Explore every episode of the podcast Bereishis/Genesis With Rabbi Mendel Kaplan

A Torah class by Rabbi Mendel Kaplan on the strange story of Yaakov and Esav! Originally aired at 11:15 AM EST on 91.1 CHIN FM Radio with Martin filling in for Zelda Young. Also broadcast via Rabbi Kaplan’s Facebook live.

Parsha Curiosities: Parshat Vayechi Cracking the Code on mysterious themes & ideas in the weekly Parsha! ?: Why does Jacob bless the righteous Benjamin as a wild wolf? How is this blessing a virtue? Discover a spiritual take on the positive skin-shifting traits of Binyamin.

Parsha Climax The Final Verses of: Parshat Vayeira The Final Verses of Parshat Vayeira: Passing the test of Akaida, Avraham names the stony site “G-d will Select” invoking its eternal legacy as our source of spiritual energy that powers our nation. Mining these verses we unearth the profound impact Mount Mariah would, and continues to, have on future generations!

Parsha Climax The Final Verses of: Parshat Lech Lecha : ! The Final Verses of Parshat Lech Lecha tell us of the the very day Abraham turned 99 and Ishmael turned 13 they were both circumcised. A fascinating Midrash cuts into painful details. Penetrating analysis serves to slices open and reveal profound truth about life, purpose and relationships and marijuana too!!

The Climax of Parshat Noach! : Why did Abraham abandon his father to old age? Abraham births Monotheism and abandons his idol-worshiping father. Torah prematurely report on his death Why, and what can it teach us?

Parsha Climax: The Final Verses of Parshat Bereishit & - ? Humankind’s Corruption: G-d’s Regret. G-d created People, and then regretted it and decided to destroy them. But Didn’t G-d know how things would be from the beginning? How are we to understand this narrative and what can it teach us?

Tribal Blessing Roundup! Concluding class on Parshat Veyechi

! Parshat Vayechi, 4th Portion (Genesis 49:1-49:18)

Making Good Better Kabbalah On Parshat Vayechi Revealing layers of Torah truth and Kabbalah secrets that will ignite your imagination, and open your eyes to amazing new vistas! ? Jacob’s last years, spent in Egypt were the very best of his life; filled with true satisfaction and happiness. Whilst it’s not hard to understand that being reunited with Joseph, and seeing his family united and loyal to his hallowed ideals, would be a source of profound joy; there’s something decidedly unsettling about the prime Patriarch being happiest in a place filled with pernicious immorality and spiritual corruption. The Rebbe’s final rumination on this widely discussed subject is revolutionary in its novel approach and leads us into mind-expanding Kabbalistic ideas shedding new light on the age-old question: can people change?!

Showdown over Blessings! Parshat Vayechi, 3rd Portion (Genesis 48:17-48:22)

Discover why Jacob’s blessings to Joseph’s were couched in Fishy Terminology! Parshat Vayechi, 2nd Portion (Genesis 48:10-48:16)

Famine’s Arrival; Joseph’s Demands! Parshat Mikeitz, 4th Portion (Genesis 41:53-42:18)

Parsha Climax The Final Verses of: Parshat Vayechi The entire Book of Genesis ends with Yosef's death, mummification, and burial. Learn why the Torah chooses to end on a seemingly morbid note, and why that is especially relevant as we reel from continuing COVID challenges!

