Rav Dessler Parshah Podcast Series 2

1

Vayishlach: What are angels?

Dec 3, 2025

18:45

Angels: messengers, protectors, spiritual beings. But what are they really? In this episode, we explore the Jewish perspective on angels, peeling back layers of mysticism and diving into their role and their connection to humanity. Are they literal beings? Do they have an ego or are they robots? Join us as we unravel the nature of angels in Jewish thought and kabbalistic wisdom.

2

Vayetzei: The Kabbalistic Workings of a Ladder

Nov 25, 2025

12:56

Ever thought about how a ladder can teach us about life? In this episode, we’re diving into the kabbalistic secrets behind climbing from selfishness to selflessness. Each step up isn’t just a move—it’s a transformation. Let’s explore how to take that next step together.

3

Toldos: Why Pick The Rasha For The Bracha

Nov 19, 2025

12:48

Why did Yitzchak originally want to give the bracha to the wicked Eisav, instead of the Tzaddik Yaakov? Was it all just one big mistake, or was there a deeper plan at play?

4

Chayei Sarah: Is Physical Beauty Only Skin Deep?

Nov 12, 2025

11:09

In the Torah’s eulogy of Sarah, her beauty is highlighted. Why is this detail relevant? Or could it be that physical beauty carries a deeper spiritual significance?

5

Vayeira: How to Fight G-d! (Warning: DO NOT try this at home!)

Nov 4, 2025

10:43

How could Avrohom, a tzaddik, dare challenge Hashem’s plan to destroy the wicked city of Sodom and why argue for mercy on behalf of such a corrupt place?

6

Lech Lecha: How is 'Jewish protexia' fair or even just?

Oct 29, 2025

10:24

Why do we mention our forefathers in the Amidah, seemingly asking Hashem to show us kindness because of their merit? Does this imply favoritism or an unjust form of bias? In this episode, we explore why we invoke the Avos in prayer—does it challenge or uphold divine justice?

7

Noach: Flood Warning: Why Stealing Shattered the World

Oct 20, 2025

8:02

Why did theft become the tipping point for the flood in Noach’s time? In this episode, we explore how one broken value led to the unraveling of an entire society and the unexpected way Noach was tasked with restoring it.

8

Bereishis: How One Bite Changed the Way We See the World

Oct 16, 2025

10:23

After Adam took that infamous bite, everything changed—but what exactly? The world was never the same, and neither are we. In this episode, we explore the hidden transformation that altered humanity's understanding of reality forever.

9

Nitzavim: Will We Have Free Will When Moshiach Comes?

Sep 16, 2025

14:28

If everything will be clear, and the world filled with divine truth, what will happen to our ability to choose? What’s the point of life without choice? In this episode, we explore the nature of free will in the Messianic era — and what that means for us now.

10

Ki Savo: Elul: A Beginning or an End?

Sep 11, 2025

10:53

Bikurim celebrates the first fruits, the power of new beginnings. But Elul comes at the end of the year. Or does it? In this episode, we compare Bikurim to Elul and ask: is Elul the closing chapter of the new year, or the first step toward something new? The answer may change our approach to this month.

11

Ki Seitzei: Number Two Rule for Soldiers

Sep 3, 2025

15:22

Why would the Torah tell a soldier to carry a spade to cover his excrement - even in the middle of a war? In this episode, we delve into the filth itself to uncover its kabbalistic meaning and why we are naturally repelled by it.

12

Shoftim: Why the Killer Goes Free When the Kohen Gadol Dies

Aug 29, 2025

17:23

What’s the link between the negligent killer in exile and the death of the Kohen Gadol? In this episode, we uncover a surprising connection — and how it reveals not just Hashem’s strict justice, but His deep love for every Jew.

13

Re’eh: Am I Allowed to be a Vegetarian?

Aug 29, 2025

18:47

Adam was a vegetarian. Noach was not. In this episode, we take a macro look at history to see how society’s relationship with eating meat has shifted — and whether vegetarianism is ideal, permitted, or discouraged.

14

Eikev: If Hashem Can Do Anything, Why is Fear of Him Up to Us?

Aug 29, 2025

11:26

The sages say everything is in Hashem’s hands — except the fear of Him. But what about love? And if fear is ours alone, why do we pray for help with it? In this episode, we tackle some of the biggest paradoxes about God’s power, and what they mean for our relationship with Him.

15

Va’eschanan: HAYOM -Living Today or Just Coasting?

Aug 29, 2025

16:32

In Shema we say hayom — “today” — even though the Mitzvos were given thousands of years ago. Why? In this episode, we will look into what it means to live fully in the present rather than riding on the ripples of the past. We'll also explore if a mitzvah once hard but now easy still earns the same reward, and discover how growth can continue in the afterlife.

16

Devarim: Can a Bad Environment Make You Holy?

Aug 1, 2025

11:20

G-d could have placed Ruth in a righteous home — so why was she born into Moab? In this episode, we explore how a negative environment can sometimes spark the strongest desire for truth. And how the same force can pull both ways.

17

Pinchas: The potential damage to a Mitzvah!

Jul 17, 2025

14:15

Pinchas did an act of killing to help save Klal Yisroel. But might this action have a negative after effect on his personality?

18

Balak: How to Make an Idol Work (And Why You Shouldn’t)

Jul 10, 2025

10:04

Why did people worship idols — and why was it so compelling? In this episode, we explore what made avodah zarah so attractive, how it actually worked, and what that reveals about the deepest question of all: are we serving Hashem… or just serving ourselves?

19

Chukas: The Rebbe, the Student, and the Space Between

Jul 2, 2025

13:13

A rebbe isn’t just a wise person — he’s a vessel through which messages flow. In this episode, we explore why we need a rebbe to help us interpret life, and what happens when that relationship breaks down.

