Jerusalem Lights

This week's Torah portion of Tetzaveh introduces us to the world of the kohanim, the priestly descendants of Aaron, and their garments of glory. Nowhere else does Torah give such elaborate detailed instructions, as it does for the making of these holy garments. In this week's Jerusalem Lights podcast, Jim Long and Rabbi Chaim Richman ponder G-d's eternal covenant with the kohanim which...

In this week's Jerusalem Lights podcast, Rabbi Chaim Richman is joined by his wife Rena for an inspiring discussion focusing on this week's Torah portion of Terumah, and the centrality and importance of the Holy Temple in our everyday lives...a microcosm of creation; a place of revelation; but yet a place of subtle, ever-present miracles that testify to God's constant present in our ev...

Are we 'tied to the law,' or are we liberated by the law? This week's Torah portion of parashat Mishpatim (Ordinances) is filled with commandments governing civil and societal interactions -- property damages, loans, servants, judicial conduct. At first glance, these seem dry compared to the dramatic spiritual events of the Exodus and the Giving of the Torah. But a deeper look reveals...

Every soul, both Jewish and non-Jewish, heard God's voice at Mount Sinai. The Sinai Revelation was an event that validated creation and demonstrated God's profound love for this world and His resolute belief in man. The Giving of the Torah was an event that transcends time and continues to take place every day. In this week's Jerusalem Lights podcast, Rabbi Richman and co-host Jim Long...

This week's Jerusalem Lights podcast sees our hosts together in person, united in Jerusalem. Jim Long's visits to Israel always make for a special program! Jim and Rabbi Chaim Richman explore the theme of faith that resounds throughout this week's Torah portion of B'shalach, touching upon everything from the splitting of the sea, to a secret excursion to find some left-over manna i...

In part II of our focus on the Ten Plagues, this week's Jerusalem Lights podcast focuses on the last three plagues as featured in the Torah portion of Bo: locusts, darkness and the slaying of the firstborn. Jim Long and Rabbi Chaim Richman take up their discussion and delve into the rich sources of the Midrash and Oral Tradition , and with his inimitable scholarship and expertise, Jim Long con...

The ten plagues that God visited upon Egypt served to temporarily return creation to a state of chaos and judgement, contrasting with the Genesis narrative where order and life were brought forth from the primordial waters. In this edition of the Jerusalem Lights podcast, Jim Long and Rabbi Chaim Richman ponder the deep symbolism of the plagues ...not just physical but cosmic forces that directly...

As the Book of Exodus commences, 'a new king arose' who did not know Joseph. How did it transpire, after Joseph saved the Egyptian nation from starvation, that the Israelites in Egypt went from savior status to that of pariah, in just one generation? Jim Long brings fascinating background sources as he and Rabbi Chaim Richman ponder Pharaoh's motivation in enslaving the Children of Israel and the...

The Book of Genesis draws to a close with this week's Torah portion of Va'yechi. The patriarch Jacob spent his happiest years reunited with Yosef in Egypt...but if father and son were so close, why is it that Yosef rarely saw his father, and why didn't Yosef ever spend any time alone with him? In this week's Jerusalem Lights podcast, Jim Long and Rabbi Chaim Richman take a close look at these last...

The light-filled holiday of Chanukah marks the victory of Israel over the forces of Hellenism. When the Greek invaders defiled the Holy Temple and attempted to force the Jews to assimilate into their idolatrous culture, they outlawed Torah study, circumcision, and the observance of Shabbat and Rosh Chodesh, the New Moon. What do these things share in common, and why did they specifically draw the...

The star of this week's Torah portion of Miketz is Joseph, who goes from being a prisoner in jail, to being the most powerful man in Egypt...on account of other people's dreams. Yosef's interpretation and advice is based on the wisdom of Divine inspiration, and his sterling character is synonymous with purity and righteousness. So why didn't his own brothers recognize him? And why did Joseph arran...

This week's Jerusalem Lights podcast focuses on our Torah portion of Va'yishlach, which continues the adventures of the patriarch Yaakov, and demonstrates the sages' principle of 'that which happened to the fathers, is a sign for the children.' Jim Long and Rabbi Chaim Richman reflect upon the idea that Yaakov transcends his personal history, as the events of his life become templates, taking on t...

Why did the patriarch Yaakov (Jacob) just happen to stop at 'the place', as he escaped from the wrath of his brother Esav, only to dream there of God speaking to him from the top of a ladder reaching into heaven? What is the significance of this 'ladder,' and how did this experience help to prepare him for his sojourn with the crafty Laban? Join Jim Long and Rabbi Chaim Richman for this week's int...

