Jerusalem Lights

In this week's Jerusalem Lights podcast, Jim Long wraps up his trip to Israel before heading back to Arkansas with the story of his trip to Amman, Jordan - but wait for the surprise ending! Our hosts ponder the meaning of the sages' enigmatic expression, reflecting vast theological truths, that 'G-d is the place of the world, but the world is not His place.' What does that mean? Ra...

Jim Long is in Israel this week working on an exciting project: the filming of a new documentary on the elusive subject of the Holy Temple Incense. Jim shares some details about this project, and his research, in this week's Jerusalem Lights podcast. Our hosts also discuss, with great anticipation, the upcoming publication of a fascinating volume of Torah knowledge on this very subject by the...

The beginning of Chapter 25 in the Torah portion of Chayei Sarah features several enigmatic and mysterious verses. Torah speaks of Abraham taking another wife after Sarah's death...Keturah. What is the true identity of this woman? What is the meaning of the 'gifts' that Abraham gave to his other children...and why did he send them off 'to the land of the East?' In this week&#39...

In this week's Jerusalem Lights podcast, our hosts discuss the forefather Abraham's amazing dedication to caring for strangers, a reflection of his dedication to all Hashem's creations...even praying for the wicked people of Sodom to be spared in the merit of a few righteous. Jim Long and Rabbi Chaim Richman discuss the concept of this powerful merit, the tradition of the 36 hidden rig...

In this first new episode in several weeks of our Jerusalem Lights podcast, Jim Long and Rabbi Chaim Richman are excited to be back together, as they examine some of the unusual aspects of this week's Torah portion of Lech Lecha: Abraham and Sarah begin to set the stage of history in ways that will profoundly effect their descendants, and all the world. The teachings and educational activities...

What is the secret of repentance and how does one actually go about it? What does 'atonement' mean and what is so special about Yom Kippur, the 'Day of Atonement', when we pray for our names to be 'sealed' in the Book of Life? Jim Long and Rabbi Chaim Richman prepare for the arrival of the awesome day...the day when God promises forgiveness and rebirth - and a brand new sta...

Rosh Hashanah is almost here…but it's not the 'Jewish' New Year! It's Adam's birthday, and the most significant day of the year, 'New Years Day' for the whole world...the time of judgment for all his descendants. In this week's Jerusalem Lights podcast, Jim Long and Rabbi Chaim Richman talk about the tremendous spiritual power and potential of this holy time, and why it is called by Torah the 'day...

This month of Elul is the month of return; a time for forgiveness and reconciliation; of acts of kindness, and sincere self-examination. Elul is not only about believing in G-d...it beckons us to start to truly believe in ourselves; in our own potential to re-connect with our true selves. In this week's Jerusalem Lights podcast, Jim Long and Rabbi Chaim Richman look at some of the spiritual go...

The Torah portion of Re'eh features the slow and subtle reveal of 'the Place that He will choose', where the Creator will rest His name in this world, ultimately, in the prophetic vision of the future, all creation will be rectified....ushering in the final era of universal harmony throughout all strata of creation. In the meantime, what is our relationship with the animal world? What...

In this week's Jerusalem Lights podcast, Rabbi Chaim Richman shares his experiences of prayer on the Temple Mount, and the odyssey of a prayer journey to the graves of the tzaddikim (the righteous) in Ukraine. What is the concept of prayer at these places? What is the 'pitchfork' of prayer, and why did Moshe's 515 prayers to enter the Land of Israel go unanswered? Jim Long and Rabb...

Why do we still mourn the loss of the Holy Temple 1,955 years after its destruction? What is missing from the world without it, and what would it mean to have it back again? What is the true message of Tisha B'Av for Israel and the whole world? In this week's Jerusalem Lights Podcast, Jim Long and Rabbi Chaim Richman discuss the meaning of the Holy Temple for the whole world, and reflect o...

This week's reading of the two Torah portions of Mattot and Masei bring the Book of Numbers to a close, as Moshe prepares the people for battle with Midian, even as he knows his departure from this world will follow. But what does it really mean for an immortal soul to leave this world? Why does Torah describe death as 'to be gathered?' Join Jim Long and Rabbi Chaim Richman in this wee...

The Torah portion of Pinchas introduces a new type of leader, for a new generation. Now begins the era of the Land of Israel, which will not be about being led by Heaven, but rather about man making the first move...man taking the initiative for the honor of God. In this week's Jerusalem Lights podcast, Jim Long and Rabbi Chaim Richman connect the dots between every aspect of this amazing Tora...

