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Moshe’s final words to Bnei Israel come as a song. In Parshat Ha’azinu, Shirat Ha’azinu looks back at the Jewish people’s relationship with Hashem: the ways He protected and provided for them, the times they turned away, and the promise that He will ultimately return to His people.

In this episode, we explore:

Why Moshe calls on both heaven and earth to hear his words—and what that teaches us about carrying the inspiration of Torah and tefillah into everyday life.

The beautiful comparison of Torah to rain and dew, and why even a heart that hasn’t been fully “prepared” can still be touched by Torah.

How making Torah the center of our lives allows its light to influence everything around it.

The spiritual challenge of wealth and material comfort, and how our blessings can become tools for Torah, mitzvot, and kindness rather than ends in themselves.

The mechitzah between the spiritual and material worlds—and how bringing holiness into ordinary physical life helps heal that divide.

Why the Torah is “not an empty thing”—and the importance of turning to qualified Torah teachers when we don’t know how Torah applies to a particular situation.

One theme runs throughout Ha’azinu: don’t leave your inspiration in shul.

Torah is meant to come with us: to the kitchen, the workplace, our parenting, our relationships, our gardens, and all the ordinary routines that make up a life. When we take something we have learned or felt and put it into action, we begin bringing heaven down to earth and elevating the earth toward heaven.

This week’s double parsha brings together two seemingly opposite ideas: Nitzavim — standing firm — and Vayelech — moving forward. We explore why we need both: a strong, unwavering foundation of emunah alongside continual growth in Torah, mitzvot, and our relationship with Hashem.

In this episode:

Stand, think, then move. Nitzavim and Vayelech give us a practical formula for life: pause and think before we speak or act, make a plan, move forward, and then stop again to reflect on how we did.

Making our “beyond” our new normal. Teshuvah requires more than returning to where we were. We deepen our relationship with Hashem until the devotion that once felt beyond us becomes part of our ordinary lives.

Torah is within reach. Moshe reminds Am Yisrael that Torah is not impossibly distant or reserved for extraordinary people. Hashem asks us for sincere effort.

We need Hashem to succeed. Through a personal struggle with anger, I share what happened when I stopped relying solely on techniques and advice and began asking Hashem directly to help me change.

The Yehoshua of every generation. Torah itself does not change, but its application to the circumstances of each generation requires Torah leadership—which is one reason having a relationship with a rabbi matters.

What other people may reveal about us. When someone else’s behavior bothers us, it can become an opportunity to examine our own middot and ask what Hashem may be showing us.

The redwood forest and the Jewish people. Like redwoods whose roots intertwine and support one another, every Jew remains an individual while also being strengthened by—and responsible for—the whole.

Carrying Torah into ordinary life. The engraved and written Torah associated with the Aron represent both our intrinsic connection to Torah and our responsibility to carry that connection into the mundane parts of everyday life.

Questions or comments? I’d love to hear your thoughts on this week’s parsha and what stood out to you most.

Thank you so much for listening! If you enjoyed this episode, I’d love for you to subscribe, leave a review, and share it with a friend. Every share helps more people connect with the beauty and depth of Torah learning. Please leave a review on Spotify or Apple Podcasts, which is an entirely free way to support the pod. For weekly Torah insights, bonus content, and archived episodes, visit sparktorah.substack.com. Thank you for learning with me today!

This week we explore Parshat Ki Tavo and what it means to truly enter the gifts, mitzvot, and moments Hashem gives us.

We begin with the words “Ki Tavo” — “when you come” and the idea that every new day is a gift waiting for us to step into it. As Rosh Hashanah approaches, we consider what it means not simply to ask Hashem for more days, but to be fully alive and present within them.

We also discuss:

* Bikkurim and gratitude — recognizing that even after all our hard work, our blessings ultimately come from Hashem.

* Being “all in” with mitzvot — why partial entry is not considered entry and what that can teach us about giving a mitzvah our full attention.

* Renewing our relationship with Hashem every day — approaching Torah and our covenant with the freshness and enthusiasm of something new.

* Growing large enough for our blessings — how Torah, teaching, giving, raising children, and serving others expand our capacity to receive abundance.

* “Merov kol” and comparison — learning to see what Hashem has given us as enough rather than measuring our blessings against someone else’s.

* The hidden comfort within the Tochachah — even in exile and oppression, ein koneh: ultimately, no one can own our spiritual identity. We remain avdei Hashem.

Questions or comments? I’d love to hear your thoughts on this week’s parsha and what stood out to you most.

Thank you so much for listening! If you enjoyed this episode, I’d love for you to subscribe, leave a review, and share it with a friend. Every share helps more people connect with the beauty and depth of Torah learning. Please leave a review on Spotify or Apple Podcasts, which is an entirely free way to support the pod. For weekly Torah insights, bonus content, and archived episodes, visit sparktorah.substack.com. Thank you for learning with me today!

This week we’re learning Parsha Ki Teitzei, the parsha with more mitzvot than any other in the Torah!

We’ll explore what the Torah’s laws surrounding the captive woman teach us about the powerful influence of our environment, even on the most righteous among us, and what that means for the communities and homes we choose to build.

We’ll also look at the mitzvah of returning lost objects through the Or HaChaim’s beautiful interpretation of helping bring a fellow Jew back to Torah, and take a deeper look at the unusual mitzvah of shiluach haken, sending away the mother bird. Why does the Torah promise long life for this mitzvah, and what does it have to do with compassion, children, and the influence we leave behind?

Later, we’ll discover how the mitzvah of building a fence around a roof can teach us to put healthy boundaries around our spiritual ambitions, why Miriam’s story still has so much to teach us about the way we speak about others, and how even an accidental mitzvah can bring blessing.

Finally, we’ll talk about memory and forgetting. The Torah commands us to remember some things and let go of others—but what happens when we begin to forget Hashem, Torah, and our own Jewish identity? And what does remembering Amalek have to teach us about humility, assimilation, and remaining connected to who we are?

Questions or comments? I’d love to hear your thoughts on this week’s parsha and what stood out to you most.

Thank you so much for listening! If you enjoyed this episode, I’d love for you to subscribe, leave a review, and share it with a friend. Every share helps more people connect with the beauty and depth of Torah learning. Please leave a review on Spotify or Apple Podcasts, which is an entirely free way to support the pod. For weekly Torah insights, bonus content, and archived episodes, visit sparktorah.substack.com. Thank you for learning with me today!

