Tanach In Depth (isaacson)

The Book of Samuel: chapter 31 + Siyum

Whither Malchut

Welcome to our thirtieth in a continuing series on the book of Shmuel or Samuel and the founding of Jewish monarchy.

Episode 30: Death of a Hero

This chapter concludes the tragic and heroic life of king Shaul. We touch on some of the halachic concepts around suicide, euthanasia, and notice how many elements in this chapter are reflective of earlier events in this book. We conclude with several excursions, including on the parallels between stories in Shmuel and those in Shoftim, a look at how elements of Shmuel Aleph lay the groundwork for the events in Megillat Ether and finally, we attempt to explain how Shaul’s end can be seen more as a triumphant act of heroism, rather than a sad coda to his life.

All this and more.

Thank you for joining us, I hope you enjoy this podcast and will consider sharing it with others.

Welcome to messy-nism, understanding Moshiach episode 3. This week we read through a survey of pesukim in Tanach which speak about the days of Moshiach and find a very different eschatological picture than we might expect. We begin to see where and how Rambam and the Geonic diverge and we wonder if it is Moshiach or Hashem alone who will be ushering in this new era.

I hope you enjoy

Welcome to messy-nism, the Jewish understanding of Moshiach, episode 4. This week we look at extra-biblical and non-canonical sources that discuss Moshiach. We trace the reference to a Moshiach ben Aharon found in the dead sea scrolls to a source in Zechariah and eventually back to Yetziat Metzrayim. We explore an Aggadah where Yonatan ben Uziel is prevented from producing a targum of Ketuvim for fear of disclosing the meaning of of the verses in Daniel which would reveal the arrival of Moshiach and ask if the date of the arrival is a fixed quantifiable piece of data or not, and finally we begin exploring a series of aggadot from Sanhedrin on what will happen in the generation of the advent of Moshiach.

Man is commanded to work and guard the garden, just as the Levites are commanded to do so for the Mishkan/tabernacle but that begs the question - who is man guarding the garden from? We notice that Man, who is often identified by his unique faculty of language, does precious little actual speaking and we contrast this with the talmudic story (further explicated in the text of Sefer Yetzirah/ the Book of Creation) of the creation of a golem (automaton) who is likewise found to be incapable of speech. We identify the radical implications of the need for communication in order to facilitate creation and ask if the original Ezer K'Negdo was supposed to be God.

Thanks for joining us.

Welcome to Messynism, the Jewish view of Moshiach episode 8. This week comes with a warning, some of the material discussed is controversial and listeners may be uncomfortable. I believe that the substance of what is covered is accurate and important. If you continue to listen please do so with an open mind and feel free to reach out to me if you would like to discuss further on twitter @isaacson This week we summarize the story of Shabbetai Tsvi before delving into some of the mainstream Rabbinic texts which were contorted to support the claims of the movement. We then discuss the aftermath of Shabbetai Tsvi and his movement including Jacob Frank and the heresy hunting of Rav Yaakov Emden and Moshe Hagiz and the controversies surrounding Rav Yonatan Eibshitz and Rav Moshe Chaim Luzzato respectively. Finally we touch on the, as yet not well understood connections between the Sabbatean debacle and the rise of the Chassidic movement. Thank you for joining us.

Whither Malchut

Welcome to our Sixth in a continuing series on the book of Shmuel or Samuel and the founding of Jewish monarchy Episode 6. This week we cover chapter 3 which juxtaposes Shmuel’s ascent with Eli’s decline. We offer a unique reading of Shmuel’s sleep in the Mishkan and finally we ask why Shmuel’s first prophecy seems to be so inconsequential to Eli, to Shmuel and to us the reader?

All this and more.

Thanks for joining us and please consider sharing this recording with others.

Thanks for joining us for advanced bereshsit for Beginners.  This week we take a look at the begats of chapter 5 and find the importance of tracing the spiritual genetics given to Adam is more critical than Rebbi Akivas klall gadol.

Thanks again for learning with us!

We continue our exploration of the conceptual symbolism embedded in the Megillah and look at Ruth’s acts of fealty as establishing a new paradigm for both relating to the other and relating to God. We address how the idea of being a chosen people can allow for and even embrace converts and find that the answer comes from Malchut, kingship, something that the megillah revolves around.

Thank you for taking the time to listen and I hope you enjoy.

---

Some Additional Sources 

1. Gordis, R’ Robert - Love, Marriage, and Business in the Book of Ruth
2. Yossi Prager - https://traditiononline.org/megillat-ruth-a-unique-story-of-torat-hesed/
3. R’ Joshua Berman - https://www.degruyter.com/document/doi/10.1515/ZAW.2007.003/pdf
4. Bezalel Porten - Theme and Historiosophic Background of the Scroll of Ruth
5. https://lookstein.org/resource/ruth_literary.pdf
6. Trible, Phillis - God and the Rhetoric of
7. Scrolls of Love: Ruth and the Song of Songs
8. Brad Embry - “Redemption-Acquisition”: The Marriage of Ruth as a Theological Commentary
9. Davis, Andrew R. - The Literary Effect of Gender Discord in the Book of Ruth, Journal of Biblical Literature, Vol. 132, No. 3 (2013), pp. 495-513
10. Porten, Bezalel - Theme and Historiosophic Background of the Scroll of Ruth
11. Zeigler, Yael - Ruth - Maggid Series
12. Angel, R. Hayyim - Ruth Amid a Sea of Ambiguity
13. A Critical Engagement, edited by David J.A. Clines and Ellen van Wolde
14. Rav Medan - Ruth from the Depths
15. ’A SON IS BORN TO NAOMI!’: LITERARY ALLUSIONS AND INTERPRETATION IN THE BOOK OF RUTH, Danna Nolan Fewell and David M. Gunn
16. https://lookstein.org/resource/ruth_literary.pdf
17. Isaac Asimov, The Story of Ruth
18. Kass, Leon - Reading Ruth: Birth, Redemption, and the Way of Israel
19. The use of קנה‬ in Connection with Marriage - David Weiss HaLivni
20. Iniquities of Ammon and Moab - Rabbi Chaim (Rudolph) Klein
21. Sara Japhet - The term Ger and the Concept of Conversion in the Hebrew Bible
22. Cynthia Ozick - Metaphor and Memory
23. Rabbi Shai Held - God's Hesed and Our Own: Reading the Book of Ruth with Rabbi Shai Held. Part 1
24. Yair Zakovitch - Mikre L’Yisroel + Youtube - https://youtu.be/Q2-6WErPD-4

This shiur discusses the unusual quality of Daniel 7, we also diagram the chiastic structure of chapters 2-7 and touch upon the commentary of Sir Isaac Newton

This week we look at Yosef and Shimshon and how thematic elements of their lives appear in the biographies of Rav Yochanan and Rebbi Meir? Welcome to A twice told tale, the retelling of Tanach in the Aggadah, episode 3

After a brief recap of the previous weeks we touch on the fact that the purpose of exploring these comparisons is not necessarily to delve into the underlying message each parallel might be conveying, but rather to test the hypothesis that when Chazal are able to utilize thematic elements from Tanach in the Aggadah there is a bias towards doing so. I hope you enjoy.

