Parsha Podcast with Ari Goldwag Ari Goldwag

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 compared to a wild deer that joined the King's flock of sheep? What is the special favor that is shown to the convert? What is the special trait of the convert that we are to emulate? Find out in this week's Parsha Podcast.

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 this week's Parsha Podcast.

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 the watchman of their orchards? Find out in this week's Parsha Podcast.

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 when we see that Hashem's anger is manifest in our world? What is the idea of the anger which is like a pregnant women? Find out in this week's Parsha Podcast.

Why does the Torah require that an animal be eight days old before being used as a Korban (sacrifice)? How does this parallel the human being who needs to be eight days old to be given a bris (circumcision)? What is the concept of our desire to be 'drawn after Hashem' like an animal is 'drawn after its master?' In the comparison of a righteous individual to a mighty mountain, why is he sometimes compared to a grassy mountain, and sometimes to a mountain that has fruit trees? How do we use these tools - the animal and the righteous individual - to climb the mountain of Hashem? Find out in this week's Parsha Podcast.