Meteoric Monarchy: The Rise of Joseph! Parshat Mikeitz, 3rd Portion (Genesis 41:39-41:52)

Haircut of Distinction Parshat Mikeitz, 2nd Portion (Genesis 41:15-41:38)

Joseph’s Climb up the Corporate Ladder of Slavery! Parshat Vayeishev , 5th Portion (Genesis 39:1-39:6)

When The Empty Cistern is Filled with Meaning Parshat Vayeishev, 3rd Portion (Genesis 37:23-37:36)

Was it a Guardian Angel or Phantom Passerby? Parshat Vayeishev, 2nd Portion (Genesis 37:12-37:22)

Is Vigilante Justice Ever Justified?!? Parshat Vayishlach, 5th Portion (Genesis 34:1-35:11)

A Surprising Torah Response to Anti-Semitism! Parshat Vayishlach, 4th Portion (Genesis 33:6-33:20)

Revealing layers of Torah truth and Kabbalah secrets that will ignite your imagination, and open your eyes to amazing new vistas! Kabbalah On Parshat Vayishlach - ! Fleeing Laban, now Jacob confronts the evil Esau; enroute with murder in mind. Seeking to inhibit his brother's baleful intent; he sends a mollifying message – its literal elucidation is our initial point of departure. Then piercing the veil, the biblical characters are recast as cosmic spiritual paradigms, as profound mystical ideas are revealed. With broad brush strokes, the Kabbalistic panorama is outlined, as we laser into the teachings of the Chassidic Masters, with specific emphasis on a particular late 20th century discourse. The take away? We can all learn to create order out of chaos to live better and more fulfilling lives today!

Kiss of an Anti-Semite! Anatomy of the surprising “Kiss” of a Hater Parshat Vayishlach, 3rd Portion (Genesis 32:31-33:5)

The Paradox of Jacobs’ High’s and Lows’ Parshat Vayishlach, 2nd Portion (Genesis 32:14-32:30)

Parsha Climax The Final Verses of: Parshat Vayigash Yaakov and family comfortably settle in Egypt. Was this a necessary prelude for the inevitable devolution into harsh exile, bondage and slavery or could things have ended very differently. An ancient narrative with very timely lessons.

What Jacob’s Flocks can teach us about facing antisemitism in our modern day and age! Parshat Vayeitzei, 5th Portion (Genesis 30:28-31:16)

Honesty, Integrity and Where G-d Dwells! Parshat Vayeitzei, 4th Portion (Genesis 30:14-30:27)

Kabbalah On Parshat Vayeitzei ! How the Perfect Patriarchal Promulgation of Peace Can Create Promote Inner Peace and Tranquility

Lessons from Antiquity Parshat Vayeitzei, 3rd Portion (Genesis 29:18-30:13)

Jacob Meets Rachel: Her Secret Power Revealed! Parshat Vayeitzei, 2nd Portion (Genesis 29:1-29:17)

Why Hate Not Overt Equals Anti-Semitism at its Worst! Parshat Toldot, 5th Portion (Genesis 26:30-27:27)

The “Original” Art of the Deal! Parshat Chayei Sarah, 4th Portion (Genesis 24:27-24:52)

Making Good Better Revealing layers of Torah truth and Kabbalah secrets that will ignite your imagination, and open your eyes to amazing new vistas! Kabbalah On Parsha Chayei Sarah ! The biblical narrative of “Isaac meets Rebecca” isn't exactly a romantic courtship. A servant, appointed matchmaker is given access to unlimited funds to convince the “right” girl to marry a man without ever seeing him. To thicken the plot, this “match made in heaven” seems entirely incompatible and doomed from the get go. The unnecessary repeated details only provoke more questions. This profoundly mystical presentation reveals a vast new perspective; overwhelmingly dissolving all questions, and providing a compelling blueprint for achieving inner balance that equals personal satisfaction and happiness in life!

The Power-Praying Loyal Servant Parshat Chayei Sarah, 3rd Portion (Genesis 24:10-24:26)

Did Abraham Age Well or was he Well-Aged? The answer will blow you away! Parshat Chayei Sarah, 2nd Portion (Genesis 23:17-24:9)

Parsha Climax The Final Verses of: Parshat Miketz Yosef cunningly frames his brothers: will they abandon Binyamin to slavery? Yehudah initially says “we will all be slaves, but quickly changes his tune. Reveal the backstage story in this dramatic episode of loyalty and betrayal!

