The Parshah On Fire

101

The Leading Leaders

Jan 1, 2025

8:44

Ever wonder why Yosef didn't relieve his father of the pain he was in by telling him he was alive? Why did he wait so long? The answer might surprise you.

102

Chanukah: The Secret of Us

Dec 29, 2024

40:19

Mark Twain famously wrote in 1897 "All things are mortal but the Jew; all other forces pass, but he remains. What is the secret to his immortality?" What is the answer to his question? I believe the answer is embedded in Chanukah.

103

Wake Up and Smell the Coffee

Dec 23, 2024

5:34

No story in the entire Torah is given more real estate than the story of Yosef. Why is that? The answer might surprise you.

104

Holy Haughtiness

Dec 17, 2024

4:42

Our entire existence in Egypt, the slavery, the miracles, and the exodus can all be traced to one action; Yakov giving Yosef a special coat. This coat caused the brothers to be jealous of Yosef which in turn made them sell him as a slave, which led to Yosef landing in Egypt etc. The obvious question is what was Yakov thinking by giving one son a special coat and not the others. Isn't this violating the most basic rule of child-rearing; Don't show favoritism. Why did Yakov do this? The answer may surprise you.

105

The Blessing of War

Dec 10, 2024

6:26

In the most famous boxing match in the history of the world, Yakov battles the Angel of Eisav. Ever wonder why the Angel started up with Yakov precisely as he was about to make peace with Eisav? Why specifically then? And even stranger, after Yakov finishes the fight and gets severely wounded by the Angel he asks the Angel to bless him. Why would you ask your enemy, who just made you permanently crippled to bless you? The answer might surprise you.

106

The Proud Olive

Dec 3, 2024

3:18

After Yakov's famous dream, he erects a monument memorializing his spiritual experience and he takes out a bottle of olive oil and pours it on top of the monument. Ever wonder why he did that? Why is the Torah filled with stories of us anointing monuments and kings by pouring some extra virgin olive oil on their heads? What are we trying to accomplish? The answer might surprise you.

107

Shabbos On Fire

Nov 28, 2024

58:28

This will absolutely change the way you look at Shabbos. From suicide stats to Beethoven to pirates to Alaska and Bangkok and Japan we cover it all in this Podcast

108

Living on Fire

Nov 27, 2024

4:02

Isn't it bizarre that a lot of the Jewish people's leaders grew up in homes that had horrible influences all around them? Rivka grew up as the sister of one of history's worst con artists Lavan. Yitchok's brother was the adulterous and idolatrous Yishmael. Yakov's brother was the serial murderer Eisav. Yosef spent most of his life alone in Egypt and eventually married an Egyptian woman. Moshe grew up as the adopted son of Pharo and married a local priest's daughter. Why is this? Shouldn't Hashem want the future leaders of the Jewish people to have upbringings within the Jewish community, unexposed to any negative influences? The answer might surprise you.

109

Who Was Sarah?

Nov 19, 2024

10:08

We all know that our Matriarch Sarah was a holy, pure, and loving woman. But why doesn't the Torah mention that explicitly? Why only allude to it? The answer might surprise you.

110

Vayeira - The Human Salt Shaker

Nov 12, 2024

4:14

In one of the strangest moments in the Torah, Lot's wife turns into a pillar of salt after looking back and watching the destruction of the city of Sodom. What in the world is the big deal with watching this sulfur and fire apocalypse? Why did Hashem care that she looked back? The answer might surprise you.

111

Do What's Right No Matter the Cost

Nov 5, 2024

5:59

The giant Og gleefully ran to tell Avraham that his Nephew Lot was captured by the mighty kings hoping that Avraham would go attack them, get killed in the process and Og could then marry Avraham's wife Sara. What was Og thinking? How crazy did he think Avraham, an old sage, was to wage war on a group of mighty and brutal kings? The answer might surprise you.

112

Noach - The Fountain of Love

Oct 30, 2024

4:51

We were all taught as children that Avraham was the first to discover monotheism. But was he? Wasn't it Noach? Wasn't Noach the lone believer in a corrupt world? The answer might surprise you.

113

BEREISHIS - The Power of a Process

Oct 29, 2024

2:47

Why was the world created in seven days? Why didn't the all-powerful Hashem simply create the world in one second?

114

Haazinu - Mozart, Radio Telescopes and the Song of Life

Sep 30, 2024

17:13

Haazinu is the song we were taught moments before our initial entrance into the Holy Land. The Torah tells us that this little song should be sung at any time that life gets difficult. It's the song that should accompany us wherever our travels take us. Why? What is it about this song that makes it so important? Isnt a song just ........ a song? The answer might surprise you.

115

Nitzavim- Vayeilech- The Bulletproof Jew

Sep 27, 2024

15:49

Thousands of years ago we stood atop a mountain and accepted the Torah. This wasn't an intellectual commitment that we could get out of with expensive lawyers. This was a metaphysical transformation that our very bodies underwent that makes us Jews not just think differently but live an entirely different existence. Hitler couldn't have been more right when he said "Judaism isnt a religoun its a race". True, we are a race. The holiest one on the face of the Earth.

