Sivan Says: Taking the Torah Personally

In this week's parsha, we watch as Moshe’s leadership begins to pass to the next generation. He won’t enter the land of Israel with the people he led out of slavery, but his story isn’t a failure. It’s a reminder that sometimes, we play a vital role in a journey we’ll never see completed. What does it mean to be part of a story bigger than yourself? Tune in to find out.

In this week’s parsha, Balak hires the prophet Bilam to curse the Israelites. But every time he opens his mouth, blessings come out instead. From these unexpected prophecies, we get some of our most enduring ideas, like the image of Israel rising “like a lion,” and the quiet holiness of privacy ("How good are your tents, O Jacob"). Thousands of years later, the contrast still feels familiar—between those who build and those who destroy, between the noise of social media and the sanctity of a home with the front door closed. What does it mean to live as a blessing even when others root for your failure? Tune in to find out.

In this week's parsha, Miriam and Aharon die, and Moshe learns he won’t enter the land either. It’s a moment of grief, transition, and disorientation. But even as leaders pass, the Mishkan remains as the spiritual center that holds the people together. This week, as we mark the Lubavitcher Rebbe’s yahrzeit, we’re reminded that true leadership leaves a lasting imprint. How do you stay grounded when everything else shifts? Tune in to find out.

On this week’s parsha, we meet Korach, who challenges Moshe’s leadership and Aaron’s priesthood, arguing that the entire nation is holy. But Rav Sivan Rahav-Meir reminds us that holiness doesn’t mean sameness—and that dissatisfaction with your role in life can quickly turn destructive. What do you do when you feel stuck—or are you never really stuck at all? Tune in to find out.

In this week’s parsha, Moses sends twelve spies into the land of Israel. Ten return with fear and doubt; only two return with faith. The Israelites, overwhelmed by the giants they imagine, choose fear and are condemned to wander the desert for forty years. But the parsha isn’t just about the past. It's about now. Who are we listening to today? The fearful majority or the faithful few? Are we grasshoppers in our own eyes or are we rising lions? Tune in to find out.

This week's parsha opens with a command to Aharon: light the lamps of the menorah until the flame rises on its own. But this parsha isn’t just about lighting candles—it’s about raising people up, carrying light through darkness, and transforming inspiration into lasting action. What does it really mean to carry the light forward beyond yourself? Listen to find out.

In this week’s parsha, the after the Israelites have beencounted, we learn about the kohanim and their responsibilities . We then see a specific explanation about offerings given by each of the twelve tribes.What can this parsha tell us about the importance of each individual, even when taking a selfie? Listen and find out.

In this week’s parsha, the Israelites are counted after being divided into the 12 tribes, each with their own mission. However, before they could take on those tasks, they needed to build the Mishkan, before all else, because the need for holiness should not be postponed. The holiday of Shevuot highlights the importance and urgency of this task and being unified. What is your personal Mishkan and what should you do with it? Listen and find out.

This week’s parashot, Behar and  Bechukotai, bring us to the end of the book of Vayikra, also known as Leviticus. We begin with Mount Sinai, and finish with a promise that by following the commandments, the Jews will receive prosperity and security in the land of Israel, or be rebuked if they don’t. Can you really have it all? Listen and find out.  

On this week’s parsha, we read about the responsibilities of the kohanim and the rhythm of the Jewish calendar—from Shabbat to Passover, from Rosh Hashanah to Sukkot. But these are more than holidays. They're appointments with the divine—reminders that what matters should be part of your calendar, not just your dreams. We also learn about Pesach Sheni, a “second Passover” granted to those who missed the first—proof that Judaism always makes room for second chances. What does it mean to sanctify time, even in moments of chaos? Tune in to find out.