Popular Shows by Eli Podcast Productions: Page 3

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When Your Words Hit Rock Bottom - Chukas - Ep. 390

Jul 3, 2025

10:48

Why does speaking to a rock yield water, yet striking it brings punishment? Why a rock, of all things? In Parshas Chukas, discover the hidden wisdom of persistence that can soften even the hardest hearts. Through the miraculous story of water from stone—and a modern-day empire built from an empty room—you’ll uncover the divine algorithm for creating breakthroughs when nothing seems to work. Join us to explore this timeless concept, which can transform your outlook on tackling seemingly impossible situations—and reveal why your words are far more powerful than you think.

202

Stop Looking Out, Start Looking In - Parshas Balak - ep 391

Jul 10, 2025

12:50

What was it that Bilaam saw that completely changed everything? What orchestrated this transformation from curse to blessing? Dive into Parshas Balak and discover the hidden wisdom behind how the Jewish people arranged their homes. Uncover the eye-opening difference between protecting yourself from others versus protecting yourself from comparison and jealousy. Through a compelling modern story of a couple whose apparent wealth masked their real struggle, explore how your exact circumstances—both challenges and blessings—are precisely calibrated for your unique spiritual mission.

203

Stop Waiting, Start Partnering - Parshas Pinchas - 392

Jul 17, 2025

9:11

What does it mean to truly partner with Hakadosh Baruch Hu? When a single act of courage earns not only priesthood but eternal life itself, something deeper is at play. What is so unique about the way Hashem designed this world? In this week's episode exploring Parshas Pinchas, we uncover why Pinchas received such extraordinary rewards for his bold and dramatic intervention. Through the inspiring story of a 70-year-old man who made "impossible cases" his life's mission, host R' Asaf Aharon Prisman reveals the hidden technology behind divine partnership. Discover how ordinary people can step into extraordinary roles - and earn eternal rewards - by doing what appears to be God’s work. The secret to transforming your daily actions into true divine collaboration awaits.

204

The Generational Seeds You're Planting Right Now - Parshas Matos / Masei- Ep. 393

Jul 23, 2025

13:54

Why was Shevet Menashe the only tribe split in two? And why were they chosen to teach Torah on the other side of the Jordan River instead of Yissachar, the tribe known for learning? In this week's Parshas Matos-Masei, we uncover a stunning 250-year chain of ripple effects that will transform how you view every action you take. Through a fascinating Midrash about hidden long-term consequences, discover how Hashem's perfect system of measure-for-measure operates across generations. This isn't just ancient history – it's a wake-up call about every action we take. Prepare to see your daily decisions through an entirely new lens.

205

Why Great People See Big in Small - Parshas Devarim - Ep 394

Jul 31, 2025

10:43

How could great rabbis have their judgment corrupted by someone simply helping them cross a bridge or removing a feather from their head? Surely these great Rabbis were able to not allow such a small gesture impact their ruling of truth? Dive into a profound practical lessons Rav Pam was able to fish out of Parashas Devarim that is practical for everyone despite the fact that it is in the section relevant only for judges. Through remarkable stories involving spiritual giants and life-changing moments of simple kindness, uncover a transformative understanding of gratitude that will revolutionize your relationships and daily interactions. Join us for this eye-opening exploration of sensitivity, recognition, and the profound power hidden in life's smallest gestures.

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How Torah Hacks Jealousy - Parshas Vaeschanan - Ep 395

Aug 7, 2025

9:30

How can the Torah command us not to feel an emotion - isn't jealousy involuntary? What's the connection between not coveting and loving others? In Parshas Vaeschanan, discover the Ramban's insight that transforms our understanding of emotions. Through Sarah's job interview sacrifice, uncover the Torah's antidote to jealousy. This episode reveals the spiritual secret for eliminating envy through a surprising emotional transformation. www.prismoftorah.com

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When Awareness Awakes Success - Parshas Eikev - Ep. 396

Aug 14, 2025

11:25

Join us for this week's Prism of Torah as we explore Parshas Eikev's most intriguing derivation. When Moshe tells Bnei Yisrael "Ma Hashem shoel me'imcha" - what does Hashem ask of you - the Gemara in Menachos transforms this into the obligation of 100 daily brachos. But three questions demand answers: Why is this mitzvah derived specifically from the pasuk about Yirat Shamayim? What's significant about changing the word "ma" to "me'ah"? And why precisely 100 brachos - not 90 or 110? Drawing from the Divrei Yoel and Sfas Emes, discover how fear of Hashem connects to constant awareness, how the word "ma" represents a crucial spiritual quality, and why 100 specifically builds the foundation for divine presence. Plus, hear the inspiring story of a yeshiva student whose careful bracha tracking caught the attention of a wealthy visitor, leading to an unexpected shidduch. Transform your understanding of daily brachos and discover practical tools for living with spiritual awareness. This episode offers profound insights into Yirat Shamayim, humility, and building a personal Mishkan through mindful Jewish practice. Keywords: Torah podcast, weekly parsha, Parshas Eikev, Jewish learning, 100 brachos, Yirat Shamayim, Gemara Menachos, spiritual awareness

208

Your Spiritual Credit Line - Parshas Reeh - Ep. 397

Aug 21, 2025

12:03

In this week's Torah podcast exploring Parshas Re'eh, we examine a fascinating asymmetry in the Torah's language that troubled both classical commentators and reveals something profound about Hashem's relationship with us. Why does the pasuk say "the blessing that you listen" but "cursed if you don't listen"? What bothered Rashi about this structure, and how does his answer change everything? Through the powerful story of Rav Boyer and a struggling yeshiva student, discover how advance motivation works in both human relationships and our connection with Hashem. Learn why the Yetzer Hara fights hardest during our personal moments of greatest spiritual potential, and how resistance might actually indicate opportunity. This episode connects insights from Rashi, the Ramchal's Mesilas Yesharim, and contemporary Torah wisdom to reveal a transformative perspective on the blessings in our lives. Perfect for anyone seeking deeper understanding of Jewish learning, parsha study, and practical spiritual growth. Keywords: Torah podcast, weekly parsha, Parshas Re'eh, Jewish learning, Rashi commentary, spiritual motivation, blessing and curse, Mesilas Yesharim

209

Why the Satan Loves History Books , Parshas Shoftim. Ep. 398

Aug 28, 2025

11:57

In Loving Memory OfYosef SchreiberYosef Ben Aharon TzviMay the soul rest in peace, may Hashem bring comfort to the family.Why does the Torah redundantly say "the judge who will be in those days" - isn't it obvious? What's the Satan's secret weapon when he praises Avraham to Hashem? How does comparing current rabbis to past gedolim fall into this trap? Parshas Shoftim reveals the profound strategy behind Hashem's spiritual GPS system for every generation.

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Stop Cooling, Start Heating - Parshas Ki Teitzei - Ep. 399

Sep 4, 2025

11:49

Join this week's Torah podcast exploring the deeper mysteries of Parshas Ki Tetzay and the unique commandment to remember Amalek. Why does only Amalek merit a special mitzvah to remember their evil deeds - what about all the other nations that tried to destroy the Jewish people? What does Rashi mean when he explains that Amalek "cooled us down," and why does Chazal tell us that Hashem's throne remains incomplete until Amalek is eliminated from the world? Through the Gemara in Sanhedrin and Reb Chaim Shmulevitz's brilliant analysis, discover the fascinating story of Timnah - the princess who desperately wanted to convert but was rejected by the Avos, leading to Amalek's creation. Explore powerful insights about the ripple effects of our daily interactions, featuring contemporary stories that will transform how you view your relationships and responsibilities. This episode of Jewish learning combines traditional Torah analysis with practical mussar lessons, revealing timeless wisdom for modern living. Perfect for weekly parsha study and spiritual growth. Keywords: Torah podcast, weekly parsha, Parshas Ki Tetzay, Jewish learning, Amalek, Reb Chaim Shmulevitz, mussar, spiritual growth

211

Most or All: Choose Your Reality - Ki Savo - Ep. 400

Sep 11, 2025

10:37

Ever wonder why the Torah needs to command happiness during the joyful mitzvah of Bikurim? Why does the pasuk emphasize rejoicing "with all the good" when bringing first fruits to Jerusalem? This week's Parshas Ki Savo episode uncovers a profound connection between the Bikurim celebration and the harsh tochacha warnings later in the parsha. Through the dialogue between Yaakov and Esav, and insights from Chazal about what triggers divine punishment, we explore a fundamental principle that determines true wealth versus spiritual poverty. Discover how a little girl's simple statement in an American store and one man's resilience through life's challenges illuminate an ancient Torah secret about perspective and gratitude. This teaching transforms how we view our daily blessings and prepares us for the approaching Yamim Noraim with a mindset shift that can revolutionize your spiritual life. Keywords: Torah podcast, weekly parsha, Parshas Ki Savo, Jewish learning, Bikurim, gratitude, Yamim Noraim, perspective, contentment

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Choose Don't Cruise - Parshas Nitzavim - Ep. 401

Sep 18, 2025

10:23

Why does Hashem need to explicitly tell us to choose life over death and good over evil in Parshas Nitzavim? Isn't the right choice obvious? And why does the Midrash describe this divine instruction as 'lifnim mishuras hadin' - beyond the call of duty? This week's Torah podcast explores a profound distinction between 'keeping' mitzvos versus simply 'doing' them, based on insights from the son of Rav Zonnenfeld. Through analysis of the word 'lishmor' and its connection to Yaakov's response to Yosef's dream, we discover a fundamental principle about spiritual engagement that transforms how we approach our relationship with Hashem. Perfect timing for Rosh Hashanah preparation, this episode reveals how the concept of 'ba'asher hu sham' - being judged by what's truly in our hearts - connects to the mitzvah of teshuvah and our personal spiritual growth. Join us for insights that will reshape your understanding of conscious spiritual living and authentic Jewish practice. Keywords: Torah podcast, weekly parsha, Parshas Nitzavim, Jewish learning, Rosh Hashanah preparation, teshuvah, spiritual growth

213

Elite Teshuvah vs Basic Repair - Yom Kippur - Ep. 402

Sep 29, 2025

13:28

As Yom Kippur approaches, three fundamental questions challenge our understanding of teshuvah: Why does Shemoneh Esrei sequence wisdom, then teshuvah, then forgiveness - shouldn't forgiveness come first? How can Chazal declare teshuvah the "epitome of wisdom" when avoiding sin entirely seems wiser? And how could the Midrash claim Reuven was the first to do teshuvah when Adam HaRishon and Kayin preceded him? Through insights from Rabbeinu Yonah's Shaarei Teshuvah and a profound story about Rav Saadia Gaon, this episode unveils a revolutionary understanding that transforms teshuvah from crisis management into conscious spiritual elevation. Discover why the difference between "diet" and "lifestyle" holds the key to authentic spiritual growth, and learn from a soldier's miraculous discovery in Gush Katif about the power of continuous spiritual commitment. This Yom Kippur preparation will fundamentally reshape how you approach not just the Day of Atonement, but every day of spiritual opportunity. Keywords: Torah podcast, Yom Kippur, teshuvah, Jewish learning, spiritual growth, Shemoneh Esrei, Rabbeinu Yonah

214

Finishing Strong, Starting Fresh - Sukkos - Ep. 403

Oct 4, 2025

12:08

Why does Sukkos alone carry the title "Yom Simchateinu" when we're commanded to rejoice on all the festivals? What distinguishes Sukkos from Pesach, Shavuot, and even from Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur? In this eye-opening Sukkos episode, explore Rav Yitzchak Hutner's framework for understanding the unique simcha of Sukkos. Discover the Midrash's powerful explanation of why we wave the lulav triumphantly - like leaving a court case victorious - and what this reveals about our relationship with Hashem after the Yamim Noraim. Through Rabbi Yisrael of Ruzhin's moving parable about an expensive watch that gets bent but not broken, understand the profound message about the neshama and spiritual repair. Learn why the Ramban connects completion with goodness, and why Sukkos specifically brings double korbanot. This shiur reveals practical insights about never giving up hope and recognizing that what seems damaged can always be straightened. Perfect for anyone seeking deeper understanding of Sukkos, the festivals, and the power of spiritual restoration. Keywords: Torah podcast, Sukkos, Yom Simchateinu, Jewish learning, Yamim Tovim, Shalosh Regalim, arba minim, lulav, Rav Hutner, teshuvah, Yamim Noraim, Simchat Torah

