Jerusalem Lights

This week's Torah portion of Ki Teitzei features 74 mitzvot, some of the most interesting and diverse, in all of Torah. Some of them are very easy to understand, and others are very difficult to understand, such as the captive woman, and the concept of sending away the mother bird… is there is an underlying major theme that connects many of these mitzvot, especially as we continue to prepare for true repentance in this month of Elul?

This week's Torah portion of Ki Teitzei features 74 mitzvot, some of the most interesting and diverse, in all of Torah. Some of them are very easy to understand, and others are very difficult to understand, such as the captive woman, and the concept of sending away the mother bird… is there is an underlying major theme that connects many of these mitzvot, especially as we continue to prepare for true repentance in this month of Elul?

In this week's Torah portion of Shoftim, we encounter the 'priest anointed for battle,' the exemptions from battle and the general Divinely-mandated rules of conduct for Israel at war. In this week's Jerusalem Lights podcast, Jim Long and Rabbi Chaim Richman examine the profound implications of these teachings and their relevance to the existential threats and ongoing hostage crises that Israel is facing today.

During these weeks of the Torah readings in the book of Deuteronomy, the presence of Moshe Rabbeinu (Moses our teacher)  is palpable, as he pours out his heart with love and concern for the future of Israel. In this week's Jerusalem Lights podcast, recorded on the ancient/modern Biblical festival of Tu B'av, Jim Long and Rabbi Chaim Richman reflect upon the inexorable bond between Moshe, Torah and the Land of Israel, and share Tu B'Av's powerful lessons of joy, renewed hope and the illumination of eternal, unconditional  Divine love.

This enigmatic month is called in Hebrew "Menachem Av,' which means 'The Consoling Father.' Ostensibly the name doesn't fit the reality of these days leading up to the fast day of Tisha B'Av, observed next week, which marks the destruction of the Holy Temple. Yet the vision of this month is the secret of the absolute Oneness of God, the vision of true reality: a loving Father calling His children back to Him with kindness and compassion. Jim Long and Rabbi Chaim Richman explore the inner meaning of the cycles of our lives that lead from destruction to rebuilding.

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Jim Long and Rabbi Chaim Richman reflect on the paradoxical character of the heathen prophet Bilaam, who despite being a great philosopher and ostensibly very 'religious,' was actually evil incarnate. For Bilaam, the greatest religious experience was anger and negativity. NOTE: This podcast is being published late and out of sequence due to Rabbi Richman's recent family circumstances. Rabbi Richman's daughter passed away just a few hours after this podcast was recorded and the family began their mourning period, and thus it was not aired on time. Next week with Hashem's help we expect to return to our regular scheduling of broadcasts.

This week's Jerusalem Lights podcast ponders the paradox of the Torah portion of Chukat, featuring the proverbial 'para aduma,' the Red Heifer, Torah's greatest mystery. Moses was the only person who understood its secret...yet this very same Torah portion records Moses' greatest blunder, his striking of the rock to bring forth water....a mistake that cost him the privilege of entering into the Land. Jim Long and Rabbi Chaim Richman share fascinating insights of Torah wisdom, showing that it's all about connection vs. disconnect, and stagnation vs. spiritual growth.

The Living Hell of Ego, Aaron's Staff of Eternal Life, and The Call For Transformation

This week's Torah portion introduces us to Korach, Moses' power-hungry cousin who led a dramatic rebellion against him, under the guise of campaigning for the rights of 'the little guy.' Korach was a man of renown and influence, but nothing was good enough for him…ultimately he went downhill, literally…and was plunged into the belly of the earth. Jim Long and Rabbi Chaim Richman share insights and perspectives that frame the Torah's eternal, cautionary lesson about the dangers of ego in a fresh contemporary light.

Who were the 'fallen angels' of Genesis and why did the 12 spies of the Book of Numbers, sent out by Moses on a mission of reconnaissance, just happen to bump into them in the Land of Canaan? Jim Long and Rabbi Chaim Richman discuss this ancient episode of Israel's history, plugging it into today's reality with alarming, sobering relevance, and share some amazing Torah insights, from the secret of the 'wood-gatherer' in the desert, to the secret of tzizit, and why G-d commands that fringes be placed on the corner of a Jewish man's clothing.

Standing Up For the Truth

Jim Long is back in Israel and joins Rabbi Chaim Richman in Jerusalem to share perspective and both political and spiritual insights on Israel's war with Hamas and its global repercussions, drawing contemporary parallels and lessons from the Book of Numbers and the enigmatic Generation of the Desert that foretell and illuminate the unprecedented challenges we are facing.