Please support the TORCH Podcasts by donating to our annual fundraiser at giveTORCH.org This is our only annual fundraiser. Every donation is DOUBLED! Support the TORCH Podcasts by visiting giveTORCH.org right now and making a generous donation! This is the LINK for the Fundraiser. – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – This special Purim Podcast is dedicated by my dear friend Adam Chuckrow in loving memory and leilui nishmas his grandmother Hadassah bat Yosef who passed away last Purim, so...
Mar 09, 2025•49 min
This Jewish History Podcast is dedicated in loving memory and leilui nishmas Maury Magids , Michael Ben Shmuel and Yehudit, whose Yartzeit falls out on the 6th of Adar. May his Soul be elevated in Heaven – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – The Chofetz Chaim, Rabbi Yisrael Meir Hakohen Kagan, was one of the most renowned and influential Jews of modern times. He did not serve in any official capacity, and his influence reverberated the world over. His personal piety was legendary. He was a...
Mar 09, 2025•1 hr 9 min
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! This is the LINK for the Fundraiser. – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – This week’s parsha contains several instructions related to the Tabernacle, but the majority of the parsha is dedicated to arguably the most shocking an...
Mar 09, 2025•1 hr 6 min
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! This is the LINK for the Fundraiser. – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – The high priest was bedecked in eight special garments. Two of the garments were adorned with precious stones: the breastplate contained 12 Stones, one ...
Mar 06, 2025•55 min
Please support the Mitzvah Podcast by donating to our annual fundraiser at giveTORCH.org This is our only annual fundraiser. Every donation is DOUBLED! Support the Mitzvah Podcast by visiting giveTORCH.org right now and making a generous donation! This is the LINK for the Fundraiser. – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – Eating certain animals are harmful for your body and for your soul. It is wise to obey the Torah's guidance. You are what you eat - make sure you eat good to be good. – – ...
Mar 06, 2025•48 min
Please support the TORAH 101 Podcasts by donating to our annual fundraiser at giveTORCH.org This is our only annual fundraiser. Every donation is DOUBLED! Support the TORCH Podcasts by visiting giveTORCH.org right now and making a generous donation! This is the LINK for the Fundraiser. – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – Why did God give us such a precious and holy and profound Torah? Wouldn't it be enough to give us some simple rules to live by? Why is our nation chosen above all other ...
Mar 05, 2025•44 min
Please support the TORCH Podcasts by donating to our annual fundraiser at giveTORCH.org This is our only annual fundraiser. Every donation is DOUBLED! Support the TORCH Podcasts by visiting giveTORCH.org right now and making a generous donation! This is the LINK for the Fundraiser. – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – Ambitious people want to accomplish ambitious goals. They want to undertake bold challenges, they want to make an indelible impact upon the world. Every such noble goal will...
Mar 04, 2025•44 min
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! This is the LINK for the Fundraiser. – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – The High Priest was bedecked with garments of royalty. Our Parsha details the 8 special garments (vestments) of Splendor and Glory that the Kohen Gadol ...
Mar 04, 2025•53 min
In a natural continuation to Parshas Terumah, in Parshas Tetzaveh we learn about the instructions to build the Tabernacle. Whereas last week the focus was on the edifice itself and its vessels, this week we will orient primarily on the special garments that the priests wore in the Tabernacle, and of course subsequently in the Temple. – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – DONATE to TORCH: Please consider supporting the podcasts by making a donation to help fund our Jewish outreach and educa...
Mar 02, 2025•56 min
The Tabernacle and all its vessels were steeped in miracles. They Ark did not take up any space. The Showbreads upon the Table did not get moldy. The construction of the Menorah was miraculous: Moshe was first shown a fiery image of the Menorah projected upon the mountain and subsequently he was told to throw the hunk of gold into the fire and the Menorah, with all its intricate embellishments, emerged. The Tabernacle was ultimately made permanent in the Temple on Temple Mount, at the touch poin...
Feb 27, 2025•53 min
Of the various materials needed for the construction of the Tabernacle were Shoham and Miluim stones. These stones were inlaid into the brackets in the Kohein Gadol's Choshen (decorative breastplate containing twelve precious stones) and Ephod (apron-like garment with extending shoulder straps) respectively. What is the symbolism behind these stones and what lessons can we learn from them? In this special edition of the Parsha Podcast we explore the fascinating subject of the gemstones of the Hi...
