Rav Joe's 929 Tanakh Podcast (Rabbi Joe Wolfson)

Ilana Stein heroically returns with her Torah on the first two chapters. Text here: https://www.sefaria.org/Zechariah.1

An old and dear friend, and even former Tanakh chevruta, Harris Lorie, shares his thoughts on our chapter today with particular focus on the parallels and differences between Yoel's take on teshuva and that of Moshe's in Shemot after the golden calf. As Harris presents it, Yoel has a very original take on Hashem's attitude to repentance but not one that the Jewish tradition has really embraced. Text here: https://www.sefaria.org/Joel.2

From the deserts of the sea, to Jerusalem's self-centeredness, to rebuke and comfort to Tzor.

Text for these chapters can be found here:

21: https://www.sefaria.org/Isaiah.21

22: https://www.sefaria.org/Isaiah.22

23: https://www.sefaria.org/Isaiah.23

You may recognize the words for "Lecha Dodi" and your mind may wander to Kabbalat Shabbat. That would be appropriate, as this is one of the most uplifting chapters in Isaiah.

Text for this chapter can be found here: https://www.sefaria.org/Isaiah.52

Isaac Kurtz considers this deeply political chapter.

Text for this chapter can be found here: http://www.sefaria.org/Genesis.47?lang=bi&aliyot=0

The revelation at Mount Sinai.   Hebrew and English text for this chapter can be found here: https://www.sefaria.org/Exodus.19

Iyov #32 - a dramatic twist as Elihu, a new younger character invisible until now erupts onto the scene. Rabbi Gamliel Shmalo introduces Elihu as a model of the connection between attentive listening and wisdom - in contrast to those who listen only to refute. Text here:
https://www.sefaria.org/Job.32?lang=bi

Text for this chapter can be found here: https://www.sefaria.org/Isaiah.46

Among other messages, Yirmiyahu focuses on Shabbat as the potential for the redemption of Yerushalayim but warns that if Shabbat is ignored the city will perish. Text for this chapter can be found here: https://www.sefaria.org/Jeremiah.17

Avner attempts to bring about his own reconciliation between the Houses of Shaul and David, but instead it becomes a a dramatic story of revenge.

https://www.sefaria.org/II_Samuel.3

The strange story of Lot and his daughters explored by Shira Hanau, 2018 Shalhevet president.

A bonus shiur from Rabbi Joe on Lot and his daughters https://www.yutorah.org/lectures/lecture.cfm/887490/joe-wolfson/in-the-beginning-lot-and-his-daughters/

Text for this chapter can be found here: https://www.sefaria.org/Genesis.19?lang=bi&aliyot=1

Pesach, Pesach Sheini, and the description of how the camp will move and settle in the desert years. Hebrew and English text for this chapter can be found here: https://www.sefaria.org/Numbers.9

Kohelet 8 & 9: wisdom, kings, enjoying this life even if you can't take it with you.

Tzivia Appleman considers what Kohelet has in common with Ted Danson in The Good Place in their reflections on mortality.

Text here: https://www.sefaria.org/Ecclesiastes.9?lang=bi

Text for this chatper can be found here: https://www.sefaria.org/Exodus.13

Continue the vision began in the previous chapters as Yechezkel 'visits' Jerusalem, to see the horrendous destruction afflicting the city in which the divine death squad shows no mercyCalev Ben Dor provides us with excellent audio on both chapters noting how the text is a subversion of both exodus from Egypt and the ending of Yonah. Despite the darkness of the text, Calev shares with us a midrash on the chapter that is arguably better known than the chapter itself - 'God goes into exile with the Jewish people - although he is the agent of the destruction, he is also its victim'https://www.sefaria.org/Ezekiel.9

Text for this chapter can be found here: https://www.sefaria.org/Ezekiel.13

In today's audio I share what I consider to be the most powerful and disturbing understanding of the korbanot and their meaning by one of my favourite Jewish philophers, the late Michael Wyschogrod. Hebrew and English text for this chapter can be found here: https://www.sefaria.org/Leviticus.7?lang=bi&aliyot=0

