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
VAYIGASH - WHY I WEPT THIS WEEK
December 09, 2021 22:07 - 7 minutes - 6.61 MBOn the last night of Chanuka, a bunch of guys came together and sang with Yigal Calek, legendary director and conductor of the London School of Jewish Song, a Jewish musical phenomenon of the '60s, 70s and 80s. As he watched the video, Rabbi Dunner found himself weeping uncontrollably. So did many others. In an attempt to explain this extraordinary reaction, Rabbi Dunner turns to the Igra Dekalla, and an insight he proposes for a challenging passage in Parshat Vayigash.
VAYIGASH - A DAY OF REBUKE
December 08, 2021 21:30 - 49 minutes - 45.1 MBWhy did Joseph ask if his father was still alive if he knew that he was? Why did he identify himself as Joseph twice? Why in the first instance did he say "I am Joseph" and in the second "I am Joseph your brother"? Why did the brothers not answer his question? Why does the Midrash consider this "a day of rebuke" if there was no rebuke? Rabbi Dunner shares a definitive commentary by the Beis Halevi, Rabbi Yosef Dov Halevi Soloveitchik (1820-1892).
MIKETZ - IT'S NOT ALL ABOUT ME
December 02, 2021 23:10 - 6 minutes - 5.95 MBHow can narcissism and its impact on a society obsessed with a narcissist help explain the story of Joseph's success at interpreting Pharaoh's dreams - after the failure of Pharaoh's advisors to do so. Rabbi Dunner offers a compelling backdrop to the story of Pharaoh's dreams based on a model gleaned from modern scientific studies into narcissism and its powerful effects on society.
CHANUKAH - MYSTICAL MESSAGES OF CHANUKAH
December 01, 2021 22:09 - 56 minutes - 51.4 MBWhat are the mystical messages behind the festival of Chanukah? Rabbi Dunner leads us on a journey exploring the hidden messages behind Chanukah, demonstrating that this festival celebrates more than just the victory over the Greeks, and the miraculous long-lasting oil.
VAYEISHEV - MORE IMPORTANT THAN GOD
November 26, 2021 00:24 - 7 minutes - 7.12 MBIt is accepted wisdom among God-believers that religion and morality are one and the same. And yet we see time and again that faith can lead to violence against one's fellow man. How are we to understand this if we want to retain our faith? And how can we know when our devotion to God has undermined our moral compass? Using a powerful verse from Parshat Vayeishev, Rabbi Dunner offers a compelling answer to this most troubling of theological questions.
VAYEISHEV - JOSEPH AND HIS BROTHERS
November 24, 2021 21:51 - 1 hour - 63.7 MBOne of the most confounding episodes in the Torah is the story of Jacob's sons' animosity towards their brother Joseph. After initially planning to kill him, they sold him into slavery, with the consequences reverberating for generations. What made Joseph so special? And how did Joseph's brothers justify their actions against him? Rabbi Dunner shares two delightful pieces, one from the Hasidic commentary, Bat Ayin, and the other from Mikdash Halevi, a commentary written by Rabbi Dunner's este...
VAYISHLACH - IT'S ALL GOING TO BE OK
November 18, 2021 23:13 - 6 minutes - 5.97 MBRabbi Dunner explores the fascinating history of the word "OK", connecting it to Jacob's prayer at the beginning of Parshat Vayishlach.
TOLDOT - DEALING WITH SCOFFERS
November 17, 2021 22:33 - 57 minutes - 107 MBHow are we to contend with scoffers who mock and undermine something important? Rabbi Dunner delves into a Midrash that recalls those who dismissed the birth of Isaac as "fake news" -- he was merely a foundling who Abraham and Sarah claimed as their own. God responded by making Isaac identical in appearance to his father, and by demonstrating that Sarah was a nursing mother. What is the significance of this Midrash? Rabbi Dunner explains, and addresses countless other topics along the way. A ...
