The portable earthly dwelling place of Yahweh during the Exodus
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In this quick but powerful shiur on Vayakhel-Pekudei, Rabbi Aryeh Wolbe shares an insight from Rabbi Yaakov Nagel (Senior Rabbi of Heimish of Houston) about the unique double-sided drapes (Yeri'ot) in the Mishkan. While most embroidery (Ma'asei Choshev) was identical on both sides, one special curtain at the entrance to the Kodesh HaKodashim (Holy of Holies) featured a completely different image on the inner side—yet no human ever saw it. The Kohen Gadol entered once a year, performed the Yom Kippur service, and exited backward, never turning to view the inner curtain. So why invest in an unseen design?Rabbi Wolbe explains: It teaches that Hashem's perspective often differs radically from ours. We may undervalue a mitzvah (thinking it's "small") or ourselves (feeling unworthy or limited), but Hashem sees infinite worth. A simple act—holding back lashon hara, a quiet prayer, a moment of restraint—may earn unimaginable reward in heaven. Conversely, we sometimes overestimate our deeds. The hidden curtain reminds us: some mitzvot and personal potentials are visible only to Hashem, whose valuation transcends human sight. This applies especially to parenting: parents must reflect children's true greatness and potential (like the mirrors of last week's shiur), seeing beyond their self-doubt to ignite confidence and growth—just as Hashem sees our hidden light._____________This Podcast Series is Generously Underwritten by Peter & Becky BotvinRecorded at TORCH Centre in the Levin Family Studios (B) to a live audience on March 17, 2026, in Houston, Texas.Released as Podcast on March 18, 2026_____________Listen, Subscribe & Share: Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/jewish-inspiration-podcast-rabbi-aryeh-wolbe/id1476610783Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4r0KfjMzmCNQbiNaZBCSU7) to stay inspired! Share your questions at aw@torchweb.org or visit torchweb.org for more Torah content. _____________About the Host:Rabbi Aryeh Wolbe, Director of TORCH in Houston, brings decades of Torah scholarship to guide listeners in applying Jewish wisdom to daily life. To directly send your questions, comments, and feedback, please email: awolbe@torchweb.org_____________Support Our Mission:Our Mission is Connecting Jews & Judaism. Help us spread Judaism globally by sponsoring an episode at torchweb.org.Your support makes a HUGE difference!_____________Listen MoreOther podcasts by Rabbi Aryeh Wolbe: NEW!! Hey Rabbi! Podcast: https://heyrabbi.transistor.fm/episodesPrayer Podcast: https://prayerpodcast.transistor.fm/episodesJewish Inspiration Podcast: https://inspiration.transistor.fm/episodesParsha Review Podcast: https://parsha.transistor.fm/episodesLiving Jewishly Podcast: https://jewishly.transistor.fm/episodesThinking Talmudist Podcast: https://talmud.transistor.fm/episodesUnboxing Judaism Podcast: https://unboxing.transistor.fm/episodesRabbi Aryeh Wolbe Podcast Collection: https://collection.transistor.fm/episodesFor a full listing of podcasts available by TORCH at http://podcast.torchweb.org_____________Keywords:#JewishInspiration, #Mussar, #MasterClass, #Flattery, #Chanufa, #Honor, #BadInfluence, #IntentionalLiving, #PositiveEnvironment, #DeleteTheApp, #ShalomBayit ★ Support this podcast ★
Rashi (Shemos 39:33) says that when the Mishan was too heavy for anyone to erect, Hashem told Moshe to pretend to lift it and Hashem would help him. Why?
A five-word phrase repeats eighteen times at the climax of Sefer Shemos, and we think it is Torah's way of grabbing us by the shoulders. “Kasher Tziva Hashem Es Moshe” is written so often in Parashas Pekudei that it stops sounding like narration and starts sounding like a demand: Do you actually mean what you are doing, and can you finish what you started?We walk through why the Mishkan narrative keeps circling back to that same line through the lens of the Shulchan Aruch. One path is about depth: every mitzvah has layers, including hidden dimensions of Torah that most of us never see, yet we can still honor them through careful, faithful execution. Another path is about kavanah, the intention that turns an action from a shell into avodas Hashem. We connect it to mitzvos tzrichos kavanah, the halachic question of whether intention is required, and the simple practice of saying, even in your head, “I'm doing this because Hashem commanded.”From there, we bring it into real life: a small moment that sparked this whole rant, a story about Rav Eliyahu Lopian noticing workers stacking up mitzvos while missing the mindset, and a Chovos HaLevavos-based reminder that parnasa can be a mitzvah when it is done with awareness. We end with a bigger arc, using the Ramban on Sefer Shemos to reframe the “finish line” as Hashra'as HaShechinah, and we challenge ourselves to crave one approval more than any other: the quiet joy of a job well done.If this hit a nerve, subscribe, share it with a friend, and leave a review with one sentence about where you want more kavanah in your day.Support the showJoin The Motivation Congregation WhatsApp community for daily motivational Torah content!------------------Check out our other Torah Podcasts and content! SUBSCRIBE to The Motivation Congregation Podcast for daily motivational Mussar! Listen on Spotify or 24six! Find all Torah talks and listen to featured episodes on our website, themotivationcongregation.org Questions or Comments? Please email me @ michaelbrooke97@gmail.com
This episode discusses the women's unique role in creating the Mishkan, and what it accomplished.
Mishkan in universe and avodat Hashem by Rabbi Benjamin Lavian
This evening we discuss our ability to choose the perspective we take on anything that happens, and where we see this in our Parsha. We analyze why the command to build the Mishkan must follow the Parsha of Mishpatim, because we cannot serve God with funds or objects we obtain unethically. And we provide a sweeping view of the narrative arc of the Book of Exodus, based on an essay by Ezra Sivan, that compares and contrasts the two national building projects, one at the beginning of Shmot and one at the end. And the difference between them is Shabbat. Michael Whitman is the senior rabbi of ADATH Congregation in Hampstead, Quebec, and an adjunct professor at McGill University Faculty of Law. ADATH is a modern orthodox synagogue community in suburban Montreal, providing Judaism for the next generation. We take great pleasure in welcoming everyone with a warm smile, while sharing inspiration through prayer, study, and friendship. Rabbi Whitman shares his thoughts and inspirations through online lectures and shiurim, which are available on: YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC5FLcsC6xz5TmkirT1qObkA Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/adathmichael/ Podcast - Mining the Riches of the Parsha: Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast/mining-the-riches-of-the-parsha/id1479615142?fbclid=IwAR1c6YygRR6pvAKFvEmMGCcs0Y6hpmK8tXzPinbum8drqw2zLIo7c9SR-jc Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/3hWYhCG5GR8zygw4ZNsSmO Please contact Rabbi Whitman (rabbi@adath.ca) with any questions or feedback, or to receive a daily email, "Study with Rabbi Whitman Today," with current and past insights for that day, video, and audio, all in one short email sent directly to your inbox.
Parshas Vayakhel & Pekudei: The Altar Within As we conclude Sefer Shemos, the Mishkan is finally completed and the Divine Presence descends among the Jewish people. Yet within the Mishkan stands a mystery. Unlike the other sacred vessels, the two altars cannot become ritually impure. Why are they different? Drawing on the Gemara and the Lubavitcher Rebbe, this episode reveals a powerful insight: the altar represents the deepest point within every Jew, a place that can never become spiritually impure.
Why were the women the most enthusiastic donors to the Mishkan? And why were they rewarded with the holiday of Rosh Chodesh?In this shiur, delivered in TVA, Rav Burh explores the deeper spiritual difference between the Golden Calf and the Mishkan, between despair that demands immediate certainty and faith that can live through hiddenness. Through the symbolism of mirrors, the moon, and the power of renewal, we uncover the unique strength of those who can believe in redemption even when the light has nearly disappeared.
