Parsha Podcast with Ari Goldwag

What is the connection between Isaac's passivity in the face of the king of Gerar, and Yaakov's running away from Esav after stealing the blessings? What is the concept of the 'time of defiance?' When is one to be passive in the face of judgments? What is the concept of 'giving space for defiance?' Find out in this week's Parsha Podcast.

What is the connection between the story of Avraham and the angels to his discovery of the cave of Machpela? What is the concept of the 'lit candle' he finds there? What is the connection between Adam's burial there and Avraham? What is the concept of a kever, which means womb as well as grave? What is the concept of Chevron, the city of the patriarchs? Find out in this week's Parsha Podcast.

Why does Avraham's meeting with the angels occur in conjunction with Pesach? Why does the destruction of Sodom occur concurrently? Why is Yitzchak born on Pesach? Why does the binding of Isaac occur on Pesach? Why does Lot's conception with his daughters occur then, as well? Find out in this week's Parsha Podcast.

Why do the people of Canaan inhabit the holy land? Why does Hashem seem to send Avraham to specifically do his outreach with the Canaanites? What is Sodom's connection to Avraham? What is the king of Sodom's connection to MalkiTzedek? Why was Canaan cursed by Noach to be a slave to Shem? Find out in this week's Parsha Podcast.

Why does the flood occur in the month of Cheshvan? Why does the 'atzeres' of Pesach occur fifty days later, whereas the 'atzeres' of Succos immediately follows the holiday? What is the contrast between Nissan/Spring and Tishrei/Winter? What is the spiritual approach for the coming months? Find out in this week's Parsha Podcast.

Why does the Alef complain that the Torah began with a Beis? What is Hashem's consolation? Why does the moon complain? Why do the trees complain? Why does there seem to be so much resistance in Creation? Find out in this week's Parsha Podcast.

Why do we shake the lulav and esrog during hallel? Why do we only shake it at certain verses? Why do we stop shaking at Hashem's name? Why does the Torah stay in the center without moving during Hoshanos? Why don't we move at all on Shabbos? Why does the Torah enter into our circle on Shmini Atzeres/Simchas Torah? Find out in this week's Parsha Podcast.

Why is Moshe not buried in Eretz Yisrael? Why are his siblings Aharon and Miriam also not allowed to be buried in Israel? What is the concept of forty in this context? Why is Moshe Rabenu's grave impossible to access? Find out in this week's Parsha Podcast.

Why does Moshe keep repeating the word 'today?' What is the concept of today? How is it related to Moshe Rabenu's death? How is it connected to Rosh Hashana? What was Haman's mistake about Moshe's date of death? Find out in this week's Parsha Podcast.

Why are blessings only found when the item to be blessed is hidden from the eye? Why are the ways we are to emulate Hashem all involving patience with the wicked? What is it that the nations truly fear about the Jewish people? Why are there seemingly more curses than blessings? Find out in this week's Parsha Podcast.

What is the analogy between the Evil Inclination's general approach and the beautiful gentile woman captive? How does this connect to the concept of Shmitah? How does one develop a sense of abundance? What is the lesson of the diminished moon? Find out in this week's Parsha Podcast.

What is the 'strength' that the Judge must show? How does one develop the humility that others will be drawn to? What is the difference between the 'honor of kings' and 'the honor of Hashem?' What is the secret of the 'pause' that is the first step in the process of teshuva? Find out in this week's Parsha Podcast.

Why are the festivals all connected to the number seven? What is their connection to the seven of Shabbos? What is the special idea of simcha, joy, in this context? What is the connection to Elul, the loving relationship of the Jewish people with Hashem and the lead up to this joy? How does one access this joy in his life, his service of Hashem and prayer? Find out in this week's Parsha Podcast.

How do we understand the concept of the one hundred and twenty days Moshe was on Har Sinai? What is the difference between the first and second set of luchos (tablets)? What is the concept of Chasadim and Gevuros? Find out in this week's Parsha Podcast.

What is the concept of the Shema? Why does Rashi say that the Unity of Hashem that we are speaking of is in the future? How does one love Hashem? What are the two types of fear and love of Hashem? How does one serve Hashem with one's evil inclination? Find out in this week's Parsha Podcast.