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

Ki Sisa - Receiving the 7th in the 6th

Why is the concept of Shabbos the introduction to the story of the Golden Calf? Why does Moshe study the Torah for forty days diligently, only to forget it and then receive it as a gift in the end? Why do the Jewish people use the Manna in their idolatrous worship of the Golden Calf? Why do they create the calf at the very moment Hashem is preparing the tablets of the law? What is the concept of extending the Sabbath - the 7th day - into Friday - the 6th? What is the concept of the number forty as it relates to six and seven weeks?

Find out in this week's parsha podcast.

Running time: 28:15

Tetzaveh - Passageway to Eternity

Why is the description of the incense altar left until after the entire construction of the mishkan? Why does it only speak of Ahron, the high priest, if it is permitted for any Kohen to perform that service? What is the special power of the ketores to bring joy and banish the forces of evil? Why does the incense play such a central role in the Yom Kippur service? Why is it hidden in the Kodesh, away from sight?

Find out in this week's parsha podcast.

Running time: 24:41

Terumah - Receving Torah, Receiving God

Why is the story of the revelation at Sinai placed immediately before the command to build a Tabernacle for Hashem's presence? Why is the center of the Tabernacle the place that houses the Ark of the Covenant and the Torah that is within it? Why does the Midrash introduce the command of building the Tabernacle with a description of the greatness of Torah? How is the Torah compared to a princess whose father, the king, comes along with it?

Find out in this week's parsha podcast.

Running time: 20:48

Mishpatim - Angel of Redemption

What is the depth of the three different teachings about what the angel is that Hashem sends to lead the Jewish people - a literal angel, a prophet and the ark of the covenant? What is the concept of an angel? Why does Hashem tell Yaakov to climb the ladder he saw in his dream - the one the angels were climbing? When does Hashem send an angel, and when does Hashem Himself lead the Jewish people? Why is the presence of an angel always accompanied by Hashem's presence and a redemption?

Find out in this week's parsha podcast.

Running time: 24:36

Yisro - Godly Essence

Why does Hashem openly reveal Himself to an entire nation which is only freshly removed from its spiritual filth? What is the power of the statement 'naaseh v'nishma' - we will do and we will listen? Why does Hashem remove Moshe from his 'post' as messenger for the first of the ten commandments? Why is the first commandment not a command, but rather a statement?

Find out in this week's parsha podcast.

Running time: 20:15

Beshalach - Stages of Redemption

Why do the sons of Efraim try to leave Egypt thirty years early? Why is the verse which speaks of moshe taking Yosef's bones out of sequence? Why is the depth of the idea of Moshe 'grabbing a commandment?' Why is there a double oath to take Yosef's bones out of Egypt? Why does Yosef want his bones to be 'returned' to Shechem? What are the two stages of redemption? How do we 'remember' the future?

Find out in this week's parsha podcast.

Running Time: 26:47

Bo - Nissan Month of Redemption

What is the concept of Nissan being the first of the months? Why is this the first commandment the Jewish people receive as a nation? What is the idea of the 'keitz' and the 'ibbur' in regards to redemption? What is the concept of 'the first' and how does it relate to Hashem, Jerusalem, Moshiach and Nissan? Why do the Jewish people enter into and continue our relationship with Hashem on a mountain?

Find out in this week's parsha podcast.

Running time: 24:27

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

Shemos - Meriting Redemption

What does it mean that Hashem redeems us for the 'sake of His name and the sake of His covenant?' What is the difference between 'seeing' and 'knowing?' Why does Hashem 'see' our sins, but 'know' about our good deeds? How can we be redeemed in the merit of something we will do in the future? What is the idea of Teshuva-repentance? How can we be redeemed in the merit of something our patriarchs did?

Find out in this week's parsha podcast.

Running time: 20:15