116

Ki Savo - The Perpetual Dreamers

Sep 18, 2024

16:41

The Jewish people ascended two mountains, one to receive blessings and one to receive curses. Har Gerizim and Har Eival. There is a geographical phenomenon about these two mountains. Despite being less than two hundred feet from one another and having access to the same nutrients, sunlight and rain one is lush and alive and one is desolate and dead. Why? How did that come to be? And what does that have to do with us? The answer might surprise you.

117

Ki Seitzei - The Great Glacier Chase

Sep 11, 2024

15:46

The Ben Sorer- the Wayward son, is by far one of the most dramatic and puzzling mitzvos in the Torah. We take a thirteen year old who ate a little too much food drag him to court, label him beyond repair and we stone him to death. Why? What did he do wrong? Aren't little thirteen year olds merely immature hungry kids who will one day grow out of their childhood food obsessions? Why are we stoning them to death? The answer might surprise you.

118

Shoftim - The Royal Beginnig

Sep 5, 2024

20:19

When the Jews were about to enter the land of Eretz Yisrael through the Jorden River they were instructed to erect huge stones, plant them in the middle of the river, and then write the Torah on them. Whats strange is that these stones were engulfed by the mighty river mere moments after we walked through it. What was the point of them? What good are monuments that sink to the bottom of a river three minutes after we erect them? The answer might surprise you.

119

Va'eschanan - When Spirituality Gets Physical

Aug 15, 2024

7:48

Jew's fascination with medicine has been true for thousands of years. In the year 1500 half the doctors in the entire continent of Europe were Jewish. Over Ten Popes had Jewish Doctors. Even the notorious and vicious anti-Semites Ferdinand and Isabella of Spain had a Jewish Doctor. Why is this? What led to the Jew's attachment to medicine? The answer might surprise you.

120

Devarim - The Strange Centrality of Leadership

Aug 6, 2024

16:35

One would think that the very first topic Moshe discusses in his historic farewell speech would be a foundational one. One that applies to the entire Jewish people. One that galvanizes every individual to remain spiritually robust while in their new land. Yet Moshe talks about Judges and Leaders being fair and patient. Why did he start with that? Why start with something that applies to less than one percent of the Jewish populace? The answer might surprise you.

121

MATOS-MASEI WAR, STUN GUNS AND THE JEWISH APPROACH TO MERCY

Jul 31, 2024

22:46

From the Great Flood to the firey destruction of the city of Sodom to the killing of Shechem to the eradication of Amalek, Canaan and Midyan, the Torah seems to take a very militant approach to dealing with sinners. Arent we the people of the book not the people of the sword? How do we explain the Torahs surprising attachment to violence and the promotion of it? The answer might surprise you.

122

Balak - THE MOST POWERFUL FORCE ON THE FACE OF THE EARTH

Jul 18, 2024

12:26

The Gemara tells us that Balak merited having a granddaughter named Rus due to the small prayer he prayed to Hashem to help destroy the Jewish people. The obvious question is how in the world does that make any sense?

123

Chukas. Fighter pilots and the springs of life

Jul 10, 2024

13:32

What meaning can we take out if the Red heifer, the most mystical thing in Judaism?

124

Korach - The Don’t Mess Policy

Jul 4, 2024

13:29

Why was Korach’s punishment far more severe than any of the other complainers in the desert?

125

Shlach - Holiness and Hollywood

Jun 27, 2024

11:26

What exactly was so bad about what the spies did ? You might be surprised.

126

BeHaalosecha - Visas, Cucumbers and the Goodness of Faith

Jun 19, 2024

17:01

Arguably the hardest of all the halachos is the requirement to thank Hashem equally for the bad as one does for the good. The question is how is that even possible? This Parshah has the answer. And it might just surprise you.

127

Nasso : The Great Gender Mystery

Jun 14, 2024

9:50

Why do some things in Judaism go after men and some after women? The answer might surprise you .

128

Bamidbar - Stars, Stripes, and a Pat of Butter

Jun 7, 2024

11:13

Judaism places great emphasis on unity. So why do we have twelve separate tribes all with different flags and banners and logos? Isn’t that divisive and tribal? Doesn’t that fly in the face of unity ? The answer might surprise you.

129

Bechukosai - Spiritual Rocket Fuel

May 30, 2024

13:07

How are we able to survive when virtually every other religion over the course of time eventually pestered out? The answer might surprise you .

130

Lag Ba’Omer on Fire

May 26, 2024

17:38

Everybody knows why we celebrate Lag Ba’Omer. But do we really? You might be surprised.

131

VLK 15 - What’s so special about the Jew down the block?

May 22, 2024

8:17

Why does proximity play a role in the order of who we love?

132

Behar- The Other Side of Wall Street

May 21, 2024

8:15

What is so bad with Ribbis-interest that the Torah forbids it so vehemently?

