Jerusalem Lights

This week’s Torah portion of Vayeitzei recounts the adventures of the patriarch Yaakov, who fled from Esav and worked for Lavan for 20 years. Yaakov married Lavan’s daughters Rachel and Leah, who together with Bilhah and Zilpah became the mothers of the Children of Israel. But it was Rachel whom Yaakov felt was his true soul mate. Why did he kiss her and cry when they first met? How did Lavan manage to trick Yaakov by substituting Leah in Rachel’s stead? In this week’s edition of the Jerusalem Lights podcast, our hosts share some amazing background of Torah tradition that fills in the blanks, and gives us an entirely new perspective of this intriguing Torah portion. Plus: Jim Long and Rabbi Richman discuss some dilemmas faced by Noahides and their families based on insights from our Torah portion.

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Rabbi Chaim Richman

Jerusalem Lights |Torah for Everyone

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In Israel:

Tel 972 54 7000395

Mail: PO Box 23808, Jerusalem Israel

Parashat Toldot: Plain Talk about the Birthright, the Blessings, and the Legacy of Abraham and Esav, the Progenitor of Western Culture

This week we usher in the new month of Kislev, whose energy is informed by its crescendo, the Festival of Chanukah, with its theme of the revelation of the hidden light of creation. Indeed, light and darkness is a major theme of this month, and features prominently in this week's Torah portion of Toldot, as Yaakov and Esav emerge and begin a face-off which will last until the end of time, while the fate of humanity hangs in the balance. In this week's episode of the Jerusalem Lights podcast, Jim Long and Rabbi Chaim Richman discuss the Torah's mysterious account of these twins and the elusive meaning and universal significance of their encounters over the birthright and blessings.

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Rabbi Chaim Richman

Jerusalem Lights |Torah for Everyone

Donate to help support the work of Jerusalem Lights at [email protected] or:

https://paypal.me/JerusalemLights?locale.x=en_US

Subscribe to our newsletter at www.rabbirichman.com

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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

All About Life and Death - and Love and Marriage

The Torah portion of Chayei Sarah features only two concepts: the death of Sarah and her burial at the ‘double cave’ in Hebron, and Eliezer’s mission to find a wife for Isaac. Yet in this week’s edition of the Jerusalem Lights podcast, our hosts discover that a major theme emerges from the connection of these ideas – namely, the true meaning of a life well lived. Jim Long and Rabbi Chaim Richman share some fascinating ideas about this Torah portion and its lessons on life and death, love and marriage, and above all, the legacy bequeathed to us by Abraham and Sarah for all generations – our responsibility to change the world.

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Rabbi Chaim Richman

Jerusalem Lights |Torah for Everyone

Donate to help support the work of Jerusalem Lights at [email protected] or:

https://paypal.me/JerusalemLights?locale.x=en_US

Subscribe to our newsletter at www.rabbirichman.com

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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

The Incomprehensible Test of the Binding of Isaac :  A Defining Moment at the Crossroads of History

In a show not to be missed, this week’s edition of the Jerusalem Lights podcast was recorded on the 17th day of MarCheshvan – the day that marks the beginning of the Great Flood in the time of Noah – as the election ballots in the USA are being counted and tension mounts. All sides are in agreement that we are now reaching a defining moment in history, and our hosts reflect on the deeper meaning of the timing of this important election falling out in the week of the Torah portion of Vayera. Jim Long and Rabbi Chaim Richman find compelling historical comparisons and contrasts to our contemporary reality mirrored by the life and mission of our patriarch Abraham and alluded to by the epic themes of both this week’s Torah portion and this month of MarCheshvan.

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Rabbi Chaim Richman

Jerusalem Lights |Torah for Everyone

Donate to help support the work of Jerusalem Lights at [email protected] or:

https://paypal.me/JerusalemLights?locale.x=en_US

Subscribe to our newsletter at www.rabbirichman.com

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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

Also, The Amazing Merit of our Mother Rachel

In  this week’s Torah portion of Lech Lecha (“Go to yourself”), the patriarch Abraham bursts upon the scene. He begins a career of teaching  a world that was in denial of G-d, that there really was a Creator. Abraham literally stood up against the whole world, confronting  and exposing the fallacy of idolatry and confounding the evil establishment,  and he reinstated belief in the One G-d, bequeathing this knowledge to  all humanity. But where did Abraham come from? How did he find the Creator? What motivated Abraham to begin his spiritual quest? In this week’s episode of the Jerusalem Lights podcast, Jim Long and Rabbi Chaim Richman focus  on the patriarch Abraham and examine fascinating and inspiring Torah teachings about the founder of the nation of Israel, the great spiritual seeker Abraham. Our program also features a compelling teaching about the virtuous deeds and shining  humanity of our mother Rachel, whose yahrtzeit (the anniversary of her death) is  observed this week on 11 MarCheshvan (Oct. 28-29) and is reckoned as a day especially  propitious for heartfelt prayer.

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Rabbi Chaim Richman

Jerusalem Lights |Torah for Everyone

Donate to help support the work of Jerusalem Lights at [email protected] or:

https://paypal.me/JerusalemLights?locale.x=en_US

Subscribe to our newsletter at www.rabbirichman.com

Subscribe to our YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCUpVZ_6uuXGnknp2dJD6pSA/featured

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/RabbiChaimRichman/

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

Parashat Noach: The Waters of Marcheshvan: Blessing or Retibution

Water, water everywhere: This week’s Torah portion of Noach tells the story of the Great Flood, G-d’s retribution against a humanity that had grown so wicked, it had lost all semblance of the Divine image in which man was created. The flood began during this very month of MarCheshvan, and yet this month also begins the much-anticipated rainfalls of blessing in the Land of Israel. This week’s edition of the Jerusalem Lights podcast provides a veritable ‘flood’ of background information and Biblical knowledge on the generation of the Flood as well as the nature of this remarkable month of MarCheshvan. Jim Long and Rabbi Chaim Richman share fascinating insights on the Torah portion of Noah and the urgent messages it conveys for our time.