Welcome to Ruth chapter four, what a whirlwind! From the morally murky chapter 3 we move to the legally murky next day. Suddenly there is a field, and Boaz attempts to tie the redemption of that field to the marriage of Ruth. Nary a mention is found of the prohibition of this union and we conclude with the happily ever after, not of our eponymous heroine Ruth, but surprisingly of Naomi. Though it has been a strange trip to get here, we’re actually just at the beginning of our journey. Thanks for listening.

Welcome to A Twice Told Tale, the retelling of Tanach in the Aggadah. Episode 1

By way of introduction we discuss how to define, or not define Aggadah in contrast to halacha. We then hone in on a special case of Aggadah, story qua story. Finally we offer our first concrete example of an Aggadah which sees a current story, taking place during the times of the tannaim and amoraim, as being a recreation of or in parallel to an earlier story from Tanach. We use the example of the sun standing still for Nakdimon ben Gurion and Yehoshua to illustrate what will be a recurring pattern in this series.

Thanks for joining us and I hope you enjoy

Whither Malchut

Welcome to our fourth in a continuing series on the book of Shmuel or Samuel and the founding of Jewish monarchy.

Episode 4. This week we begin chapter 2 and are immediately confronted with the perplexity of Chana’s famous prayer. How do these seemingly disparate statements hang together and why, as Rashi and others point out, is she continuously referring back to the misery she experienced at the hands of Penina. The solution we offer is to see Chana casting herself as a new Naomi, with the hopes of being the progenitor of kingship. All this and more.

Thanks for joining us and please consider sharing this recording with others.

This shiur contains a brief summary of Sefer Daniel chapters 1 and 2 before commencing with a reading and commentary on chapter 3 taken from classic meforshim and modern day scholars

An exploration of the lesson of Tu b'Av as seen through 3 Hosheas

The (Second) Book of Samuel: chapter 6b

Welcome to 2 Samuel, Shmuel part Bet, chapter vav, part b

Episode 36: Dance Me to the End of Love

1. We see the gemarah Sotah regarding the sin which triggered the catastrophe with Uzzah, which will confuse us even a bit more

2. We’ll try to answer what went wrong the first time and right the second 

3. We explain why David was so forceful in his response to Michal and why she was punished the way she was

4. We offer a suggestion as to what this chapter has to do with Parshat Shmini where it is the haftorah

5. 2 views on Uzzah

We continue to explore Genesis, the sin and punishment of Cain 

Episode 23 Fomenting Rebellion? Welcome to our twenty-third in a continuing series on the book of Shmuel or Samuel and the founding of Jewish monarchy.

Whither Malchut Chapter 20 brings collective amnesia as we pretend that Shaul didn’t just try to kill David. Instead David concocts an elaborate ruse to force his dear friend Yehonatan to see the truth of his father’s madness. We note parallels between the rosh chodesh meal of Shaul and the feast of Esther and offer an explanation for why Yehonatan needed to be bothered with shooting arrows when he was able to simply speak to David directly in the end.

Lastly, I offer an extended musing on the concept of Mored b’Malchut as applied to David and Yonatan and find a surprising explanation in the story of Uzziah which has many similarities to the current situation in Israel.

All this and more.

Thank you for joining us, I hope you enjoy this podcast and will consider sharing it with others.

Thank you for joinins us for Messy-nism the Jewish view of Moshiach episode 5. In this jam packed shiur we discuss the opinion of Rebbi Hillel that the person of Moshiach has already come and gone, identify possible names for the Messiah, try to understand if Moshiach can come from the dead and explore the sources for several anti-nomian ideas such as the mitzvot being nullified in the future and the arrival of a new Torah. Lastly we look at references to Moshiach in the world of Piyut both historically and into our modern era. I hope you enjoy.

 

One final request, if you do enjoy this shiur, please tell a friend and help spread the word. Thank you.

Away Apart: The Parting of the Ways Between Judaism and Christianity

Preview of coming attractions

In lieu of a new class this week I'd like to give you a sneak peek of what's in store. We will, iy"h, be completing Shmuel part Aleph shortly and my goal before we go on break and before we start part Bet is to take a brief detour to a very different, but to my mind fascinating topic, known to historians as the Parting of the Ways.

This mini-series will look at a critical period in Jewish history, the era in which Christianity is founded and splits from Judaism. This topic has been explored by historians thoroughly, but to my knowledge rarely through the lens of halacha.

We will try to engage the question of when, according to Jewish law, where Christians seen as no longer Jewish.

Looking forward to learning with you

The (Second) Book of Samuel: chapter 6a

Welcome to 2 Samuel, Shmuel part Bet, chapter vav, part a

Episode 35: Carried Away

After having reached the zenith of his political career King David seeks to synthesize his kingship with Hashem by escorting the Ark (last seen early in Shmuel part Aleph) to his newfound capital, Jerusalem. All seemed to be going well, until tragedy struck. Death leads the disbanding of the cavalcade; David is unsure if his mission is in line with God's intent. After divine blessing is shown the parade resumes.

Later David comes home to bless his wife only to be berated for his behavior. David responds in kind and the chapter ends with a punishment of the last vestige of Shaul's children.

But we are only scratching the surface. Why did the Aron seem to fall? What went wrong the first time and right the second? Who is the mysterious Oved-Edom and why in fact was Uzzah killed?

Thanks for joining us, please consider sharing this podcast with a friend.

---

Bonus: Loin Girding Instructions (h/t Dr. Charles)

Join our conversation in asking lots of questions on the second chapter of Genesis. Where, within the garden, was the tree of knowledge located? Why is man needed to pray for rain if the garden has a stream to irrigate it? For that matter, why do we have a radically different second story of Man's creation?!

(we'll avoid the facile and reductionist documentary hypothesis - for a rebuttal of that approach see our previous talk on Biblical Criticism)

Whither Malchut

Welcome to our twelfth in a continuing series on the book of Shmuel or Samuel and the founding of Jewish monarchy.

Episode 12

This week we discuss why, absent a directive from God, kings are anointed with oil and what such a symbolic act might mean. We note, with Dr. Micah Goodman that while Shmuel may not be in favor of kingship broadly, he seems to be accepting of Shaul as king because of Shauls obsequious nature. Lastly we note the lottery-like process of selecting Shaul before the people reminds us of the wicked Achan.

All this and more.

Thanks for joining us and please consider sharing this recording with others.

The (Second) Book of Samuel: chapter 13

Welcome to 2 Samuel, Shmuel part Bet, chapter thirteen

Episode 41: Polyphonic Catastrophe

In chapter 13 there is a cacophony of intertextuality. References to other stories from Tanach abound, from the story of the rape of Dinah to the tragedy of Pilegesh b'Giveah, with references to the stories of Yosef and his brothers, Sodom and more. What all these incidents have in common with our story is that they are tales of how someone powerless is taken advantage of by those in a position of power. A fitting punishment for David after the incident with Batsheva and Uriah. 