Shabbat and the Mishkan. Today's chapter is entitled; Fire: The Torah and Prometheus.   Hebrew and English text for this chapter can be found here: https://www.sefaria.org/Exodus.35

The bad news continues... Miriam and Aharon speak of Moshe's wife (whoever she is). former Cooper student, NYU Rosh Kollel and now one of Sefaria's top programmers! Very humbled that today's audio is sponsored by a group of students in honour of my birthday. Hebrew and English text for this chapter can be found here: https://www.sefaria.org/Numbers.12

I share thoughts for ch.15 on 'a soft answer turning away anger'. Text here: https://www.sefaria.org/Proverbs.15?lang=bi

The amazing story of the leprosy of Na'aman being cured by Elisha and then transferred to Elisha's student, Geichazi. In our audio today we suggest that our story may provide a new understanding of what _tzara'at_ is all about. Text for this chapter can be found here: https://www.sefaria.org/II_Kings.5

Text for this chapter can be found here:  https://www.sefaria.org/II_Samuel.21

Rabbi Gamliel Shmalo returns with a sharp distinction between what the prophet sees and what the prophet hears. Text for this chapter can be found here: https://www.sefaria.org/Jeremiah.4

Ch 2: In which the prophet addresses the nations around him later today. Like Havakkuk, a short, little-read but fascinating book of navi; in which that which happens to Jerusalem will happen to Nineveh too. Text here: https://www.sefaria.org/Zephaniah.2

The representation of God as Judge inspires Rafi to dedicate this chapter to Ruth Bader Ginsburg z"l via a little bit of mid-90s rap. Tehillim 9 and 10, argue Robert Addlestone and Rafi Alter should be treated as a single chapter, united by one acrostic. Text here: www.sefaria.org/Psalms.9

Hebrew and English text for this chapter can be found here: 

https://www.sefaria.org/I_Kings.4

Today we begin Sefer Shoftim. I once heard Rav Yaakov Medan refer to it as the most depressing book in Tanakh. Then again, it's packed with some of the most memorable stories.

Text for these chapters can be found here: https://www.sefaria.org/Judges.1,  https://www.sefaria.org/Judges.2

Greetings everybody!
It took nearly a year to do the 220 chapters of Tehillim, Mishlei and Iyov but now we're on our third book in as many weeks.
Shir HaShirim and Ruth - two books told primarily through female protagonists. Now Eikha - how she, Jerusalem, sits alone bereft of those who loved her, in the aftermath of destruction of the Temple in 586BCE.Aliza Libman Baronofsky starts us off with the first chapter, placing it in the context of the life and work of its author, Yirmiyahu.
https://www.sefaria.org/Lamentations.1?lang=bihttps://929.org.il/lang/en/today

Text for this chapter can be found here: https://www.sefaria.org/Deuteronomy.14

Text for this chapter can be found here: https://www.sefaria.org/Exodus.16

אַ֭שְׁרֵי מַשְׂכִּ֣יל אֶל־דָּ֑ל בְּי֥וֹם רָ֝עָ֗ה יְֽמַלְּטֵ֥הוּ יְהוָֽה׃
Happy is he who is thoughtful of the wretched; in bad times may the LORD keep him from harm.

In my audio I consider just one verse in the chapter, and how it relates to one of the great luminaries who left the world this week, Rav Dovid Feinstein: אַ֭שְׁרֵי מַשְׂכִּ֣יל אֶל־דָּ֑ל בְּי֥וֹם רָ֝עָ֗ה יְֽמַלְּטֵ֥הוּ יְהוָֽה׃
Happy is he who is thoughtful of the wretched; in bad times may the LORD keep him from harm.
And if you don't have time to listen to the audio, then at least take on board this beautiful midrash:
אומר אשרי משכיל אל דל (תהלים מא ב), נותן לדל לא נאמר, אלא משכיל היאך ליתן לו שלא לביישו.
The verse does not say, happy is one who gives to the poor, but rather happy is one who considers the poor. Who considers how to give in a way that does not embarrass.

