Deeper Look At The Parsha
471 episodes - English - Latest episode: 9 days ago - ★★★★★ - 12 ratingsIn the late 1990s Rabbi Dunner presented his own daily 2-hour radio show on London’s multiethnic station, Spectrum Radio. Tens of thousands of listeners – Jews and non-Jews alike – tuned in every day to hear Rabbi Dunner’s take on current events. In 2011 Rabbi Dunner relocated to the US and became the senior Rabbi at Beverly Hills Synagogue.
Weekly the Rabbi holds a parsha shiur that delves deeper into the Parsha of the week.
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Episodes
ROSH HASHANA - ON THE BRINK OF UNCERTAINTY
September 15, 2023 00:01 - 8 minutes - 4.54 MBThe late Charles Ticho was born in Brno in 1927. In a moving article published in 2020, he described his final Rosh Hashana in his place of birth. The year was 1939, and the Nazis had recently taken over the country. Ticho's moving account of this festival dovetails with a famous prayer that is the centerpiece of High Holidays' prayers.
NITZAVIM - SAYING 'NO' TO THE ABUSE OF RELIGION
September 07, 2023 22:25 - 6 minutes - 3.53 MBFollowing a groundbreaking ruling in the New Jersey Appellate Court, Rabbi Dunner dwells on the topic of "agunot" - women caught in marital limbo by estranged husbands who refuse to give them a Get. An interesting reading of the first verses in Parshat Nitzavim reveals our collective responsibilty regarding this vexed issue.
KI TAVO - THIS LAND IS YOUR LAND
August 31, 2023 22:37 - 9 minutes - 4.66 MBRabbi Dunner marks the 96th anniversary of the passing of Rabbi Yisrael Abba Citron (1881-1927) by recalling a remarkable exchange of correspondence that Rabbi Citron had with his father-in-law, Rabbi Yosef Rozin, better known by his moniker: "The Rogachover." How can one best define the Jewish connection to the Land of Israel? Rabbi Dunner explains.
KI TAVO - HOW TO WIN THE LOTTERY
August 30, 2023 17:52 - 20 minutes - 16.3 MBThere is a curious anomaly in Parshat Ki Tavo -- those who will adhere to God's Torah are promised to be "on the top," and also not "on the bottom." Why the repetition? Surely, if you're on top, then you won't be on the bottom! Rabbi Dunner cites an insightful interpretation by Rav Tzadok Hacohen of Lublin, which incidentally also provides a life hack for lottery winners.
KI TEITZEI - BEWARE OF UNINTENDED CONSEQUENCES
August 25, 2023 00:23 - 9 minutes - 4.72 MBRabbi Dunner shares his view on "The Rest is History" podcasts, which he recently began listening to. He is particularly struck by learning something new regarding the Jewish Revolt against the Romans, which ultimately led to the destruction of the Jerusalem Temple. He sees a connection between the lesson learned and the initial passages in Ki Teitzei.
KI TEITZEI - ONE THING LEADS TO ANOTHER
August 23, 2023 21:41 - 20 minutes - 10.2 MBRabbi Dunner looks at a series of seemingly unconnected mitzvot that appear in Parshat Ki Teitzei. Why are they all included by the Torah on the same list? Rashi offers an answer - but his answer solves one problem while creating another. An insightful suggestion from Rav Dessler comes to the rescue.
SHOFTIM - HAVE WE CROSSED THE RUBICON?
August 18, 2023 01:50 - 10 minutes - 5.12 MBJulius Caesar's decision to cross the Rubicon River in 49 BCE was a pivotal moment that ultimately led to the collapse of the Roman Republic and the beginning of a dictatorship headed by emperors. It all began with undermining the judiciary. Rabbi Dunner explains why listening to the echoes of history would be very advisable, particularly in the wake of the multiple indictments against former President Donald Trump.
RE'EH - FAKE DOCTORS & FALSE PROPHETS
August 10, 2023 23:05 - 8 minutes - 4.54 MBOver the past century, Dr. Hulda Regehr Clark, Dr. William Donald Kelley, and many other fellow travelers have claimed to have found the cure for cancer. Sadly their pseudo-medical "cures" have been eagerly embraced by cancer sufferers and their families. Citing a passage in Parshat Re'eh, Rabbi Dunner draws a parallel between these fake doctors and the false prophets that the nascent Jewish nation was warned about by Moses.