Parsha Shoftim is filled with laws about leadership. So that begs the question: How do we lead our own lives? With Rosh Chodesh Elul beginning, this becomes an invitation to choose one small area in which to grow, whether that means taking on something new or bringing more intention and consistency to something we already do. We also explore Rav Moshe Feinstein’s fascinating explanation of the matzevah: human beings are not meant to become monuments to past accomplishments. Then we turn to the Torah’s vision of a Jewish king. His power is deliberately limited, and he must keep Torah constantly beside him. The king’s two Torah scrolls offer a lesson for all of us: we need Torah woven into our everyday lives, but we also need regular opportunities to stop and ask whether the way we are living still matches the values we claim to hold. We will also explore the Torah’s prohibition against needless destruction, and two ways of understanding it: valuing the gifts Hashem has given us, and shaping ourselves into people who preserve and build rather than destroy. We will look into the eglah arufah, where the Torah reminds us never to lose sight of the immeasurable value of one individual human life.

In this episode: Torah learning that leads to action, choosing an Elul commitment, why spiritual growth never really ends, the king’s two Torah scrolls, what it means to be tamim with Hashem • bal tashchit and our responsibility toward Hashem’s gifts, the infinite value of every human life

Sources discussed: Rav Tov Weinberger, Rabbanit Yemima Mizrachi, Ohr HaChaim, Rabbeinu Yonah, Rashi, Rav Moshe Feinstein, Rabbi Yehoshua Gordon, Rabbi Jonathan Sacks, Rabbi Adin Steinsaltz, the Lubavitcher Rebbe, Rambam, Netziv, Sefer HaChinuch, Rav Yosef of Salant, Rav Kook, Rabbi Shalom Rosner, Rabbi Yissocher Frand, Rav Yaakov Yitzchak Ruderman, and Shemen HaTov.

Questions or comments? I’d love to hear your thoughts on this week’s parsha and what stood out to you most.

Thank you so much for listening! If you enjoyed this episode, I’d love for you to subscribe, leave a review, and share it with a friend. Every share helps more people connect with the beauty and depth of Torah learning. Please leave a review on Spotify or Apple Podcasts, which is an entirely free way to support the pod. For weekly Torah insights, bonus content, and archived episodes, visit sparktorah.substack.com. Thank you for learning with me today!

This is a public episode. If you’d like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit sparktorahpodcast.substack.com/subscribe

This week we dive into Parshat Re’eh, the turning point in Moshe Rabbeinu’s final speech before Bnei Yisrael enter the Land of Israel.

We will discuss:

The choice of a blessing or a curse and why these are both placed before us.

Rav Shlomo Zevin’s insight into transforming both prosperity and hardship into opportunities to serve Hashem.

The Lubavitcher Rebbe’s teaching that what appears to be a curse may actually be a blessing.

Why the Torah says “today”, and what it teaches us about approaching Torah.

The significance of Mount Gerizim and Mount Ebal and the choice each of us faces daily.

Why the Torah repeatedly speaks about “the place that Hashem will choose” without naming Jerusalem.

What it really means to “follow Hashem” and why humility is the key to genuine closeness.

The mitzvah of tzedakah, including a lesson from the Vilna Gaon.

Why Sukkot is called the festival of joy and how gratitude is the foundation of true happiness.

Powerful lessons on appreciating our parents, spouses, spiritual growth, and the blessings already present in our lives.

Rabbanit Yemima Mizrachi’s inspiring message about filling our homes with words of bracha instead of negativity as we prepare for the month of Elul.

Questions or comments? I’d love to hear your thoughts on this week’s parsha and what stood out to you most.

Thank you so much for listening! If you enjoyed this episode, I’d love for you to subscribe, leave a review, and share it with a friend. Every share helps more people connect with the beauty and depth of Torah learning. Please leave a review on Spotify or Apple Podcasts, which is an entirely free way to support the pod. For weekly Torah insights, bonus content, and archived episodes, visit sparktorah.substack.com. Thank you for learning with me today!

This week we explore Parshat Eikev, where Moshe reminds the Jewish people that life in the Land of Israel will depend on remembering Hashem—not only during hardship, but especially during times of blessing and success.

We will discuss:

Why the Torah says “kol hamitzvah” (”the entire mitzvah”) and what it teaches us about treating the mitzvot as a complete package rather than choosing only the ones that come naturally.

The spiritual symbolism of the 613 mitzvot and how each one contributes to our spiritual wholeness.

Why Birkat HaMazon is considered by many to be the Torah’s only explicit commandment to recite a blessing, and what we can learn from Rav Shlomo Zalman Auerbach, Rav Schwab, Rav Shach, and Rav Soloveitchik about gratitude and concentration.

The surprising lesson of the manna: why abundance and comfort can be just as great a spiritual test as poverty.

Moshe’s willingness to take responsibility for breaking the Tablets and what true leadership looks like.

The Torah’s repeated commandment to love the ger (convert) and why this mitzvah goes beyond the general obligation to love one’s fellow Jew.

The different ways we are called to love Hashem (with all our heart, soul, and might) and why even small efforts to increase our awareness of Hashem matter.

Whether we’re struggling or thriving, Parshat Eikev reminds us that every mitzvah, every blessing, and every opportunity to draw closer to Hashem is significant.

Questions or comments? I’d love to hear your thoughts on this week’s parsha and what stood out to you most.

Thank you so much for listening! If you enjoyed this episode, I’d love for you to subscribe, leave a review, and share it with a friend. Every share helps more people connect with the beauty and depth of Torah learning.

Please leave a review on Spotify or Apple Podcasts, which is an entirely free way to support the pod. For weekly Torah insights, bonus content, and archived episodes, visit sparktorah.substack.com. Thank you for learning with me today!

This week we explore Parshat Va’etchanan, a parsha filled with some of the Torah’s most foundational passages—including the Ten Commandments, the Shema, and Moshe Rabbeinu’s final pleas to enter Eretz Yisrael.

We will discuss:

Why Shabbat Nachamu follows Tisha B’Av and how Parshat Va’etchanan itself offers a message of comfort.

The Sefat Emet’s beautiful insight that even while in exile, we can still connect to the holiness of Eretz Yisrael through our prayers.