215

Tuesday's Double Blessing Revealed - 404 - Parshas Bereishis

Oct 16, 2025

8:42

In this week's Torah podcast on Parashas Bereishis, we examine a striking anomaly in the creation narrative: Monday is the only day without "Ki Tov"—it was good—while Tuesday uniquely receives it twice. Why would Hashem design creation this way? Rashi and the Midrash Rabbah explain that the separation of water and land wasn't completed until Tuesday, which is why Monday lacks the declaration of good. But this raises a deeper question: why would Hashem orchestrate such deliberate incompleteness at the foundation of creation? Through the parable of a king's hidden treasure and two sons—one who dismisses an imperfection in the palace wall, another who investigates—we discover that apparent flaws in creation contain intentional wisdom. The Shemen HaTov reveals a transformative principle embedded in this asymmetry: sometimes we cannot see the good in present moments, but delayed blessings often arrive doubled. A real story about a Canadian yeshiva student's disappointing rejection illustrates this timeless teaching. The Chasam Sofer's insight about viewing life backward completes this powerful lesson about divine providence and patient trust. Keywords: Torah podcast, weekly parsha, Parashas Bereishis, creation story, Ki Tov, second day, Rashi, Midrash Rabbah, Shemen HaTov, Chasam Sofer, divine timing, Jewish learning, water and land separation

216

Are You Believing in Half of Hashem - Parshas Noach - Ep. 405

Oct 23, 2025

13:09

Parshas Noach Torah portion explores faith and fear in Jewish spirituality through a profound question: How could Noah be called perfectly righteous yet criticized for weak faith? This Torah podcast examines Rashi's commentary on Noah's emunah (faith) and reveals Rabbi Shimshon Pincus's transformative teaching about balancing G-d's mercy with Divine justice. Discover how the idea of fear of G-d as the catalyst for spiritual growth and action, not passivity. Through a powerful story from the Shelah HaKadosh about Tehillim and communal protection, learn why letting fear inspire prayer, repentance, and good deeds is essential for Torah living. This Jewish podcast offers practical wisdom for Orthodox Jews and Torah students seeking to deepen their relationship with Hashem through complete faith - emunah that includes both trust in G-d's kindness and respect for His justice. Perfect for those exploring Jewish values, spiritual development, and meaningful Torah lessons for daily life.

217

Spiritual Upgrade Without Downgrading Others - Lech Lecha - Ep. 406

Oct 30, 2025

9:19

Why did Avraham accept extravagant gifts from Pharaoh but adamantly refuse even the smallest present from the King of Sodom? This week's Parshas Lech Lecha episode explores a striking contradiction that reveals a fundamental principle about spiritual growth: you can't become more spiritual at someone else's expense. Through a remarkable Midrash about Avraham's debts and a powerful story about the Skoliner Rebbe's last three matzos before Pesach, Reb Asaf Aharon Prisman uncovers an often-overlooked prerequisite for authentic spiritual development. The episode examines how our pursuit of personal stringencies and higher madreigos can sometimes blind us to our obligations to others—and why true tzidkus requires extraordinary sensitivity to how our choices affect those around us. You'll discover the difference between genuine avodas Hashem and spiritual selfishness, learn how to identify when your personal growth might be creating problems for others, and understand why sensitivity to others isn't just a nice middah but the essential foundation for all ruchniyus advancement. Whether you're navigating personal chumros, considering life-altering spiritual decisions, or simply trying to grow in your Yiddishkeit, this episode offers crucial Torah wisdom for authentic spiritual living. Prism of Torah brings deep Torah analysis with practical application, making complex concepts accessible for everyday Jewish life. Hosted by Reb Asaf Aharon Prisman.

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Your Shield for Ayin Harah -Parshas Vayera - Ep. 407

Nov 6, 2025

11:15

In this week's Parshas Vayera episode, Reb Asaf Aharon Prisman shares a revolutionary insight from Rav Yitzchak Svei that transforms how we understand both Sarah's test and the spiritual mechanics of Ayin Hara (the evil eye). The key detail everyone misses: Ishmael was hiding in the background, listening to the angel's promise. Discover why Sarah's "laugh" was actually strategic deception, how Ayin Hara really works (it triggers divine judgment by making Hashem ask "Does this person deserve what they have?"), and the one phrase that creates an impenetrable shield: acknowledging that everything we have is undeserved chesed from Hashem. This isn't about superstition—it's about understanding the spiritual cause-and-effect that governs blessing and protection. Learn how humility becomes armor, why feeling deserving is spiritually dangerous, and how the Arizal's teachings on Ayin Hara reveal a life-changing approach to gratitude. Prism of Torah brings deep yeshiva-style Torah learning with practical application for modern Jewish life. Each week, Rabbi Asaf explores the weekly parsha through unconventional questions that reveal transformative insights.

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Are You Spiritual or Just Pumped? - Episode 408 • Parshas Chayei Sarah

Nov 13, 2025

8:39

Explore Parshas Chayei Sarah and discover profound Torah wisdom about spiritual growth and character development through Abraham's life. This weekly Torah portion reveals surprising insights about faith and daily Torah practice that transform how we understand Jewish living. Why does Rabbeinu Yonah teach that Abraham's purchase of the Cave of Machpelah was his greatest test—even more challenging than the Akeidah? How can an ordinary real estate transaction reveal more about spiritual greatness than ultimate sacrifice? This Torah podcast examines questions that challenge conventional understanding of Jewish faith and personal growth. Drawing on Torah commentary from Rabbi Frand and Rav Dessler, alongside powerful stories from the Gemara about Rabbi Chanina ben Tardyon, this episode explores how ordinary moments reveal authentic character more accurately than dramatic spiritual peaks. Learn Torah insights about the difference between adrenaline-fueled tests and unwatched daily choices that define who we truly are. Perfect for Orthodox Jews, Torah learners, and anyone seeking practical Judaism and spiritual development. This Jewish podcast offers Torah teachings that speak to modern Orthodox families and Torah students looking to deepen their understanding of biblical insights and Jewish wisdom. Discover how daily Torah practice and small, unnoticed actions reveal genuine spiritual growth more powerfully than any public performance. Weekly Torah podcast series bringing ancient Jewish teachings into practical daily living.

220

Transform Your Downtime Into Your Lifeline- Parshas Toldos - Ep. 409

Nov 20, 2025

9:19

Explore Parshas Toldos weekly Torah portion through Rav Pinkus's profound insights on character development, personal growth, and spiritual transformation for Torah learners. Why does the Torah define Esav by idleness rather than his eventual wickedness? Rav Pinkus in the Tiferes Shimshon reveals a startling answer: your deepest character isn't formed during mandatory obligations—it's forged in your free time. What you do with those unguarded 10 minutes between obligations isn't merely revealing who you are; it's actually creating who you're becoming. The episode contrasts Esav (ish sadeh—a man of the field, wasting time) with Yaakov (yoshev ohalim—dwelling in tents of learning). Through Torah commentary from multiple sources, including insights from Rav Kamenetsky, this shiur explores how two yeshiva students with identical abilities and identical sedarim developed completely different spiritual trajectories. The difference? Those 10-minute gaps between classes—where one pursued kedusha while the other chose idleness. Perfect for Orthodox Jews, Torah learners, and anyone balancing professional life with spiritual aspirations, this weekly Torah podcast offers practical wisdom for daily living. Your free time isn't insignificant—it's foundational. These episodes reveal how understanding your choices in unguarded moments transforms your entire trajectory, showing why what you do when no one's watching is what ultimately defines your destiny.

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The Mission You Didn't Know You Had - Parshas Vayetzei - Ep. 410

Nov 27, 2025

13:16

Explore Parshas Vayetze weekly Torah portion through profound insights from Rashi, Midrash, and the Drush Dovid on spiritual purpose, personal mission, and Torah wisdom for modern Orthodox Jews and Torah learners. Why does the Torah emphasize that Yaakov left Be'er Sheva when his destination already tells us this? Why is Yaakov's departure treated differently than Avraham's or Yitzchak's? These questions from classical Jewish commentators reveal something essential about discovering your life's purpose through Torah study and biblical teachings. Drawing from the Kli Yakar, Rav Yaakov Kamenetsky, and Midrash Rabbah, this Torah podcast episode explores the deeper meaning behind Yaakov's name change to Yisrael and what it teaches about spiritual growth, character development (middos), and living with intention. The shiur connects ancient rabbinic wisdom to a powerful modern story that brings these Torah insights to life. Perfect for Orthodox Jews, Torah students, and anyone seeking Jewish wisdom for daily living. This weekly parsha podcast offers practical Torah inspiration, Jewish philosophy, and spiritual development rooted in classical sources. Ideal for Jewish education, personal growth, and deepening your Torah study practice.

222

Are You Limping Through Life? Parshas Vayishlach - Ep. 411

Dec 4, 2025

9:42

Explore Parshat Vayishlach's powerful Torah insights on connecting body and soul, physicality and spirituality, through this week's deep dive into Yaakov's mysterious nighttime battle. Why did Esav's angel specifically attack Yaakov's thigh? This weekly Torah portion episode examines what the Zohar and Midrash reveal about the human body as a spiritual map—with the sciatic nerve (Gid Anasheh) serving as a powerful symbol of the bridge between material and spiritual realms. Drawing from classical Jewish sources including the Zohar, Midrash Rabbah, and Mesilas Yesharim, this Torah study session explores how Jews throughout history have elevated physical experiences—wine at Kiddush, Shabbat observance, daily work—into spiritual practices. A compelling story about a diamond dealer's Friday afternoon decision illustrates how this ancient wisdom creates real transformation. Perfect for Torah learners seeking practical Jewish spirituality, spiritual growth insights, and deeper understanding of parshat hashavua. Discover how the battle between Yaakov and Esav continues in your daily choices between disconnection and elevation.

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Don't Enter the Ring! - Ep. 412 • Parshas Vayeshev

Dec 11, 2025

11:21

Explore Parshas Vayeshev weekly Torah portion through Reb Chaim Shmulevitz's powerful insights on spiritual tests, temptation, and the surprising wisdom of knowing when to run. This episode examines Yosef's encounter with Potiphar's wife and why his escape earned the miraculous reward of splitting the Red Sea. Why does Jewish wisdom suggest fleeing a challenge rather than fighting it? Drawing from Bereishis Rabbah, Midrash, the Ramban, and Talmudic teachings, discover how the yetzer hara (evil inclination) actually operates - and why avoidance requires more strength than resistance. Practical Torah wisdom connects ancient biblical stories to modern life decisions. Perfect for Orthodox Jews, Torah learners, and anyone seeking Jewish spirituality and personal growth. This dvar Torah offers actionable insights on temptation, self-control, and spiritual development from classical Jewish sources. Weekly parsha podcast exploring faith, character development (middos), and Torah living.

224

When Flaws Fuel Transformation - Chanukah

Dec 15, 2025

8:41

Discover why Chanukah celebrates spiritual growth while Purim focuses on physical feasting—and what this reveals about the deepest battle in Jewish philosophy. This Torah teaching explores the Taz's famous question and uncovers a profound Midrash where Rabbi Akiva stuns a Roman with a counterintuitive answer about human creation. Why did the Greeks specifically target Shabbat (Sabbath), Rosh Chodesh (the new moon), and Bris Milah (circumcision)? These weren't random decrees. Each mitzvah represents a core Jewish truth that threatened Greek philosophy's worship of natural perfection. The Midrash Tanchuma reveals that Hashem intentionally created the world incomplete—giving us the opportunity to become partners in perfection. This episode draws from classical Torah commentary to show how the Greek-Jewish clash continues today: the belief that we're born "good enough" versus the Torah teaching that life is continuous spiritual development and character refinement (middos). Learn how this ancient wisdom transforms your understanding of self-improvement, teshuvah (repentance), and what it truly means to emulate God. Perfect for Torah students, those exploring Jewish spirituality, and anyone seeking deeper meaning in Chanukah beyond dreidels and latkes. A Prism of Torah exploration of Jewish philosophy and personal transformation.