In our story Amnon uses deception to seclude himself with his half-sister Tamar whom he rapes. Afterwards the response of two men are wildly divergent. David, her father, may be seething with anger, but takes no action. Avshalom, her brother, on the other hand, bides his time for 2 years before exacting revenge and killing his naval of a brother. Avshalom, like his father before him, flees to his royal non-Jewish relatives in Geshur and we are left to ponder questions such as how much of these events were driven by the Machievellian guidance of Yonadav? Is Avshalom a hero, villain or both? Why does David not act? All this and more.

Thanks for joining us. If you enjoy this content please consider giving us a 5 star rating and a brief review. Even better, share this with your friends and help our torah reach more learners. 

Whither Malchut

Welcome to our ninth in a continuing series on the book of Shmuel or Samuel and the founding of Jewish monarchy.

Episode 9

This is the chapter you’ve been waiting for (sorry, chapter 7 wasn’t recorded), we finally begin the transition to a king and a royal line and it is perplexing and mystifying. How is it possible that Shmuel allows his sons to not follow in his ways when he saw first hand the results of Eli and Eli’s children? Why would the people who clearly identify the problem with dynastic leadership expressly request dynastic leadership? Where does the mishpat Hamelech that Shmuel shares with them come from? And perhaps most surprising, if God tells Shmuel to listen to the people and appoint a king, twice, why does the chapter end with Shmuel’s failure to do so?!

All this and more.

Thanks for joining us and please consider sharing this recording with others.

Welcome to 2 Samuel, Shmuel part Bet, chapter 1

Episode 31: Lying and Dying

This week we transitioned from the death of Shaul to its immediate aftermath. We encounter a bizarre account of shaul's last moments told from the perspective of an outsider, an Amalekite

From a literary perspective the author wants us to recall the tragedy of the death of Eli and his sons from the beginning of Sefer shmuel. The context there is a failure of leadership which begets a national ruination. Such is there case again here where Shaul’s death precipitates a major military loss.

But somehow that loss is not truly our focus, because the paradigm has shifted to the role of the leader. There was no one to lament the death of Eli and his sons, but in our chapter that task falls to David who both acts decisively to show that he will brook no ill will towards his predecessor, as well as showing his compassion and admiration for his liege lord shaul and his dearest friend Yehonatan.

We end our chapter with some unanswered questions around the chronology from the combining of the Shaul and David narratives. Is it possible that David sent gifts from his spoils of war while the nation mourned the death of their king? It should go without saying that we cannot believe the Amalekite's account. He seems to be the first in a number of people who believe they can ingratiate themselves with David by being a part of the downfall of the king's perceived enemies, only to find that in doing so they themselves become David's enemy and are immediately vanquished.

Thanks for joining, I hope you enjoy and would be grateful if you could recommend this channel to a friend.

The (Second) Book of Samuel: chapters 4 & 5

Welcome to 2 Samuel, Shmuel part Bet, chapters daled and heh

Episode 34: From Cellophane to Camelot

[We begin with a rousing rendition of Mr. Cellophane (Chicago the Musical)]

Previously on the book of Shmuel (part Bet) we saw how David dealt with a very politically sensitive issue. Avner, who was essentially the puppet master behind the kingship of Ish-Boshet had no sooner agreed to switch to David’s side and unite the monarchy under him, when he is ignominiously murdered by David’s head of the army. We pointed out that while Daid is able to distance himself from that act, he nevertheless capitalizes on it to have Avner buried not in Binyamin but in Yehuda. 

This week we will once again see David’s enemies eliminated without his knowledge or consent. Once that is sorted it is finally time for David’s monarchy and character arc to reach its pinnacle. Everything goes right, and for a time we are able to enter Camelot. Let’s savor it while it lasts.

Away, Apart: The parting of the ways between Christianity and Judaism - Episode 1

As a preface to this series I highly recommend watching Monty Python's The Life of Brian or this clip (warning: potty language!)

In this mini-series we will seek to answer 1 question which drives our whole discussion; since Christianity sprouted from Judaism, how exactly did that work from a halachic perspective? To put it in extreme terms, was Sruly a good halachic Jew one day and then after he decides to believe in Christianity is he suddenly a goy the next day? If not, what happened and when?

This week we explore a bunch of background information before we can even attempt to answer that question. Things like who are the stakeholders during this time period? Can we halachically mention the name of the person around whom Christianity revolves? We talk about the texts that will be our sources for information from that time, like the Roman historian Tacitus, the Jewish historian Yosef ben Matisyahu - better known as Flavius Josephus and much more.

Lastly, a word of caution - my goal here is to explore the history of halacha and how it intersects with Christianity. I am 100% in no way advocating for any adoption of Christianity by Jews. In fact just the opposite, I want to state unequivocally that Christianity is not for Jews in any way, shape, or form.

If there are any Christians listening to this podcasts I encourage you to support Jews and Jewish causes whenever possible, and to adhere to the 7 Noahide laws.

Thanks for listening and I hope you will share this recording with others.

Welcome to the book of Shmuel chapter 1. This week we trace some of the background for the first perek back to the story of Pilegesh b’givah by noting the unusual term miyamim yamima. In sefer shoftim we come to identify the roots of the kingship of Shaul as related to Yavesh gilead and we understand how unlikely a king from Shevet Binyamin would be.

Thanks for joining and please consider sharing this podcast with others.

WARNING: This episode contains controversial material, listener discretion is advised.

Welcome to the 9th and final installment of Messy-nism, the Jewish view of Moshiach. This week we cover Zionism and the Messianic vision of Rav Kook as well as the Lubavitcher Rebbi and the revival of the fervor for bringing Moshiach at the end of the 20th century. We take a look at some Messianic claimants in the 21st century including the Yanuka and conclude with an attempt at understanding the value and need for a Messiah in Judaism overall. Thank you for joining us.

Notes from this series: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1ujPRd6P61Ouq_3QoW-9Kor4Uw_5bAAz0blauL4T8gXM/edit?usp=sharing

Welcome to our continuing series on Megillas Rus. This week we review the conceptual structures that we put in place previously to give the megillah context within the greater oeuvre of Tanach. We contrast Elimelech and Naomi’s actions with that of Lot and Rus’s actions with Avraham. We note a continuing pattern that presents itself with David and Ittai haGitti and then we set the stage for chapter 2 by stacking the deck against the entrance of a female Moabite into the Jewish people. We prepare for chapter 2 with a brief look at the commandment of Leket, the right of the poor person to collect certain produce of the field. Thanks for joining us.

Join us as we explore the symbolism of Yachatz at the seder. How does breaking apart underlie the seder as a whole and how we relate to the concept of chatzot? 

Read the full write up here

We continue our exploration of the book of Jonah by looking at the broader context of how Chazal related to Yonah and his story as well as the textual allusions embedded in the book. 

Source sheet

From Understanding to Meaning

We continue to analyze patterns in language and theme between Song of Songs and other parts of Tanakh. Two specific examples of wayward and broken relationships that are contrasted are in Hoshea chapter 2 and Mishlei/Proverbs chapter 7.