20

Korach: Sight vs. Insight - What Glasses Are You Wearing?

Jun 26, 2025

11:09

How we see life makes all the difference. From the story of Dasan and Aviram’s perspective on Egypt to understanding the deeper meaning behind current events, this episode invites you to look beyond the surface and discover the hidden layers of meaning in everything around us.

21

Shelach: Strings Attached - What Tzitzis Are Really Saying

Jun 20, 2025

14:11

Tzitzis aren’t just ritual strings — they’re part of the Shema, part of our identity, and part of our spiritual memory. In this episode, we explore the third paragraph of Shema, what it’s doing there, and how those little threads are trying to keep us from unravelling.

22

Beha'aloscha: Humble and the Greatest

Jun 20, 2025

14:43

Moshe knew he was the greatest leader in history — and yet the Torah calls him the most humble. In this episode, we explore what real humility looks like, and how it can coexist with absolute greatness.

23

Naso: Is the Nazir holy or harmful?

Jun 20, 2025

16:59

Is the Nazir holy for abstaining — or flawed for pulling away? This episode explores a deeper, more analytical question: when we do something non-ideal for a higher purpose, is it still a blemish, or does the goal transform the act completely? A more nuanced discussion this week — come thinking.

24

Bamidbar: Relationship with Hashem or just a Transaction?

Jun 20, 2025

10:20

A relationship with Hashem is meant to be deep and genuine — but it's easy to slip into serving for the sake of reward. In this episode, we reflect on what it means to connect to Hashem not for what we gain, but for who we become.

25

Behar: Tzedakah - Who's Really Supporting Whom?

May 22, 2025

14:54

We often think of tzedakah as one person giving and another receiving — but the Torah's view is far more profound. In this episode, we explore who truly benefits when we give, and why the act of giving might elevate the giver even more than the one in need.

26

Behar: Eved Kena'ani - A Just System?

May 22, 2025

19:49

How can the Torah permit slavery? In this episode, we explore the concept of the eved kena'ani and uncover the framework that surrounds it — one rooted in justice, dignity, and responsibility. Far from the cruelty of historical slavery, the Torah’s system challenges our assumptions and reveals a deeper moral structure

27

Emor: Does Kiddush Hashem Apply Without an Audience?

May 14, 2025

19:31

We usually imagine Kiddush Hashem as a public act of courage — but is that the full picture? In this episode, we delve into the halachos of when one must give up their life, when not, and why sanctifying Hashem’s name isn’t limited to grand gestures or public moments.

28

Kedoshim: What Is Love?

May 7, 2025

14:55

“Love your neighbour as yourself” — beautiful words, but what do they really mean? In this episode, we explore three levels of love.

29

Acharei Mos: What Does 'Life' Really Mean?

May 7, 2025

14:44

The Torah promises life for keeping mitzvos — but what kind of life is it talking about? In this episode, we explore three levels of what “life” can mean, and how each one offers a deeper understanding of what it means to truly live.

30

Tazria/Metzora: Do You Really Lose Your Merits Through Lashon Hara?

Apr 29, 2025

7:22

You've probably heard it: speak lashon hara about someone, and you hand over all your mitzvos to them and inherit their aveiros. But is that really true? In this episode, we untangle the myth and explore Rav Dessler’s deeper explanation of what’s really happening when we misuse our words.

31

Tazria: Congratulations, You’ve Hit Rock Bottom!

Apr 29, 2025

11:25

It might not feel like it, but hitting the lowest point could be the best thing to happen to you. In this episode, we explore why real growth often begins only when there's nowhere left to hide.

32

Shemini: The Importance in Being a Happy Cow

Apr 25, 2025

12:41

Cows are content, beetles aren’t—and the Vilna Gaon has something to say about that. What your lunch says about your soul.

33

Tzav: Warning the Tzaddik

Apr 7, 2025

9:39

Aharon, the Kohen Gadol, needs a warning to perform a korban eagerly—even though he has no personal stake in it. But why warn the ultimate Tzaddik about enthusiasm? Could he really fall short?

34

Why Does Shabbos Stop Mishkan Building but Allow Korbanos?

Mar 31, 2025

10:32

Explore the deep message behind this surprising halacha and how it reveals the difference between what's just a means and what's truly an end.

35

Pekudei: Logic or Loyalty - What Does Hashem Really Want?

Mar 23, 2025

10:11

The Mishkan’s construction repeatedly says “as Hashem commanded”—but why the emphasis? Does Hashem want obedience over logic? This episode explores the balance between submission and reason in serving Hashem.

36

Veyakhel: Shabbos. Rest Is More Than Just a Break

Mar 18, 2025

8:15

We know Shabbos is a day of rest, but what does that really mean? Is it just about stopping work, or is there something deeper at play? This episode uncovers a powerful shift in perspective that can transform the way we experience Shabbos—and even our entire week.

37

The Golden Calf: What Really Went Wrong?

Mar 10, 2025

14:55

The sin of the Golden Calf is often seen as an outright betrayal of Hashem—but was it really that simple?

38

Teztaveh: Clothes Maketh the Man?

Mar 5, 2025

13:22

Are clothes just about covering up, or do they reveal something deeper? In this episode, we explore the Kabbalistic perspective on clothing and how they shape our identity.

39

Terumah: The Gift that Builds Us

Feb 26, 2025

9:44

Why does Hashem only want donations for the Mishkan from those who give willingly? After all He’s done, why not command it? In this episode, we uncover how this act of giving shapes more than just a sanctuary—it shapes us.

Rav Dessler Parshah Podcast Series 2

Rav Dessler Parshah Podcast Series 2

More by Avrohom Zeidman