In this shmooze, delivered at the final Mevaseret Mishmar of the Zman, Rav Burg explores the deeper psychology and spirituality behind that moment. Sometimes endless giving is not abundance, it is the lingering voice of scarcity. The Mishkan was meant to heal the rupture of the Eigel, to remind the Jewish people of a profound truth: בנים אתם לה׳ אלקיכם — you are children of Hashem, no matter what.
התוכן [המשך] וההוראה הפשוטה, הכללית וההכרחית: תורת אמת היא ה"הוראה בחיים" המאירה ליהודי את הדרך בחיים, עד שיש בלימוד התורה את התכונה ש"מביא לידי מעשה" [דלא כחכמות אחרות וכו'], עד ש"המאור שבה מחזירו למוטב". ולכן ההתחלה היא בלימוד התורה ודבר ה' כפי שצוה ה' את משה וכו' – בעצמו. שזהו"ע של פ' תרומה-תצוה. אח"כ בא השלב של "ויקהל" – שבאותה התלהבות גדולה ומס"נ שבה למד בעצמו – "מפי הגבורה" או מפי "משה" (החכם שבדורו) – ה"ה "מקהיל" אחרים ומוסר להם את הוראות ה' ע"ד בניית המשכן "הפרטי" או "הכללי" וכו'. והתלהבות ו"שטורעם" הזו שלו נמשכת גם אח"כ בשלב המעשה ועוסק בפועל בבניית חלקו במשכן הכללי וכו'. וגם כאשר מגיע הזמן לערוך "חשבון נפש" על כ"ז – אינו מסתפק בעשיית סה"כ כללי ומהר, אלא עורך אותו עם כל הפרטים וכו' (ע"ד פירוט החשבון בפ' פקודי) [המשך יבוא]משיחת מוצש"ק פ' ויקהל-פקודי, מבה"ח ניסן, פ' החודש ה'תשל"ט ל"הנחה פרטית" או התרגום ללה"ק של השיחה: https://thedailysicha.com/?date=12-03-2026 Synopsis (Continued.) The simple, wide-ranging, and crucial lesson is as follows: The Torah of Truth is the guide for life that illuminates a Jew's path in this world, to the extent that Torah study contains the the quality of “leading to action” (unlike secular studies etc.) so that ultimately, “the luminary within it brings him back to good.” Therefore, one begins with studying Torah and the word of Hashem the way Hashem commanded it to Moshe (in Terumah and Tetzaveh). Then comes “Vayakhel”: with the same degree of enthusiasm and self-sacrifice that one heard it himself “from the mouth of the Almi-ghty” or from the mouth of Moshe (the Sage of his generation), he now assembles others and transmits Hashem's instructions regarding the Mishkan to them. This enthusiasm also continues in the stage of action, where one actually builds his part of the Mishkan etc. And even afterwards, when the time comes to make an accounting of all this, one doesn't suffice with making a general, quick accounting, rather, he does it in full detail (like the detailed tally in Pekudei). (To be continued.)Excerpt from sichah of Motzaei Shabbos Parashas Vayakhel-Pekudei, Parashas HaChodesh 5739 For a transcript in English of the Sicha: https://thedailysicha.com/?date=12-03-2026 לע"נ מרת חנה פעשא בת ר' מנחם מענדל ע"ה סגל ליום היארצייט שלה כ"ג אדר. ת.נ.צ.ב.ה.
In this episode of Daily Zohar, Rabbi Amichai Cohen opens the beginning of Parshat Vayakhel through the lens of the Zohar, exploring the deeper meaning of Amalek as the force of spiritual coldness, doubt, and corruption. This teaching reveals why Amalek attacks specifically in moments of disconnection, how holiness can be weakened through environment and influence, and why the building of the Mishkan required a new level of spiritual clarity and separation. A deep reflection on purity, community, and the inner battle to remain connected to the warmth of the Divine.
Did life turn out the way you imagined it would? Most of us quietly carry two versions of our lives, the ideal one we dreamed about and the messy, imperfect one we actually live. In this Wednesday morning Kabbalah class, Rabbi Yisroel Bernath explores a powerful insight from Parshat Vayakhel–Pekudei and Chassidic teachings: why the Torah repeats the story of the Mishkan twice, and what that reveals about our own lives.Drawing from the teachings of the Lubavitcher Rebbe and Tanya, the class examines the difference between the “heavenly sanctuary” of our dreams and the “earthly sanctuary” we build through our struggles, relationships, and imperfections. The surprising message? G-d does not dwell in the perfect life we imagine. G-d dwells in the real life we build.This class offers a calming and empowering perspective: the challenges, disappointments, and imperfections of our lives are not obstacles to holiness… they are the very materials through which we create it.Key TakeawaysEvery person lives with two realities: the life we imagined and the life we are actually living.Western philosophy often values the ideal over the real, but Torah reverses that assumption. The Torah repeats the story of the Mishkan to teach that the earthly sanctuary is not a copy, it is the true destination.G-d's deepest presence is revealed not in perfection, but in the human effort to transform imperfect reality.Your struggles, scars, and disappointments are not detours from your purpose, they are the building blocks of your spiritual home.Holiness is not found in escaping life's imperfections, but in transforming them.True beauty emerges when we build meaning, faith, and love within the life we actually have.#Kabbalah #JewishWisdom #VayakhelPekudei #chassidus #Tanya #spiritualgrowth #purpose #JewishLearning #InnerPeace #FaithInAction #TorahInsights #RabbiBernath #JewishNDG #MeaningfulLife #MindfulLiving Available now:Paperback: https://www.amazon.com/Forgiveness-Experiment-What-Would-Your/dp/1069217638Kindle: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0FR2QNJL6Audiobook: https://bit.ly/4tPFZhVSupport the showGot your own question for Rabbi Bernath? He can be reached at rabbi@jewishndg.com or http://www.theloverabbi.comSingle? You can make a profile on www.JMontreal.com and Rabbi Bernath will help you find that special someone.Donate and support Rabbi Bernath's work http://www.jewishndg.com/donateFollow Rabbi Bernath's YouTube Channel https://www.youtube.com/user/ybernathAccess Rabbi Bernath's Articles on Relationships https://medium.com/@loverabbi
Madlik Podcast – Torah Thoughts on Judaism From a Post-Orthodox Jew
The Torah is incredibly strict about what goes into its holiest sanctuary, which is why one bizarre detail in Exodus chapter 38 makes absolutely no sense. In the inventory of materials used to build the Mishkan, the Torah accounts for the weight and value of all the gold, silver, copper, wood, and linen material used. It's very clinical, with no reference to significance or context. There is one striking exception. Exodus 38:8 tells us that the priestly washing basin was made "from the mirrors of the women who gathered at the entrance of the Tent of Meeting." Why does the Torah suddenly reveal the provenance of this one object? Who were these women—and what were they doing there? In this episode of Madlik Disruptive Torah, Geoffrey Stern and Rabbi Adam Mintz explore how a single enigmatic verse sparked generations of interpretation. Key Takeaways The Holiest Objects May Come from the Least Holy Places A Tiny Detail Can Create a Whole Tradition A Mirror Is the Perfect Metaphor for Interpretation Timestamps [00:00] Mirrors in the Mishkan [00:56] Meet the Hosts [01:36] Podcast Intro [02:51] Reading Exodus 38 [04:48] Women at the Tent [07:40] Rashi's Famous Midrash [13:01] Word Study on Mirrors [14:32] Sponsor Break [15:45] Eli's Sons and Innuendo [19:22] Scholars Offer Explanations [22:43] Egyptian Mirrors and Fertility [26:02] Repurposing Pagan Objects [26:42] Cassuto and Poetic Memory [29:39] Found Object Theology [31:26] Modern Fertility Sculpture [32:52] Wrap Up and Farewell Links & Learnings Sign up for free and get more from our weekly newsletter https://madlik.com/ Sefaria Source Sheet: https://voices.sefaria.org/sheets/713285 Transcript here: https://madlik.substack.com/
Shiur given by Rabbi Yosef Fishman on Parsha. Shiur recorded in Yeshivas Ohr Reuven, Monsey, NY.