Why teaching grandchildren represents something unique in the transmission of Torah, based on the teachings of Rav Yosef Soloveitchik.

How Yaakov Avinu’s relationship with Ephraim and Menashe helps explain why we are called Bnei Yisrael.

The powerful lesson from Moshe establishing the Cities of Refuge: don’t let fear of not finishing keep you from beginning. Featuring insights from Rashi, the Chafetz Chayim, and the Rambam.

The Lubavitcher Rebbe’s explanation of “Ein Od Milvado”—how recognizing Hashem’s presence transforms the way we experience life’s challenges.

Why the commandment to honor our parents was first given at Marah, with the explanation of the Ketav Sofer.

The difference between following Hashem’s commandments and pursuing Hashem’s will, through the teachings of the Ramban and Rav Elchanan Wasserman.

A brief look at the Haftarah of Shabbat Nachamu and its message of redemption, comfort, and Hashem’s ultimate sovereignty over history.

Questions or comments? I’d love to hear your thoughts on this week’s parsha and what stood out to you most.

Thank you so much for listening! If you enjoyed this episode, I’d love for you to subscribe, leave a review, and share it with a friend. Every share helps more people connect with the beauty and depth of Torah learning.

Please leave a review on Spotify or Apple Podcasts, which is an entirely free way to support the pod. For weekly Torah insights, bonus content, and archived episodes, visit sparktorah.substack.com. Thank you for learning with me today!

This week we begin Sefer Devarim, the fifth and final book of the Torah. Unlike the previous four books, Devarim is one long farewell address from Moshe Rabbeinu during the final weeks of his life before Bnei Yisrael enter Eretz Yisrael.

In this episode we explore what makes Devarim unique, why Moshe waited until the end of his life to rebuke the nation, the incredible value of even a single mitzvah, and practical lessons we can apply as we prepare for the Three Weeks and look toward redemption.

In This Episode

* Why Sefer Devarim is called Mishneh Torah

* How Devarim differs from the first four books of the Torah

* The Gra, Ramban, and HaKetav VeHaKabbala on the structure and purpose of Devarim

* Rav Chaim (brother of the Maharal) on the hidden message contained in the names of the parshiyot

* Moshe’s model of rebuke: correcting while simultaneously defending the Jewish people

* The symbolism behind the place names in the opening verses

* “With the left hand push away, with the right hand embrace” (Sanhedrin 107b)

* Hashem providing us with the tools we need for the mission He gives us

* The spies and the consequences of fear

* “Turn northward”—the Kli Yakar on humility, wealth, and living quietly in exile

* Why Moshe feared Og, king of Bashan, and what it teaches us about the immeasurable value of one mitzvah

* Reuven and Gad as a model for our own inner spiritual battles

* Finding comfort in Hashem’s promise: “Do not fear them, for Hashem your God fights for you.”

* Preparing for redemption during the Three Weeks through introspection, Torah, tefillah, and acts of chesed

If you enjoyed this episode, I'd love for you to subscribe, leave a review, and share it with someone who enjoys learning Torah. Every share helps more people discover the podcast.

Questions or comments? I’d love to hear your thoughts on this week’s parsha and what stood out to you most.

Please leave a review on Spotify or Apple Podcasts, which is an entirely free way to support the pod. For weekly Torah insights, bonus content, and archived episodes, visit sparktorah.substack.com. Thank you for learning with me today!

This week we conclude the book of Bamidbar with the double portion of Matot-Masei, a parsha filled with powerful lessons about speech, responsibility, spiritual growth, and the purpose of our journey through life.

In This Episode

* The holiness of speech and guarding our words

* Torah study versus lashon hara

* Taking ownership and responsibility before entering Eretz Yisrael

* Why Reuven and Gad wanted to remain outside the Land

* The deeper meaning of the forty-two journeys

* Aharon’s legacy of peace and unity

* The spiritual message of the Parah Adumah

* The daughters of Tzelafchad and seeking Torah guidance

* Finishing Sefer Bamidbar with purpose and growth

Thank you for listening to Spark Torah Podcast!

If you enjoyed this episode, please consider following the podcast, leaving a review, and sharing it with a friend. Your support helps bring more Torah learning to others each week.

Questions or comments? I’d love to hear your thoughts on this week’s parsha and what stood out to you most.

Please leave a review on Spotify or Apple Podcasts, which is an entirely free way to support the pod. For weekly Torah insights, bonus content, and archived episodes, visit sparktorah.substack.com. Thank you for learning with me today!

Why does Parshat Pinchas begin by praising an act that actually took place in last week’s parsha? And why are the korbanot for the festivals placed here instead of in Sefer Vayikra?

In this week’s episode, we explore how these seemingly unrelated sections of the parsha are deeply connected.

Together we’ll discuss:

* Why Hashem’s approval of Pinchas was delayed until this week’s parsha—and what that teaches us about judging another person’s motives.

* The difference between everyday mitzvot and extraordinary acts of self-sacrifice.

* The covenant of peace granted to Pinchas and why he alone was added to the priesthood.

* What we can learn from the courage of someone who simply does “the next right thing.”

* The remarkable survival of Korach’s sons and the incredible power of sincere teshuvah.

* Why the daughters of Tzelophehad changed Jewish history by fighting for the future of their family.

* Moshe’s heartfelt request for a worthy successor and the appointment of Yehoshua.

* The surprising connection between leadership and the daily korban tamid.

* Why Chazal considered the verse describing the daily offering to be one of the most all-encompassing verses in the Torah.

* How our daily tefillot have taken the place of the korban tamid and continue to express our constant relationship with Hashem.

* Rav Avigdor Nebenzahl’s beautiful insight showing how every major section of Parshat Pinchas represents one of Moshe’s final preparations before his passing.

This episode brings together teachings from Rashi, Rabbi Benzion Firer, Rabbi Shalom Rosner, the Lubavitcher Rebbe, Rabbi Jonathan Sacks, Rabbi Betzalel Yehuda Rudinsky, and Rav Avigdor Nebenzahl to reveal the powerful thread running through one of the Torah’s most wide-ranging parshiyot.

If you enjoyed this episode, I’d love it if you’d subscribe, leave a review, and share it with someone who loves learning Torah.

