Parasha Deep Dive Podcast Episode 07

Wrestling the Dark: Yaakov’s Fear, The Secret of Dina & The Angel | Vayishlach with Nachum Rindenow

Parasha Deep Dive Episodes
December 01, 2025•1 min read

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Why was Yaakov Avinu, the "chosen one" of the Patriarchs, so terrified? And what is the deep, mystical secret behind the tragedy of Dina that most people miss?

In this profound episode of Parasha Deep Dive, host Shlomo Godsi is joined by his brother-in-law, the dynamic educator Nachum Rindenow, for a raw and real look at Parashat Vayishlach. They move beyond the simple Sunday School narrative to explore the "night experience," the moments in life when we are alone, vulnerable, and forced to wrestle with our own demons in the dark.

This is a conversation about fear, identity, and the spiritual necessity of facing our enemies (and our ego) head-on.

In This Episode, We Uncover:

  • The Night Struggle: A powerful reframing of Yaakov’s battle with the angel—not just as a physical fight, but as the ultimate blueprint for how we handle isolation, insomnia, and "dark thoughts."

  • The "Eighth of an Eighth" of Ego: Why total humility isn't always the goal, and why Yaakov needed a tiny sliver of Gaava (pride) to survive his encounter with Esav.

  • Appeasement or Strategy? Why Yaakov bowed seven times to Esav, and the Kabbalistic concept of "peeling away the layers" (klipos) to find the brother beneath the enemy.

  • The Secret of Dina: Nachum Rindenow shares a startling and sensitive Kabbalistic insight into Dina’s soul, gender, and identity that reframes her story completely.

  • "I Have Everything": The difference between having "plenty" (Rav) and having "everything" (Kol), and why we cannot take shortcuts to redemption.

Follow the Parasha Deep Dive podcast to ensure you never miss these essential conversations.

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parasha portiontorah studypodcast
On the Alshech's Yortzeit, I Received a Message... After morning prayers in the Alshech Shul, I would learn the Alshech’s Torah, just me and him. It was an intimate process that began my close connection with this great sage. Then, on Erev Pesach 2023, at 2 AM, I received a clear message: open a center of learning here, at the Alshech Shul, for the English-speaking communities around the world. I later realized that very night was the Alshech’s Yortzeit. That realization still gives me the chills! This Academy is not just a project; it is a response to a divine call. I humbly ask you to join me in answering it.

Shlomo Godsi

On the Alshech's Yortzeit, I Received a Message... After morning prayers in the Alshech Shul, I would learn the Alshech’s Torah, just me and him. It was an intimate process that began my close connection with this great sage. Then, on Erev Pesach 2023, at 2 AM, I received a clear message: open a center of learning here, at the Alshech Shul, for the English-speaking communities around the world. I later realized that very night was the Alshech’s Yortzeit. That realization still gives me the chills! This Academy is not just a project; it is a response to a divine call. I humbly ask you to join me in answering it.

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