Parsha Podcast with Ari Goldwag

What is the concept of the 'seventh' month - Tishrei, which hosts the day of Rosh Hashana? How does the word Shevi'i-Seventh relate to the word Shevuah-Oath? Why was an oath necessary when Avraham completed his challenge with the binding of Yitzchak - wasn't that a time of love - why did Hashem make an oath, as it were? What is the idea behind Avraham's silence in the face of Hashem's request to do the unthinkable - sacrifice Yitzchak, and with him, the future of the Jewish people? How does that elicit an oath for Hashem to have compassion on His people even when they sin throughout the generations? What is the concept of the shofar which is blown on the seventh month, and the pause that it brings in our thinking? Find out in this week's parsha podcast.

Why is the command for the service of the Kohen Gadol (High Priest) on Yom Kippur prefaced with the mention of the death of Aharon's sons? Why was this command given six months before it was to be performed? In the order of the parshas, starting with Vayikra, why do we interrupt the description of the sacrifices and dedication of the Mishkan (Tabernacle) with the concept of Tzara'as (spiritual leprosy)? How does one balance the honor received from leadership with the responsibility it brings? Find out in this week's parsha podcast.

What is the idea behind the spiritual disease of Tzara'as-Leprosy? What is the concept of the Tzara'as-infected house? Why does the Torah preface this description with speaking of when the Jewish people enter the land of 'Canaan?' Why was Israel first referred to as the land of Canaan? How was Eliezer, the offspring of Canaan, able to change his cursed status to one of being blessed? How did Hashem thwart the plan of the Canaanites who hid their treasures in the walls of their homes so the Jews would not find them? What does this teach us about finding the treasures in our lives and turning our personal curses into blessings? Find out in this week's parsha podcast.

Why did Nadav and Avihu drink wine as they entered the Holy of Holies when the Tabernacle was finally completed? Why did Shlomo Hamelech (King Solomon) marry the daughter of Pharaoh when he completed the building of the Beis Hamikdash (Temple)? Why did he drink wine at that time? What is the depth of the idea that Hashem decided to destroy the Mikdash at that moment when He saw that Shlomo rejoiced more with his marriage to the daughter of Pharaoh than he rejoiced with the building of the Mikdash? What are the 1000 songs that she sang him that night? Why did he wake up late in the morning and cause the daily sacrifice to be brought late? Find out in this week's parsha podcast.

Why are the Jewish people referred to as Yordei Hayam - "Those who went down into the sea?" Why was their revelation greater than that requested by Moshe on Har Sinai? When will we experience that type of revelation again? Why are the angels unable to have the kind of direct experience that we are able to have? Why does Hashem restrict His voice to only be heard from between the Keruvim (Cherubs) on the Aron? Why is a person able to have the full experience of Hashem at his death? Find out in this week's parsha podcast.

Why does the Torah speak in a seemingly repetitious way when speaking about the Korban Olah? What is the relationship of a broken heart to the building of the Beis Hamikdash (Temple) in Jerusalem? Why do we speak on Pesach at the Seder about our return to Eretz Yisrael and the building of the Beis Hamikdash? What is the meaning of Hashem, as it were, saying to us that our Olah offering is not so significant, and our response that we will bring a great 'feast' in the future? Find out in this week's parsha podcast.

What happened to the prophesy of the nations of the world with the advent of the Mishkan? What is the difference between the prophesy of the Jewish prophets as opposed to the prophets of the nations of the world? Why does the Torah refer to Hashem speaking to Bilam as 'Vayikar' - 'happening' to speak to him? What is the deeper meaning of the word 'vayikra' that the Torah uses when Hashem speaks to Moshe? What is the difference between the approach of the nations of the world as opposed to that of the Jewish people? How does Hashem uniquely call to us with love? Find out in this week's parsha podcast.

Why was the final completion of the Mishkan-tabernacle left to Moshe to do? Why did he need to lift it if it was lifted miraculously? What is the concept of the Crown? What is the 'crown that Shlomo's mother crowned him with?' What is behind the reference to the people of Israel first as a daughter, then a sister, then a mother? How can it be that Hashem allows us to motivate Him, as it were, if He is the ultimate Source of His own motivation? What is the depth of the concept that a righteous person 'decrees' and Hashem 'fulfills' that decree? Find out in this week's parsha podcast.

What is the embarrassment we are to feel within the mitzvah of Tzedakah-Charity? Why was the giving of the Luchos (tablets) accompanied by a grievous sin on the part of the Jewish people? What is the idea behind feeling shame for our sins? What is the idea behind the verse that teaches us that when we give, it creates an expansion in our lives? How do these two ideas of giving charity and admitting to our mistakes parallel each other, and how do they bring about a gift from Above? Find out in this week's parsha podcast.

Why does Hashem ask the Kohanim to carry the Aron if He is carrying it Himself? Why did Achashverosh want to wear the clothing of the High Priest? Why does the Midrash stress that the Jewish people have all the talent we need - in leadership, priesthood, war prowess, etc - and that we need not go to the nations of the world? What is the teaching behind Hashem's command to Moshe to appoint his brother as the Kohen Gadol, despite Moshe's own expectation to fulfill that role himself? Find out in this week's parsha podcast.

Why does the Torah place the concept of the Tabernacle immediately following Moshe's ascension onto Har Sinai? What is the parallel between the Tabernacle and the Torah? What is unique about Torah, in its description as a 'good item' that Hashem has 'sold' us? What do we accomplish in our study of the Torah, and fulfilling its dictates? How do we create a 'home' as it were, for Hashem to enter into our lives? What is the idea that the Torah is a 'morasha' - inheritance? Find out in this week's parsha podcast.

Why does the Torah place the concept of withholding a poor man's collateral next to the prohibition of cursing a judge or leader? Why is that commandment followed by the concept of giving tithes from one's produce in the right time? How does the concept of the tithes then further connect to the concept that follows - redeeming the first born sons? Why are blessings on the crops withheld when one disrespects the judges? Why does one merit to have sons if he gives his tithes in the right order? Find out in this week's parsha podcast.

What is the idea behind Hashem being compared to a Lion Roaring as He reveals Himself on Mount Sinai? When is Hashem referred to as the 'King of the Nations?' What is the idea of the continuation of the passuk in relation to the Lion's roar, that when Hashem speaks, all will prophesy? What is the idea behind the analogy of the lender of gold, from whom all are afraid to borrow, lest they have to pay in the end? What is the root of the hatred of the nations of the world for the Jewish people? How do we resonate with the 'Lion's roar' of Hashem, as He spoke on har Sinai, to this very day? Find out in this week's parsha podcast.

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 do the nations look on, but are unable to partake of the great feast that the Jewish people enjoy in the future? How does one merit to experience the miraculous expansion in one's life? Find out in this week's Parsha Podcast.

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 the time of our betrothal to Hashem, and the times of Moshiach as the marriage? Why are the Jewish people redeemed at night? What is the concept of the mitzvah of 'hachodesh hazeh lachem' - this is your month? How does this month constitute a full unit? Find out in this week's Parsha Podcast.