Ponderings on the Parsha with Selwyn Gerber

What can we learn Moshe as a leader from the Torah's description of him? What is the importance of names in Judaism? What is the meaning of the burning bush? All this and more in this week's Ponderings on the Parsha!

A look back at the period of Chagim and the significance of Shemini Atzeret/Simchat Torah.

A special episode about the holiday of Succoth!

What is the meaning of the word Haazinu? Why is the Torah called a song? What does all of this tell us about Moshe? All this and more on this week's Ponderings on the Parsha!

In this special episode, we discuss the ideas behind Yom Kippur!

What is the importance of the first word "Vayelech-and he went"? What is the importance of Hakhel? Plus more inspirational stories about the High Holidays! All this and more on this week's Ponderings on the Parsha!

What is the meaning of the word Nitzavim? Why does the Torah mention different professions? How is this all related to Rosh Hashana and Yom Kippur? All this and more in this week's Ponderings on the Parsha!

This week's special episode focuses on the meaning behind Rosh Hashana!

What is the significance of the Bikurim? What is the meaning of the Arami Oved Avi? What is the actual Mitzvah to write the Torah? All this and more on this week's Ponderings on the Parsha!

What is the meaning of "When you go out to war against your enemies"? What is the Torah getting at with the law of Eishit Yefat Toar? Plus a run-through of various laws found in the Parsha!

What is the significance of the courts and judges being spread out between Jerusalem and all the various individual cities? What are some of the main ideas behind the series of commandments found in this week's parsha in setting up a just society? All this and more in this week's Ponderings on the Parsha!

What does Moshe mean when he says "Re'eh- See..."? What is the meaning of the various Kashruth laws? Plus a run-through of the various commandments in the Parsha. All this and more on this week's Ponderings on the Parsha!

A special episode about the ideas behind the month of Elul!

What is the meaning of the word "Eikev"?,  the kabbalistic meaning of the 7 fruits, Shabbat Nachamu and more on this week's Ponderings on the Parsha!

What is the meaning of the word ' Va'etchanan'? What is the difference Shamor and Zachor in the two versions of the ten commandments? What can we learn from Moshe calling Israel a "good" land? All this and more on this week's Ponderings on the Parsha!  

What is the deep meaning of Isaiah's words in the Haftarah? Is there a pattern repeating itself of going from deep sadness to hope and rejuvenation? All this and more on Ponderings on the Parsha!

What is the meaning of this minor holiday? What can it teach us for our day in age?

What is the main point of the 5th book? What is the significance of the number 5 and what can we learn from Moshe's transformation from someone afraid to speak to a master orator? All this and more on this week's Ponderings on the Parsha!

What is the meaning of the word 'Matot' which means both tribes and staffs? Why was Aharon mourned so heavily? Why are all of the journeys that Jewish people took in the desert listed? All this and more in this week's Ponderings on the Parsha!

What is the connection between Pinchas and Eliyahu? Why,  in the opinion of one Sage, are the verses about the daily offerings the most important in the Torah? What do the daughters of Zelophehad teach us about the role of women? All this and more on this week's Ponderings on the Parsha!

Who was Balaam? What is the meaning of the famous blessing that he uttered, "How great are your tents, Jacob..." ? All this and more in this week's Ponderings on the Parsha!

What is the meaning of the Red Heifer law? Why was Moshe punished so harshly for hitting the rock? All this and more on this week's Ponderings on the Parsha!

What can we learn about arguments from Korach's rebellion? What was wrong with Korach's argument "We are all holy"? Why is On Ben Pelet not mentioned again in the people that died? All this and more on this week's Ponderings on the Parsha!

What was the real mission of the spies? What is real difference between the spies and Caleb and Joshua? Was there anything really false about what the spies said? All this and more on this week's Ponderings on the Parsha!

What is the meaning of the opening word of the Parsha "When you cause to light up"? Why does it repeat twice that the Levites were "given over"? And what does this "Book within a book" come to teach us? All this and more on this week's Ponderings on the Parsha.  

