Ponderings on the Parsha with Selwyn Gerber

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Did you know the renowned economist Selwyn Gerber can also delve into the inner workings and deep levels of the weekly Parsha? Intended for his children and grandchildren, each episode is a welcome companion for Shabbat for anyone interested in the depths of the weekly sedra. This podcast was arranged by his children in honor of his 72nd birthday as a surprise gift.

Selwyn Gerber


    • May 13, 2025 LATEST EPISODE
    • weekdays NEW EPISODES
    • 10m AVG DURATION
    • 167 EPISODES


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    Latest episodes from Ponderings on the Parsha with Selwyn Gerber

    Parshat Emor 2025

    Play Episode Listen Later May 13, 2025 10:52


    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!

    Pesach Sheni 2025

    Play Episode Listen Later May 11, 2025 0:49


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

    Parshat Acharei Mot

    Play Episode Listen Later May 8, 2025 6:12


    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!

    Parshat Acharei Mot/Kedoshim 2025

    Play Episode Listen Later May 6, 2025 17:44


    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!

    Parshat Tazria

    Play Episode Listen Later May 2, 2025 4:56


    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!

    Yom Haatzmaut 2025

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 27, 2025 6:16


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

    Parshat Shemini 2025

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 22, 2025 6:12


    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!

    7th Day of Pesach 2025

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 15, 2025 5:53


    A special episode with additional ideas behind Pesach!

    The Song of the Sea and Shir HaShirim 2025

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 15, 2025 4:09


    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!

    Parshat Tzav 2025

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 8, 2025 6:53


    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!

    Sefirat HaOmer 2025

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 8, 2025 4:49


    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!

    Shabbat HaGadol

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 7, 2025 1:09


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

    Pesach 2025

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 6, 2025 22:02


    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! 

    Parshat Vayikra 2025

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 1, 2025 4:54


    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!

    Parshat Pekudei 2025

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 25, 2025 2:36


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

    Parshat Vayakhel 2025

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 18, 2025 8:51


    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. 

    30 Days Before Pesach 2025

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 12, 2025 6:25


    Listen to prepare mind and soul for Pesach!

    Parshat Ki Tisa 2025

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 11, 2025 11:56


    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! 

    Purim 2025

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 10, 2025 12:11


    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! 

    Parshat Tezaveh 2025

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 4, 2025 9:54


    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! 

    Parshat Teruma 2025

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 25, 2025 10:00


    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!

    Parshat Mishpatim 2025

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 18, 2025 0:04


    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!

    Parshat Yitro 2025

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 11, 2025 16:46


    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!

    Tu Bishvat 2025

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 11, 2025 1:00


    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!

    Parshat Beshalach 2025

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 4, 2025 12:28


    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.

    Parshat Bo 2025

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 28, 2025 13:25


    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!

    International Holocaust Remembrance Day 2025

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 23, 2025 1:17


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

    Parshat Va'era 2025

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 21, 2025 14:02


    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!

    Parshat Shemot 2025

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 12, 2025 16:19


    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!

    Parshat Vayechi 2025

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 7, 2025 14:32


    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!

    Parshat Vayigash 2025

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 31, 2024 10:59


    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!

    Parshat Miketz 2024

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 24, 2024 11:21


    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.

    Hanukka 2024

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 22, 2024 7:29


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

    Parshat Vayeshev 2024

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 17, 2024 5:47


    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!

    Parshat Vayishlach 2024

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 10, 2024 10:28


    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!

    Parshat Vayetze 2024

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 3, 2024 10:18


    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! 

    Parshat Toldot 2024

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 26, 2024 16:48


    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! 

    Thanksgiving! 2024

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 25, 2024 1:58


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

    Parshat Chayei Sarah 2024

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 19, 2024 17:14


    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!

    Parshat Vayera 2024

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 12, 2024 11:36


    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!

    Parshat Lech Lecha 2024

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 5, 2024 9:36


    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!

    Parshat Noach 2024

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 29, 2024 14:00


    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? 

    Parshat Breishit 2024

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 22, 2024 15:04


    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. 

    Shemini Atzeret - Simchat Torah 2024

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 20, 2024 4:08


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

    Succoth 2024

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 13, 2024 14:34


    A special episode about the meaning of Succoth!

    Yom Kippur 2024

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 7, 2024 11:29


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

    Parshat Ha'Azinu 2024

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 1, 2024 1:18


    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!

    Rosh Hashana 2024

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 26, 2024 6:56


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

    Parshat Nitzavim/Vayelech 2024

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 24, 2024 11:10


    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!

    Parshat Ki Tavo 2024

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 17, 2024 9:39


    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!

    Parshat Ki Teitzei 2024

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 10, 2024 12:06


    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!

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