Political tensions, anxiety, and loneliness are on the rise.

But problems like these aren't new, and the solutions don't have to be either.

For thousands of years, societies have asked questions about how to live, thrive, and love.

And it was spiritual traditions that offered wisdom and tools to help people find their way.

Tools that science is now discovering offer real benefits. Join me, Dave

Desteno, to explore how we can all use this wisdom, whatever our beliefs. Listen to How God

Works from PRX, wherever you listen to podcasts. Shalom, Shalom, Shalom, Rabbi, and Shalom Khatzschwa. And welcome back to the podcast that gives you ancient texts for modern times.

You know, we call this part of the podcast, the schmying around part.

And my goal for today is to make our shmying around part as long as possible,

because the Torah portion we're going to discuss is really complicated.

There's a lot. There's a lot. It's really one of

those portions where you are reminded that the Torah was not written for children. No.

You know, Noah's Ark. Oh yeah, that's a kid's story except for the part where the whole world is

destroyed. Although, I will say, we're skipping past, I mean, I think we will touch on it, at least briefly, last week's Parcia, which maybe was written for kids as it includes a talking donkey.

I know.

I mean, if you ever wondered if Jews are, in fact, in charge of Hollywood,

the talking donkey and Shrek should answer your question because it comes directly from

last week's Torah portion.

They can talk! That's right, fool.

Although, it's a talking ass, which actually is a little funnier.

I am curious, though. What do I say to somebody when I'm

touting the Torah and how wonderful it is? And then they go, isn't there a talking donkey at one point?

...