What is the connection between the seemingly disparate commandments in the Parsha? What is the true meaning of the word 'Shalom'? All this and more in this week's Ponderings on the Parsha!

The holiday of Shavuot is intrinsically connected to counting, but we don't actually count the 50th day. Why? Also, the pattern and meaning of megillot and chagim. All this and more on this week's Ponderings on the Parsha!

Why is counting so important in Judaism? Why are the Levites counted differently? All this and more on this week's Ponderings on the Parsha!

Why does the Torah mention Har Sinai at the beginning of this week's Parsha? What are the multitude of meanings behind the Shemita laws? What is the meaning behind the apparent numerical mistake in the beginning of Bechukotai? 

All this and more on this week's Ponderings on the Parsha

What is the intricate connection between Shabbat and the rest of the holidays? Why is the verb Emor (to say) repeated twice at the beginning of the Parshah? All this and more in this week's Ponderings on the Parsha!

What is the ultimate meaning of Pesach Sheni? Are we always given second chances?

What are the major themes of Yom Kippur as symbolized in the sacrifices of the day? What they can teach us beyond the holiday and for everyday life?

All this and more on this week's Ponderings on the Parsha!

What is the connection between Acharei Mot and Kedoshim? What is the meaning of the phrase "....to be Holy"? What is the Torah commanding when it says "You shall love your neighbor as yourself"? All this and more in this week's Ponderings on the Parsha!

What is the real difference between purity and impurity? How do we understand all the ceremonies performed by the Cohen and the blemish of Tzaraat? All this and more on this week's Ponderings on the Parsha!

A special episode on the meaning and importance of Israel Independence Day!

What is the significance of 8 in Judaism? Can we learn from Aharon's response to tragedy? What is the meaning behind the Kashrut laws? All this and more in this week's Ponderings on the Parsha!

A special episode with additional ideas behind Pesach!

What is the meaning of the verse "I am to my beloved and my beloved is to me"? What are some of the overall themes of the Song of the Sea? All this and more on this week's Ponderings on the Parsha!

This week, we go through the various Karbanot and discuss their significance. What the meaning behind the details of the Korban Todah? Why was the fire constant on the altar? All this and more in this week's Ponderings on the Parsha!

What is the meaning of counting days and weeks? How do we explain the Kabbalistic idea of Sefirot? All this and more in a special episode of Ponderings on the Parsha!

Why is this Shabbat called Shabbat HaGadol? What is its connection to Pesach?

In this week's special episode, we go through the meaning of the seder and the month of Nissan. We also trace patterns and themes throughout Pesach. This episode will definitely have something for everyone to say at the Seder table! 

We start the third book of the Torah this week! What is the meaning of the word Korban? Why does the Parsha start with a small aleph? All this and more on Ponderings on the Parsha!

The inner pattern of the materials, vessels and numbers of the Mishkan. All this and more on this week's Ponderings on the Parsha!

What is the connection between the building of the Mishkan and Shabbat? Is the building of the Mishkan related to the creation of the universe itself? All this and more on this week's Ponderings on the Parsha. 

Listen to prepare mind and soul for Pesach!

Why are Jews counted by the contribution of a half-shekel? What is the deeper meaning of the word "VaYinafash" "and He rested"? Why did the path to repentance include Moshe breaking the Tablets? All this and more in this week's Ponderings on the Parsha! 

What are the similarities between Purim, Pesach and Yom Kippur? Why do we read the Megillah twice? Why does the seudah start during the day and not at night? All this and more on this special Ponderings on the Parsha episode for the holiday of Purim! 

Why is Moshe's name never mentioned in this Parsha? What is the meaning of the Kohen Gadol's vestments? Why do the Rabbis say that the verses about the daily sacrifice are the most important in the Torah? All this and more in this week's Ponderings on the Parsha! 

What similarities does the structure of the mishkan have with our daily lives? Why does the Torah say "And you shall take an offering" - are they not giving? All this and more in this week's Ponderings on the Parsha!