www.sefaria.org/Psalms.50, www.sefaria.org/Psalms.51

Shlomo's request for wisdom and the story of the two women fighting over a single baby.  Hebrew and English text for this chapter can be found here: 

https://www.sefaria.org/I_Kings.3

A scene of abominations in the Temple just years before its destruction, a deep insight into the theme of idolatry in Yechezkel (as opposed to his predecessors), and an intriguing connection between our chapter and the afikoman. Aliza Libman Baronofsky travels with Yechezkel in his vision to Yerushalayim https://www.sefaria.org/Ezekiel.8

Text can be found here: https://www.sefaria.org/Joshua.16

Guest audio from Alan Levenson. He might be an accountant but he loves Tanakh ;)

Text for this chapter can be found here: https://www.sefaria.org/Judges.11

The swords of destruction before arriving at JerusalemFocusing upon the milat mancha the repeated word, of ch.21 is cherev the sword and its role in Tanakh. Text for this chapter can be found here: https://www.sefaria.org/Ezekiel.21

Welcome to the world of the Mishkan. In Bereishit God creates for man. In Shemot man creates for God.   Hebrew and English text for this chapter can be found here: https://www.sefaria.org/Exodus.25

Today we are learning the book of Tzephania - a contemporary of Yirmiyahu in the decades immediately prior to the destruction of the 1st Temple. In my recording I introduce the book and the prophet and consider an intriguing suggestion of the Ibn Ezra as to who Tzephania is descended from. Text here: https://www.sefaria.org/Zephaniah.1

On the symbolism of the nighttime and why Gidon rejects the people's request that he becomes the first king

Text can be found here: https://www.sefaria.org/Judges.7, https://www.sefaria.org/Judges.8

In today's audio we'll be discussing whether Shaul should be considered a model humanitarian or a brutal murderer and will be referencing a letter that Rav Aharon Lichtenstein wrote to Menachem Begin after Sabra and Shatila

Text for this chapter can be found here: https://www.sefaria.org/I_Samuel.15

Judge Rubinstein explores the origins of the Jewish passion for justice and the role of Avraham as the first lawyer.

Text can be found here: https://www.sefaria.org/Genesis.18?lang=bi&aliyot=1

Tehillim 30-32! Chapters describing the experience of being cast low but the potential for those dark circumstances to be turned around - בערב ילין בכי ולבקר רינה - in the night one lies down in tears, in the mornings one rises up in joy. Text here:
www.sefaria.org/Psalms.32

Audio considers significance of Yael's family tree and the Tanakh's insistence on reminding us that Israel has friends as well as enemies.

Text for this chapter can be found here: https://www.sefaria.org/Judges.4

Text for this chapter can be found here: https://www.sefaria.org/Exodus.5

Ilana Stein heroically returns with her Torah on the first two chapters. Text here: https://www.sefaria.org/Zechariah.2

The (in)famous story of the theft of the brachot. Were Yaacov and Rivka justified in their actions? We'll call this chapter Eisav's Teshuva. Or, in a line, the whole story depends on where you start and stop reading.

Text for this chapter: https://www.sefaria.org/Genesis.27?lang=bi&aliyot=1

Text for this chapter can be found here: https://www.sefaria.org/Genesis.23?lang=bi&aliyot=1

Text for this chapter can be found here: https://www.sefaria.org/Deuteronomy.11, https://www.sefaria.org/Deuteronomy.12

No longer ir hakodesh the holy city, but rather ir hadamim the city of blood. He confronts emotionally and honestly his pain at reading a chapter in which his beloved city of Jerusalem is described in such terrible language. His audio is highly worth listening to and perhaps gives us an insight into how difficult it was for the message of the prophets to be received - not because the audience was necessarily so wicked, but because the message was so harsh. Text for this chapter can be found here: https://www.sefaria.org/Ezekiel.22

Text for this chapter can be found here: https://www.sefaria.org/Deuteronomy.23

Esther Chs. 8+9: The Jews fight against their enemies and after the victory begin the celebration which will become known as Purim. Sam Lebens explores the apparently genocidal actions of the Jews against their enemies.