We use these comparisons to explain the necessity for writing Song of Songs poetically, rather than simply saying that Hashem and the Jewish people love each other, the reason for the metaphorical language is to contrast with other prophetic metaphorical language that is used to describe the Jewish nation straying after idolatry as a form of harlotry or a debasing of their loving relationship.

Welcome to our second shiur on Megillas Rus. We explore a little more of the background of Moav in the chumash and then begin to read the first perek where we find many questions around Elimelech and his family's choice of destination.  

Thanks for listening.

Discussion of whether or not Job (Iyov) passed Satan's test

Welcome to the 2nd episode offering an in depth study of the Song of Songs. We are reading through the megillah first with a variety of literal translations include Marvin Pope, The Blochs, Rabbi Klapper, JPS, and Robert Alter. After a brief recap of some of the basic points from the first 2 chapters we cover chapters 3 and 4 this week.

Whither Malchut

Welcome to our sixteenth in a continuing series on the book of Shmuel or Samuel and the founding of Jewish monarchy.

Episode 16

We seek to plumb the depths of the exceedingly rich chapter 14 including noting how Yonatan's approach to basically everything is the inverse of Shaul. This leads us to another example of our Twice Told Tale series wherein we compare chapter 14 to the story in the talmud of Dama ben Netina. Next we point out the historical curiosity of the British using the geography of our perek to combat the Ottoman Turks in WWI.

Additional topics include comparing Yonatan and Shimshon an excursus on the Urim v'Tummim and a discussion of David Jobling's reading of Yonatan as essentially a junior David to serve as the transition from Shaul to David

All this and more.

Thank you for joining us, I hope you enjoy this podcast and will consider sharing it with others.

Approaches to Understanding the Text Citing from Rishonim and Achronim we discuss how to understand allegory and metaphor in Tanach generally and Song of Songs specifically. Does eros lead to agape?

Next we identify some recurring themes such as everyone guarding something.

We then trace many terms used for love and relationship in Song of Songs with their original sources in the Gan Eden story and see how their use in the megillah is attempting to illustrate the resolution for earlier breakdowns in relationships.

Finally we try to understand the meaning of the parallels between Shir HaShirm and the Keruvim and the story of Bilaam.

Whither Malchut

Welcome to our twenty-sixth in a continuing series on the book of Shmuel or Samuel and the founding of Jewish monarchy.

Episode 26: The Tables have Turned

This is the first of 3 chapters where David’s enemies fall into his hands and he refrains from killing them. Chapter 24 finds David conflicted on how to deal with Shaul, whom he finds in a precarious position. David must both act in accordance with what he believes is the will of God, but also in a way that will spare him and his men continued suffering. We discuss whether or not David has a halachic obligation to kill Shaul and the poignancy of Shaul’s temporary reprieve from his divine madness is powerfully felt.

All this and more.

Thank you for joining us, I hope you enjoy this podcast and will consider sharing it with others.

Welcome to the first part of Megillat Ruth chapter 2. Here we begin to explore the perplexing relationship between Rus, Boaz and Naomi. We make an argument for an allusion to Naomi and Elimelech’s field of which will appear later on in the text and we underscore that though Boaz seems magnanimous in his treatment of Ruth, perhaps there is more at play. Thanks for joining us.

Whither Malchut

Welcome to our twenty-fourth in a continuing series on the book of Shmuel or Samuel and the founding of Jewish monarchy.

Episode 24 Wherever I May Roam

In chapters 21 & 22 David goes on the lam. We follow the “refuge who would be king” to Nov and then the Plishti city of Gath wondering why David would choose this, the worst possible location for which to flee. Luckily the king of the Plishtim has a good sense of humor about the situation. However, when Doeg, here in the role of Haman, informs Shaul of David’s access to a divine message, something which plays upon the king’s paranoid insecurities, a Churban of Nov ensues.

All this and more.

Thank you for joining us, I hope you enjoy this podcast and will consider sharing it with others.

 -----

Map of David’s movements (courtesy of R’ Weinberg) https://www.thelivingtree.org/?downloadMedia=true&requestUrl=http://media.thelivingtree.org/audio/nach/03-shemuel_i/21-david%27smovements.pdf

The (Second) Book of Samuel: chapter 7

Welcome to 2 Samuel, Shmuel part Bet, chapter seven

Episode 37: 天命

In this chapter David makes an unheard of request, to build a permanent home for Hashem. Instead, he gets more than he bargained for, with God promising to build him a home, or rather a dynasty instead. We contrast this with the realia of the history of David's descendants on the throne as well as Tehillim 89.

Thanks for joining, please rate this show and share it with others.

This shiur is an overview of the book of Ezra (and Nechamiah) giving you the historical background, biographies of Ezra and Nechemiah, a basic understanding of the structure of the book and discussing a practical lesson that the book teaches us. The outline and realia referenced can be found here.

Welcome to Messy-nism the Jewish Understanding of Moshiach episode 7

This week we navigate through the approach of Jewish mysticism to Moshiach starting with the Heichalot literature proceeding to the Zohar, Rabbi Avraham Abulafia and his attempt to convert the Pope, the Arizal and his student R’ Chaim Vital and finally culminating in the most famous and successful Jewish false messiah of the past 1600 years, Shabbetai Tsvi. Thank you for joining us and I hope you enjoy.

 

If you find these shiurim interesting or valuable I would be grateful if you shared them with a  friend.

Whither Malchut

Welcome to our eighth in a continuing series on the book of Shmuel or Samuel and the founding of Jewish monarchy Episode 8.

This week we cover chapters 5-6, and try to understand, fundamentally what the need is for all this information. Meaning, why include two chapters of God destroying the Plishtim when we can sum up the events in 2-3 sentences. However, what we uncover is an intentional patterning on a previous story in the Chumash. Then we turn our attention to ask what the author is trying to accomplish through the use of this pattern. All this and more.

Thanks for joining us and please consider sharing this recording with others.

We begin our exploration of the meaning of Song of Songs, why it was written, why it is missing any overt religious message, and who wrote it. There's also a great anecdote about C.S. Lewis's Jewish child.

The (Second) Book of Samuel: chapters 8& 9

Welcome to 2 Samuel, Shmuel part Bet, chapters eight and nine

Episode 38: David the Conqueror, David oathkeeper

In chapter 8 we kaleidoscope King David's entire military expansion. We see how recent archeological discoveries corroborate details in the text including the kingdom of Edom and King Toi/Tai(ta).

Here is a good map

Chapter 9 we meet David's Rebbi, Mephiboshet and King David keeps his promise to Yehonatan.

Thanks for joining, please rate this show and share it with others.

Thanks for listening to this episode of Advanced Bereshit for Beginners where we will cover some textual and conceptual problems that came to light from our reading of chapter 3.

We’ll discuss why the woman and man didn’t eat from the tree of life, why they didn’t die when they ate from the tree of knowledge and what connection all of this has with their nascent physical development.

If you’d like to join live or submit questions please message me on twitter.com/Isaacson.

Enjoy!

