News for Talking Parsha Talking Parsha - Matot Masei: Moshe's final mission is revenge?!The last mission given to Moses is to avenge what Midian did to the People of Israel. Why revenge, and why is this his final mission?Parashat Pinchas: How can an extremist be 'the man of peace'?Wy was Pinchas, of all people, rewarded this "Brit Shalom", the covenant of peace? Parshat Balak: Why would we want a blessing from Bila'am?This week we find the famous story of Balak calling over Bila'am to curse Am Yisrael, and Bila'am ends up Blessing Am Yisrael instead.Why can't we understand Parah Aduma? (Talking Parsha - Chukat)People have more motivation and work better when they understand the reasons for their actions. So why have laws that we can't understand?Talking Parsha - Korach: A blossoming staff - that's what makes the difference?After the earth swallows Korach and his followers, the Jews come to Moses angry - and only stop arguing after Aaron's staff blossoms. Why?Parshat Shlach: Getting punished for doing Tshuvah?Why were the people who wanted to make up for the sin of the Spies punished when they tried to enter Israel?Talking Parsha - Beha'alotcha: This is what broke Moshe?Why is the gathering of the future Sanhedrin intertwined with the story of the People of Israel craving meat?The Nesieim - being the same or being differentWhy does the Torah describe each of the Korbanot in great detail, even though all the Nesieim brought the exact same offering?Talking Parsha - Bamidbar: The secret in the numbersThe Book of Numbers starts with lists and numbers from counting the People of Israel. Why does the Torah go into so much detail about this?How valuable are you?Parshat Behar Bechukotai: Why does Sefer Vayikra end with technical chapter about how donations are evaluated?Talking Parsha - Emor: Is it after Shabbat or after Pesach?The Torah speaks about Shavuot as 'after the Shabbat.' Is Shavuot 7 weeks long? Why is it defined by being 'after Shabbat?'What does it actually mean to be holy?This week the Parsha begins with one of our biggest mission statement as a nation - Be Holy!Talking Parsha - Tazria Mezorah: The blessing of Eretz Israel is... tzara'at?Why does the Torah introduce tzara'at habayit with words that sound like a blessing? What does it teach us for Israel's Independence Day?The tragedy at the peak of celebration: Parshat ShminiAfter months of work, the Jews finally inaugurated the Mishkan. Just then, a tragedy occurs - why does Moshe say he expected it?Talking Torah - Shvi'i Shel Pesach: 'What great vision did they see at the sea?'The Jews saw a greater vision than a prophet after crossing the sea. Why is the vision not described? What did they actually see at the sea?Why did Am Yisrael rush, if they had all night? (Talking Parsha - Tzav & Pesach)Why were Jews commanded to eat the Pesach sacrifice in haste if they were told not to leave their homes until the morning. Talking Parsha: The Godly covenant is... salt?This week, we learn about a G-dly covenant. We know of other covenants, but surprisingly this one is about SALT! Why is salt so important?What do we truly want from the Mishkan?Why does sefer Shmot end with 3 extra psukim on the Cloud guiding Am Yisrael, just after telling how the schina came down to the Tabernacle? Talking Parsha: So when was the real Matan Torah?Parshat Ki Tisa: Why is the giving of the second Tablets - the ones which stayed for generations - so undramatically described?Talking Parsha: Kohanim and silly Purim costumes - Do our clothes matter??The Torah puts much emphasis on the clothes the kohanim wore in the Mishkan & Mikdash. Why this matters, and its connection to Purim.Talking Parsha: Why does the Mishkan need a table?Truma and Zachor: Tuvia and Yitzi talk about the Tabernacle's table, why there is always bread on it - and what the connection is to Purim.What does Bikurim have to do with cooking milk & meat?? (Talking Parsha - Mishpatim)This week the Torah teaches us the famous Halacha of cooking Milk and Meat together.How do you find G-d? (Talking Parsha - Yitro)After the revelation on Mt. Sinai, God tells Moshe to teach the Jews about how to build alters. Why are these instructions given now?Pharaoh sent them?? Is that sarcasm?? Talking Parsha - BeshalachOur Parsha begins with a surprising pasuk "When Pharaoh sent the nation". That's how you would describe what just happened??What did they celebrate if the Exodus didn't even happen yet?Hashem commands Moshe to tell the Jews about celebrating Pesach and eating Matzots - even before they left or knew what Matzot are!Why send Moshe to give a dramatic speech if no one is