Category Archives: Parsha

Parshas Behar & Bechukosai (Rebroadcast)

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This week’s double-Parsha closes out the Book of Leviticus. Parshas Behar begins at Mount Sinai, where the Almighty instructed Moshe to convey a series of laws to the Jewish people. The first is the mitzvah of Shemittah, the prohibition of engaging in any agricultural work every seven years. In two chapters in the Torah (Leviticus 26, Deuteronomy 28) we read about the positive consequences of obeying the Torah and heeding its laws; and the terrible, painful consequences of disobeying the Law. Though reading Parshas Bechukosai is scary and a tad depressing, the truth is that this framework is the secret to our nation enduring such long and painful exiles.

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Emor – Sense of Belonging

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Our parsha contains the first recorded instance of capital punishment in Jewish history. A disgruntled man, the son of an Israelite woman and an Egyptian man blasphemed and was executed as a result. What is the significance of this story? Why do we have the narrative about the blasphemer in middle of the Book of Leviticus, a Book dedicated almost exclusively to sacrificial and ritualistic law with nary a narrative? In this special edition of the Parsha Podcast, we offer a novel understanding of this episode and draw powerful insights and lessons from it.

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Acharei Mos/Kedoshim – Challenge Accepted

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Our Nation has always had bad neighbors. The Midrash in our Parsha states that the Egyptians and the Canaanites, both nations that our people lived in close proximity to, are the most morally deficient of all the world’s nations. Moreover, the specific areas in those lands where the Jews resided contained that worst offenders of those nations. Evidently, the Almighty wants us to have really awful neighbors whose repugnant behavior we must shun. Why? Why did the Almighty arrange it that way? In this special edition of the Parsha Podcast we discover a new approach to this interesting phenomenon.

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This Parsha Podcast is dedicated in loving memory of Alan, Mark, and Karen Raffee. May their souls be elevated in Heaven

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Parshas Acharei & Kedoshim (Rebroadcast)

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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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Tazria/Metzora – Blessings in Disguises

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Tzaraas, the spiritual leprosy whose laws are detailed in our Parsha, appeared in three different areas: the befell sinners’ skin, clothing, and house. How common was Tzaraas of the house? The Talmud reveals that it actually never happened even once and it will never happen in the future. If it never happened, why does the Torah delineate all its laws? When we peel away the layers of this question we discover an amazing insight.

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Parshas Tazria & Metzora (Rebroadcast)

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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 – Find Your Breach

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The 8th day of the Tabernacle’s Inauguration was supposed to be a day of total, exuberant jubilation. The laborious months of preparation were complete, and now God will dwell in our midst. Moshe washes, clothes, and anoints his brother, Aaron and Aaron’s four sons, and a Heavenly fire descends and consumes Aaron’s sacrifices from atop the altar, and the nation experiences simultaneous joy and awe. The promise of the Tabernacle had been actualized. But the day did not end there. In a shocking and unexpected twist in the Torah’s narrative, Aaron’s two sons, Nadav and Avihu, enter the Holy of Holies and offer an unrequested offering and ropes of fire entered their nostrils and killed them.

What possessed Nadav and Avihu to offer this sacrifice? Why did they display such eagerness to offer sacrifices when Aaron was so hesitant? When indeed is a fitting time to act recklessly and without consultation? In this special edition of the Parsha Podcast we explore the very interesting and troubling story of Nadav and Avihu and draw valuable, life-changing lessons along the way.

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This Parsha Podcast is sponsored by my dear friends Shimmy and Joely Bernstein in loving memory and leilui nishmas Shimmy’s unforgettable father Harry, אברהם צבי בן מנחם מענדל. May his Soul be elevated in Heaven!

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Tzav – Ashes, Ashes, We all Rise Up

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The beginning of our parsha details the intricate processing of the Olah offerings. The animal is slaughtered, its blood is sprinkled on the Altar walls, it is divided into parts, the parts are elevated to the top of the altar and placed on the fire to burn the whole night. The next morning, a Kohein is selected to remove the ash remnants. He takes a shovel and scoops out some ash and places it in a designated place near the altar ramp. In this Parsha Podcast we suggest a novel approach to explain the lesson and symbolism of sacrifices, ashes, and the processing of the Olah.

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Vayikra – Vicarious Sacrifice

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Sacrifices sound like a cheat code: You sin and you rebelled against God and your soul gets tarnished. By the strict letter of the law, sin ought to be an executable offense. But God has mercy: Bring a sacrifice and slaughter the animal and you will be expiated. Instead of you dying, the animal will in your stead. Sin is easily remedied with a sacrifice. But how is that fair? If I sinned, I need to atone for it myself. How does sacrificing the animal solve the problem? In this special edition of The Parsha Podcast we discover an answer that can change your life

This Parsha Podcast is sponsored by Aaron Findley in honor of his son’s Bar Mitzvah, Andrew son of Aaron and Judith.

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Vayakhel Pekudei – On Giants’ Shoulders feat. Akiva Wolbe

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Bezalel was the architect of the most consequential building project of all time. He was tasked with the responsibility of building the Mishkan, the Tabernacle, the dwelling place for God on this earth. What special skills did Bezalel have that primed him to undertake this ambitious project? Why was Bezalel chosen for this task? When we examine his story and pedigree we find some interesting patterns.

This episode is guest hosted by my eldest son, Akiva, whose Bar Mitzvah is this week. The Parsha Podcast is a family, and I want to make sure that all the family that will not be able to be physically present in Houston for the Bar Mitzvah will still be able to partake in the festivities.

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Parshas Vayakhel & Pekudei (Rebroadcast)

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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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Ki Sisa – Hold Your Fire + TORCH Fundraiser

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Our nation commits the most grievous sin of our history in this week’s parsha. A mere 40 days after we experienced the national revelation at Sinai, the nation made the Golden Calf and began to worship it. How did such a catastrophe happen? When we examine the sin very carefully we find a pattern that repeats itself all over Jewish history and literature and that contains a timeless lesson that will change your life!

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