Send a textDid life turn out the way you imagined it would? Most of us quietly carry two versions of our lives, the ideal one we dreamed about and the messy, imperfect one we actually live. In this Wednesday morning Kabbalah class, Rabbi Yisroel Bernath explores a powerful insight from Parshat Vayakhel–Pekudei and Chassidic teachings: why the Torah repeats the story of the Mishkan twice, and what that reveals about our own lives.Drawing from the teachings of the Lubavitcher Rebbe and Tanya, the class examines the difference between the “heavenly sanctuary” of our dreams and the “earthly sanctuary” we build through our struggles, relationships, and imperfections. The surprising message? G-d does not dwell in the perfect life we imagine. G-d dwells in the real life we build.This class offers a calming and empowering perspective: the challenges, disappointments, and imperfections of our lives are not obstacles to holiness… they are the very materials through which we create it.Key TakeawaysEvery person lives with two realities: the life we imagined and the life we are actually living.Western philosophy often values the ideal over the real, but Torah reverses that assumption. The Torah repeats the story of the Mishkan to teach that the earthly sanctuary is not a copy, it is the true destination.G-d's deepest presence is revealed not in perfection, but in the human effort to transform imperfect reality.Your struggles, scars, and disappointments are not detours from your purpose, they are the building blocks of your spiritual home.Holiness is not found in escaping life's imperfections, but in transforming them.True beauty emerges when we build meaning, faith, and love within the life we actually have.#Kabbalah #JewishWisdom #VayakhelPekudei #chassidus #Tanya #spiritualgrowth #purpose #JewishLearning #InnerPeace #FaithInAction #TorahInsights #RabbiBernath #JewishNDG #MeaningfulLife #MindfulLiving Available now:Paperback: https://www.amazon.com/Forgiveness-Experiment-What-Would-Your/dp/1069217638Kindle: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0FR2QNJL6Audiobook: https://bit.ly/4tPFZhV Support the showGot your own question for Rabbi Bernath? He can be reached at rabbi@jewishndg.com or http://www.theloverabbi.comSingle? You can make a profile on www.JMontreal.com and Rabbi Bernath will help you find that special someone.Donate and support Rabbi Bernath's work http://www.jewishndg.com/donateFollow Rabbi Bernath's YouTube Channel https://www.youtube.com/user/ybernathAccess Rabbi Bernath's Articles on Relationships https://medium.com/@loverabbi
התוכן [המשך] ההוראה הנצחית [למרות שהמשכן ובתי המקדש לא קיימים] מזה שהתורה חוזרת עוה"פ ג' פעמים על כל הפרטים שבמשכן וכו' מובנת מפשטות הדברים שמדובר כאן בענין הכי עיקרי – עשיית המשכן שבו יהי' "ושכנתי בתוכם" – השראת השכינה בכאו"א מישראל! שלכן "הכניס" הקב"ה א"ע בזה בכל הפרטים בציוויו למשה וכו' עד אשר הראה למשה "בהר" את הכל וכתב בתורה את כל הפרטים. וכל ה"שטורעם" הזה חוזר ע"ע עוה"פ במסירת הדברים לבנ"י. ולא מסתפקים גם בזה וזה ש"כל ישראל בחזקת כשרות" ובפרט לאחרי ה"סלחתי כדבריך" – אלא כל ה"שטורעם" הזה חוזר ע"ע עוה"פ בפירוט חשבון נדבות המשכן בפועל. וזה חוזר ע"ע עוה"פ ב"חשבון הנפש" איך הי' הביצוע בפועל! [המשך יבוא]משיחת מוצש"ק פ' ויקהל-פקודי, מבה"ח ניסן, פ' החודש ה'תשל"ט ל"הנחה פרטית" או התרגום ללה"ק של השיחה: https://thedailysicha.com/?date=11-03-2026 Synopsis [Continued.] The eternal lesson (that applies even though the Mishkan and Beis Hamikdash aren't currently standing) from the fact that the Torah repeats all the details of the Mishkan three times can be understood from the fact that the Mishkan is of utmost importance – it is the place where “I will dwell among them” and through which the Shechinah rests within every Jew. This is why Hashem invested Himself so much in all the details when He spoke to Moshe, to the extent that he showed Moshe everything when he was on the mountain, and recorded all the details in the Torah. And all the details, with all the fanfare, are repeated again when the command is conveyed to the Jewish people, and even that is not enough: although the Jewish people could presumably be relied upon to carry out the command (because “all Jews are presumed upright,” especially after they were forgiven for the sin of the golden calf), all the details are repeated again when the Torah makes an accounting of the donations actually given to the Mishkan and again when the Torah describes the command being carried out in practice. (To be continued.)Excerpt from sichah of Motzaei Shabbos Parashas Vayakhel-Pekudei, Parashas HaChodesh 5739 For a transcript in English of the Sicha: https://thedailysicha.com/?date=11-03-2026 לזכות ריסה בת צביה שתחי' ליום הולדת שלה כ"ב אדר - לשנת ברכה והצלחה, ואריכות ימים ושנים טובות*לזכות מארייאשא אסתר בת שטערנא שרה שתחי' ליום ההולדת שלה כ"ב אדרלשנת ברכה והצלחה רבה ומופלגה בכל בגו"ר מתוך בריאות נכונה ומנוחת הנפש והגוףנדבת הורי' ר' חיים ברוך ושטערנא שרה שיחיו אלבסקי
There are three ways to achieve transcendental greatness: There is the path of intense practice and training in your desired field of excellence; there is the path of Bezalel who was endowed with supernatural abilities and preordained to greatness; and there is a third path -- the path of the ascension of heart. In our Parsha we learn about people who accomplished otherworldly things: Bezalel and his army of lieutenants built the Mishkan and its many vessels and accouterments. A deep study of the subject reveals that Bezalel and his volunteer helpers took different paths. In this Parsha Podcast we study the Third Path.– – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – –DONATE: Please consider supporting the podcasts by making a donation to help fund our Jewish outreach and educational efforts at https://www.torchweb.org/support.php. Thank you!– – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – –NEW TORCH Mailing Address POBox:TORCHPO BOX 310246HOUSTON, TX 77231-0246– – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – –Email me with questions, comments, and feedback: rabbiwolbe@gmail.com– – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – –SUBSCRIBE to my Newsletterrabbiwolbe.com/newsletter– – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – –SUBSCRIBE to Rabbi Yaakov Wolbe's PodcastsThe Parsha PodcastThe Jewish History PodcastThe Mitzvah Podcast This Jewish LifeThe Ethics PodcastTORAH 101 ★ Support this podcast ★
The people who were granted the supernatural knowledge to build the Mishkan were unique in having developed a specific prerequisite, yiras shamayim.
