Esav
Korach – You Can Have It All
Why does Korach indicate that he is looking for social equality, if he really wants to take over as high priest? Why does the midrash indicate that he wanted to be the prince of the family of Kehos, if Moshe seems to indicate he was after the high priesthood? Why does Moshe tell the Levites…
Read MoreNasso – Protecting the Blessings
What is the concept of Blessings? Why do they need protection? What does it mean that the ‘vessel that holds blessings is peace?’ Why did the priestly blessings take a different form in Temple? Why does the form of the blessings increase at it goes along? Why did Isaac want to give the blessings to…
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 MoreMishpatim – Redeeming Truth From Darkness
Why does a thief have to pay double if he steals, and four or five times if he slaughters and sells the animal he stole? How does falsehood dress itself up as truth? What is the amazing power of Truth to dispel the darkness? How does one access Emes L’amito – the True-Truth? Find out…
Read MoreToldos – Spiritual Power
Why does the Torah preface the story of Yakov (Jacob) and Esav with the statement that Abraham birthed Isaac? What is the significance of the fact that Isaac was forty years old when he got married? What is the spiritual power of the circumcision of Ishmael at age thirteen? What is the spiritual power of…
Read More17th of Tammuz and Yosef
The 17th of Tammuz is known as the day of the breaking of the luchos (tablets), which occurred in the year 2448. It was a day that should have been the greatest celebration – the completion of the pact between Hashem and the Jewish people! Instead, it became a day of sadness throughout history, that…
Read MoreVayishlach – Truth of the Soul
Why does Yaakov return for the pachim ketanim – the small jugs? Why does the angel fight with him at that very moment? What is the difference between Esav’s statement ‘yesh li rav,’ – I have a lot – and Yaakov’s statement, ‘yesh li kol,’ – I have it all? Why is Yaakov’s name changed…
Read MoreVayishlach – Keep the fire burning
How does one hold onto spiritual inspiration? How can one face the resistance of others, and oneself, when one is seeking that inspiration? What is the lesson of Yakov in his interaction with Esav? Find out in this week’s Parsha Podcast. Running time: 18:44
Read MoreKeep the fire burning
One of my earliest memories as a child is awakening suddenly in the middle of the night, being brought by my parents out of the house, waiting in the car, and watching as the fire engines pulled up to our home. The scare was short-lived as the firemen discovered the source of the smoke in…
Read MoreToldos – Space for defiance
What is the connection between Isaac’s passivity in the face of the king of Gerar, and Yaakov’s running away from Esav after stealing the blessings? What is the concept of the ‘time of defiance?’ When is one to be passive in the face of judgments? What is the concept of ‘giving space for defiance?’ Find…
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