Why is the war of Gog Umagog (Armageddon) associated with the holiday of Succos, such that we read to Haftaros from sections in Tanach that speak of it? Why do the Romans and Persians claim that they helped the Jewish people in their exile, when in truth they only helped themselves? Why do they get the mitzvah of Succah and then kick it as they leave because of the heat? What is the idea of the Clouds of Hashem's Glory which accompanied us in the wilderness, and will protect us in the future...

What was the content of the special prayer of the High Priest on the holiest of days in the holiest place on Earth? What is the concept of bracha-blessing? What was unique about the approach of Moshe generally and how did this contribute to his ability to give the blessings he gave to the entire Jewish people? Why is the blessing specifically given at the end of his life, and why do we seek these blessings as we complete a year and begin a new year? How can we merit a good year for ourselves...

Why does Moshe speak to the Heavens before the Earth, as if to say he is closer to the upper spheres? Why does it seem that Moshe has reversed the order, where the Heaven is supposed to be for Hashem while the Earth is meant for mankind? Why does Moshe demand of the Heaven to listen if that would seem to stop it from saying Hashem's praises? What is the idea of the mouth, heart and ears of the Heavens? How does the Shofar serve to encourage Hashem to stand up from His throne of judgment and...

Why is a significant portion of this week's parsha referred to as the 'parsha of redemption?' Why is the central theme of the 'parsha of redemption' the theme of Teshuva-repentance, which is followed by the return of the Jewish people to Israel? What are the steps to teshuva, how does it start, and does one do it completely? What is the central reason why the 'lazy man' referred to by Shlomo Hamelech gives so many excuses not to hear the Torah teaching of his teacher? What is the central and...

Why does the Torah use a double language in speaking of the blessings that come 'when we listen?' What is the idea of learning and engaging in spiritual pursuits for Hashem's sake? Why should one pass through two doors when entering the Shul or House of Study? Why is one rewarded for this, and what is meant when the midrash says that one who does so will experience the presence of Hashem? Why do the blessings follow these actions? What is the idea behind the statement of our sages that acts...

What is the depth of the mitzvah of the sending away the mother bird if one wants to take the chicks or the eggs? Why do we 'honor' the mother bird in 'the merit' of her children? How is the mitzvah of sending away the mother bird related to respecting one's father and mother? Why does the Midrash state that fulfilling this mitzvah leads to the coming of Moshiach? What is the idea of 'sending' that is found both in the context of the mother bird as well as Moshiach? Why does Yaakov talk so...

What is the idea of the blessings that we get when we keep the Torah, and the curses that come when we do not keep the Torah? Why are we careful to read all the curses without interruption? How does this express that Hashem is with us in our troubles? What is the idea of 'seeing' the blessings and curses and 'hearing' the word of Hashem? How does listening to the commandments of Hashem serve to limit our ego and bring about these blessings? What is the idea of the blessings that come 'of...

Why does Moshe preface his report of the crossing of Jordan River into Israel with the statement 'Shema Yisrael' - Hear O Israel? What is the concept of 'hearing' in this context? What do we learn from the fact that Hashem redeemed the Jewish people, despite His foreknowledge that they would sin with the Golden Calf? What two 'gems' did Hashem give us when we were betrothed to Him on Mount Sinai, and which did we lose, and which do we still have today? What was Moshe implying when he said...

What is unique about the prayers of the people of Israel and our relationship with Hashem? Why does King David ask that Hashem not answer the prayers of the Nations of the World? Why are those who worship idols 'close yet far,' while we who worship Hashem are 'far yet close?' Why do we try to preface our prayers for our personal spiritual and physical needs with mention of the Geulah-Redemption of our people from Egypt? Why are we referred to as 'a great nation who is uniquely close to...

What is the correct focus for the day of Tisha B'av? Why did R' Shimon bar Yochai instruct the couple who was divorcing to make a big party like when they got married? What gift did the woman take with her when she went back to her parents home? What blessing did she receive as a result from R' Shimon bar Yochai? What is the lesson for us in our relationship with Hashem? Why does Tzion insist that she does not care when her children return? What is it that she is waiting for? Find out in this...

What is the concept of the miraculous multiplication of the numbers of the Jewish people? Why does Hashem say He will judge the Egyptians with 'two letters' but then ultimately they are judged with 72 letters? Why did Hashem not reveal to Avraham that his children would eat the Manna in the wilderness for 40 years? Why did Hashem say Avraham's offspring would be 'as great as the stars' but ultimately, they were even greater than that? Why do both Dovid Hamelech and Moshe Rabenu fear coming...

What is the depth of the idea that Hashem decides who becomes rich and who becomes poor, and that sometimes He lowers one person in order to raise up another person? How does this apply in times of war, where one country is lowered and another is raised? Why is the war of Midian placed right beside the description of the wealth of the tribe of Reuven and Gad? How is it that their gift of wealth was clearly a gift from Hashem, and yet they were punished for asking to remain outside of Israel...

