Friday, August 26, 2016

Ekev - Parallel Spiritual Levels

What is the significance of the fact that there are blessings that are manifest for the human being itself, a person's animals, and a person's produce? How can fulfilling a mitzvah connected to the land atone for a different sin? Why do we 'need' the nations of the world to bless us? What is the concept of physical and spiritual continuity which is connected to the blessings?

Find out in this week's parsha podcast.

Running time: 25:33

Friday, August 12, 2016

Devarim-Tisha B'av - Unifying Duality

Why is the lesson of Devarim before Tisha B'av? How did Moshe become able to speak so eloquently when he originally categorized himself as 'heavy of tongue?' What does it mean that the Torah 'cures the tongue?' What is the significance of the teaching that a sefer Torah can be written in any language, or at least in Greek? What is the idea of the description of the tablets as being written 'on both sides?' Why is 'both sides' also the description of the fruit trees that grow from the river that flows from the Holy Temple of the future?

Find out in this week's parsha podcast.

Running time: 26:50

Friday, August 5, 2016

Matos-Masei - Stops on the Journey

Why does Hashem instruct Moshe to 'reminisce' about the many stops along the journey through the wilderness, especially in light of the Midrash's statement that all these places were spots where the Jewish people angered Hashem? Why does the midrash state that in the future the wilderness will become inhabited and the habitation will become wilderness? Why will the days we mourn the destruction of the Temple become days of rejoicing? What do we learn from the cow of Elijah?

Find out in this week's parsha podcast.

Running time: 27:16