Jerusalem Lights

Parashat Pinchas 

The namesake of this week's Torah portion is Pinchas, a grandson of the High Priest, Aaron. Pinchas suddenly emerges as a bold new leader for this new generation of the Children of Israel, readying to enter into the Promised Land. Gone is the Generation of the Desert, characterized by passivity -- Pinchas is a man of action. His bold and unprecedented strike against the heinous immorality calculated by the wicked Bilaam and King Balak to destroy Israel earned him a Divinely-appointed 'Covenant of Peace' and a covenant of 'Eternal Priesthood.' This week’s Jerusalem Lights podcast focuses on the unusual step taken by Pinchas to save his people from the abyss of immorality. Jim Long and Rabbi Chaim Richman connect the themes of the portion with our contemporary reality, and offer some deep insights into the spiritual roots of these annual ‘Three Weeks’ of mourning for the Holy Temple. 

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Rabbi Chaim Richman  Jerusalem Lights | Torah for Everyone   Please support the work of Jerusalem Lights, a USA recognized 501 ( c ) 3 non-profit organization to enable these productions to continue and grow:   

Paypal: [email protected]   or:  https://paypal.me/JerusalemLights?loc... 

In the USA:  Jerusalem Lights Inc.  Post Office Box 16886 Lubbock Texas 79490  

In Israel: Tel. 972 54 7000395  Mail: PO Box 23808, Jerusalem Israel   

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This week's Torah portion of Balak focuses on the unholy alliance  between the Moabite king of that name and Bilaam, the infamous heathen  prophet. In addition to being a great philosopher and humanitarian,  Bilaam is an accomplished sorcerer endowed with a unique quality -- his  curses always come true. Balak hires Bilaam to curse the Children of  Israel, to prevent them from entering into their land. Why? What had the  Israelites done to provoke his ire? Nothing. Just because they exist.  G-d turned Bilaam's curses into blessings, but we sure learn a lot from  Bilaam's intentions. Rabbi Chaim Richman and co-host Jim Long have a spirited, learned discussion on the man Bilaam, shedding much light on this amazing Torah portion and  it's powerful relevance for today's world!

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Rabbi Chaim Richman  Jerusalem Lights | Torah for Everyone   

Please support the work of Jerusalem Lights, a USA recognized 501 ( c ) 3 non-profit organization to enable these productions to continue and grow:   Paypal: [email protected]   or:  https://paypal.me/JerusalemLights?locale.x=en_US 

In the USA:  Jerusalem Lights Inc.  Post Office Box 16886 Lubbock Texas 79490  

In Israel: Tel. 972 54 7000395  Mail: PO Box 23808, Jerusalem Israel   

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This week’s Torah portion of Chukat begins with the ordinance of the Red Heifer, a Divine decree considered to be the Torah’s most inscrutable mystery. This commandment is a ‘chok,’ meaning a decree that is incomprehensible to human intellect. Even the wise King Solomon could not understand the concept of the Red Heifer…yet Moses alone did understand its secret. This week’s Jerusalem Lights podcast asks, how and why was Moshe able to grasp a concept that no other man can hope to know? And what does this mean for us today? Jim Long and Rabbi Chaim Richman reflect on the teaching of our sages that ‘the goal of all knowledge is to know that we do not know,’ and our hosts connect this theme to the many ideas in this week’s Torah portion. Also in parashat Chukat: Why did Moses strike the rock instead of speaking to it, and why was his punishment so severe? Tune in to this week’s Jerusalem Lights podcast for an elucidating discussion, offering fascinating insights! 

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Rabbi Chaim Richman  Jerusalem Lights | Torah for Everyone   Please support the work of Jerusalem Lights, a USA recognized 501 ( c ) 3 non-profit organization to enable these productions to continue and grow:   

Paypal: [email protected]   or:  https://paypal.me/JerusalemLights?loc... 

In the USA:  Jerusalem Lights Inc.  Post Office Box 16886 Lubbock Texas 79490  

In Israel: Tel. 972 54 7000395  Mail: PO Box 23808, Jerusalem Israel   

Subscribe to our newsletter at https://www.rabbirichman.com  Subscribe to our YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCUpV... Follow us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/RabbiChaimRi...

Parashat Korach

The man Korach, for whom this week’s Torah portion is named, led a rebellion against the authority of Moses and Aaron…as camouflage for his true intent, which was nothing less than a mutiny against G-d Himself…a denial of His existence. His power-hungry, ego-driven rebellion couldn’t conceal his real motivation, though…and ultimately, the earth concealed him, as he and his cohorts were swallowed up by ‘the mouth of the earth.’ What does this really mean, and how to we understand this elusive account and the many fascinating, enigmatic traditions and teachings about Korach and his end? This week’s episode of the Jerusalem Lights Podcast features Jim Long and Rabbi Chaim Richman exploring the amazing account of Korach and its implications, for Jew and Gentile alike, for our modern world.  