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Story: Lose the Race, Win Your Life -Chanukah

Dec 15, 2025

3:16

A true Jewish story of faith, sacrifice, and miraculous survival. In 1967, Olympic cyclist Sam Zeitlin was robbed of victory by antisemitism in America. What happened next transformed his life—and ultimately saved it. This inspiring Torah teaching follows Sam's journey from defeat to Israel, where brutal 5 a.m. training on Jerusalem's hills prepared him for the 1972 Olympics. But when he discovered the beauty of Shabbat (Sabbath) through a rabbi's invitation, everything changed. Faced with an impossible choice—compete on Shabbat or forfeit his Olympic dream—Sam chose spiritual commitment over worldly glory. His decision to withdraw caused the entire Israeli cycling team to pull out of the Munich Olympics. Days later, terrorists murdered eleven Israeli athletes. Shabbat observance had saved his life. This episode explores emunah (faith in God) and bitachon (trust) through one man's remarkable story. Discover how conscious spiritual choice over natural desire can transform apparent defeat into eternal victory. Learn what it means to sacrifice for Torah values and how God's protection works in ways we cannot predict. For anyone seeking Jewish inspiration, spiritual growth, and true stories of faith. A powerful reminder that our greatest tests often become our greatest gifts.

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Why Does Doing Good Feel So Bad - Miketz Ep. 415

Dec 18, 2025

12:44

Discover the profound Torah wisdom behind why spiritual growth often leads to harder times, not easier ones. In Parshas Miketz, Yosef's brothers take their first steps toward Teshuvah (repentance)—and immediately face their worst nightmare. What hidden meaning lies behind this seeming contradiction? Through the powerful insights of the Sfas Emes and Rav Gamliel Rabinowitz, this Torah podcast episode reveals how Hakadosh Baruch Hu responds when we genuinely turn toward Him. Learn why the verse "Your rod and staff comfort me" transforms our understanding of hardship and divine love. This weekly Torah portion exploration connects ancient Jewish wisdom to modern struggles with a compelling story of protection disguised as pain. For those seeking deeper Torah study, Jewish spirituality, and practical spiritual growth, discover how your difficult moments may signal spiritual upgrade rather than divine disappointment. Perfect for Orthodox Jews, Torah students, and anyone exploring Jewish philosophy and personal transformation through authentic Torah teachings.

227

Are You Living Up Life - Parshas Vayigash - Ep. 416

Dec 25, 2025

9:55

Why did Yaakov's heart go numb when he heard Yosef was alive? And why did seeing some wagons revive his spirit—more than learning his son ruled all of Egypt? In Parshas Vayigash, discover the hidden meaning behind Yaakov's strange reaction and what it reveals about what truly constitutes "life." Through the Ramchal's profound teaching and an unforgettable story from the Chafetz Chaim, uncover why your smallest spiritual acts in today's challenging world may carry more weight than you ever imagined. This episode will transform how you measure success—and survival.

228

When Flaws Become Features - Ep. 417- Vayechi

Jan 1, 2026

14:41

Discover why the Torah's most controversial appointment reveals the secret to transforming your greatest weaknesses into powerful strengths. In Parshas Vayechi, Yaakov Avinu makes a shocking choice: he appoints Shimon—the same son he condemned for violence and anger—to teach the next generation of Jewish children. How could a warrior become a teacher? This episode explores a profound principle from Rav Yaakov Kamenetzky and Rav Yitzchak Zilberstein: the character traits we try to eliminate are often the exact strengths we need, just waiting for the right context. Through Torah commentary on middos (character development) and surprising Talmudic insights, learn why passion, intensity, and even stubbornness can transform from destructive forces into life-changing gifts. Featuring two unforgettable stories—a basketball player who found his purpose, and a Hatzalah member whose "flaw" of never giving up saved the life of his former teacher—this episode offers practical Jewish wisdom for personal growth and spiritual development. Perfect for anyone struggling with traits they wish they could change. For Torah students, parents, educators, and anyone seeking deeper understanding of how emunah (faith) and self-acceptance intersect with genuine character transformation. Weekly Torah portion insights you won't find anywhere else.

229

Small Choices, Massive Consequences - Parshas Vayikra

Apr 7, 2025

8:07

Discover why the Torah's unusual word choice in Parshas Vayikra reveals that your smallest action carries the same cosmic weight as Adam's original sin. This Torah portion study explores profound teachings from the Zohar, Midrash Rabbah, and Nefesh HaChaim about how every mitzvah and every aveirah creates ripple effects through generations and spiritual worlds you cannot see. Why does the Torah call a person bringing a korban "Adam" instead of "Ish"? What happens when neshamos confront Adam HaRishon after death? Through deep Torah commentary and an incredible true story about how one Jew's act of chesed (kindness) during the Russian Revolution ultimately saved 18 yeshiva students—including the Steipler Gaon—this episode transforms how you understand spiritual cause and effect. For Torah students and anyone seeking Jewish wisdom about teshuvah (repentance), personal growth, and the hidden impact of daily choices. Explore how Jewish philosophy views the weight of human action and discover why your good deeds ripple outward with even greater force than your sins. Weekly Torah podcast | Parshas Vayikra | Jewish spirituality and spiritual development

230

Why Thanks Needs an Audience - Nasso

Jun 10, 2025

7:29

Discover why the Torah's Thanksgiving offering seems designed to fail—and what this reveals about transforming private miracles into public inspiration. In this week's Torah portion, Parshat Tzav, explore the Korban Todah's seemingly impossible demands: 40 loaves of bread and an entire offering consumed in just one day. Through the profound insights of Rav Shimshon Pincus, uncover how these "restrictions" were actually divine features ensuring gratitude never stays private. This episode examines how Jewish spirituality transforms personal salvation into communal awakening. When we share our stories of recovery, rescue, and divine providence, we don't just thank Hashem—we awaken recognition of His kindness in everyone who listens. The Talmud identifies four categories requiring this thanksgiving offering, each representing moments of clear divine intervention. Through Torah commentary and a powerful story of a premature baby whose family returned annually to thank hospital staff for 13 years, discover how expressed gratitude creates ripple effects far beyond the individual. Learn how what seems routine might actually be blessing in disguise—and how sharing that recognition multiplies emunah (faith) throughout your community. Perfect for those seeking deeper Torah wisdom, spiritual growth, and practical insights for Jewish living. This weekly Torah podcast explores how ancient teachings transform modern perspectives on gratitude, chesed (kindness), and recognizing Hashem's hand in daily life.

231

The Spiritual Reset Button — Parshas Metzora

May 5, 2025

9:53

Discover why the Torah chose water—and only water—as the agent of spiritual purification. This Parshas Metzorah exploration reveals the profound connection between mikveh immersion and the very beginning of creation, when water covered everything. What does returning to that pre-creation state mean for your ability to completely reset? Drawing on the Sefer HaChinuch and Targum Onkelos, this Torah podcast episode unpacks why all tumah (spiritual impurity) stems from life departing a physical body—and why the metzorah, who misused the gift of speech, is considered spiritually "like the dead." The mikveh represents far more than symbolic cleanliness: it's a return to the original waters, a complete spiritual rebirth. The Mishnah in Yoma compares Hashem Himself to a mikveh—just as water purifies, so does HaKadosh Baruch Hu purify through teshuvah (repentance). This theme of renewal runs throughout Jewish life: the lunar calendar, Rosh Hashanah, monthly opportunities to recalibrate. Through a powerful story of a young man's darkest night becoming his turning point, discover why your lowest moment might actually be Hashem catching you mid-fall. For anyone seeking deeper Torah wisdom on spiritual growth, teshuvah, and the Jewish understanding of renewal and rebirth. Weekly Torah portion insights for spiritual development and personal transformation.

232

Identity Test - Parshas Bechukosai

May 27, 2025

8:39

Discover what the Torah's unusual phrase "walk in my statutes" reveals about authentic spiritual growth in Parshas Bechukosai. This week's Torah portion challenges a hidden assumption: that your observance in the beis medrash reflects your true level. What if the real test happens somewhere else entirely? Through classic Torah commentary from Rashi and the Sforno, explore why the Torah chose "walking" instead of simply "keeping" commandments. Uncover the profound insight from Rabbi Nachum Ze'ev Ziv that transforms how we understand spiritual development and personal growth. This episode examines powerful examples of faith tested in hostile environments—from Yaakov maintaining mitzvos in Lavan's house to Yosef's righteousness in Egypt—and shares a remarkable story from the Mir Yeshiva that crystallizes the entire teaching. Learn how Jewish wisdom defines authentic avodas Hashem (service of God) versus mere performance. For Torah students seeking deeper meaning, Jews navigating secular workplaces, and anyone questioning whether their spiritual life is genuine, this parsha insight offers practical guidance for carrying kedusha (holiness) beyond comfortable environments. Weekly Torah podcast exploring Jewish spirituality, Torah study, and personal transformation through the lens of the parsha.

233

When Stepping Up Keeps You Grounded • 418 • Parshas Shemos

Jan 8, 2026

11:00

Discover why the burning bush—a fire that doesn't consume—holds the secret to leading without losing yourself. In this exploration of Parshat Shemot (Exodus), we uncover the hidden symbolism behind Hashem's appearance to Moshe and what it reveals about the tension between humility (anava) and stepping into positions of responsibility. Why was Moshe so reluctant to lead the Jewish people? The Torah's greatest prophet feared that leadership would corrupt his spiritual standing. Through insights from Reb Chaim Vital and a powerful story from the Belzer Rebbe, this episode reveals how motivation transforms everything—when action flows from divine purpose rather than ego, humility remains protected. This Torah teaching explores the concept of "healthy pride"—the 1/64th of gaiva that even Moshe possessed. Learn why false modesty can actually be a spiritual obstacle, and how knowing you're doing Ratzon Hashem (God's will) creates an entirely different relationship with positions of honor and responsibility. Perfect for Torah students seeking deeper understanding of Jewish leadership, spiritual growth, and the psychology of humility. Whether you're facing a calling you feel unqualified for or wondering how successful people stay grounded, this weekly Torah portion study offers practical wisdom for navigating ambition and anava.

234

When Pain Stops Hurting — Parshas Va'era - Ep 419

Jan 15, 2026

10:32

Why does the Torah use the word "under" the burdens of Egypt—what does that even mean? Dive into Parshas Va'era and discover the Chidushei HaRim's profound insight into a spiritual danger we all face and hence need to be aware of and to do our utmost to be aware and to prepare in the same way for IY"H the final redemption that is on the doorstep. Through a striking story and surprising Torah sources, uncover what chesed Hashem did for us as a prerequisite for the redemption. This episode might wake you up to something you didn't know you were sleeping through.

235

Shavuos - Human Sacrifice

Jul 1, 2024

18:21

Prepare for Shavuos with a mind-bending exploration of true self-sacrifice in Torah. Rabbi Asaf Prisman delves into the surprising connections between Megillas Rus, the giving of the Torah, and the essence of King David's lineage. Uncover the hidden meanings behind "Na'aseh V'nishma" and why it wasn't enough at Sinai. From the depths of Midrash Tanchuma to the heights of spiritual DNA, this episode challenges us to redefine our commitment to Torah. Are you ready to discover what it truly means to sacrifice for spiritual growth? Join us for a transformative journey that will reshape your understanding of Shavuos and your own potential for greatness.

236

Kedoshim - Relationships With Everyone

Jun 11, 2024

10:55

In this illuminating episode of "The Prism of Torah," Reb Asaf Aaron Prisman unravels the profound significance behind the Omer offering and its connection to our modern-day counting of the Omer. Why is this sacrifice uniquely named after its volume? What's the hidden link between the Omer and the manna in the desert? Discover how this mitzvah serves as a powerful reminder of our true sustenance source, even in a world where we seem to earn our living through our own efforts. Reb Prisman delves into the deeper meaning of these 49 days leading to Shavuot, challenging us to refocus on our spiritual goals amidst life's busy demands. From ancient times to current events, learn how the lessons of the Omer remain strikingly relevant. This episode offers a fresh perspective on balancing material pursuits with spiritual growth, culminating in a call to action that resonates with today's challenges. Tune in for an eye-opening exploration of keeping our eyes on the true prize in life.

