Rav Dessler Parshah Podcast Series 1

1

When the world goes off balance

Jun 23, 2026

9:26

Discover the fragile balance between chesed and din in our latest episode as we delve into the captivating story of Balak and unravel the harrowing consequences when this equilibrium is disrupted.

2

The connection between free will, being possessed and reincarnation

Jun 22, 2026

14:04

This week packs a LOT packed into a very small podcast!

3

Why does the torah not explicitly outlaw bad middos

Jun 11, 2026

10:42

If you could take a pill and all your bad qualities would melt away, should you take it?

4

Sushi and the pursuit of happiness

Jun 2, 2026

11:52

Discovering the true source of pleasure and how I can achieve it. (...and why would the Jewish people want sushi more than manna from heaven?)

5

Tough Love

May 21, 2026

10:38

Sometimes, kindness is rooted where we least expect it.

6

Why UNITY Is such an important concept

May 15, 2026

10:58

We all know that UNITY is important. But why is that? What is the depth behind uniting differences?

7

Mystical 7's and 8's

Apr 28, 2026

10:46

The omer is 7x7 weeks making 49 days. Shavuos is one day beyond that - day 50, what is the message?

8

Love thy neighbour

Apr 24, 2026

15:51

Why do I have to love myself in order to love others?

9

Should we take medicine?

Apr 15, 2026

14:27

If Hashem is the cause of illness, surely taking medication and going to doctors is missing the point? Or is it?

10

The importance in being a Happy Cow

Apr 14, 2026

12:23

Cows are content beetles aren't, the Vilna gaon has something to say about it. What your lunch says about your soul

11

Why does the torah not explicitly outlaw bad middos?

Mar 24, 2026

12:55

If you could take a pill and all your bad character flaws could melt away - should you take it?

12

What's the reason for sacrifices?

Mar 18, 2026

14:40

When we had a Temple, why did we need to sacrifice animals? Explore the deeper significance behind this ancient practice and discover its relevance in our modern lives. Together, we will delve into the spiritual symbolism and meaning behind korbanos and learn about the role they played and why they are not brought today.

13

Refining Altruism

Mar 11, 2026

9:49

If one has achieved perfection -what more is there to live for? Surely the more we develop ourselves, the less their is to perfect? Or perhaps not!

14

Ki Sisa: What is the true purpose in 'punishments'?

Mar 4, 2026

14:51

This podcast unlocks the secrets of true meaning of 'Oinesh' loosely translated as 'punishments' Join us as we delve into the true purpose of punishment, and how it is a manifestation of Hashem's chesed.

15

Meet the Real You

Feb 18, 2026

10:52

We think with our minds, we feel with our hearts and we act with our bodies. Which one is the REAL me?

16

We are all biased judges

Feb 10, 2026

7:26

A judge who accepts the bribe of a single penny is disqualified. That being the case -what chance is there for ourselves to make any moral self-judgments? We are filled with personal biases. Rav Dessler shares several practical answers to help us out.

17

Yisro: The dangers of Inspiration

Feb 5, 2026

14:29

When the Jewish people stood at Mount Sinai to received the Torah, they backed away in fear. Is it possible, that too much inspiration is bad for one's health?

18

Beshalach: Why splitting the sea was a unique miracle

Jan 28, 2026

11:18

Why is it that the angels agreed to doing all miracles apart from the 10th plague and splitting of the sea? What was unique about these two historic events? This week as a 'guest speaker' we will look at a piece from the Beis Ha'leivi

19

Bo: The 4 levels of World Perception

Jan 20, 2026

12:42

Why did G-d 'Himself' need to take us out of Egypt? Why couldn't an angel? The Zohar says that had an angel tried to free us, it would have been 'damaged by the depravity of Egypt'. What does that mean?!? Rav Dessler explains...

20

Shemos: The deciding factor that made Moshe our leader

Jan 8, 2026

9:08

Is a Kiddush Hashem better in private or in public? Why?

21

Vaeira: Taking away Pharaoh's free will?

Jan 7, 2026

14:01

How is it just for God to take away Pharaoh's free will? Is this a one-off occurrence, or does this happen daily to all of us?

22

Vayigash: Outgrowing your Keilim

Dec 24, 2025

16:20

Keilim are needed for life's mission; but what happens if I outgrow them?

23

Mikeitz: Understand the mechanics behind the 'Evil Eye'

Dec 19, 2025

13:19

24

Vayeishev: Can my freewill change destiny?

Dec 12, 2025

15:09

The brothers tried to kill Yosef, but Reuven 'saved him from their hands'. What would have happened had Reuven NOT stepped in? Do we have the ability to change the course of history?

25

Vayishlach: Concern for little cups

Dec 3, 2025

12:57

Why did Yaacov care so much about little earthenware cups? Should we distance ourselves from physicality or imbue it with spirituality? We will use the analogy of the 3 little pigs to answer this question!

26

Vayeitsei: Flipping Middos

Nov 25, 2025

6:17

Rav Dessler Parasha podcast Episode 7: Vayeitsei. Why is Yaacov known as an Ish Emes if his life seems to be filled with deception?

27

Toldos: BT vs FFB

Nov 19, 2025

7:30

Why is it Hashem answers Yitzchak's prayers over Rivka's? Is an FFB somehow better than a BT?

28

Vayiera: Divine Intervention -Avrohom's Unfinished Sacrifice

Nov 4, 2025

11:02

Avrohom is told by G-d to sacrifice his son. Then an angel tells him not to. Could it have been right for Avrohom to complete the sacrifice, and what did the intervention truly signify?