VAYISHLACH - WINNING THE BATTLE
November 17, 2021 21:24 - 54 minutes - 50.1 MBWhy does the Torah focus so heavily on the rivalry between Jacob and Esav? What is the point of knowing that Jacob and Esav fought? Rabbi Dunner cites a classic piece from Toldot Yaakov Yosef, and shares a Nesivos Sholom that explains the necessity for stories about both Lavan and Esav in the Torah.
VAYEITZEI - THE COEXISTENCE OF FAITH AND WEALTH
November 11, 2021 18:01 - 7 minutes - 6.87 MBStudies have shown that wealthier people and wealthier countries are less likely to believe in God. And yet there are startling exceptions, such as John D. Rockefeller, the wealthiest American of all time, and the United States of America, which outranks all other countries in its material wealth. Citing a stunning piece by Rabbi Shimon Sofer of Cracow explaining Jacob's strange vow after his vision of the ladder ascending to Heaven, Rabbi Dunner offers a solution that is both sensible and in...
VAYEITZEI - A LEGACY WITHOUT BORDERS
November 10, 2021 22:28 - 53 minutes - 49.2 MBIn Parshat Vayeitzei, God promises the patriarch Jacob that his descendants will spread far and wide. The sages of the Talmud explained that this promise meant that Jacob's inheritance would be "without borders." Rabbi Dunner explores this idea, with the help of a beautiful piece from the Nesivos Sholom, who explains why this "without borders" legacy is uniquely relevant to Jacob, and not to Abraham or Isaac.
TOLDOT - THE STING OF POETIC JUSTICE
November 03, 2021 19:00 - 7 minutes - 6.49 MBOne of the most popular movies of all time is the Robert Redord/Paul Newman crime caper "The Sting". But what can this movie teach us about the episode in Toldot that sees Jacob obtaining the blessings from Isaac instead of his brother Esau? Rabbi Dunner explains.
CHAYEI SARAH - THE BRILLIANCE OF RABBI SACKS
October 28, 2021 22:01 - 6 minutes - 6.36 MBRabbi Dunner reflects on his participation in the Rabbi Sacks Legacy Trust "Communities in Conversation" initiative, which saw over 150 communities, schools and organizations in 15 countries study the Torah thoughts and writings of Rabbi Lord Jonathan Sacks z"l, to commemorate the first anniversary of his passing. Citing a Hasidic interpretation of a very curious Midrashic narrative, Rabbi Dunner explains how Rabbi Sacks' brilliance was not just his intellectual superiority or his exemplary w...
CHAYEI SARAH - BLESSED WITH EVERYTHING
October 27, 2021 19:57 - 42 minutes - 38.8 MBAbraham, the founding patriarch of the Jewish nation, is described in Parshat Chayei Sarah (Gen. 24:1) as having become old. The verse informs us that he was “zaken, ba bayamim” – elderly, and advanced in [his] days. The expression “ba bayamim” is uniquely used for Abraham and is not found with reference to anyone else mentioned in the Torah. The verse continues by telling us that “God blessed Abraham with everything” – and again, no one besides for Abraham is described this way in the Torah....
VAYEIRA - BLESSINGS FOR A PILLAR
October 21, 2021 23:27 - 6 minutes - 5.65 MBThe curious phenomenon of Lot's wife turning into a pillar of salt is matched by the equally curious pair of blessings one is directed to say upon seeing that pillar. Intriguingly, the location of the pillar of salt is disputed -- but were we to know its location, why are there two blessings to say, not one? Rabbi Dunner presents a compelling answer suggested by Rav Avraham Yitzchak HaKohen Kook.
VAYERA - BUILT ON KINDNESS
October 20, 2021 21:49 - 54 minutes - 50.1 MBAt the beginning of Parshat Vayera, according to one interpretation, Abraham told God to wait a moment so that he could take care of his guests. The Talmud says that this proves it is more important to take care of guests than to welcome the presence of God. The whole idea is very puzzling. What could be more important than spending time with God, and how could Abraham abandon God in favor of some unknown guests? Rabbi Dunner shares an inspirational Nesivos Sholom.