The (Second) Book of Samuel: chapter 15

Welcome to 2 Samuel, Shmuel part Bet, chapter fifteen

Episode 43: Rebel Rebel

This week Avshalom rebels in a not so subtle manner - this reminds us a lot of Shmuel Alef where sons did not continue the positive legacy of their fathers. Avshalom is methodical in probing and breaking down the various symbolic components of David's kingship.

David immediately accepts the coup d'état as a fait accompli. In his retreat, he meets 3 groups of loyalists sending at least 2 sets back to Jerusalem to be his eyes and ears, and to report back. He refuses to let the Aron be misused again and shows particular concern for his old advisor, Achitofel. 

We noted parallels in structure between the beginning and end of the chapter and how Ittai is both a recasting of David (in his time at Gath) and Ruth (when she showed fealty to Naomi).

Next time we will see David’s additional encounters, we will learn what happens when Hushai goes up against Achitofel and we will see Avshalom publicize his rebellion in earnest.Thanks for joining us. If you enjoy this content please consider giving us a 5 star rating and a brief review. Even better, share this with your friends and help our torah reach more learners. 

This shiur covers two topics - the siman of Korech at the seder - what can we learn from this sandwich? - and Shir HaShirim, the megillah which is read over Pesach - how does it connect to the mysterious Keruvim? We offer a new perspective on how to relate to this holy song. 

Essays with sources

• Korech
• Shir HaShirim

In the final chapter of Advanced Bereshit for Beginners we study Genesis chapter 6.  We'll explore the continued descent of mankind, trying to unravel who the mysterious Benei Elohim and Niphilim were. Finally we discuss how some of the patterns we have seen until now play out, and prepare creation for the journey ahead

Continuation of Iyov chapter 1

Welcome to the sixth and final installment of A Twice Told Tale: The retelling of Tanach in the Aggadah. In this shiur we outline the similarities and differences between the concept of gilgul, reincarnation or metempsychosis and our principle in the Aggadah, we explore the story of one of the, spoiler alert, four Jewish temples, Beit Chonyo and compare it to thestory of Pesel Micah. Finally we offer some thoughts as to what the reason for this principle might be, taken from, of all place, Artscroll biographies. I hope you’ve enjoyed this fugue. Thanks for listening.

For the full shiur notes and bibliography message me on twitter - @isaacson

What do Hizkiyahu Hamelech and Ben Azzai have in common?

This week we continue probing the idea that some of the stories and midrashim you least suspect as containing references to Tanach actually do. We also try to clearly identify the boundaries of this pattern, what criteria are in and what’s out? Thanks for joining us and enjoy!

Whither Malchut

Welcome to our twenty-second in a continuing series on the book of Shmuel or Samuel and the founding of Jewish monarchy.

Episode 22 The betrayals

This chapter (19) begins to overtly express Shaul’s desire to kill David at the same time as those closest to Shaul including his daughter and mentor conspire to help Shaul’s enemy. We continue the motif of Shaul as Lavan and explain why Shaul didn’t simply have David killed at night in his bed. We note the parallel between our story of a king sending 3 waves of messengers to are unable to bring back the person the king wants because they have been spiritually elevated with the story of Oneklos the convert. For more on the pattern of Aggadot which are covertly sourced in Tanakh see our series, A Twice Told Tale on the retelling of Tanakh in the Aggadah.

Lastly, we wonder why Psalm 59 is the first time chronologically that David makes a direct reference to life events from the book of Samuel.

All this and more.

Thank you for joining us, I hope you enjoy this podcast and will consider sharing it with others.

This is the One Is Hashem/ Ehad Mi Yodeah from the Haggadah sung in Judeo-Arabic.  The wonderful old gentleman who recorded this, Avraham Malki, z"l. I found this song years ago on JEFF KLEPPER'S BLOG but the files went missing. I tracked it down via the wayback machine and sharing here for others to enjoy.

here are the lyrics

https://jeffklepper.com/echadarabic.pdf

https://jeffklepper.com/echadarabic2.pdf

Whither Malchut

Welcome to our third in a continuing series on the book of Shmuel or SamuelThe Book of Samuel: Episode 1 and the founding of Jewish monarchy. This week we complete chapter 1 and take a brief detour to ponder the source of the name Nitzevet (Bava Batra 91a) and contrast the story of Chana with that of Naomi and find similarities in language and theme. We then try to understand the implications of this comparison for malchut. All this and more. Thanks for joining us and please consider sharing this recording with others.

As we read through chapter 3 we discuss some interesting concepts that arise, like does the advent of the punishment imply that beforehand an opposite situation held sway? Meaning, before Woman is cursed that Man 'shall rule over her' was she ruling him? Why were man and woman given the same job outside of Eden as they were previously and why has no one in the history of Tanach ever tried to go back to Eden?

Thanks for joining us

Why is Daniel called a cherished man, אִישׁ־חֲמֻדוֹת? What does it mean that the end of time was revealed to him? Moreover, why did he not understand what he was told? 

Welcome to the first recorded shiur on the Jewish view of Moshiach (the Messiah). We begin with Rambam’s definition of the principle of faith and his codification of the messiah in Jewish law. This week we explore some confusion of language stemming from Judaism’s adoption of the focus on a Moshiach rather than a Moshiah. Finally we discuss the unexpurgated halahot in Rambam where Christianity and Islam are seen as paving the way for the era of Moshiach.

 

Thanks for joining us. If you enjoy this content rather than leaving us a rating I would ask that you find a few friends and tell them to check it out.

Whither Malchut

Welcome to our seventeenth in a continuing series on the book of Shmuel or Samuel and the founding of Jewish monarchy.

Episode 17

We creep into some morally murky waters with chapter 15. How do we understand the biblical mitzvah to wipe out Amalek completely when it would seem the Amalekites of Shaul’s time should not be blamed for the acts of their nation hundreds of years prior? Can Shaul not cite precedent of Yericho and Ai in dedicating the best spoils to Hashem and holding the enemy king for a public spectacle?

The theological questions get even harder (if you can believe it!) when we consider, broadly speaking, the implications of whether or not God changes God’s mind.

Additional topics include an excursus on the Teraphim and a recourse to ancient eastern views on the symbolism of the hem of robes

All this and more.

Thank you for joining us, I hope you enjoy this podcast and will consider sharing it with others.

Whither Malchut

Welcome to our twenty-fifth in a continuing series on the book of Shmuel or Samuel and the founding of Jewish monarchy.

Episode 25 The King in Waiting

The information provided by the Urim v'Tummim is unusual. In this chapter we find multiple queries and uncertainties in just how people know what they know. If David is told by the urim v'tummim that Saul will come down, and therefore David flees and Saul doesn't end up coming down, what does that mean for the veracity of the urim v'tummim? Is the urim v'tummim providing a sci-fi potential alternate reality? We discuss, spoiler alert, the fact that an angel potentially saves David from Saul's attack and see an echo of the Akeida story. We also contrast David and Doeg wondering why a frum Esav is contrasted with a krum Yaakov. 

All this and more.

Thank you for joining us, I hope you enjoy this podcast and will consider sharing it with others.

