8 Tishrei

Thursday, 8 Tishrei, is the 70th yahrtzeit of one of the first massacres in the Holocaust. It occurred in Kiev, Ukraine, in a location called the Babi Yar ravine, where 33,771 Jews were slaughtered on the 8th and 9th of Tishrei in 1941 (5702). It is important to remember this tragedy which heralded the beginning of the 'Final Solution' of the Nazis ימח שמם. Wikipedia says that "the massacre would be the largest single mass killing for which the Nazi regime and its collaborators were responsible during its campaign against the Soviet Union and is considered to be 'the largest single massacre in the history of the Holocaust.'"

You can read more about this tragedy at the following link:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Babi_Yar_massacre

The 10th of Tishrei of that year was also significant, as it was the date of the opening of the first of the death camps, Majdanek.

May we see the avenging of the blood of those martyrs soon.

Haazinu & Yom Kippur - Transitions

Why is Moshe not buried in Eretz Yisrael? Why are his siblings Aharon and Miriam also not allowed to be buried in Israel? What is the concept of forty in this context? Why is Moshe Rabenu's grave impossible to access?

Find out in this week's Parsha Podcast.

Running time: 23:16

Return Again

I would like to share a podcast that I made about four years ago, called 'the gates of return.' It was a one episode podcast for no reason other than the fact it was a bit challenging to make. I recently had more than one request for another episode for the aseres yemei teshuva, so I offer a second episode here as well. It runs a little under fifteen minutes, and is a mix of music and inspiration.

I hope you enjoy.

Episode 1

Episode 2

Spirituality

Spirituality is not a "thing," not an object that can be identified as something one possesses. It is a process, a growth experience. Ironically, when someone thinks he has achieved spirituality, he has probably lost it. One has it only as long as one is striving for it. Because we can never quite achieve perfection, we are always capable of improving ourselves. As long as we continue to improve ourselves along the lines we have discussed, we are spiritual. If we lose the momentum for growth and become stagnant, baser human inclinations toward gratification and comfort are certain to arise and work against the spiritual life. In spirituality, the searching is the finding, and the pursuit is the achievement.

- Rabbi Abraham J. Twerski

Nitsavim-Vayelech - Today

Why does Moshe keep repeating the word 'today?' What is the concept of today? How is it related to Moshe Rabenu's death? How is it connected to Rosh Hashana? What was Haman's mistake about Moshe's date of death?

Find out in this week's Parsha Podcast.

Running time: 22:11

22 Elul

The world was created on the 25th of Elul, and Rosh Hashana was Friday, the sixth day of creation, when Man was created. The second day of Rosh Hashana corresponds to the seventh day of Creation, Shabbos. It is interesting to note that these seven days of creation correspond to the lower seven sefiros. It would seem logical that the three days prior correspond to the three upper sefiros. Thus, the 22nd of Elul (today) would correspond to Keser, which is the hidden root of all of the sefiros, the 23rd would correspond to Chochmah, and the 24th would correspond to Binah.

The Torah begins with the word "Beraishis," which starts with the letter 'Beis.' The letter Beis corresponds to the concept of Chochmah, and thus it could be said that it refers to the 23rd of Elul. The Torah does not begin with Alef, to denote the fact that the aspect of Keser, which is the Alef, (אלף = פלא) is beyond our understanding, nothing that we can relate to. Thus, today, the 22nd of Elul, is the day of Keser, beyond understanding. This corresponds to the idea that the initial statement of Beraishis, which is a non-statement, is the concept of Keser. Whereas each of the following acts of creation are prefaced with the words, "And Hashem said..." the initial act of creation was not prefaced by a statement. "In the beginning Hashem created..." implies a statement, albeit a hidden one. Thus, implied in the concept of Beraishis contained in the first word of the Torah is the hidden statement of Keser, which corresponds to today, the 22nd of Elul. Interestingly, the concept of 'Briah' - creation, and the name 'Elokim' both correspond to the sefirah of Binah, which we said parallels the 24th of Elul. Thus, in the words בראשית ברא אלקים (In the beginning, Elokim created), we have a reference to the three days preceding creation on the 25th of Elul.

Ki Savo - Blessings from Alef to Tav

Why are blessings only found when the item to be blessed is hidden from the eye? Why are the ways we are to emulate Hashem all involving patience with the wicked? What is it that the nations truly fear about the Jewish people? Why are there seemingly more curses than blessings?

Find out in this week's Parsha Podcast.

Running time: 24:54

Ki Seitzei - War of the Soul

What is the analogy between the Evil Inclination's general approach and the beautiful gentile woman captive? How does this connect to the concept of Shmitah? How does one develop a sense of abundance? What is the lesson of the diminished moon?

Find out in this week's Parsha Podcast.

Running time: 22:52

Ari Goldwag orchestra video (one man band)

Shoftim - The judge's example

What is the 'strength' that the Judge must show? How does one develop the humility that others will be drawn to? What is the difference between the 'honor of kings' and 'the honor of Hashem?' What is the secret of the 'pause' that is the first step in the process of teshuva?

Find out in this week's Parsha Podcast.

Running time: 22:04