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The Torah Learning Library of Yeshivat Chovevei Torah

Pastoral Parsha

Final Episode – Parashat Vayechi – Family Ties

by Max Hollander
Posted on April 6, 2020

As we close the book of Bereshit and end our podcast series, we ask ourselves what keeps families together, and why do they fall apart. Thank you to everyone who has come along with us on this journey, and for giving us a chance to explore the Torah in a new and fascinating light.…

Parshat Vayigash – The Mistakes of Management

by Max Hollander
Posted on April 6, 2020

How can we as people in positions of authority or management, behave in such a way that creates respect, and not resentment? This parsha serves as the prime example of mismanagement and/or power gone too far, as the effects of this week’s parsha can be felt in the upcoming Saga of Shemot.…

Parshat Mikeitz – How to be Heard

by Max Hollander
Posted on April 6, 2020

Everyone talks, but not everyone is heard. Why do some people just assume leadership and everyone follows suit, while others try their best but are ultimately ignored? In this week’s episode, we utilize the two models of leadership exhibited in the parsha to answer this question.…

Parshat Vayeishev – The Compartments of our Mind

by Max Hollander
Posted on April 6, 2020

There are moments in life where good people allow other people to do bad things, and we would like to know why? What allows people to compartmentalize the way that they do, and how can we prevent ourselves from doing that?…

Parshat Vayishlach – A “Change” in Leadership

by Max Hollander
Posted on December 15, 2019

Everyone has the capacity to change, but what happens when we have other people in our lives who count on us? How can we evolve when other people count on us to be consistent? What affects can that have on our lives and the lives of others?…

Parshat Vayetzi – Rachel’s Pain

by Max Hollander
Posted on December 6, 2019

Our Torah begins with the commandment to be fruitful and multiply, but we constantly find our ancestors struggling with that very commandment. Why? What could the reason be, and how could infertility impact the relationships between spouses and their children? We discuss these questions and more in this week’s episode of Pastoral Parsha.…

Parshat Toldot – Delaying Gratification

by Max Hollander
Posted on November 28, 2019

In this week’s episode, we discuss the dual personalities presented in our Parsha, and how the way we behave as a child can have serious effects on who we become.…

Parshat Chaye Sarah – On Gratitude

by Max Hollander
Posted on November 28, 2019

As the saying goes, “You never know what you have until it’s gone”, and in this episode we explore some examples of that saying in the relationships in our Parsha, while also discussing showing gratitude for the people in our lives while they are still around.…

Parshat Vayeira – Friendship and Values

by Max Hollander
Posted on November 14, 2019

In this week’s episode, our hosts discuss the story of Lot, and how things could have ended up differently, had he simply had a friend to help him find his way.…

Parshat Lech Lecha – The Vulnerable and the Responsible

by Max Hollander
Posted on November 8, 2019

This week’s Parsha tells us the story of Avraham and the beginnings of Judaism, but it also tells us the story of Hagar, which serves as a reminder of the responsibilities that people in power have to act morally and fairly towards people in their lives who are in lesser positions of power, and thus more vulnerable.…

Parshat Bereshis – The Beginning of Morality

by Max Hollander
Posted on October 25, 2019

As we begin the Torah anew, our hosts ask some of the bigger questions that the Bible asks of us, like how to appropriately apply complex moral choices to the grey areas of our daily lives. https://soundcloud.com/yctorah/parshat-bereshis-the-beginning-of-morality…

Parshat Vayeilach – On Aging and Safety

by Max Hollander
Posted on October 10, 2019

In this week’s episode, we discuss the concerns of aging loved ones, and how we can be there for them, even when they might not want our help.…