Whither Malchut

Welcome to our twentieth in a continuing series on the book of Shmuel or Samuel and the founding of Jewish monarchy.

Episode 20

David vs. Goliath.

In chapter 17 we experience collective amnesia as David’s anointment seems to have caused no effect on anyone. We offer an explanation for why Goliat hasn't appeared in any previous battles. We briefly site the fatuous exegesis of Malcom Gladwell wherein the Philistines send a decrepit acromegalic as their champion. We raise the most confounding question of why Shaul does not recognize David and hint that the solution is related to David's relationship with Yonatan.

All this and more.

Thank you for joining us, I hope you enjoy this podcast and will consider sharing it with others.

The (Second) Book of Samuel: chapter 12

Welcome to 2 Samuel, Shmuel part Bet, chapter twelve

Episode 41: The Aftermath

In this chapter we see the aftermath of David's sins with Batsheva and Uriah. We compare Natan's parable to the Bedouin law ofAdeyiah, and continue to drop hints at the comparison between David and Shaul. We discuss the meaning of the parable and consider who theIsh in question truly is. The question which looms largest is why David is able to retain his kingship when Shaul was not. We will try to look past facile explanations about the speed of David's confession of sin. All this and more

Thanks for joining us and please help us reach a wider audience by rating this podcast and sharing with others.

Iyov's final defense, Elihu and God's first response

The final shiur on sefer Iyov we try to answer the most pressing questions - what is the book of Iyov trying to teach us? Who won the bet, God or Satan? What is the meaning of God's reply to Iyov? Why do bad things happen to good people? We review the answers of classical commentaries, Chazal and modern thinkers and then propose a radical reading with a little help from Charlie and the Chocolate Factory

Welcome to a Twice Told Tale, the retelling of Tanach in the Aggadah, episode 5. This week we continued to identify some pattern breakers and then ran through a number of examples of parallels between stories in Tanach and the Aggadah including the approach of Rebbi Akiva’s wife and the Shunamite to Elisha, the parades of Dovid with the Aron and Bikkurim, the killing of King Yoshiahu and Bava ben Buta and much much more. Thanks for listening and I hope you enjoy

Whither Malchut

Welcome to our eighteen in a continuing series on the book of Shmuel or Samuel and the founding of Jewish monarchy.

Episode 18

We complete our study of chapter 15 with many open questions. Is Shaul able to successfully repent? Is Shmuel falling into the same trap as Eli in closing the door on returning Shaul to God’s good graces? We cite the brilliant textual clue from the mishbetzot Zahav to explain how the Amalek nation persists after the death of Agag. We offer several answers for how Shmuel, a nazir, was able to kill Agag which would render him taamei.

Additionally we cite many comparisons between our chapter, and the book of Shmuel in general, and Megillat Esther. I neglected to cite this important article by Professor Yitzhak Berger from which I learned much of this material.

All this and more.

Thank you for joining us, I hope you enjoy this podcast and will consider sharing it with others.

The (Second) Book of Samuel: chapters 16 & 17

Welcome to 2 Samuel, Shmuel part Bet, chapters sixteen and seventeen

Episode 44: Ramble On

Previously we saw the beginning of Avshalom’s rebellion which happened in stages, all while David sat on his hands. Then we saw David’s reaction, which was to neither confirm nor deny the new king, but rather to leave the scene. In his travels he meets a number of supporters and establishes his network of spies. This will come in handy in the upcoming chapters as those men go to work disrupting Avshalom’s counselors and informing David of what is to come.

In these chapters we meet 2 additional people who met David on his way, who were from Binyamin, Ziba who is clearly on David’s side but perhaps with dubious motives, while Shimi is clearly against David, though perhaps for purer motives, especially given that David had several other members of Shaul’s family killed (we kinda foreshadowed this previously, don’t worry, we’ll see more about that at the end of the book). In the meantime there is descension in the ranks of Avshalom as Achitofel’s first suggestion was accepted but his latter was foiled by Hushai. This leads to Achitofel’s demise by his own hand, and David’s successful escape with the help of his spy network. 

In the final episode of Sefer Ezra or Ezra-Nechemia we discuss the reason for the recurring pitfall of intermarriage as well as try to bring out the overarching theme of the book and its role within Tanach more broadly

We complete our straightforward/pshat reading of Song of Songs, chapters 7 and 8. Please note some terminology as written and translated in the Megillah is for a mature audience.

The Book of Samuel: chapter 28

Whither Malchut

Welcome to our twenty-nineth in a continuing series on the book of Shmuel or Samuel and the founding of Jewish monarchy.

Episode 29: Witch Way Did He Go

Shaul encounters the witch of En-Dor. We discuss whether this whole incident really happened as written and compare our chapter to the life of Chana and the events of chapter 25.

All this and more.

Thank you for joining us, I hope you enjoy this podcast and will consider sharing it with others.

Daniel in the lion's den. For those who want to dig into the topics we covered in this lecture a little bit more please see my essay. 

Whither Malchut

Welcome to our Nineteenth in a continuing series on the book of Shmuel or Samuel and the founding of Jewish monarchy.

Episode 19

In chapter 16 we encounter the beginning of the transition from the kingship of Shaul to that of David. Is Shmuel’s protest against going to select a successor for Shaul to be taken serious in light of the fact that just a few short verses beforehand he was telling Shaul the he would do exactly that? David’s anointment seems to be a strange non-event and we note the parallel between David’s selection as a court musician and Esther’s appointment as Queen. Finally, from a story perspective what is the point of anointing David here and what impact does this Ruah Hashem have?

We do begin to broach the topic of Shaul’s madness but there is much more to explore.

All this and more.

Thank you for joining us, I hope you enjoy this podcast and will consider sharing it with others.

The (Second) Book of Samuel: chapter 14

Welcome to 2 Samuel, Shmuel part Bet, chapter fourteen

Episode 42: We Won't Get Fooled Again

David is once again duped into adjudicating against his own behavior. Yoav seeks to return Avshalom and uses a wise woman from Tekoa to fabricate a tale of one brother who kills another accidentally in the field and is being pursued by the blood avenger.

Eventually David uncovers the message and agrees to his son's return in a limited fashion, absent the permission to see the king directly.

Avshalom, ever the schemer, waits 2 more years sequestered away before demanding a familial reunion, only to be rebuffed by, of all people Yoav, his interlocutor. Avshalom's strongarm tactics bear fruit and Yoav eventually reunites father and son who kiss and make up.

We wonder if there is more lurking under the surface, to Yoav's behavior, what the wisdom of the wise woman really is and why David continues to be passive in all that occurs.

Thanks for joining us. If you enjoy this content please consider giving us a 5 star rating and a brief review. Even better, share this with your friends and help our torah reach more learners. 

Episode 40: Excursus: The David and Batsheva story

Welcome to our excursus on the David and Batsheva story. As I tried to point out in the shiur, we are tackling a unique and uniquely challenging topic. David is perhaps from the most beloved figures in Tanakh, and I believe we are rightfully apprehensive about discussing his sins, especially when they appear to be so egregious.

