Audio Shiur: Ein Ayah on Ki Tavo - Finding the Spiritual in the Physical

Audio Shiur:
Ein Ayah on Ki Tavo - Finding the Spiritual in the Physical

From the Mitzvah of Mikra Bikkurim we move to a powerful piece from Rav Kook about the purpose and meaning behind the recitation of Brachot

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Audio Shiur: Parashat Vaetchanan - Seeing the Positive in Judaism

Audio Shiur:
Parashat Vaetchanan - Seeing the Positive in Judaism

All too often, we allow ourselves to focus on the negative, failing to see the amazing positives in Jewish life. Despite facing difficult news, Moshe never allows himself to fall into this trap. Ever the optimist, Moshe Rabbeinu, through his language and message, encourages us to see the good and act upon it.

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Audio Shiur: Parashat Devarim - Why Do We Need a Second Torah?

Audio Shiur:
Parashat Devarim - Why Do We Need a Second Torah?

Why do we need a "Second" Torah? Isn't that concept a bit problematic? We also study the beginning of the Abrabanel's introduction to Devarim, where he poetically describes the destruction of Spanish Jewry?

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Audio Shiur: Parshat Balak - Truth and Falsehood

Audio Shiur:
Parshat Balak - Truth and Falsehood

Is Balak a person who tells the truth? He seems to think that he is, and says so all the time.

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Audio Shiur: Parshat Chukat - The Death of Aharon

Audio Shiur:
Parshat Chukat - The Death of Aharon

Chazal convey the pain and beauty in the process of Aharon's death. Why was he punished? And what can we learn from his death about the way that we handle death today? (Trigger warning: Shiur is a bit heavy. It's about death.)

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Audio Shiur: Parshat Behaalotecha - Moshe's Pain

Audio Shiur:
Parshat Behaalotecha - Moshe's Pain

When Miriam and Aharon speak negatively about Moshe, what was his reaction? Did he react at all? Was he above it all?

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Audio Shiur: Shevii Shel Pesach and the Meaning of Yom Yerushalayim

Audio Shiur:
Shevii Shel Pesach and the Meaning of Yom Yerushalayim

Each year, I struggle to find meaning in Yom Yerushalayim. As we neared the 50th anniversary of Yom Yerushalayim, I have been giving the holiday a great deal of thought. In this shiur I discuss the miracle of the Six Day War and the meaning of the capture of Jerusalem in the broader context of the State of Israel in 1967. To do that, we study several texts related to the holiday of the Seventh Day of Pesach, and find through it new meaning in Yom Yerushalayim.

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Audio Shiur: The Case of Kelaim - Why do we Keep Commandments

Audio Shiur:
The Case of Kelaim - Why do we Keep Commandments

A short comment in Rashi about the reason (or lack of one) for the mitzvah of Kelaim leads us to a long essay from Ramban and a deep discussion about the nature of mitzvot and the reasons why we perform them.

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Audio Shiur: The Three Oaths - Why Some People Don't Celebrate Yom Ha'atzmaut - and Why They're Wrong

Audio Shiur:
The Three Oaths - Why Some People Don't Celebrate Yom Ha'atzmaut - and Why They're Wrong

The three oaths appear in a very famous passage in Masechet Ketubot, and represent one of the basic texts of the anti-Zionist movement. We begin the shiur with a "hook" from Parashat Metzora

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Audio Shiur: Parashat Shemini - The Argument with Aharon

Audio Shiur:
Parashat Shemini - The Argument with Aharon

Following the tragic deaths of Nadav and Avihu, we learn of a cryptic argument between Moshe and Aharon (and his sons). What were they arguing about? Why did Moshe react so strongly?

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Audio Shiur: Haggadah shel Pesach - The Magic of Midnight

Audio Shiur:
Haggadah shel Pesach - The Magic of Midnight

We take an in-depth look at the piyyut "Vayehi Bachatzi Halayla" which is the first song of Nirtzah.


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Audio Shiur: Megillat Esther Chapter 7 - The Crazy High Point of the Story

Audio Shiur:
Megillat Esther Chapter 7 - The Crazy High Point of the Story

What is Esther's plan as she enters the king's chamber for the fateful party with Haman? How does she think that things will go? Whatever she thinks, things clearly do not go as planned. With the help of some truly sensational Midrashim, we learn just how unlikely the outcome of the Purim story really was.

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Audio Shiur: Megillat Esther - Who is Achashveirosh?

Audio Shiur:
Megillat Esther - Who is Achashveirosh?

Achashveirosh is probably the most overlooked major player in the story of Purim. Who is he? Where did he come from? Even more importantly, what was he like? What important lessons can we learn from the answers to these questions?

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Audio Shiur: Parshat Bo - Metaphysical Systems Running the World

Audio Shiur:
Parshat Bo - Metaphysical Systems Running the World

An unusual Midrash quoted by Rashi leads us to a number of different teachings of Chazal that relate to a broader question: are there innate systems upon which the world functions? Did Paroh know about them? Did Chazal believe in them?

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Parashat Va'era - the Leadership of Moshe vs the Leadership of Aharon

Audio Shiur:
Parashat Vaera - the Leadership of Moshe vs the Leadership of Aharon

The Torah seems to repeat a number of apparently innocuous verses, also switiching the order in which Moshe and Aharon are listed. Is this simply innocuous repetition, as Rashi implies, or is the Torah communicating something far more important?

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Audio Shiur: Parshat Shemot: From Elastigirl to Excalibur - Moshe's Origin Story

Audio Shiur:
Parshat Shemot: From Elastigirl to Excalibur - Moshe's Origin Stor

According to Ramban, in the span of one verse the Torah skips sixty years of Moshe's life. What happened during all that time?

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Audio Shiur: Parshat Vayechi - The Essence of Yehudah

Audio Shiur:
Parshat Vayechi - The Essence of Yehudah

Entrenched in the language of Yaakov's blessings to Yehuda are truths about his past, his suspicions of his sons, and even about the secret of pure souls trapped in evil. Get ready for a mind-blowing thrill ride!


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Audio Shiur: Parashat Vayigash - Yosef's Revelation

Audio Shiur:
Parashat Vayigash - Yosef's Revelation

What does Yehuda's speech tell Yosef that he did not already know? Why does Yosef then reveal himself?

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Audio Shiur: Parshat Vayeshev - What's the Plan?

Audio Shiur:
Parshat Vayeshev - What's the Plan?

On the way to meet his brothers, we learn of a strange meeting with between Yosef and an unidentified man who points him in the right direction. Who is this strange man, and why does he help Yosef at all? The answer reveals a great deal about the development of Jewish history, and the way despots justify their tyrannical behavior.

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Audio Shiur - Parshat Vayishlach - Projecting Power

Audio Shiur:
Parshat Vayishlach - Projecting Power

The different responses - and seemingly contradictory responses from Yaakov and his sons towards the abduction of Dina leads us to important conclusions about the use of power in the world.

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