Acharei-Kedoshim - Holy Extremes

Why are the countries of Egypt and Canaan pointed out for their moral decadence in regards to forbidden marital relationships? Why does the Torah seem to indicate that this is true because the Jewish people were there? Why must the Jewish people encounter such moral impurity? What is the net effect on each of the sides - holiness and impurity? What is the lesson for ourselves in the times before Moshiach? How can we defend ourselves from the decadence of our current society?

Find out in this week's parsha podcast.

Running time: 26:38

Va'era - Surmounting Challenges

What is the parallel between the experiences of the Jewish people in the Exodus and the experience of every individual Israelite? How does one face off with and surmount the challenges that continuously arrive? What is the power of prayer and how does it partner with the power of commitment?

Find out in this week's parsha podcast.

Running Time: 19:49

Lech Lecha - At The Threshold

Why do the Jewish people need to go through exile? Why do the forces of evil attack them there? How does Hashem's promise in regards to the Egyptian exile apply to the other exiles? What is the 'great wealth' that the Jews receive as they leave exile?

Find out in this week's parsha podcast.

Running time: 19:18

Ki Savo - Begin Again!

What is the depth behind the mitzvah to bring an offering of the first fruits of one's field? How can we reconcile the fact that sin causes great spiritual damage, and yet we can begin anew and enter into a relationship with Hashem no matter what? What are the spiritual forces that pull a person away from Hashem, and how can they be faced and conquered?

Find out in this week's parsha podcast.

Running time: 21:33

Acharei Mos and Pesach - From Egypt to Canaan

Why does the Torah preface the concept of illicit relations with a mention of 'the ways of Egypt and Canaan?' What is the concept of the process leading from Egypt to receiving the Torah, and ultimately to arrival in Israel? What is the deeper hidden root of this process? Why was it necessary for the Jewish people to experience the exile of Egypt? Why is Egypt compared to an 'idolatrous nursemaid' in the analogy of the midrash? What can we learn from all of our personal experiences in exile?

Find out in this week's parsha podcast.

Running time: 22:50

Shemos - Foundations of Exile

What is the depth behind the concept of exile? Why do the children of Israel go through exile, while Yishmael and Esav do not? How and why does Hashem bring us gently down into exile? What was the difference between Yaacov and his forebears that created the reality that all his sons were righteous, while this was not true of the previous patriarchs?

Find out in this week's parsha podcast.

Running time: 23:13

Bo - Willingness vs Defiance

Why does the Ramban say that the plague of Locusts is the one we are to tell over to our children? Why does Hashem describe this plague as the one which shows how He has made a mockery of Egypt? What is the lesson of Pharaoh's defiance? Why does Moshe find it difficult to understand the law of the sanctification of the new moon? What is the significance of Hashem showing Moshe with His 'finger?' What is the connection to the impure crawling animals and the Menorah?

Find out in this week's Parsha Podcast.

Running time: 19:52

Noach - Illusion and Reality

If water is a creative force, why is the world being destroyed by water? What is the connection between the cooling of the waters and cooling of the anger of Achashverosh in the story of Purim? What is the parallel between the water's destruction here, and the water's destruction of the Egyptians as the Jews made their exodus? What is the significance of the Jewish people traversing 'dry land in the midst of the sea?' Why is Noach called 'Ish Ha'adamah' - isn't this the opposite of the concept of tzaddik who we would equate with water?

Find out in this week's Parsha Podcast.

Running time: 19:31

Vayigash - Climax and culmination

How do we view the tikkun of the reunification of the family of Yisrael? How do we understand the dichotomy of the redemptive qualities of this event, as opposed to the fact that it is the start of the Egyptian exile? Why does Yakov return to Beer Sheva on the way down to Egypt? Why is the topic of conversation in Paroh's interaction with Yakov all about his difficult life? What is the background behind the location of Goshen being a safe haven for the Jewish people? Why are the Jewish people counted at this time?

Find out in this week's Parsha Podcast.

Lech Lecha - Beauty and spirituality

What is the significance of Sarah's beauty? Why does Avraham only tell her to refer to him as her brother when they go down to Egypt? Why does the Torah seem to place great significance on the fact the matriarchs of the Jewish people were exceptionally good looking? What is the parallel between Yosef's descent to Egypt and Sarah's? What is the significance of Yosef's physical beauty?

Find out in this week's Parsha Podcast.

Running time: 14:54

Beshalach - Understanding relationships

Why does the Torah refer to the Jewish people as being sent out by Paroh? Wouldn't it be more accurate to say that Hashem sent them out? If he indeed sent them out, why does he change his mind so fast? What is the proper Torah perspective on relationships between ourselves and Hashem, ourselves and others, and between ourselves and ourselves?

Find out in this week's Parsha Podcast.

Bo - Gathering sparks, understanding exile

What is the purpose of the Jewish people undergoing exile? What do our sages mean when they say that part of the reason is to bring lost Jewish souls back through conversion? Why was Paroh so scared of dying if midnight had already passed? What did the Egyptians mean when they said "we are all dying?" How could R' Shimon bar Yochai cause a person's death by looking at him?

Find out in this week's Parsha Podcast.

Va'era - Power of change

What is the concept of the name of Havaya that is being revealed through the Exodus? Why is the lineage of only the first three tribes given? Why is it placed here? What is the concept of Moshe's staff, and why is it necessary as part of the plagues?

Find out in this week's Parsha Podcast.