Character development is a primary function of the study and practice of Torah. This episode deals with character development and the mastery of our own attitudes towards others and how to influence their attitudes towards us. 

Halacha goes beyond mindfulness in what it expects from the way we act. Kavanah is more than mindfulness, it means directiveness. There is meaning and direction in everything we do and in the way we do it.  Kavod, honor, as a gradated idea; and where on the spectrum of Kavod we place an object or an individual is more telling about us than it is about the object.

There are invisible forces in the world that are potentially negative and even destructive. Our immunity to them depends on who we are and how we act.  In this episode we see how althought these ideas are difficult to relate to, in the Halachik conversation they are drawn upon for issues sometimes not directly relating to them. In this case the subtly complex relationship between a man and his ex-wife is central.

There is a Kabbalistic idea that doing physical activities in even numbers can generate a negative spiritual energy. This episode explores the duality of even numbers and how to manage conflicting polarities.

There are two themes of Geulah (Redemption) at the Seder: National and Personal. Each is separately identified with the mitzvah of the four cups of wine, each learned from a different source in the Torah. Women, who played a crucial role in facilitating the Geulah are as much a part of the mitzvah as are men.

There are various practices regarding using non-wine beverages for Kiddush on Shabbat morning. As we probe the sources we discover the importance of using wine or grape-juice if available in preference to any other drink.

The study of Talmud exposes us to the full spectrum of halachik discourse rather than just to the bottom line as stated in Shulchan Aruch. Knowing the bottom line only, risks the possibility of dogmatism. Understanding the spectrum opens up possibilities for flexibility when needed. The Kiddush on the day of Shabbat is such an example.

This episode exploes the Halachik process in the time of the Talmud and demonstrates the power of seeing Halacha in practice.

Havdala is one of the most magical and mystical practices in our weekly calendar. Drawing from the fire-energy of Shabbat we infuse it into the week with the way we say the Beracha on the light.

The way we package objects, ideas and even ourselves says a lot about whether cost is more important to us than value, or value is more important than cost. This applies to the way we package our Mitzvot as well.