Moses presents the mitzvah of Shabbat alongside the Mishkan project, closing the book of Shemot with the account of how the Mishkan was built, including the aron fashioned by its chief artisan. The copper wash basin made from women's mirrors used in Egypt to encourage their husbands to conceive despite slavery, a contribution Moshe initially rejects but God praises as most desired. It also explains that the detailed accounting of donations functions as public transparency, and ends with God's presence filling and leading Israel through the desert via the pillar of cloud and fire.Rabbi Dweck has held rabbinic leadership roles in the US and the UK. He is the Rosh Bet Midrash of TheHabura.com and the Rabbi Levy Chair of Jewish Wisdom at the London School of Jewish Studies.For more, check out rabbijosephdweck.com.Instagram: https://instagram.com/rabbidweckTikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@rabbidweckYoutube: https://www.youtube.com/c/RabbiJosephDweck
התוכן ההוראה מהענין שבולט כ"כ בכללות פרשיות ויקהל-פקודי היא פשוטה ביותר. תוכן פ' ויקהל-פקודי הוא: 1) הקהלת משה את בנ"י ומסרם את ציווי הקב"ה – שבפ' תרומה-תצוה – על נדבת עשיית והקמת המשכן וכליו והקרבת קרבנות וכו'. 2) "פקודי המשכן" – החשבון והסך-הכל של כל נדבות המשכן בפועל. 3) עשיית המשכן וכליו, הקמתו והקרבת הקרבנות בפועל. וכאן נשאלת שאלה כללית: לאחרי שבציווי הקב"ה למשה בפ' תרומה-תצוה כבר נכתבו כל הפרטים ופרטי-פרטים, מדוע במסירת משה את הדברים לבנ"י בפ' ויקהל חוזרת התורה עוה"פ על כל הפרטים, וחוזרת על כל הפרטים עוה"פ בפ' פקודי בחשבון נדבות המשכן בפועל, ועוה"פ בעשיית המשכן וכליו הקמתו וכו' בפועל – ולא נאמר בקיצור שמשה מסר לבנ"י ושבנ"י עשו ככל אשר צוה ה' את משה וכיו"ב?! מכיון שהשאלה היא בולטת, צריכה גם ההוראה להיות פשוטה וגלוי' [המשך יבוא]ב' חלקים משיחת מוצש"ק פ' ויקהל-פקודי, מבה"ח ניסן, פ' החודש ה'תשל"ט ל"הנחה פרטית" או התרגום ללה"ק של השיחה: https://thedailysicha.com/?date=10-03-2026 Synopsis After the Torah already stated the many details of Hashem's command regarding the donations and the construction of the Mishkan in Terumah and Tetzaveh, why does the Torah repeat them again in Vayakhel, when Moshe conveys the command to the Jewish people, and again in Pekudei regarding the accounting of the donations etc., and again when describing the actual construction of the Mishkan? Why does it not simply state briefly that Moshe conveyed Hashem's command to the Jewish people, and they carried it out fully? Since the question is so obvious, the lesson must also be one that is simple and openly visible. (To be continued.)2 excerpts from sichah of Motzaei Shabbos Parashas Vayakhel-Pekudei, Parashas HaChodesh 5739 For a transcript in English of the Sicha: https://thedailysicha.com/?date=10-03-2026 לע”נ הרב אליעזר בן הרב מרדכי ע"ה ווענגער ליום היארצייט שלו כ"ב אדר. ת.נ.צ.ב.ה.נדבת משפחתו שי'
The Torah's wording that work “shall be done” teaches that a Jew's relationship to livelihood must remain external—performed with the hands but never allowed to occupy the heart and mind. The 39 melachos prohibited on Shabbos correspond to the activities used to construct the Mishkan, revealing that all human labor has the potential to transform the world into a dwelling place for Hashem. The joy of Adar reflects the ultimate transformation of darkness into light, revealing the deepest Divine presence specifically through the challenges of exile. This class, taught by Rabbi Shais Taub, is based on Parshas Vayekhel in Likkutei Sichos Vol. 1.
The Torah repeats the details of the Mishkan to emphasize that the ultimate revelation of the Divine comes not from the spiritual plan alone, but from its realization in the physical world. Tefillah is the ladder that lifts every part of a person—even the most mundane aspects of life—into connection with the Infinite. The concealment at the end of Sefer Shemos prepares the way for the deeper revelation that begins Sefer Vayikra, teaching that darkness itself becomes the catalyst for greater light. This class, taught by Rabbi Shais Taub, is based on Parshas Pekudei in Likkutei Sichos Vol. 1.
Can self-reflection become a path to holiness? In this episode, Zvi Hirschfield and Rabbanit Nechama Goldman Barash explore Parshat Vayakhel–Pekudei through a striking detail of the Mishkan: the women's mirrors used to create the basin for the priests. Drawing on Midrash and interpretation, they reflect on how mirrors symbolize self-awareness and identity—reminding us that serving God begins with knowing who we are. The conversation asks how self-reflection, relationships, and moral intention can transform ordinary human awareness into sacred service.
התוכן עה"פ [בשני דפ' ויקהל] "וכל הנשים.. טוו את העזים" פרש"י "מעל גבי העזים טוו אותן", וכך יכלו לגזוז את החוטים מעל העזים בסמיכות ממש להבאתם למשכן, ובמילא היו החוטים "טריים" ומשובחים יותר וכו'. הטעם שגם מטווה התכלת והארגמן וכו' (שבפסוק שלפנ"ז) לא טוו מעל הכבשים, נתבאר בהתוועדות הקודמת, כי בין כך לא יכלו לגזוז הצמר בסמיכות ממש להבאתם למשכן, כי את הצמר היו צריכים להביא כשהוא צבוע בתכלת או ארגמן וכו', ולא היו יכולים לצבוע אותו מעל הכבשים, כי עד שישתמשו בו בפועל יגדל יותר ויחסר הצבע בתוספת. והנה כו"כ שאלו על ביאור זה וכו', אבל הם לא שמו לב למציאות הפשוטה - הדרך לצבוע צמר הוא לא שצובעים כל שערה לבד עם מברשת..., אלא ע"י שמכניסים אותו לקדירה רותחת עם הצבע וכו', ופשוט שלא שייך לעשות כך כשהצמר מעל הכבשים! הביאור שנת' הי' רק לחידודי ובדוחק - שאפי' אם היו רוצים לצבוע כל שערה לבד מעל הכבשים, שלא כדרך, לא היו יכולים, כנ"ל.משיחת פורים ה'תשל"ו ל"הנחה פרטית" או התרגום ללה"ק של השיחה: https://thedailysicha.com/?date=08-03-2026 Synopsis On the verse (in sheini of parashas Vayakhel), “All the women whose hearts inspired them with skill spun the goat hair,” Rashi explains: “They spun it off the backs of the goats.” This way, the spun hair could be shorn immediately before being brought to the Mishkan, resulting in fresher threads etc. During the previous farbrengen it was explained that the reason the sheep's wool (mentioned in the previous verse) was not similarly spun directly from the sheep is because it had to first be dyed; therefore, the wool could not be shorn immediately before being brought to the Mishkan in any event. And even if they also dyed the wool while it was still on the sheep, by the time the wool was ready to be shorn and used, the wool would have grown, and the new part of the wool would have been undyed. I received many questions about this explanation, with different proposals as to how the wool could have been dyed from the backs of the sheep, but they overlook the simple reality that wool is dyed by placing the wool in a boiling pot with the dye, which obviously can't be done when the wool is still on the sheep. The purpose of the explanation was only to say that even if they wanted to depart from the usual practice and dye every strand individually while it was still on the sheep (with a brush and the like), it wouldn't have helped because by the time it was to be used the wool would have grown more.Excerpt from sichah of Purim 5736 For a transcript in English of the Sicha: https://thedailysicha.com/?date=08-03-2026 לזכות חוה בת קעניא שתחי' וחנה בת עלקא שתחי' ליום ההולדת שלהן י"ט אדרלשנת ברכה והצלחה, ואריכות ימים ושנים טובותנדבת ר' יעקב ליב שי' אלטיין*לע"נ הילד חייל בצבאות ה' מנחם מענדל ע"ה בן – יבדלחט"א – הרב ברוך שי' חייקין ליום היארצייט שלו י"ט אדר. תנצב"ה.
