Tzav - Expansion Within Constriction

Why are all of the Jewish people gathered at the entrance of the Tabernacle, and how do they all fit in such a small space? What is the significance of the fact that the first example of 'a great amount fitting in a small space' is during Creation when the primordial waters are gathered? What is the significance of each of the other examples the midrash brings - gathering to receive the Torah at Mount Sinai, water from the rock, between the staves of the Ark, and in the future when all the nations gather to serve God in Jerusalem?

Find out in this week's parsha podcast.

Running time: 23:14

Vayikra - Special Nation

What is the reason for the Jewish people's 'special nation' status? Why does the midrash stress this so much right here at the beginning of Vayikra with the founding of the Tabernacle? Why was it so important for the nations of the world that the Tabernacle be protected? Why were the nations unable to receive the Torah at any level at that time? What will change in the future when 'the honor of Hashem will be revealed to all flesh?'

Find out in this week's parsha podcast.

Running Time: 26:27

Pekudei - Counting Toward Unity

Why does the Torah speak of the 'counting' of the Tabernacle, and then speak of the Tabernacle as the 'tent of testimony?' How do the concepts of counting and testimony relate? What is the significance of the word 'these' in this context? Why did the Jewish people receive 'crowns' when they accepted the Torah upon themselves? Why is the root of the word 'crowns' in this context the same as the word for 'witnesses?' Why do the bold letters in the sentence of Shema - 'hear O Israel' -spell the word 'witness?' What is the connection between hearing and testimony? Why is the word 'these' also used in the context of ingathering of the exiles?

Find out in this week's parsha podcast.

Running time: 22:45

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