Torah Learning with Ari

Why do the nations say that the Jewish people will die when they enter the wilderness? How do they see that they are wrong? What is the idea behind the amazing number of 60 cubits, which is how high the Manna piled up as it rained down? What is the idea of the word matar-rain?…

Why are the commandments of Pesach given on the first day of the month of Nissan? What is the connection between the New Moon and the Full Moon? Why do we refer to the night of the 14th of Nissan as ‘Ohr’ – ‘Light?’ Why does the Midrash refer to the last 3300 years as…

Why does Moshe begin the redemption process, only to be faced with a setback that seems to makes things worse for the Jewish people? Why does the redemption process need to start with Rachamim-mercy that is clothed in Din-judgment? Why does Hashem have compassion on Moshe despite Moshe’s challenge to Him? What is the idea…

What is behind the future tense of the verse that says ‘as per how much they were caused pain, so they will become great and so they will expand?’ What was the plan of the Egyptians in raising the quota of the Jews and causing them to sleep in the field? How did Hashem thwart…

What is the amazing power of Yosef’s forgiveness for his brothers? What is Yosef’s consolation to them and how does he explain that he could never and would never want to harm them? How does this parallel the future consolation that Hashem will console the Jewish people before the advent of the age of Moshiach?…

Why does the verse refer to the fact that Yosef ‘appeared’ to his father when they finally met after 22 years of separation? What was unique about the focus of Yosef when he reunited with his father? What is the result when a person focuses on his own benefit when performing mitzvos? What is the…

What is unique about the ‘hope of Yakov?’ Why did Yakov use the word ‘shever’ to mean food, when usually the word used is ‘ochel?’ What is the meaning of the word shever/sever? Why does the same word denote both brokenness and hope? What is meant by the midrash when it says that Yakov was…

Why is Yakov afraid when he ‘sees the mighty ones of Esav?’ Why is he comforted by Yosef in this regard? Why is Yakov referred to as a ‘blacksmith’ while Yosef is referred to as a ‘goldsmith?’ What is the idea behind Yosef being the ‘reason for all the other offspring of Yakov?’ What is…

Why does the Torah emphasize the eight kings of Edom that reigned before there was a king in Israel? Why were there no kings in Israel before that point? What happened to the kings of Edom when kings reigned over Israel? Why was Haman (from Esav) demoted and replaced with Mordechai? What is the idea…

Why are the Jewish people blessed to be like ‘the dust of the earth?’ What is the ‘water’ that causes the growth of the ‘dust’ of the Jewish people? How are we compared to dust-earth in our relationship with the Nations of the world? Why are we trampled and how do we ultimately triumph? What…