Parsha Podcast with Ari Goldwag Ari Goldwag

Why did Hashem make the day of reckoning for the world to be on the day of Adam's creation? How was the decree of Adam after his sin reflective of Hashem's mercy? What does the Shofar represent and what is the meaning of the root Sh-F-R - 'beautify' - as it applies to the Shofar and to Rosh Hashana? Why is the Shofar shaped in such a way as to be thin on one side and wide on the other? How does the Shofar cause Hashem to leave His throne of judgment and sit on His throne of Mercy? Find out in this week's Parsha Podcast.

How do the concepts of Heaven and Earth correspond to the human being that is composed of soul and body? What is behind the Midrash's statement that because Moshe 'lent his ear' to hear what the Torah said, therefore the Heaven and Earth were silenced when Moshe spoke? What are the boundaries that Hashem set for the world, and how does it ingrain awe in us when those boundaries are broken? How does the Tzadik's ability to bend nature serve to give us more fear of Heaven? How does all of this relate to Yom Kippur? Find out in this week's Parsha Podcast.

Why do the concepts of Rain, Livelihood and Resurrection of the dead all have the word 'opening' used in their contexts? What do these three things have in common? Why do we mention that Hashem brings rain in the context of the second bracha of Shemoneh Esrei, which speaks of Him bringing the dead to life? Why do we ask for the blessings upon the earth and grains to grow, but not really speak directly about livelihood? What is the song that is related to the falling of the rain and the resurrection of the dead? Find out in this week's Parsha Podcast.

What is the lesson we are to learn from 'what happened to Miriam' when we left Egypt? Why does negative speech cause the Divine Presence to leave us, Heaven forbid? How does focusing on the positive have the opposite effect - bringing Hashem into our lives, and bringing about salvation and Siyata Dishmaya? Why were the Jewish people unable to build the Beis Hamikdash (Temple) in the times of King Saul, even though they had the prerequisites of a king and had destroyed Amalek? How does negativity cause us to lose in battle, while positivity brings about victory? Find out in this week's Parsha Podcast.

What is greater - the sacrifices brought in the Beis Hamikdash (Temple) or proper judgment, justice and charity? Why are Tzedakah and Mishpat (charity and judgment) so central? Why did King David rejoice when people wished for the Beis Hamikdash to be built, even though it implied his own death, as it was his son who was destined to build it? Why does Hashem promise that Dovid Hamelech will live a full life - despite the fact that the building of the Beis Hamikdash will be delayed? What was Dovid's unique approach in judging peoples' court cases and how did he perform charity in the judgment? Find out in this week's Parsha Podcast.

Why does the Torah speak of a single mitzvah (commandment) when it refers to keeping all of the mitzvos? How does the mitzvah of Krias Shema (Hear O Israel) include all of the mitzvos? What is the unique spiritual power of this powerful statement? How do we strengthen the myriad angels that surround us and weaken the negative spiritual forces that threaten us? What is the announcement those negative forces make when they see we are true servants of Hashem? How does Krias Shema protect us from morning until night? Find out in this week's Parsha Podcast.