Vayikra: How Korbanot Affect the World

Korbanot in Jerusalem produce a spiritual ripple effect that adds incredible blessing to the world – curing diseases, alleviating suffering & influencing random acts of kindness across the globe.

Pikudei: Continuing the Work Moshe Began

by Rav Yehuda HaKohen, visionmag.org

It's important to recognize the internal development of the Hebrew tribes from the Exodus from Egypt to the Brit Sinai and consecration of the Mishkan.

Listen to the audio/read the transcript here (5 min)

Vayakhel: Actualizing the Mishkan

by Rav Yehuda HaKohen, visionmag.org

If Dan is the extreme expression of Yosef in the same way that Shimon is of Yehuda, what was the importance of appointing tribesmen of Yehuda and Dan to lead the construction of the Mishkan?

Listen to the audio/read the transcript here (7 min)

Ki Tisa: Crisis of the Golden Calf

by Rav Yehuda HaKohen, visionmag.org

A mistake that nearly had catastrophic results for the entire people of Israel ultimately revealed Moshe's true greatness as a national leader.

Listen to the audio/read the transcript here (18.5 min)

The Relevance of the Nation to Torah Study

by Rav Haim Avihu Schwartz, author of works on the philosophy of Rabbi Tzvi Yehuda HaKohen Kook, yeshiva.org.il, translated by Hillel Fendel

V.  The Blessings Before Torah Study

Israel's High Stature Leads to our Connection with Torah

As we cited in the first article of this series, the Vilna Gaon referred to "the emuna of Israel and Torah." Jewish emuna, of course, stems from Torah, but the very foundation begins with Israel, as the Birkhot HaTorah (Blessings Over the Torah) emphasize. Hashem created and chose Israel, and created Torah as well, and then matched us up together. And from amid this profound connection, we arrive at the true understanding of the connection between Israel and G-d, via the Torah.