Ḥokhmat ha-Ḥodesh

Ḥokhmat ha-Ḥodesh Episode 11: Tammuz — The Name of a Dead God, the Anatomy of Catastrophe, and the Myth of the "Three Weeks" Host: Rabbi Yosef Lopez Why does the Jewish calendar dedicate a month to a dead Mesopotamian fertility god? In this episode of Ḥokhmat ha-Ḥodesh , we explore the fascinating paradox of Tammuz. We trace the etymology of the month, unpack the biblical witness of idolatry at th...

Ḥokhmat ha-Ḥodesh | Episode 10 Show Notes Host: Yosef Lopez Season/Month: Siwan (סִיוָן) Estimated Run Time: 40–45 minutes Episode Overview We stand in the immediate aftermath of Shabhū'oth—the fiftieth day of our journey from the physical liberation of Egypt to the spiritual revelation at Sinai. In this episode of Ḥokhmat ha-Ḥodesh , host Yosef Lopez strips away centuries of myth and folklore to...

Show Notes: Episode Summary In this deep dive into the second month of the Hebrew calendar, Yosef explores Iyyar as a "bridge" between the liberation of Nisan and the revelation of Sivan. This episode moves beyond simple dates to examine the month through the lens of Maimonidean rationalism, historical-critical analysis, and ethical self-formation. We challenge popular narratives surrounding the '...

"The House of Freedom: On Ḥeruth, 'Abduth, and the Threshold Between Them" Host: Yosef Lopez Opening: The Paradox of Nisan Nisan is called ha-Ḥodhesh ha-Ri'shon (the first month) by the Torah, marking the beginning of ‘am Israel as a people and their exodus from slavery to Autonomy. The name Nisan is Babylonian ( Nisanu ). The Torah transforms its meaning: Babylonian context: Nisanu was the month...

Show Notes: In this episode, host Yosef Lopez explores the twelfth month of the Hebrew calendar, 'Adhar . Often misunderstood as a time of mere frivolity, Rabbi Lopez peels back the layers of tradition to reveal a month of deep intellectual assembly, the true linguistic root of joy ( śimḥah ), and the sophisticated legal architecture the Rabbis used to build the holiday of Purim. Key Themes &...

Show Notes Episode Overview This month, we explore Shebhaṭ—the Hebrew month whose name means "to strike" or "to beat," reflecting winter's agricultural reality. We examine the fifteenth of Shebhaṭ (Tu BiShvaṭ), tracing its transformation from a simple legal boundary in the agricultural calendar to an elaborate mystical ritual, and ask: what's the difference between worship commanded by God and wor...

Source Sheet: Host: Yosef Lopez I. The Biblical Reference for Ṭebheth Esther 2:16 וַתִּלָּקַ֨ח אֶסְתֵּ֜ר אֶל־הַמֶּ֤לֶךְ אֲחַשְׁוֵרוֹשׁ֙ אֶל־בֵּ֣ית מַלְכוּת֔וֹ בַּחֹ֥דֶשׁ הָעֲשִׂירִ֖י הוּא־חֹ֣דֶשׁ טֵבֵ֑ת בִּשְׁנַת־שֶׁ֖בַע לְמַלְכוּתֽוֹ׃ "And Esther was taken unto King Aḥashwerosh into his royal house in the tenth month, which is the month Ṭebheth, in the seventh year of his reign." II. The Historic...

Source Sheet: Ḥokhmat ha-Ḥodesh – Ṭebheth Host: Yosef Lopez I. The Biblical Reference for Ṭebheth Esther 2:16 וַתִּלָּקַ֨ח אֶסְתֵּ֜ר אֶל־הַמֶּ֤לֶךְ אֲחַשְׁוֵרוֹשׁ֙ אֶל־בֵּ֣ית מַלְכוּת֔וֹ בַּחֹ֥דֶשׁ הָעֲשִׂירִ֖י הוּא־חֹ֣דֶשׁ טֵבֵ֑ת בִּשְׁנַת־שֶׁ֖בַע לְמַלְכוּתֽוֹ׃ "And Esther was taken unto King Aḥashwerosh into his royal house in the tenth month, which is the month Ṭebheth, in the seventh year of...

Here are the show notes for the podcast episode. 🎙️ Episode 4: Kisleu - The Month of Hopeful Confidence Podcast: Ḥokhmat ha-Ḥodesh Host: Yosef Lopez 📜 Episode Summary Host Yosef Lopez invites listeners to look beyond the familiar traditions of Hanukkah (latkes, dreidels) and engage with the complex history preserved in Jewish sources. This episode argues that Hanukkah is not the "Jewish Christmas...

Show Notes: Key Themes & Topics What's in a Name? : Debunking the "bitter" (מר) folk etymology and understanding the Akkadian origin of Marheshwan . The Biblical Name "Bul" : Exploring the multiple meanings offered by Targum Yonatan and Radak: a month of gathering produce, floods ( Mabul ), withering ( Naval ), and mixing fodder ( Bolelin ). The Flood Narrative : Understanding Marheshwan as th...

Join our community on Patreon here: patreon.com/horizontalmedia Qohelet- https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLQVmyP8wFDiEZgTmh8mW6wdEmvAXz2HcB&si=nGlnwsjZpI5bwNvV Ibn Ezra’s Commentary in English: chrome-extension://efaidnbmnnnibpcajpcglclefindmkaj/ https://media.alhatorah.org/Parshanim/Ibn%20Ezra/Ibn%20Ezra%20Kohelet%20Translation.pdf Turn! Turn! Turn! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xVOJla2vY...

In this inaugural episode of Ḥokhmat ha-Ḥodesh, Rabbi Yosef Lopez explores the Hebrew month of Elul, emphasizing its significance as a time for introspection, spiritual preparation, and the practice of Teshuvah. He delves into the historical and cultural roots of Elul, its connection to the divine relationship, and the importance of Selichot prayers. The episode highlights the transformative natur...