--

Rabbi Chaim Richman

Jerusalem Lights |Torah for Everyone

Donate to help support the work of Jerusalem Lights at [email protected] or:

https://paypal.me/JerusalemLights?locale.x=en_US

Subscribe to our newsletter at www.rabbirichman.com

Subscribe to our YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCUpVZ_6uuXGnknp2dJD6pSA/featured

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/RabbiChaimRichman/

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

B’reishith: The Constant Renewal of All Creation

Is the World on Auto Pilot, or is G-d Still Running the Show?

The festivals of Tishrei have concluded and this Shabbat we begin the yearly cycle of Torah readings once again, starting over with the first portion of the book of Genesis – parashat B’reishith. The process of renewal that we have all participated in during this intense holiday season, is now manifest as the renewal of all creation. But the truth is that just as G-d brought forth all of creation from nothing, so too He continues to create the world anew each day. This belief is the secret of our own renewal – and our connection with G-d in our lives. Is man in search of G-d, or is G-d in search of man? Tune in to this week’s edition of the Jerusalem Lights podcast as our hosts, Jim Long and Rabbi Chaim Richman, ponder the mysteries of creation, and discuss lessons of this Torah portion against the backdrop of the modern yet timeless mysteries of contemporary man’s inflated ego and society’s desperate effort to deny G-d’s involvement in our lives.

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Rabbi Chaim Richman

Jerusalem Lights |Torah for Everyone

Donate to help support the work of Jerusalem Lights at [email protected] or:

https://paypal.me/JerusalemLights?locale.x=en_US

Subscribe to our newsletter at www.rabbirichman.com

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Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/RabbiChaimRichman/

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

The Essence of Sukkot: Prophecy, Prayer and Peace for the World

The Exquisite Beauty of Hoshana Rabbah: Our Chance to Change the Final Sealing of Judgment

This  week's Jerusalem Lights special Sukkot podcast is a tale of two sukkot,  one in Jerusalem and one in Northwest Arkansas, as our hosts reach out  to you with inspiring Torah insights on many aspects of the  holiday, personal sukkah experiences and life lessons, and  festival joy!  Jerusalem Lights wishes all our listeners Chag Sameach, a  joyous festival of Sukkot!

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Rabbi Chaim Richman

Jerusalem Lights |Torah for Everyone

Donate to help support the work of Jerusalem Lights at [email protected] or:

https://paypal.me/JerusalemLights?locale.x=en_US

Subscribe to our newsletter at www.rabbirichman.com

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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

Dwelling in the Sukkah: The Secret of True Joy

Zechariah’s Prophecy and the Nations’ Special Relationship with the Festival of Sukkot

Fresh from the cleansing catharsis of Yom Kippur, we busily prepare for the glorious seven-day Festival of Sukkot, which begins this Shabbat. During Sukkot (the Tabernacles) Torah commands every citizen to dwell in a temporary booth. Why now? What is the connection between Yom Kippur and Sukkot? Sukkot is called ‘the time of our joy,’ and Torah commands us ‘…and you will be only joyous’ (Deut. 16:15). What is the secret of the all-permeating, inimitable joy that is felt so deeply on this holiday? In this inspiring edition of the Jerusalem Lights podcast, our hosts share the very special reason for the deep joy felt on this amazing festival. Jim Long and Rabbi Richman emphasize that the Sukkot experience and its lessons are for Jew and non-Jew alike, and as the prophet Zechariah exhorts, in the future the whole world will be celebrating Sukkot! Chag Sameach, blessings of a joyous Festival of Sukkot!

--

Rabbi Chaim Richman

Jerusalem Lights |Torah for Everyone

Donate to help support the work of Jerusalem Lights at [email protected] or:

https://paypal.me/JerusalemLights?locale.x=en_US

Subscribe to our newsletter at www.rabbirichman.com

Subscribe to our YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCUpVZ_6uuXGnknp2dJD6pSA/featured

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/RabbiChaimRichman/

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

Change Your Spiritual DNA/ How Does Torah Define Sin, and What Makes Repentance Real?

In this week’s Torah portion of Ha’azinu, Moshe calls upon heaven and earth to bear witness, as he delivers his prophetic song of rebuke, consolation, and ultimate redemption. This Shabbat is known as the ‘Sabbath of Repentance,’ and Yom Kippur, the awesome Day of Atonement will be observed this coming Sunday night – Monday, September 27-28. May non-Jews also participate in Yom Kippur observance? Absolutely yes! Our hosts discuss the concept of Yom Kippur forgiveness and atonement…. but how does Torah define sin, and what constitutes true and sincere repentance? Jim Long and Rabbi Chaim Richman begin to prepare for Yom Kippur with illuminating insights into the nature of sin and the fine art of repentance – a gift G-d gives to man which can literally help us become new people. May we all be sealed in the Book of Life for a long life of health and every blessing, amen! A Good and Sweet New Year to all!

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Rabbi Chaim Richman

Jerusalem Lights | Torah for Everyone

Donate to help support the work of Jerusalem Lights at [email protected] or:

https://paypal.me/JerusalemLights?locale.x=en_US

Subscribe to our newsletter at www.rabbirichman.com

Subscribe to our YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCUpVZ_6uuXGnknp2dJD6pSA/featured

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/RabbiChaimRichman/

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