Jerusalem Lights

Parashat Matot, the first of this week's double Torah portions of Matot-Masei, (beginning in Numbers 30), opens with the subject of oaths and vows. Man’s ability to speak is a true reflection of the Divine image in which he is created, and his words have the power to create-- as well as to destroy. If he uses his words wisely, he can truly emulate God and bring blessing to the world. This week...

In the Torah portion of Pinchas (Num. 25:10), Pinchas, grandson of the High Priest Aaron, 'zealously avenged God's vengeance' and received both a covenant of peace, and a covenant of eternal priesthood. Who was this man? What empowered his deed, and what is the nature of this special status he was given? In this week's Jerusalem Lights podcast, Jim Long and Rabbi Chaim Richman cons...

The Torah portion of Balak introduces us to the shadowy character of Bilaam, a heathen prophet who tried to manipulate G-d's will to suit his own agenda. He was an itinerant occultist who, way back then, sought to prove that Israel does not have the right to exist. In this week's Jerusalem Lights podcast, Jim Long and Rabbi Chaim Richman examine the mysterious prophet through a contemporar...

In this era of AI, humans are inundated with information, and the answer to any question is just a click away. But yet the Torah portion of Chukat, with its inscrutable ordinance of the Red Heifer, conveys a different message: There are mysteries in this world; sacred secrets that we will never understand. Indeed, the secret of the Red Heifer seems to stand in diametric opposition to the very esse...

Everything begins to unravel for the Generation of the Desert in the Torah portion of Shelach. The debacle of the sin of the spies leaves its mark on the nation for generations to come, leading to the tragedies of Tisha B'Av and changing history forever. In this week's edition of the Jerusalem Lights podcast, Jim Long and Rabbi Chaim Richman ask some hard questions about this epic trauma,...

The Torah portion of Behalotcha presents a 'slice of life' of the Children of Israel in the Wilderness. It opens with the inspiring scene of Aaron lighting the flames of the golden menorah at G-d's command, literally 'be'halotcha,' causing the lights to rise straight up. In this week's Jerusalem Lights podcast, Jim Long and Rabbi Chaim Richman share their thoughts on le...

Why is there now a divergence between the weekly Torah reading in the Land of Israel, and that of the rest of the world, over the next few weeks? In this week's Jerusalem Lights podcast, Jim Long and Rabbi Chaim Richman discuss the inner meaning of this temporary disparity. Our hosts share their deeply spiritual, contemporary perspective on the unique characters featured in the Torah portion o...

This week we will be observing the Festival of Shavuot (literally, 'Weeks'), also called the Festival of First Fruits. It's the anniversary of the Giving of the Torah at Mount Sinai, known as 'the Sinai Revelation.' This seminal occurrence is the fount from which knowledge of Torah flows throughout the generations, to this very day. In this week's Jerusalem Lights podcast,...

The 28th day of the month of Iyar is 'Jerusalem Day,' a modern-day holiday of Biblical proportions. This is the anniversary of the day, 59 years ago, that Jerusalem was liberated and unified under Jewish sovereignty in the miraculous 1967 Six Day War. In this week's Jerusalem Lights podcast, Jim Long and Rabbi Chaim Richman discuss the unparalleled prophetic significance of Jerusalem.....

This week Israel observed the 'minor' holiday of Lag B'Omer - the 33rd day of the Counting of the Omer. What is the story behind this day? Jim Long and Rabbi Chaim Richman reflect on the history of the great sage Rabbi Akiva and his student Rabbi Shimon bar Yochai, who rebelled against Roman occupation of the Land of Israel, and is credited with authoring the Zohar. What is the role of...

In this week's Jerusalem Lights podcast, Jim Long and Rabbi Chaim Richman find great inspiration in the many deep teachings contained in this week's Torah portion of Emor. Our hosts reflect on the unique Divine guidelines entrusted to the kohanim, the descendants of Aaron who serve in the Holy Temple...guidelines that are intended to nurture deep spiritual sensitivity to the true reality o...

In this week’s Jerusalem Lights podcast, Jim Long and Rabbi Chaim Richman share their perspectives on the miracle that is the State of Israel, and the connections between Israel's Memorial Day for Fallen Soldiers and Independence Day, and this week's Torah portions. Our hosts reflect on Israel's unique mission in the saga of human history, and examine the times we are living in the lig...