In this week's episode Rabbi Kohn discusses the half shekel coin and its significance. What it was used for teaches a lesson on the foundations of the Torah. He also speaks about the benefits of feeling guilty with a lesson from Moshe's reaction to the golden calf. Lastly, Rabbi Kohn discusses the quality that merited Joshua to take over the mantle of leadership from Moshe. Subscribe to The Practical Parsha Podcast. For questions or comments please email RabbiShlomoKohn@gmail.com. To listen to Rabbi Kohn's other podcast use this link- the-pirkei-avos-podcast.castos.com/ If you would like to support this podcast please use this secure link to donate: SUPPORT THE PODCAST Chapters (00:00:00) - Practical Parasha(00:00:36) - Practical Parsha Podcast(00:02:03) - Parshas Kisisa(00:06:53) - The Silver Coins of the Mishkan(00:15:48) - The Golden Calf and the Pasuk(00:20:36) - The Parasha(00:25:29) - Be a Light unto the Nations
While the first seven days of the Mishkan were a "dry run" where Moshe had to do everything, the eighth day was the start of the actual mission. On this day, the Kohanim were empowered to take ownership of their service. Moshe dressed them only in the Ketonot to initiate their status, leaving the rest to them. However, for Aharon the High Priest, whose service brought the Infinite Light into the Tabernacle, Moshe remained fully involved, dressing him in every garment to ensure the Shechinah found its permanent home. https://www.torahrecordings.com/likutei-sichos/026/016_003
התוכן במצות מחצית השקל, שבתחלת ו"ראש" פ' כי תשא, מודגש הקשר לחג הפורים, כמ"ש בגמ' "גלוי וידוע לפני מי שאמר והי' העולם שעתיד המן לשקול שקלים על ישראל, לפיכך הקדים שקליהן לשקליו", כלומר, מחצית השקל שנתנו בנ"י במדבר פעלה שלאחרי כו"כ דורות תתבטל הגזירה הכי חמורה על בנ"י! גם הענין ד"לכפר על נפשותיכם" (התכלית דנתינת מחצית השקל) קשור לימי הפורים, שהרי אז הוצרכו בנ"י להענין ד"לכפר על נפשותיכם", וגם בנוגע לחיי הגוף שעל זה היתה גזירת המן. גם "בן חמש למקרא" מבין בפשטות איך נתינת מחצית השקל פועלת "לכפר על נפשותיכם" – עפ"י פרש"י עה"פ "זה יתנו" – "הראה לו כמין מטבע של אש . . ואמר לו כזה יתנו"! הוא גם מבין איך עי"ז נעשה הענין ד"תשא את ראש בנ"י", גם מלשון "הרמה"; קשר נפלא בין מצות מחצית השקל ש"מהם נעשו האדנים" והיסוד של המשכן להענין ד"מפי עוללים ויונקים יסדת עוז" שדובר לעיל [תוכן המאמר דפורים קטן תרפ"ז]. ב' חלקים משיחת יום א' פ' תשא, פורים קטן ה'תשמ"ו ל"הנחה פרטית" או התרגום ללה"ק של השיחה: https://thedailysicha.com/?date=01-03-2026 Synopsis The mitzvah of Machatzis HaShekel (at the beginning and head of parashas Ki Sisa) has a special connection to Purim, as the Gemara states: “It is revealed and known to the One Who spoke and the world came into being, that in the future Haman was going to weigh out shekels against the Jewish people; therefore, He made their shekels come before his shekels.” Meaning, the Machatzis HaShekel given by the Jewish people in the desert nullified the decree against the Jewish people that came many generations later. The fact that the Machatzis HaShekel serves “to atone for your souls” also has a connection to the story of Purim, when the Jewish people were in need of “atonement for your souls” (including for their physical bodies, which were the subject of Haman's decree). Even a “five-year-old learning Scripture” understands plainly how giving the Machatzis HaShekel brings “atonement for your souls,” based on Rashi's explanation on the verse “This they must give…”: “He showed [Moshe] the appearance of a coin of fire…and said to him, ‘They must give [a coin] like this.'” The child also understands how the Machatzis HaShekel “uplifts the head of the Jewish people” (“Ki sisa”). There is also a wondrous connection between Machatzis HaShekel, which was used to make the foundations of the Mishkan, and the verse, “Out of the mouths of small children and suckling babies You have founded strength…” (discussed in the maamar of Purim Katan 5687).2 excerpts from sichah of Sunday, parashas Ki Sisa, Purim Katan 5746 For a transcript in English of the Sicha: https://thedailysicha.com/?date=01-03-2026
Parshas Tetzaveh & Purim: The Hidden Splendor In Parshas Tetzaveh, the Torah details the priestly garments of the Kohen Gadol, described as “l'kavod u'l'tifaret” - for dignity and splendor. This episode explores how the Mishkan, the Kohanim, and the concept of tiferet reveal a powerful truth: holiness is not removed from the physical world — it is revealed through it. As we approach Purim and read the Megillah, we uncover how G-d's presence operates through hidden miracles, woven into natural events. ✨ Splendor is not always loud. Sometimes it is hidden in plain sight.
In this episode of the Parsha Review Podcast, Rabbi Aryeh Wolbe delves into Parshas Tetzaveh, focusing on the garments (bigdei kehuna) of the Kohen Gadol (High Priest). He highlights the verse commanding Moshe to speak to the "wise-hearted" (chachmei lev) whom Hashem invests with wisdom to create these sacred vestments, questioning how former slaves in Egypt, unskilled in craftsmanship, could suddenly excel. The key insight: True wisdom stems from a deep desire (ratzon) for it, not prior education or skills—Hashem grants wisdom to those who seek it passionately, as per the Mishnah's definition of wisdom as learning from everyone without prejudice.Rabbi Wolbe illustrates this with modern and historical examples: Elon Musk's rapid mastery of cars and rockets despite no prior knowledge, driven by insatiable curiosity; Reb Elyashiv's fervent Torah study at age 102; Rav Moshe Feinstein's multiple completions of the Talmud (101 times, four cycles); and a Talmudic story responding to a Roman noblewoman's query on why wisdom goes to the wise—they're the ones who will use it productively. He contrasts this with mediocrity, urging never-ending pursuit of knowledge to avoid spiritual stagnation, and ties it to parenting: Instill a love for Torah from infancy (e.g., teaching "Torah Tziva Lanu Moshe" as first words) and encourage children's "why" questions to foster curiosity.The discussion extends to appreciating Hashem's daily miracles in nature (e.g., the apple's infinite potential), rejecting "mother nature" for divine command (mishpatei piv), and the Amidah's first request for wisdom. Ultimately, desire is the root of achievement—eternal in Torah vs. temporary in wealth or fame—warning against boredom leading to sin and advocating lifelong vitality through learning. He concludes with a blessing for wisdom-seeking and an amazing Shabbos._____________This episode of the Parsha Review Podcast is dedicated in honor of Lenny & Teresa FriedmanDownload & Print the Parsha Review Notes:https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1ncaRyoH5iJmGGoMZs9y82Hz2ofViVouv?usp=sharingRecorded at TORCH Meyerland in the Levin Family Studios (B) to a live audience on February 24, 2026, in Houston, Texas.Released as Podcast on February 27, 2026_____________Subscribe: Apple Podcasts (https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/parsha-review-podcast-rabbi-aryeh-wolbe/id1651930083)Spotify (https://open.spotify.com/show/22lv1kXJob5ZNLaAl6CHTQ) to stay inspired! Share your questions at awolbe@torchweb.org or visit torchweb.org for more Torah content. _____________About the Host:Rabbi Aryeh Wolbe, Director of TORCH in Houston, brings decades of Torah scholarship to guide listeners in applying Jewish wisdom to daily life. To directly send your questions, comments, and feedback: awolbe@torchweb.org_____________Support Our Mission:Help us share Jewish wisdom globally by sponsoring an episode at torchweb.org. Your support makes a difference!_____________Subscribe and Listen to other podcasts by Rabbi Aryeh Wolbe: NEW!! Hey Rabbi! Podcast: https://heyrabbi.transistor.fm/episodesPrayer Podcast: https://prayerpodcast.transistor.fm/episodesJewish Inspiration Podcast: https://inspiration.transistor.fm/episodesParsha Review Podcast: https://parsha.transistor.fm/episodesLiving Jewishly Podcast: https://jewishly.transistor.fm/episodesThinking Talmudist Podcast: https://talmud.transistor.fm/episodesUnboxing Judaism Podcast: https://unboxing.transistor.fm/episodesRabbi Aryeh Wolbe Podcast Collection: https://collection.transistor.fm/episodesFor a full listing of podcasts available by TORCH at http://podcast.torchweb.org_____________Keywords:#Torah, #Parsha, #Exodus, #Shemos, #Terumah, #Mishkan, #Dwell, #JewishPride, #HashemWithin, #Tabernacle, #TorahPortion, #Middot, #CharacterTraits, #EmulateGod, #TikkunMiddot, #ShabbosPrep, #TorahPodcast, #HashemInUs ★ Support this podcast ★