Hello and welcome to the Spark Torah podcast! I am Chana Miriam Bouskila and today we will be learning parsha Chukat. Parshat Balak

This week we continue our exploration of the double portion Chukat-Balak by turning our attention to one of the Torah’s most fascinating stories: the attempts of Bilaam to curse the Jewish people and the blessings that emerged instead.

We begin with a story about the Apter Rav and the mitzvah of Ahavat Yisrael (love of one’s fellow Jew), using it as a lens through which to understand the deeper message of Parshat Balak.

As the Israelites camp on the plains of Moav, King Balak becomes fearful of their growing strength and hires the prophet Bilaam to curse them. What follows is a remarkable series of encounters that reveal the limits of human power, the sovereignty of Hashem, and the unique relationship between Hashem and the Jewish people.

Topics discussed: The story of the Apter Rav and the importance of Ahavat Yisrael, why Balak feared the Israelites, the character of Bilaam and his reputation as a prophet, Balak’s attempts to hire Bilaam to curse Israel, Hashem’s control over Bilaam’s words and actions, the famous episode of Bilaam and the talking donkey, the contrast between human plans and divine will, Bilaam’s blessings and their enduring significance, ”Mah Tovu” and its place in Jewish prayer, seeing the good in others rather than focusing on faults, the power of perspective and how we choose to view the world, lessons in humility, faith, and trust in Hashem.

Questions or comments? I’d love to hear your thoughts on this week’s parsha and what stood out to you most.

Please leave a review on Spotify or Apple Podcasts, which is an entirely free way to support the pod. For weekly Torah insights, bonus content, and archived episodes, visit sparktorah.substack.com. Thank you for learning with me today!

Hello and welcome to the Spark Torah podcast! I am Chana Miriam Bouskila and today we will be learning parsha Chukat. We discuss the meaning of a chok (a divine decree beyond human understanding), beginning with the laws of the Red Heifer (Parah Adumah) and what they teach us about mitzvot, purity, mortality, and our relationship with Hashem.

We also examine several major events in the parsha: Miriam’s death and the loss of the well, Moshe striking the rock at Mei Merivah, Aaron’s death on Mount Hor, the journeys around Edom and Moav, the battles against Sichon and Og, and the bronze serpent (Nachash Nechoshet).

We will discuss what makes a mitzvah a chok, Rabbi Shlomo Zevin’s understanding of “engraving” Torah into our hearts, why Torah observance must remain connected to meaning and purpose, the paradox of the Red Heifer and ritual impurity, Rav Soloveitchik’s perspective on death and human limitation, why contact with death creates spiritual impurity, Miriam’s role in sustaining the nation and the symbolism of the well, multiple approaches to understanding Moshe’s sin at the rock, lessons from Rambam, Rabbeinu Chananel, Kli Yakar, and other commentators, Aaron’s legacy as a pursuer of peace, the spiritual dangers of living on “autopilot”, and applying the parsha’s lessons to daily life

Questions or comments? I’d love to hear your thoughts on this week’s parsha and what stood out to you most.

Please leave a review on Spotify or Apple Podcasts, which is an entirely free way to support the pod. For weekly Torah insights, bonus content, and archived episodes, visit sparktorah.substack.com. Thank you for learning with me today!

Hello and welcome to the Spark Torah podcast! I am Chana Miriam Bouskila and today we will be learning parsha Beha’alotecha. We will talk about how to fight… the rebellion… How to maintain peace… and why is it called parshat Korach? And other life lessons we can learn form the parsha.

Please leave a review on Spotify or Apple Podcasts, which is an entirely free way to support the pod. For weekly Torah insights, bonus content, and archived episodes, visit sparktorah.substack.com. Thank you for learning with me today!

Hello and welcome to the Spark Torah podcast! I am Chana Miriam Bouskila and today we will be learning parsha Beha’alotecha. We will talk about the story of the spies and where they went wrong… How fixing things our way isn’t always the best way… What does bread have to do with our enemies… What if we know the work we do won’t last? Should we do it anyway?… Did the people in the desert really do teshuvah? Why do we separate challah?… And other life lessons we can learn form the parsha.

Please leave a review on Spotify or Apple Podcasts, which is an entirely free way to support the pod. For weekly Torah insights, bonus content, and archived episodes, visit sparktorah.substack.com. Thank you for learning with me today!

Hello and welcome to the Spark Torah podcast! I am Chana Miriam Bouskila and today we will be learning parsha Beha’alotecha. We will talk about The symbolism of the menorah, keruvim, silver trumpets, and other Mishkan vessels… The powerful lesson of Pesach Sheni and second chances in Judaism… The difference between looking for loopholes and looking for opportunities to fulfill mitzvot… The purpose of the silver trumpets and their message for Jewish life… Moshe’s humility and what being humble really means… And other life lessons we can learn form the parsha.

Please leave a review on Spotify or Apple Podcasts, which is an entirely free way to support the pod. For weekly Torah insights, bonus content, and archived episodes, visit sparktorah.substack.com. Thank you for learning with me today!

Hello and welcome to the Spark Torah podcast! I am Chana Miriam Bouskila and today we will be learning parsha Bamidbar. We will talk about Isha sotah, the nazir, the priestly blessing, and the offerings of the princes... What do they all have in common? And other life lessons we can learn form the parsha.

Please leave a review on Spotify or Apple Podcasts, which is an entirely free way to support the pod. And hop on over to our Substack where you can join in our conversation, gain inspiration, and stay up to date on all things Spark Torah. The link is: sparktorahpodcast.substack.com

This is an entirely listener supported podcast, so I encourage you to become a paid subscriber on Substack which not only supports the podcast financially, but also allows you access to subscriber exclusives like bonus episodes, behind the scenes content, and more.

Thank you for learning with me today!

Hello and welcome to the Spark Torah podcast! I am Chana Miriam Bouskila and today we will be learning parsha Bamidbar. We will talk about why this parsha is read before Shavuot… What it takes to be a torah teacher… What returning a lost object is really all about and how Dan was uniquely positioned to do just that… What Yaakov’s funeral procession has to do with this week’s parsha… What Moshe’s sacrifice was all about… And other life lessons we can learn form the parsha.

Please leave a review on Spotify or Apple Podcasts, which is an entirely free way to support the pod. And hop on over to our Substack where you can join in our conversation, gain inspiration, and stay up to date on all things Spark Torah. The link is: sparktorahpodcast.substack.com

This is an entirely listener supported podcast, so I encourage you to become a paid subscriber on Substack which not only supports the podcast financially, but also allows you access to subscriber exclusives like bonus episodes, behind the scenes content, and more.

