Live With The Times: Daily Insights on Today’s Torah Portion

In this conversation, Maynard Breslow explores the sixth Aliyah of Veyera, discussing its seemingly insignificant nature and the deeper meanings behind Abraham's actions, including his covenant with Abimelech and the significance of the Eshel in Be'er Sheva. He emphasizes the importance of food as a connector in spirituality and encourages a joyful approach to spiritual growth and connection with...

In this episode, Maynard Breslow discusses the fifth Aliyah in Veyera, focusing on the birth of Yitzhak and the challenges faced by Abraham and Hagar. The conversation explores themes of divine testing, the importance of prayer, and the concept of Amunah (faith) in recognizing hidden blessings. Through the narrative of Hagar and Ishmael, Breslow emphasizes the significance of continuous prayer and...

Today on Live With The Times, Maynard Breslow explores the 4th Parshat Vayera, focusing on the stories of Lot, Abraham, and the births of Moab, Ben Ami, and Isaac. He delves into the complexities of these narratives, examining themes of survival, deception, and the role of prayer in spiritual growth. The discussion emphasizes the importance of the tzadik in guiding individuals towards a deeper und...

Today on Live With The Times, Maynard delves into the biblical story of Lot and the destruction of Sodom and Gomorah, drawing parallels to personal struggles with procrastination, doubt, and the search for purpose. The Torah emphasizes the importance of recognizing our inner conflicts, represented by the Yetzer Harah, and the need to find openings for growth and change. The discussion culminates i...

Today on Live With The Times, Maynard discusses the second Aliyah of Veyera, focusing on the themes of divine judgment, the missions of angels, and the importance of charity and justice in society. Maynard highlights Abraham's intercession for Sodom and Gomorrah, the nature of God's judgment, and the societal implications of charity and justice. The conversation emphasizes the need for compassion...

Today on Live With The Times, We delves into the themes of Parashah Vayera, focusing on Abraham's hospitality, the significance of Sarah's laughter, and the nature of angels. We discusses the role of Abraham in the spread of monotheism and the importance of both the written and oral Torah. The conversation emphasizes the need for big picture thinking in faith and the dangers of misinterpretation....

Today on Live With The Times, We delve into the themes of the weekly Torah portion Lech Lecha, focusing on the significance of the Bris Milah (circumcision) as a covenant between God and the Jewish people. We explores the spiritual dimensions of this practice, its implications for identity and community, and the importance of memory and forgetfulness in spiritual growth. The conversation emphasize...

Today on Live With The Times, we're delving into the 6th Aliyah of Parshas Lech Lecha, where we see a pivotal moment in Avraham's journey: the covenant, the bris, and the birth of Ishmael. The Covenant of the Parts: Hashem appears to Avraham, not yet Avraham Avinu, and commands him to take animals, split them, and walk between the parts. This act symbolizes a commitment to a covenant with Hashem a...

Today, we're exploring the 2nd Aliyah of Parshas Lech Lecha, and how it relates to our own journeys in this world. The Test of Descent: We discussed how Avraham Avinu faced a challenge: a famine forced him to descend to Egypt, seemingly a negative event. This parallels our own experiences where following Hashem's guidance can lead us to seemingly difficult situations. The Importance of Trust and E...

Today on Live With The Times, we're digging into the 3rd Aliyah of Parshas Lech Lecha, exploring the story of Avraham Avinu and Lot's separation. The Descent into Materialism: We discussed how Lot, representing the "evil inclination," gained great wealth alongside Avraham. But with wealth came ego and the desire for independence. Lot's people clashed with Avraham's, highlighting the subtle way mat...

This week, we're diving into the 5th Aliyah of Parshas Lech Lecha, where we encounter a fascinating exchange between Avraham Avinu and the King of Sodom. Key Takeaways: Avraham's unwavering faith in Hashem guided his actions, even when faced with seemingly lucrative temptations. True miracles come from our actions – acts of charity and unwavering faith in Hashem. It's crucial to overcome the "vaca...

In this episode I delves into the 4th Aliyah of Parshas Lech Lecha, exploring the "War of the Kings" narrative and its deeper meaning. Key Themes: The Torah as Code: The Parsha is presented as a complex code, with every letter and word playing a crucial role in understanding its deeper meaning. The War of the Kings: The episode analyzes the epic battle between Abraham Avinu and the kings, highligh...