However, to fail to do so in a mature and exhaustive way shirks the responsibility entrusted to us by Hashem when he dictated that this story be included in Tanakh.

Furthermore, though we will cite sources from Chazal which seek to minimize if not essentially eliminate David’s transgressions, we will choose to follow Rishonim who, I believe rightly, see this as doing violence to the text. Such readings have a valid place as derash, but our goal is to hew as close to the text as possible. If the pesukim, the Navi and David all say he sinned, then we must contend with the actual events, not watered down apologetics.

In the end perhaps part of the reason David is so eternally and broadly loved in spite of his failings is because of how he chose to respond when he was forced to take a long hard look in the mirror.

Substantively, besides reviewing the statements of Chazal we look at the whole incident as an inversion of the Yosef-Eshet Potiphar story, we then look for a framework in the Torah which can give us a better psychological understanding of David, and find it in the parsha of Yefat Torah.

We then seek to expand the theological underpinnings by tracing the root of this sin throughout Tanach and back to Gan Eden.

Finally, we contrast what took place with the correct alternative model, that of shepherding. While leaving in abeyance the question of how a king who is supposed to be the paradigm of alignment with the will of God can recover from such a failure, and why David is even given that chance while Shaul was not

Welcome to the beginning of our conclusions on Rus. If you enjoy the shiur, rather than asking you to subscribe or give this podcast a 5 star rating I would simply request that you tell someone else about it. Thank you. 

This week we look at textual and literary patterns in Megillat Ruth including a preponderance of vavs, a parallel to yetziat mitzrayim, comparisons to the story of Rebbi Meir and his teacher Acher and we attempt to make sense of the statement from Chazal that converts are difficult for the Jewish people like a tzaraat lesion. Glad to have you joining us.

Exploring themes and patterns of meaning in Song of Songs while trying to avoid apophenia. We use musical structures such as Rondo and Ritornello to understand the repetition and variation across the songs.

Iyov chapter 2

Whither Malchut

Welcome to our twenty-seventh in a continuing series on the book of Shmuel or Samuel and the founding of Jewish monarchy.

Episode 27: Avigail, Kingmaker

Chapter 25 is pivotal in the course of the life of David. We try to read past the surface and detect both a Naval whose actions appear justified and a David who seems to be on the verge of turning into Shaul. Avigail's message to David is nuanced and layered, she delicately points out the error in David's ways by, for example, alluding to David's victory with a slingshot, as a reminder that it was David who rejected the need for a sword in the first place.

All this and more.

Thank you for joining us, I hope you enjoy this podcast and will consider sharing it with others.

Learning Genesis in depth can feel a lot like trying to swallow the ocean. We start by setting a framework for our study, meeting some of the less-common commentaries who will help guide us such as Rabbi Shmuel Dovid Luzzato (ShaDaL), Rabbi Benno Jacob, Rabbi Moshe Dovid (Umberto) Cassuto, JPS/Nahum Sarna, Andre LaCocque and R' Yonatan (Jonathan) Grossman.

We discuss discrepancies between the Chumash and science; eg birds are created before land animals while evolutionarily that order is necessarily reversed - and propose to use the late Stephen Gould's NOMA framework so that while science may tell us the 'what' of our world, Torah tells us the 'so what', as in so what does God want from me and how can I have a relationship with God?

Whither Malchut

Welcome to our twenty-first in a continuing series on the book of Shmuel or Samuel and the founding of Jewish monarchy.

Episode 21 - Shaul descent into the maelstrom

In this shiur we offer an explanation for why Shaul doesn’t seem to recognize David when the two had met in the previous chapter. We also attempt to understand the repetitious nature of the chapter by positing a novel literary technique that forces the reader to experience events as though they were the character (the movie reference was Momento). Thanks to Susan Ackerman’s insight that in Tanach love is never explicitly reciprocated, we avoid a reading that sees David as cold and calculating. Lastly we are perplexed by Shaul’s request, and David’s acceptance of a bride-price that involves mutilating the enemy and find shades of the Lavan story that will continue into the next chapter.

All this and more.

Thank you for joining us, I hope you enjoy this podcast and will consider sharing it with others.

---

#Tanach #Shmuel #David #Shaul #Michal #Bible

Whither Malchut

Welcome to our first in a continuing series on the book of Shmuel or Samuel and the founding of Jewish monarchy. This week we introduce the book and what the goal of the work seems to be. We point out the famous question that the authority of the king as depicted in the Torah is extremely limited and is in stark contrast to the god-kings of the ancient world. Where do concepts like mored b’malchut come from and why is it so important to have a limited monarch. All this and more. Thanks for joining us.

 

Lastly on a personal note I am release this shiur on the first yartzeit of my father, may the Neshama of yaakov ben akiva Nachum have an Aliyah.

This week we cover the punishment of Cain through the tale of Lamech, the birth of Seth and the appearance of Enosh. 

Welcome to Episode 6 of messy-nism the Jewish view of Moshiach. This week we cover 1700 years of messianic history including Herod, Christianity, Bar Kochva, and lesser known claimants such as Abu Isa, David Alroy and Ines Herrera the 11 year old female prophetess who was thought to be the messiah. We also noted the historical trends that tend to foster messianic fervor.

Thank you for listening, I hope that if you enjoy the shiur you’ll take the time to recommend it to others.

This is a review of the previous shiurim on biblical criticism and an introduction to the new series on Iyov

We review the first 4 chapters and continue our reading of chapters 5 and 6. 

Whither Malchut

Welcome to our seventh in a continuing series on the book of Shmuel or Samuel and the founding of Jewish monarchy Episode 7.

This week we cover chapter 4, the downfall of Eli, the loss of the aron and the destruction of Shiloh. We seek to understand why the destruction of the Mishkan is absent from the text even though it is cataloged elsewhere in Tanach. This week we conclude our exploration of Eli’s failure as a leader and point out how the destruction here is necessary to shift away from a corrupt Kohen paradigm to a prophetic one with Shmuel, who the people did not consult even though were just previously told that all his words came true and God was with him.

All this and more.

Thanks for joining us and please consider sharing this recording with others.

In this episode we take the Artscroll introduction to Song of Songs to task for claiming that it would be false to read this megillah according to it's simple, straightforward and literal meaning - what is called pshat. We find that Rashi disagrees with Artscroll and we explore how the concept of pshat is meant to be understood.

Whither Malchut

Welcome to our fourteenth in a continuing series on the book of Shmuel or Samuel and the founding of Jewish monarchy.

Episode 13 – I’m not even supposed to be here today

After a deflating capstone to Shaul’s third inauguration last week, we analyze chapter 13 and find the roots of Shaul’s heroism this week. Shaul is put to an impossible test by Shmuel, essentially a Kobayashi Maru for you star trek fans. However, after experiencing failure Shaul does not cower as Dante Hicks in Clerks but instead rises to the occasion inspite of seemingly insurmountable odds. Will it be enough to secure his kingship when the navi has already indicated it is lost?

All this and more.

Thanks for joining us and please consider sharing this recording with others.

Hi! Thanks for joining us for Advanced Bereshit for Beginners. This week we explore a few topics related to the 4th chapter of Genesis.