Thank you for learning with me today!

Hello and welcome to the Spark Torah podcast! I am Chana Miriam Bouskila and today we will be learning parsha Behar-Bechukotai. We will talk about what is the deal with shmita, and what we can learn form it… Why hater iska is ok… how the reward of rTorah study actually works… How we can tap into the merit of the land…and other life lessons we can carry from the parsha… Plus a bonus this week: Spiritual preparation for Shavuot!

Please leave a review on Spotify or Apple Podcasts, which is an entirely free way to support the pod. And hop on over to our Substack where you can join in our conversation, gain inspiration, and stay up to date on all things Spark Torah. The link is: sparktorahpodcast.substack.com

This is an entirely listener supported podcast, so I encourage you to become a paid subscriber on Substack which not only supports the podcast financially, but also allows you access to subscriber exclusives like bonus episodes, behind the scenes content, and more.

Thank you for learning with me today!

Hello and welcome to the Spark Torah podcast! I am Chana Miriam Bouskila and today we will be learning parsha Emor. We will talk about what happens if we miss prayer… why you shouldn’t slaughter a mother animal and its offspring not he same day… Why we call it Passover and the Torah doesn’t… and other life lessons we can carry from the parsha…

Please leave a review on Spotify or Apple Podcasts, which is an entirely free way to support the pod. And hop on over to our Substack where you can join in our conversation, gain inspiration, and stay up to date on all things Spark Torah. The link is: sparktorahpodcast.substack.com

This is an entirely listener supported podcast, so I encourage you to become a paid subscriber on Substack which not only supports the podcast financially, but also allows you access to subscriber exclusives like bonus episodes, behind the scenes content, and more.

Thank you for learning with me today!

Hello and welcome to the Spark Torah podcast! I am Chana Miriam Bouskila and today we will be learning parsha Acharei-Kedoshim. We will talk about what we can learn form the goats… How important mitzvot are… What it means to live by the Torah… What it means to be holy and how we know what to do… How important our thoughts and intentions are… and other life lessons we can carry from the parsha…

Please leave a review on Spotify or Apple Podcasts, which is an entirely free way to support the pod. And hop on over to our Substack where you can join in our conversation, gain inspiration, and stay up to date on all things Spark Torah. The link is: sparktorahpodcast.substack.com

This is an entirely listener supported podcast, so I encourage you to become a paid subscriber on Substack which not only supports the podcast financially, but also allows you access to subscriber exclusives like bonus episodes, behind the scenes content, and more.

Thank you for learning with me today!

Hello and welcome to the Spark Torah podcast! I am Chana Miriam Bouskila and today we will be learning parsha Tazria-Metzora. We will talk about circumcision on the eighth day… How to be more careful with our speech and why… What impurity and purity is… Why food matters… and other life lessons we can carry from the parsha…

Please leave a review on Spotify or Apple Podcasts, which is an entirely free way to support the pod. And hop on over to our Substack where you can join in our conversation, gain inspiration, and stay up to date on all things Spark Torah. The link is: sparktorahpodcast.substack.com

This is an entirely listener supported podcast, so I encourage you to become a paid subscriber on Substack which not only supports the podcast financially, but also allows you access to subscriber exclusives like bonus episodes, behind the scenes content, and more.

Thank you for learning with me today!

Hello and welcome to the Spark Torah podcast! I am Chana Miriam Bouskila and today we will be learning parsha Shemini. We will talk about Aaron’s sons and their death… Preparation as part of mitzvot… How to serve Hashem the way He wants and why that matters… Fins and scales on kosher fish and how that relates to us… and other life lessons we can carry from the parsha…

Please leave a review on Spotify or Apple Podcasts, which is an entirely free way to support the pod. And hop on over to our Substack where you can join in our conversation, gain inspiration, and stay up to date on all things Spark Torah. The link is: sparktorahpodcast.substack.com

This is an entirely listener supported podcast, so I encourage you to become a paid subscriber on Substack which not only supports the podcast financially, but also allows you access to subscriber exclusives like bonus episodes, behind the scenes content, and more.

Thank you for learning with me today!

Hello and welcome to the Spark Torah podcast! I am Chana Miriam Bouskila and today we will be learning parsha Tzav. We will talk about why the title word of our parsha is so strong… Why the kohanim needed to remove the ashes… How to teach Torah… Why passion matters… Why we need to check our stress levels around holidays… and other life lessons we can carry from the parsha…

Please leave a review on Spotify or Apple Podcasts, which is an entirely free way to support the pod. And hop on over to our Substack where you can join in our conversation, gain inspiration, and stay up to date on all things Spark Torah. The link is: sparktorahpodcast.substack.com

This is an entirely listener supported podcast, so I encourage you to become a paid subscriber on Substack which not only supports the podcast financially, but also allows you access to subscriber exclusives like bonus episodes, behind the scenes content, and more.

Thank you for learning with me today!

Hello and welcome to the Spark Torah podcast! I am Chana Miriam Bouskila and today we will be learning parsha Vayikra. We will talk about how we should view these chapters on korbanot (sacrifices)… Why there is a little alef in the word Vayikra… Why Hashem’s voice stopped at the wall… Plus a deep dive into the salt and birds… and other life lessons we can carry from the parsha…

Please leave a review on Spotify or Apple Podcasts, which is an entirely free way to support the pod. And hop on over to our Substack where you can join in our conversation, gain inspiration, and stay up to date on all things Spark Torah. The link is: sparktorahpodcast.substack.com

This is an entirely listener supported podcast, so I encourage you to become a paid subscriber on Substack which not only supports the podcast financially, but also allows you access to subscriber exclusives like bonus episodes, behind the scenes content, and more.

Thank you for learning with me today!

Hello and welcome to the Spark Torah podcast! I am Chana Miriam Bouskila and today we will be learning parsha Vayakhel. We will talk about mitzvot and why they matter… When intention counts and why alacrity is important… Why the women received Rosh Chodesh… plus: symbolism in the materials for the Mishkan… and other life lessons we can carry from the parsha…

Please leave a review on Spotify or Apple Podcasts, which is an entirely free way to support the pod. And hop on over to our Substack where you can join in our conversation, gain inspiration, and stay up to date on all things Spark Torah. The link is: sparktorahpodcast.substack.com

This is an entirely listener supported podcast, so I encourage you to become a paid subscriber on Substack which not only supports the podcast financially, but also allows you access to subscriber exclusives like bonus episodes, behind the scenes content, and more.