The heathen prophet Bilaam’s unique talent and prophetic edge was in knowing the precise split-second when Hashem’s attribute of judgment is awakened. He sought out this fraction of a second, so fleeting that it could not be measured, in order to utter his curses with greatest effect. But his curses turned to blessings, and his words became conduits for Divine light. In this week's Jerusalem L...

Even in our generation wherein we face the ubiquitous and incessant bombardment of constant information, there are things we simply can't know....ever...like the secret of the Red Heifer in this week's Torah portion of Chukat...and the mystery of the soul after death. Join Jim Long and Rabbi Chaim Richman as they contemplate the 'inscrutable' dimensions of this Torah portion, which...

Who was Korach, the Levitical antagonist who rose up and tried to lead a rebellion against Moshe…and against God Himself? What was his true agenda, and what can we learn from him, and his remarkable, 'out of this world' punishment of being swallowed up by the 'mouth of the earth?' Join Jim Long and Rabbi Chaim Richman in this week's episode of the Jerusalem Lights podcast as th...

This week's Jerusalem Lights podcast was recorded by Jim Long and Rabbi Chaim Richman on the fourth day of Israel's Operation Rising Lion campaign. Is this the battle that will usher in the final redemption? Our hosts discuss the spiritual underpinnings of what is transpiring at this decisive and momentous time in history, as well as the prophetic implications on a global scale, and the ch...

The soul is the essence of a person...but what happens to the soul at night? Jim Long and Rabbi Chaim Richman share the Torah's perspective on the soul's journey at night, and discuss the beautiful 'modeh ani' prayer recited upon awakening. This week's episode of the Jerusalem Lights podcast also revisits the enigmatic Sotah's experience and examines the Bride and Groom aspect of G-d's relationshi...

The journey from Passover to Shavuot goes by way of the bridge of the days of counting the Omer. This last week of counting the Omer is all about declaring God to be King, and emulating Him through our every action...in preparation for reliving the Giving of the Torah on Mount Sinai, this upcoming Shavuot. Join Jim Long and Rabbi Chaim Richman for this week's pre-Shavuot episode of the Jerusal...

This week's Jerusalem Lights podcast breathes a heavy sigh and considers the massive desecration of G-d's name (chilul Hashem) as Israel is maligned while she continues to defend herself and fight for her very survival. Foreseen by the prophets, this is a decisive factor in the advent of the Redemption. Jim Long and Rabbi Chaim Richman discuss the profound concept of the 'Shemita'...

In this week's Jerusalem Lights podcast, Jim Long and Rabbi Chaim Richman explore the themes of boundaries, spiritual perception and empathy as they find expression in our Torah portions. We share some amazing insights into one of Torah's most beloved, oft-quoted and universally resonant commandments: 'And you shall love your neighbor as yourself.' What does it really mean to love...

The Torah portions of Tazria and Metzora feature the concentric circles of the Biblical 'disease' known as tzarat....appearing as blotches in one's skin, or garments, or even the walls of the home. What is the mystery of this phenomena? In this week's Jerusalem Lights podcast, Jim Long and Rabbi Chaim Richman share amazing insights of Torah wisdom and draw practical lessons for tod...

In this week's brand-new post-Passover Jerusalem Lights podcast, Jim Long and Rabbi Chaim Richman explore the inner world of Aaron's sons Nadav and Avihu, who offered 'a strange fire' and left this world before their time. Were they saints or sinners? Our hosts reveal that actually, their ecstatic yearning for closeness to God wasn't sin...it was holiness without balance. We ne...

This week's Torah portion of Pekudei witnesses the completion of the desert Tabernacle, whose chief artisan was Betzalel. The sages teach that Betzalel - whose name literally means 'in the shadow of God' - possessed a unique wisdom: "He knew how to combine the letters with which heaven and earth were created.' What does that mean? In this week's Jerusalem Lights Podcast, J...

What is the secret of the sages' enigmatic teaching that the Golden Calf 'emerged from the fire' on its own? What happens when people develop a dependency on the gods of their own creation -- a spiritual addiction -- only to become enslaved to the idol, which turns on its maker, with a 'life' of its own? In this week's Jerusalem Lights podcast, Jim Long and Rabbi Chaim Rich...