In this episode of the Parsha Review Podcast, Rabbi Aryeh Wolbe delves into Parshas Tetzaveh, focusing on the garments (bigdei kehuna) of the Kohen Gadol (High Priest). He highlights the verse commanding Moshe to speak to the "wise-hearted" (chachmei lev) whom Hashem invests with wisdom to create these sacred vestments, questioning how former slaves in Egypt, unskilled in craftsmanship, could suddenly excel. The key insight: True wisdom stems from a deep desire (ratzon) for it, not prior education or skills—Hashem grants wisdom to those who seek it passionately, as per the Mishnah's definition of wisdom as learning from everyone without prejudice.Rabbi Wolbe illustrates this with modern and historical examples: Elon Musk's rapid mastery of cars and rockets despite no prior knowledge, driven by insatiable curiosity; Reb Elyashiv's fervent Torah study at age 102; Rav Moshe Feinstein's multiple completions of the Talmud (101 times, four cycles); and a Talmudic story responding to a Roman noblewoman's query on why wisdom goes to the wise—they're the ones who will use it productively. He contrasts this with mediocrity, urging never-ending pursuit of knowledge to avoid spiritual stagnation, and ties it to parenting: Instill a love for Torah from infancy (e.g., teaching "Torah Tziva Lanu Moshe" as first words) and encourage children's "why" questions to foster curiosity.The discussion extends to appreciating Hashem's daily miracles in nature (e.g., the apple's infinite potential), rejecting "mother nature" for divine command (mishpatei piv), and the Amidah's first request for wisdom. Ultimately, desire is the root of achievement—eternal in Torah vs. temporary in wealth or fame—warning against boredom leading to sin and advocating lifelong vitality through learning. He concludes with a blessing for wisdom-seeking and an amazing Shabbos._____________This episode of the Parsha Review Podcast is dedicated in honor of Lenny & Teresa FriedmanDownload & Print the Parsha Review Notes:https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1ncaRyoH5iJmGGoMZs9y82Hz2ofViVouv?usp=sharingRecorded at TORCH Meyerland in the Levin Family Studios (B) to a live audience on February 24, 2026, in Houston, Texas.Released as Podcast on February 27, 2026_____________Subscribe: Apple Podcasts (https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/parsha-review-podcast-rabbi-aryeh-wolbe/id1651930083)Spotify (https://open.spotify.com/show/22lv1kXJob5ZNLaAl6CHTQ) to stay inspired! Share your questions at awolbe@torchweb.org or visit torchweb.org for more Torah content. _____________About the Host:Rabbi Aryeh Wolbe, Director of TORCH in Houston, brings decades of Torah scholarship to guide listeners in applying Jewish wisdom to daily life. To directly send your questions, comments, and feedback: awolbe@torchweb.org_____________Support Our Mission:Help us share Jewish wisdom globally by sponsoring an episode at torchweb.org. Your support makes a difference!_____________Subscribe and Listen to other podcasts by Rabbi Aryeh Wolbe: NEW!! Hey Rabbi! Podcast: https://heyrabbi.transistor.fm/episodesPrayer Podcast: https://prayerpodcast.transistor.fm/episodesJewish Inspiration Podcast: https://inspiration.transistor.fm/episodesParsha Review Podcast: https://parsha.transistor.fm/episodesLiving Jewishly Podcast: https://jewishly.transistor.fm/episodesThinking Talmudist Podcast: https://talmud.transistor.fm/episodesUnboxing Judaism Podcast: https://unboxing.transistor.fm/episodesRabbi Aryeh Wolbe Podcast Collection: https://collection.transistor.fm/episodesFor a full listing of podcasts available by TORCH at http://podcast.torchweb.org_____________Keywords:#Torah, #Parsha, #Exodus, #Shemos, #Terumah, #Mishkan, #Dwell, #JewishPride, #HashemWithin, #Tabernacle, #TorahPortion, #Middot, #CharacterTraits, #EmulateGod, #TikkunMiddot, #ShabbosPrep, #TorahPodcast, #HashemInUs ★ Support this podcast ★
Teruma | And I will dwell among the children of Israel, by Rav Eli Weber Melakhim I 5: 26-32 - 6: 1-13 Between the Mishkan and the Mikdash.
Madlik Podcast – Torah Thoughts on Judaism From a Post-Orthodox Jew
If you want to understand the Jewish story, start with a color. This week we're rebroadcasting one of my favorite episodes from 2022 — an episode about a single color that somehow contains an entire Jewish narrative: tekhelet, that rare, stubborn, unforgettable blue. We're revisiting a conversation that feels more timely than ever. As antisemitism re-emerges in public life, people are reaching again for symbols — simple, visible markers that say: I'm here. I'm not hiding. I'm not alone. One of those symbols is the Blue Square Campaign — a small square of blue worn or posted as a public expression of solidarity. Key Takeaways Blue teaches that holiness belongs to everyone. Blue reminds us that identity is visible, resilient, and remembered. Blue proves that a people can lose its Temple and still keep its thread. Timestamps [00:00] Why Blue Now [02:23] The Torah's Blue Thread [04:19] Tekhelet in the Mishkan [08:27] From Priest to People [13:19] Sea, Sky, and the Throne of Glory [17:04] The Desert Supply Mystery [19:45] Royal Blue and Authority [22:40] Lost and Found Tekhelet [25:20] Fakes and Black Markets [28:01] Tzitzit and P'til Tekhelet: Wordplay [32:29] Blue and White, and Israel [34:18] Shabbat Wrap Up Links & Learnings Sign up for free and get more from our weekly newsletter https://madlik.com/ Sefaria Source Sheet: https://voices.sefaria.org/sheets/383005 Transcript here: https://madlik.substack.com/
In this week's parasha, the focus opens not with sacrifice, but with light — the command to bring pure olive oil to kindle the Menorah in the Mishkan. The question the rabbis immediately ask is: why does God need light?
Who Decides: the Moon or the Court From the sanctification of the new month to the building of the Mishkan the responsibility given to the Jewish people to determine time, sanctify space and bring the Divine Presence into the world.(Parshat Terumah)
Rabbi Jacobson will discuss the following topics: Adar What does Purim teach us about retroactively transforming a negative past? Is there a connection between joy and Pisces, the sign of Adar? Why is Adar made up of the two words, “alef dar”? Are there other reasons why we increase in joy during this month? Does Adar have an association with Adaru (this month in Akkadian and Babylonian), which means darkness and gloom? Can animals be trained to do mitzvos? 7 Adar Why don't we make a bigger deal of this day – the birthday and yahrzeit of Moshe Rabbeinu? How do we apply Zayin Adar to our lives? 11 Adar What do we learn from the Rogatchover Gaon, whose yahrzeit is on this day? Tetzaveh What lessons do we learn from living with the times, with this week's Torah parsha? Why is Moshe's name not mentioned in this Parsha? What is the positive reason for this? Why is the pure olive oil, the ketoros and the Yom Kippur service not discussed in the same Torah portion of the actual building of the Mishkan and its vessels? What should our attitude to sports be? How should we react to someone watching a game while sitting in a Torah class? Is there room for sports in a Chassidishe life? How about the Olympics? How would the Rebbe advise a community facing a disagreement whether to build a smaller or larger building? Which places should I visit in Israel?