Is there a pattern to the Ten Commandments? How do they interconnect with one another? How was Yitro able to see things that Moshe was not? All this and more on this week's Ponderings on the Parsha!

Is there a pattern to the Ten Commandments? How do they interconnect with one another? How was Yitro able to see things that Moshe was not? All this and more on this week's Ponderings on the Parsha!

What is the significance of trees in Judaism? What are we celebrating on this day? All this and more on this special episode of Ponderings on the Parsha!

Why did G-d redeem the Jewish people through the splitting of the sea? What is the place of song and music in Judaism? What is the meaning of Shabbat in the context of dew and wandering in the desert? All this and more in this week's Ponderings on the Parsha.

Are the last three plagues connected to each other? What is the full meaning of the Jewish calendar and the first commandment to "sanctify the new moon"? All this and more in this week's Ponderings on the Parsha!

What is the significance of this day? Why does Israel have a different day that they celebrate?

Listen Now!

Why are there ten plagues instead of one big one? Why did Pharoah harden his heart? Are there 4 or 5 phrases of redemption? All this and more on this week's Ponderings on the Parsha!

What is the meaning of the blessing of Ephraim and Menashe? What can the last segment and conclusion of the stories of Breishit teach us about the Jewish nation and ourselves? All this and more on this week's Ponderings on the Parsha!

What are the main themes and lessons from the culmination of the story of Joseph and his brothers? What are the differences between Joseph's and Yehuda's character? All this and more on this week's Ponderings on the Parsha!

How is Yosef's life a lesson and example for us? What is the meaning of his son's names? Also more on Hanukka! All this and more in this week's Ponderings on the Parsha.

Why are there 8 candles? What is the main message of the Festival of Lights? All this and more on Ponderings on the Parsha!

What really happened with the selling of Yosef? Why was Yosef able to clearly see the meaning of dreams while others were not. All this and more on this week's Ponderings on the Parsha!

What is the meaning of the name Yisrael? What was Yaacov so afraid of? What do we make of the ways in which way he tried to appease Esau? All this and more in this week's Ponderings on the Parsha!

What is the meaning of the famous dream of the latter? What are the recurring themes in Breishit? All this and more in this week's Ponderings on the Parsha! 

What was the real difference between Yaacov and Esau? Why did Yitzchak like Esau more? What is the meaning of the name Yaacov? All this and more in this week's Ponderings on the Parsha! 

In this special episode, Selwyn explains the very Jewish idea behind Thanksgiving!

Why is Sarah's age given in three different ways? Why was Avraham insistent on buying land for a burial plot? Why did Avraham decide not to send his servant to find a wife in the immediate area? All this and more in this week's Ponderings on the Parsha!

Why did Avraham argue with G-d about Sodom? What was the route of the argument between Avraham and Lot? What do we make of the troubling story of the Akeidah? All this and more on this week's Ponderings on the Parsha!

What was the difference between Avraham and Noach? Why was Avraham chosen as the father of the Jewish people? Did Avraham make a mistake in going down to Egypt? All this and more in this week's Ponderings on the Parsha!

What do we make of Noach's character? Was he good or evil? Why did G-d choose water to destroy the world and what can be learned from Noach's experience inside the ark? 

What is the meaning of the word Breishit? Why are there two seemingly contradictory stories of the creation of man? What is the meaning of Shabbat? All this and more in this week's Ponderings on the Parsha. 

A look back at the period of Chagim and the significance of Shemini Atzeret/Simchat Torah.

A special episode about the meaning of Succoth!

In this special episode, we discuss the ideas behind Yom Kippur!

What is the meaning of the word Haazinu? Why is the Torah called a song? What does all of this tell us about Moshe? All this and more on this week's Ponderings on the Parsha!

This week's special episode focuses on the meaning behind Rosh Hashana!

What is the real meaning of the word Netzavim? What can say of Moshe's character from the word "Vayelech - and he went"? Where was he going to? All this and more on this week's Ponderings on the Parsha!

