Rav Joe's 929 Tanakh Podcast

The prophet returns from his tour of Jerusalem to Bavel and performs 'acts of provocative prophetic street theatre' to his audience, showing what will happen to Jerusalem 5 years hence. Rabbi Gamliel Shmalo returns considering the question of who is blind, the meaning of Yechezkel's theatre, suggesting, among other things, a disagreement between Yechezkel and Yirmiyahu as to where the...

Jonathan Muhlrad considers our chapter in the context of Yom HaShoah and an intriguing parallel between our chapter and the story of Korach . https://www.sefaria.org/Ezekiel.11

Continue the vision began in the previous chapters as Yechezkel 'visits' Jerusalem, to see the horrendous destruction afflicting the city in which the divine death squad shows no mercyCalev Ben Dor provides us with excellent audio on both chapters noting how the text is a subversion of both exodus from Egypt and the ending of Yonah. Despite the darkness of the text, Calev shares with us a...

A scene of abominations in the Temple just years before its destruction, a deep insight into the theme of idolatry in Yechezkel (as opposed to his predecessors), and an intriguing connection between our chapter and the afikoman. Aliza Libman Baronofsky travels with Yechezkel in his vision to Yerushalayim https://www.sefaria.org/Ezekiel.8

The prophets hair becomes the source for symbolic actions. Text for this chapter can be found here: ⁠ https://www.sefaria.org/Ezekiel.5

Text can be found here: https://www.sefaria.org/Ezekiel.2

A mighty strange chapter where the prophet is to embody himself the sins of Israel and Yehuda. Text here: https://www.sefaria.org/Ezekiel.3 https://www.sefaria.org/Ezekiel.4

Today we begin one of the greatest of the prophets - Yehezkel. Yehezkel, the prophet of the the exile who receives his call to prophecy in Babylon far from the holy land, yet his mind and imagination are up in the heavens! Text can be found here: https://www.sefaria.org/Ezekiel.1

Text can be found here: https://www.sefaria.org/Jeremiah.39 , https://www.sefaria.org/Jeremiah.40

Audio from Ilana Stein in Jo'burg surrounded by tweeting birds. Alongside a compelling read of the chapter, Ilana compares the psychology in South Africa re coronavirus to that of the Jerusalemites in our chapter, watching the ravaging of the area around them by the Babylonians, but saying 'perhaps it won't come to us'. https://www.sefaria.org/Jeremiah.37

An incendiary chapter in which Yirmyahu writes his prophecy on a scroll to be presented to Yehoyakim and other nobility. The scroll is burnt, but is then rewritten! An outstanding audio from Rabbi Dr Sam Lebens, dear friend and teacher of philosophy at University of Haifa. In his brief audio he manages to compare prophecy to a free media, introduce us to open theology and Gersonides, guide us thro...

We jump back in time to the reign of Yehoyakim and the navi's interaction with a teetotaling group known as Rechabites who have a message to teach us. Text for this chapter here: https://www.sefaria.org/Jeremiah.35

Two messages from the prophet to king tzidkiyahu - and a disturbing picture of Jewish slavery in Jerusalem of the 580s. Ilana Stein provides us with another insightful audio with the aid of Rav Benny Lau. Text can be found here: https://www.sefaria.org/Jeremiah.34

In the audio I take perhaps the most famous verses of this chapter and consider the Jewish tradition's prioritsation of the positive over the negative, a point which perhaps might provide some solace to us in these difficult weeks. Text for this chapter can be found here: https://www.sefaria.org/Jeremiah.33

On the eve of the destruction of Jerusalem, God tells Yirmiyahu to buy property (do not necessarily take this as investment advice for the current period we are in!) Calev Ben Dor gives a beautiful reflection on the moment of exile being the moment of greatest intimacy and what it means to read today's chapter in contemporary Jerusalem. Text for this chapter can be found here: https://www.sefa...

Yirmiyahu 31 contains some of the most famous and beautiful of all the verses in the book as a voice is heard on the heights of Rachel lamenting for her children. Yael Shahar returns with another beautiful audio. Text here: ⁠ https://www.sefaria.org/Jeremiah.31

Text for this chapter can be found here: https://www.sefaria.org/Jeremiah.30⁠

It's the fourth year of the reign of Tzidkiyahu and Yirmiyahu has been prophesying for 30 years now. But now he faces a rival - Chanania a false yet compelling prophet providing an alternative narrative to Yirmiyahu's one and tells the people that they can defeat Bavel, that the exiles will return and Israel will remain in the land. He breaks the yoke that Yirmiyahu has taken to wearing ar...

A message given more than a decade letter speaking of God's mastery over the world and of His ability to give the world to whom he wishes, in this case, of 'Nevuchadnezar my servant' (mind blown!)Calev links Yirmiyahu up to the very first Rashi on the Torah - that behaviour is more important to God than ethnicity. Text for this chapter can be found here: https://www.sefaria.org/Jeremia...

A message given around 609 - in the Temple Courtyard prophesying that the Temple will be destroyed if people assume that it gives automatic protection - for giving this message, Yirmiyahu barely escapes with his life. I talk of Yirmiyahu's consistent message of not relying on the Temple to assume that God will always protect us. https://www.sefaria.org/Jeremiah.26

We feature ch.23 as part of our recording for ch.25 given certain shared themes. In my audio I consider the amazing metaphor of the wine cup of wrath that God gives Israel to send to the nations and the significance of the number 70. Text for this chapter can be found here: https://www.sefaria.org/Jeremiah.23 , https://www.sefaria.org/Jeremiah.25⁠

Aliza Libman Baranofsky returns with another excellent teaching on the myriad allusions between our chapter and other stories of Israel's exiles and redemptions throughout Biblical history. It's a treat! Text for this chapter can be found here: https://www.sefaria.org/Jeremiah.24

Calev Ben Dor teaches us the chapter explaining the complicated chronological background to the chapter and the geopolitical difficulties the kings of Yehuda find themselves in. Text for this chapter can be found here: https://www.sefaria.org/Jeremiah.22

Audio today from Rafi Addlestone who expertly sets the historical context and presents our chapter as a reversal of the redemption from Egypt. Text for this chapter can be found here: https://www.sefaria.org/Jeremiah.21

The prophet imprisoned for his rebukes but bursts forth once freed with even more anger. But even though this is how he feels on the outside, on the inside he wishes he could just be a normal guy. Text for this chapter can be found here: https://www.sefaria.org/Jeremiah.20