A (Jewish) Star is Born The Covenant is Cut! Parshat Vayeira, 4th-5th Portions

The Compelling Crack in the Wall The day the destiny of a nation was written on the wall! Parshat Vayeira, end of 4th Portion (Genesis 19:21-21:4)

Making Good Better Revealing layers of Torah truth and Kabbalah secrets that will ignite your imagination, and open your eyes to amazing new vistas! Kabbalah On Parshat Vayeira ! Almost incidental of a primary biblical narrative, in what might be termed a moment of “divine candor,” G-d “drops the curtain” sharing the secret of why he so loves Abraham. It seems reasonable to say that the importance of this verse cannot be overstated – as it's nothing short of an extraordinarily revealing statement by our Creator about how to best nurture our relationship with Him. And in turn, we can learn how to best cultivate and maintain our personal relationships as well!

"Anatomy of Sodomite Destruction" Raging Fires Destroy Soddom and Gomorow — in the presence of both the sun and the moon — Find our Why! Parshat Vayeira, 3rd Portion (Genesis 19:1-19:20)

"The Sin of Sodomite Silence " Do we have the “right to remain silent” when a society’s ugliness mushrooms before us? Is there truth to “ignorance is bliss” and can I just “hear no evil and see no evil?” A timely and important lesson from ancient Sodom & Gomorra!! Parshat Vayeira, 2nd Portion (Genesis 18:15-18:33)

Abrahamic Amore ~ Was it for Love or Money Parshat Lech-Lecha, 5th Portion (Genesis 14:21-15:6)

Kabbalah On: Parshat Lech-Lecha Make Your Daily Life Better Revealing layers of Torah truth and Kabbalah secrets that will ignite your imagination, and open your eyes to amazing new vistas! How The [Kabbalah of the] Shield of Abraham can Make [your] Good [life] Better! Responding to unspecified anxieties, G-d's word comes to Abraham: “Do not fear, I am your Shield.” The backstage narrative frames the divine statement as specific to concerns relating to unwanted violent and conflict. Yet, an array of rabbinic sources, as well as our daily prayer liturgy, casts this passage as anything but incidental. The introduction of related yet enigmatic Zoharic statements, viewed through the illuminating prism of Chasidic teaching, reconciles the seeming contradiction and reveals its deepest essence. This all becomes the foundation for practical spiritual wisdom that we can all use to make our good life's better!

"Abraham’s Date with Destiny" Fascinating discoveries about Our Father Abraham: Find out how he... in “Dating Destiny” he “Found True Love” and then went on to “Set the Stage” for his offspring as he “Prepared the Ground” and “Sank Deep Roots” from which many “Tall Cedars” and “Absolute Alters” would rise!! Parshat Lech-Lecha, 3rd Portion (Genesis 13:5-13:18)

Selling Sara or Spousal Support? Was Father Abraham guilty of objectifying and trying to profit from his wife’s beauty, OR was he the first the believe that his wife was the source of his successes? Parshat Lech-Lecha, 2nd Portion (Genesis 12:14-13:4)

The Rainbow Reality Parshat Noach, 5th Portion (Genesis 9:8-9:17)

Parsha Climax The Final Verses of: Parshat Vayeishev Unfairly incarcerated, Yoseph sees the serendipitous dreams of the Butler as his ticket to freedom. Yet those clusters of hope quickly soured resulting in an unforeseen delay. Discover remarkable lessons encoded into this story.

By Divine Design: The Decree to Disembark Parshat Noach, 4th Portion (Genesis 8:15-9:7)

Deeper meanings of arrival at the Ark and the final prep before the flood! Parshat Noach, 2nd Portion (Genesis 7:1-7:16)

Divine Displeasure! Did G-d actually experience “Buyers Remorse” —can an omnipotent creator regret creation? Conclusion of Parshat Bereishit (Genesis)

Aftermath! Original Sin and it’s Devastating Consequences... Parshat Bereishit, 4th Portion (Genesis 3:22-4:18)