237

Is Your Faith Just in Your Head? Parshas Bo - Ep 420

Jan 22, 2026

16:19

Discover why faith in your mind is only the beginning—and what's blocking it from reaching your heart. This week's Torah portion, Parshas Bo, reveals a profound three-level framework for understanding emunah (faith): mind, heart, and reflex. While intellectual belief comes easily—even Esav achieved it—transferring that faith into your emotions and instincts is the real spiritual work of a lifetime. What was Pharaoh actually trying to do to the Jewish people? Drawing on teachings from the Arizal and classical Torah sources, this episode uncovers a surprising connection: Mitzrayim (Egypt) comes from "mitzar"—a narrow passage. Paro relates to "orif"—the back of the neck. The Egyptian exile was designed to block the vital pathway between knowing and feeling. Explore why tefillin serves as the perfect antidote, binding us at both mind and heart. Learn why we place the arm-tefillin first—reminding us the heart is the destination. Through Torah commentary and a remarkable true story about a young man whose reflexes aligned perfectly with Divine will, discover practical wisdom for spiritual growth. For anyone seeking to move beyond intellectual Judaism into lived faith.

238

Are We United or Just Unified • Episode 421 • Parshas Beshalach

Jan 29, 2026

12:37

Why does Rashi describe Egyptian unity as "one heart like one man" but flip the order for Jewish unity at Sinai - "one man with one heart"? This small textual reversal reveals something profound about what makes Jewish connection fundamentally different from any other group. In this week's Parshas Beshalach, we explore a Gemara that uses three dream symbols - a pot, birds, and a river - to illuminate three distinct levels of unity. The Egyptians shared a goal. The Jewish people share a soul. Through a powerful true story of a kiruv trip where a Canadian and a Mexican Jew discovered their grandmothers were neighbors in Lodz, Poland - and a transcendent Shabbos moment singing Ani Maamin with a Chassidishe Rebbe in Meah Shearim - discover why Jewish unity isn't something we create. It's something we remember. Join Rabbi Asaf Aharon Prisman for this week's Torah wisdom on connection, family, and what it really means to be כאיש אחד בלב אחד. Subscribe for weekly Torah inspiration and share with someone who needs to hear this. #Torah #Parsha #Beshalach #JewishPodcast #WeeklyInspiration #JewishUnity #Achdus

239

The Secret to Being Heard • Yisro • Ep. 422

Feb 5, 2026

10:26

Discover why Moshe Rabbeinu listened to one man's criticism when thousands witnessed the same flawed system in silence. Parshas Yitro reveals the Torah's hidden framework for criticism that actually creates change—and the two tests that separate complainers from truth seekers. This Torah podcast episode explores profound insights from Rav Yeruchem's Da'as Torah and the Vilna Gaon on what makes feedback worth hearing. What credentials does authentic criticism require? Through the lens of this week's Torah portion, uncover why Yitro merited an entire parsha—connected to Mattan Torah itself—bearing his name. The episode culminates in a stunning story of Rav Israel Salanter, who chose public embarrassment over teaching a "beautiful" answer that wasn't emes (truth). His principle—"You can't build truth on a lie"—transforms how we understand spiritual growth, self-improvement, and mussar. For those seeking deeper Torah wisdom, Jewish spirituality, and practical character development (middos), this exploration offers actionable guidance: the questions to ask yourself before you ever criticize another person. Weekly Torah learning that challenges how you give feedback—and whether you've earned the right to be heard.

240

Mishpatim: The Hidden Danger In "Common Sense"

Feb 11, 2026

11:54

Discover how Parshat Mishpatim reveals a hidden danger in the laws that seem to "make sense" — and why treating civil laws as mere common sense undermines the Torah's divine blueprint. This week's Torah portion challenges a blind spot that affects even the most committed Jews: prioritizing one half of the luchot (tablets) over the other. Through Rav Yitzchak Huttner's profound insight on the covenant blood divided by an angel, the Sfas Emes on why rational-seeming laws are a divine gift, and the Bartenura's surprising explanation of Pirkei Avot, this episode unpacks why the Torah insists that ethical laws and ritual laws carry identical weight from Sinai. For Torah students, spiritual seekers, and anyone navigating the balance between being a good person and a committed Jew — this Torah podcast episode offers eye-opening Jewish wisdom on faith (emunah), character development (middot), and practical spiritual growth. Featuring an unforgettable true story about a $10,000 decision that transformed two lives. Weekly Torah commentary exploring Jewish spirituality, Torah teachings, and biblical insights for the modern Jewish community.

241

Terumah • The Secret That Turns Burden Into Privilege • Episode 424

Feb 17, 2026

10:52

Parshas Terumah Ever feel like doing the right thing is just... exhausting? Like life is one obligation after another? What if the weight you're feeling isn't because the load is too heavy — but because you forgot what's inside? This episode tells the story of two suitcases, two altars, and one idea that could completely change how you experience every single day. This might be the most important reframe you hear all year.

242

Tetzaveh • From a Two-Bedroom in LA to a Millionaire With Chutzpa • Ep. 425

Feb 26, 2026

9:01

What if your most criticized trait is actually your greatest asset? Many of us carry that inner fire — the boldness others call "too much." But what if the problem was never the fire itself, only where you aimed it? This week, we uncover how the same fierce drive that can destroy a life can also build an empire and a legacy. Plus, a gripping true story that brings the whole idea to life.

243

Purim • The Day Haman's Sword Became Ours • Ep. 426

Mar 1, 2026

10:13

What if everything working against you was actually working for you and you just couldn't see it yet? We recorded this episode a few years ago. We had no idea we'd be re-releasing it on a Purim like this one. Rabbi Prisman unpacks one of the most profound ideas in all of Jewish thought: that there is only one Force in the universe, and even what looks like evil is part of it. Packed with stories, Torah sources, and a radically different way to see your life. This one will stay with you.

244

Ki Sisa • The Rebbe Turned Four Wasted Years Into a Reward • Ep. 427

Mar 4, 2026

8:45

What if the years you spent searching in the wrong places weren't wasted at all? This week, we unpack a powerful ancient teaching: why things that come easily disappear just as fast, and why your hardest struggles might be the very thing that makes your breakthrough real. Includes a great story that includes an encounter between a lost seeker and one of the greatest Jewish leaders of the 20th century. This one hits different.

245

The One Test That Reveals Your True Motivation - Ep. 428 • Vayakhel-Pekudei

Mar 11, 2026

11:52

What if the greatest test of your character isn't the hard work, but whether you'll share the credit? This week's Parsha reveals why Hashem gave Betzalel a partner he didn't need to build the holiest structure in history. The answer exposes something most of us don't want to face about our own motivations. This episode includes a great story about a summer camp that changed a girl's entire future.

246

The Nest That Made You • Episode 429 • Parshas Vayikra

Mar 18, 2026

12:13

Have you ever forgotten the people who helped make you who you are? What happens when we lose touch with our roots? In this episode, we uncover a surprising connection hidden in one of the Torah’s perhaps overlooked details: why a poor person brings a specific species of bird as his offering. The answer reveals something profound about loyalty, gratitude, and what it truly means to return to your roots. And then, a story that will stop you in your tracks. One blanket. One freezing night. And a decision that changed the course of Jewish history.

247

The Miracle You Just Walk Past in Life • Ep. 430 • Parshas Tzav

Mar 25, 2026

11:58

A missile lands between four buildings in Arad. A massive crater. Four buildings still standing. And somehow... we call it "the situation." What happens to us when the miraculous becomes routine? When thousands of rockets, an Iron Dome performing beyond all expectations, and rain falling from the sky all start feeling... normal? This week Rabbi Asaf Aharon Prisman explores a profound idea hidden in Parshas Tzav: that we are not missing small miracles. We are walking past enormous ones every single day, simply because we have gotten used to them. From a Thanksgiving offering in the Beis HaMikdash, to Leah naming her son Yehuda, to a man dying of cancer who saw more to be grateful for than most healthy people ever will, this episode may permanently change the way you look at an ordinary day.

248

His Hands Printed Nazi Flags. Then He Walked Into a Yeshiva • Ep. 431 •Pesach

Mar 30, 2026

10:32

Why does halacha insist that matzah must come specifically from grains that could become chometz? Grains that can never rise at all are completely invalid. On the very Yom Tov where we are most strict about chometz, the Torah demands we use something that could become it. The answer changes how you think about your greatest weakness. Featuring a stunning true story, a funny Egged bus driver parable, and one very practical Pesach challenge.

249

What Are the Days of Sefiras HaOmer Most Mesugal For? - Ep. 432 • Parshas Tazria-Metzora

Apr 15, 2026

16:36

What if the days you are rushing through are actually the most valuable ones you have? Join Rabbi Prisman as he explores why Hashem shows us the peak before the climb, through a vivid parable about a child learning to ride a bike, and a story about a driver with a destination that changed everything. Practical, eye-opening, and most importantly, will ensure you maximize these days of Sefiras Haomer for the same purpose they were designed by the creator.

250

They Fell Because of Their Greatness, Not Despite It • Episode 433 • Parshas Acharei-Kedoshim

Apr 23, 2026

12:56

Why do the most committed people struggle hardest in their strongest areas? And what does a crumbling Amazon business have to do with one of the greatest puzzles of the Jewish calendar? Rabbi Akiva's defining teaching was V'ahavta l'reacha kamocha, love your fellow Jew as yourself. So how is it possible that his 24,000 elite talmidim tragically died for the exact opposite reason: failing to treat each other with proper honor? In this week's double Parsha episode (Achrei Mos-Kedoshim), we uncover the answer hidden in Maseches Sukkah and Rav Dessler's Michtav Me'Eliyahu. We explore Nekudas Habechira (the point of free will) and a paradigm-shifting truth: struggling with your Yetzer Hara doesn't mean you're failing, it means you've leveled up. Just like a champion boxer needs a heavyweight opponent, Hashem ensures that as you grow spiritually, your tests grow with you. In this episode: The paradox of Rabbi Akiva's 24,000 students and why their greatness was the cause of their downfall The Gemara's description of the Yetzer Hara: a thin strand of hair, or a towering mountain? A powerful modern-day story of an Amazon seller whose ultimate test of Bitachon will reframe how you handle the financial and spiritual slumps in your own life Tune in to discover why the battles you're facing today are the greatest proof of the spiritual heights you've already reached.

251

Ambassadors Without a Microphone • Episode 434 • Parshas Emor

Apr 30, 2026

13:33

What if your biggest influence is happening when you are not trying to influence anyone? What if your children, your family, even strangers are absorbing far more than your words? In Parshas Emor, Rabbi Prisman uncovers a practical and profound lesson from the Kohanim, society’s pull, and a powerful Kotel story that reached all the way to Dallas. This episode is packed with parables and stories for our own lives today.

252

The Places You Fell Are the Places You're Built - Parshas Maasei

Jul 24, 2025

7:43

Why does the Torah spend an entire chapter listing 42 obscure campsites in the desert — including the places where Bnei Yisrael sinned? Rabbi Prisman reveals a Midrash that transforms how we understand failure, memory, and growth. Then he shares the unforgettable true story of a dying atheist professor who walked back into the classroom that made him — and did the one thing that changed everything.

253

Are You Blocking Your Own Blessings? Episode 435 • Parshas Behar-Bechukosai

May 6, 2026

12:50

Do you ever feel like your own anxiety is blocking your success? What if worrying about the future actually cuts off the very abundance you need? This week, we explore a profound insight into the Shmita year and a surprising truth about two very different types of divine blessings. Through the lens of a striking modern-day bakery story, discover how trusting the process can bring transformative peace. Join us for a practical and eye-opening look at unlocking stress-free abundance in our own lives today.

254

Silence Speaks Volumes - Parshas Bamidbar

May 13, 2026

14:10

Description: What happens when you know you're right, but speaking up may cause more damage? What if silence is not weakness, but the most powerful choice available? In this practical and profound episode, Rabbi Prisman explores Gad, Aharon, Shaul HaMelech, the Sdei Chemed, and a moving story of a melamed who lost his job quietly. A meaningful, eye-opening look at silence in our own lives today.