This week's double Torah readings of the portions of Tazria and Metzora focus on the high level of spiritual sensitivity that Torah beckons us to cultivate: sensitivity to the miracle of birth, to relationships, to how we treat others… and to how we speak about others. Jim Long and Rabbi Chaim Richman discuss the unprecedented and inimitable Biblical phenomena known as 'tzaraat' – a Di...

Passover is fast approaching...the universal Festival of Redemption. 'Chag HaPesach' marks the Exodus from Egypt and the birth of Israel as a nation, yet Passover also beckons to all people, Jew and Gentile alike, to renew faith and grab hold of true freedom...to march forward in a personal exodus. Jim Long and Rabbi Chaim Richman help us prepare for Passover with a lively discussion that...

This week witnesses the confluence of the entrance of the new month of Nisan, and the beginning of the weekly cycle of Torah readings in the Book of Vayikra (Leviticus). What's the connection? Jim Long and Rabbi Chaim Richman ponder the mysterious personal call of Leviticus, and the magnificent month of Nisan -- time of our past and future Redemption...as well as the time of the return of the...

In this week's Jerusalem Lights podcast, Jim Long and Rabbi Chaim Richman reflect on some of the spiritual implications of 'Operation Roaring Lion,' Israel's pre-emptive strike against Iran's rulers who had boasted of their plans of Israel's destruction. As the Hebrew calendar prepares to transition from the aspect of the hidden miracles of Adar to the revealed miracles of...

This week's Torah portion of Tetzaveh (Ex.27:20-30:10) mysteriously omits the name of Moshe, and though his presence is hidden, he is very much on the scene. But what's that all about? In this week's Jerusalem Lights podcast, Jim Long and Rabbi Chaim Richman explore this theme of hiddenness -- a major lesson of the Purim story, both past and present. Our hosts engage in a fascinating d...

The indescribable event of the Giving of Torah at Mount Sinai, highlighted by the Voice of G-d and the highest prophetic revelation, is grounded onto the earth through the Divine commandments that relate to the sanctification of everyday life, and circumstances of human interaction and conflict resolution which we find in the portion of Mishpatim. Fulfilling the Divine commandments in every situat...

Moshe's father-in-law Jethro, Yitro in Hebrew, had been the world's foremost pagan priest and idolatrous practitioner...but then he turned his life around completely, declaring that the God of Israel is the One True God. How does such a turnabout happen? What was the price he paid for clinging to the truth, and what are the lessons learned for today's spiritual seekers? In this week&#3...

What is the true connection between the Tanach – the Written Torah – and the vast body of teachings that has been handed down ever since the Sinai Revelation, known as the Oral Torah? In this week's Jerusalem Lights podcast, Jim Long and Rabbi Chaim Richman examine the sacred origin of this unified revelation, focusing on the Oral Torah as the continuous, living transmission that makes up the...

If free choice is of preeminent importance, why did God 'take away' Pharaoh's free choice by 'strengthening his heart?' Why did God initially command Moses to ask Pharaoh for permission for a three-day leave, if the intention was never to return? What happened to 4/5 of the Israelites who did not want to leave Egypt? In this week's edition of the Jerusalem Lights podcast, J...

As this week's Torah portion of Va'era begins, God seeks to clarify His Name...identifying Himself as YHVH, 'Hashem,' a name that 'He did not make known' (Ex. 6:3) to the forefathers. What is it about the Redemption from Egypt that demonstrates the uniqueness of God's name? How do we understand the implication and nuances of the various sacred names that are mentioned in the Torah...and why did Go...

As the drama of Egyptian exile begins to unfold in this week's Torah portion of Shemot, the family of Jacob begins to transition into the nation of Israel. The deepest truth is that this exile was written into Israel destiny long before...it has its roots in Abraham's prophetic experience at the 'Covenant between the Portions,' recorded in Genesis 15. In this week's podcast, Ji...

What is the secret that the patriarch Yaakov knew about the 'Shema Yisrael' ('Hear O Israel) prayer - the Torah's famous declaration of God's unique Oneness? And why do we close our eyes when we recite it? In this week's Jerusalem Lights podcast, Jim Long and Rabbi Chaim Richman share ideas that elevate our understanding of the 'Shema' prayer from a recitation, to a...

What is the true significance of the beloved holiday of Chanukah? What secret is conveyed by the 36 lights that are kindled over the holiday? Jim Long and Rabbi Chaim Richman explore the depth and meaning of Chanukah, its connection to Adam, the first man, and its eternal themes of spiritual struggle and the victory of faith, that are more relevant today than ever. Blessings for a joyous, light-fi...