We delve into the psychology of Cain using the lens of objectivist philosopher Ayn Rand and the theory of corporeal election propounded by Michael Wyschogrod. We also explore the meaning of the names of the children of Lemech. 

In this podcast we put the book of Yonah into context. The story is familiar to many but we try to unpack some of the information that is being alluded to for the reader. What is the city of Nin'veh supposed to conjure for the reader? Why is Yonah concerned with being labeled a false prophet? 

We also examine the book's structure and use of language and how these things shed light on some of the profound themes lurking beneath a superficial reading

Source sheets

We end Ruth chapter 3 noting the repetitive use of the term da’at, and wondering why Naomi wouldn’t want Ruth to be with Boaz at the town gate. Chapter 4 begins with 2 either leitworter, shev and go’el. Does Boaz intend to marry rus or is something else at play? Thanks for joining us.

Thanks for joining us for the end of Ruth chapter 2 and the beginning of chapter 3. This week we continue to probe the relationships and intentions of the characters. Why doesn’t Boaz tell Ruth he’s a relative? What does Naomi mean when she says Boaz is a redeemer? Why does Naomi send Ruth to seduce Boaz rather than approaching him herself in broad daylight? Enjoy.

Welcome to our first episode explore Megillas Rus. This follows our series on Bereshit because the story of Rus addresses some of the lingering issues from Gan Eden, specifically the curses related to humanities produce where man is cursed by what he can produce from the land and woman is cursed by the produce of her body. Rus picks up both these themes, the produce of the land and of the body. But first we need to find ways to see a story that we are so intimately familiar with through fresh eyes. 

Thanks for joining us.

The (Second) Book of Samuel: chapter 18

Welcome to 2 Samuel, Shmuel part Bet, chapter eighteen

Episode 45: One Tin Soldier

Previously on the book of Shmuel part bet - David was able to successfully flee Jerusalem thanks in no small part to the spy network he put in place and the chicanery of Chushai. Achitofel, seeing the writing on the wall, kills himself as Avshalom pursues David in the transjordan region. 

In this chapter the battle will be met in earnest, and a tragedy, perhaps avoidable, will ensue. The first half of our story is the battle, the second is the aftermath. None of it is good. We continue to live in a world post the sin with Batsheva and as David continues to receive his comeuppance the question that continues to dangle over our heads is, why exactly is he still king.

Thanks for joining us.

Please help us spread Torah by rating and reviewing this show.

Welcome to part 3 of our history of halacha in Bayit Sheni series entitled Away Apart, the Parting of the Ways Between Judaism and Christianity. So far we have set the background by outlining the various groups that were around in the first few centuries of the common era and what their beliefs were. We explained what sources we had for our knowledge at the time and then honed in on Jesus’s teaching, his perhaps revolutionary attitude towards Rome, as well as Paul and the spread of Christianity after Jesus’s death

All of this drove us towards our fundamental question when and why did a Jewish sect of Nazarenes, meaning people who followed Jesus of Nazareth, when amd how did those people, who were all Jews stop being Jewish. To put it better, how halachically could a Jewish group at that time become a goy for the purposes of things like minyan or yayin nesech amd and the like.

What we found was the basic answer to our question is you can't. There doesn't seem to be a historical halachic precedent for a Jewish group doing something that transformed them into a non-jewish group. To the extent that even the Samaritans who were not really a Jewish group to begin with were considered for some halachic purposes as if they were jews. Yiddishkeit is like hotel California, you can check out any time you like but you can't ever leave

Which takes us to this week. Now we start to explore various historical events which individually could not be seen as creating that schism between Jews and Christians, but adding them all up cam perhaps collectively point us in the right direction. We touch on things like the various wars between the Jews amd Rome, the malediction of the heretics, the Jewish tax, the Christians changing their calendar to move sabbath to Sunday and much more.

Some of these events had a more direct impact on whether the average stam Jew in the first few decades of the 2nd century viewed a Jewish Christian as Jewish or Christian.

Thank you for listening and I  hope you enjoy

---

Link to Birkat HaMinim in Cairo Geniza

Select Bibliography

• Ophir, Adir and Rosen-Zvi, Ishay: Goy, Israel’s multiple Others and the Birth of the Gentile (Oxford, 2018)

• Cohen, Shaye J. D.: From the Maccabees to the Mishnah (Westminster John Knox Press, Third Edition, 2014)

• ⸺ The Beginning of Jewishness

• Schiffman, Lawrence H.: Who was a Jew? (Ktav, 2019)

• ⸺ Texts and traditions : a source reader for the study of Second Temple and rabbinic Judaism

• Rabbi Dr. Ari Lamm has a series of classes on this topic

• Faur, José: The Gospel According to the Jews (Moreshet Sepharad Publishing, 2012)

• Part 1 Adele Reinhartz, Especially Part 3 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xAOizrgSIc0&ab_channel=JewishStudies-Fordham   - h/t Malka Simkovich

• 
  

• Toleration within Judaism and the Parting of the Ways between Judaism and

•  Several works by E.P. Sanders

• Ruth Langer cursing the christians

• Basser, Herbert W. Studies in Exegesis (Brill, 2002)

• Neusner, Jacob First Century Judaism in Crisis

  Reuven Kimelman, “Birkat Ha-Minim and the Lack of Evidence for an Anti-Christian Jewish Prayer in Late Antiquity

Brandon, S. G. F. (Samuel George Frederick), Jesus and the Zealots; a study of the political factor in primitive Christianity

Solomon Zeitlin's Studies in the early history of Judaism

Christianity in Talmud and Midrash, Herford, R. Travers

• 
  

• Aharon Shemesh, “King Manasseh and the Halakhah of the Sadducees,” Journal of Jewish Studies, vol. 52, no. 1 (Spring 2001): 27-39

• GOODMAN, MARTIN, et al. “TOLERATION WITHIN JUDAISM FROM THE SECOND TEMPLE TO THE PRESENT.” Liverpool University Press, 2013

• The Temple in Early Christianity: Experiencing the Sacred, Eyal Regev, The Anchor Yale Bible Reference Library, 2019

• ⸺ Did Early Christians Mourn the Destruction of the Temple?, TheTorah.com 

Instone-Brewer, David , THE EIGHTEEN BENEDICTIONS AND THE MINIM BEFORE 70 CE. The Journal of Theological Studies Published By: Oxford University Press, Vol. 54, No. 1

Whither Malchut

Welcome to our eleventh in a continuing series on the book of Shmuel or Samuel and the founding of Jewish monarchy.

Episode 11

This week we transition from a world where Jewish leaders were Shofetim, judges, to one where they are kings, and we do so, from Shmuel’s perspective, very begrudgingly. We note the similarities between the Shaul story and that of Yosef and we try to explain why it would be necessary, conceptually, for the first king of Israel to seemingly be so unworthy of the office.

All this and more.

Thanks for joining us and please consider sharing this recording with others.

In Daniel chapter 4 king Nevuchadneztar dreams he is a mighty tree. Daniel interprets this dream, and offers the king a way to avoid a descent into madness.