Category: Podcasts — Page 19 — Shorashim of the Old City

Parshat Vayakhel

February 23, 2011 by Moshe Kempinski

Vayak’hel ( Exodus 35:1-38:20)

Moshe has returned from his last visit to the top of Mount Sinai with new tablets.The people are now assured that G-d has forgiven them and this event occurred on the tenth day of Tishrei, which will be declared as Yom Kippur, the day of Atonement.

How do we know this is the right date?

Moshe assembles the people of Israel and reiterates to them the commandments regarding the Shabbat followed by a repetition of the commandments regarding the building of the tabernacle.

Parshat Ki Tissa

February 16, 2011 by Moshe Kempinski

Even though G-d knows that the children of Israel have fallen into the sin of the golden calf, He continues to teach Torah to Moshe on the Mount. Why? What special gift is revealed by all these final commandments delivered just prior to the sin.

Parshat Tetzaveh

February 8, 2011 by Moshe Kempinski

Overview of Parsha Tetzaveh (Exodus 27:20-30:10)

The Name of Moshe ( Moses) is mysteriously missing from this portion. What lesson are we to glean from that obvious disappearance?

Parshat Teruma

February 2, 2011 by

Overview of Teruma (Exodus 25:1-27:19)

“They shall make for Me a Sanctuary, and I shall dwell amidst them.”

How do we build the spiritual Sanctuary within us, so G-d may dwell within us? How is this related to the third temple?

Parshat Yitro

January 21, 2011January 20, 2011 by Moshe Kempinski

Overview of the Torah Portion Yitro (Exodus 18: 1-20: 23)

Moshe s’ father-in-law, Yitro, hears of the great miracles which G-d performed for the people of Israel, He hears about the splitting of the Red Sea and the war against Amalek. Meaning G-d’s mastery over nature and Man Yitro comes from Midian to the Israelite camp, bringing with him Tziporah Moshe’ wife and two sons.One son was called Gershom, because Moshe said, “I was a stranger in a foreign land( Ger Sham ) and the second who was named Eliezer, because Moshe said”The God of my father came to my aid and rescued me from Pharaoh’s sword.( Eli Ezer)

Parshat Beshalach

January 13, 2011January 12, 2011 by

Beshalach (Exodus 13:17-17:16)

Pharaoh has a change of heart very soon after the Children of Israel leave Egypt. He gathers his forces and chases them into the desert. We are told that HaShem “led them not through the way of the land of the Philistines, because it was near; for G-d said: Lest the people change their mind when they see war, and they return to Egypt .” Yet it was not their closeness to Egypt that was their problem since G-d led them around and closer to Egypt . A great lesson is being taught about solutions and destinations being too close and not allowing for the growth of the journey to impact their lives. It would be an eternal lesson. The Children of Israel now find themselves in a situation wherein the Egyptians are closing in from the back , the desert is closing in on the sides and the sea stands before them.

It is then that they turn to G-d for the first time.

Parshat Bo

January 5, 2011 by Moshe Kempinski

Parshat Bo el Paroh – “Come To Pharoah” (Exodus 10:1-13:16)

Spiritual liberation before the physical liberation.

G-d commands them to do three distinct and important actions.To declare a new month, the Seder meal and the Passover sacrifice and the blood on the lintel. Why?

Parshat Vaera

December 28, 2010 by Moshe Kempinski

“And I appeared” Exodus 6:2-9:35

The Torah portion begins with the word Vaeira which means “And I appeared”. It is a portion that will reveal much of G-d’s rulership , compassion and control. G-d begins by revealing more of His Private Name to Moshe. He then declares His promise to His people using the “four expressions of redemption:

Therefore, say to the children of Israel , ‘I am HaShem, and I will take you out from under the burdens of the Egyptians, and I will save you from their labor, and I will redeem you with an outstretched arm and with great judgments.. And I will take you to Me as a people, and I will be a God to you, and you will know that I am the Lord your God, Who has brought you out from under the burdens of the Egyptians (Exodus 6: 6-7).