RE'EH - MORE ABOUT JOY
August 09, 2023 20:45 - 19 minutes - 10.1 MBRabbi Dunner returns to the theme of joy, using a wonderful piece by the late Rabbi Lord Jonathan Sacks z"l as a base for some wonderful stories, from history, from chasidic folklore, and from the Talmud. As Rabbi Dunner explains, at its core, the Jewish faith is all about joy.
EIKEV - OPERATION MINCEMEAT AND SMALL DETAILS
August 03, 2023 23:58 - 8 minutes - 4.29 MBEwen Montagu was a high-flying London lawyer who was drafted by British naval intelligence during the Second World War. He came up with the audacious plan for Operation Mincemeat, which changed the course of the war, and enabled the Allies to gain a foothold in mainland Europe. Rabbi Dunner wonders whether the secret to Ewen's success might have been a Midrash at the beginning of Eikev.
EIKEV - A MESSAGE OF JOY
August 02, 2023 23:18 - 20 minutes - 10.4 MBRabbi Dunner uses an Ohr Hachaim commentary on the opening words of Parshat Eikev, and a remarkable piece in Maimonides' Mishneh Torah, to offer some insights into the concept of joy, and its centrality in the Jewish faith.
VA'ETCHANAN - HANGING BY A HAIR
July 27, 2023 20:39 - 8 minutes - 4.51 MBRabbi Dunner confesses his devoted interest in controversies and feuds, the focus of his collection of books, pamphlets, manuscripts, and broadsides. Drawing on his knowledge and expertise in this vexed field, Rabbi Dunner offers his assessment of the current crisis in Israel, and draws a parallel from Parshat Va'etchanan.
MY LETTER TO CONGRESSWOMAN JAYAPAL
July 20, 2023 04:05 - 7 minutes - 3.56 MBRabbi Dunner responds to the shocking statement by Rep. Pramila Jayapal (D-WA) that Israel is a "racist state", and her subsequent retraction, in a letter that focuses on how her u-turn will only be meaningful if she begins to see Israel differently.
PINCHAS - NO SCORCHED EARTH
July 06, 2023 23:56 - 8 minutes - 4.23 MBRabbi Dunner shares his thoughts on the Jenin operation, and the remarkable precision of the IDF activities that has seen no civilian casualties, and a total focus on rooting out terrorists and terrorist activities. Rabbi Dunner finds a remarkable parallel in the opening passage of Parshat Pinchas.
BALAK - A VICTORY OF THE SPIRIT
June 30, 2023 01:26 - 8 minutes - 4.37 MBDuring his first few months in exile on the island of St. Helena, Napoleon Bonaparte spoke at length to his confidant, Emmanuel, comte de Las Cases. Their conversations were later published as a book, revealing a side to Napoleon that the public had never previously encountered. Rabbi Dunner draws on one oft-cited quote from de Las Cases' book, and finds a parallel in the first daily Jewish prayer - a verse in Parshat Balak.
CHUKAT - THE REASON WHY
June 29, 2023 00:51 - 31 minutes - 16.1 MBWhy do we keep a mitzva we don't understand? The quintessential "chok" is Para Aduma at the beginning of Parshat Chukkat. Rabbi Dunner turns to Sefer Hachinuch for an answer, but before he does -- he presents a list of every one of the Sifrei Hamitzvot: the works that list all the 613 mitzvos of the Torah. Who were their authors, and what makes each one of these works unique?
KORACH - OF MICE AND MEN
June 22, 2023 23:47 - 9 minutes - 4.69 MBThe remarkable Universe 25 experiment of the late 60s and early 70s provides a backdrop to Rabbi Dunner's analysis of the lessons of Korach and his rebellion against Moses. An enclosure of mice billed as "mouse heaven" turned out to be "mouse hell" -- and a lesson for all of us. But Korach got there first!
KORACH - BEWARE OF THE PIOUS FRAUD
June 22, 2023 03:48 - 23 minutes - 12.1 MBKorach had a grisly end, swallowed up by a sinkhole in the desert. But according to a kabbalistic tradition, Korach's rebellion against Moshe was history repeating itself - and his predecessor's opponent was not as successful as Moshe was against him. Rabbi Dunner reveals a fascinating parallel to the Korach story from the dawn of human history.
SHLACH - BRINGING LIGHT INTO THE DARK
June 15, 2023 23:04 - 9 minutes - 4.59 MBRabbi Dunner describes the incredible journey of Rabbi Chaim Gantz, whom he recently met for the first time. Rabbi Gantz has led a yeshiva in Tel Aviv for almost 30 years, but has recently been the subject of extraordinary hostility by a very vocal group of local residents. Rabbi Dunner finds a parallel in the story of the spies in Shlach, and also in Korach's rebellion.