What is the significance of the Bikurim? What is the meaning of the Arami Oved Avi? What is the actual Mitzvah to write the Torah? All this and more on this week's Ponderings on the Parsha!

What is the meaning of "When you go out to war against your enemies"? What is the Torah getting at with the law of Eishit Yefat Toar? Plus a run-through of various laws found in the Parsha!

What is the significance of the courts and judges being spread out between Jerusalem and all the various individual cities? What are some of the main ideas behind the series of commandments found in this week's parsha in setting up a just society? All this and more in this week's Ponderings on the Parsha!

A special episode about the ideas behind the month of Elul!

What does Moshe mean when he says "Re'eh- See..."? What is the meaning of the various Kashruth laws? Plus a run-through of the various commandments in the Parsha. All this and more on this week's Ponderings on the Parsha!

What is the meaning of the word "Eikev"?,  the kabbalistic meaning of the 7 fruits, Shabbat Nachamu and more on this week's Ponderings on the Parsha!

What is the meaning of the word ' Va'etchanan'? What is the difference Shamor and Zachor in the two versions of the ten commandments? What can we learn from Moshe calling Israel a "good" land? All this and more on this week's Ponderings on the Parsha!  

What is the deep meaning of Isaiah's words in the Haftarah? Is there a pattern repeating itself of going from deep sadness to hope and rejuvenation? All this and more on Ponderings on the Parsha!

What is the meaning of this minor holiday? What can it teach us for our day in age?

What is the main point of the 5th book? What is the significance of the number 5 and what can we learn from Moshe's transformation from someone afraid to speak to a master orator? PLUS The intimate connection between Devarim and Tisha Bav. All this and more on this week's Ponderings on the Parsha!

What is the meaning of the word 'Matot' which means both tribes and staffs? Why was Aharon mourned so heavily? Why are all of the journeys that Jewish people took in the desert listed? All this and more in this week's Ponderings on the Parsha!

What is the connection between Pinchas and Eliyahu? Why,  in the opinion of one Sage, are the verses about the daily offerings the most important in the Torah? What do the daughters of Zelophehad teach us about the role of women? All this and more on this week's Ponderings on the Parsha!

Who was Balaam? What is the meaning of the famous blessing he uttered, "How great are your tents, Jacob..." ? All this and more in this week's Ponderings on the Parsha!

What is the meaning of the Red Heifer law? Why was Moshe punished so harshly for hitting the rock? All this and more on Ponderings on the Parsha!

What can we learn about arguments from Korach's rebellion? What was wrong with Korach's argument "We are all holy"? Why is On Ben Pelet not mentioned again in the people that died? All this and more on this week's Ponderings on the Parsha!

What was the real mission of the spies? What is the real difference between the spies and Caleb and Joshua? Was there anything really false about what the spies said? All this and more on this week's Ponderings on the Parsha!

What is the meaning of the opening word of the Parsha "When you cause to light up"? Why does it repeat twice that the Levites were "given over"? And what does this "Book within a book" come to teach us? All this and more on this week's Ponderings on the Parsha.

What is the connection between the seemingly disparate commandments in the Parsha? What is the true meaning of the word 'Shalom'? All this and more in this week's Ponderings on the Parsha!

The holiday of Shavuot is intrinsically connected to counting, but we don't actually count the 50th day. Why? Also, the pattern and meaning of megillot and chagim. All this and more on this week's Ponderings on the Parsha!

Why is counting so important in Judaism? Why are the Leviim counted differently? All this and more on Ponderings on the Parsha!

What is the meaning behind the apparent numerical mistake in the beginning of Bechukotai? 

All this and more on this week's Ponderings on the Parsha

Why does the Torah mention Har Sinai at the beginning of this week's Parsha? What are the multitude of meanings behind the Shemita laws?

All this and more on this week's Ponderings on the Parsha1

What is the ultimate meaning of Pesach Sheni? Are we always given second chances?