Text here:

https://www.sefaria.org/Esther.8?lang=bi

The prophet continues his masa'aot prophecies about the nations. Text for this chapter can be found here: https://www.sefaria.org/Isaiah.14

Ch 6: The sons of the mighty and the world is filled with violence 

Ch 7: we meet Noach a righteous man in his generationGod tells Noach to enter the ark with his family and the animals

Text in hebrew and english can be found here:

Ch 6: https://www.sefaria.org/Genesis.6?lang=bi&aliyot=0

Ch 7: https://www.sefaria.org/Genesis.7?lang=bi&aliyot=1

Text for this chapter can be found here: https://www.sefaria.org/Isaiah.25

In a showdown with the priest Amatzia, we receive valuable biographical information about who Amos is, even if we might be surprised by his claim that he is not a prophet - לא נביא ולא בן נביא. Aliza Libman Baronofsky thinks deeply about the various interpretations of Amos' profession and origins and what they might mean for how we can understand his role. Text here: https://www.sefaria.org/Amos.7

Perhaps some of the most glorious rhetoric in all of Tanakh if not human history

Text for this chapter can be found here: https://www.sefaria.org/Deuteronomy.30

One megilla down, four to go! Today begins the story of Ruth, the widowed young gentile woman from Mo'av whose kindness and loyalty leads to King David and, according to Jewish tradition, to mashiach. Most of you will have already heard many ideas on Megillat Rut. In my recording today I focus on the deceptively simple question of when the story took place to understand its overall place in Tanakh and how this quiet pastoral story of kindness moves Jewish history forward. My audio is based on a longer written piece which all are welcome to read here https://joewolfson.com/2014/06/01/why-rut/

Text here:

https://www.sefaria.org/Ruth.1?lang=bi

https://929.org.il/lang/en/today

Text here: https://www.sefaria.org/Zechariah.9,, https://www.sefaria.org/Zechariah.10

Chapters of teshuva - including the haftara of Yom Kippur - following on from Hashem's promises in the previous chapter now it is time for Israel to do their work to perfect their society. Text for this chapter can be found here: https://www.sefaria.org/Isaiah.57

After the terrible Menasheh, we have the restoration of Yoshiyahu and the discovery of a very important scroll. The brilliant Ilana Stein once again guides us through the chapter with a special focus on the fascinating prophetess, Hulda. Hebrew and English text for this chapter can be found here: https://www.sefaria.org/II_Kings.22

Text can be found here: https://www.sefaria.org/Genesis.40?lang=bi&aliyot=1

Suddenly a song - a glimpse of the David of Sefer Tehillim in Sefer Shmuel itself with thoughts on landscape and spirituality from Robert Macfarlane and a modern midrash from Erez Lev Ari.

Text for this chapter can be found here: 

https://www.sefaria.org/II_Samuel.22

Avraham returns to Canaan from Egypt as a wealthy man but his shepherds fight with the shepherds of his nephew Lot

Text can be found here: https://www.sefaria.org/Genesis.13?lang=bi&aliyot=1

David brings the ark/aron to Yerushalayim - Mijal is looking from the window at David dancing just as she was looking from the window when she saved him from her father's assassins, but what a difference lies between them! Today's audio using our chapter and Mijal's tragedy as a case study in ambiguity. Text for this chapter can be found here: https://www.sefaria.org/II_Samuel.6

