (Holy Temple)? What is the significance of the connection of the Mishkan to Yosef, as opposed to the Mikdash which is connected to Yehudah/David? How does this tie in to the concept of the month of Adar?

Find out in this week's parsha podcast.

Running Time: 15:55

Ki Savo - Rejoicing in darkness

Why does the Torah speak at length about the curses, and only cursively about the blessings? Why does this parsha start off with the obligation of bringing the first fruits, which is only an obligation in Israel, only for the seven special species, and only to be brought to the Temple to a Kohen? Why does Rabbi Akiva laugh at the sight of the Temple Mount plowed over? Where is the deepest revelation of Godliness to be found?

Find out in this week's Parsha Podcast.

Running time: 22:56

Pesach - Leaving Egypt with great wealth

Why is it necessary for the Jewish people to be enslaved in Egypt? What does Egypt represent? What is the concept of the Jewish people leaving Egypt with great riches? Why is the Mishkan and Beis Hamikdash bedecked with silver and gold? What is the significance of the parallel idea in the future redemption? What is the concept of money?

Find out in this week's Parsha Podcast.

Running time: 21:33

Who will build the third Beis Hamikdash?

Rabbenu Bachai says a most interesting thing on the parsha, in talking about the חזיר - the pig. The pig only has one sign, which is that it has split hooves, but it does not chew its cud. The exile that we are currently in, Galus Edom (Western culture), is represented by the pig. (For a deeper understanding of that, please listen to my parsha podcast.)

Rabbenu Bachai brings a medrash that explains why the pig is called a חזיר, which comes from the root חזר - to return. The first pshat in the medrash is that Hashem will be מחזיר - i.e. bring upon them (Edom) - the attribute of Divine justice.

The second pshat is most interesting. The wording is that in the future they will be מחזיר (return) the crown to its former glory. He explains that this means that whereas the first and second Batei Mikdash were made by Jews, the final one will be made by the people of Edom! Thus, they will return the crown (i.e. the Beis Hamikdash), which they had destroyed, to its former glory.

The third pshat is that they will return in a different way. Whereas until that final stage of history, the people of Edom will oppress and torment the Jewish people for sticking to their spiritual path, when Moshiach finally arrives, they will encourage the Jewish people as they endeavor to come close to Hashem.