2nd mini-cast on Parashat Vayyikra – examining the meaning of “Korban”, the sequence of its presentation and the wording of Vayyikra 1:2

Introduction to Sefer Vayyikra; Presentation of four questions relating to the opening verses of the book and the notion of “korban”

2nd “mini-cast” on Parashat Beshalach: The 3-day desertfest; ruse? strategy? plan? (part 2 of 2)

1st “mini-cast” on Parashat Beshalach: The 3-day desertfest; ruse? strategy? plan? (part 1 of 2)

1st “mini-cast” on Parashat Bo – God’s invitation to Moses to enter Pharaoh’s chamber and see for himself…

Last “mini-cast” of Parashat Va’Era – the “disaster report” in the middle of Moshe’s dialogue with Pharaoh

3rd (not-so) “mini-cast” on Parashat Va’era – the missing “sign” of Tzara’at

The genealogical “interjection”

1st “mini-cast” on Parashat Va’era: Three reasons for the imminence of the redemption

final “mini-cast” on Parashat Shemot; the use of “Az” in Shirat haYam to “atone” for the “Az” in the penultimate verse in our Parashah (Shemot Rabbah)

6th “mini-cast” on Parashat Shemot – the role of Aharon as Moses’ “spokesman”

5th “mini-cast” on Parashat Shemot – brief analysis of the 3 occurrences of “God of Abraham, God of Isaac, God of Jacob” in the stand at the burning bush.

The first words that God utters to Moses are…

3rd “mini-cast” on Parashat Shemot, discussing the use of “seeing, striking and killing” as motifs in the stories of Moses’ youth.

2nd mini-cast on Parashat Shmot – the 2 reasons for the servitude

Parashat Shemot; mini-cast #1 – R. Ovadiah Seforno and the “Name of the Children of Israel”

Parashat Vayyigash – the problem of the “list” (46:8-27) (full-length version)

2nd segment of analysis of Psalm 30 – a Song for Hanukkah

Psalm 30 – A Song for Hanukkah (Part 1)

Torah-In-Motion webcast on Parashat Vayyeshev. Yoseph as dreamer, dream interpreter…and what his dreams really meant

2nd piece on Vayyishlach – Jacob’s midnight “wrestling match” and various approaches of the medieval commentators to decipher it.

Two ways of understanding Jacob’s prayer (32:10-12); including an introduction to trope marks and three different uses of the prefix-Mem.

Discussion of the Parashah, including an inquiry into the character of Lavan, specifically in light of what we know about herdsman-rancher contracts in the ancient world.

An overview of the Parashah and discussion of chronological sequence (Yesh Muqdam uMe’uhar baTorah) within the Genesis narratives.

10th and final lecture on the Book of Ruth, including an explanation of the use of “Shem” (Name) and “Ge’ulah” (Redemption) as keywords in the final chapter – and the relationship between the use of “Shem” in this chapter and chs. 1-2.

9th lecture on the Book of Ruth, including commentary on the first 10 verses of ch. 4

8th lecture on Megilat Ruth, including commentary on vv. 6-18 of ch. 3 and an extended discussion of the keyword “Shakhav” in the chapter, as well as a discussion about the association of Ruth as the “Eshet Hayyil” of Proverbs 31

7th lecture on the Book of Ruth. Includes commentary on the first 5 verses of chapter 3

6th lecture on the Book of Ruth, including commentary on ch. 2, vv. 18-23

4th lecture on the Book of Ruth, including commentary on Chapter 2, vv. 1-7

3rd lecture on the Book of Ruth, including commentary on chapter 1, vv. 19-22

2nd lecture on the Book of Ruth, including commentary on chapter 1, vv. 7-19

1st lecture on the Book of Ruth, including introduction and the exposition of the book (chapter 1, vv. 1-6)

8th pre-Pesach lecture, discussing role and significance of “Arami Oved Avi”

7th lecture on Hagadah Shel Pesach; part 2 of the discussion on Polemics in the Hagadah

6th lecture on Hagadah Shel Pesach; introduction to polemic literature (Part 2 to follow)

5th lecture on Hagadah Shel Pesach: “Dayyenu”

4th lecture on Hagadah Shel Pesach, focusing on the role of wine and the obligation of the “four cups”

3rd lecture on the Hagadah Shel Pesach, concluding the discussion of the “Four Sons”

2nd lecture on Hagadah Shel Pesach: “The Four Sons”

1st lecture on the Hagadah; introduction to the Seder and a discussion of the significance of sequence.