listening?Why would Hashem even send Moshe to give a speech Am Yisrael wouldn't care about?Shmot: Why would the Prince of Egypt need to run away?Moshe grew up in the palace and was a person of great power and influence. So why did he have to run away?Why does Yaakov care so much who comes first? (Talking Parsha - Va'yechi)Why does Yaakov care so much to put Ephraim first? What is the fundamental disagreement between them? What is Yaakov trying to teach Yosef?Wasn't he excited to see Yosef?? (Talking Parsha - Va'ygash)Finally Yaakov reunites with Yosef. We'd expect Yaakov to rush to Egypt to meet Yosef, but in the psukim we see something else.That's why he's doing all this?? (Talking Parsha - Miketz)Yosef jailed his brothers because of the dreams he had 20 years earlier?Could the symbol of faith not have faith? (Talking Parsha - Vayeshev)Yosef is the symbol of faith, so how could Rashi say Yosef received 2 more years in prison for putting his faith in the chief cupbearer?So what's the alternative? (Talking Parsha - Va'yshlach)Why is Eisav's angel referred to as 'a man' during battle with Yaakov?Talking Parsha - Vayetze: Why is he so surprised?What is Yaakov surprised about? Why does the Torah provide so much build up and detail about this dream?Why is he so tired?? (Talking Parsha - Toldot)We all know that Eisav was a hunter. But when we meet him the main thing we hear is that he’s tired. What is making Eisav so tired?Can you see the beauty? (Talking Parsha - Chayei Sarah)We find the lengthy story of Eliezer going to find Yitzchak a bride. Why does the Torah elaborate and repeat itself so much in this story?A challenge for you! (Talking Parsha - Vayeira)Hashem knows everything, so He knows Avraham will succeed in the test - so why put him through a test to begin with?I'm here! (Talking Parsha - Lech Lecha)What happened to Avraham's great Emuna? Why plan risky tactics to save himself from the Egyptians and not trust Hashem to protect him?Talking Parsha: Why didn't Noach try to save the world?The Torah defines Noach as a righteous man, but when G-d tells him about the world's destruction, he says nothing. Why?This one is about you... (Talking Parsha - Bereshit)Hashem actually speaks to Kayn first even before the murder. How does this conversation fit in to the flow of the story?This is how the Torah ends?? (Talking Parsha - VeZot Habracha)The Torah's last verse, last message, surprisingly focuses on Moshe Rabeinu's greatness.Talking Parsha: Isn't Sukkot supposed to be happy?If Sukkot is the Festival of Happiness, why do we read on Megilat Kohelet, which seems to be a very depressing book? Talking Parsha: Look beyond what you see!Before Moshe dies, God tells him to see the land that he will not enter. Why in his last moments is he commanded to see what he's missing?Talking Parsha: This Will Be The Best Year!Rosh Hashanah, the day of judgment, is followed by the 10 days of Tshuva (repentance). Shouldn't it be the other way around?I know you're going to fail (Talking Parsha - Nitzavim Vayelech)Why does Hashem have to tell Moshe and tell us in this week's parsha that he knows we are going to fail miserably?Talking Parsha - Ki Tavo: What's the one thing you need most?This week the Torah teaches us the key ingredient to living our lives and serving G-d, without it, everything else falls apartTalking Parsha - Ki Teitzei: "You can't ignore this!"Watch: This week Yitzi and Tuvia talk about the precept of Hashavat Aveida - returning lost objectsParshat Shoftim: I just can't wait to be king!Our parsha has the Mitzvah of inaugurating a king. The king himself is required to write a Sefer Torah once he sits on his throne.Talking Parsha - Re'ehThis week we learn about the mitzvah to give tzedakah & the classic example is giving a loan & taking a collateral in return. Why is that?Talking Parsha - EkevWe know the Mann was a Heavenly food with heavenly taste but this week Moshe Rabeinu describes the Mann as torture and even starvation. Why?Talking Parsha - Va'etchananIn Parshat Va'etchanan we discuss Moshe's prayers, from which we learn many laws. But is this the model we want to learn from? Why?Talking Parsha - DevarimMoshe gives a review of the Torah, but when he gets to the story of the Meraglim and the punishment, leaves out an important detail. Why?Talking Parsha - Matot MaseiWhy does the Torah suddenly remember to teach us about vows? Why now, as Moshe prepares for death & the nation is preparing to enter Israel?Talking Parsha - BalakTuvia and Yitzi talk Parshat Balak: What's the deal with the story of Bila'am's donkey, and what are we supposed to learn from Bila'am? |