29

Lech Lecha: Should Lot stay or should he go?

Oct 29, 2025

12:09

Avrohom takes Lot with him on his travels against Hashem's request. On the one side he is blamed. On the other side, Avrohom is also blamed for letting Lot go. So which is right? Should Lot stay or should he go???

30

Noach: Better than perfection?

Oct 20, 2025

8:27

On the one hand we are told Noach was perfect. On the other hand, compared to Avrohom, Noach was not special. How can that be? Surely nothing can trump perfection - or can it?

31

Bereishis: Forbidden Fruit

Oct 16, 2025

14:39

How could the greatest man in history, make a mistake, especially when explicitly instructed by Hashem?!? In this podcast we will uncover the layers of wisdom behind this pivotal moment in human history, revealing the challenge that tested not only Adam but us today.

32

Nitzavim: Free Will Unveiled: The Moral Battleground of Choice

Sep 16, 2025

11:25

Unlock the mysteries of free will with us in this thought-provoking episode of our podcast shiurim. Join our exploration as we reveal that free will isn't an all-encompassing force but rather limited to the specific moral battles we face.

33

Ki Savo: Discovering True Happiness: Achievement vs. Authenticity

Sep 11, 2025

12:28

Have you ever paused to consider the profound contrast between the two fundamental sources of happiness? Join us in this enlightening episode of our podcast shiurim as we delve deep into the timeless wisdom that distinguishes happiness derived from achievement verses the inner contentment found in simply being.

34

Ki Seitzei: This is gonna hurt me more than you

Sep 3, 2025

8:09

35

Devarim: Arguing with G-d

Aug 1, 2025

12:49

Moshe 'blames' Hashem for the Golden Calf. In doing so, Moshe manages to save the Jewish people. But how can one argue with G-d? How can one 'change G-d's mind'? and lastly, what would have happened had Moshe not argued in our defence?

36

Pinchas: Show Me Your Leader, I’ll Show You Your Soul

Jul 17, 2025

9:30

When Moshe asks for a successor, God chooses Yehoshua — and the shift speaks volumes. In this episode, we explore how the leaders of each generation reveal the soul of their people. Looking at the arc of history, we uncover a deeper pattern: some generations are led by the mind, others by the heart — and their leaders reflect exactly that.

37

Balak: When the world goes off balance

Jul 10, 2025

9:26

Discover the fragile balance between chesed and din in our latest episode as we delve into the captivating story of Balak and unravel the harrowing consequences when this equilibrium is disrupted.

38

Shelach: Is seeing believing?

Jun 20, 2025

10:42

Do our hearts process the facts given to us by our eyes /OR/ Do our hearts dictate to the eyes what to see?

39

Beha'aloscha: Sushi and the pursuit of Happiness

Jun 20, 2025

11:52

Discovering the true source of pleasure and how I can achieve it. (...and why would the Jewish people want sushi more than manna from heaven?)

40

Naso: Tough Love

Jun 20, 2025

10:38

Sometimes, kindness is rooted where we least expect it.

41

Bamidbar: Why UNITY is such an important concept

Jun 20, 2025

10:58

We all know that UNITY is important. But why is that? What is the depth behind uniting differences?

42

Bechukosai: Why does EFFORT matter?

May 22, 2025

14:21

Two people achieve the same result; one found it easy, the other found it hard. Either way, the result is the same. So what difference does EFFORT make if the result is the same?

43

Emor: Mystical 7s and 8s

May 14, 2025

10:46

The Omer is 7 x 7 weeks making 49 days. Shavuos is one beyond that at day 50. What is the message???

44

Kedoshim: Love thy neighbour

May 7, 2025

15:51

Contained in this episode... Why do I have to love myself in order to love others? How can you force me to love someone else? What does love really mean?

45

Tazria: Should we take medicine?

Apr 29, 2025

14:27

If Hashem is the cause of illnesses, surely going to a Doc. and taking medicine is missing the point entirely! Or is it?

46

Shemini: The death of righteous sinners

Apr 25, 2025

12:23

On the one hand, Nadav and Avihu died due to some wrongdoing. On the other hand, Moshe claims that in a certain aspect they were greater than Moshe and Aharon. How could both be true? and what message can we take from this for us today?

47

Tzav: Why does the Torah not explicitly outlaw bad Middos?

Apr 7, 2025

12:55

If you could take a pill and all your bad character flaws could melt away - should you take it?

48

Vayikra: What's the reason for sacrifices?

Mar 31, 2025

14:40

When we had a Temple, why did we need to sacrifice animals? Explore the deeper significance behind this ancient practice and discover its relevance in our modern lives. Together, we will delve into the spiritual symbolism and meaning behind korbanos and learn about the role they played and why they are not brought today.

49

Vayakhel: Refining Altruism

Mar 18, 2025

9:49

If one has achieved perfection -what more is there to live for? Surely the more we develop ourselves, the less there is to perfect? Or perhaps not!

50

What is the true purpose in 'punishments'

Mar 10, 2025

14:51

This podcast unlocks the secrets of true meaning of 'Oinesh' loosely translated as 'punishments' Join us as we delve into the true purpose of punishment, and how it is a manifestation of Hashem's chesed.

Rav Dessler Parshah Podcast Series 1

Rav Dessler Parshah Podcast Series 1

More by Avrohom Zeidman