Jerusalem Lights

In part II of our focus on the Ten Plagues, this week's Jerusalem Lights podcast focuses on the last three plagues as featured in the Torah portion of Bo: locusts, darkness and the slaying of the firstborn. Jim Long and Rabbi Chaim Richman take up their discussion and delve into the rich sources of the Midrash and Oral Tradition , and with his inimitable scholarship and expertise, Jim Long continues to amaze with an up-close look at the narrative found in ancient Egyptian texts and records.

The ten plagues that God visited upon Egypt served to temporarily return creation to a state of chaos and judgement, contrasting with the Genesis narrative where order and life were brought forth from the primordial waters. In this edition of the Jerusalem Lights podcast, Jim Long and Rabbi Chaim Richman ponder the deep symbolism of the plagues ...not just physical but cosmic forces that directly confronted the foundational order established at creation. Jim Long shares fascinating information from the annals of ancient Egypt that testify to the historical veracity of the Biblical narrative, and the perspective of the Egyptians, as the One G-d of Israel shattered their belief systems and demonstrated His mastery over creation.

As the Book of Exodus commences, 'a new king arose' who did not know Joseph. How did it transpire, after Joseph saved the Egyptian nation from starvation, that the Israelites in Egypt went from savior status to that of pariah, in just one generation? Jim Long brings fascinating background sources as he and Rabbi Chaim Richman ponder Pharaoh's motivation in enslaving the Children of Israel and the unique psychological warfare he initiated...as Egypt transitions from gratitude to genocide.

The Book of Genesis draws to a close with this week's Torah portion of Va'yechi. The patriarch Jacob spent his happiest years reunited with Yosef in Egypt...but if father and son were so close, why is it that Yosef rarely saw his father, and why didn't Yosef ever spend any time alone with him? In this week's Jerusalem Lights podcast, Jim Long and Rabbi Chaim Richman take a close look at these last, formative years in Egypt, shedding more light on the amazing Yosef, his children, his brothers...and things that can't be spoken of. It's the end of the beginning, the era of the forefathers and the book of Genesis, and the beginning of the end of life as we know it, as the dark clouds of Egyptian exile and servitude gather on the horizon.

The light-filled holiday of Chanukah marks the victory of Israel over the forces of Hellenism. When the Greek invaders defiled the Holy Temple and attempted to force the Jews to assimilate into their idolatrous culture, they outlawed Torah study, circumcision, and the observance of Shabbat and Rosh Chodesh, the New Moon. What do these things share in common, and why did they specifically draw the ire of the enemy? In this week's Jerusalem Lights podcast, Jim Long and Rabbi Chaim Richman discuss the deep spiritual significance of this battle, and frame the eternal struggle for authentic Jewish identity within the context of our modern lives.

The star of this week's Torah portion of Miketz is Joseph, who goes from being a prisoner in jail, to being the most powerful man in Egypt...on account of other people's dreams. Yosef's interpretation and advice is based on the wisdom of Divine inspiration, and his sterling character is synonymous with purity and righteousness. So why didn't his own brothers recognize him? And why did Joseph arrange such elaborate theatre, confusing and confounding his brothers? Jim Long and Rabbi Chaim Richman focus on the enigmatic Joseph in this week's Jerusalem Lights podcast, sharing more amazing insights from the sages as well as archeological/historic evidence that testifies to Joseph in history. Happy Chanukah from Jerusalem Lights!

This week's Jerusalem Lights podcast focuses on our Torah portion of Va'yishlach, which continues the adventures of the patriarch Yaakov, and demonstrates the sages' principle of 'that which happened to the fathers, is a sign for the children.' Jim Long and Rabbi Chaim Richman reflect upon the idea that Yaakov transcends his personal history, as the events of his life become templates, taking on the universal themes that will resound, from era to era, in the lives of his descendants, the nation of Israel.

Why did the patriarch Yaakov (Jacob) just happen to stop at 'the place', as he escaped from the wrath of his brother Esav, only to dream there of God speaking to him from the top of a ladder reaching into heaven? What is the significance of this 'ladder,' and how did this experience help to prepare him for his sojourn with the crafty Laban? Join Jim Long and Rabbi Chaim Richman for this week's intriguing Jerusalem Lights podcast, as our hosts share the fascinating backstory of Yaakov's adventures…as the future of Israel, and all humanity, hangs in the balance. To order Jim Long's book 'Blood Brother – Israel's Ancient Enemy,' which is cited in this podcast, you can write to [email protected]

Midrash teaches us that Abraham and Sarah knew a secret about 'reversing the aging process'...the older they got, the more they seem to exude the evocative concept of eternal youth. Jim Long and Rabbi Chaim Richman discover that there is no contradiction, as they share amazing Torah insights that open up new dimensions of understanding the lives and legacy of Abraham and Sarah, and what these great individuals teach us about the exquisite challenge of the human condition, and the journey of life.

Abraham's faith was tested ten times, and the 'Binding of Isaac' was the climax and most difficult of all these tests. The truth is that God tests all of us, through the difficult challenges we confront in life. But why does God test us? Doesn't He know in advance if we will pass or fail? So what does it prove? Tune in to this week's Jerusalem Lights podcast as Jim Long and Rabbi Chaim Richman ponder this ancient question through the lens of fascinating Torah teachings and perspective.