Category Archives: Parsha

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Vayikra – Mind of a Thousand Men

Podcast (parsha): Download (Duration: 54:30 — 24.9MB)

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The Book of Leviticus begins with sacrifices. We read about the multiple types of elevation sacrifices, meal offerings, peace offerings, sin offerings, etc. None of us would imagine that this Torah section would completely reshape our understanding of Adam and Eve’s Sin in the Garden. But it does. In this Parsha podcast, we discover a dramatic and completely unexpected new way to understand Adam’s sin. What we learn is not only theoretical. This insight provides a newfound understanding for the amazing power and potential that we have, notwithstanding – or pehaps precisely because of – our inglorious origins.

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Vayikra: Five-Course Meal Offering with Rabbi Dovid Biron (5783)

Podcast (parsha): Download (Duration: 47:45 — 21.9MB)

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We begin the Book of Leviticus with a Parsha Podcast treat: I invited my friend and study partner Rabbi Dovid Biron to guest host this week’s episode. He did not disappoint. In this podcast we learn about the meal offering, how it differs from ordinary sacrifices, and the powerful and life changing lessons that it contains.

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DONATE to TORCH: Please consider supporting the podcasts by making a donation to help fund our Jewish outreach and educational efforts at https://www.torchweb.org/support.php. Thank you!

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Parshas Vayikra (Rebroadcast)

Podcast (parsha): Download (Duration: 52:10 — 23.9MB)

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In Parshas Vayikra, the first Torah section in The Book of Leviticus, we learn about the processes and procedures of many different varieties of sacrifices: There are three different types of elevation offerings; three types of peace-offerings; six types of meal-offerings; and numerous sin and guilt offerings. Our exploration of the parsha begins with a survey of several of the classic explanations for the notion of animal sacrifices in general.

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DONATE to TORCH: Please consider supporting the podcasts by making a donation to help fund our Jewish outreach and educational efforts at https://www.torchweb.org/support.php. Thank you!

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Pekudei – Zero to Won

Podcast (parsha): Download (Duration: 59:06 — 27.1MB)

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After four Parshas, the Tabernacle is finally finished this week. Before the Tabernacle is erected though, Moshe provides an audit for all the gold, silver, and copper that was raised for the Tabernacle and identifies where they were used in the temple, its vessels, and it’s vestements. In this final year 9 Parsha podcast on the book of Exodus, we explore the nature and the consequences of Moshe’s audit, why the audit for gold was different than that of silver and copper, the unique method of turning gold into a thread and the lessons thereof, and learn about the highly unusual way that the Tabernacle was assembled for the first time.

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DONATE to TORCH: Please consider supporting the podcasts by making a donation to help fund our Jewish outreach and educational efforts at https://www.torchweb.org/support.php. Thank you!

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Pekudei – Autopilot Disengaged (5784)

Podcast (parsha): Download (Duration: 51:17 — 23.5MB)

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The narrative of the Tabernacle spans many chapters at the end of the book of Exodus. The nation is told to build a sanctuary for God in which He will dwell. The Torah uncharacteristically repeats many aspects of this narrative. In this very special Parsha podcast, we go deep and deeper to understand the general theory of the Tabernacle, how all the parts dovetail together, and how this is all related to us. Along the way, we explore many fundamental concepts in Jewish life and philosophy.

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This Parsha Podcast is dedicated in the merit of a complete and speedy recovery for Raizel Dina bat Mindel Yehudit. May she merit a Refuah Sheleimah!

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DONATE to TORCH: Please consider supporting the podcasts by making a donation to help fund our Jewish outreach and educational efforts at https://www.torchweb.org/support.php. Thank you!

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Parshas Pekudei (Rebroadcast)

Podcast (parsha): Download (Duration: 34:34 — 15.8MB)

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The final parsha in the Book of Exodus wraps up the account of the construction of the Tabernacle, and its vessels and vestments. Again and again we read the refrain that everything was done precisely how God commanded Moses.

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This Parsha Podcast is dedicated by Yoli Bachar in honor of her husband Guy Bachar‘s birthday. On behalf of the entire Parsha Podcast family we wish him a hearty Happy Birthday. May he have many more years of happiness and health!

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DONATE to TORCH: Please consider supporting the podcasts by making a donation to help fund our Jewish outreach and educational efforts at https://www.torchweb.org/support.php. Thank you!

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Vayakhel – Ambition Impossible

Podcast (parsha): Download (Duration: 52:09 — 23.9MB)

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Please support the Parsha Podcast by donating to our annual fundraiser at giveTORCH.org

This is our only annual fundraiser.

Every donation is DOUBLED!