Final Lecture on the book of Esther, including commentary on Ch. 10, a review of the overarching questions about the Megilah and suggested solutions

14th lecture on the book of Esther, including commentary on Ch. 9

13th lecture on the book of Esther, including commentary on Ch. 8

12th lecture on the book of Esther, including commentary on Ch. 7

11th lecture on the book of Esther, including commentary on Ch. 6

Lecture #10 on the book of Esther; commentary on chapter 5, including an introduction to the psychological profiles of each of the two antagonists and how Esther plans to defeat them using that knowledge.

9th lecture on the Book of Esther; commentary on Ch. 4, including an explanation for Mordekhai’s doubled-layer of information.

8th lecture on the book of Esther; commentary on Ch. 3, vv. 8-15. Focus is given to Haman’s clever use of the ambiguous word “l’abdam” and his misleading the king regarding the decree

7th lecture on the book of Esther; commentary on Ch. 3, vv. 1-7, including an analysis of why Mordekhai refused to bow to Haman.

6th lecture on the book of Esther, including commentary on ch. 2 vv. 22-24 and the beginning of ch. 3

5th lecture on the book of Esther, including commentary on ch. 2, vv. 7-21

4th lecture, including commentary on ch. 2, vv. 1-6

3rd lecture on Megilat Esther, covering the remainder of Chapter 1 (vv. 13-22)

2nd lecture on Megilat Esther; additional introductory remarks and commentary on Chapter 1 verses 5-12

1st lecture on Megilat Esther; Introduction to the Book of Esther and commentary on first 5 verses of Chapter 1

55th lecture on the book of Samuel; Samuel 2, Ch. 24

54th lecture on the book of Samuel; Samuel 2, Ch. 23

53rd lecture on the book of Samuel; Samuel 2, Ch. 22

52nd lecture on the book of Samuel; Samuel 2, Ch. 21

51st lecture on Samuel; Samuel 2, ch. 20

50th lecture on the book of Samuel; Samuel 2, Ch. 19

49th lecture on the book of Samuel; Samuel 2, Ch. 18

48th lecture on the book of Samuel; Samuel 2, Ch. 17

47th lecture on the book of Samuel; Samuel 2, Ch. 16

46th lecture on the book of Samuel; Samuel 2, Ch. 15

45th lecture on the book of Samuel; Samuel 2, Ch. 14

44th lecture on the book of Samuel; Samuel 2, Ch. 13

43rd lecture on the book of Samuel; Samuel 2, Ch. 12

42nd lecture on the book of Samuel; Samuel 2, Ch. 11

41st lecture on the book of Samuel; Samuel 2, Ch. 10

40th lecture on the book of Samuel; Samuel 2, Ch. 9

39th lecture on the book of Samuel; Samuel 2, Ch. 8

38th lecture on the book of Samuel; Samuel 2, Ch. 7

37th lecture on the book of Samuel; Samuel 2, ch. 6

36th lecture on the book of Samuel; Samuel 2, Ch. 5

35th lecture on the book of Samuel; Samuel 2, Ch. 4

34th lecture on the book of Samuel. Samuel 2, Ch. 3

33rd lecture on the book of Samuel; Samuel 2, Ch. 2

32nd lecture on the book of Samuel; Samuel II, Ch. 1, including David’s dirge for Saul and Jonathan

31st lecture on the book of Samuel; Samuel 1, Ch. 31

30th lecture on the book of Samuel; Samuel 1, Ch. 30

29th lecture on the book of Samuel; Samuel 1, Ch. 29

28th lecture on the book of Samuel. Samuel 1, Ch. 28

27th lecture on the book of Samuel. Samuel 1, Chapter 27

26th lecture on the book of Samuel; Samuel 1, Chapter 26

25th lecture on the book of Samuel. Samuel I, Ch. 25

24th lecture on the book of Samuel; 1 Samuel Ch. 24

23rd chapter on the book of Samuel; 1 Samuel Ch. 23

22nd lecture on the book of Samuel; 1 Samuel, Ch. 22

Parashat Va’era – “What Happened to the Tza’arat”? An investigation into the 3 signs given to Mosheh at the bush and how they transferred into his presentation to Pharaoh.

21st lecture on the book of Samuel, covering I Samuel 21

20th lecture on the book of Samuel, covering I Samuel chapter 20

19th lecture on the Book of Samuel. Samuel I, Chapter 19. This chapter details Jonathan’s (temporarily successful) attempt to get Saul to reconsider David; nonetheless, he attacks again and David is forced to flee with the help of Michal. The parallel between Rachel/Lavan/Jacob and Michal/Saul/David is discussed in this lecture, as well as a brief comment about the presence of the “Teraphim” in Michal’s house.

18th lecture on the Book of Samuel. Samuel I, Chapter 18. This chapter, following on the heels of David’s victory over the Philistine giant, includes the famous song about David and Saul that so enraged Saul. A theory as to why he was so irked by the song is presented herein.

