Jerusalem Lights

Parashat Shmini - The Red Heifer: Faith that Transcends Knowledge       In this week’s Jerusalem Lights podcast, Jim Long and Rabbi Chaim Richman reflect on the convergence of the Torah portion of Shmini with the ‘Sabbath of the Red Heifer,’ and the eternal truths we learn from the untimely deaths of Aaron’s sons Nadav and Avihu. What does it mean to really serve G-d in this wo...

The Historical Record of Purim and the Struggle to Rebuild the Holy Temple    In honor of Purim, Jim Long and Rabbi Chaim Richman shed light on the Purim story as told by the Scroll of Esther, beginning with the Fast of Esther and its remarkable power of prayer. Our hosts present unique Torah thoughts, fascinating historical and archeological information, and spiritual insights that moti...

Parashat Vayikra - Secrets of Leviticus: Sensitivity to the Sanctity of Life     This week we begin our weekly Torah readings in the book of Leviticus, called ‘the heart of Torah,’ featuring the much-misunderstood Temple offerings, which teach man to be sensitive to the sanctity of all life….especially to human life, for man was created in the Divine image. In this week’s Jerusalem...

Parashat Pekudei As the world witnesses Russia’s brutal invasion of Ukraine and its terrible cost in lives, Jim Long and Rabbi Chaim Richman ponder the prophets’ vision of the unity of all mankind, and pray for the plight of all who are suffering from this devastation. Our hosts examine the patterns of Divine synchronicity that connect the Tabernacle, the Month of Adar…and Vladimir Putin.   _...

Parashat Shekalim: Only a Half Can Become Whole   The construction of the tabernacle in this week’s Torah portion of Vayakhe l was a work of the heart: Israel’s response in coming forward with the materials to build the sanctuary is described as ‘everyone whose heart motivates him; every wise-hearted person, everyone whose heart inspired him…’ – Why is this commandment, more than any other, s...

Parashat Ki Tisa Shema Yisrael: One G-d Acknowledged by the Whole World  Is Torah study only for Jewish people, or can non-Jews access its wisdom freely? Is it permitted or forbidden? Is it merely tolerated, or warmly encouraged? There seems to be lots of confusion and many opinions. Jim Long and Rabbi Chaim Richman weigh in on this vitally important question, and look to the Torah itself and...

Parashat Tetzeveh Plain Talk about the Jewish Belief in the Coming of the Messiah   Jim Long and Rabbi Chaim Richman answer a listener’s email and share a frank, direct and informative conversation about the Jewish belief in the coming of the messiah…what does Torah teach us about who he is, who he isn’t, what he does, and how we will know that he is the real thing? A podcast not to miss! &nb...

Parashat Terumah It’s a joyful return to the Land of Israel for Jim Long! Our hosts are united and broadcast this week’s podcast side by side, together from  Jerusalem. Jim provides a unique Noahide’s perspective on why the Land  of Israel should be important to non-Jews, and Rabbi Chaim Richman  explains the challenge that we all face during these dark, dystopian  days: Whose...

PARASHAT MISHPATIM This week’s Torah portion of Mishpatim (Ordinances) is firmly anchored in this very physical world…but yet, it is a perfect continuation of the  thunderous, Divine Sinai Revelation. Torah was given for people to keep in this world! These commandments are an expression of G-d’s will for  Israel to establish a just, caring society, and they infuse our everyday  live...

Parashat Yitro As the newly freed nation of Israel prepares to receive the Torah at Mount Sinai, enter our portion’s namesake…Yitro, the father in law of Moshe. Yitro, a man with seven names, was once the world’s most accomplished idolatrous priest…but his true sincerity, humility and integrity lead him to embrace the One G-d of Israel, and the inspiring tale of his life is the timeless story of a...

Parashat Beshalach What was it about the Splitting of the Red Sea that caused Moshe and the Children of Israel to burst into song, for the first time? And why doesn’t G-d perform miracles for us today? Jim Long and Rabbi Chaim Richman share thoughts and exchange views about Hollywood movies, the challenge of making a living…and faith in G-d! Especially when it comes to belief in the immortality of...

Parashat Bo The final three of the ten plagues, locusts, darkness and the slaying of the firstborn, are visited upon Egypt....leading directly to the Exodus. What is the significance and meaning that these Divinely-orchestrated wonders have for us today? Pharaoh is not just an ancient Egyptian king, but an archetype that still seeks to control us through fear and doubt. Our portion teaches us that...

Parashat Va'era The Torah portion of Va’era features seven of the ‘Ten Plagues’ that the Creator brought upon Egypt. Pharaoh, called by the prophet Ezekiel ‘the great alligator of the Nile,’ was the King of Denial – he denied G-d’s existence altogether. In this week’s episode of Jerusalem Lights, Jim Long and Rabbi Chaim Richman illuminate that the primary purpose of these plagues was to demonstra...