LECH LECHA - TO LIVE AND LEARN
October 14, 2021 21:37 - 7 minutes - 6.65 MBA beautiful "vort" on an obscure pasuk in Lech Lecha from the late Rabbi Dr. Abraham Twerski z"l, based on a story he heard from his father, Rabbi Jacob Israel Twerski z"l, the Hornisteipler Rebbe of Milwaukee. What is the secret of leadership and staying ahead of the game? A life lesson for us all.
LECH LECHA - ABRAHAM’S JOURNEY, A LIFELONG STORY
October 13, 2021 22:03 - 52 minutes - 48.4 MBThe portion of Lech Lecha begins with an instruction – “Lech Lecha” – God directs Abraham to leave his family and birthplace, and go to a land that God will show him. This same formulation – “Lech Lecha” – introduces God’s instruction to Abraham to sacrifice his son Isaac at the end of Parshat Vayera. The Midrash correlates these two ‘tests’, noting that it is unclear which of the two is considered the greater test. Rabbi Dunner challenges the notion that sacrificing a son is even remotely co...
NOACH - FOR THE SAKE OF OTHERS
October 07, 2021 22:29 - 8 minutes - 7.68 MBHistorical comparisons are a favorite exercise assigned by history lecturers for their students, who are asked to compare and contrast great personalities from history. A tougher assignment is to decide which of the two is greater than the other. Rabbi Dunner cites a Midrash which unfavorably compares Noah with Moses, and offers the insightful explanation of Rabbi Meir Simha of Dvinsk, author of Meshekh Hokhma.
BEREISHIT - OF TWO BEGINNINGS
October 01, 2021 00:05 - 9 minutes - 8.19 MBMust Jews believe that the universe is almost 6,000 years old, and reject the scientific hypothesis of 13.77 billion years? In this podcast, Rabbi Dunner delves into this vexed topic, and offers a fascinating mix of history and sources to unpack one of the most controversial theological issues of modernity.
SUKKOT - FROM SUEZ TO AFGHANISTAN
September 17, 2021 21:53 - 10 minutes - 9.24 MBWhat does the recent U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan have in common with the Suez Crisis of 1956? And why is this overlap so worrying for the peace and security of the Western world. Rabbi Dunner explains, offering a pertinent lesson from the festival of Sukkot.
YOM KIPPUR - THE IMPOSSIBLE IS POSSIBLE
September 09, 2021 21:57 - 9 minutes - 9.04 MBNight is day, in this timely lesson from our patriarch Jacob for Yom Kippur. As Rabbi Dunner explains, in Judaism, the impossible is always possible.
YOM KIPPUR - THE IMPOSSIBLE IS POSSIBLE
September 09, 2021 21:57 - 9 minutes - 9.04 MBNight is day, in this timely lesson from our patriarch Jacob for Yom Kippur. As Rabbi Dunner explains, in Judaism, the impossible is always possible.
ROSH HASHANA - THE MESSAGE OF THE HOLY HUNCHBACK
September 02, 2021 23:48 - 8 minutes - 7.93 MBRabbi Dunner uses the story of a chance encounter between the late Rabbi Shlomo Carlebach and a hunchbacked street sweeper in Tel Aviv to help us get our priorities right before Rosh Hashana.
NITZAVIM (ROSH HASHANA) - STANDING BEFORE GOD
September 01, 2021 22:08 - 47 minutes - 43.5 MBThe portion of Nitzavim is always read in the week before Rosh Hashana. Rabbi Dunner shares a piece from Nesivos Sholom, who says that this annual confluence is no coincidence, and is in fact hinted at in the first few verses of the parsha. This shiur contains some powerful lessons for the teshuva process.