255

The Real Prerequisite for Shavuos - Ep. 436

May 20, 2026

15:11

Are you truly ready to receive the Torah, or are you just waiting for the calendar to change? Why did the Jewish people have to wait months after leaving Egypt before getting the Torah? Rabbi Prisman reveals the hidden prerequisite for spiritual growth: absolute, unwavering trust in Hashem. Through a striking story involving Rav Yosef Shalom Elyashiv, discover how true emunah can actually change reality—and even halacha. Tune in to learn how to profoundly upgrade your spiritual receptacles just in time for Shavuos.

256

Your Biggest Problem Is You - Parshas Behaaloscha- Ep. 437

May 28, 2026

12:48

Why did the silver trumpets in the Mishkan have to be hammered from a single piece of metal? And what do trumpets used for journeys, war, and Chagim have in common? In Parshas Behaaloscha, Rabbi Prisman uncovers the unifying message of the chatzotzros. Through the story of an elite IDF soldier who never knows where his blacked-out bus will take him - dropped in desert or beach, always on the move - he brings the parsha's "al pi Hashem" to life. Drawing from the Shlah Hakadosh, Rav Hirsch, and the Sefer Hachinuch, he shows that the trumpet is always a wake-up call: in movement, in danger, and in celebration alike. He closes with a story from Rav Elazar Abish about a man whose rebbe mailed back his letter of complaint with every "I" and "me" circled. The message is the same one the trumpet has been sounding all along - are you a Hashem-centric Jew or an egocentric one?

257

This One Decision Changes Everything - Ep. 438 | Parshas Shelach

Jun 4, 2026

13:55

The first spies saw Eretz Yisrael and collapsed into fear, but Yehoshua's spies entered Yericho and came back protected. Why were they sent in the disguise of kli cheres, plain pottery vessels with no real value beyond what they carry? Rabbi Prisman follows the Sfas Emes into a sharp question about mitzvos, motives, and the quiet danger of bringing your own agenda into Hashem's mission. And when a Shayetet 13 candidate stops in the water to put on tefillin, the idea suddenly becomes very real. What protection does a person find when he is willing to become only the vessel?

258

When Equality Becomes Chaos- Parshas Korach - Ep. 439

Jun 11, 2026

13:46

Korach's claim that "everyone is holy" sounds noble, but Rabbi Asaf Aharon Prisman explores why Chazal saw it as spiritually lethal. Drawing from the Tolner Rebbe, he shows how Korach's vision of sameness attacked the very structure of creation itself. This week's Prism of Torah reveals how real unity comes not from erasing differences but from each person fulfilling their precise role, like instruments in a single symphony. Rabbi Prisman closes with a moving true story from the Gaza border about painted bomb shelters - and the power of individuality that saves lives. Listeners walk away seeing Shalom not as sameness, but as perfect harmony in difference.

259

Build Your Best Security Net - Chukas

Jun 18, 2026

14:43

Why does Rashi tell us a completely different reason for Aharon's death — that Bnei Yisrael drew close to Eisav's nation — when the pasuk itself says it was Mei Merivah? Rabbi Prisman opens the Sfas Emes to reveal how divine judgment accounts for every life touched by a person. And there's a bonus: how did Aharon's legendary peacemaking between man and wife actually work — if you knew you were at fault, how could you believe Aharon when he said the other side feels terrible and wants to reconcile? Through the unforgettable story of Mrs. Hershkowitz's "insurance policy," we see why being truly needed by others may be the deepest security a person can build.

260

The Boxer's Father Who Beat Bilaam • Parshas Balak • Ep. 440

Jun 25, 2026

13:07

Why does Hashem first forbid Bilam from going with Balak's messengers, then on the second delegation tell him he may go, and why does the detail that Bilam is now being paid and honored change the answer? Rabbi Asaf Aharon Prisman builds this question on the Gaon of Vilna's precise distinction between 'imam' and 'itam' and on a game-changing concept from Rav Shimon Schwab about the spiritual DNA of the world. This week's Prism of Torah reveals that an act done with whole and pure intent carries enormous power, which is exactly why pure intent to curse was too dangerous to permit, while money and honor diluting Bilam's intent made it safe enough to allow. He turns the idea to its bright side with Rav Moshe Feinstein's story of the former boxer's father, who labored more than a year to finish a single daf of Gemara, made his siyum the night Rav Moshe came to speak, and never woke up. Listeners walk away understanding that the same pure fire that made Bilam dangerous becomes, turned toward kedusha, the power to acquire a whole world with a single daf.

261

When Cutting Someone Off Is the Peaceful Thing to Do • Parshas Pinchas • Ep. 441

Jul 2, 2026

14:25

Why does a violent act earn the title “covenant of peace”? And why, in the Sefer Torah, is the very word Shalom in that covenant written with a broken letter — with a gap in the center? Pinchas stopped a plague that had already killed 24,000 people, and Hashem's reward wasn't subtle — it was peace itself. This week we trace that reward back through a strange detail in Maaseh Bereishis, a story about a businessman who refused to take off his kippah before closing a major deal, and a pasuk that tells us which comes first: truth or peace. The answer reframes what “keeping the peace” actually requires.

262

The Reward for Doing Nothing - Parshas Vayilech

Sep 25, 2025

6:22

263

The Thing You're Most Attached To Might Be the Thing You Have to Let Go - Vzos Habracha

Oct 1, 2025

9:46

Why does the Torah end its tribute to the greatest leader who ever lived with an act of destruction? Moshe Rabbeinu spent 40 days and nights without food or water to bring down the Luchos — and the Torah's final word about him is that he smashed them. A few centuries later, a Vilna gaon known for his integrity accidentally ruined an innocent man's name for two years, and when the truth came out, an apology wasn't enough to fix it. Both stories turn on the same quiet, uncomfortable question: what are you holding onto that you know, deep down, isn't right anymore?

264

The Kid With “No Hope” Became This - Parshas Haazinu

Sep 25, 2025

9:54

A boy threw rocks through the window of a bomb shelter where Torah was being learned, and even his father seemed to have no hope for him. Rabbi Yitzhak David Grossman tried yeshiva after yeshiva, watched him fall back again and again, and almost wondered if it was time to stop. But the Steipler's answer, and the boy's future, reveal the hidden message Rav Moshe Feinstein finds in one "extra" Torah detail. The people we give up on may be the very places where one seed still matters.

265

The Sacred Vessel That Made a Promise Come True • Parshas Matos Massei • Ep. 442

Jul 9, 2026

13:31

A chassidish performer made a joking promise to an 18-year-old boy dying of cancer: "Hashem will dance at your wedding." The boy just smiled and said, "maybe in another life." Years later, an invitation arrived from a wedding he didn't recognize — and what happened on that dance floor is why Rabbi Asaf Aharon Prisman says your mouth might be the most powerful thing you own. It all comes back to two words hidden in this week's parsha that most people read straight past.

266

The Grudge That Was Blocking a Marriage • Parshas Dvarim • Ep. 443

Jul 16, 2026

15:34

A family did everything to find their daughter a match — every segulah, every school, every tzedakah — and nothing worked. Then a Rav asked one question that had nothing to do with shidduchim: is theresomeone you're holding a grudge against? What they uncovered, and what happened the very next year in their own backyard, is one of the most quietly stunning stories about what's actually blocking our brachos. This episode is about why sometimes the good isn't missing — it's just waiting for us to clear something out of the way first.

267

Hesibah on Leil Pesach — The Onen, the Table, and Rav Moshe's Heter

Jan 28, 2026

41:42

A shiur for Parshas Beshalach connecting the parsha's "vayaseiv" — Hashem's roundabout route out of Egypt — to the halachos of hesibah, reclining at the Seder. In this episode: - The Rambam's three levels of the hesibah obligation: the kezayis matzah and daled kosos, the extra matzah and wine, and the rest of the meal - Whether an onen (a mourner before burial) is obligated in hesibah, and what counts as reclining for him - Why the Rambam requires a table in front of you, not just a place to lean - Rav Moshe Feinstein's heter for someone uncomfortable reclining nowadays - A haftarah piece on Shiras Devorah: why Devorah told Barak that victory over Sisera would be credited to a woman, and what the Arizal says that teaches about this redemption versus the final one

268

Kiddush on Shabbos — Wine, Davening, and the Rebbi Akiva Eiger Question

Feb 4, 2026

40:51

A shiur for Parshas Yisro on the mitzvah of Kiddush Hayom, connecting "zachor es yom haShabbos" to the halachos of how the mitzvah is actually fulfilled. In this episode: - The machlokes whether Kiddush requires wine (ala kois) — Rashi's view versus the Ramban's, that it can be fulfilled through speech, or even through davening itself - Why the Ramban holds Zachor is one continuous mitzvah running from the start of the week through Shabbos, not a once-a-week obligation - The Rebbi Akiva Eiger question: how can a man who already davened (and is patur from the Torah-level Kiddush) be motzi a woman who hasn't, given areivus - A haftarah piece on Yeshayahu's vision of Hashem "yoshev al kisei ram v'nisa" and what it teaches about Uziyahu's tzaraas

269

Making a Siyum — Vayochlu Vayishtu, Who May Attend, and the Ramban's Chiddush

Feb 11, 2026

39:39

A shiur for Parshas Mishpatim on the halachos of making a siyum, tied to the pasuk "vayochlu vayishtu" at the end of the parsha. In this episode: - The Ramban's chiddush that the source for the simcha of a siyum is "vayochlu vayishtu," specifically kevias Torah rather than completing a mitzvah generally - Which sefarim and mesechtos are substantial enough to warrant a siyum - Whether an aveil may attend a siyum, and whether you may make one erev Shabbos - A haftarah piece on Melachim, Yehoyada HaKohen, and repairing the Beis Hamikdash from communal donations

270

Building a Shul — Kedushas Beis HaMikdash, the Aliyah, and Rav Moshe's Chiddush

Feb 18, 2026

41:10

A shiur for Parshas Trumah on the halachos of building a shul, tied to the mitzvah of "v'asu li mikdash v'shochanti b'socham." In this episode: - Rav Moshe Feinstein's chiddush that every town needs a shul with kedushas beis hamikdash, even after there was a Beis Hamikdash - Whether the space above a shul (an aliyah) carries the same kedusha, and why some batei medrash are built without it - The issur of nitzitzah — taking anything away from a shul without a clear purpose — and whether it applies to a basement shul without kedusha - Whether the ezras nashim carries the same kedusha as the ezras anashim, and what that means for renovations - A haftarah piece on Shlomo Hamelech's relationship with Chiram and the source of his chochmah

271

Parshas Zachor — D'Oraisa, the Minyan, and the Chasam Sofer's Kavanah

Feb 25, 2026

41:18

A shiur for Parshas Tetzaveh, the Shabbos of Parshas Zachor. In this episode: - Whether the mitzvah of zechiras Michiyas Amalek requires hearing it read from a Sefer Torah with a minyan, and the Terumas HaDeshen's proof that it's d'Oraisa - The Chasam Sofer's practice of having people focus specifically on Michiyas Amalek during the brachos and the krias haTorah - The machlokes between the Rambam and the Ramban on what the mitzvah actually requires — remembering, or bringing yourself to feel eivah - Whether it's better to hear Parshas Zachor or Vayavo Amalek read on Purim, and a personal psak on bringing a Sefer Torah to someone housebound

272

Kriyas HaMegillah During a Siren — The Miklat, the Hefsek, and When You Must Start Over

Mar 3, 2026

39:06

A Purim-eve shiur recorded live in Yerushalayim during rocket sirens, working through the halachos of an interrupted megillah reading. In this episode: - Whether stopping to go to a miklat counts as a hefsek, and how long you can wait before having to restart or repeat the brachah - Whether talking to organize people during the siren invalidates the reading, and what kind of speech is permitted - What to do if the tzibbur scatters and can't reconvene — reading alone, reading part b'al peh, and how much needs to come from a kosher text - The zman for krias hamegillah at night, and heters for those on call (soldiers, doctors) who may only be able to read it early

273

The Ramban on Shabbos and the Months — Melechet Havara, Oneg, and Why We Say "Rishon," Not Names

Mar 11, 2026

41:46

A shiur for Parshas Vayakhel-Pekudei and Parshas HaChodesh. In this episode: - The Ramban's difficult mechilta on "lo sevaru eish," and why the possibility that melachos oneg Shabbos might be permitted only makes sense in light of the building of the Mishkan - Why women are chayav in the melachos of Shabbos despite it being a mitzvas asei shehazman grama, and the Ramban's proof from their involvement in building the Mishkan - The two components of Shabbos, kodesh (the issurim) and shabason (the oneg), and the Chasam Sofer's chiddush about someone absorbed in his store all Shabbos being a "mumar l'chlal Shabbos" - The Ramban's explanation for why the Torah calls the months "Rishon, Sheni" rather than using names, and where Nissan, Iyar, and the rest actually come from

