5 Minute Torah Podcast

hy do some of the commandments of the Torah seem to not make any sense, and even seem to be unreasonable? The command regarding the red heifer is one of these commandments that doesn't make any logical sense. How do the ashes of a red cow mixed with water have the ability to change the status of a person and take away ritual impurity? Learn more in the 5 Minute Torah commentary on Parashat Chukat (Numbers 19:1-22:1).

Who sent the 12 spies into Canaan? The book of Numbers records that it was an order from the LORD. The book of Deuteronomy records it as a request from the tribes. Which is it? Is there a contradiction or do these two records differ in order to teach us a valuable lesson? Learn more in the 5 Minute Torah commentary on Parashat Shalach (Numbers 13:1-15:41)

Sometimes the inevitable happens. We have a desire to do something for God, but our circumstances simply won't allow it. We find this situation in this week's Torah portion. Just before Passover men came to Moses with a dilemma. They had become unclean through contact with a corpse and would not be made pure in time to participate in the Passover. What was the solution? Is God a God of second chances? Learn more in the 5 Minute Torah commentary on Parashat Beha'alotcha (Numbers 8:1-12:15).

The Aaronic Benediction, or Priestly Blessing, found in Numbers 6 has always been a source of fascination for students of the Bible. What does this blessing mean, who is able to recite it, and when? Is there really any power in these words? Why do we close our eyes and bow our heads when this blessing is recited in the synagogue? And finally, how does all of this relate to Yeshua? Learn more in the 5 Minute Torah commentary on Parashat Nasso (Numbers 4:21-7:89).

What do we do when we find a lost item? The Torah gives us specific instructions — we are to take care of the item until the owner returns to claim it. But we can also extend this principle to other applications as well. What about in instances where people have lost the Shabbat and other commandments? What is our responsibility? Learn more in the 5 Minute Torah commentary on Parashat Ki Tetze (Deuteronomy 21:10-25:19).