Parsha Podcast with Ari Goldwag

Why did Yakov need to lay the foundations for the Jewish people in the house of Lavan? Why does he seem to get punished for not honoring his parents during these twenty two years by Yosef not being to honor him for a corresponding amount of time? What is the significance of the fact that Esav excelled at this very mitzvah of honoring his parents? What is the significance of this point of time in Yakov's life? Why does Yosef also have to enter into the evil of Egypt, which seems to parallel Yakov's stay with Lavan? Find out in this week's Parsha Podcast.

What is the significance of Esav's name? Why was he so involved in the physical world? Was he intrinsically evil? Why did Yakov deem it so important to buy his firstborn rights? Why did he need to steal the blessings? How could Yakov lie and claim he was Esav? Why did he Yakov these blessings that were all physical if he was so spiritual? Find out in this week's Parsha Podcast.

Why does the Torah place Yitzchak's name before Yishmael? Why does it specifically teach us that he repented in the context of Avraham's burial? What is the significance of the cave of Machpela? Why did Avraham and Yakov find it necessary to spend exorbitant amounts to procure this burial spot? Find out in this week's Parsha Podcast.

How is Avraham able to accept the challenge of sacrificing Yitzchak with such equanimity? Why does he challenge Hashem in regards to Sodom, but not in regards to the sacrifice of Yitzchak? What is the significance of the ram whose horns were caught in the thicket? Why was there now a blessing for the children of Avraham as well? Find out in this week's Parsha Podcast.

Why is Yitzchak's birth surrounded by so much laughter? Why is the letter 'hei' added to both Avraham and Sarah's names before the conception of Yitzchak? Why is the circumcision a prerequisite for this supernatural birth? Why is it so important that the Jewish people begin in this supernatural and unusual way? Find out in this week's Parsha Podcast.

Why do the numbers six and seven seem to occur many times in the story of Noach? What is the dual nature of the tzadik's role in the world? What is the connection between Noach and Yosef? Find out in this week's Parsha Podcast.

What is the deeper understanding of the seduction of the snake? How does one use his free will to emulate Hashem? What is the fundamental nature of Hashem's free will, and how does He choose? How does this apply to our everyday lives? Find out in this week's Parsha Podcast.

What is the significance of the fact that Simchas Torah is always on Shmini Atzeres? Why is it that V'zos Habracha is the only Parsha that does not need to be read on a Shabbos? Why is the Torah specifically completed on this day? What is the significance of what Hashem showed Moshe right before his demise? Find out in this special edition of the Parsha Podcast.

What is the significance of the water libation ceremony? Why was it accompanied by the joyous water drawing festival? What is the significance of the Willow ceremony that was done in the Temple? What is the significance of the fact that the willow does not have a taste and smell? Why is the willow referred to as a 'river willow?' Find out in this special edition of the Parsha Podcast.

What is the secret of Yom Kippur? How is it connected to receiving the Torah and doing Teshuva? Why don't we eat on Yom Kippur? What is the connection between Yom Kippur and Moshe Rabbenu's stay on Har Sinai? Find out in this special edition of the Parsha Podcast.

How Does Moshe call the Heavens and Earth to be his witnesses? Can inanimate objects bear witness? How is this testimony linked to the Jewish people's acceptance of the Torah? How is this theme a prelude to Yom Kippur? Find out in this week's Parsha Podcast.

How do we understand the central themes of Rosh Hashana? What is the concept of Kingship? What is the concept of the Shofar? Why are we judged on this day? What does it mean that the world was created on this day? What was the great tragedy that occurred on Rosh Hashana? Find out in this week's Parsha Podcast.

What is the deeper connection between Torah and Teshuva? Why is it found in "the mouth"? How does one go about about repentance? Find out in this week's Parsha Podcast.

Why does the Torah focus almost exclusively on the curses? Why do we seem to find more positivity in the prophets words that speak of Moshiach? Why do we find much more positivity in the deeper sources and the Oral Torah? Find out in this week's Parsha Podcast.

Why does the Torah give the field worker the right to eat the fruits as he works? What is the meaning of the statement of our sages that the taste of the tree and the fruits were originally the same? What does it mean that it will return to that state when Moshiach comes? Find out in this week's Parsha Podcast.