274

The Afikoman — Zecher to the Pesach, the Bracha, and the Rambam's Chiddush on Ta'am Bepiv

Mar 25, 2026

47:21

A Shabbos HaGadol shiur for Parshas Tzav on the halachos of Achilas Afikoman. In this episode: - The machlokes Rashi/Rashbam and the Rosh on whether the afikoman is zecher to the matzah eaten together with the Korban Pesach, or zecher to the Korban Pesach itself — and why that changes whether it carries its own brachah - The Rambam's own shitah, and the Maharal's chiddush that every kezayis of matzah eaten all night fulfills the mitzvah, with the afikoman's specific purpose being to leave ta'am matzah in your mouth - Why the Magen Avraham holds you should eat two kezaysim at the afikoman - What to do if you accidentally ate something after the afikoman, and whether you need to eat matzah again

275

Sefiras HaOmer — Days, Weeks, and the Ritva's Chiddush That It's One Mitzvah

Apr 6, 2026

38:07

A Chol HaMoed Pesach shiur on the halachos of Sefiras HaOmer, said the night after the first day of the count. In this episode: - The Ritva's chiddush that counting the days and counting the weeks are really one mitzvah, with the days serving the counting of the weeks toward Shavuos - The Magen Avraham's position that you must understand what you're saying when you count — and why he compares it to Talmud Torah - Whether a katan who becomes bar mitzvah partway through the count can rely on the days he counted before, and what it means to be "masker cheshbono" - What happens if you counted by day instead of by night, or missed a day entirely because of illness or aveilus

276

Minhagei Sefirah — Haircuts, Weddings, and the Missing Shehecheyanu

Apr 15, 2026

40:02

A shiur for Parshas Tazria-Metzora on the minhagei aveilus of Sefirah, timed to Rosh Chodesh Iyar falling on Erev Shabbos that year. In this episode: - Whether you may take a haircut or shave on Erev Shabbos Rosh Chodesh, and Rav Yaakov Kamenetsky's view on pushing off Kavod Shabbos versus Rebbi Yehudah HaChassid's minhag - Who counts as a "baal bris" allowed to take a haircut during Sefirah — the father, sandek, and mohel, and where a chasan or bar mitzvah boy fits in - Why ladies were never noheg the aveilus of Sefirah to begin with, and where the line is drawn for shidduchim and nivul - A machshava piece on why we don't say Shehecheyanu on Sefiras HaOmer, and the Ran's difficult question about it

277

Parshas Devarim | A Pidyon Haben in the Nine Days: Shehecheyanu, Seudah, Bigdei Shabbos & Haircuts

Jul 16, 2026

38:46

This week a father came with a problem: his son's pidyon haben fell on Shabbos, which means the pidyon lands on the Sunday of the week of Tisha B'Av. But Sunday isn't yom lamed alef anymore — it's yom lamed beis, a pidyon haben shelo bizmano. Now the simcha and the mourning of shvua shechal bo have to share a single day, and every detail has to be re-decided. In this episode: Meat and wine at the seuda — for whom, and where do the "friends" end and the minyan metzumtzam begin? Bigdei Shabbos on a weekday of mourning — does the avi haben get what the ba'al bris gets? The haircut question — may he shave or trim the beard, and if so, Friday or Sunday? Why a pidyon haben can be a private "yom tov shelahem" even shelo bizmano — and why the Chasam Sofer says it can't. Sources: OC 551, 559, 568 (with Sha'ar Tziyon), Chasam Sofer OC 158, Sha'arei Teshuvah, Rama, Teshuvah m'Ahava, Noda BiYehuda. Machshavah section: Ramban (Terumah), Medrash Tanchuma (Tzav), Ben Ish Chai.

278

Parshas Devarim | Swimming Friday Before Shabbos, Tisha B'Av on Thursday: Chatzos, Kibbus, Shehecheyanu & Kiddush Levana

Jul 19, 2026

39:46

This year Tisha B'Av is on Thursday, and Friday morning the Rav's own daughter came and asked if she could go swimming. Normally the dinim of shavua shechal bo — no haircuts or shaving, no laundry, no bathing — stretch past the fast into Motzei Tisha B'Av until chatzos of the next day. But this year that next day is the 10th of Av falling on Erev Shabbos, and l'kavod Shabbos there is room to be meikel, so every detail — from when the heter starts to whether it even has to be for Shabbos — has to be re-decided. In this episode: - Kiddush Levana after Tisha B'Av — do you say it still fasting or only after eating, and does it need na'alayim or bigdei Shabbos to be royked? Which dinim of shavua shechal bo carry over into Motzei Tisha B'Av until chatzos — istaper, kibbus, rachitzah, and even sewing and binyan? Since the 10th is Erev Shabbos, when does the l'kavod Shabbos heter begin — miyad at night or only Friday morning — and is kibbus different from istaper and rachitzah? May she actually go swimming Friday morning, even shelo l'kavod Shabbos? Music and shehecheyanu on Motzei Tisha B'Av — permitted or not? Sources: OC 426 (Rama; Mishnah Brurah s"k 11, Pri Megadim), Siddur HaYa'avetz, Zichnecha V'Yomru Lach (Rav Chaim Mintz b'shem Rav Moshe), Teshuvos v'Hanhagos (Rav Moshe Sternbach); OC 558 (Mechaber and Rama; Mishnah Brurah s"k 3, Magen Avraham b'shem Maharshal), Gemara Taanis 29a, Sha'arei Teshuvah, Eli Rabbah, Levush 551, Tosefos, Beis Yosef, takanas Ezra (Bava Kama 82), Shmiras Shabbos K'Hilchasa perek 42 (Rav Shlomo Zalman), Halichos Shlomo, Shmaita d'Moshe / Reshimas Aides (Rav Moshe), Rav Nissan Karelitz, Karlei Moed b'shem Rav Elyashiv; OC 551 se'if 17 (shehecheyanu), Sha'arei Teshuvah, Aish Avraham (Buchach) b'shem Kedushas Levi, Rav Shmuel Kamenetsky. Machshavah section: Gemara Taanis 29a (Rav Yochanan on Yud B'Av), Maharal, Netzach Yisroel perek 8, OC 559 se'if 4 (Tisha B'Av k'moed, "Karah alai moed"), Sfas Emes (agados al haYerushalmi, Taanis perek 4), Gemara Sanhedrin 97a with Rashi (Tanna d'vei Eliyahu).

279

The Man Who Stayed Silent — and Lost the Temple • Tisha B'Av • Ep. 444

Jul 21, 2026

13:30

A man gets blamed by the Gemara for destroying Jerusalem — and he didn't do anything. He wasn't invited to the party. He didn't start the fight. He just stood there and watched someone get humiliated and thrown out, and said nothing. That silence, Rabbi Prisman argues, is the real story of the Churban — not hatred, just people who stopped noticing each other. This Tisha B'Av, that's the connection worth making: not just mourning a building, but closing the gap between not hating someone and actually feeling their pain. Ahead of Tisha B'Av, a hard question worth sitting with: if "I don't hate anyone" is the bar you're clearing, is that actually enough?

280

Parshas Shabbos Nachamu | Brochos on the Road in Bein Hasmanim: Markulis, Mosques, Gedolim, Melech HaMashiach, Tu B'Av

Jul 26, 2026

39:56

Bein Hasmanim is when everyone travels — bochurim are out of yeshiva, families are on trips — and the road is full of things you're supposed to say a brocho on and things you're not. So the Rav goes through siman 224 systematically: markulis and avodah zarah, churches and mosques, and the brochos on seeing people. Along the way two real cases: a teshuva in Ein Yitzchak from Rav Yitzchak Elchanan Spektor about German-Jewish soldiers who davened in a mosque they captured in a war against Turkey, and the machlokes among today's poskim about whether Chacham HaRazim is said at a mass asifa of 600,000 Yidden. It closes with Tu B'Av and why it attaches to Shabbos Nachamu. In this episode: - Is a mosque avodah zarah? Why the Ein Yitzchak paskens it isn't — and what that meant for soldiers davening inside one. - Do you make Chacham HaRazim at an asifa of 600,000 Jews? Why Rav Chaim Kanievsky, Rav Yitzchak Zilberstein and Rav Mordechai Ezrachi held as they did. - Who is a "chochom" for she'chalak m'chachmaso l'yerei'av — and where do chachmei umos ha'olam fit in? - What brochos will we make when Melech HaMashiach comes? Rav Shmuel Hominer's question and Rav Shlomo Zalman Auerbach's answer in Minchas Shlomo. - Why were Tu B'Av and Yom Kippur the greatest yamim tovim — and what does "kalu bo meisei midbar" really mean? Sources: OC 224, Rambam, Rosh, Ein Yitzchak (Rav Yitzchak Elchanan Spektor), Minchas Shlomo (Rav Shlomo Zalman Auerbach / Rav Shmuel Hominer), Rav Chaim Kanievsky, Rav Yitzchak Zilberstein, Rav Mordechai Ezrachi. Machshavah section: Mishnah Taanis (last mishnah), Ramban (Ki Sisa 33:6), Biurim U'Maadim (Rav Yosef Epstein, Yeshivas Karlin), Ritva (Taanis).

281

Who Is Flying Your Plane? • Parshas Eikev • Ep. 445

Jul 30, 2026

10:01

Hashem asks only one thing of you. Then the pasuk lists four more. So which is it? In Parshas Eikev, Rabbi Prisman opens a question that sits in plain sight in Devarim, and finds the same puzzle again in L'Dovid Hashem Ori, where Dovid HaMelech asks for one thing and then names several. The answer reframes what yirah actually is: not dread of punishment, but awe -- the same letters as re'iyah, seeing. And it explains why Chazal read the word Ma as Me'ah and built a hundred brachos a day on top of it. A man once told Rabbi Yaakov Galinsky he was still researching his surgeon. Galinsky asked him about the pilot.

282

Parshas Eikev | The King of England or the President of the United States — Who Gets the Bracha?: Malchei Umos Ha'olam, Shem U'malchus, Kvod Ha'malchus, Mitzvah Lir'os Melachim

Aug 4, 2026

39:45

There was a Jewish physicist, Albert Einstein, who wasn't shomer Torah u'mitzvos at all and at one point was married to a woman who wasn't Jewish. Nobody would make she'chalak me'chochmaso l'yerei'av on him — that bracha belongs to chachmei Yisrael — but what about she'nasan me'chochmaso l'basar vadam, the bracha on chachmei umos ha'olam? Some say no: a Yisrael's ikar chochma is meant to be chochmas haTorah, and if he isn't oisek in it, k'ilu chasro lei, so he isn't counted among chachmei umos ha'olam either; others hold the bracha stands. That machlokes opens shiur Beis on birkas pratis in siman 224, given over Bein Hazmanim, when these are the brachos that actually come up. In this episode: - Do you make a bracha on the King of England or on the President of the United States — and why does R' Moshe Shternbuch lean one way while the maskana brought down in Igros Moshe leans the other? - Why is a Prime Minister — including a Rosh Memshala in Eretz Yisrael — out of the discussion entirely, and what does the Radvaz's shilton who is dan v'horeg b'mishpat add? - Mitzvah l'hishtadel lir'os melachim: may you be oiver an issur d'rabanan for it, and once you've seen a melech one time, may you keep being mevatel Torah to see another? - Why did R' Yosef Chaim Sonnenfeld refuse to go out and see the Kaiser of Germany when he came to Eretz Yisrael? - Matziv gvul almana — is it said on batei ashirei Yisrael of bayis sheni, or on a beis kneses b'yofyo u'v'sikuno, and what was held b'shem Rav Elyashiv when the Hurva was rebuilt? Sources: OC 224 (se'if Tes, se'if Yud), Tur, Mishnah Berurah, Radvaz (brought in Sefer Keilim), Shevet HaLevi cheilek Alef, R' Moshe Shternbuch, Rashi (Berachos 58a), Magen Avraham, Maharsha (Berachos 58), Sefer Chasidim, Ritva, Pri Megadim. Machshavah section: Devarim 10:12 with Rashi and Gemara Menachos 43, Maharsha (Menachos 43), Rambam Hilchos Berachos perek Alef, Rambam Hilchos De'os, Redak (Tehillim 145:10).