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Rabbi Chaim Richman  Jerusalem Lights | Torah for Everyone    Please support the work of Jerusalem Lights, a USA recognized 501 ( c ) 3 non-profit organization to enable these productions to continue and grow:    

Paypal: [email protected]   or:  https://paypal.me/JerusalemLights?loc...  

In the USA:  Jerusalem Lights Inc.  Post Office Box 16886 Lubbock Texas 79490.    

In Israel: Tel. 972 54 7000395  Mail: PO Box 23808, Jerusalem Israel    

Subscribe to our newsletter at https://www.rabbirichman.com  

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This week’s Torah portion of Shelach begins a turning point in history. The spies returned from their mission of scouting out the Land, and ten of them delivered an evil and false report which slandered the ‘precious land’ (Ps. 106:24) that The Al-mighty had promised to the Children of Israel. What caused this crises of faith? Whatever it was, the act of speaking against the Land set into motion a cycle of suffering which reverberates to this very day. Every disparaging, anti-Israel tweet, every vacuous anti-Israel statement made by ‘celebs’ whose arrogance is matched by only by their ignorance, every lie propagated by the anti-Semitic media in the name of ‘diversity’ – all has its roots in the slander of the spies against the Land of Israel, the Land which ‘G-d’s eye is upon from the beginning of the year to year's end’ (Deut. 11:12).  

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Rabbi Chaim Richman  Jerusalem Lights | Torah for Everyone   Please support the work of Jerusalem Lights, a USA recognized 501 ( c ) 3 non-profit organization to enable these productions to continue and grow:   

Paypal: [email protected]   or:  https://paypal.me/JerusalemLights?loc... 

In the USA:  Jerusalem Lights Inc.  Post Office Box 16886 Lubbock Texas 79490.   

In Israel: Tel. 972 54 7000395  Mail: PO Box 23808, Jerusalem Israel   

Subscribe to our newsletter at https://www.rabbirichman.com Subscribe to our YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCUpV...  

Follow us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/RabbiChaimRi...

Parashat Behalotcha  

This week’s Torah portion of Behalotcha focuses on the enigmatic Generation of the Desert, providing a snapshot of their ups and downs as they traverse through the wilderness, making camp and breaking camp to travel further according to Divine signals. Fast forward to today, as we too traverse through the wilderness of this world…our Jerusalem Lights podcast examines and reviews shocking examples of the sharp rise in anti-Semitic attacks that have taken place in the last month throughout the USA and the world, and the deafening silence of the most of the world’s media platforms and political leaders. Is it just ‘anti-Zionism’ – or is it much deeper? This week’s Jerusalem Lights podcast is a rallying call for unity and taking a stand for truth. The G-d of Israel is an unabashed Zionist! Where do you stand on the matter?  

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Rabbi Chaim Richman  Jerusalem Lights | Torah for Everyone   

Please support the work of Jerusalem Lights, a USA recognized 501 ( c ) 3 non-profit organization to enable these productions to continue and grow:   Paypal: [email protected]   or:  https://paypal.me/JerusalemLights?loc... 

In the USA:  Jerusalem Lights Inc.  Post Office Box 16886 Lubbock Texas 79490.   

In Israel: Tel. 972 54 7000395  Mail: PO Box 23808, Jerusalem Israel   

Subscribe to our newsletter at https://www.rabbirichman.com Subscribe to our YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCUpV...  Follow us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/RabbiChaimRi...

This week’s Jerusalem Lights Podcast once again focuses on Israel’s defensive war, ‘Guardian of the Walls,' now in its second week. Hamas, the Iranian-backed terror organization that rules Gaza and oppresses its own people, has bombarded Israel with 4,000 missiles, shooting hundreds of missiles each day.  This onslaught continues to be augmented by terrorists of Islamic Jihad and Hezbollah of Lebanon…and has been supported by violent riots and murderous terror attacks against Jewish Israelis terror perpetrated by Arab citizens of Israel. The State of Israel continues to be roundly condemned for defending itself with ‘disproportionate response’ against those who want to wipe it off the map. And then there is the other war…the war of public opinion, characterized by media ignorance, indifference to the truth, and misleading reporting, while fanning the flames of increasingly violent anti-Semitism all over the world. But what does all this means for the average person, a world away, and why should the world care what happens to Israel? Jim Long and Rabbi Chaim Richman examine this question, paying special attention to the spiritual repercussions for all humanity: the outcome of this struggle will impact the future of the whole world.    

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Rabbi Chaim Richman  Jerusalem Lights | Torah for Everyone   

Please support the work of Jerusalem Lights, a USA recognized 501 ( c ) 3 non-profit organization to enable these productions to continue and grow:   Paypal: [email protected]   or:  https://paypal.me/JerusalemLights?loc... 