In this Parshas Terumah review, Rabbi Aryeh Wolbe focuses on the practical meaning of the Tabernacle (Mishkan) command: “Make Me a sanctuary and I will dwell in them” (Exodus 25:8)—not “in it,” but “in them” (the people). God doesn't need a house; the Mishkan is for building intimate closeness between Hashem and the Jewish people. The Temple (and today synagogues/study halls) is a place of relationship, security, and nurturing divine connection—not a distant monument.Key lessons & practical applications:The Mishkan's purpose — God wants to reside within us (V'shachanti b'tocham). The Holy of Holies had two cherubim facing each other (God & Israel); when Jews follow Torah, they face; when not, they turn away. The home/temple is for private, intimate time with God.Gratitude for seeing descendants — Sarah, Rivka, and Rachel never saw grandchildren; Leah likely saw Asenat. Today's privilege of seeing grandchildren/great-grandchildren is enormous—grandparents must influence positively without interfering (e.g., no naming veto; parents alone decide).Naming & prophecy — Parents receive prophetic guidance at birth/bris (alleged Midrash). Adding a second name (e.g., after deceased relative) is common. Spontaneous additions (like Rabbi's son Yehuda-Noach at bris) reflect divine inspiration.Jealousy vs. knowledge of Hashem — First commandment (“Anochi Hashem…”) and last (“Lo tachmod”) connect: coveting denies Hashem's perfect plan for you. Compare only to your own potential.Modern miracles & awe — Technology (smartphones, Neuralink) reveals Hashem's wonders—don't let them become routine. Israeli survival despite missiles is ongoing splitting of the sea.The rabbi urges bold Jewish pride (yarmulke/tzitzit/tefillin in public), relentless self-improvement, and living with awe: see daily yesh me'ayin (creation from nothing) and thank Hashem constantly._____________This episode of the Parsha Review Podcast is dedicated in honor of Lenny & Teresa FriedmanDownload & Print the Parsha Review Notes:https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1ncaRyoH5iJmGGoMZs9y82Hz2ofViVouv?usp=sharingRecorded at TORCH Meyerland in the Levin Family Studios (B) to a live audience on February 20, 2026, in Houston, Texas.Released as Podcast on February 22, 2026_____________Subscribe: Apple Podcasts (https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/parsha-review-podcast-rabbi-aryeh-wolbe/id1651930083)Spotify (https://open.spotify.com/show/22lv1kXJob5ZNLaAl6CHTQ) to stay inspired! Share your questions at awolbe@torchweb.org or visit torchweb.org for more Torah content. _____________About the Host:Rabbi Aryeh Wolbe, Director of TORCH in Houston, brings decades of Torah scholarship to guide listeners in applying Jewish wisdom to daily life. To directly send your questions, comments, and feedback: awolbe@torchweb.org_____________Support Our Mission:Help us share Jewish wisdom globally by sponsoring an episode at torchweb.org. Your support makes a difference!_____________Subscribe and Listen to other podcasts by Rabbi Aryeh Wolbe: NEW!! Hey Rabbi! Podcast: https://heyrabbi.transistor.fm/episodesPrayer Podcast: https://prayerpodcast.transistor.fm/episodesJewish Inspiration Podcast: https://inspiration.transistor.fm/episodesParsha Review Podcast: https://parsha.transistor.fm/episodesLiving Jewishly Podcast: https://jewishly.transistor.fm/episodesThinking Talmudist Podcast: https://talmud.transistor.fm/episodesUnboxing Judaism Podcast: https://unboxing.transistor.fm/episodesRabbi Aryeh Wolbe Podcast Collection: https://collection.transistor.fm/episodesFor a full listing of podcasts available by TORCH at http://podcast.torchweb.org_____________Keywords:#Torah, #Parsha, #Exodus, #Shemos, #Terumah, #Mishkan, #Dwell, #JewishPride, #HashemWithin ★ Support this podcast ★
In this Parshas Terumah review, Rabbi Aryeh Wolbe focuses on the practical meaning of the Tabernacle (Mishkan) command: “Make Me a sanctuary and I will dwell in them” (Exodus 25:8)—not “in it,” but “in them” (the people). God doesn't need a house; the Mishkan is for building intimate closeness between Hashem and the Jewish people. The Temple (and today synagogues/study halls) is a place of relationship, security, and nurturing divine connection—not a distant monument.Key lessons & practical applications:The Mishkan's purpose — God wants to reside within us (V'shachanti b'tocham). The Holy of Holies had two cherubim facing each other (God & Israel); when Jews follow Torah, they face; when not, they turn away. The home/temple is for private, intimate time with God.Gratitude for seeing descendants — Sarah, Rivka, and Rachel never saw grandchildren; Leah likely saw Asenat. Today's privilege of seeing grandchildren/great-grandchildren is enormous—grandparents must influence positively without interfering (e.g., no naming veto; parents alone decide).Naming & prophecy — Parents receive prophetic guidance at birth/bris (alleged Midrash). Adding a second name (e.g., after deceased relative) is common. Spontaneous additions (like Rabbi's son Yehuda-Noach at bris) reflect divine inspiration.Jealousy vs. knowledge of Hashem — First commandment (“Anochi Hashem…”) and last (“Lo tachmod”) connect: coveting denies Hashem's perfect plan for you. Compare only to your own potential.Modern miracles & awe — Technology (smartphones, Neuralink) reveals Hashem's wonders—don't let them become routine. Israeli survival despite missiles is ongoing splitting of the sea.The rabbi urges bold Jewish pride (yarmulke/tzitzit/tefillin in public), relentless self-improvement, and living with awe: see daily yesh me'ayin (creation from nothing) and thank Hashem constantly._____________This episode of the Parsha Review Podcast is dedicated in honor of Lenny & Teresa FriedmanDownload & Print the Parsha Review Notes:https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1ncaRyoH5iJmGGoMZs9y82Hz2ofViVouv?usp=sharingRecorded at TORCH Meyerland in the Levin Family Studios (B) to a live audience on February 20, 2026, in Houston, Texas.Released as Podcast on February 22, 2026_____________Subscribe: Apple Podcasts (https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/parsha-review-podcast-rabbi-aryeh-wolbe/id1651930083)Spotify (https://open.spotify.com/show/22lv1kXJob5ZNLaAl6CHTQ) to stay inspired! Share your questions at awolbe@torchweb.org or visit torchweb.org for more Torah content. _____________About the Host:Rabbi Aryeh Wolbe, Director of TORCH in Houston, brings decades of Torah scholarship to guide listeners in applying Jewish wisdom to daily life. To directly send your questions, comments, and feedback: awolbe@torchweb.org_____________Support Our Mission:Help us share Jewish wisdom globally by sponsoring an episode at torchweb.org. Your support makes a difference!_____________Subscribe and Listen to other podcasts by Rabbi Aryeh Wolbe: NEW!! Hey Rabbi! Podcast: https://heyrabbi.transistor.fm/episodesPrayer Podcast: https://prayerpodcast.transistor.fm/episodesJewish Inspiration Podcast: https://inspiration.transistor.fm/episodesParsha Review Podcast: https://parsha.transistor.fm/episodesLiving Jewishly Podcast: https://jewishly.transistor.fm/episodesThinking Talmudist Podcast: https://talmud.transistor.fm/episodesUnboxing Judaism Podcast: https://unboxing.transistor.fm/episodesRabbi Aryeh Wolbe Podcast Collection: https://collection.transistor.fm/episodesFor a full listing of podcasts available by TORCH at http://podcast.torchweb.org_____________Keywords:#Torah, #Parsha, #Exodus, #Shemos, #Terumah, #Mishkan, #Dwell, #JewishPride, #HashemWithin ★ Support this podcast ★
