Emor - When the Righteous Err

What is the connection between those who seek the advice of soothsayers and the Kohanim of our parsha? Why was King Saul referred to as a righteous individual despite his many mistakes? Why did Hashem seem to go along with Saul's desire to speak to Samuel (who had already died) if he did it in a way which was against the Torah? Why did King Saul go out to battle with his sons by his side if he knew it was to be his final battle, and both he and his sons would die?

Find out in this week's parsha podcast.

Running time: 29:56

Mishpatim - Closeness and Tikkun

Why is the narrative of the revelation at Sinai interrupted with the laws of Mishpatim? Were these laws given at this point? In light of the statement of Chazal that the Jewish people had returned to the state of Adam before the sin, why were did they receive commandments that seem inapplicable to them? Why doesn't the Torah wait until after the sin of the Golden Calf, when they fall from that state, to teach these laws? Why does the Torah begin with the tikkun aspect of the slave, instead of the sin that caused him to be sold into slavery? What is the connection between Adam Harishon and the Hebrew slave?

Find out in this week's Parsha Podcast.

Running time: 20:55

Vayigash - deep tikkun

What is the root of the problem that caused Yosef to go down to Egypt? What is the deep tikkun that is accomplished through the entire story?

Find out in this week's Parsha Podcast.

Running time: 16:23

Last week of Nissan

As we hit the last week of Nissan, we get to the end of the ten month tikkun that began with Rosh Chodesh Av of last year. It is not a coincidence that the PA has reconciled with Hamas and it was in the news last night. It is the Nesirah process moving forward, as the "Palestinian state" seems to be how Hashem is planning to get us to the final scenario described in Yechezkel.

Take heart, as Hashem says in the Yalkut Shimoni after the description of the destruction wrought by Paras in the end of days, "Don't worry my children. All that is happening is only for your sake. Why are you scared? Do not fear, the time for your redemption has come. This final redemption will not be like the earlier redemption. The first redemption was followed by pain and enslavement to the nations. This final redemption, however, will not be followed by pain and enslavement to the nations."

It also seems pretty clear that the whole Kever Yosef business going on right now is connected.

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.