Eretz Yisrael
Pinchas – Spiritual Intuition
Why do we need so many different voices pointing out which piece of the land of Israel is given to which tribe? What does it mean that the lottery ticket itself spoke? What is the message of the midrash in saying that the women of Israel were able to close the spiritual gap created by…
Read MoreBehar – Sharing the Wealth
What is the Torah’s approach to charity and ‘spreading the wealth?’ Why does the midrash place the idea of spiritual wealth beside the concept of material wealth? What are the mechanics of the spiritual principle behind the fact that when I share what I have – both in wisdom and in material matters – I…
Read MoreRe'eh – Israel – Mind of the World
Why does the Torah constantly connect the keeping of the commandments with the land of Israel? Why do we spend the ten weeks leading up to Rosh Hashana reading Moshe’s speech at the threshold of Israel? Why do we focus on the destruction and future rebuilding of Israel during this time? Why does the Torah…
Read MoreMasei – Warring for Israel
Why do the thirty one kings desire to fight in the war on Sisera’s side against the people of Israel? Why are they willing to do it for free? What does it mean that they ‘thirst to drink of the waters of Israel?’ Why did Jacob, Moses and King David run away from their enemies?…
Read MoreToldos – Avraham, Yitzchak and Yaakov
How do we see a reference to all three patriarchs in the first verse of the parsha? What does the midrash mean when it says that Avraham was saved from the fire in the merit of his grandson Jacob? What does the midrash mean when it says that all of the patriarchs were referred to…
Read MoreVaeschanan – Resonating with Truth
Why does Moshe preface his request to enter Israel by appointing Yehoshua to lead the Jewish people into Israel? Why does Moshe form his prayer as a “תחינה” – a supplication asking for a free gift? What is the difference between the experience of spirituality outside of Israel as opposed to the experience inside of…
Read MoreMoshiach 5771 – part 2
So, of course, you can’t keep a good man down. Despite my last post, which was pretty forthright about predictions, I will share with you some thoughts that I have had recently about Moshiach and this year that may end up sounding a bit contradictory to what I wrote… Just remember that what I am…
Read MorePinchas – The Pinchas-Eliyahu connection
Why does Eliyahu/Pinchas appear and disappear throughout history? Why is Eliyahu involved in giving over the secrets of the Torah through all generations? What is the deeper message of the genealogy of the daughters of Tzelafchad that is recorded all the way back to Yosef? What is the deeper connection of this idea to the…
Read MoreMore on the Erev Ze'eir
I received the following email: Ari, I have listened to nearly every one of your parsha podcasts that you have put out and would like to thank you for all that you have taught me. I am only recently taking my Judaism seriously and your podcast was a wonderful teaching tool. Recently I stumbled on…
Read MoreGr"a on Redemption notes V
In the previous post, we left off in the middle of the notes of R’ Maltzin on chapter 11, number 6. Here we continue. Just as the the sun’s rays pour out upon the moon and stars, so too, in every generation, there is a spark of Moshe Rabbenu that shines through someone in the…
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