In the USA:  Jerusalem Lights Inc.  Post Office Box 16886 Lubbock Texas 79490.   

In Israel: Tel. 972 54 7000395  Mail: PO Box 23808, Jerusalem Israel   

Subscribe to our newsletter at https://www.rabbirichman.com 

Subscribe to our YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCUpV...  

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Parashat Bamidbar

This week, Israel defends itself from an unprecedented barrage of missiles launched from Gaza. Over 1,000 missiles were fired at Israel just in the days leading up to this broadcast, between May 10 -12, resulting in loss of life and extensive damage, and sending hundreds of thousands of Israelis to bomb shelters. At the same time, mobs of local Arabs are rioting in numerous Israeli cities, attacking Jews, and burning down synagogues, stores, cars…while much of the world’s governments hypocritical response, condemning Israeli defensive action but ignoring the attacks against Israel, are predictably hypocritical, and the media’s one-sided portrayal is a showcase of lies, ignorance…and just plain evil. In this week’s Jerusalem Lights Podcast, Jim Long and Rabbi Chaim Richman delve deeply into the truth behind these events, shedding much light and dispelling falsehood. As we usher in the month of Sivan, begin the book of Number and prepare for the upcoming Festival of Shavuot, this episode provides vital knowledge, understanding and inspiration.

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Rabbi Chaim Richman  Jerusalem Lights | Torah for Everyone   

Please support the work of Jerusalem Lights, a USA recognized 501 ( c ) 3 non-profit organization to enable these productions to continue and grow:   Paypal: [email protected]   or:  https://paypal.me/JerusalemLights?loc... 

In the USA:  Jerusalem Lights Inc.  Post Office Box 16886 Lubbock Texas 79490.   

In Israel: Tel. 972 54 7000395  Mail: PO Box 23808, Jerusalem Israel   

Subscribe to our newsletter at https://www.rabbirichman.com 

Subscribe to our YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCUpV...  

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Facing Tragedy with the Silence of Aaron  

This week’s Jerusalem Lights podcast focuses on our hosts' struggle to understand the tragedy of Mount Meron. Though we still reel from the unbearable pain of the loss of life, Jim Long and Rabbi Chaim Richman reflect on the eternal nature of Israel’s unity: the entire nation shares the pain of every bereaved family. What is the source of this unique sensitivity? Our hosts share their insights, bare their feelings, and pose their own questions as well, especially in the light of this week’s closure of the Book of Leviticus with the reading of its final two Torah portions, as they attempt to frame this terrible tragedy within the context of Torah and Israel’s unique mission of responsibility and moral stewardship.  

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Rabbi Chaim Richman  Jerusalem Lights | Torah for Everyone    

Please support the work of Jerusalem Lights, a USA recognized 501 ( c ) 3 non-profit organization to enable these productions to continue and grow:    

Paypal: [email protected]   or:  https://paypal.me/JerusalemLights?loc...​  

In the USA:  Jerusalem Lights Inc.  Post Office Box 16886 Lubbock Texas 79490.    

In Israel: Tel. 972 54 7000395  Mail: PO Box 23808, Jerusalem Israel    

Subscribe to our newsletter at https://www.rabbirichman.com​  Subscribe to our YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCUpV...​    Follow us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/RabbiChaimRi...

This week’s Torah portion of Emor begins with a whisper to the kohanim, the priests who serve in the Holy Temple, instructing them to refrain from exposure to death. What is the reason for the unique rules that govern the lives of those Divinely-appointed men who serve in the Holy Temple? In this week’s edition of the Jerusalem Lights podcast, our hosts engage in an elucidating discussion on the Torah’s perspective of life, death and the eternity of the soul. Jim Long and Rabbi Chaim Richman present a tour de force that demonstrates how this week’s Torah portion is a celebration of life over death…and how the sacred seasons of the Hebrew calendar present us with an opportunity to rise above the banality of the human condition, and constantly renew our lives with meaning and Divine purpose.

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Rabbi Chaim Richman  Jerusalem Lights | Torah for Everyone   

Please support the work of Jerusalem Lights, a USA recognized 501 ( c ) 3 non-profit organization to enable these productions to continue and grow:   Paypal: [email protected]   or:  https://paypal.me/JerusalemLights?loc...​ 

In the USA:  Jerusalem Lights Inc.  Post Office Box 16886 Lubbock Texas 79490.   

In Israel: Tel. 972 54 7000395  Mail: PO Box 23808, Jerusalem Israel   

Subscribe to our newsletter at https://www.rabbirichman.com​ 

Subscribe to our YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCUpV...​  Follow us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/RabbiChaimRi...​