Category Archives: Podcasts

Acharei Mos – Fleshy Onesie (5784)

The first verse of our Parsha revisits a tragic event from the past. The Torah tells us that after the death of Aaron’s sons Nadav and Avihu, Moshe was instructed to command Aaron about the prohibition against entering the Holy of Holies unauthorized. What is the significance of the tragic demise of Aaron’s two sons to the the instruction governing when and how Aaron may enter the Holy of Holies? This question is addressed by the commentators, and in this very special edition of the Parsha Podcast, we go deep and deeper in pondering the subject and it’s vast and powerful consequences.

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#109: The Sanctuary of the Heart

The more important someone is the greater the impact of their actions. The maneuver of a general changes the course of a campaign; a mistake of the general can imperil the entire army; a brilliant stroke of the general can achieve unexpected victory. A simple foot soldier has a much smaller impact. Adam was created in the image of Elokim. His capacity to impact is enormous. In the third installment of our study of the magisterial work, Nefesh HaChaim, we learn about the frightening and astounding consequences of the outsized leverage bestowed upon Adam and those who spiritually resemble Adam.

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Parshas Acharei & Kedoshim (Rebroadcast)

This week’s double-parsha contains a smorgasbord of mitzvos. The three chapters of Parshas Acharei cover three general categories. First we read about the Yom Kippur sacrifices and procedures; then we learn about the prohibitions against the consumption of blood among other ritualistic and sacrificial laws, and the final chapter is oriented around the many prohibited sexual relationships. Parshas Kedoshim has the highest mitzvah density of any parsha: In its 64 verses, we learn 51 separate mitzvos covering many different areas of Jewish practice, including arguably the most famous mitzvah in the whole Torah.

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DONATE: 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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Tazria Metzora – Better Animals of our Nature

The subject of purity and impurity is not the most exciting one. The hallmark of these subjects is their intricacies and complexities, but our parsha has nothing but the laws of purity and impurity. It talks about impurity spawned by childbirth; the impurity of tzaraas of the body, of the garments, and of the home; along with several other types of impurities. Why does humanity have a tendency to become impure, whereas animals don’t have that same variability? What is the essence of impurity? How does impurity get remediated? In this very interesting Parsha podcast, we share a fascinating perspective on the makeup of man and how man’s unique creation leads to man’s near-infinite variability. We also learn a valuable perspective on how we can achieve fantastic things and curb our most frightening and damaging impulses.

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This Parsha Podcast is dedicated in loving memory of Yehuda Goldmann, Martin Yehuda ben Yosef. May his soul be elevated in Heaven.

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Tazria Metzora – Temporarily Embarrassed Millionaires (5784)

Like much of Leviticus hitherto, tzaraas – the skin malady that is a physical manifestation of a spiritual flaw – is a concept distant from our consciousness. The Torah tells us that when a person commits one of several sins, they can be stricken with a wide range of skin afflictions that qualify as tzaraas. Our Parsha is largely dedicated to its laws. What can we learn from tzaraas? How can we glean valuable and transformative lessons from this concept that does not seem to exist today? In this special edition of the Parsha Podcast we go deep and deeper into the subject of tzaraas, and discover all sorts of interesting and exciting ideas.

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DONATE: 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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The Pariah Messiah

The Talmud describes Messiah as a Metzora (one stricken with tzaraas) bandaging his bandages outside of the gates of Rome. Why is the messiah described as an outcast, as a leper, ostracized from society? Why is Messiah hanging out in Rome, of all places? Shouldn’t he be in a location more associated with our people? Shouldn’t he be in some place like Jerusalem? In this fascinating podcast, we share a profound insight that will provide a clear perspective on the era of Messiah and how we get there.

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DONATE: 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 Tazria & Metzora (Rebroadcast)

A very large percentage of Torah is dedicated to the laws of purity and impurity. This week’s double Parshas of Tazria and Metzora largely deal with these laws. One variant of impurity that is discussed in both parshas is that of a metzora, A metzora is someone who is stricken with the tangible illness of tzaraas caused by a variety of sins, most notably the sin of lashon hara, evil talk and slander. In Parshas Tazria we read about when it strikes a person’s garment or body; and the bulk of Parshas Metzora orients around tzaraas remediation and a third type of tzaraas that afflicts the sinner’s house.

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Shemini – A Time For Boldness

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Aaron brought offerings; his sons brought offerings too. Both offerings evoked fire from heaven. Aaron’s offering prompted a heavenly fire to consume the sacrifices upon the altar. Aaron’s son’s offering spawned a fire too. The fire rained down from heaven and killed Aaron’s two sons. When we contrast Aaron’s offerings with his sons, we find other differences. Aaron was hesitant to undertake his role. The sons of Aaron opt for boldness and audaciousness. In this fascinating and hastily recorded Parsha podcast, we learn a profound lesson that teaches us when boldness is called for, and when boldness is unacceptable and warrants an immediate divine zap.

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Shemini – Spiritual Cholesterol (5784)

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Kosher food is good for you. Non-kosher food is bad. That much we learned in our parsha. But why? Why is kosher food good? In this exquisite podcast, we Go deep and deeper in trying to understand. We discover how non kosher food serves as a form of spiritual cholesterol that creates blockages imperiling our spiritual life.

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DONATE: 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 Shemini (Rebroadcast)

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After months of preparation and building, and a week of inauguration, the nation was anticipating the climax of the Tabernacle experience: When God finally rested His Presence upon the people’s handiwork. On the eighth day the Tabernacle was erected for good, and a Heavenly fire consumed the various sacrifices offered upon the Altar and the nation experienced the euphoria and intense trepidation of having God in their midst. But a second divine fire marred the joy when Aaron’s two sons were consumed for bringing a foreign and improper offering.

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The Secret Passover Opportunity you Mustn’t Pass-Over

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This special pre-Pesach podcast is dedicated in loving memory of Meir Ben Shmuel Chananya. May his soul be elevated in heaven.

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The festival of Passover commemorates a very ancient event that happened more than 3,300 years ago: the release of the nation from bondage in Egypt in the Exodus. Why is the Exodus relevant to us, living thousands of years later? Why is there a daily commandment to remember the Exodus? Why are there so many important days and mitzvos whose liturgy define as a “remembrance for the Exodus?” Why does the Exodus make so many appearances in our religion? In this very interesting and profound podcast, we share the core insight that serves as the beating heart of this festival and learn valuable life lessons and frameworks that will utterly transform our perception of spiritual and personal development and ascent.

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DONATE: 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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Tzav – Protocols of the Offerings of Zion + Parsha Podcast Appeal

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This Parsha podcast is dedicated in the merit of a speedy recovery of Yosef Shraga Halevi Ben Esther. May he have a Refuah Sheleima.

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The final service performed in the Tabernacle and Temple each day was the second tamid elevation offering, that was brought in the late afternoon. Once nightfall came, no more sacrifices were offered, but the Temple still hummed. The sacrifices that had been offered earlier that day were processed on the altar overnight. Our Parsha begins with the morning. Yesterday’s sacrifice has been transformed into a pile of smoldering ash. Before any sacrifices can be brought today, some of yesterday’s ashes must be removed from atop the altar. What is the meaning of this mitzvah? What is the secret of the ashes? What do the ashes have to do with Abraham, the only person described as ashes? What can we learn from the removal of the ashes ceremony that kickjstarted each day in the temple and the tabernacle? In this interesting podcast, we learned two approaches to understand the secret of the ashes.

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DONATE: 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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