Thank you for learning with me today!

Hello and welcome to the Spark Torah podcast! I am Chana Miriam Bouskila and today we will be learning parsha Ki Tisa. We will talk about the significance of the handwashing before the service in the Mishkan… What the kiyor was made from and why that was significant… Why tzedakkah is so important… How we rest on Shabbat and why… plus: the golden calf explained… and other life lessons we can carry from the parsha…

Please leave a review on Spotify or Apple Podcasts, which is an entirely free way to support the pod. And hop on over to our Substack where you can join in our conversation, gain inspiration, and stay up to date on all things Spark Torah. The link is: sparktorahpodcast.substack.com

This is an entirely listener supported podcast, so I encourage you to become a paid subscriber on Substack which not only supports the podcast financially, but also allows you access to subscriber exclusives like bonus episodes, behind the scenes content, and more.

Thank you for learning with me today!

Hello and welcome to the Spark Torah podcast! I am Chana Miriam Bouskila and today we will be learning parsha Tetzaveh. We will talk about how we are like olive trees… What it means to be wise hearted… whether or not Torah observance limits us… Why all those details in this week’s parsha matter… and other life lessons we can carry from the parsha…

Please leave a review on Spotify or Apple Podcasts, which is an entirely free way to support the pod. And hop on over to our Substack where you can join in our conversation, gain inspiration, and stay up to date on all things Spark Torah. The link is: sparktorahpodcast.substack.com

This is an entirely listener supported podcast, so I encourage you to become a paid subscriber on Substack which not only supports the podcast financially, but also allows you access to subscriber exclusives like bonus episodes, behind the scenes content, and more.

Thank you for learning with me today!

Hello and welcome to the Spark Torah podcast! I am Chana Miriam Bouskila and today we will be learning parsha Terumah. We will talk about what makes a home… How Heaven judges value… What’s so important about the acacia wood… Why we have so many details… How we can make our homes a dwelling place for Hashem… and other life lessons we can carry from the parsha…

Please leave a review on Spotify or Apple Podcasts, which is an entirely free way to support the pod. And hop on over to our Substack where you can join in our conversation, gain inspiration, and stay up to date on all things Spark Torah. The link is: sparktorahpodcast.substack.com

This is an entirely listener supported podcast, so I encourage you to become a paid subscriber on Substack which not only supports the podcast financially, but also allows you access to subscriber exclusives like bonus episodes, behind the scenes content, and more.

Thank you for learning with me today!

Hello and welcome to the Spark Torah podcast! I am Chana Miriam Bouskila and today we will be learning parsha Mishpatim. We will talk about why this parsha is different from what we have been reading… Why we have laws and where they come from… How Yitro and Mishpatim are connected… What it means to be a holy people… What naasheh v’nishma really means… and other life lessons we can carry from the parsha…

Please leave a review on Spotify or Apple Podcasts, which is an entirely free way to support the pod. And hop on over to our Substack where you can join in our conversation, gain inspiration, and stay up to date on all things Spark Torah. The link is: sparktorahpodcast.substack.com

This is an entirely listener supported podcast, so I encourage you to become a paid subscriber on Substack which not only supports the podcast financially, but also allows you access to subscriber exclusives like bonus episodes, behind the scenes content, and more.

Thank you for learning with me today!

Hello and welcome to the Spark Torah podcast! I am Chana Miriam Bouskila and today we will be learning parsha Yitro. We will talk about how to give advice and criticize… The exile… Why the parsha is named after Yitro… How we can unify while still maintaining our individuality… How to handle jealousy… and other life lessons we can carry from the parsha…

Please leave a review on Spotify or Apple Podcasts, which is an entirely free way to support the pod. And hop on over to our Substack where you can join in our conversation, gain inspiration, and stay up to date on all things Spark Torah. The link is: sparktorahpodcast.substack.com

This is an entirely listener supported podcast, so I encourage you to become a paid subscriber on Substack which not only supports the podcast financially, but also allows you access to subscriber exclusives like bonus episodes, behind the scenes content, and more.

Thank you for learning with me today!

Hello and welcome to the Spark Torah podcast! I am Chana Miriam Bouskila and today we will be learning parsha Beshalach. We will take a deep dive into explaining the manna… discuss bitterness and its effect on our lives… Talk about what misplaced mercy is and why we may be prone to do it and why we shouldn’t… learn about gathering mitzvot and why it seems hard even though its free for the taking… and other life lessons we can carry from the parsha…

Please leave a review on Spotify or Apple Podcasts, which is an entirely free way to support the pod. And hop on over to our Substack where you can join in our conversation, gain inspiration, and stay up to date on all things Spark Torah. The link is: sparktorahpodcast.substack.com

This is an entirely listener supported podcast, so I encourage you to become a paid subscriber on Substack which not only supports the podcast financially, but also allows you access to subscriber exclusives like bonus episodes, behind the scenes content, and more.

Thank you for learning with me today!

Hello and welcome to the Spark Torah podcast! I am Chana Miriam Bouskila and today we will be learning parsha Bo. We will discuss why pharaoh panicked so much over the locusts… What freedom really means… Why the redemption came at midnight… Why the women packed instruments… and other life lessons we can carry from the parsha…

Please leave a review on Spotify or Apple Podcasts, which is an entirely free way to support the pod. And hop on over to our Substack where you can join in our conversation, gain inspiration, and stay up to date on all things Spark Torah. The link is: sparktorahpodcast.substack.com

This is an entirely listener supported podcast, so I encourage you to become a paid subscriber on Substack which not only supports the podcast financially, but also allows you access to subscriber exclusives like bonus episodes, behind the scenes content, and more.

Thank you for learning with me today!