In this episode I dive into Parshas Lech Lecha, examining the story of Abraham Avinu and its connection to Noah's journey. Key Themes: 1. Abraham Avinu as a "Tzadik" & Kiruv: The Parsha highlights Abraham's role as a righteous individual tasked with bringing people closer to Hashem. 2. Learning from Noah's Failure: While Noah attempted Kiruv, his efforts were largely unsuccessful. Abraham's jo...

In this shiur, Maynard Breslow explores the concept of Sinat Chinam (baseless hatred) and its relevance to Tisha B'Av. Maynard reflects on the significance of Tisha B'Av and the destruction of the Temple, emphasizing the importance of introspection and personal change. He discusses the idea of harboring hatred in one's heart and the need to make amends and seek forgiveness. Maynard als...

In this conversation, Maynard talks about the 1st Aliyah in the Torah portion of Matot Maaseh. Find more episodes of  Mamash Mavericks (https://mamash.ai/podcasts/seven-complete-weeks-counting-the-omer/)   Apple (https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/seven-complete-weeks-counting-the-omer/id1747190949) Spotify (https://open.spotify.com/show/0SmByuJeaum0foP0WDrSOL) YouTube (https://www.youtube.com/...

In this shiur on the 2nd aliyah of the Torah portion of Balak, Maynard Breslow emphasizes the importance of following Hashem's will above all else as opposed to putting our faith in broken systems. He warns against putting our trust in politicians or human beings, and instead encourages us to trust in Hashem's perfect and loving Divine Providence. Maynard also highlights the significance o...

In this shiur on the 1st aliyah of the Torah portion of Balak, Maynard discusses Balaam and Balak. The Jewish people play a minimal role in the Parsha, as it primarily focuses on Balaam's attempt to curse them. The speaker emphasizes the importance of recognizing that everything is designed by the Ultimate Creator and Director of the Universe.  ----------------------------------------------- F...

In this shiur on the 1st aliyah of the Torah portion of Korach, Maynard explores the consequences and dangers of atheistic ideologies which presents themselves as benevolent. Korach raises valid questions about the holiness of all people, but his true motivation is to uproot and dismantle the existing system in order to place himself in charge. This parallels the disillusionment and dissatisfactio...

In this shiur on 7th aliyah of the Torah portion of Shelach, Maynard discusses the themes of idolatry, forgiveness, Shabbat, and tzitzit. He explains that the spies and the generation of the desert lacked belief in themselves and in Hashem, leading them to worship themselves and seek their own desires. Maynard emphasizes the importance of recognizing that success comes from Hashem and not solely f...

In this shiur on 6th aliyah of the Torah portion of Shelach, Maynard discusses the concept of Challah and its deeper meaning. It emphasizes the importance of thinking about others and giving to others. The speaker shares a joke about corn on the cob to illustrate the idea that Challah is not just the bread, but the portion that is separated and given to the Kohen. The conversation also touches on...

In this shiur on 5th aliyah of the Torah portion of Shelach, Maynard discusses the connection between the meal offering and starting over after making mistakes. It emphasizes the importance of getting back to the basics and taking action to reconnect with Hashem. The meal offering is seen as a sacrifice of humility, reminding us not to be haughty and to treat others with respect. The conversation...

In this shiur on 4th aliyah of the Torah portion of Shelach, Maynard discusses the signficance of the korbanot right after the decree of having to wander 40 years in the desert. He talks about the importance of glorifying Hashem and praying for others. Maynard emphasizes the concept of removing the foreskin of the heart and how it makes us numb to the suffering of others. He encourages listeners t...

In this shiur on 3rd aliyah of the Torah portion of Shelach, Maynard discusses the theme of people getting caught up in craziness and hysteria, leading to negative consequences. It highlights the importance of guarding the covenant and living in accordance with Torah values. The speaker emphasizes the power of speech and the need to use it for positive and holy purposes. The conversation also touc...

In this shiur on 2nd aliyah of the Torah portion of Shelach, Maynard examines the negative perspective of the spies. They had an agenda to stay in the desert and didn’t want to work The Land in Israel. They projected their low self-worth onto others and spread mass hysteria. The conversation also touches on the existence of anti-Semitism and the importance of self-reflection and improving as indiv...

In this shiur on 1st aliyah of the Torah portion of Shelach, Maynard explores the theme of going for one’s benefit and the connection between different instances of the phrase ‘lecha’ in the Torah. It discusses the commandment to make the trumpets and compares it to Noah building the ark. The conversation also touches on the importance of doing actions for the benefit of others and not just for on...