Text for this chapter can be found here: https://www.sefaria.org/I_Kings.5

Text for this chapter can be found here: https://www.sefaria.org/Joshua.14

Text can be found here: https://www.sefaria.org/Genesis.35?lang=bi&aliyot=1

A mighty strange chapter where the prophet is to embody himself the sins of Israel and Yehuda. Text here: https://www.sefaria.org/Ezekiel.3

https://www.sefaria.org/Ezekiel.4

Chs. 52-54 Three chapters each of which focus on critical moments in David's life as a fugitive.
Sam Lebens shares a bumper audio on chapter 53

www.sefaria.org/Psalms.53

Text for this chapter can be found here:

https://www.sefaria.org/Exodus.11

Text for this chapter can be found here: https://www.sefaria.org/Joshua.3

A chapter written by David at one of the most extreme moments in his life - as he pretended to be insane when he rang to seek shelter with the Philistine king Avimelech. Daniel Silverstein returns again with a powerful audio - beginning with a fast paced beautiful rap translation of his own of the chapter and continuing with insights ancient and modern into the chapter and the nature of what it means to desire life. Text here: www.sefaria.org/Psalms.34

Hi Everybody!

Purim is almost here. According to the 929 schedule we will be reading Megillat Esther in just a few weeks,

which is unfortunatley too late for Purim itself. Since it's so close, we wanted to give you the episodes a few weeks ahead of time, though we will publish them again on the 929 schedule.

Trying something new for this one, and combining chapters 6-10.

Let us know if you liked this or not!

Happy Purim!

Timestamps:

00:00 Esther Ch.6-7 Rafi Addlestone brings us his overview of the text inspired by Disney fairytales and Malcolm Gladwell.

03:05 Aladdin and Esther: Parallels in Storytelling

05:51 Esther's Empowerment and the Role of Women in Fairy Tales

08:46 Modern Fairy Tales: Empowered Heroines in Disney

11:10 Conclusion: The Legacy of Esther and Modern Narratives

11:59 The Legal Right to Defend: A Turning Point in Esther (Esther Ch. 8 by Rabbi Sam Lebens)

17:48 Yom Kippur and Purim: Themes of Decrees and Transformation

25:11 Calev Ben Dor explores the connections between the Jews of Purim and those at Sinai in explaining the nature of Jewish identity and obligation. (Ch. 9)

28:10 The Significance of Jewish Celebration

32:04 Understanding Mitzvot and Community Obligation

35:16 Introduction to Chapter 10 of Esther (Esther Ch.10 pt 1 by Rabbi Joe Wolfson)

36:15 The Dual Conclusions of Esther

38:19 Achashverosh: From Buffoon to Hero?

41:16 The Moral Transformation of Achashverosh

43:42 Parallels Between Esther and Yosef (Rabbi Joe Esther Ch.10 part 2)

46:41 Leadership in Exile: B'nai Rachel vs. B'nai Leah

49:34 The Temporary Nature of Political Success

52:44 Linking Esther to the Book of Shemot

Leeds is not frequently considered alongside Jerusalem. What does England's 3rd city of the North (after Manchester and Liverpool, only just ahead of Newcastle), have to say to that fairest of cities upon which the Divine presence dwells? And yet, this modest town whose football team survives only on memories of victories past, has produced not one but two outstanding 929 voices, sharp in their insights, wry in their humour, deep in their compassion. I speak of course of Rafi Addlestone and Harris Lorie who, like Yechezkel displaced from Israel to the exile on the river, sing beautiful Torah from that city on the Thames. They are our hosts today to guide us through the perplexing visions of Zechariah 6 and the religious ambiguities of Ch.7.
https://www.sefaria.org/Zechariah.6

Ch 4: Moshe continues to hesitate in taking on his mission of leadership.  Bumper audio edition today to take in chapters 2+3 as well. At the end of the piece I make brief reference to the super strange story of God trying to kill Mosheh at the inn. Contender for the Tanakh's strangest story here. I'm confident I have the full solution but you'd need to listen to the full shiur here for it: https://www.yutorah.org/lectures/lecture.cfm/876261/joe-wolfson/3-the-inncident-where-hashem-tried-to-kill-mosheh/

https://www.sefaria.org/Exodus.4

Kohelet 7 - see the works of God, for who can fix that which has been perverted

What does our tradition have to say about human-induced damage to our environment? What can it add to the discussion on climate change? I think a midrash on our chapter contains one of the most powerful answers. The full text of the midrash can be found in this article I wrote a number of years ago: https://blogs.timesofisrael.com/a-tu-bshvat-midrash/

