The Parasha with Rabbi Dweck

In this episode we look at the nature of hope in the Jewish view. Moshe assures Israel that God will take care of them and bless them greatly. We consider the words of Isaiah in the haftara, Rabbi Sacks, Nietzsche, and Ramhal.

We find that hope is as much a choice as it is a yearning.

Before recounting the episode of the Ten Commandments to the Children of Israel before he dies, Moses warns them about getting God wrong and setting up idols. In this episode we consider the implications of that for our times and our lives and how we might heed that warning.

In this episode we explore the opening of Sefer Debarim through a surprising lens: emergence versus reductionism. Moshe’s swan song isn’t just a list of commandments, it’s an attempt to coax a fledgling nation into seeing itself as more than the sum of its parts. We’ll look at how his words frame freedom not merely as independence but as an emergent reality that arises when individuals embrace a shared destiny and a common love of God.

Why does the Torah give cities to the Levites, who have no land? Because cities are where identity is preserved. In this week’s episode we explore the nature of cities—from Jerusalem to modern capitals and consider our relationship with them. With special focus on 9th Av.

The daughters of Selofhad famously protest the Torah's inheritance law and succeed in changing it in their favour - a law that remains on the books until this day. However, by the end of Bemidbar, the case is not over. Their uncles counter-protest the ruling and insist that something must be done about the women who inherit to prevent them from marrying into another tribe lest they take their inherited land with them! God rules in favour of this as well. The only difference is, this law was repealed long ago. In this episode, we examine the differences between the two arguments, and their aftermath and consider what it means for us today.

In this episode we look at the fact that Bil'am, a gentile prophet recognises God as his God and that his command is absolutely binding upon him. At the same time, we do not find Bil'am to be particularly dedicated to God in the sense of relationship, worship or devotion. We question this and draw important principles about our relationship to God, the world and our own lives from it.

It is 38.5 years since the last parasha. We have a new cohort of the nation most of whom were children when they left Egypt. Miriam dies, Aaron dies and Moses is sentenced to death. In this episode we examine the event that sealed Moses' fate and explore what might have been happening for Moses that contributed to his actions.

With the dramatic episodes that ensue in this parasha we focus this year not on the extraordinary nature of these events or what brought them on, but on the response of the people to them. The response indicates a unique perspective of the Israelite mind that is fundamental to Jewish thought and philosophy.

The spies are sent in to scout out the Promised Land before entering to inherit it. They come back affirming the goodness of the land, but shutting down any chance of acquiring it. This creates the darkest day in the Jewish calendar.

In this episode we explore what the psychological elements of the spies might have been in its various layers, and how we might identify these things both in ourselves, and our people.

With a complaint for meat by the people that God swiftly punishes, comes an astonishing foundation for the future. The Supreme Court of Israel - the Sanhedrin is born of this complaint. In this episode we discuss why and how Torah, Judaism is formed by it.