Feb 25, 2025•56 min
The Sinai Revelation was a mass testimony of faith. The only event of its kind saw God revealing Himself to a nation comprised of millions, who heard and experienced prophecy and lived to tell their children about it. The founding event of our religion is historically unchallengeable and completely unprecedented: There is no other religion that even claims to have a National Revelation at its founding. In this TORAH 101 podcast, we study the introduction of Sefer HaChinuch to learn about the mec...
Feb 24, 2025•47 min
One of the fundamental principles of Jewish philosophy is the idea of “Kedushah”, holiness. Holiness, according to the Jewish definition, is when the physical and spiritual worlds meet. In no location in the world is holiness more present than the Temple, and its predecessor, the “Mishkan”, the Tabernacle. In this week’s parsha we read about the instructions to raise the materials and to construct the Tabernacle and most of its vessels. – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – DONATE to TORCH...
Feb 23, 2025•52 min
The first law (of dozens) featured in our Parsha tells of a Jewish bondsman who chooses to voluntarily extend his servitude past the required 6 years. This bondsman is brought to a door or a doorpost and has his ear pierced. Why is his ear pierced? Because he failed to listen carefully at Sinai. This first law of our Parsha reveals a new dimension of the Sinai Revelation and the acceptance of Torah. In this podcast, we contrast the beginning of our Parsha and the classification of Sinai that it ...
Feb 20, 2025•53 min
The Parsha that follows the Revelation at Sinai contains an apparently motley potpourri of subjects: it begins with a wide variety of mitzvos of all types, presented in rapid fire succession. The Parsha concludes with two apparently unrelated subjects: it foretells of the conquest of Canaan and the conditions by which we will acquire it, and it revisits the Sinai Revelation and the events that led up to it. In this special edition of the Parsha Podcast, we explore the surprising layout of the su...
Feb 18, 2025•50 min
Some atheists are quite intelligent. Some atheists score highly on IQ tests. How can they be so wrong on matters of faith? Where exactly do the atheists go wrong? In this interesting TORAH 101 podcast, we pinpoint the precise area that causes atheists to err. It turns out, a perfectly functioning and competent and capable brain is not enough to arrive at faith. The true cause of faith lies in the heart. If the heart is corrupted, all bets are off. – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – DONA...
Feb 17, 2025•53 min
Parshas Mishpatim marks a stark change in the rhythm and pace of the Torah narrative. The preceding 17 Parshas contained a total of 41 mitzvos; this week we begin learning the Torah laws en masse. In this single parsha alone we have 53 mitzvos (only three parshas have more mitzvos). Beyond the varied laws, this parsha contains a prophetic promise and guidance regarding the conquest of Canaan, and the completion of the Sinai narrative that began in last week’s parsha. – – – – – – – – – – – – – – ...
Feb 16, 2025•59 min
Moshe's father-in-law Jethro is a fascinating and mysterious figure. He was Egyptian and served as an advisor to Pharaoh, but was ousted and exiled when he conscientiously objected to Pharaoh's genocidal plans. Jethro relocated to Midian, where he served as a pagan priest. Jethro was a searcher in relentless pursuit of truth, and came to the recognition of true faith and repudiated idolatry in all its forms. Our Parsha begins with his reappearance, together with Moshe's wife and sons, to join th...
Feb 13, 2025•1 hr 3 min
Our Parsha contains the most significant event in all of human history: the Revelation at Sinai. An entire nation comprised of millions of people heard the Almighty directly. The nation heard the Ten Commandments and lived to tell the tale. This momentous event kick started our nation: thenceforth, we are bound by the laws of the Torah. The Almighty will do His part too: He will treasure us and cherish us. Prior to the Revelation, the Nation is pitched on the terms of this Covenant. By analyzing...
Feb 11, 2025•51 min
The month of Shevat is associated with a tribe of Asher and corresponds to the letter Tzadik (צ) and its zodiac sign is a bucket. So much is told to us by the Kabbalists. But what is the secret of this month? What is the energy that permeates this month? What are the particular ways to tap into the vast power of this month? Why is that associated with fruits? We welcome back the great Rabbi Shmuel Botnick to the podcast to share a new, profound perspective on the secrets of this month. – – – – –...