Hello and welcome to the Spark Torah podcast! I am Chana Miriam Bouskila and today we will be learning parsha Va’era. We continue the conversation between Moshe and Hashem… discuss the hardening of Pharaoh’s heart… talk about ways to deal with anger and why that matters… learn about styles of leadership and what we need in our leaders… the real miracle of the plagues… why there was a warning for the plagues… and other life lessons we can carry from the parsha…

Please leave a review on Spotify or Apple Podcasts, which is an entirely free way to support the pod. And hop on over to our Substack where you can join in our conversation, gain inspiration, and stay up to date on all things Spark Torah. The link is: sparktorahpodcast.substack.com

This is an entirely listener supported podcast, so I encourage you to become a paid subscriber on Substack which not only supports the podcast financially, but also allows you access to subscriber exclusives like bonus episodes, behind the scenes content, and more.

Thank you for learning with me today!

Hello and welcome to the Spark Torah podcast! I am Chana Miriam Bouskila and today we will be learning parsha Shemot. We will discuss what this parsha has to do with names… Why Hashem appeared as a bush… Why and when we should remove our shoes… Whether or not we can question… Why does life have to be this way?… And a mini deep dive into four incredible women who help shape the redemption in its early stages: Yocheved, Miriam, Bitya, and Tzipporah… and other life lessons we can carry from the parsha…

Please leave a review on Spotify or Apple Podcasts, which is an entirely free way to support the pod. And hop on over to our Substack where you can join in our conversation, gain inspiration, and stay up to date on all things Spark Torah. The link is: sparktorahpodcast.substack.com

This is an entirely listener supported podcast, so I encourage you to become a paid subscriber on Substack which not only supports the podcast financially, but also allows you access to subscriber exclusives like bonus episodes, behind the scenes content, and more.

Thank you for learning with me today!

Hello and welcome to the Spark Torah podcast! I am Chana Miriam Bouskila and today we will be learning parsha Vayechi. We will discuss why the years in Egypt were the happiest of Yaakov’s life… if Yaakov’s children were too comfortable in Egypt… why Yaakov’s name switches back and forth… why the brachot Yaakov gave his children don’t always sound like brachot… why people lived so long back then compared to us today… and other life lessons we can carry from the parsha…

Please leave a review on Spotify or Apple Podcasts, which is an entirely free way to support the pod. And hop on over to our Substack where you can join in our conversation, gain inspiration, and stay up to date on all things Spark Torah. The link is: sparktorahpodcast.substack.com

This is an entirely listener supported podcast, so I encourage you to become a paid subscriber on Substack which not only supports the podcast financially, but also allows you access to subscriber exclusives like bonus episodes, behind the scenes content, and more.

Thank you for learning with me today!

Hello and welcome to the Spark Torah podcast! I am Chana Miriam Bouskila and today we will be learning parsha Vayigash. We will talk about: What rebuke Yosef gave and how it relates to us… Did Benyamin miss Yosef?…

And other life lessons we can carry from the parsha…

Please leave a review on Spotify or Apple Podcasts, which is an entirely free way to support the pod. And hop on over to our Substack where you can join in our conversation, gain inspiration, and stay up to date on all things Spark Torah. The link is: sparktorahpodcast.substack.com

This is an entirely listener supported podcast, so I encourage you to become a paid subscriber on Substack which not only supports the podcast financially, but also allows you access to subscriber exclusives like bonus episodes, behind the scenes content, and more.

Thank you for learning with me today!

Hello and welcome to the Spark Torah podcast! I am Chana Miriam Bouskila and today we will be learning about Yehudit in this special episode for paid subscribers. We will go through Yehudit’s story in dramatic fashion and then bring in how we can use our inspiration from her, and how her story still applies to us today.

To hear this episode in its entire…

Hello and welcome to the Spark Torah podcast! I am Chana Miriam Bouskila and today we will be learning parsha Miketz. We will talk about: How we can achieve greatness… Who Osnat really was… Why Yosef took so long to contact his father… When we should remain silent… And other life lessons we can carry from the parsha…

Please leave a review on Spotify or Apple Podcasts, which is an entirely free way to support the pod. And hop on over to our Substack where you can join in our conversation, gain inspiration, and stay up to date on all things Spark Torah. The link is: sparktorahpodcast.substack.com

This is an entirely listener supported podcast, so I encourage you to become a paid subscriber on Substack which not only supports the podcast financially, but also allows you access to subscriber exclusives like bonus episodes, behind the scenes content, and more.

Thank you for learning with me today!

Hello and welcome to the Spark Torah podcast! I am Chana Miriam Bouskila and today we will be learning parsha Vayeishev. We will talk about: Whether or not we are allowed to be jealous… How to bring Hashem closer to us… Who really sold Yosef… What made Tamar a hero… And other life lessons we can carry from the parsha…

Please leave a review on Spotify or Apple Podcasts, which is an entirely free way to support the pod. And hop on over to our Substack where you can join in our conversation, gain inspiration, and stay up to date on all things Spark Torah. The link is: sparktorahpodcast.substack.com

This is an entirely listener supported podcast, so I encourage you to become a paid subscriber on Substack which not only supports the podcast financially, but also allows you access to subscriber exclusives like bonus episodes, behind the scenes content, and more.

Thank you for learning with me today!

Hello and welcome to the Spark Torah podcast! I am Chana Miriam Bouskila and today we will be learning parsha Vayishlach. We will talk about: Fear: how we handle it and how we can avoid it…   The importance of a single mitzvah… How to handle problems… How to ask for what we want… Whether or not our material possessions should matter to us… Why we have so many mitzvot… And other life lessons we can carry from the parsha… 

Please leave a review on Spotify or Apple Podcasts, which is an entirely free way to support the pod. And hop on over to our Substack where you can join in our conversation, gain inspiration, and stay up to date on all things Spark Torah. The link is: sparktorahpodcast.substack.com

This is an entirely listener supported podcast, so I encourage you to become a paid subscriber on Substack which not only supports the podcast financially, but also allows you access to subscriber exclusives like bonus episodes, behind the scenes content, and more.

Thank you for learning with me today! 

Hello and welcome to the Spark Torah podcast! I am Chana Miriam Bouskila and today we will be learning parsha Vayetze. We will talk about: whether or not the ends justify the means… Why we are compared to sand, dirt, and stars… How we should thank Hashem… And other life lessons we can carry from the parsha…

Please leave a review on Spotify or Apple Podcasts, which is an entirely free way to support the pod. And hop on over to our Substack where you can join in our conversation, gain inspiration, and stay up to date on all things Spark Torah. The link is: sparktorahpodcast.substack.com

This is an entirely listener supported podcast, so I encourage you to become a paid subscriber on Substack which not only supports the podcast financially, but also allows you access to subscriber exclusives like bonus episodes, behind the scenes content, and more.