283

Don't Waste Your Tears • Parshas Re'eh • Ep. 446

Aug 6, 2026

13:33

A woman locks herself in her house for months after losing a child, furious at anyone still laughing, still living. Dragged to a wedding against her will, she escapes into an old pay phone just to scream and cry without being watched — and an elderly woman selling nothing but a dollar's worth of tzedaka walks over and tells her she's "wasting her tears." Then that old woman reveals she lost ten children in Auschwitz. What she says next — about where grief is supposed to go — is the whole episode. This is not a Holocaust story. It's a story about what your own tears are actually for.

284

Parshas Re'eh | Standing at Kever Rachel and Not Making a Berachah: Kivrei Tzaddikim, Nikkar She'hu Kever, Hispa'alus, Onen, Me'ah Berachos

Aug 8, 2026

40:24

Anyone who lives in Har Nof walks down Rechov Nofim and sees the beis kevaros of Har HaMenuchos — every single day. Anyone driving into Lakewood on 9, or up the highway into Merkaz Ha'ir, passes a beis kevaros too. So when you actually go to a beis kevaros, are you still mechuyav in "asher yatzar eschem b'din," or has the daily seeing already been mafkia you toch sheloshim yom? The Rav finishes the last halachos of siman 224 — kevarim, when the berachah is said and from how far, whether kivrei tzaddikim are included at all — and closes with a milsa d'agadata on me'ah berachos. In this episode: - Do you make the berachah on a single kever, or only on kivrei Yisrael b'lashon rabim? - Does a second beis kevaros — a different city, a different country — obligate a new berachah, or does one beis kevaros patur the next toch sheloshim yom? - How close do you have to be — b'toch daled amos, or is a kohen (or someone in a car) mevarech me'rachok? - Kivrei tzaddikim: Kever Rachel, Ma'aras Ha'Machpelah, Rashbi in Meron — why is the minhag not to bentch, and what does "nikkar she'hu kever" versus just a matzeivah have to do with it? - Binoculars, a telescope, a mirror, the video clip of the Chofetz Chaim — which count as re'iyah? - An onen in the beis kevaros — once he was patur at the moment of chiyuv, can he bentch after stimas ha'golel? - Why does the Bach say a person who misses me'ah berachos enters a sakanah of mageifah? Sources: OC 224 sif yud-gimmel and yud-daled (Mishnah Berurah), Halachos Ketanos, Radvaz, Birkei Yosef, Aruch HaShulchan (end of the siman), Eliyahu Rabbah, Piskei Teshuvos, Be'er Heitiv, Rav Shlomo Zalman Auerbach, Tosfos Bava Basra, Be'er Moshe (Rav Moshe Stern), Igros Moshe OC chelek 5, Rav Akiva Eiger, Drashos Maharash, Arizal, Halichos Shlomo perek 23, OC 225. Machshavah section: Rashi on "Ma Hashem sho'el me'imach," Rambam Hilchos Berachos and Hilchos Tefillah, Reb Yaakov Kamenetsky on Berachos, Abudraham, Ba'al HaTurim (Va'eschanan), Tur OC 46, Bach, Pri Megadim, Rema OC 1, Rabbeinu Yonah.

285

The Soldier Who Was Sent Home • Parshas Shoftim • Ep. 447

Aug 13, 2026

14:43

Why does the Torah send a soldier home from the front line — not for cowardice, but for having spoken between his tefillin shel yad and his tefillin shel rosh? Of every aveirah in the Torah, why is that the one that disqualifies him? This week we bring the Tolner Rebbe's approach: the arm-tefillin is a man's own strength, the head-tefillin is his awareness of Who gives him that strength, and the whole avodah is refusing to let the two come apart. A soldier who has already severed them is right to be afraid. And we are all going out to some battle every day.

286

Is It Your Nature, or Just Your Opinion? · Parshas Ki Seitzei · Ep. 448

Aug 20, 2026

12:16

Ammon and Moav did not come out to meet us with bread and water. Amalek attacked us in cold blood, and we are commanded to erase their memory. So why does the Torah bar a convert from Moav from marrying into Klal Yisrael forever, while a sincere convert from Amalek may marry right in, and the descendants of Haman himself learned Torah in Bnei Brak? The answer turns on where a nation's failing actually lives, and it changes what you think is fixable about yourself. I also tell the story of a woman who waited two days outside a Berlin office in the late 1930s. She was told the visas were finished. Everyone in that line heard the same words. What she said before she walked away is the reason her great grandchildren are alive.

287

Parshas Ki Seitzei | The Minhagim of Elul: Tkias Shofar, L'Dovid Hashem Ori, Anim Zemiros & Ani L'Dodi

Aug 23, 2026

37:44

We're a week and a bit into Elul, and the shiur goes through siman 581 from the top — the minhagim everyone keeps without necessarily knowing where they come from. When exactly the tkias starts, whether it's once a day or twice, what happens when the shul has no shofar or no ba'al tokea, and where L'Dovid Hashem Ori sits in davening once Barchi Nafshi and Anim Zemiros are also on the table. The second half turns to the machshavah: why the remazim of Elul all point at tzedaka and ichud, and what that has to do with kabalas malchuyos on Rosh Hashanah. In this episode: - Tkias shofar by Arvis — does the Chayei Adam's "likras erev" mean Mincha, or is it Maariv mamash like the Mateh Efraim, even on Motzei Shabbos? - Your shul has no ba'al tokea by Shachris — do you blow b'yachid, do you catch it at Mincha, and may a katan be the one to blow? - Tashrat every day, or Tashrat-Tashat-Tarat, or 30 kolos on Rosh Chodesh — and why the first day of Rosh Chodesh is the nekudah? - L'Dovid Hashem Ori: until Yom Kippur, Hoshana Rabbah or Shmini Atzeres, before or after Barchi Nafshi and Anim Zemiros — and why minhag Frankfurt and the Gra don't say it at all? - Why "u'mishloach manos ish l're'ehu u'matanos la'evyonim" is a remez to Elul — and how becoming a "lo" is the hachana for malchuyos. Sources: Tur OC 581, Shulchan Aruch and Rama OC 581, Mishnah Berurah (incl. s"k 2), Magen Avraham, Chayei Adam (Hilchos Rosh Hashanah), Mateh Efraim, Bach (end of the siman) and Sefer HaAruch, Levush, Igros Moshe OC 4:21 os 9, Ma'aseh Rav (Gra), Nimukei Orach Chaim, Pirkei d'Rabbi Eliezer, with mesoros quoted from Rav Moshe Sternbuch and Rav Shmuel Kamenetsky. Machshavah section: Be'er Heitev 581:10 quoting Minhagei Maharil (Hilchos Yamim Noraim), Shem MiShmuel (Parshas Shoftim), Ba'al HaCharedim on Megillas Esther, Chasam Sofer, Rambam (Sefer HaMitzvos mitzvah 173, Hilchos Melachim), Megaleh Amukos.

288

Are You Chasing It, or Is It Chasing You? • Parshas Ki Savo • Ep. 449

Aug 27, 2026

12:55

Ki Savo promises that the blessings will chase you down and overtake you. But who runs away from a bracha in the first place? And what does it even mean that a bracha has to catch you, if Hashem already promised you would get it? Hold that question, and listen to this. A young father in kollel dies, and his nine-and-a-half-year-old son shuts down completely. The specialist's diagnosis runs several conditions long, and the treatment plan costs more money than the family will ever see. So the mother goes to the Rosh Yeshiva of Chibin and asks him to pay for it. He listens to the whole thing, and then he asks to meet the boy, sits down on the floor, and plays a game with him for hours. Months later the therapy is finished, the medication is finished, and the diagnoses are simply gone. See what the story and the pasuk have in common. Two weeks before Rosh Hashana, it changes what you should be asking for.

289

Parshas Ki Savo | The Dinim of Selichos: When They Start, Chatzos or Ashmores Haboker, the Ba'al Tefillah's Tallis & Kaddish Tiskabal

Aug 29, 2026

39:53

The second shiur on inyanei Elul, a week before Selichos begin Motzei Shabbos Parshas Nitzavim. It starts with the four minhagim of when Selichos start — Rosh Chodesh Elul, the Sunday before Rosh Hashanah, Tes Vav Elul, or only in Aseres Yemei Teshuvah — and then works through the practical questions that come up every year: what hour of the night, what happens when a man has only one of the two options, and what a person who walks in late is actually obligated to say. In this episode: - Rav Moshe was asked about a place where it was dangerous to be out after chatzos — may they say Selichos early in the night, and why does he call it a hora'as sha'ah that has to be written down and not turned into a heter? - Chatzos halayla or ashmores haboker — is one the l'chatchila zman, and if the yeshiva davens at 7:30 and you get up at 7:00, is that enough? - Ashrei and the Kaddish before the Yud Gimmel Midos — do they also have to wait until chatzos, and if you came late, do you say Ashrei or catch up to the tzibur? - The shatz wraps in a tallis at night like Hakadosh Baruch Hu was misatef b'taliso — does he make a brachah, and why is it better that someone else hand it to him? - A minyan in an avel's house or the beis knesses — where is tefillah more mekubal, and when is going to the avel the right thing anyway? - Why the ba'al tefillah for Selichos also davens Shacharis, Mincha and Maariv — hamaschil b'mitzvah omrim lo g'mor on a tefillah that is a mitzvah bifnei atzmo? - Vidui on Motzei Shabbos before chatzos — the one thing everyone starting early has to be careful about. Sources: Tur OC 581, Shulchan Aruch and Rama OC 581, Rambam (Hilchos Teshuvah, and Hilchos De'os), Abudarham brought by the Mateh Efraim, Magen Avraham OC 565 s"k 5, Igros Moshe OC 2:105, Mateh Efraim, Aruch Hashulchan OC 581, Halichos Shlomo (Yomim Nora'im, Tishrei; and Tefillah), Sefer Mishmeres Shalom, Taz, Shaarei Efraim, Levush OC 581, Darkei Moshe, Chasam Sofer, Kovetz Halachos, Likkutei Maharich, Minhagei Maharil, with mesoros quoted b'shem Rav Elyashiv, Rav Shlomo Zalman Auerbach and Rav Shmuel Kamenetsky. Machshavah section: Rosh Hashanah 17b (and Rashi, daf 17), Maharsha, Maharal (Be'er Hagolah, Be'er Daled), Ramban (Parshas Mishpatim), Rabbeinu Bechaye (Parshas Ki Sisa), Tomer Devorah (Ramak), Gemara Shabbos on "ani v'hu," and a mesorah b'shem Rav Moshe Shapiro.

290

The Inheritance You Cannot Fake • Parshas Nitzavim • Ep. 450

Sep 3, 2026

13:48

Why does the Torah tell us to choose life so that both we and our children will live? Why should a parent's choice determine what the next generation wants? Rav Moshe Feinstein finds a startling warning in the wording: a person can keep every mitzvah and still fail to pass Torah on. A father preparing for his son's bar mitzvah faced five stranded yeshiva students and made a choice that turned an entire feast into something his son would never forget. This episode asks what children truly inherit when they watch our avodas Hashem, and why the feeling they see may matter as much as the actions themselves.

