Rav Dessler Parshah Podcast Series 2
Rav Dessler Parshah Podcast Series 2
Avrohom Zeidman • 72 episodes
Avrohom Zeidman
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Name
Release Date
Duration
51
Balak: How to Make an Idol Work (And Why You Shouldn’t)
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?
52
Chukas: The Rebbe, the Student, and the Space Between
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.
53
Korach: Sight vs. Insight - What Glasses Are You Wearing?
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.
54
Shelach: Strings Attached - What Tzitzis Are Really Saying
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.
55
Beha'aloscha: Humble and the Greatest
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.
56
Naso: Is the Nazir holy or harmful?
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.
57
Bamidbar: Relationship with Hashem or just a Transaction?
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.
58
Behar: Tzedakah - Who's Really Supporting Whom?
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.
59
Behar: Eved Kena'ani - A Just System?
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
60
Emor: Does Kiddush Hashem Apply Without an Audience?
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.
61
Kedoshim: What Is Love?
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.
62
Acharei Mos: What Does 'Life' Really Mean?
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.
63
Tazria/Metzora: Do You Really Lose Your Merits Through Lashon Hara?
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.
64
Tazria: Congratulations, You’ve Hit Rock Bottom!
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.
65
Shemini: The Importance in Being a Happy Cow
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.
66
Tzav: Warning the Tzaddik
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?
67
Why Does Shabbos Stop Mishkan Building but Allow Korbanos?
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.
68
Pekudei: Logic or Loyalty - What Does Hashem Really Want?
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.
69
Veyakhel: Shabbos. Rest Is More Than Just a Break
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.
70
The Golden Calf: What Really Went Wrong?
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?
71
Teztaveh: Clothes Maketh the Man?
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.
72
Terumah: The Gift that Builds Us
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.