Egypt
Va'era – Surmounting Challenges
What is the parallel between the experiences of the Jewish people in the Exodus and the experience of every individual Israelite? How does one face off with and surmount the challenges that continuously arrive? What is the power of prayer and how does it partner with the power of commitment? Find out in this week’s…
Read MoreLech Lecha – At The Threshold
Why do the Jewish people need to go through exile? Why do the forces of evil attack them there? How does Hashem’s promise in regards to the Egyptian exile apply to the other exiles? What is the ‘great wealth’ that the Jews receive as they leave exile? Find out in this week’s parsha podcast. Running…
Read MoreKi Savo – Begin Again!
What is the depth behind the mitzvah to bring an offering of the first fruits of one’s field? How can we reconcile the fact that sin causes great spiritual damage, and yet we can begin anew and enter into a relationship with Hashem no matter what? What are the spiritual forces that pull a person…
Read MoreAcharei Mos and Pesach – From Egypt to Canaan
Why does the Torah preface the concept of illicit relations with a mention of ‘the ways of Egypt and Canaan?’ What is the concept of the process leading from Egypt to receiving the Torah, and ultimately to arrival in Israel? What is the deeper hidden root of this process? Why was it necessary for the…
Read MoreShemos – Foundations of Exile
What is the depth behind the concept of exile? Why do the children of Israel go through exile, while Yishmael and Esav do not? How and why does Hashem bring us gently down into exile? What was the difference between Yaacov and his forebears that created the reality that all his sons were righteous, while…
Read MoreBo – Willingness vs Defiance
Why does the Ramban say that the plague of Locusts is the one we are to tell over to our children? Why does Hashem describe this plague as the one which shows how He has made a mockery of Egypt? What is the lesson of Pharaoh’s defiance? Why does Moshe find it difficult to understand…
Read MoreNoach – Illusion and Reality
If water is a creative force, why is the world being destroyed by water? What is the connection between the cooling of the waters and cooling of the anger of Achashverosh in the story of Purim? What is the parallel between the water’s destruction here, and the water’s destruction of the Egyptians as the Jews…
Read MoreVayigash – 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…
Read MoreLech Lecha – Beauty and spirituality
What is the significance of Sarah’s beauty? Why does Avraham only tell her to refer to him as her brother when they go down to Egypt? Why does the Torah seem to place great significance on the fact the matriarchs of the Jewish people were exceptionally good looking? What is the parallel between Yosef’s descent…
Read MoreBeshalach – Understanding relationships
Why does the Torah refer to the Jewish people as being sent out by Paroh? Wouldn’t it be more accurate to say that Hashem sent them out? If he indeed sent them out, why does he change his mind so fast? What is the proper Torah perspective on relationships between ourselves and Hashem, ourselves and…
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