Text here:

https://www.sefaria.org/Ecclesiastes.7?lang=bi

Iyov #40 &41 - consider Iyov, says God, the Levitathon and the Behemoth.
Audio from a location where I can appreciate God's argument. Text here: https://www.sefaria.org/Job.40?lang=bi, https://www.sefaria.org/Job.41?lang=bi

Text for this chapter can be found here: https://www.sefaria.org/Exodus.12

Kohelet #6 - the paradox of plenty as Kohelet grapples with too much abundance and success
Rabbi Gamliel Shmalo marshalls insights from Rashi to the Dalai Lama to the head of the Bank of Israel to shed light on the challenges facing a hedonist.

Text here:
https://www.sefaria.org/Ecclesiastes.6?lang=bi

Moshe, the leader whose like would never come again, ascends the mountain.

Audio from Rabbi Lord Jonathan Sacks, International President of 929.

Text for this chapter in Hebrew and English can be found here: https://www.sefaria.org/Deuteronomy.34

The intersection of many Biblical themes. Celebrating the eternity of a great city after a tremendous victory... yet sowing the seeds for future calamity.

Text here: www.sefaria.org/Psalms.48

Audio on the greatest Rashi of all.

Text for this chapter can be found here: https://www.sefaria.org/Deuteronomy.1

Today is a big day. We finish Iyov and begin Shir HaShirim, the first of the megillot. Here's a thought - Iyov, a book so great, heavy and dreadful about a man who suffers - is book ended by two of the ultimate love poems celebrating different aspects of femininity, Eishet Chayil in Mishlei 30, and Shir HaShirim.
To conclude the final mighty chapter of Job, we celebrate with two superb recordings from two of our fantastic teachers - Calev Ben Dor and Rabbi Dr Lebens (who also provides a bonus one). Two very different recordings a tribute to both the teachers and the text - אחת דבר אלוקים, שתים זו שמעתי Text here: https://www.sefaria.org/Job.42?lang=bi

We felt that things were too good to last and now they go downhill, very fast. A king shouldn’t have too many wives – Shlomo has 1,000. A king’s role is serve God as leader of the people. Shlomo worships, or at least enables others to worship, a wide variety of pagan gods. Shlomo’s story has left me with a lot of thoughts. The pomp and the grandeur felt so foreign to us – that’s not how Jews do it. Humility is the goal and aspiration. But Shlomo gave a good argument for it – I want be a light unto the nations and so I want to build something grand that the world will take notice of. That makes sense. (R Yose in the Talmud Yerushalmi Sanhedrin 2:6 – says that he married so many wives in order to draw them close to Torah – in contrast to Rabbi Shimon b. Yohai who sees him acting out of lust). And that seemed to work for a few chapters. But the bigger they come the harder they fall. The Tanakh never lets us have it easy. The bigger the potential for Kiddush hashem, the bigger the potential for hillul hashem – it’s a thin line between sanctification and desecration. The gemara in Sanhedrin (104b) goes so far as to quote an opinion that Shlomo is among those who have no share in the world to come! We don’t need to go that far in order to see that like his father David in a different context – elevation and humiliation go hand in hand with one another.

