Pesach - Night of Redemption

What is the idea behind the night of Pesach being a night of protection for all generations? Why do we begin the seder speaking of Hashem redeeming 'our forefathers and us' and then switch to Hashem's redemption of 'ourselves and our forefathers?' How do we actually get redeemed on this night? What is the idea of spiritual freedom? How does the past redemption reflect into the future redemption? How do the plagues of Egypt reflect to the future plagues that accompany the future redemption? How does a 'redemption mindset' bring redemption?

Find out in this week's Parsha Podcast.

Running time: 24:04

Vaera - Recognizing the Source

Why was the Nile and all the water of Egypt struck first with the plague of Blood? Why did Hashem warn them first before the plague? What is the mistaken understanding of reality that is intrinsic to all idol worship? How did the plagues come to rectify that? Why did Moshe need to show gratitude toward the Nile if it was Hashem Himself who had caused the Nile to be calm when he was an infant floating in its waters? What is the idea behind the teaching that all of the waters would turn to blood for the Egyptians unless they paid to buy it from the Israelites?

Find out in this week's parsha podcast. (audio)

Running time: 24:40

Vaera- Balancing Fire and Ice

Why is the seventh plague - hail - the first that is performed by Moshe alone? Why is there a stress on the fact that he raises his hands 'to heaven?' What does it mean that Moshe has power over heaven and earth? Why does the hail coexist with fire? Why does Hashem's mercy join here with the Divine court of justice to produce this plague? Why is it stressed here that the purpose of the plagues was really to cause Pharaoh to repent? Why does Hashem make rules and then suspend the rules?

Find out in this week's parsha podcast.
Running time: 26:38

Vaera - Silence Amidst Chaos

Why is the parsha split up in such a way that we get only the first seven plagues in this week's parsha? What is the significance of the numbers seven and ten? Why is it so important for us to know that the Jews were singled out and that the plagues did not touch their area in Egypt? Why is the Nile river turned into blood instead of just being dried up? What is the concept of blood, which is 'dam' in Hebrew, and what is the relationship to 'dom' in Hebrew, which means silence?

Find out in this week's parsha podcast.

Running time: 20:04

Bo - Keser and Malchus

Why were the first nine plagues performed by Moshe or Ahron, but the plague of the firstborn was done by Hashem Himself? Why did the Jews have to do something active to be excluded from the plague, as opposed to the previous plagues where this was not necessary? What is the significance of the blood being placed on the doorpost? Why did this plague occur precisely at midnight? What is deeper significance of the parallel of the midrash between the Pesach offering and the binding of Yitzchak?

Find out in this week's Parsha Podcast.

Running time: 20:05

Vaera - Lesson of the frogs

Why were the first two plagues the only ones the magicians could replicate? Is there a significant difference between Moshe's miracle of the frogs, as opposed to the magicians'? Why did the plague begin in the water? Why didn't Moshe just make frogs on the land? What is the understanding of the word "צפרדע" - and what does it teach us? What is the connection between the frogs, "הצפרדעים" and the Jewish people, the "צבאות השם"? Why is it that all the frogs remained, as opposed to every other plague, where the plague was completely removed, including the locusts, as per the medrash? What is the significance of the parallel between the frog's transformation and the fetus' transformation into a baby at birth?

Find out in this week's Parsha Podcast.

Running time: 18:54