Podcast dedicated by Sarah Kukin in honor of her daughter's birthday. Why does the Torah place the story of the daughters of Tzlafchad next to the story of Moshe's request for a new leader to lead after his death? What is significant about the daughters of Tzlafchad receiving a portion of land on both sides of the Jordan river? Why is their inheritance referred to as 'passing' to them, as opposed to others who it is 'given' to? Why does Hashem tell Moshe that his own sons will not inherit his...

Podcast dedicated by Sarah Kukin in honor of her daughter's birthday. Why does the Torah place the story of the daughters of Tzlafchad next to the story of Moshe's request for a new leader to lead after his death? What is significant about the daughters of Tzlafchad receiving a portion of land on both sides of the Jordan river? Why is their inheritance referred to as 'passing' to them, as opposed to others who it is 'given' to? Why does Hashem tell Moshe that his own sons will not inherit his...

Why was Moshe unable to respond when Zimri challenged him in regards to his having married a Midianite woman? What does it mean that he was 'lazy' in this regard? How is it that Moshe is punished for this 'laziness' by being buried alone - only by Hashem - and not by all of the Jewish people - if this lone burial is actually a reward for having worked hard to find the bones of Yosef before leaving Egypt? In that context, why does 'Segulah' - better known as Serach bas Asher - appear to reveal...

Why does the midrash say that every single individual in the Jewish nation perceived themselves as being directly in front of the rock from which Moshe brought forth water? Why did the scoffers demand that Moshe bring forth water from a different rock than the one Hashem had commanded? Why does the midrash stress that ultimately water came out of the correct rock, and that water in fact also came out of every rock in the vicinity? What is the significance of the other places where the Jewish...

After Korach and his fellow revolutionaries were either swallowed by the ground or burned by a spiritual fire, why did the Jewish people continue to complain? Why did it also continue even after they were struck by a plague as a result of their complaint? What was represented by the miracle of Aharon's staff which flowered and produced 'shkedim'-almonds? What was behind the desire for the bechorim-first born to serve in place of the Levites, and why were they wrong? What is the personal...

Why did Hashem cause the leaders throughout the land of Canaan to die as the Israelite spies passed through their land? What was at the root of the spies denial of the Hashgacha Pratis (Divine Providence) of these deaths which was really to create a distraction from their presence? Why did the Jewish people step back from Mount Sinai when Hashem revealed Himself to them, and ask for Moshe to be between them and Hashem instead the direct revelation? Why did the Jewish people look suspiciously...

What was the purpose of King David's harp, which would play on its own and wake him up at midnight? What did he mean when he said, 'I will awaken the dawn?' Who joined him in his studies through the night? What was special about the origin of the strings of his harp? What is the significance of the 'sinews of Yitzchak's ram?' What is the proper way of showing honor to our sages and Torah scholars? Why is honoring them 'akin' to honoring Hashem? Why are the Torah scholars among he 13 items...

What is the implicit comparison between the Ger-Convert and the Kohen in the law that money owed to a Convert who passed away with no heirs is paid to the Kohen? Why is the Convert to Judaism called a 'returnee' if he is only arriving at this juncture? What is the understanding of the spiritual sustenance of the convert being the Talmud and the Midrash? Why is the convert compared to a grape vine? What is the blessing he receives from Tzion-Jerusalem? Why is the convert and the tzadik...

What is the idea behind the Midrash's statement that every prophet's prophecy was given to him at Har Sinai? How does this apply to the words of wisdom that would be said by Torah scholars down to our times? What is the 'great Voice that did not end' that echoes through the generations? What is meant by R' Yochanan who says that the single voice splits into seven and then into seventy? What is the 'mighty voice of Hashem?' Find out in this week's Parsha Podcast.

What is the depth behind each of the sides of the Mishkan, which was surrounded by four Levi encampments, and four corresponding Israelite ecampments? What is the significance of the West, as the source of 'snow, sleet, extreme heat and cold?' And the South, as the source of rain and dew of blessing? And the North as the source of darkness? And the East as the source of Light? How does each group correspond to these aspects and either enhance or deflect the force found therein? Find out in...

Why does the Torah enumerate the avos in reverse order - Yakov, Yitzchak then Avraham - in speaking of Hashem remembering His covenant? How does this relate to the idea of the grapevine, which rests upon older wood from trees no longer alive? How do the people of Israel parallel the grapevine, whose main body is close to the ground, yet its branches extend far away? How do we understand the parallel of the lowly grapevine whose watchman sits above it, as opposed to other trees who tower above...

What is the prohibition of Ona'as Devarim-Causing pain through our words? What is the prohitibiton of Ona'as Mamon-Causing pain through our money? Why does Hashem appear to the prophet Amos in front of a 'balanced wall' holding a builders 'balance tool?' Why does the Anach-Balance tool have the same root as the word Ona'ah-Pain? How does the pain and challenge that we experience bring us back into balance? What is the Ibur-Anger that we experience in the Ibur-Leap year? What can we work on...