The pasuk says in this week's Parashat Terumah, וְעָשׂוּ לִי מִקְדָּשׁ וְשָׁכַנְתִּי בְּתוֹכָם Hashem commanded the Jewish people to make a Mishkan so that He could rest His Presence among them. Obviously, the Presence of Hashem cannot be contained in a physical building. Perhaps one of the lessons we can learn from here is that if we make a place for Hashem to come into our lives, He will reveal His Presence to us in ways that can transcend nature. How do we make that place? By believing in His control and His abilities. The Be'er HaParasha related a story that recently took place, heard directly from the man involved. A man whom we'll call Yehuda had just merited his first baby after four years of marriage. Last year on Chol HaMoed Pesach he was learning the sefer Netivot Shalom, and there he read that if a person has proper emunah — namely, that nothing is hard for Hashem and He can always help no matter what the issue is — then he can merit his own personal Keriat Yam Suf. The sefer advised having those thoughts and feelings especially on the seventh day of Pesach, when Keriat Yam Suf occurred. Yehuda came home that day very excited to put into practice what he had just learned. He was going to work on believing that Hashem can do anything, including giving him and his wife a baby. He also invited his sister to stay with them for Shevi'i shel Pesach, as she had been struggling with shidduchim for almost seven years. He wanted her to also have this emunah so she could have her very own Keriat Yam Suf as well. They read stories about emunah and statements of Chazal about Hashem, and they truly took to heart that Hashem could help them in an instant. They felt so strong in their emunah that they could already feel the joy of salvation. Now, less than a year later, on the Sunday of Parashat Beshalach, this sister celebrated her wedding. And on Tuesday of Parashat Beshalach, Yehuda and his wife celebrated the birth of their very first baby. True belief in Hashem's salvation can do wonders. A woman told me she was diagnosed with ovarian cancer and was instructed to schedule surgery immediately to have it removed. The doctors sounded very negative and instilled a great deal of fear in her. She is a woman who learns emunah daily and refused to let the diagnosis overtake her. She focused on emunah, on Hashem, and on praying, and two weeks later the surgery was done. They told her they believed they removed everything, but she would need months of chemotherapy going forward. She asked them to please take a biopsy before starting any chemo. They told her it was ninety-nine percent certain cancer and she would definitely need treatment. She answered, "I am going to be from the one percent. Please check it." She then went and strengthened her emunah even more, reviewing articles she had saved about how doctors' prognoses are meaningless when it comes to Hashem. She even sent them to her family to strengthen them as well. At the next appointment she asked again if they had taken the biopsy. Once again they told her it was ninety-nine percent a problem, but they had done the test and were waiting for results. Once again she said, "Ninety-nine percent means there is one percent that it is fine, and I believe Hashem can put me in that one percent." The next day, Erev Shabbat, she received a call from one of the doctors who told her, "Your prayers must have been answered. Everything is fine. You don't need any chemotherapy." She felt the greatest feeling — the feeling of Hashem's salvation, the feeling that her emunah was rewarded. She was overwhelmed with gratitude. The more we want Hashem in our lives, the more He reveals Himself to us. Shabbat Shalom.
Was the Mishkan a response to the Chet HaEigel or was there a standalone reason for it?
In this week's Parshas Teruma shiur, we journey into one of the most mysterious elements of the Mishkan: the tachash.While some academic opinions suggest that the tachash was a type of dolphin or sealskin, Chazal (Gemara Shabbos 28) reveal something far more wondrous—an extraordinary, multi-colored creature with a single horn. A creation that existed just for that moment in Jewish history… a true “unicorn.”But beyond the curiosity of what the tachash was, lies a profound message.The Mishkan was built from the contributions of every Jew. Each material, each donation, each color represented the individuality and unique beauty every neshama brings to Klal Yisrael. The tachash, with its spectrum of colors, becomes a symbol of the unity that emerges only when every “shade” is present.In the shiur, we explore how this Torah concept of diverse colors contrasts with contemporary uses of the rainbow as a cultural symbol. From a Torah perspective, individuality and uniqueness are real, beautiful, and divinely intended—but can be misunderstood or redirected without the spiritual framework the Mishkan embodies.Topics discussed include:
A single pasuk sparks a revolution: “Build Me a sanctuary so I may dwell among them.” We take that line seriously and ask sharper questions. What does it mean to build a house for the unhousable? Why did the Torah devote so much space to the Mishkan, the Beis HaMikdash, and the avodah? And most importantly, what does the mitzvah do to us?We explore the bigger picture with clear steps. First, the mandate and its scope: an unexpected portion of the 613 mitzvos revolves around the Temple, from offerings to purity laws to vessels. Then, the two main purposes highlighted by the Sefer HaChinuch: centralizing korbanos and uniting the nation through Aliyah L'Regel. We trace the story from Betzalel's portable Mishkan to Solomon's grandeur and the rebuilt Second Temple, anchoring it all in Jerusalem's permanent location. We also examine the classic debate on the future: Rambam's human-led construction under Mashiach versus Rashi and Tosafot's vision of a heavenly structure descending in fire.But the core of our discussion is the why. Using the Sefer HaChinuch and Ramban, we consider the Temple as a training ground where action shapes the soul. Pilgrimage becomes a form of education: long journeys, guarded gates, rising smoke, and hands on the offering—all designed to transform regret into renewal. We challenge a countercultural idea: mitzvos are the workout of the spirit, a precise regimen you can't outsource. Replace, don't repair, in a house of dignity; do, don't just study, when growth needs effort; and embrace the friction that shapes you—yes, even in the humble choice to hand-wrap mishloach manos rather than swipe a card.If you've ever wondered when we can rebuild, who must be present in the Land, what counts as “building,” or how the Ark fits into it all, this episode guides you through sources, history, and lived practice in one clear path. Listen, reflect, and then choose one mitzvah to “lift” with intention this week. If this resonated, subscribe, share with a friend, and leave a review—what part of the Temple's purpose most surprised you?Support the showJoin The Motivation Congregation WhatsApp community for daily motivational Torah content!------------------Check out our other Torah Podcasts and content! SUBSCRIBE to The Motivation Congregation Podcast for daily motivational Mussar! Listen on Spotify or 24six! Find all Torah talks and listen to featured episodes on our website, themotivationcongregation.org Questions or Comments? Please email me @ michaelbrooke97@gmail.com
Shiur given by Rabbi Bezalel Rudinsky on Parshas Terumah. Shiur recorded in Yeshivas Ohr Reuven, Monsey, NY.
The half shekel donation for the sockets of the Mishkan represent the bitul that serves as the foundation for everything else we accomplish in our lives. The capacity for folly that leads one astray must be transformed into “holy craziness,” a willingness to go beyond habit and limitation in the service of Hashem. Ufaratza means bursting past the confines of schedule and calculation that hastens the ultimate breakthrough of Mashiach. This class, taught by Rabbi Shais Taub, is based on Parshas Terumah in Likkutei Sichos Vol. 1.
One of the fundamental principles of Jewish philosophy is the idea of “Kedushah”, holiness. Holiness, according to the Jewish definition, is when the physical and spiritual worlds meet. In no location in the world is holiness more present than the Temple, and its predecessor, the “Mishkan”, the Tabernacle. In this week's parsha we read about […]
If God wants to dwell among us, what are we building to make that possible? In this episode, Zvi Hirschfield and Rabbi Raphael Polisuk explore Parshat Trumah and the surprising claim that the Mishkan is not a detour from Sinai, but its fulfillment. They trace how the language of holiness, fire, and divine presence links Mount Sinai to the Tabernacle, reframing the second half of Sefer Shemot as the book's true destination. The conversation asks what it means to create space for God—not as a metaphor, but through concrete action, beauty, justice, and shared responsibility.