SHLACH - FRINGE BENEFITS
June 14, 2023 22:25 - 38 minutes - 19.3 MBRabbi Dunner explores the mitzvah of tzitzit - the ritual fringes mandated for every four-cornered garment, as found in Parshat Shlach. What are the hidden messages of this curious mitzvah, all the more curious because one is not mandated to wear a four-cornered garment, only to ensure that if one is worn, it has tzitzit on it.
NO MORE A HIDDEN TREASURE
June 08, 2023 21:54 - 12 minutes - 6.25 MBRabbi Dunner shares his experience attending an incredible event in Philadelphia this past Sunday night - 25,000 people paying tribute to all those who devote their lives to Torah study. What a difference 100 years makes, as Rabbi Dunner explains.
NASSO - YOUNG AT HEART
June 01, 2023 22:58 - 9 minutes - 8.71 MBThe older generation tends to be disdainful of foolish youthful enthusiasm. But the young have the advantage of being more open to change, pivoting from one thing to another with ease. Rabbi Dunner finds a fascinating reference to this quality hidden in the laws of Nazir.
NASSO - COUNT YOUR BLESSINGS
June 01, 2023 15:30 - 28 minutes - 14.2 MBDetails of a fascinating archeological discovery in Jerusalem, in 1979, launch this shiur about one of the best-known but least-understood rituals of Judaism: the priestly blessing. Rabbi Dunner examines Birkat Kohanim from every angle, looking at its historical origins, its meaning, and its practical application.
SHAVUOT - TO SECURE A FUTURE
May 25, 2023 03:38 - 7 minutes - 3.74 MBWhy would God have dangled a mountain over the Israelites threatening their annihilation if they didn't accept the Torah -- if they had already accepted the Torah? Rabbi Dunner offers a compelling solution to a most puzzling Talmudic conundrum.
BAMIDBAR - THE PRICE OF FIGHTING
May 19, 2023 00:45 - 8 minutes - 4.06 MBThere are countless examples of great intellectuals descending into bitter disputes. Rabbi Dunner cites "Sayres Law" as he introduces some of the most notorious examples. But how about religious scholars? Are they vulnerable to this phenomenon? Rabbi Dunner explains how a Midrash on Parshat Bamidbar sheds light on this troubling topic.
HAVING A LAUGH
May 18, 2023 15:58 - 23 minutes - 12 MBRabbi Dunner examines the topic of humor and comedy in Judaism. Does the halacha allow it? What does the Talmud say? When is it appropriate to laugh and engage in humor and comedy? Rabbi Dunner shares a range of sources. (This shiur was sponsored by Lee Samson to commemorate the yahrtzeit of his mother, Sylvia Samson, Sheindel bat Aryeh Leib a”h, whose yahrtzeit is on 26 Iyar.)
BEHAR - LIVING IN THE PRESENT
May 11, 2023 22:49 - 6 minutes - 3.36 MBRabbi Dunner describes a recent TikTok trend encouraging young people to spend their money on travel. But how could this be good advice in the midst of an economic downturn? Despite the kneejerk disdain for this trend, specifically among older people, perhaps the TikTokers have it right. A commentary on Behar might be the key.
EMOR - TOO FOCUSED ON GOD
May 04, 2023 23:51 - 8 minutes - 16 MBThe widely held view is that religious people are kinder and more altruistic than non-believers. Rabbi Dunner challenges this view, citing studies that prove the opposite. Some people even use God as an excuse not to be kind. An Abarbanel interpretation in Emor reveals that the Torah is acutely aware of this phenomenon, and warns us against falling into this trap.
KEDOSHIM - AN ALADDIN'S CAVE
April 27, 2023 22:42 - 7 minutes - 6.81 MBRabbi Dunner shares his incredible encounter with an unexpected treasure trove in Miami, Florida. Presiding over this remarkable repository is an unassuming scribe, Rabbi Moshe Druin, whose determination and expertise are the backbone of an organization with an international reach. Rabbi Dunner finds inspiration in Rabbi Druin's work, which he sees reflected in a lesson from Parshat Kedoshim.
KEDOSHIM - THE SECRET OF SACRED ASPIRATIONS
April 27, 2023 01:10 - 35 minutes - 32.1 MBWhat does it mean to "be holy"? An instruction at the beginning of Vayikra Chapter 19 directs us to "be holy" - but there is no indication of what being "holy" means. Rabbi Dunner shares Rashi's commentary, and Ramban's, and also the perspective of Rabbi Samson Raphael Hirsch.
