Vayakhel-Pekudei - Spiritual Source

Why does the Torah tell us of Betzalel's family origins? What is the significance of the 'intellect, wisdom and knowledge' with which he was endowed? Why was it important that the mishkan (santuary) be built with these aspects? How does it parallel the creation of the world? Why does the Torah stress that Hashem was the source of these powers of Betzalel? How does the mishkan serve to atone for the sin of the Golden Calf? What was the difference between the way the Jews brought their gold for the calf, as opposed to how they brought their gold for the mishkan?

Find out in this week's parsha podcast.

Runing time: 25:01

Ki Sisa - Receiving the 7th in the 6th

Why is the concept of Shabbos the introduction to the story of the Golden Calf? Why does Moshe study the Torah for forty days diligently, only to forget it and then receive it as a gift in the end? Why do the Jewish people use the Manna in their idolatrous worship of the Golden Calf? Why do they create the calf at the very moment Hashem is preparing the tablets of the law? What is the concept of extending the Sabbath - the 7th day - into Friday - the 6th? What is the concept of the number forty as it relates to six and seven weeks?

Find out in this week's parsha podcast.

Running time: 28:15

Tetzaveh - Moshe and Aharon

Why does the parsha of the menorah, which is lit by Aharon, as well as the clothing of the Kohen Gadol and Kohanim, immediately precede the parsha of Ki Sisa which speaks about the sin of the Golden Calf? If Aharon was involved in that sin, why was he allowed to serve in the mishkan? Why is Moshe's name not found in this week's parsha? What is the significance of the fact that the parsha centers around Aharon and leaves out Moshe? What is the significance of the clothes of the Kohanim?

Find out in this week's parsha podcast.

Running time: 19:49

Dovid, Yosef, the sixth hour and the seventh hour

I thought that title would get your attention. And, to boot, this is post number 607. Cool. Someone recently left a comment on the blog that they miss my moshiach messages. I wrote back that the messages are still there, you just have to know how to hear them.

I don't need to say too much, but I will say that if you listen carefully to this parsha podcast, you will get a good idea of where we are holding and we are headed. It also has the potential to explain a lot of what is going on now. But you will have to put all the old pieces together to get it. If you listen carefully, you will understand why I don't blog or speak too much about Moshiach anymore. But I explained that before. Review is good.

In any event, here's how the podcast appears everywhere else I've put it up:

Vayakhel - Moshiach, Mishkan and Shabbos (21:42)
What is the significance of the fact that all that was done in constructing the Mishkan (tabernacle) is the foundation of the prohibitions on Shabbos? What is the difference between the service of Hashem through the Mishkan as opposed to Shabbos? How is Shabbos connected to Dovid and Moshiach ben Dovid, as opposed to the Mishkan, which is connected to Yosef and Moshiach ben Yosef? Why is the Mishkan the atonement for the sin of the Golden Calf? What is the depth of the fact that the sin occurred at the end of the sixth hour, when Moshe was late in returning? What was at the root of the sin of the Golden Calf?

Find out in this week's parsha podcast.

Tzav - Purity of Intent

Why is Aharon's name not mentioned in the commands to the Kohanim until the olah sacrifice is commanded? Why does Hashem specifically desire Aharon's service despite his involvement in the sin of the Golden Calf? Why does one midrash seem to imply that Aharon must be forgiven, while the other seems to imply that Hashem saw his good intent all along?

Find out in this week's Parsha Podcast.

Running time: 18:26

Ki Sisa - Unbreakable Love

What is the significance of the fact that Hashem does not allow Moshe to see his 'face?' What is the depth of Moshe being able to see the back of God, as it were? What is represented by the tefillin? What is the inner aspect of Hashem's interaction with us? Why does Hashem forget about he sin of the Golden Calf, and why does He always remember the relationship forged at Sinai?

Find out in this week's Parsha Podcast.

Running time: 18:12

Tetzaveh - Mishkan and Purim

Why do we have two Parshios that speak of the construction of the Mishkan before and after the sin of the Golden Calf? What is the depth of the concept of Purim, where Hashem brings an aspect of the light of redemption into the beginning of the story - a cure before the sickness? What is the difference between the name Jacob and Israel? What is the significance of the seemingly insignificant acts of selflessness? Wny is Purim still celebrated after Moshiach's advent?

Find out in this week's Parsha Podcast.

Running time: 23:38

Shelach vort 2 - Deeper truth

I had two thoughts this week on the parsha. The first was the official 'studio' recording podcast. This is the second which I presented in my parsha shiur this morning in Beis Medrash Ahavas Shalom.

Presented is the very beautiful and deep concept of R' Nachman, as expounded by R' Nosson, which is the concept of truth and true truth.

Click here to download the second version of the parsha podcast.

Runnning time: 17:47

Naso - Love and Respect

Why does the Torah place the concept of the encampments next to the idea of Metzora? The midrash tells us that the Jewish people were cured of this type of ailment at Mount Sinai, and that it returned after the sin of the Golden Calf - Why is this only significant now, almost a year later? Why does the midrash seem to imply that the counting and encampments are the solidification of the relationship of Hashem and Klal Yisrael?

Find out in this week's Parsha Podcast.

Running time: 22:19

Ki Sisa - Secret of the Ibbur

How do we understand the great disparity between Moshe receiving the Torah at the very moment the Jewish people are worshipping the Golden Calf? This is especially difficult in light of the fact that Moshe is the combining soul of the Jewish people. How does this connect to the miracle of Purim? What is the concept of the twelve and thirteen tribes and the twelve and thirteen months of the year? Why does the miracle of Purim occur in Adar? What is the significance of the fish as its zodiac sign? What is the spiritual concept of the fish?

Find out in this week's Parsha Podcast.

Running time: 22:46

Ki Sisa - Rebuilding relationships

How could Aharon Hakohen be involved in the making of the Golden calf? If he was the one who pursued peace and was concerned with relationships, how could he be a party to this violation of the Jewish people's relationship with Hashem? What is the connection to the story of Purim? What is the significance of the two sets of luchos in the Aron?

Find out in this week's Parsha Podcast.

Running time: 14:16

Vayakhel-Pekudei - Hashem's Unconditional Love

Why is the parsha of the sin of the golden calf found right in the middle of the account of the building of the mishkan? Has anything changed in the relationship between the Jewish people and Hashem before and after the sin? What is the secret of the thirteen attributes of divine mercy? What is the deeper meaning of the cloud that rested on the Mishkan and led the Jews in the desert?

Find out in this week's Parsha Podcast.

Ki Sisa - Reflecting the light

Why is the story of the the sin of the Golden Calf prefaced with the giving of the luchos to Moshe? Why did that specifically occur on the last of the forty days? Why were the Jews in such a rush to replace Moshe with the calf (as per the Ramban)? Why was it necessary to destroy the luchos? Why were the second set of luchos written by Moshe? What is the significance of the light that radiated from Moshe?

Find out in this week's Parsha Podcast.

Depth of the number forty

What is the deeper significance of the spies exploring Israel for forty days? Why was Moshe on Har Sinai for forty days? Why were the Jewish people punished with forty years - a year for each day?

Uncover the great depth hidden in this concept in this week's Parsha Podcast.