Support the TORCH Centre and the Parsha Podcast by visiting giveTORCH.org right now and making a generous donation!

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This Parsha Podcast is dedicated in loving memory and leilui nishmas Malka Esther bat Dvora, the mother of our friend and longtime Parsha Podcast participant Nissan Hadjibay. Malka Esther passed away a week ago, may her Soul be elevated in Heaven.

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It’s time to actually build the Tabernacle. We’ve been talking about this portable Temple for some time now, but in this week’s Parsha the actualization of those plans are implemented. Bezalel, Moshe’s great great nephew, is commissioned to lead the efforts, The nation responds generously to the fundraising call, and the building begins in ernest. In this very special Parsha podcast we share two powerful ideas and one very interesting dilemma that will provide us with new insights and frameworks for how to achieve great themes in life. We must dream big. We must have outrageous aspirations. If there’s something that is impossible, we pursue it nonetheless.

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DONATE to TORCH: Please consider supporting the podcasts by making a donation to help fund our Jewish outreach and educational efforts at https://www.torchweb.org/support.php. Thank you!

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Vayakhel Pekudei – Laver of Love (5783)

Podcast (parsha): Download (Duration: 40:49 — 18.7MB)

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Our double Parsha delineates the implementation phases of the building of the Tabernacle. All the materials are assembled, all the artisans are ready, and the building begins. In this podcast we focus on the construction of one of the vessels of the Tabernacle, the Laver, a copper basin that housed water. Our sages reveal some very interesting things about the origin of this copper, the use of this vessel, and a very interesting disagreement that Moshe had with God about the Laver. What we discover can materially transform and improve our life.

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DONATE to TORCH: Please consider supporting the podcasts by making a donation to help fund our Jewish outreach and educational efforts at https://www.torchweb.org/support.php. Thank you!

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Parshas Vayakhel & Pekudei (Rebroadcast)

Podcast (parsha): Download (Duration: 1:10:06 — 32.1MB)

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After the Torah delineates the instructions to assemble the materials for the construction of the Tabernacle in Parshas Terumah and the creation of the vestments of the high priest in Parshas Tetzaveh, Parshas Vayakhel outlines the implementation those plans: The massive fundraising efforts, and the actual building of the Tabernacle and its vessels under the auspices of Bezalel, and Parshas Pekudei wraps up the account of the construction of the Tabernacle, and its vessels and vestments. Again and again we read the refrain that everything was done precisely how God commanded Moses.

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DONATE to TORCH: Please consider supporting the podcasts by making a donation to help fund our Jewish outreach and educational efforts at https://www.torchweb.org/support.php. Thank you!

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Ki Sisa – Sedimentary, My Dear Watson

Podcast (parsha): Download (Duration: 58:27 — 26.8MB)

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The most shocking, surprising, baffling, and unexpected event in the Torah – and perhaps in all of human history – happens in this week’s Parsha. A nation fresh off the greatest experience ever experienced by any Nation, a nation fed by manna and drinking water out of a rock, a nation purported to be a kingdom of priests and a holy nation, a nation that was extracted one nation from another Nation, committed the most grievous, inexplicable, indefensible sin of all: the Jews make the Golden Calf. In this very special edition of the Parsha Podcast, we explore the rationale of this decision. Why did they make the golden calf? Why do they choose that their idol be a bovine? What was their calculus, and why was it flawed? The answer, we propose, relates to the very interesting difference between the sediment-free oil used to kindle the Menorah and the sediment-laden spices and herbs used to make the incense. There’s a way up the mountain blazed by Moshe, but if you try to take a shortcut you may fall on your face.

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DONATE to TORCH: Please consider supporting the podcasts by making a donation to help fund our Jewish outreach and educational efforts at https://www.torchweb.org/support.php. Thank you!

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Ki Sisa – Aaron’s Calculus (5783)

Podcast (parsha): Download (Duration: 54:13 — 24.8MB)

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The most calamitous, catastrophic, disastrous event in Jewish history – and arguably the most devastating event in all of human history – happens in our Parsha. A mere 40 days after the exultant, euphoric, transcendental Revelation at Sinai, the nation stoops to a very low nadir: they make a golden calf and begin to worship it. Most surprisingly, a central participant in this debacle was none other than Aaron the high priest. Why would Aaron, one of our nation’s greatest men, agree to participate in the deification of a golden calf? By pondering this mystery we will discover both an answer to this puzzling question and a wonderful insight into the nature of reality, and how our perception of reality and the truth may be very different.

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DONATE to TORCH: Please consider supporting the podcasts by making a donation to help fund our Jewish outreach and educational efforts at https://www.torchweb.org/support.php. Thank you!

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