Yosef
Terumah – 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 MoreVayechi – Finding Good Points
Why is Yakov unable to bless Yosef’s sons? How is Yosef able to bring back the divine presence so Yakov can bless them? What is the difference between the approach of Yakov and Yosef? What is the concept of finding good points, even in those who are evil? 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 MoreVayeshev – Unconditional Love and Judgment
What was at the root of the animosity the brothers had toward Yosef? If Yosef was a tzaddik, who represented the concept of Hashem’s unconditional love, why did that love not seem to extend to his brothers – why did he speak negatively of them instead of finding their good points? Why was Reuven the…
Read MoreVayetzei – Yakov's dream, Yosef's dreams
What is the concept of Yakov’s dream, and dreams in general? Why is Yakov’s dream global, while Yosef’s seems to be personal? Why does Yosef’s involve people, while Yakov’s involves angels? Why does Yakov have his dream after being chased by Esav, while Yosef has his dream before being chased by his brothers? What is…
Read MoreSuccos and Yosef
What is the connection between Yosef and Succos? Why do we read the prophecies of Gog and Magog during Succos? Why do we leave our homes and enter these temporary dwelling places? How do we remind ourselves of the fact that Hashem is constantly in our lives? Find out in this week’s parsha podcast. Running…
Read MorePinchas – Leadership of Yosef and Levi
What is the connection between Pinchos, inheriting the land, the daughters of Tzlafchad, and the appointment of Yehoshua? Why do the Jewish people face a test in the area of licentious relations as they are entering Israel? Why is the leadership in the midbar solely from the tribe of Levi, and entering Israel it is…
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 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…
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