Matos-Masei - Lottery of Life

Why was it important to give out the portions of Israel through a lottery and also asking the Urim v'tumim? Why couldn't Moshe himself determine the unique role of each person and tribe without these tools? What is the concept of the land of Israel as the 'helpmate' of the people of Israel? How does one's portion in Israel correspond to his unique purpose in life? How does one elevate the land of Israel to higher levels of holiness?

Find out in this week's Parsha Podcast.

Running time: 29:18

Kedoshim - Tzion, Yosef and Kedusha

What is the concept of Kedusha-holiness? Are we to separate ourselves completely from this world? Why does the verse seem to say that we are to be holy because Hashem is holy? Why is the concept of kedusha connected to Tzion, which is Jerusalem and the Temple? Why do the blessings of redemption come from Tzion and Kedusha? How does all of this connect to Yosef and the power he received from Pharaoh?

Find out in this week's parsha podcast.

Running time: 26:46

Acharei-Kedoshim - Who's Holier?

What is the concept of holiness? What does it mean when the midrash says that Hashem takes one crown of holiness for Himself and gives two crowns of holiness to the Jewish people? Why does another midrash seem to imply that Hashem's holiness is greater? What can one do if one has fallen in to sin in order to rectify his misdeed?

Find out in this week's parsha podcast.

Running time: 24:19

Kedoshim - Holiness and Lishma

What is the concept of Holiness? Why are we enjoined to be holy because 'Hashem is Holy?' What is the idea that everything in reality is an expression of Hashem? How does one emulate Hashem's pure altruism?

Find out in this week's Parsha Podcast.

Acharei-Kedoshim - Understanding true holiness

What is the connection between the Avodah of the Kohen Gadol on Yom Kippur and the forbidden sexual relationships? What is the significance of the fact that the Torah prefaces the topics in our parsha with the concept of the metzora? What is the significance of the punishments for sexual perversion - being thrown out of Israel, and kares - spiritual excision? What is the deeper meaning of holiness, and why is it only obtained by refraining from forbidden sexual relationships? What does it mean that we are to be holy because Hashem is Holy? What is the understanding of the anomaly that the word kadosh means holiness, and the word kedesha means prostitute? What is the connection between the concept of kedusha here and the concept of kiddush which we find by Shabbos and Yom Tov, as well as the concept of kiddush levanah (sanctifying the new moon)?

Find out in this week's Parsha Podcast.