I’ve written the above to share my thoughts as preface to a special conversation that Calev Ben Dor had with Rabbi Irwin Kula, president of CLAL, who considers what Shlomo’s story has in common with our contemporary situation, where Jews are once again as affluent and as potentially influential as they were in Solomon’s time. Hebrew and English text for this chapter can be found here: https://www.sefaria.org/I_Kings.11

If yesterday inspired the Battle Hymn, today's chapter inspires one of Yom Kippur's most memorable passages: 'we are the clay and you are the potter'

Text for this chapter can be found here: https://www.sefaria.org/Isaiah.64

Ilana Stein will share her wisdom on ch.30 and the words of Agur who describes himself as 'a boor of a man' but nevertheless has much wisdom to impart. Text here: https://www.sefaria.org/Proverbs.30?lang=bi

Text for this chapter can be found here: https://www.sefaria.org/Judges.18

based on a piece I wrote many years ago: https://joewolfson.com/2014/05/22/bamidbar-and-a-serious-man-2/. Hebrew and English text for this chapter can be found here: https://www.sefaria.org/Numbers.10

Calev was and is a formative mentor for me in Zionism, its thought, its beauty, its challenges, its opportunity and its dangers. He also loves to learn and teach Jewish texts and link them up with topics connected to Israel. He's always viewed the story of the spies as one of the most important 'sugyot' for how we think about the Jewish love and fear of the land of Israel. Text for this chapter can be found here: https://www.sefaria.org/Numbers.14

Shir HaShirim #2 and #3: springtime in the land of Israel, lovers longing for one another, but rivals and destructive foxes lie around them.
Audio from Aliza Libman Baronofsky on daughters of Jerusalem in ch.3. Text here:
https://www.sefaria.org/Song_of_Songs.3?lang=bi

Moshe's obedience and the Princes' initiative. Hebrew and English text for this chapter can be found here: https://www.sefaria.org/Numbers.7

 Rabbi Joe uses the work of Israeli novelist Meir Shalev to explore our chapter.

Text can be found here: https://www.sefaria.org/Genesis.22?lang=bi&aliyot=1

The prophets hair becomes the source for symbolic actions. Text for this chapter can be found here: ⁠https://www.sefaria.org/Ezekiel.5

Here are my thoughts on chs35 and 36, featuring one of my all time favourite verses כל עצמותי תאמרנה ה' מי כמוך
all of my limbs will declare, Hashem, who is like you. Text here: www.sefaria.org/Psalms.35, www.sefaria.org/Psalms.36

In Rabbi Joe's audio we bridge the end of one great book and the beginning of another.

Text here: ⁠http://www.sefaria.org/Psalms.150⁠

https://www.sefaria.org/Proverbs.1?lang=bi

Calev Ben Dor, drawing in Aviva Zornberg and David Grossman, reflects on the meaning of the verse that 'wisdom is not to be found in the tehom, the depths or the abyss', as a window into the way the bereaved and those who have suffered unbearable loss survive. Text here:
https://www.sefaria.org/Job.28?lang=bi

Ch.22 - Elifaz's third attempt to convince Iyov of the error of his ways.
Rabbi Dr Sam Lebens explores the evolving interpretations of a single verse in our chapter, how Talmudic and Kabbalistic teachings sought to find deeper meaning in the words of Iyov's friends even if on a surface level and in context they will be rejected by Iyov, Elihu and God. Text here:
https://www.sefaria.org/Job.22?lang=bi

The Cry Of The Victim I think it's a major theme of Shemot captured within attention to a few specific words in our chapter.   Hebrew and English text for this chapter can be found here: https://www.sefaria.org/Exodus.22

Iyov 4 and 5: Eliphaz, the first of the friends, speaks up with not-so-comforting words of 'you must have deserved it'. There's a vision too - at first glance it appears to be Eliphaz's, but does that make sense? Audio from Ilana! Text here: https://www.sefaria.org/Job.4?lang=bi, https://www.sefaria.org/Job.5?lang=bi

Melachim II Chs. 15-17 are full and quite challenging chapters featuring multiple kings in both Yehuda and Yisrael and shifting alliances and security challenges with Aram, Assyria and Egypt. In today's audio Calev guides us through the thicket culminating with profound thoughts on the exile of the 10 tribes - the moment where the majority of the Jewish people disappear from history. Hebrew and English text for these chapters can be found here: https://www.sefaria.org/II_Kings.15, https://www.sefaria.org/II_Kings.16, https://www.sefaria.org/II_Kings.17