KI TAVO - LEARNING NEVER ENDS
August 26, 2021 21:53 - 7 minutes - 6.91 MBSchools reopened this week across the U.S., but there is still tremendous uncertainty. Like so much else during the pandemic, we are consumed with short-term discomfort. But what about the long-term? Rabbi Dunner finds a reference point in Parshat Ki Tavo, buried in one of the last speeches ever given by Moses to the Jewish nation.
KI TAVO - A TASTE OF PARADISE
August 25, 2021 21:50 - 45 minutes - 41.2 MBParshat Ki Tavo begins with the mitzva of Bikkurim, which is introduced with the words “when you enter the land” (Deut. 26:1). Rabbi Dunner presents the Nesivos Sholom’s striking explanation of this mitzva for those who will never observe Bikkurim. Based on an interpretation by one of the Hasidic movement’s earliest expositors, Toldot Yaakov Yosef, the Nesivos Sholom suggests that this opening phrase of Ki Tavo has a totally different meaning than its literal translation. This shiur was spon...
KI TEITZEI - NATURE VS. NURTURE
August 19, 2021 18:58 - 7 minutes - 6.95 MBWhat happens to identical twins separated at birth and given up for adoption? Rabbi Dunner explores the extraordinary case of the "Jim Twins", and finds a remarkable connection between the nature vs. nurture debate and the Talmud's interpretation of Ben Sorer Umoreh - the "wayward and defiant son".
SHOFTIM - IT'S YOUR WORLD
August 12, 2021 22:55 - 8 minutes - 7.58 MBThe IPCC report, warning of global devastation if we don't change our habits and reduce our carbon footprint, is stark in its predictions, but still hopeful for a better future if corrective action is taken. Rabbi Dunner focuses on a curious verse in Shoftim and the interpretations of Maimonides and Abarbanel, offering a fascinating insight into the traditional Jewish view on global warming and climate change.
SHOFTIM - A SYMPHONY OF ECHOES
August 11, 2021 20:50 - 56 minutes - 51.5 MBIn Parshat Shoftim, Moshe instructs the nation how to deal with those who deviate from the path of God and become idol-worshippers. The Nesivos Sholom is puzzled by the seemingly superfluous inclusion of a clause that indicates that the sinners have done something bad in the eyes of God. Surely including this fact is obvious and unnecessary. Rabbi Dunner shares the Nesivos Sholom's revealing explanation, and concludes with a powerful personal story.
RE'EH - BLACKBALLED INTO GREATNESS
August 05, 2021 23:19 - 8 minutes - 7.42 MBHistorians agree that one of the greatest presidents in U.S. history was Franklin Delano Roosevelt. But what was the secret of his incredible leadership? Rabbi Dunner reveals the secret behind FDR's greatness, and ties it in with the Izhbitzer's explanation of a confounding verse at the beginning of Parshat Re'eh.
RE'EH - ALL IN GOOD FAITH
August 05, 2021 15:40 - 50 minutes - 46.2 MBOne of Mitzvot in Parshat Re'eh is the Mitzva of Tzedakah. The Jewish people are expected to take care of their "destitute brother" and to ensure that all those in need are provided for. There are a number of curious anomalies in the verses describing this Mitzva, while the Rambam, Ramban, Sefer HaChinuch, and Ma'or Va'shamesh all underscore how important this Mitzva is - as important as all the other Mitzvot in the Torah combined. Rabbi Dunner shares a Nesivos Sholom that offers a comprehens...
EIKEV - A MATTER OF LUCK
July 29, 2021 22:30 - 7 minutes - 6.49 MBIs success the result of brains and hard work? Or is it simply luck? The academic world has come down on the side of luck. But what does Judaism have to say about this debate? Rabbi Dunner explores it all using a range of sources to shed light on this vexed topic.
EIKEV - IN THE HANDS OF HEAVEN
July 28, 2021 20:53 - 46 minutes - 37.3 MBAccording to Moshe Rabbeinu, there is only one thing that God wants from us - and then he launches into a whole list. It starts with "fear", continues with "love", and then one must do everything God asks with all your heart and soul. What is he on about? Is it one thing, or many? Rabbi Dunner shares a wonderful story from Rabbi Nachman of Breslov, a thought from the Ohr Hachaim, and a beautiful piece from Nesivos Sholom. https://rabbidunner.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/07/Nesivos-Sholom-Eike...
