Lech Lecha - Kingdom of Kindness

What is the unique mission of Avraham Avinu? Why does the Torah deem it important to tell us of his wealth and great stature? Why does the Torah teach us about his conquest of the four and five kings? Why were the wise men of Nimrod so fearful when Avraham was born, such that they said to kill him? What was the meaning of the celestial sign that occurred when Avraham was born? What is the difference between all of the kingdoms of the world and the kingdom of Avraham and the Jewish people?

Find out in this week's parsha podcast.

Running time: 27:08

Noach - Times of Transition

Why does the Torah go into so much detail in describing the generation of the flood, and then the dispersion before bringing Abraham onto the scene? What was the difference between the sin of the generation of the flood and that of the dispersion? Why is the name Elokim (judgment) used in the flood and the name of mercy in regards to the dispersion? What is the significance of the 10 generations from Adam to Noach and then from Noach to Avraham, as well as the fact that Noach died when Avraham was 58 years old?

Find out in this week's parsha podcast.

Running time: 28:29

Vzos Habracha/Breishis - Ending and Beginning

Why do we read the final portion of the Torah on Shmini Atzeres, not on Shabbos? What is the difference between Atzeres (stop) and Shabbos (stop)? Why do we complete the Torah and then start it again immediately? Why does the torah conclude with blessings and the death of Moshe? What is Hashem's name which characterizes creation, and how does it compare to the name that denotes redemption? How is the name of redemption hinted to in the first verse of the Torah? What is the meaning of the Sefer Yetzirah's statment that 'the end is embedded in the beginning' and vice versa?

Find out in this week's parsha podcast.

Running time: 27:18

Succos - Joy of Submission

What does the midrash mean when it says that we leave our homes and enter the Succah to atone for the deserved punishment of exile? How does the mitzvah of Succah relate to the command to do teshuva (repent)? What does going into exile accomplish? What is the special joy of Succos? Why do we use the 'leftovers of the granary and the winery' to create our succah?

Find out in this week's parsha podcast.

Running time: 28:07

Haazinu-Rosh Hashana - Affirming Commitment

Why do we always read the parshios related to the transition when we are standing at the new year? Why does Moshe call the Heaven and Earth as witnesses to Hashem's covenant with the Jewish people? How does Hashem express the covenant? How do we express that covenant? How does this relate to our crowning Hashem our King on Rosh Hashana? What are the different types of motivations for our actions?

Find out in this week's parsha podcast.

Running time: 21:05

Nitsavim-Vayelech - Return to Paradise

Why does the Torah preface the commandment to repent (Teshuva) with a description of what life will be like after the Messiah's arrival? What is the difference between our state at present, and the way it will be when the Messiah arrives? What is the concept of the orlas halev (barier on the heart)? How does one do Teshuva? What is the effect of doing Teshuva (repenting)?

Find out in this week's parsha podcast.

Running time: 26:58

Ki Savo - Power of Amen

What is the concept of the word 'Amen?' What is behind the three meanings of Amen - Oath, Admission, and Prayer? Why does one merit to say Amen in the next world if one says Amen in this world? Why does one merit to 'hear the voice of the bride and groom' in the future world if one 'hears' the Torah in this world? What is the depth of the concept of true commitment?

Find out in this week's parsha podcast.

Running time: 26:20

Ki Seitze - Compassion and Fellowship

What is the depth of the idea of sending away the mother bird when taking the chicks? Why does the Gemara say that it is improper to say that this mitzvah indicates that Hashem has compassion upon the animals? Why does our midrash indicate the opposite? How does fulfilment of this commandment bring closer the days of Moshiach? What is the connection to the mitzvah of steering away from gossip? Why does the midrash conclude in that context, as well, with the concept of the coming of Moshiach?

Find out in this week's parsha podcast.

Running time: 27:05

Shoftim - Charity and Justice

Why does the verse imply that Justice and Charity are greater than bringing sacrifices in the Temple? In what ways are they indeed greater? Why did King David rejoice when his scoffers expressed their wish that 'the temple be built' when it meant the end of his own life? How did King David perform justice and charity? Why does the medrash refer to his charity and justice, while a similar account in the Gemara (Talmud) refers to his Torah learning?

Find out in this week's parsha podcast.

Running time: 26:50

Reeh - Expansion from Constriction

What is the concept of expansion in regards to the land of Israel? When does that expansion occur? How does it parallel the challenge and redemption of Yosef? Why did Abba Yuden lose all of his wealth only to give charity and then become even wealthier? What is the idea behind the comparison of the expansion of Israel to a scroll being opened?

Find out in this week's parsha podcast.

Running time: 23:50