Toldos - Clothes of Dominion

What were the special clothes that Rivka made sure Yakov wore when he stole the blessings from Esav? Why did wild animals become docile when they saw these garments? Why did Esav wear them whenever he served his father? How were they connected to Adam's naming of all the animals? Why did they give Adam dominion over all of the creations in the world? Why does Adam name all the animals right in the middle of the Torah's account of Hashem's creation of Eve? Why is Yakov sent to marry immediately after he receives the blessings? Why does Yakov include animal descriptions in his blessings of his children?

Find out in this week's parsha podcast.

Running time: 24:58

Vayakhel - Names of Godliness

What is the significance of the lineage of Betzalel - that he is the son of Uri, the son of Chur, and that he comes from the tribe of Judah? Why does the midrash state that the merit for the creation of world and its continued existence is in the merit of the Jewish people - it would seem that the world exists purely out of God's love? What does it mean that all of the hosts of the heavens have a single name, even as they all have individual names? What does it mean that this is also true in regards to human beings?

Find out in this week's parsha podcast.

Running time: 21:20

Shemos - Moshe and names

What is the significance of the fact that this book is called Shemos - 'Names?' What is the significance of the numerous mention of names in the parsha - the names of Hashem, the names of the tribes, the name of Moshe? What is the significance of the fact that Moshe was named after the fact that he was 'drawn from the water?' What is the significance of the fact that the first story of Moshe's interactions as an adult is to murder the Egyptian? What is the significance of Moshe's long stay in Midian? Why does Hashem begin His interaction with Moshe by calling out his name? What is the significance of the name Ehkyeh asher Ehkyeh?

Find out in this week's Parsha Podcast.

Running time: 17:54