Midrash teaches us that Abraham and Sarah knew a secret about 'reversing the aging process'...the older they got, the more they seem to exude the evocative concept of eternal youth. Jim Long and Rabbi Chaim Richman discover that there is no contradiction, as they share amazing Torah insights that open up new dimensions of understanding the lives and legacy of Abraham and Sarah, and what these grea...

Abraham's faith was tested ten times, and the 'Binding of Isaac' was the climax and most difficult of all these tests. The truth is that God tests all of us, through the difficult challenges we confront in life. But why does God test us? Doesn't He know in advance if we will pass or fail? So what does it prove? Tune in to this week's Jerusalem Lights podcast as Jim Long and Rabbi Chaim Richman pon...

Jim Long and Rabbi Chaim Richman welcome special guest Rabbi Daniel Kohn. Rabbi Daniel is an acclaimed Torah scholar and spiritual mentor, author, musician and composer, whose original melodies are featured in the unique meditative techniques he teaches. Tune in for a fascinating broadcast featuring Rabbi Daniel's amazing Torah insights, music, and much more! _________ Rabbi Chaim Richman Jerusale...

What was the spiritual knowledge and ancient wisdom of the early generations that was studied by men like Enoch and Methuselah? Jim Long and Rabbi Chaim Richman discuss G-d's relationship with the early spiritual giants of Genesis, and the secret of staying connected to G-d through the covenant of the Seven Universal Commandments that the Creator bequeathed to all humanity through Adam and Noah…an...

Jim Long and Rabbi Chaim Richman invite you into their respective sukkot as they celebrate the joyous festival with Torah insights, and prepare for the upcoming annual reset of our weekly Torah readings, with a timely and fascinating discussion of the Torah portion of B'reishith. Chag Sameach, blessings for a joyous Sukkot to all! _________ Rabbi Chaim Richman Jerusalem Lights | Torah for Everyone...

Fresh from the exhilarating restart of Yom Kippur, the nation of Israel prepares to enter into a Divine hug of the temporary booth, the Sukkah, for seven days. What is the secret power of the Sukkah, that brings us to a pinnacle of joy, even as it reminds us that we are all only temporary dwellers on this earth? Jim Long and Rabbi Chaim Richman prepare for the Festival of Sukkot and reflect on its...

The holiest day of the year, Yom Kippur -- the Day of Atonement -- will be observed this Shabbat, beginning Friday night, October 11th. What makes this holy day, the happiest day of the year as well? This week's Jerusalem Lights podcast examines the answer, which lies in understanding the essence of sin, repentance and atonement -- the dynamic of life itself. Yom Kippur is a day that manifests the...

This week's double Torah reading of the portions of Nitzavim and Vayelech feature many themes that resonate with Rosh Hashana, the New Year and birthday of Adam, that will be observed next week. In this week's Jerusalem Lights podcast, Jim Long and Rabbi Chaim Richman focus on what Rosh Hashana is really all about, and reflect on its universal spiritual lessons and challenges for Jew and G...

This week's Torah portion of Ki Teitzei features 74 mitzvot, some of the most interesting and diverse, in all of Torah. Some of them are very easy to understand, and others are very difficult to understand, such as the captive woman, and the concept of sending away the mother bird… is there is an underlying major theme that connects many of these mitzvot, especially as we continue to prepare f...

This week's Torah portion of Ki Teitzei features 74 mitzvot, some of the most interesting and diverse, in all of Torah. Some of them are very easy to understand, and others are very difficult to understand, such as the captive woman, and the concept of sending away the mother bird… is there is an underlying major theme that connects many of these mitzvot, especially as we continue to prepare f...

In this week's Torah portion of Shoftim , we encounter the 'priest anointed for battle,' the exemptions from battle and the general Divinely-mandated rules of conduct for Israel at war. In this week's Jerusalem Lights podcast, Jim Long and Rabbi Chaim Richman examine the profound implications of these teachings and their relevance to the existential threats and ongoing hostage cris...

During these weeks of the Torah readings in the book of Deuteronomy, the presence of Moshe Rabbeinu (Moses our teacher)  is palpable, as he pours out his heart with love and concern for the future of Israel. In this week's Jerusalem Lights podcast, recorded on the ancient/modern Biblical festival of Tu B'av, Jim Long and Rabbi Chaim Richman reflect upon the inexorable bond between Moshe, T...