Rabbi Shmuli Halpern on the Parsha

The Test of Jerusalem Yom Yerushalayim Ask almost anyone who has stood at the Kotel what it felt like. The answers vary in detail but not in substance. The noise stops. Not just outside — inside. Every competing claim on your attention, every divided loyalty, everything you have been quietly serving alongside G-d — it falls away. And there is only one thing left. One G-d. Yours, and you are His. T...

Parshas Behar-Bechukosai: The Land That Reaches Of all the things one might expect to need a Shabbat , the land is perhaps the last. The human being, pulled between the spiritual and the material, tempted, prone to envy and anger, addicted to work and laziness, certainly needs a weekly pause. But the land? Inanimate, solid, and fixed — why exactly does it need to rest? Yet Parshat Behar opens with...

Man is the one offering the sacrifice not the one being sacrificed!

The Jews who left Egypt never entered the promised land! Ramban explains that the book of Shemos leads from exile to redemption. There are two tracks to redemption. One, leads to the promised land on this earth, and one to the world-to-come -- two expressions of the same concept, only in two different dimensions.

Tasked with "improving on G-d's creation," man must never forget that he is serving G-d not self. The job of human beings is to find the Infinite from within the finite. The great sin of the Golden Calf was that the Jews turned to the finite and forgot about the true focus, G-d.

When two mortal enemies meet, each becomes more stubborn as the fight progresses. Only one can win, who will it be? Good or evil? Haman or Mordechai?

Giving, Purim, and Kedusha.

What made Lot and Hagar initially great? What brought about their decline? Tune in and find out!

What were the people who built the Tower of Bavel trying to accomplish? How can a person believe he can "wage war" against G-d? Why did G-d respond by confusing their language and scattering them? Find out the answers to these questions and much more on the latest podcast!

In this week's haftorah, Yeshaya Hanavi reminds the Jewish people of their debt of gratitude to Hashem for the exodus. In addition, the Egyptians were punished measure for measure, and Yeshaya tells the Jews that we too will be repayed measure for measure. What is the process of deciding which haftorah to read on a given week? Join Rabbi Zions for some fascinating background information.

What attitudes brought the Flood to the world? What was unique about about Noach? What is the significance of the rainbow? Find out the answers to these questions and much more on this podcast!

The Parshah tells of Yaakov's Final words to his sons. Many generations later, David commands his young son Shlomo to reward and avenge some of David's friends and enemies.

How did idolatry begin? How did it evolve? Why would anyone worship a statue? Why is there such a drive for idolatry, and why doesn't that drive exist today? Find out the answers to these questions and much more in this podcast!

Will the rift ever heal? This week's parshah seemingly closes the chapter on the fight between Yosef and his brothers. But is it truly over? Many generations later, Yosef's descendant Yeravam breaks away forming the northern kingdom. The Haftorah tells of a future time when true and eternal unity will be achieved.

How could Kayin, a prophet, kill his own brother? What was the real issue that led to the tragic murder? And what does all this have to do with shatnez?

Traveling this Chanukah? Does one light in a hotel, train, airplane? Join Rabbi Melamed as he discusses these and other fascinating questions.

This week's haftara is one that is rarely read. It contains the fascinating story of the two mothers and the dead and live child. What is the deeper meaning of this story, and why is it chosen for this week's haftara?

A brief summary of this episode

The last of the prophets tells us of a menorah of another time and era. Who was Zerubavel? And what was the meaning of Zachariah's vision?

The Oral Torah is implanted on the hearts of the Jewish nation. Through peace and the gift of the Hebrew language we can access its treasures.

It is one of the most famous and impactful sins of human history, yet there is so much that is misunderstood about this cataclysmic error. Why did Adam and Eve eat from the Tree? How could they choose to do wrong if they did not yet have an Evil Inclination? Find out these answers and much more in this podcast.

What exactly is the candle lighting obligation? Is it an obligation that each home have Shabbos candles? Or is an obligation imposed upon every individual? A better understanding of this question will give clarity on several halachic questions.

The prophet Ovadiah prophecies about the final showdown between Yaakov and Eisav. Travel through history with Rabbi Zions as he brings this haftara to life. From the First Temple era with King Achav to the twentieth century with General Erwin Rommel of Nazi Germany, the words of Ovadiah inspire and direct.

Each morning we realize anew that we have the greatest gift in the world — the Torah. The sages instituted this bracha to remind us that Torah is life itself. It’s study contains the answers to all of life’s challenges. This episode will give you a new appreciation for Torah study, and how you can tap into its power each morning with the birchos haTorah.

The prophecies of Hoshea focus on the Northern Kingdom of the Ten Tribes, which split from the Southern Kingdom of Yehudah. Join Rabbi Zions in discovering the historical background of this week's haftara.