The Parasha with Rabbi Dweck

Bemidbar, the 4th book of the Torah begins with a census. We explore the meaning of this census and its reltion to the upcoming festival of Shabuot. How our names set us on the path of Torah.

Behukotai is mainly comprised of a harsh warning of what might become of the people of Israel should they reject their covenant with God and be repulsed by following the commandments. In this episode we consider what the frame is for this warning and what the main word, keri, repeated several times means.

Perashat Behar demands that every 50 years the ownership of the land goes back to its hereditary appointees by God. He calls us gerim vetoshavim - sojourners and citizens which ostensibly sounds like an oxymoron. In this episode we explore the meaning of the term and what it means to live on earth with God as Landlord.

Emor, as much of Vayikra, presents us with commandments and scenarios that we have not known for thousands of years. There is, however, an important charge in this perasha that is as relevant today as it was when it was first presented. In this episode we look at how we are meant to relate to God and why we must think of Him as times as a person.

Kedoshim is a parasha that presents a moral manual to the Nation of Israel along with admonitions against acting as the Ancient Canaanites did. It closed with prohibitions on sexual interactions. What is the message of 'Be Holy' and how are we to implement it into our daily lives?

This episode explores that question and offers a frame of mind to approach it.

Two mistakes are made in this parasha. One, catastrophic and one, minor. What is the difference between them, and what might we do in our lives to mitigate at least the catastrophic ones from happening?

This parasha is filled with instructions for korbanot. But its name, Tsav, holds a great deal within it. We are taught that Tsav is a charge of sorts. In this episode we explore the youthful energy of that charge inside us all and what place it might take from a Torah perspective.

Vayikra - the opening parasha of the third book of the Torah, starts with a powerful word. Vayikra is an intimate invitation by God to Moshe to commune with him. But the letter that makes all the difference in its meaning is much smaller than the rest. Why? In this episode we look at a reason that ties together Purim, Zakhor, and our everyday lives.

Pekude ends the book of Shemot. The majority of it reads like a spreadsheet enumerating the the accounts of the Mishkan and its donations. But the ending has a foundational lesson for all about honour and dignity.

This is an episode from 2022 and is 45 min long. In this episode we discuss the negotiations of Moshe with God and his insistence that God remain closely connected with the people throughout time.