17th lecture on the Book of Samuel. Samuel I, Chapter 17. This long chapter details a new war against the Philistines, focusing on the famous “mano-a-mano” scene of David vs. the Philistine giant (whose name may be Goliath). Several rhetorical tools, used by the text here, are presented in this lecture.

16th lecture on the Book of Samuel. Samuel I, Chapter 16. This chapter narrates Samuel’s arrival in Beit-Lehem and his eventual anointment of David as the new king, who is then taken to Saul’s home to cure him of his sudden “evil spirit”, occasioned by the departure of God’s spirit – which rests with David!

15th lecture on the Book of Samuel. Samuel I, Chapter 15. This chapter details Saul’s successful (?) war against one of the Amalekite tribes in the north Sinai and includes Samuel’s famous rebuke in which obeisance to God is recognized as more significant than offerings.

14th lecture on the Book of Samuel. Samuel I, Chapter 14. This long chapter details the war against the Philistines, instigated by Jonathan – but also presents Saul’s failings as he takes several oaths which he cannot fulfill.

13th lecture on the Book of Samuel. Samuel I, Chapter 13. This lecture deals with problems of scribal error (v. 1) and the contribution of archeology to our understanding of the text in the case of the meaning of the word “Pim”

12th lecture on the Book of Samuel. Samuel I, Chapter 12. The final – and most festive – coronation of Saul, includes a discussion of “historisophy” and notes a repetition of Samuel’s plaint that his sons are still proper leaders (?)

11th lecture on the Book of Samuel. Samuel I, Chapter 11. Saul, who has not yet claimed any of the trappings of royalty, rallies the people to battle to save the tribes in Yabesh Gilead from the Ammonite king. The literary device of resolution (“closing circles”) specifically as it relates to the end of the book of Shoftim, is discussed here.

10th lecture on the Book of Samuel. Samuel I, Chapter 10. The 3 “signs” given to Saul on his journey home are explained as symbolic of his original journey, confirming his selection as leader of the people. References to the geographic problem of the location of Rachel’s tomb and pointers to some of the literature on the subject.

9th lecture on the Book of Samuel. Samuel I, Chapter 9. This is the beginning of the second sub-unit of the text – “Sefer Shaul”. The lecture includes a discussion of identifying the era of publication of Sefer Shmuel based on a careful reading of v. 9, the use of the leitwort “matza” and Samuel’s technique for raising the esteem of the putative king. In addition, a discussion about the difference between past perfect and past imperfect is included.

Parashat Vaychi – an archival recording of a class given by Rabbi Etshalom in a private home in December, 2003.
(please download file, as the playable track is corrupt)

8th lecture on the Book of Samuel. Samuel I, Chapter 8. Chapter 8 is the bridge between “Sefer Shmuel” and the Shaul cycle or “Sefer Shaul”, including the people’s request for the king and presentation of the “rights of the king” (Mishpat haMelekh)

7th lecture on the Book of Samuel. Samuel I, Chapter 7, including a discussion of the Bible’s rhetorical use of “inclusio” (bookends) to demonstrate literary unity and the completion of a section of the text. Chapters 1-7 are considered “Sefer Shmuel” as his life is summarized at the end and various phrases and key words which appear at the beginning of the book are mirrored at the end of ch. 7

6th lecture on the Book of Samuel. Samuel I, Chapter 6, including a brief note on the locations of Beit Shemesh (and the reason for its curious name) as well as Kiryat Y’arim

5th lecture on the Book of Samuel. Samuel I, Chapter 5, including a discussion of polemic literature, specifically against idolatry, and the phenomenon of “qeri/ketiv” and “tiqqunei sopherim”

4th lecture on the Book of Samuel. Samuel I, Chapter 4, including an introduction to “mirror stories” (Pinhas’ wife and Rahel) and another example of the device “3+1”, as well as a brief excursus about the religious “confusion” of Aron-worship.

3rd lecture on the Book of Samuel. Samuel I, Chapter 3, including a discussion of several rhetorical devices used by T’nakh (“3+1”, the “leitwort”)

2nd lecture on the Book of Samuel. Samuel I, Chapter 2, including a brief introduction to the difference between Biblical prose and poetry

1st lecture on the Book of Samuel. Samuel I, Chapter 1, including an introduction to the book, a brief overview of narrative styles of the Bible and a brief foray into onomastics in the Bible.

The Origins of the Mitzvah to Light Candles on Hanukkah. Includes a handout. Enjoy…and Hag Urim Sameach!!!

Parashat Vayyeshev – Solving Yoseph’s Second Dream

Parashat Vayishlach: “Katonti” and its 2 cantillations…Ya’akov, the wrestling match and the Rashbam

Parashat Vayetze: A new look at the relationship between Jacob and Laban