Thank you for learning with me today!

Hello and welcome to the Spark Torah podcast! I am Chana Miriam Bouskila and today we will be learning parsha Toldot. We will talk about: How we should be spending our spare time… Should we keep trying after we fail… Was the blessing really stolen… And is this week’s parsha the first mention of Chinese food?… And other life lessons we can carry from the parsha…

Please leave a review on Spotify or Apple Podcasts, which is an entirely free way to support the pod. And hop on over to our Substack where you can join in our conversation, gain inspiration, and stay up to date on all things Spark Torah. The link is: sparktorahpodcast.substack.com

This is an entirely listener supported podcast, so I encourage you to become a paid subscriber on Substack which not only supports the podcast financially, but also allows you access to subscriber exclusives like bonus episodes, behind the scenes content, and more.

Thank you for learning with me today!

Hello and welcome to the Spark Torah podcast! I am Chana Miriam Bouskila and today we will be learning parsha Chayei Sarah. We will talk about: Avraham eulogizing Sarah… Where Avraham was coming from… Regret and joy…Yitzchak finding a wife as well as her role in the family… The influence of women spiritually… And other life lessons we can carry from the parsha…

Please leave a review on Spotify or Apple Podcasts, which is an entirely free way to support the pod. And hop on over to our Substack where you can join in our conversation, gain inspiration, and stay up to date on all things Spark Torah. The link is: sparktorahpodcast.substack.com

This is an entirely listener supported podcast, so I encourage you to become a paid subscriber on Substack which not only supports the podcast financially, but also allows you access to subscriber exclusives like bonus episodes, behind the scenes content, and more.

Thank you for learning with me today!

Hello and welcome to the Spark Torah podcast! I am Chana Miriam Bouskila and today we will be learning parsha Vayera. We will talk about: Why Avraham needed to be tested… Lot’s hospitality verses Avraham’s hospitality… What Avraham needed to prove and to whom… Plus how we can understand the Akedah… And other life lessons we can carry from the parsha…

Please leave a review on Spotify or Apple Podcasts, which is an entirely free way to support the pod. And hop on over to our Substack where you can join in our conversation, gain inspiration, and stay up to date on all things Spark Torah. The link is: sparktorahpodcast.substack.com

This is an entirely listener supported podcast, so I encourage you to become a paid subscriber on Substack which not only supports the podcast financially, but also allows you access to subscriber exclusives like bonus episodes, behind the scenes content, and more.

Thank you for learning with me today!

Welcome to the Spark Torah podcast! I am Chana Miriam Bouskila and today we will be learning parsha Lech Lecha. We will talk about: Do our small deeds matter? Why doesn’t Avraham get an introduction? Why so much discussion about Avraham’s age? How should we handle disputes? How should we handle wealth? And other life lessons we can carry from the parsha…

Please leave a review on Spotify or Apple Podcasts, which is an entirely free way to support the pod. And hop on over to our Substack where you can join in our conversation, gain inspiration, and stay up to date on all things Spark Torah. The link is: sparktorahpodcast.substack.com

This is an entirely listener supported podcast, so I encourage you to become a paid subscriber on Substack which not only supports the podcast financially, but also allows you access to subscriber exclusives like bonus episodes, behind the scenes content, and more.

Thank you for learning with me today!

Hello and welcome to the Spark Torah podcast! I am Chana Miriam Bouskila and today we will be learning parsha Noach. We will talk about: Why the ark had to be built, respecting others, shining our light, unity and when its not a good thing, how we can have an ark today, and other life lessons we can carry from the parsha…

Please leave a review on Spotify or Apple Podcasts, which is an entirely free way to support the pod. And hop on over to our Substack where you can join in our conversation, gain inspiration, and stay up to date on all things Spark Torah. The link is: sparktorahpodcast.substack.com

This is an entirely listener supported podcast, so I encourage you to become a paid subscriber on Substack which not only supports the podcast financially, but also allows you access to subscriber exclusives like bonus episodes, behind the scenes content, and more.

Thank you for learning with me today!

Hello and welcome to the Spark Torah podcast! I am Chana Miriam Bouskila and today we will be learning parsha Haazinu. We will talk about: Shirat Haazinu, its background and its content… exploring its analogies and deeper meanings… How to bring heaven to earth… And other life lessons we can carry from the parsha…

Please leave a review on Spotify or Apple Podcasts, which is an entirely free way to support the pod. And hop on over to our Substack where you can join in our conversation, gain inspiration, and stay up to date on all things Spark Torah. The link is: sparktorahpodcast.substack.com

This is an entirely listener supported podcast, so I encourage you to become a paid subscriber on Substack which not only supports the podcast financially, but also allows you access to subscriber exclusives like bonus episodes, behind the scenes content, and more.

Thank you for learning with me today!

Hello and welcome to the Spark Torah podcast! I am Chana Miriam Bouskila and today we will be learning parsha Vayelech.

Please leave a review on Spotify or Apple Podcasts, which is an entirely free way to support the pod. And hop on over to our Substack where you can join in our conversation, gain inspiration, and stay up to date on all things Spark Torah. The link is: sparktorahpodcast.substack.com

This is an entirely listener supported podcast, so I encourage you to become a paid subscriber on Substack which not only supports the podcast financially, but also allows you access to subscriber exclusives like bonus episodes, behind the scenes content, and more.

Thank you for learning with me today!

Hello and welcome to the Spark Torah podcast! I am Chana Miriam Bouskila and today we will be learning parsha Nitzavim. We will talk about: Why Moshe undercut himself in his speech… If we are really responsible for each other… If teshuvah is actually a mitzvah or not… How everything is good, even if it doesn’t seem that way… Will it ever make sense?… And other life lessons we can carry from the parsha…

Please leave a review on Spotify or Apple Podcasts, which is an entirely free way to support the pod. And hop on over to our Substack where you can join in our conversation, gain inspiration, and stay up to date on all things Spark Torah. The link is: sparktorahpodcast.substack.com

This is an entirely listener supported podcast, so I encourage you to become a paid subscriber on Substack which not only supports the podcast financially, but also allows you access to subscriber exclusives like bonus episodes, behind the scenes content, and more.

Thank you for learning with me today!