291

Parshas Nitzavim-Vayeilech | Three Seudos on a Day You Daven Till Two O'Clock: The Mateh Efraim's Split Seudah, Bakashos Pratios on the Yom HaDin, Selichos from Yom Rishon

Sep 5, 2026

39:48

This year Rosh Hashanah falls on Shabbos, and that changes the day from the inside out. There is no shofar. The tefillah runs five, six, sometimes eight hours, so the two Shabbos seudos are squeezed into what is left of the afternoon — and mitzad Shabbos a third seudah is still owed. The Mateh Efraim's answer is to take the one seudah you planned and split it into two, which the Rema in siman Reish Tzadi Aleph would rather you not do at all. In this episode: - If davening ends at two o'clock, how do you fit shalosh seudos in — and is splitting the morning seudah in half a genuine hefsek or a berachah she'eina tzricha? - Forgot Retzei, or Ya'aleh V'yavo, at shalosh seudos — do you go back and bentsch again? - Why do we say Zichron Teruah instead of Yom Teruah on Shabbos, and b'dieved, if you said the wrong one, are you yotzei? - Who was ever permitted to blow shofar on Shabbos after the churban — and what happened when the Lev Ivri tried to bring it back in Yerushalayim in 1882? - Why is there no Avinu Malkeinu on Shabbos, and may a person ask for his own private needs on the Yom HaDin at all? Sources: OC 291 (Rema, Mishnah Berurah, Kaf HaChaim b'sheim the mekubalim), Mateh Efraim Hilchos Rosh Hashanah, Ashrei Ish OC vol. 3 (minhag Rav Elyashiv), OC 588:5, OC 581:3 with Sha'ar HaTziyun s"k 35, Pri Chadash, Magen Avraham, Mishnah Rosh Hashanah perek 4 with Rashi, Rambam and Rif, Rosh (beginning of perek 4), Ir HaKodesh V'HaMikdash (Rav Yechiel Michel Tukachinsky). Machshavah section: the Ran and the Gra on the zman of Selichos, Medrash on briyas Adam HaRishon, Pesachim 118a with the Maharsha, Nefesh HaChaim sha'ar aleph, Avodah Zarah 8a.

292

The Worst Thing You Can Do to a Picasso • Rosh Hashana • Ep. 451

Sep 10, 2026

11:50

What is the single worst thing you could do to a priceless Picasso? Slashing the canvas ruins the picture, but it doesn't destroy the value. In this Rosh Hashana episode, Rabbi Asaf Prisman uncovers why our calendar seems completely backwards. Rosh Hashana is the Day of Judgment and Yom Kippur is the Day of Forgiveness, so why are we judged before we are cleansed? Should we not come into the Day of Judgment with a clean slate? The answer reaches why Hashem refuses to audit your failures on the Day of Judgment, and the hidden royal signature inside every single soul that no mistake on earth can ever erase.

293

The Prison Sentence That Saved His Life • Parshas Haazinu • Ep. 452

Sep 17, 2026

13:24

Why does Hashem say "I" twice in Haazinu? What is the sin of "timhon levav" that we confess every Yom Kippur? And why would the seforim call the holiest day of the year "a day like Purim"? In this week's episode, Rabbi Asaf Prisman follows the Kli Yakar and Rav Gedaliah Schorr into a concept that is basic to these days of Aseres Yemei Teshuva, as we prepare for Yom Kippur. He ends with a remarkable story of how this idea shows itself, sometimes in a very unusual way: how going to prison for a crime he never committed turned out to be the best thing that ever happened to one man.

294

Do You Earn Your Gifts? • Sukkos • Ep. 453

Sep 24, 2026

15:56

Why is Sukkos in Tishrei? The Clouds of Glory first surrounded us in Nissan, when we walked out of Mitzrayim, so the festival that commemorates them should really fall in the spring. The Tur asks it, and the Vilna Gaon answers it in a way that quietly rewrites what the whole Yom Tov is about: the Clouds we sit under are not the first Clouds at all.To bring it to life, I share the story of a young man who drove to his warehouse at two in the morning, in his pajamas, and watched every dollar he had ever earned dissolve in front of him. That night he nearly gave up entirely. What he did the next morning made his own workers think he had lost his mind, and it is the reason a certain kind of jeans exists in the world today.How it all ties together is in this week's episode.

295

Shabbos Shuva | Why Does the Rambam Say "Yishtadel" for Teshuvah Before Misah: Bechirah, Lena'er Kapav Me'chet, Deos Ra'os & Chayei Olam Haba

Sep 19, 2026

40:28

In perek zayin of Hilchos Teshuvah the Rambam writes that since every person is a baal bechirah, he should be mishtadel to do teshuvah and lena'er kapav me'chet, so that he dies a baal teshuvah and merits chayei olam haba. One sentence, and four kashos: what bechirah has to do with it, why "yishtadel" when teshuvah is a chiyuv, why the ikar seems to be lifnei misasav when perek beis says teshuvah gemurah is miyad, and how olam haba can be the reason when perek yud calls avodah al menas lekabel schar a lower madreigah. In this Shabbos Shuva drasha the Rav works through each one. In this episode: - Why the Rambam says one must do teshuvah even from deos ra'os, when Hilchos Deos only asks us to keep recalibrating to the derech ha'emtza'is - What being b'tzelem Elokim means for the world a person builds with his own actions - Schar mitzvah mitzvah and the Ramban's pshat in al menas lekabel pras - Ya'azov rasha darko ve'ish aven machshevosav, and the shofar's call of uru yesheinim mi'shnaschem - Konam einai b'sheinah, mehalech k'omed, and a mussar on davening with chiyus Sources: Rambam Hilchos Teshuvah 7:1-3, 1:1, 2:1-2, 3:4, 5, 10; Hilchos Deos 1; Avos 1:3; Yeshayahu 55; Nedarim (konam einai b'sheinah); Shabbos (mehalech k'omed, Ben Azzai) with Tosafos; Rebbe Akiva Eiger. Machshavah section: Gra on tzelem Elokim, Reb Chaim Volozhiner, hakdamah to Shir HaShirim attributed to the Ramban, Reb Leibele Eiger.

296

Sukkos | Rain on the First Night of Sukkos: K'zayis Rishona, Kiddush in the Sukkah, Leishev & Waiting an Hour or Two

Oct 7, 2026

39:41

On the first night of Sukkos there is a chiyuv to eat in the sukkah that no other night of the Yom Tov carries, learned from leil Pesach through the gezeirah shava of tes vav tes vav. The rishonim argue over what that limud brings along with it: the shiur, the zman, and whether it holds even when the rain is coming down. And when it does rain, a family and guests are sitting at the table waiting to eat. In this episode: - K'zayis or yoser mi'k'beitza, and why the Mishnah Berurah wants us to be choshesh for the other rishonim - Whether lechem oni, matzaschem and the zman of chatzos carry over from matzah to the sukkah, and whether honey on the challah is a problem - Why the Rema says not to eat from chatzos on Erev Sukkos, earlier than Erev Pesach - Rain on leil rishon: kiddush in the sukkah, shehecheyanu without leishev, and how long to wait for the rain to stop - The Sha'ar HaTziyun on guests and aniyim, and the issur of ba'al te'acher - Why Parshas Emor and Parshas Pinchas list sukkah and the daled minim only after closing the moadim Sources: Tosafos (Brachos 49), Ran (Sukkah 27), Ritva, Tur, Shulchan Aruch and Rema OC 639:3 and 639:5, Darkei Moshe, Pri Megadim, Reb Shlomo Zalman Auerbach (Halichos Shlomo, Moadim) citing the Yad Eliyahu, Mateh Efraim 625, Taz, Rashba, Biur HaGra and Maaseh Rav, Chayei Adam, Mishnah Berurah and Sha'ar HaTziyun 639:67. Machshavah section: Vayikra 23 (Emor), Bamidbar 29 (Pinchas), Medrash on v'samachta, Vayikra Rabbah (Emor), Ramban (Emor).

297

Sukkos | Living in the Sukkah All Seven Days: Ochel, Shoseh, Dar, Yashen u'Metayel, Sukkaso Keva u'Beiso Arai

Oct 7, 2026

39:43

An apartment building in Washington D.C. with no place to put up a sukkah, so the meals are eaten in the shul sukkah. Rav Hai Gaon was asked about exactly this case, and he answered that one makes the bracha there but is not yotzei his chiyuv. That answer opens up what the mitzvah of yeshivas sukkah for all seven days really is, beyond the k'zayis of the first night. In this episode: - The Rambam's "ochel v'shoseh v'dar," the Rema's "yashen u'metayel," and what metayel actually means in a sukkah of zayin al zayin - The sukkah takes the place of the dining room, living room and bedroom, but not the kitchen, and whether to set a tablecloth in the house - The Ramban on "kol ha'ezrach b'Yisrael," and why the shul sukkah earns a bracha but not the mitzvah - Why we make leishev basukkah every day of Sukkos but no bracha on matzah after the first night, and whether the other days carry a real chiyuv - Sukkah or lulav when you can only have one, and whether a family member building the sukkah is mitzvah bo yoser mib'shlucho Sources: Rambam Hilchos Sukkah 6:5-6, Shulchan Aruch and Rema OC 639, Hilchos Chag B'Chag (Rav Moshe Mordechai Karp), Mishnah Berurah, Pri Megadim, Eliyahu Rabbah, Mateh Efraim, Rashba (Beitzah 30), Sifra with Raavad and Rashash, Ritz Geiyas citing Rav Hai Gaon, Magen Avraham citing the Maharil, Tosafos Rabbeinu Yehuda MiShirleon (Brachos), Abudraham (Birkas Sukkah), Ba'al HaMa'or (end of Pesachim) with Gilyonei HaShas (Sukkah 27), Chasam Sofer OC 639, Rav Shlomo Eiger (Sefer HaIkkarim), Ritva (Sukkah 27), K'tzei HaMateh, Pri Megadim 624-625. Machshavah section: Ramban (Emor 23:42).

298

The Main Ingredient That Makes a Mensch • Parshas Bereishis • Ep. 454

Oct 8, 2026

12:16

If Hashem didn't want Adam and Chava to eat from the Eitz HaDaas, why plant it at all? And why right in the middle of the garden, where they would pass it every single day, when any loving father would push the danger into a corner? Rabbi Asaf Prisman opens the new cycle with a chiddush of the Tiferes Shlomo on one small word in the pasuk, and why the creation of Chava comes right after it. From a crown on a king to a lifeguard's summer job, this one changes how you look at every limit in your life.

299

Parshas Bereishis | Rain in the Forecast and the Sukkah Still Up: Prikas Ol, Ein Shem Sukkah B'shas Yeridas Hageshem, Reb Shlomo Zalman & Ki Ba'avodaso Yinchaluha

Oct 10, 2026

40:22

Right before Hoshana Rabbah a man in Eretz Yisroel called with a shailah. Rain was expected over Shemini Atzeres and Simchas Torah, which in Eretz Yisroel are one day, and he was leaving to spend Yom Tov at his parents' house. He wanted to take his sukkah down before he went. The Mishnah says gamar le'echol, lo yatir es sukkaso, and the Rishonim give three different reasons for it. In this episode: - Rashi's ta'am, that the whole day is still for sleeping and learning in the sukkah, and why the Tur and the Mishnah Berurah bring only his reason - Whether eating in a sukkas chaveiro is a tza'ar, and whether a son at his parents' house is echad mi'bnei beisam - The Ran's chiddush that a person needs a sukkah kol shiv'a: a mitzvah of binyan sukkah or only a hechsher mitzvah, and why you are pocheis bo daled al daled - Reb Shlomo Zalman and Rav Elyashiv on the Ran, the Meiri's bizuy mitzvah and prikas ol, and the Chashukei Chemed on taking down the s'chach in the rain - Why the Torah begins with Bereishis: the Ramban on the geirushin of Adam HaRishon, the Dor HaMabul and the Dor HaFlaga, and ki ba'avodaso yinchaluha Sources: Mishnah Sukkah 48, Rashi, Ritva, Rema OC 640:4 and Mishnah Berurah, Tur and Mishnah Berurah OC 666, Ran, Divrei Menachem (Rav Menachem Mendel Kasher), Gemara and Rashi Makkos 8, Rema OC 624, Tosafos, Minchas Shlomo, Orchos Ish (Rav Elyashiv), Meiri, Rabbeinu Yonah, Semag, Rabbeinu Chananel, Chashukei Chemed (Rav Yitzchok Zilberstein, Sukkah 48), the Gra on the Rashba. Machshavah section: Rashi (Bereishis 1:1), Ramban (Bereishis 1:1 and 1:10).

300

When Bitter Becomes Sweet • Parshas Noach • Ep. 455

Oct 15, 2026

12:42

Of all the leaves in the world, why did the dove come back to Noach with an olive leaf, and why would anyone choose bitter over sweet? The answer takes Rabbi Asaf Prisman from a Gemara in Eiruvin all the way to a struggling young man in the diamond district and two phone calls he never questioned.

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