TAZRIA METZORA - THE BLACKEST OF LIES
April 20, 2023 22:31 - 7 minutes - 3.86 MBRabbi Dunner addresses the scourge of half-truths, citing examples and explaining why they are such a danger to society. And, as he explains, certain aspects of the tzara'at phenomenon described and discussed in Tazria and Metzora, as well as in the Talmud, relate to this idea of half-truths being the blackest of lies.
SHEMINI - BETWEEN CONFORMITY AND ANARCHY
April 11, 2023 20:08 - 7 minutes - 3.9 MBRabbi Dunner addresses the anomaly of anti-anarchists also harboring disdain for conformity and conventionality. Citing a wonderful Ohr Hachaim commentary on Parshat Shemini, Rabbi Dunner suggests that conformity is not necessarily the opposite of anarchy after all.
PESACH - TIME TO SING A SONG
March 30, 2023 19:39 - 47 minutes - 23.8 MBThe splitting of the Red Sea was the greatest miracle of the Exodus story, and in human history. An entire nation was miraculously saved from certain death, while their genocidal pursuers perished. Upon reaching safety, the Jewish nation immediately and spontaneously began singing God’s praises. And yet we know that Judaism discourages joyous celebration if a victory involves the destruction of an enemy. In fact, according to some, this why we don’t say full Hallel after the first day of Pesa...
TZAV - IT'S THE THOUGHT THAT COUNTS
March 30, 2023 17:37 - 8 minutes - 4.51 MBModern science has struggled to find evidence that thoughts in the human brain can alter reality, and yet the Jewish faith believes in the power of thoughts and prayers. Rabbi Dunner explores this phenomenon from several angles, and draws proof from Parshat Tzav that thoughts really do count.
PESACH - ALL NIGHT LONG
March 29, 2023 21:58 - 42 minutes - 21.7 MBImagine the scene… five of the greatest rabbis of the generation gather together in a room to celebrate Pesach. It is a seder that has gone down in history as *the* example of what a seder should look like. The five rabbis discussed the Exodus from Egypt all night long, and were so absorbed in the story that they needed to be reminded about saying Shema when dawn broke. Rabbi Dunner unpicks the story of this seminal seder, delving into every detail, and into the personalities of the rabbis th...
VAYIKRA - AN APOLOGY WOULD BE NICE
March 24, 2023 00:17 - 8 minutes - 4.07 MBTwenty years after the start of the Iraq War, Rabbi Dunner reflects on the leadup to the conflict, which was heavily leveraged on faulty intelligence that purported that Saddam Hussein had amassed WMDs which were a danger to the West. What are the long-term implications if George W. Bush and his aides knew they were lying, but believed that regime change in Iraq was for the best? Rabbi Dunner weighs in.
PEKUDEI - A LESSON FROM THE FRENCH REVOLUTION
March 17, 2023 00:21 - 6 minutes - 3.51 MBRabbi Dunner puzzles over the fact that Maximilien Robespierre was known as "the incorruptible", bearing in mind that he presided over the most violent period of the French Revolution, known as the Reign of Terror. A midrash on Parshat Pekudei helps clear up the definition of integrity and incorruptibility once and for all.
PEKUDEI - ALL THAT GLITTERS
March 15, 2023 20:04 - 28 minutes - 14.3 MBAt the beginning of Parshat Pekudei, Moshe Rabbeinu offers up a detailed accounting of all the precious metal collected for use in the construction of the mishkan, down to the last ounce. What was the purpose of this accounting, and why are there crucial details of the gold missing from the record? Rabbi Dunner addresses these and other questions relating to this fascinating parsha.
KI TISSA - A LIFELONG ROMANCE
March 10, 2023 01:27 - 7 minutes - 3.57 MBLearning self-love is not narcissism, rather it is the precursor to all healthy relationships. Using this as his model, Rabbi Dunner explains a puzzling phrase about Shabbat in Ki Tissa, and a confounding Talmudic passage about the path to messianic redemption.
MY MEMORIES OF UNCLE BRAM
March 06, 2023 01:28 - 35 minutes - 18 MBRabbi Dunner shares some memories of his primary teacher and lifelong inspiration, his late mother's younger brother, Rabbi Avrohom Cohen z"l, who passed away at the age of 76. "Uncle Bram" was an extraordinary individual who purposely stayed in the background, but whose impact on his students was lifechanging.