VA'ETCHANAN - THE POWER OF LOVE
July 22, 2021 07:54 - 7 minutes - 6.64 MBRabbi Dunner delves into the phenomenon of love, an emotion that intuitively makes sense in most of its guises, but which becomes confounding in the form known as "romantic love". Nevertheless, Rabbi Dunner finds compelling evidence to explain the deep bonds of romantic love in a familiar verse from Parshat Va'etchanan.
TISHA BE'AV - A POWERFUL LESSON FROM HISTORY
July 15, 2021 17:35 - 9 minutes - 8.39 MBThe story of Rabbi Yohanan ben Zakkai's incredible meeting with Vespasian, and how it happened, form the backdrop to this insightful podcast. Rabbi Dunner considers the historical context of the Jewish leader's escape from Jerusalem and his subsequent deal with Vespasian to ensure the survival of traditional Judaism, while others in his community acted in a way that led to Jerusalem's destruction, as a pointed lesson from history for today's Jewish faithful.
DEVARIM - AN INTRODUCTION TO WISDOM
July 14, 2021 21:24 - 1 hour - 56.1 MBSome of the most profound aspects of the Jewish faith are contained in the Book of Devarim, the fifth book of the Torah. It is a record of a series of speeches and addresses given by Moses in anticipation of his looming death, and before the Jewish people initiated the conquest of the Promised Land. The pinnacle of this book is undoubtedly the second parsha, Va'etchanan, which contains the Ten Commandments, the Shema, and the instruction to love God. In which case, why did Moses introduce the...
MASSEI - FOR GOD AND COUNTRY
July 08, 2021 21:13 - 8 minutes - 8.11 MBRabbi Dunner describes his visit to Israel, including his two-day trip to survey Israel's northern border, and his reflections after seeing his son Meir inducted into the IDF paratroopers. Parshat Massei talks about Israel's borders, but later commentaries point out that the biblical borders were not the final borders, and that borders changed throughout Jewish history. Rabbi Dunner ties it all together with a profound lesson in Jewish identity and the symbolism of the Land of Israel.
MATTOT - THE ULTIMATE BATTLE
July 07, 2021 20:56 - 45 minutes - 41.4 MBIn Parshat Mattot, Moshe is instructed to send the Jews into battle with the Midianites. The details are intense, and the importance of winning this war seems greater than for other wars fought against enemies both earlier and later. Rabbi Dunner shares a personal experience from his recent visit to Israel to see his son inaugurated into the Tzanchanim, and dovetails it with an awe-inspiring Nesivos Sholom. The ultimate battle is not what you think it is. It is so much more.
BALAK - REMEMBERING MY LATE FATHER
June 24, 2021 22:09 - 7 minutes - 6.48 MBRabbi Dunner reflects on the remarkable life and achievements of his late father, Rabbi Aba Dunner z"l, on the tenth anniversary of his passing. Out of his father's many unique characteristics, it is one that sticks out in particular - his incredible capacity for hard work and long hours when helping others. Rabbi Dunner finds the source for this strength in an alternative interpretation of a verse from Parshat Balak.
BALAK - HEARTS & MINDS
June 23, 2021 22:16 - 48 minutes - 44 MBIn Parshat Balak, Balaam tries to curse the Jewish people, but, as the Talmud teaches us (Sanhedrin 105b), God transformed Balaam's curses into blessings. The most famous of those blessings is "how goodly are your tents Jacob, your sanctuaries Israel" - a statement uttered each morning as we enter our synagogues for prayers. Rabbi Dunner shares a Nesivos Sholom to explain why this particular blessing was the one that endured for all time.