Parashat Shemot This week’s Torah portion of parashat Shemot (‘Names’) begins the Book of Exodus. In a flash, the generation of Joseph and his brothers have passed, and a new king arises in the land of Egypt ‘who did not know Joseph.’ The children of Israel ‘were fruitful, teemed, increased….and the land became filled with them,’ much to the chagrin of Pharaoh, who began to devise a solution to hi...

Parashat Va'Yechi The book of B’reishith reaches its conclusion this week in the Torah portion of Parashat Va’yechi. The time draws near for the patriarch Yaakov to depart from this world, and he seeks to bless his children and prepare them for their upcoming exile and future Redemption. The era of Yosef is coming to an end. In this week’s Jerusalem Lights podcast, our hosts share some plain and f...

Parashat Va'yigash The dramatic, destiny-driven ‘close encounter’ of Yosef and his brothers in the Torah portion of Va’yigash coincides with three ‘days of darkness’ coming up next week: the 8th, 9th, and the Fast Day of the 10th of this Hebrew month of Tevet. This week’s Jerusalem Lights podcast ponders the significance of the historical events recalled by these days: The forced translation of th...

Episode # 93 The Torah portion of Parashat Miketz focuses on Joseph’s meteoric rise to power. Joseph’s dreams earned him the enmity of his brothers, and the special garment that his father Jacob presented to him was a major source of their ill-will towards him. But the Torah’s secrets reveal that this was no ordinary coat, and the amazing backstory of Joseph’s famed ‘coat of many colors’ is the ke...

Parashat Va'yeshev The beloved holiday of Chanukah, the ‘Festival of Lights,’ always coincides with the reading of the weekly Torah portions that focus on Yosef, the ‘Master of Dreams,’ favorite son of the patriarch Jacob. This week’s Torah portion of Va’yeshev introduces the young Yosef and we witness the treachery inflicted upon him by his own brothers, and his descent into the idolatrous, licen...

Parashat Va'yishlach This week’s Torah portion of Vayishlach presents a sprawling array of  many of the seminal events in the life of the patriarch Jacob. This  amazing, towering figure, a paragon of truth and righteousness, had  angels at his command and was the recipient of many Divine miracles. Yet  by own admission he felt ‘diminished,’ ‘small’ in his own eyes…unworthy &nbs...

Parashat Va'Yeitzei A sense of urgency and a strong pull of Divine providence direct the events in this week’s Torah portion of parashat Va’yeitzei, as Yaakov Avinu, the patriarch Jacob, goes from the proverbial frying pan into the fire. Seeking to escape the wrath of his brother Esav, he must contend with the conniving, manipulative Laban. The children of Israel are born to Leah, Rachel, Bilhah a...

Parashat Toldot To sleep, perchance to dream… This week’s Jerusalem Lights podcast takes a look at dreams, as we prepare to welcome the month of Kislev, the month of the spiritual ‘fixing’ of sleep and dreams. Some dreams are prophetic, and the energy of this upcoming month is focused on the miraculous…as embodied by the upcoming Festival of Chanukah. This week’s Torah portion of parashat Toldot d...

Parashat Chayei Sarah The Torah portion of Chayei Sarah features only two concepts: the death of Sarah and her burial at the ‘double cave’ in Hebron, and Eliezer’s mission to find a wife for Isaac. Yet a major theme connects these events: the true meaning of the continuum of the generations, and a deeper understanding of Hashem’s promise of life after death. In this week’s Jerusalem Lights podcast...

Parashat Va'yera Abraham’s very essence was a reflection of G-d’s attribute of kindness, and by bestowing acts of kindness – by emulating his Maker --  Abraham was able to bring others to awareness of the Creator and bring G-dly light into the world. In our illusory world wherein everyone seems to be looking out for themselves and putting each other down, Abraham teaches us that a simple act...

Parashat Lech Lecha This week’s Torah portion of parashat Lech Lecha introduces Avraham Avinu – the patriarch Abraham, the original iconoclast and spiritual revolutionary who discovered the One True G-d on his own, and singlehandedly battled against a world sunk in idolatry. Abraham bequeathed the knowledge of Hashem to the world, brought faith to humanity, and rekindled hope for mankind. What fue...

Parashat Noach -   The Universal Noahide Laws, the Bedrock of Human Existence      This week we welcome the new month of Mar Cheshvan, a time of inner spiritual transformation. It’s the month of the beginning of the rainfalls of blessing in the Land of Israel, and yet it's also the time in which the Great Flood began…and this week’s Torah portion of parashat Noach focuses...