The Neshamah Project Podcast
1) The Neshamah Project Podcast Episode 90: Sparks of Return
After the death of Aaron’s sons, the Torah places the Yom Kippur service—why there, and why “not at all times” yet “once a year”? Drawing on the Maor VaShemesh, we explore how all souls are one body, ...Show More
2) Neshamah Project Podcast: Episode 89: Desire and the First Fruits of the Heart
In this week’s episode, we explore the mitzvah of bringing the first fruits and the deeper spiritual meaning hidden within it. The Maor VaShemesh teaches that the practice is not only about gratitude,...Show More
3) The Neshamah Project: Episode 88 – Returning the Ox, Building the Guardrail
Two Hasidic masters read the portion of Ki Teitzei in strikingly different yet complementary ways. The Maor VaShemesh teaches that “returning a lost ox or sheep” is about guiding a friend back when th...Show More
4) Neshamah Project Podcast Episode 87: Rebbe Nachman's Tale of Trust
A Tale of Trust — Rebbe Nachman tells the story of a king who, despite his wealth, discovers true freedom from worry in the joy and faith of a poor fiddler. Again and again, the fiddler’s livelihood i...Show More
5) Neshamah Project Podcast Episode 86: Justice as Sacred Partnership
What if every act of honest judgment made you a partner in the unfolding of Creation? In this episode, we explore mystical and Hasidic teachings on justice from Degel Machaneh Ephraim and Maor VaSheme...Show More
6) Neshamah Project Podcast Episode 85
In this episode of The Neshamah Project Podcast, we explore two teachings from the Maor VaShemesh on Parashat Re’eh. The first reminds us that the fullness of any mitzvah is revealed when practiced in...Show More
7) Neshamah Project: Episode 84- A Torah Too Vast for This World
In this episode, Rabbi Ben explores the Maor VaShemesh’s teaching on Parashat Eikev, revealing a Torah so vast it had to be compressed to fit into our world. We journey from the primordial origins of ...Show More
8) Neshamah Project Episode 83: Light Through Contrast: Korach, the Firmament, and Thriving in Imperfection
In this episode we explore the Noam Elimelekh’s radical insight that the very presence of darkness makes our light shine brighter. Beginning with Korach’s act of “separating himself” and the Genesis i...Show More
9) Neshamah Project Episode 82: Choosing Light
In this episode, we explore a luminous teaching from Kedushat Levi on Parashat Sh’lach: that the glory of the Divine isn’t revealed through perfection or purity, but through our very human capacity to...Show More
10) Neshamah Project Podcast Episode 81- Raise the Light: Aharon, Integrity, and the Menorah
Why does Rashi praise Aharon simply for not deviating from a command? In this episode of The Neshamah Project, we explore a deep teaching from the Degel Machaneh Ephraim on Aharon's unwavering integri...Show More