CHUKKAT - NEVER TOO OLD TO LEARN
June 17, 2021 18:47 - 5 minutes - 4.77 MBThe concept of lifelong learning has gathered pace over the past three decades, as Artificial Intelligence has encroached on exclusively human work, including white-collar skills. Rabbi Dunner examines the topic of lifelong learning from sources in the Talmud, and finds a remarkable reference in the arcane laws of ritual purity in Parshat Chukkat, offering a useful tip to those who never want to be 'too old to learn'.
KORACH - I'M HERE FOR AN ARGUMENT
June 10, 2021 23:16 - 7 minutes - 6.95 MBRabbi Dunner recalls a particularly preposterous Monty Python sketch from the 1970s that focused on the concept of arguments, to illustrate a profound point about the difference between Korach's disagreement with Moses and the countless debates between the schools of Hillel and Shammai.
KORACH - UNITED AS ONE
June 09, 2021 20:56 - 53 minutes - 48.7 MBWhat lessons are there to be learnt from the Korach rebellion? Why did Moshe push off the showdown with Korach and his supporters until the following morning? What was the fatal flaw in Korach's protest ideology? Rabbi Dunner shares a profound Nesivos Sholom that offers a simple yet crucial lesson, as relevant today as it was when Korach first launched his revolt against Moshe 3,300 years ago.
SHLACH - IT'S TIME FOR HOPE & OPTIMISM
June 03, 2021 23:21 - 7 minutes - 7.23 MBWhat lessons can we learn from the rancor-free election of Isaac Herzog to Israel's presidency in the same week as Israel's politics feels as if it falling apart at the seams? Never has it been more important to consider this question, and, as Rabbi Dunner explains, the answers are not all that complicated. The lessons from our earliest history are clear for all to see.
SHLACH - STRINGS ATTACHED
June 02, 2021 23:35 - 57 minutes - 52.6 MBTucked away at the end of Parshat Shlach is the passage about tzitzit - the strings we attach to any 4-cornered garment that is worn. After giving some practical background to this mitzva, Rabbi Dunner offers a beautiful explanation as to why the mitzva of Tzitzit is specifically identified as an act that reflects every mitzva in the Torah, sanctifying those who carry it out and appreciate its significance.
BEHAALOTECHA - UPSIDE DOWN, BACK TO FRONT
May 28, 2021 00:28 - 11 minutes - 10.2 MBRabbi Dunner shares an intriguing story about a Torah scroll with an unusual mistake in the text of Parshat Behaalotecha. How could a qualified sofer ever have written a Torah in this way? The answer will astound you.
NASSO - THREE STEPS BACK
May 20, 2021 23:27 - 7 minutes - 7.12 MBAs the Gaza-Israel conflict comes to a difficult conclusion, Rabbi Dunner reflects on a challenging period in which Jews have been targeted, and Israel accused of war crimes. In particular, Rabbi Dunner examines the concept of "peace", as seen through the eyes of two illustrious British chief rabbis, Rabbi Lord Jonathan Sacks and Rabbi Lord Immanuel Jacobovits.
NASSO - FOR GOD'S SAKE
May 20, 2021 03:28 - 52 minutes - 48 MBThe idea of becoming a Nazirite is praised by some, and criticized by others. Both sides in the debate seize upon the language used in Parshat Nasso to describe the Nazirite vow, and the Nazirites themselves, to justify their positions - a jarring contradiction that simply begs for an explanation. Rabbi Dunner shares a profound piece of Nesivos Sholom which uses earlier Hasidic texts to reconcile these opposing views.
BAMIDBAR - UNITED WE MUST STAND
May 13, 2021 23:02 - 8 minutes - 15.1 MBThe horrific news dispatches from Israel, with Hamas rockets raining down on the civilian population as they cower in bomb shelters prompts Rabbi Dunner to examine the curious phenomenon of flags among the tribes of ancient Israel. Each tribe had its own flag, and yet they were all part of one nation. A fascinating Midrash sheds light on this anomaly, and Rabbi Dunner relates it to the current reality in Israel.