Torah Studies Course

Bo: Unconditional Surrender

January 6, 8:00pm

In Parshat Bo the long anticipated exodus finally takes place. Though the portion opens with the Jewish people still in Egypt, redemption "is in the air" and there is imminent and palpable anticipation for it. This class will examine why Egyptian exile was a necessary precursor for entering and conquering the Holy Land, and why an upfront and personal physical and spiritual showdown with Pharaoh was a necessary precursor for the exodus from Egypt. We will apply this principle to the subsequent exiles of the Jewish people, and internal and external victories that have to be won prior to the final, Messianic redemption.

Beshalach: Despoiling Egypt

January 13, 8:00pm

Following the drowning of the Egyptians in the Sea, the Midrash tells us that Moshe had to force the Jews to travel on against their will. The Egyptians had adorned their horses with ornaments of gold, silver and precious stones, which were scattered when they drowned, and the Jewish people could not stop themselves from scavenging for more loot. After witnessing such wondrous miracles, and now on their way to receive the Torah, could they have still been so immersed in the most mundane material pursuits? This desperate last treasure hunt for the jewels of Egypt reveals a wealth of unexpected spiritual detail about our purpose as individuals and as a nation.

Mishpatim: The Four Custodian

January 27, 8:00pm

This lesson will trace the classical law of the four shomrim-the four types of custodians outlined in the Mishnah-to their original sources in the verses of this week's Torah portion. We will demonstrate that it is impossible to derive the respective degrees of liability in Jewish law without access to both the Oral and the Written Torah. After defining each type of custodian and clarifying their varying degrees of liability in the case of a loss, we will examine the spiritual meaning behind these laws. In the process we will discover two fundamental attitudes to life and G‑d, which translate into four archetypal relationships between Man, the Creator, and His creation.

Terumah: Making a Home for G‑d

February 3, 8:00pm

When one thinks about the concept of the Tabernacle and the Holy Temple in Jerusalem, the obvious question that comes to mind is why is G‑d confining Himself to a single place of worship if He's truly everywhere? In this lesson we will examine how and why G‑d's true Essence in our material world is only revealed in physical structures. We will also come to understand why and how our synagogues and Jewish homes have been the primary shelters for the Jewish people and the G‑dly presence for over two thousand years of exile, persecution and adversity.

Tetzaveh: Divine Garments

February 10, 8:00pm

When viewing the noble clothing, rich tailoring and the elaborate design of a ruler or affluent person; does it reflect anything more than ego, opulence, fashion, high position, and power? What message does clothing relay? What deeper significance does it convey? In this week's class we will learn about the High Priest's glorious garments. His elaborate attire featured woven gold, precious stones and the finest materials. As we've noted many times, every detail in the Torah has deep significance and important messages relevant to every Jew, and it is fascinating to see what possible relevance a High Priest's garments can have to our own relatively humble lives.

Ki Tisa: Mirror Images

February 17, 8:00pm

In this week’s class we will discuss the spiritual significance of the kiyor, the copper vessel from which the water that was used to purify the priests in the Temple prior to their service was drawn. We will examine a "difference of opinion" between Moshe and G‑d over the appropriateness of using the copper from the mirrors that the Jewish women had used to groom themselves, in order to make themselves attractive to their husbands during their enslavement in Egypt. We see how, like the Jewish women in Egypt, our primary tool in overcoming adversity is our ability to channel our natural, potentially destructive physical drives into good and G‑dly purposes.

Vayakhel: Keeping Focus

February 24, 8:00pm

Following the Exodus from Egypt, an individual who was both a prince and a scholar, known as the Nasi, led each of the twelve tribes. We learn in this week's portion that the princes were among the very last of the Jewish people to contribute towards the building of the Tabernacle. What was the reason for their delay? Why did they wait until last to bring their contributions? Shouldn't they have been role models for the people, and wouldn't they have inspired the people to donate even more if they had gone first, or at least earlier? In this week's class we’ll see what we can learn from the princes' collective delay, and what it says about true Jewish leadership.

Pekudei: Double Vision

March 3, 8:00pm

The final portions of the book of Exodus-Vayakhel and Pekudei-seem to needlessly repeat the details and instructions for the construction and furnishing of the Mishkan. In this lesson we will show that this repetition teaches us that there are two very different and distinct Mishkans-the lofty and spiritual Tabernacle that only can be accessed by a tzaddik approaching the level of Moshe, and a lowly physical Tabernacle that is accessible to everyone. We will learn why G‑d chose to reveal His Essence in the physical Tabernacle that is accessible to all, and why He chose to call the earthly one his His home.