Richmond Jewish Learning Experience

Shoftim: The Relevance of Egla Arufa 05.09.2024 56:13 ↓

Understanding the Egla Arufa in light of current events. Dedicated to the memory of Hersh Goldberg-Polin. (recorded on 9/4/2024)

Re'eh: Avraham's Vindication? 29.08.2024 53:49 ↓

What does Re'eh tell us about Avraham's behavior at the Akeida? Where is there room for human emotion in Judaism? (recorded on 8/28/2024)

Ekev: Manna, Moaning, and Mitzvot 22.08.2024 49:48 ↓

This parsha gives a sympathetic retelling of the episodes with the Manna. It also connects the Manna with mitzvah observance. Why? (recorded 8/21/24)

Defining Deuteronomy: To Review or Repeat? 15.08.2024 52:38 ↓

Why is the book of Devarim such a bad review of the Torah? What's the point? (recorded on 8/14/2024)

The Life and Death of Rabban Gamliel 25.07.2024 54:00 ↓

By tracing the ups and downs of Rabban Gamliel, we find a valuable lesson for the three weeks. (Recorded on 7/24/2024)

Balak: Bilam and the Biblical-Rabbinic Ping-Pong 18.07.2024 50:22 ↓

What is the deal with Bilam's donkey? What's the point of the story? Why did the rabbis compare Bilam and Avraham? (recorded on 7/17/2024)

Chukat: Did Moshe and Aharon Do Anything Wrong? 11.07.2024 58:42 ↓

Why did God not allow Moshe and Aharon entrance into the land of Israel? How do we understand the myriad interpretations of the story at Meriva? (recorded on 7/10/2024)

July 4th Shiur: Appreciating Good Leaders and Praying for Bad Ones 04.07.2024 57:52 ↓

Discovering the subversive Biblical References in the prayer for the welfare of the government. What goes into making a good leader?

Korah and the Banality of Evil 04.07.2024 52:07 ↓

What was Korah thinking? How should we relate to biblical villains? (Recorded 7/3/24)

Behaalotcha: Where It All Went Wrong 20.06.2024 51:50 ↓

Why are there random upside-down letters in the Torah? Why do the rabbis think that the words 'ויסעו מהר ה place guilt on the Jewish people?

Bechukotai: Value-Laden Absentmindedness 30.05.2024 47:22 ↓

What does it mean to "walk with God's statutes"? (recorded on 5/29/24)

Behar: Jubil-ant Jews - The Mindset of Yovel 23.05.2024 50:42 ↓

How does Yovel affect our perception of living in the land of Israel? (recorded in 5/22)

Emor: Building the Beit Hamikdash Without Building the Beit Hamikdash 16.05.2024 8:52 ↓

Rashi's cryptic comment is a powerful statement on what constitutes serving God. (recorded on 5/16/2024)

Kedoshim: What is Holiness? 09.05.2024 49:09 ↓

Why do the opening lines of Kedoshim repeat themselves (but not really)? (recorded 5/8/2024)

Shemini: Nadav, Avihu, and Uzza 04.04.2024 44:19 ↓

The parsha and haftarah have an obvious connection, but upon further examination, the mistake of Nadav and Avihu seems utterly different from that of Uzza. (recorded on 4/3/2024)

Tzav: Tackling the Tabernacle - The Holiness of the Levites 03.04.2024 52:39 ↓

What does it mean for the Levites to be sanctified? What role did the Temple play in their lives, and the lives of the nation?

Mishpatim: Awls for Shackles, and Unshackling All 03.04.2024 50:32 ↓

What are we to make of the Torah's rules about slavery?

Purim: Mikra, Midrash, and Meaning Part 2 - Identifying the Antagonist 03.04.2024 1:09:10 ↓

Some more difficult-to-understand rabbinic statements. Why did the rabbis understand Purim as the "fix" to Mt. Sinai?

Purim: Mikra, Midrash, and Meaning - Let the Megillah Speak for Itself 03.04.2024 1:01:10 ↓

What is special about the story of Purim? Why did the rabbis canonize it? What can we make of the seemingly strange comments they make about it?

Vayakhel: Tackling the Tabernacle: Shabbos, Creation, and the Mishkan 03.04.2024 47:37 ↓

What meaning lies beneath the textual and halachic connections between the Tabernacle and Shabbos?

Tetzaveh: Tackling the Tabernacle - The Glitz, Glam, and Fashion of the Priestly Clothes 03.04.2024 39:39 ↓

Why do we care so much about the priestly clothes as to devote almost an entire parsha to it?

Terumah: Tackling the Tabernacle - The Chronology of Command 03.04.2024 47:08 ↓

When did Moshe first get the command to build the Tabernacle, and how does it change our understanding of its function?

Yisro: When did he come? Why does it matter? 03.04.2024 51:09 ↓

The Talmud and medieval commentators present arguments about when and why Yisro joined the Jewish people. Why do we care? And why would the Torah write things out of order?

Beshalach: Amalek Attacks 03.04.2024 51:56 ↓

Beshalach is a series of educational experiences and growth through which the people learn about God. What are we supposed to learn from Amalek's attack?

Bo: Is Pesach on the Wrong Date? 02.04.2024 43:47 ↓

Why do we celebrate Pesach before the splitting of the sea?