TETZAVEH - A LESSON FROM THE OSCARS
March 02, 2023 22:57 - 6 minutes - 3.36 MBYou might think that the Academy Awards has nothing to teach us that is meaningful and worthy. Well, if so, you'd be wrong, says Rabbi Dunner. There is one group of important people that are at the Oscars every year who have a very important role, and who embody a very important lesson for all of us - and it's especially relevant to Parshat Tetzaveh.
TERUMAH - LOVE LANGUAGE OF VERY FEW WORDS
February 23, 2023 22:56 - 6 minutes - 3.39 MBScientific studies prove that people in close relationships use similar language to each other in their speech and writing, while the vocabulary of those whose relationships have broken down diverges, making it harder for them to communicate. Rabbi Dunner goes over the evidence, and finds a powerful message relating to the four parshiot that deal with the construction of the Mishkan.
TERUMAH - LESSONS FOR ALL TIME
February 23, 2023 18:25 - 29 minutes - 14.8 MBParshat Terumah seemingly deals with a timebound set of instructions and events relating to the Mishkan, the temporary traveling sanctuary that was put together for religious worship in the Sinai wilderness. Not so, as Rabbi Dunner explains. The messages and symbolism of the Mishkan and its vessels reverberate throughout Jewish history, down to this day.
THE CURIOUS TALE OF THE KOZHNITZ-CHERNOBYL REBBE OF NEW YORK
February 21, 2023 04:00 - 53 minutes - 27.1 MBIn this episode of the "Rogues, Rascals and Rapscallions" series, Rabbi Dunner charts the extraordinary life story of the only rabbi who wrote a letter to defend the convicted felon Zeide Meir Schmellner, after his arrest in the late 1930s. Who was Rabbi Yisroel Twersky, the celebrated Kozhnitz-Chernobyl Rebbe of New York? Where was he from? How did he end up in New York? What compelled him to defend Schmellner? And why did he fade into complete obscurity long before he died? Once again, Rabb...
MISHPATIM - CHANNELING YOUR OX AND DONKEY
February 16, 2023 22:52 - 7 minutes - 3.29 MBSigmund Freud came up with the concept of sublimation as one of psychology's "defense mechanisms." Or did he? Rabbi Dunner discovers an ancient reference to sublimation in Parshat Mishpatim, buried in the pasuk that instructs the Jewish people to observe Shabbat.
MISHPATIM - SETTING THE TABLE
February 15, 2023 23:30 - 24 minutes - 12.6 MBAt the beginning of Parshat Mishpatim, God says to Moses “these are the laws that you shall set before them.” What does the expression "set before them" mean? Using Rashi as his base, Rabbi Dunner shares beautiful insights and uses a host of wonderful stories, as he explains why teaching Torah is compared to setting the table for a meal.
YITRO - TUNING IN IS THE KEY
February 09, 2023 22:29 - 7 minutes - 7.84 MBRabbi Dunner reflects on a very special reunion in London, of former members of the Saatchi Synagogue, who gathered together to mark 25 years since the synagogue started. As he chatted and mingled, Rabbi Dunner recalled the powerful message of his first address at a Saatchi Friday night dinner -- a message that is embedded at the heart of the Ten Commandments.
BESHALACH - THE MYSTERY OF THE FIRST SHABBAT
February 03, 2023 00:13 - 7 minutes - 3.74 MBRabbi Dunner describes a weird sect of Shabbat-observant Russian gentiles that emerged in the eighteenth century - the Subbotniki. Who were they, and how are they relevant to the first Shabbat ever observed by the Jewish nation, referred to in Parshat Beshalach? Rabbi Dunner explains.
BO - BREAK BAD HABITS
January 26, 2023 23:28 - 8 minutes - 4.12 MBRabbi Dunner cites U.S. founding father polymath Benjamin Franklin, as he explores the extraordinary results of a social psychology study that emanated from the Vietnam War. Initially rejected, the data are now accepted, and they correlate with Rashi's interpretation of a superfluous word in Parshat Bo.
BO - BY THE LIGHT OF THE MOON
January 26, 2023 00:46 - 22 minutes - 11.2 MBThe first mitzva given to the Jewish nation as a whole is in Parshat Bo, and it is about how they should determine the calendar, which under Jewish law is a cycle of lunar months. Why is this the first mitzva given to the Jewish people? And why was it given to them just before they were liberated from slavery? Rabbi Dunner offers a selection of ideas to explain the reasoning behind this unusual mitzva.