Feb 10, 2025•59 min
The most significant event in all of human history is the Revelation at Sinai, which occurs in Parshas Yisro. Prior to that monumental experience and the conveyance of the Ten Commandments, Moshe’s father in law, Jethro, arrived at the camp and makes an important suggestion for improving the efficiency of the judicial process. – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – DONATE to TORCH: Please consider supporting the podcasts by making a donation to help fund our Jewish outreach and educational ...
Feb 09, 2025•1 hr 6 min
The Exodus was for good. When the Jewish people left Egypt, they did not return. Pharaoh pursued them (to his detriment) but the nation never turned back. When Moshe initially requested from Pharaoh permission for the nation to leave, it was not supposed to be permanent. It was only supposed to be a 3-day excursion into the wilderness to have a festival of sacrifices to God. What changed? In this Parsha podcast we explore the counterfactual 3-day Exodus. We also discover a brand new insight that...
Feb 06, 2025•1 hr
After the Exodus, the Jewish people left Egypt, with no plans to return. But the Egyptians followed them in hot pursuit, and seven days later the nation was surrounded, encircled by their enemies, with their backs against the sea. God gave the command: Go. The Talmud tells us that there was one man who leapt in before anyone else. When the waters reached his nostrils, the sea split. For this act of bravery, he was awarded with the eternal rights of the monarchy. Who was this man? What is so sign...
Feb 04, 2025•53 min
The Ark of the Covenant was the holiest and most iconic vessels of the Tabernacle, and subsequently the Temple. It was placed in the Holy of Holies and visited only once a year by the holiest person, the High Priest, on the holiest day of the year, Yom Kippur. Inside the Ark were the Tablets of Testimony upon which God inscribed the Ten Commandments. The Ark had a long and storied history. At some point, the Ark was hidden away. For the last 2,500 years, its whereabouts have been mostly unknown....
Feb 03, 2025•1 hr 4 min
Parshas Beshalach may be the most action-packed parsha in the Torah. After the Exodus, God directed the people to not take the shortest route to the Land in order to facilitate the great miracle of the Splitting of the Sea and the final destruction of the Egyptians. After those unprecedented miracles, the trouble began: Twice they ran out of water, they ran out of food, and a ferocious enemy launched an unprovoked attack. – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – DONATE to TORCH: Please consid...
Feb 02, 2025•1 hr 4 min
Our ancestors spent many years in Egypt prior to The Exodus. How many years exactly? That's a bit complicated. In our Parsha the verse says that after 430 years, the nation finally left Egypt. But when God told Abraham about the Egyptian enslavement at the Covenant between the Parts, He only spoke of 400 years. Where do those extra 30 years come from? On a more basic level, if you calculate the actual years that the nation spent in Egypt, it is way less than even 400. In this very interesting an...
Jan 30, 2025•1 hr 21 min
The dramatic events of the Exodus reach a crescendo with the nation's Exodus from Egypt. After 210 years of servitude and subjugation, the Almighty people leave Egypt with great miracles and fanfare. A very specific set of things had to happen to enable this redemption. Immediately prior to the Exodus, the nation circumcised en masse and brought the Pascal sacrifice, and our sages tell us that these two mitzvos, the blood of the circumcision and the blood of the Pascal sacrifice, were preconditi...
Jan 28, 2025•1 hr 4 min
We all want to raise good children. We want our children to be healthy and balanced and good and righteous. The Torah is full of powerful lessons on how to raise good children. In part two of our series on parenting, we explore the unique relationship of Isaac and Esau, how Jacob admonished his children, and the fascinating perspective shift that God revealed to Moshe. – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – DONATE to TORCH: Please consider supporting the podcasts by making a donation to hel...
Jan 27, 2025•1 hr 2 min
After the first seven Plagues of Egypt related in last week’s parsha, Pharaoh and his people were still unwilling to release the Children of Israel. In Parshas Bo, the miracles and wonders of the Almighty intensified, culminating in the Death of the Firstborn and the Exodus from Egypt. – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – 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/suppor...
Jan 26, 2025•1 hr
Our Parsha details Moshe's repeated efforts to get Pharaoh to send the Jews free. Pharaoh proved to be a tougher nut to crack, as predicted by God. His intransigence was deeply embedded. It would take 10 plagues to get him to capitulate. In this Parsha podcast we take a deep study of the 7th plague: the plague of hail. – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – This Parsha Podcast is dedicated by my Alen Lvovich in loving memory and leilui nishmas his wife's maternal grandfather, Sander ben Laz...
Jan 23, 2025•1 hr 5 min
