Yehuda
Vayeshev – Free Will Spectrum (Yosef vs. Yehuda & MBY vs MBD)
What is the difference between Yosef and Yehuda’s approach to free will and our level of involvement in doing God’s will? Why did the brothers say that there was a difference between the dreams of Jacob and Joseph? What character attributes did they work on to receive prophetic dreams? Where does one cross the line…
Read MoreVayigash – Joining As One
What is the significance of Judah’s stepping up to Joseph? How does that affect and parallel future events that occur to the Jewish people? Why is the separation needed? Why is this parsha always read this time of year at the beginning of the month of Teves and after Chanukah? What is the concept of…
Read MoreTerumah – Drawing Down Holiness
What is the difference between the Mishkan (Tabernacle) and the Mikdash (Holy Temple)? What is the significance of the connection of the Mishkan to Yosef, as opposed to the Mikdash which is connected to Yehudah/David? How does this tie in to the concept of the month of Adar? 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 MoreMikeitz and Chanukah – Stepping Up (18:33)
Why is Mikeitz always read on Shabbos Chanukah? Why does the story stop at the moment before Yosef reveals himself? Or more precisely, as Yehuda is about to step up? If the victory of Chanukah was so short lived, why do we have such a stark celebration? Find out in this week’s parsha podcast. Running…
Read MoreVayakhel-Pekudei – Prayers of a Lion
Why are Betzalel, from the tribe of Judah, and Oholiab, from Dan, specifically chosen for the building of the tabernacle? Why is the Tabernacle referred to as a lion? What is the concept of the lion? Why is the place of God’s presence and our relationship with Him to be found in a place of…
Read MoreSuccos-Vzos Habracha – Riding the Willows
What is the concept of the willow branch? Why is it taken separately on Succos? Why does Hashem ‘ride on the willows?’ Why do the souls of Sodom return before the Messiah comes? Why does King David’s soul and Moshiach’s soul descend from an illicit union? Why are Reuven and Yehuda placed next to each…
Read MoreVayetzei – Thanks and surrender
What can we learn from the names Leah gave her children? What is the progression we observe? Why does she thank Hashem with Yehuda’s birth? What is the connection between thanks and admission (surrender)? How does one surrender when the ego is strong? Find out in this week’s Parsha Podcast. Running time: 24:02
Read MoreSome more thoughts
Over Shabbos, and continuing until today, I have had a few thoughts that I found inspiring and wanted to share with you. On Friday night, when I came home from davening, I opened up the Mishpacha magazine, and I read something that was so exciting, it literally made me sing with joy. It was an…
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 More