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.
Yechezkel Chapter 3: Shhhh, it's a trap!In this chapter the prophet is again prompted to deliver his message to a recalcitrant people. Once again he is instructed to perform symbolic acts including remaining mute, shut in his home, and bound by ropes. Thank you for learning with usBy subscribing and leaving a review it helps our channel grow.
Yechezkel Chapter 2: Eating WoeIn this chapter the prophet recovers from the overwhelming theophany of the previous chapter and is endowed with a mission whose chances for success appear bleak. We wonder why it was necessary for Ezekiel to perform this bizarre symbolic act of eating and offer an explanation tied to the first chapter of Daniel and the fruit of the tree of good and evil (please see the relevant previous recordings for more details). Thank you for learning with usBy subscribing and leaving a review it helps our channel grow.
Excursus on Maaseh Merkava - Theophany? Mystical Experience? Mind Palace?We take a deep dive into the meaning of Ezekiel's vision of the divine transport, arguing what was envisioned was not in fact a chariot at all. We discuss some of the history related to mystical approaches to Yechezkel's prophecy and offer an alternative understanding of the vehicle in question based on the description of the lavers in the Beit HaMikdash (Temple). We also offer a sustained comparison between the language and motifs of the revelation in chapter 1 with very similar language used to describe elements of the flood in the story of Noah. We offer a theory as to why these textual hints are embedded in our story. More on the omniwheel (and the notion of Ezekiel seeing a UFO) can be found here. A brief animation of the omniwheel in use by the lavers of the Bayit is viewable hereLastly, here is a relief that is roughly contemporaneous to the time of Yechezkel showing a royal chariot Thank you for learning with us
The Work of the Divine ChariotWelcome to Sefer Yechezkel, this week we introduce the book, provide some historical background and explain why we are learning this first chapter, known as Maaseh Merkava (full disclosure, no secrets were uncovered). Thank you for learning with us
Paterfamilias: Decoding the Secrets of Mishnah Avot - episode 6The controversy of Antigonis of Sokho This week we ground the transition from Shimon HaTzaddik to Antigonis historically, and read exerpts from Ben Sira which is the source for the liturgical piyyut Ma'areh Kohen. We note Antigonis is a unique character in the chain of mesorah and explore whether or not his teaching can be seen as part of normative Judaism.Thanks for listening. Please help us grow this channel by leaving an honest review and sharing with others.
Paterfamilias: Decoding the Secrets of Mishnah Avot - episode 4Who guards the guardians? First we note that the idea of establishing many students is a Hillel, not a Shammai, pedagogical approach. Next we examine the concept of siyag (fence, boundry) in the historical context of the 2nd century CE's various Jewish factions. We note the source for this idea seems to be Vayikra 18:30 (see Yevamot 21a) which itself is a rabbinic derivation. The idea of siyag was a point of contention between the Pharisees, Sadducees, the Dead Sea Sect, the Christians and many others. Next time we will see how critical it is to determining which which disagreements are tolerated and which are not, within the Rabbinic (Pharisaic) Judaism of Rebbi's world. Thanks for listening. Please help us grow this channel by leaving an honest review and sharing with others.
Paterfamilias: Decoding the Secrets of Mishnah Avot - episode 3What was received at Sinai? We return to the question of why the first Mishnah omits a mention of God as the giver of the Torah and instead focuses on the fact that the Torah was received from Sinai. We contrast this with Avot d'Rebbi Natan which does include Hashem in the process. To explain this surprising composition we note another phrase that is described as 'from Sinai' - Halakha l'Moshe miSinai, and investigate how this concept can shed light on the intention of the Mishna to offer the broadest possible understanding of what exactly was transmitted as part of the 'oral' Torah. Thanks for listening. Please help us grow this channel by leaving an honest review and sharing with others.
Paterfamilias: Decoding the Secrets of Mishnah Avot - episode 2What is Mesorah? In this episode we discuss the historical context for the composition of the Mishnah. We then uncover perhaps the most profound lesson of Avot, that part of the Torah sh'Baal Peh are the new insights and innovations, not from Sinai, but created by those who are the conduit of the mesorah from one generation to the next. Those 'Avot' don't just transmit the oral Torah, they contribute to it. We see this from the first Mishna which itself was clearly not said at Sinai, and we see it from the fact that the innovative statements of Avot are (largely) not sourced in Torah verses, nor are they even Rabbinically required (one has not violated halacha or sinned if s/he has not made their house a meeting place for the Sages (1:4) for instance. Lastly, we point out that the intended audience for Avot is not the average layperson. This is also seen from the first mishnah where the statements of the Men of the Great Assembly are addressed not to the average joe, but their colleagues, other Avot. Thanks for listening. Please help us grow this channel by leaving an honest review and sharing with others.
Paterfamilias: Decoding the Secrets of Mishnah Avot - episode 1What is Mishnah? Where did it come from, what is its purpose, and who wrote it? In this introductory shiur we try to look at as a stand alone work and understand it on its own terms. We challenge some of the basic assumptions about Mishnah which may have been picked up in grade school, and begin to build an argument for the geopolitical motivations for compiling and canonizing this body of work. Finally we begin to study the first Mishnah in (Pirkei) Avot and begin to wonder about the phrasing of the chain of tradition. Thanks for listening. Please help us grow this channel by leaving an honest review and sharing with others.
Rabbi Abraham Joshua HeschelThe Sabbath: Its Meaning for the Modern ManPart One: A Palace in TimeAudiobook
Rabbi Abraham Joshua HeschelThe Sabbath: Its Meaning for the Modern ManPrologue: The Architecture of TimeAudiobook
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.
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.
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 complete chapter one and explore the unusual relationship between Ruth, Naomi and Orpah. We see some bizarre changes in language and gender and begin to set the stage for the transformation of Ruth. Thanks for joining.
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!
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 2 Welcome to 2 Samuel, Shmuel part Bet, chapter 2 Episode 32: Who Rules Who This week David becomes king yet again (this is his second inauguration). This time, his monarchy is over his tribe, Yehuda and is immediately tested as his troops come into conflict with those of his rival Ish-Boshet, the son of Shaul and the hereditary ruler of the Jewish people. What ensues is a battle that never should have happened as sparing gives way to warring. Capped by the tragic death of David nephew Asa'el Avner is forced to retreat as Yoav and David's men claim victory. Next week we will see the repercussions of a battle that takes place in the strategic location of Give'on. Thanks for joining, I hope you enjoy and would be grateful if you could recommend this channel to a friend.
Yechezkel Chapter 4: Ezekiel BreadMore symbolic acts in this chapter, which challenges us to understand what Ezekiel is meant to understand from these behaviors. Are they for him? For others? Both? We offer an approach that relates these strange acts to components of the service in the Bais HaMikdash which is coming to an end. Thank you for learning with usBy subscribing and leaving a review it helps our channel grow.