Love
Chukas – The Gift of Love
What was the difference if Moshe spoke to the rock or struck the rock in order for it to bring forth water? How does that affect the learning of Torah to this day? How does speaking connote love, while striking connotes judgment? How does one reach the level of love in one’s relationship with Hashem?…
Read MoreShmini – Quiet Love
What is the difference of approach between Moshe and Aharon when Nadav and Avihu die? How does each of their approaches parallel the path of Yosef and Yehuda (and Moshiach ben Yosef vs. Moshiach ben Dovid)? If one is in a place of grace, as in the way of Moshiach ben Dovid, does that mean…
Read MoreKedoshim – Love Your Neighbor, Love Yourself
How does one find balance between one’s own talents and the talents of others? How does one come to appreciate and learn from others, without losing one’s own unique spiritual role? How does one approach others who do not seem to be going on the straight and narrow? Find out in this week’s parsha podcast.…
Read MoreVayigash – Love and Tears
What is the significance of Yosef’s tears? Why does he only cry on the shoulder of Benjamin, whereas he kisses and cries with each of the other brothers? What is the significance of the numerical values of Yosef and Yakov’s names? What is the concept of the kiss? What is the concept of tears? Find…
Read MoreEkev – Balancing Love and Awe
What is the concept of ‘fear’ in the Torah? How is it expressed on a deeper level as awe? Why does the Torah include the concept of awe right beside love of God? Why is the preface for both ‘And Now?’ What is the secret of living in the present moment? How does one develop…
Read MoreVaeschanan – Love Hashem with all your heart
What is the symbolism of the egg that is eaten in the final meal before Tisha B’av? What is the significance of the idea that Moshiach is born on Tisha B’av? How does one serve Hashem with one’s physical desires? When is one called a servant of God, and when is one called a child…
Read MoreYosef breaking the illusion
The amazing power of the sitra achra – the other side – is to bring us to believe that we need something that we do not; to have an experience of lack, to feel broken, when in reality we are whole. This is followed by the false belief that we can become whole through whatever it…
Read MoreShmini – Accessing the Transcendent
What is the depth of the idea of the loss of the students of R’ Akiva between Pesach and Shavuos? Why do Nadav and Avihu die during the great joy of the dedication of the Mishkan? What was the significance of the fact that they did not ask Moshe and Aharon for advice? What is…
Read MoreBreishis – Waters of Love
Why is the creation of water not mentioned in the narrative of Creation? What is the concept of the upper and lower waters? Why was the lower water originally a mixture of water and earth? Why is the water gathered to reveal the land? What is the meaning of R’ Bachya’s statement that the water’s…
Read MoreNaso – Love and Respect
Why does the Torah place the concept of the encampments next to the idea of Metzora? The midrash tells us that the Jewish people were cured of this type of ailment at Mount Sinai, and that it returned after the sin of the Golden Calf – Why is this only significant now, almost a year…
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