Parsha Podcast with Ari Goldwag

Why is the parsha of the sin of the golden calf found right in the middle of the account of the building of the mishkan? Has anything changed in the relationship between the Jewish people and Hashem before and after the sin? What is the secret of the thirteen attributes of divine mercy? What is the deeper meaning of the cloud that rested on the Mishkan and led the Jews in the desert? Find out in this week's Parsha Podcast.

Why is the story of the the sin of the Golden Calf prefaced with the giving of the luchos to Moshe? Why did that specifically occur on the last of the forty days? Why were the Jews in such a rush to replace Moshe with the calf (as per the Ramban)? Why was it necessary to destroy the luchos? Why were the second set of luchos written by Moshe? What is the significance of the light that radiated from Moshe? Find out in this week's Parsha Podcast.

Why is Moshe's name absent from this parsha? Why did he want to be erased? What is the deeper understanding of the obligation to erase the memory of Amalek? Why is Hashem's name left out of the megillah? Find out in this week's Parsha Podcast.

What is the deeper concept of donating to and creating the sanctuary specifically for Hashem's name? What does it really mean that the Jewish people create a sanctuary, and then Hashem dwells in the midst of the people? What is the deeper significance of the Aron (ark)? What is being taught when our sages tell us that it took up no physical space, and that it carried those who carried it? What is the deeper connection between the ark and the sanctuary? Find out in this week's Parsha Podcast.

What is the significance of the angel that guides the Jewish people into Israel? Why does Hashem hint to the future sin of the Jewish people at the very time that they are coming into their relationship with Hashem? Why does this angel (Michael) act in a mode of strict justice if it usually corresponds to the attribute of Mercy? What does Rashi mean when he says that just as the previous parsha was from Sinai, so too our parsha? Why was the Sanhedrin placed next to the Temple? Why was it important to explain the deeper meanings of the commandments to the Jewish people? Find out in this week's Parsha Podcast.

What is the significance of Yisro 'hearing' about the miracles Hashem performed for the Jewish people? Why does he first speak about Elokim, and only then about Hashem (Havaya)? What new information does Moshe give to Yisro, causing him to rejoice? What does he mean when he says, 'Now I know that Hashem (Havaya) is greater than all of the other gods (elohim)? What is the significance of the meal of Yisro and it being in front of Elokim? Why does he bring sacrifice to Elokim (as opposed to Havaya)? Why does the Torah seem to connect this story to the following story where Yisro advises Moshe to delegate power to others? Find out in this week's Parsha Podcast.

Why does the Torah refer to the Jewish people as being sent out by Paroh? Wouldn't it be more accurate to say that Hashem sent them out? If he indeed sent them out, why does he change his mind so fast? What is the proper Torah perspective on relationships between ourselves and Hashem, ourselves and others, and between ourselves and ourselves? Find out in this week's Parsha Podcast.

What is the purpose of the Jewish people undergoing exile? What do our sages mean when they say that part of the reason is to bring lost Jewish souls back through conversion? Why was Paroh so scared of dying if midnight had already passed? What did the Egyptians mean when they said "we are all dying?" How could R' Shimon bar Yochai cause a person's death by looking at him? Find out in this week's Parsha Podcast.

What is the concept of the name of Havaya that is being revealed through the Exodus? Why is the lineage of only the first three tribes given? Why is it placed here? What is the concept of Moshe's staff, and why is it necessary as part of the plagues? Find out in this week's Parsha Podcast.

Why is it necessary to ask Paroh to free the Jews? Why not just leave? Furthermore, why ask if he will just say no? Why is it that Paroh never heard of Hashem? Wasn't he an expert in all the gods that existed? Why does Paroh punish the Jews by making them find their own straw and having them make their own bricks? How could Paroh say that he created the Nile and even himself? Find out in this week's Parsha Podcast.

What is the significance of the Efraim's priority over Menashe? What is the meaning of his name, and what does it have to do with fruitfulness? What is the parallel between this and Yosef's name? Find out in this week's Parsha Podcast.

What is the significance of Yosef's crying? Why is crying done on the 'neck?' Why do Binyamin and Yosef cry about the destruction of the Beis Hamikdash and Mishkan? Why does crying denote sincerity? Why did Yakov say Shema while Yosef cried? Why do the righteous cry when the Yetzer Hara is destroyed? Find out in this week's Parsha Podcast.

There are four themes that run through the entire story of Yosef, from beginning to end. They are the concepts of clothing, the covenant, food and speech. We explore the different places each of these themes appear in the story, and what the deeper significance of each theme is.

What is the deeper significance to the theme of dreams that runs throughout the story of Yosef? What is the concept of dreams in general? Why is Chanukah the only holiday that begins at the end of the month? Why is Chanukah the only holiday that extends into a second month? What is the connection between the story of Yosef and the story of Chanukah? Find out in this week's Parsha Podcast.

Why was Yakov expected to know that Dina could have brought Esav to do Teshuva? Why would she succeed where Rivka and Yitzchak had failed? What is the meaning of the mysterious connection between Dina and Yosef? Why is Yosef connected to the city of Shechem? Find out in this week's Parsha Podcast.