Ponderings on the Parsha with Selwyn Gerber

What is the meaning of the word Breishit? Why are there two seemingly contradictory stories of the creation of man? What is the meaning of Shabbat? All this and more in this week's Ponderings on the Parsha. 

A look back at the period of Chagim and the significance of Shemini Atzeret/Simchat Torah.

A special episode on the meaning of Succoth!

On this special episode, we discuss the ideas behind Yom Kippur!

What is the meaning of the word Haazinu? Why is the Torah called a song? What does all of this tell us about Moshe? All this and more on this week's Ponderings on the Parsha!

This week's special episode focuses on the meaning behind Rosh Hashana!

What is the real meaning of the word Netzavim? What can say of Moshe's character from the word "Vayelech - and he went"? Where was he going to? All this and more on this week's Ponderings on the Parsha!

What is the significance of the Bikurim? What is the meaning of the Arami Oved Avi? What is the actual Mitzvah to write the Torah? All this and more on this week's Ponderings on the Parsha!

What is the meaning of "When you go out to war against your enemies"? What is the Torah getting at with the law of Eishit Yefat Toar? Plus a run-through of various laws found in the Parsha!

What is the significance of the courts and judges being spread out between Jerusalem and all the various individual cities? What are some of the main ideas behind the series of commandments found in this week's parsha in setting up a just society? All this and more in this week's Ponderings on the Parsha!

A special episode about the ideas behind the month of Elul!

What does Moshe mean when he says "Re'eh- See..."? What is the meaning of the various Kashruth laws? Plus a run-through of the various commandments in the Parsha. All this and more on this week's Ponderings on the Parsha!

What is the meaning of the word "Eikev"?,  the kabbalistic meaning of the 7 fruits, Shabbat Nachamu and more on this week's Ponderings on the Parsha!

What is the meaning of the word ' Va'etchanan'? What is the difference Shamor and Zachor in the two versions of the ten commandments? What can we learn from Moshe calling Israel a "good" land? All this and more on this week's Ponderings on the Parsha!  

What is the main point of the 5th book? What is the significance of the number 5 and what can we learn from Moshe's transformation from someone afraid to speak to a master orator? All this and more on this week's Ponderings on the Parsha!

What is the meaning of the word 'Matot' which means both tribes and staffs? Why was Aharon mourned so heavily? Why are all of the journeys that Jewish people took in the desert listed? All this and more in this week's Ponderings on the Parsha!

What is the connection between Pinchas and Eliyahu? Why,  in the opinion of one Sage, are the verses about the daily offerings the most important in the Torah? What do the daughters of Zelophehad teach us about the role of women?  All this and more in this week's Ponderings on the Parsha! 

What is the meaning of the Red Heifer law? Why was Moshe punished so harshly for hitting the rock? Who was Balaam and what is the meaning of the famous blessing he uttered "How great are your tents, Jacob..." ? All this and more in this week's Ponderings on the Parsha!

What can we learn about arguments from Korach's rebellion? What was wrong with Korach's argument "We are all holy"? Why is On Ben Pelet not mentioned again in the people that died? All this and more on this week's Ponderings on the Parsha!

What was the real mission of the spies? What is real difference between the spies and Caleb and Joshua? Was there anything really false about what the spies said? All this and more on this week's Ponderings on the Parsha!

What is the meaning of the opening word of the Parsha "When you cause to light up"? Why does it repeat twice that the Levites were "given over"? And what does this "Book within a book" come to teach us? All this and more on this week's Ponderings on the Parsha.  

What is the connection between the seemingly disparate commandments in the Parsha? What is the true meaning of the word 'Shalom'? All this and more in this week's Ponderings on the Parsha!

Why is counting so important in Judaism? The holiday of Shavuot is intrinsically connected to counting, but we don't actually count the 50th day. Why? Also, the pattern and meaning of megillot and chagim. All this and more on this week's Ponderings on the Parsha!

Why does the Torah mention Har Sinai at the beginning of this week's Parsha? What are the multitude of meanings behind the Shemita laws? What is the meaning behind the apparent numerical mistake in the beginning of Bechukotai?  All this and more on this week's Ponderings on the Parsha

What is the intricate connection between Shabbat and the rest of the holidays? Why is the verb Emor (to say) repeated twice at the beginning of the Parshah? What is the significance of Pesach Sheni? All this and more in this week's Ponderings on the Parsha!