133

Emor - Excuse Me Where is the Handicap Spot?

May 15, 2024

9:16

The Torah prides itself in its care and concern for the downtrodden and often overlooked members of society. So it’s fairly odd that the Torah categorically denies any handicapped people from working in the Bais Hamikdash. Why is this? The answer might surprise you.

134

VLK 15 - Ahavas Yisrael on Fire - Who Cares About Pairs ?

May 14, 2024

6:38

When describing the Talmidim of Reb Akiva who died the Gemara says they were a set of 12,000. Why doesn’t it just say they were 24,000?

135

VLK - Ahavas Yisrael on Fire - Sefira and Jewish History With a Birds Eye View

May 12, 2024

12:27

What was so bad with the behavior of Reb Akiva's Talmidim that warranted the mass death of 24,000 people? The answer might surprise you.

136

Kedoshim - The Freest Man on the Face of the Earth

May 10, 2024

8:17

Every Friday night we sing the song Aishes Chayil, an ode to the women in our homes. Why Precisely then do we sing it? Why not after Havdalah or on Rosh Chodesh or on their birthday? What is it about Shabbos that propells us to sing Aishes Chayil? The answer might inspire you.

137

VLK - 11 - Ahavas Yisrael on Fire - Emotional Balancing acts

May 7, 2024

4:49

VLK is arguably the most emotionally nuanced Mitzva in the Torah.

138

VLK- 10 - Ahavas Yisrael on Fire - Commanded to Hate?

May 6, 2024

6:26

Did you know that you might have a Mitzva to hate certain people?

139

Acharei Mos - The Aharon Effect

May 2, 2024

13:45

All 410 years of the first Bais Hamikdash were credited to Aharon. Why? What was it about him specifically? The answer might surprise you.

140

Metzora/Shabbos Hagadol - The Subtle Art of Loving the Sinner and Hating the Sin

Apr 18, 2024

7:49

A burst of inspiration for Shabbos Hagadol Parshas Metzora

141

VLK - 9 - Ahavas Yisrael on Fire - The Mother of Sin

Apr 14, 2024

4:46

Statistically speaking there might be one sin you do more than any other. It would then behoove all of us to try to trample it before it tramples us.

142

Tazria - Gossip and Bars of Soap

Apr 10, 2024

15:56

No sin in the entire Torah is given as much attention as the sin of Loshon Hara/gossip. It is the proverbial mother of all sins. The King of Iniquities. The question is why? Why is it so bad? How did it climb the mountain of sin and plant itself on the top? The answer might surprise you.

143

VLK 8 - Ahavas Yisrael on Fire - Lessons from a Blind Man

Apr 5, 2024

4:05

I once sat down next to a blind man at a café and I asked him if there is anything he is grateful for due to his blindness. What he told me might surprise you.

144

VLK - 7 - Ahavas Yisrael on Fire- Liking People We Don't Like

Mar 27, 2024

5:34

VLK is not a commandment to like the people we like. Its a commandment to like the people we don't.

145

VLK - 6 The Mantra of Judaism

Mar 25, 2024

4:23

Virtually every single Tefilla we say ends off with asking Hashem for peace

146

Vayikra - The Speed Dial Effect

Mar 20, 2024

7:32

Every single time Hashem spoke to Moshe he would first call out to him with a "Vayikra". Yet the Torah only mentions it in three places. Why? The answer might inspire you.

147

Vayakel- The Lion Ability

Mar 8, 2024

11:02

How did these simple Jews in the desert learn the skills required to build the Mishkan; an extremely intricate and sophisticated building? Weren't these Jews mere slaves in Egypt for hundreds of years? From where did they get the architectural know how to build this complicated building? The answer might surprise you!

148

VLK - Ahavas Yisrael on Fire - 4

Feb 28, 2024

4:02

Much like the rest of nature, man is immensely selfish. We spend almost 96% of our brainpower thinking about ourselves. That being the case, how is it possible to love someone the same way you love yourself? The answer might surprise you.

149

Ki Sisa- The Righteous by Association Sin

Feb 28, 2024

9:25

How could the Jews, who just prior witnessed God split a Sea and then talk to them from atop a mountain, possibly bow down to a golden calf? What in the world were they thinking? And why did they choose a calf of all animals to serve? Why not something a little more powerful? Like a polar bear or a Komodo dragon? Why a calf? The answer might surprise you.

150

Re'eh- Holy Binoculars

Aug 7, 2023

14:16

The Torah in its abundant concern for the poor in our society put in place many Mitzvos ensuring we give parts of our crop to the needy. Whats strange is one of those agricultural Mitzvos is Maaser Sheni which commands us to take our crop to the city of Yerushalayim and simply eat it there. We dont give anything to the poor. We didn't sing any song. We didn't chant any spiritual chant. We just showed up, ate and returned. What was the point of this Mitzvah? What are we accomplishing? The answer might surprise you.