Dear Friends,

From Hiddeness to Revelation [ 45:57 ] Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

Dear Friends,

Most people when asked will tell you that the greatest single miracle that Hashem performed was the splitting of the Sea.  So overwhelming is that event that relatively little attention is paid to the event that immediately follows.  Moshe leads the Jewish people to the wilderness of Sur where there is nothing to drink for THREE DAYS!  Putting aside the irony of walking through water and then not having any, what is Hashem trying to teach us by juxtaposing these two extreme events in our life?  Moreover, I wonder, what is the more difficult experience — the hard time that follows another hard time?  Or the hard time that follows the really good time?  And what does all of this have to do with the ultimate paradox in Torah — the par adumah — the ashes of the red heifer?  Finally, we take a look at the difference between waiting and humility with a detour into alchemy.

Have a Great Week,

David

Making Sense of the Hard Times After the Good Times [ 49:39 ] Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

Dear Friends,

In this week’s Torah Portion, we have a verse (Ex 12:10) with two separate mitzvahs in it.  The first mitzvah is to finish eating the whole korbon Pesach, the Passover lamb offering, and not leave over any of it till the morning.  The second mitzvah contained in this same verse, instructs us to burn whatever is left over of the Passover offering the next morning.  The question is, how can we burn what is left over of it — if we’ve already been commanded not to leave anything over of it?!  The answer gives us a deep insight into the Torah and life and opens our eyes to realizing how we are never alone.

Have a Great Week,

David

The Amazing Re-Appearing Mitzvah [ 39:00 ] Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

Dear Friends,

Lots to talk about today. First, having just finished the book of Breisheis, we say “Chazak, Chazak, V’Nitchazayk” — Be Strong, Be Strong, and Have Good Courage! But what do we need courage for? We just finished the task! It’s like wishing someone a good trip after they’ve already come home! Next, we speak of Hashem like He is our King and Our Master, and Our Love — which is it? Is Judaism schizophrenic? We cover a way of visualizing our most important relationship in a way that encompasses the varying aspects in one. Finally, we discuss what this means: “the earth will be filled with the knowledge of G-d like waters fill the ocean” Isaiah 11:9. Isn’t the ocean nothing more than water?! So how can the waters fill the ocean — if the ocean is only water?!

Maybe I'm Not In a Crisis [ 48:50 ] Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

We’re entering into a new month – Teves – with a personality all it’s own. Since all things are encompassed within Torah, every piece contains a taste of the whole. We will look at this special month from the point of view of (as always) The Human Condition, it’s special letter, tribe, relationship with Chanukah — the works!

What is Your Success Fantasy? [ 42:16 ] Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

We made it through the holidays and are now ready to plunge into the new year!  What better gift from Above then being able to start the Torah again.  Because the Torah is infinite, Hashem in His goodness, grants us increasing depth into our understanding of it.  It may be the same sequence of letters, with the same mitzvahs, but believe me — we are standing before a new Torah!  How does this work exactly?  This is the subject of today’s talk (there’s also a little discussion of evolution and the age of universe). 

The Torah is New All Over Again (Breisheis 2008) [ 55:31 ] Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

The last day of the year presents special opportunities for spiritual elevation that are unique to it. The mitzvah that correlates with this day is prohibition not to cut your Payus. How does that connect with Rosh Hashana and reflexology? For that you’ll have to listen!

May this year see the answer to all of all prayers for the good!

P.S. Here’s a piece I wrote on Rosh Hashana.  I hope you like it.

http://www.aish.com/hhRosh/hhRoshDefault/Becoming_You.asp

The Last Day of The Year - Message from David Sacks [ 53:00 ] Play Now | Play in Popup | Download