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Prism of Torah

Prism of Torah

Prism of Torah 222 Episodes Jul 21, 2026

Prism of Torah illuminates the depths of Jewish wisdom through a weekly exploration of the parasha and Jewish holidays. Reb Asaf Aharon Prisman masterfully blends profound insights with practical guidance, unlocking the layers of meaning in each Torah portion through the four main aspects: Pshat, Remez, Drash, and Sod. Cultivate your connection with Hashem and apply timeless wisdom to your daily life.

Episodes

The Man Who Stayed Silent — and Lost the Temple • Tisha B'Av • Ep. 444
The Man Who Stayed Silent — and Lost the Temple • Tisha B'Av • Ep. 444 Jul 21, 2026 00:13:29 A man gets blamed by the Gemara for destroying Jerusalem — and he didn't do anything. He wasn't invited to the party. He didn't start the fight. He just stood there and watched someone get humiliated and thrown out, and said nothing. That silence, Rabbi Prisman argues, is the real story of the Churban — not hatred, just people who stopped noticing each other. This Tisha B'Av, that&
The Grudge That Was Blocking a Marriage • Parshas Dvarim • Ep. 443
The Grudge That Was Blocking a Marriage • Parshas Dvarim • Ep. 443 Jul 16, 2026 00:15:33 A family did everything to find their daughter a match — every segulah, every school, every tzedakah — and nothing worked. Then a Rav asked one question that had nothing to do with shidduchim: is theresomeone you're holding a grudge against? What they uncovered, and what happened the very next year in their own backyard, is one of the most quietly stunning stories about what's actually blo
The Sacred Vessel That Made a Promise Come True • Parshas Matos Massei • Ep. 442
The Sacred Vessel That Made a Promise Come True • Parshas Matos Massei • Ep. 442 Jul 9, 2026 00:13:31 A chassidish performer made a joking promise to an 18-year-old boy dying of cancer: "Hashem will dance at your wedding." The boy just smiled and said, "maybe in another life." Years later, an invitation arrived from a wedding he didn't recognize — and what happened on that dance floor is why Rabbi Asaf Aharon Prisman says your mouth might be the most powerful thing you own.
When Cutting Someone Off Is the Peaceful Thing to Do • Parshas Pinchas • Ep. 441
When Cutting Someone Off Is the Peaceful Thing to Do • Parshas Pinchas • Ep. 441 Jul 2, 2026 00:14:24 Why does a violent act earn the title “covenant of peace”? And why, in the Sefer Torah, is the very word Shalom in that covenant written with a broken letter — with a gap in the center? Pinchas stopped a plague that had already killed 24,000 people, and Hashem's reward wasn't subtle — it was peace itself. This week we trace that reward back through a strange detail in Maaseh Bereishis, a s
The Boxer's Father Who Beat Bilaam • Parshas Balak • Ep. 440
The Boxer's Father Who Beat Bilaam • Parshas Balak • Ep. 440 Jun 25, 2026 00:13:06 Why does Hashem first forbid Bilam from going with Balak's messengers, then on the second delegation tell him he may go, and why does the detail that Bilam is now being paid and honored change the answer? Rabbi Asaf Aharon Prisman builds this question on the Gaon of Vilna's precise distinction between 'imam' and 'itam' and on a game-changing concept from Rav Shimon Schwab a
Build Your Best Security Net - Chukas
Build Your Best Security Net - Chukas Jun 18, 2026 00:14:43 Why does Rashi tell us a completely different reason for Aharon's death — that Bnei Yisrael drew close to Eisav's nation — when the pasuk itself says it was Mei Merivah? Rabbi Prisman opens the Sfas Emes to reveal how divine judgment accounts for every life touched by a person. And there's a bonus: how did Aharon's legendary peacemaking between man and wife actually work — if you k
When Equality Becomes Chaos- Parshas Korach - Ep. 439
When Equality Becomes Chaos- Parshas Korach - Ep. 439 Jun 11, 2026 00:13:46 Korach's claim that "everyone is holy" sounds noble, but Rabbi Asaf Aharon Prisman explores why Chazal saw it as spiritually lethal. Drawing from the Tolner Rebbe, he shows how Korach's vision of sameness attacked the very structure of creation itself.This week's Prism of Torah reveals how real unity comes not from erasing differences but from each person fulfilling their pre
This One Decision Changes Everything - Ep. 438 | Parshas Shelach
This One Decision Changes Everything - Ep. 438 | Parshas Shelach Jun 4, 2026 00:13:54 The first spies saw Eretz Yisrael and collapsed into fear, but Yehoshua's spies entered Yericho and came back protected. Why were they sent in the disguise of kli cheres, plain pottery vessels with no real value beyond what they carry? Rabbi Prisman follows the Sfas Emes into a sharp question about mitzvos, motives, and the quiet danger of bringing your own agenda into Hashem's mission. An
Your Biggest Problem Is You - Parshas Behaaloscha- Ep. 437
Your Biggest Problem Is You - Parshas Behaaloscha- Ep. 437 May 28, 2026 00:12:48 Why did the silver trumpets in the Mishkan have to be hammered from a single piece of metal? And what do trumpets used for journeys, war, and Chagim have in common?In Parshas Behaaloscha, Rabbi Prisman uncovers the unifying message of the chatzotzros. Through the story of an elite IDF soldier who never knows where his blacked-out bus will take him - dropped in desert or beach, always on the move -
The Real Prerequisite for Shavuos - Ep. 436
The Real Prerequisite for Shavuos - Ep. 436 May 20, 2026 00:15:10 Are you truly ready to receive the Torah, or are you just waiting for the calendar to change? Why did the Jewish people have to wait months after leaving Egypt before getting the Torah? Rabbi Prisman reveals the hidden prerequisite for spiritual growth: absolute, unwavering trust in Hashem. Through a striking story involving Rav Yosef Shalom Elyashiv, discover how true emunah can actually change r
Silence Speaks Volumes - Parshas Bamidbar
Silence Speaks Volumes - Parshas Bamidbar May 13, 2026 00:14:09 Description: What happens when you know you're right, but speaking up may cause more damage? What if silence is not weakness, but the most powerful choice available? In this practical and profound episode, Rabbi Prisman explores Gad, Aharon, the Sdei Chemed, and a moving story of a melamed who lost his job quietly. A meaningful, eye-opening look at silence in our own lives today.
Are You Blocking Your Own Blessings? Episode 435 • Parshas Behar-Bechukosai
Are You Blocking Your Own Blessings? Episode 435 • Parshas Behar-Bechukosai May 6, 2026 00:12:50 Do you ever feel like your own anxiety is blocking your success? What if worrying about the future actually cuts off the very abundance you need? This week, we explore a profound insight into the Shmita year and a surprising truth about two very different types of divine blessings. Through the lens of a striking modern-day bakery story, discover how trusting the process can bring transformative pe

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