Richmond Jewish Learning Experience

What Does Atonement Mean? 18.09.2025 50:37 ↓

The root כפר/k.p.r. is used in a variety of contexts in the Torah. What does it mean for the high holidays? (recorded 9/17/25)

Ki Teitze: Parshanut and Polygamy 04.09.2025 48:45 ↓

What can we learn from the style and context of the command not to favor the son of a favored wife? (recorded 8/3/25)

Shoftim: Does the Torah Endorse Monarchy 29.08.2025 42:34 ↓

What is the ideal form of government according to scholars throughout Jewish history? (Recorded 8/27/25)

Va'etchanan: Zachor vs. Shamor 07.08.2025 41:59 ↓

Why are the Ten Commandments told differently in Va'etchanan than they were told in Exodus? (recorded 8/6/25)

Devarim: eMOSHEnal Intelligence 01.08.2025 43:38 ↓

Devarim is an illustration of Moshe's deftness in speaking to the Jewish people. Rashi helps us see it. (recorded 7/30/25)

Matot-Masei: East of the Jordan 24.07.2025 49:06 ↓

Was the request made by Reuven and Gad good or bad? How did Menashe get roped into the deal? (recorded 7/23/25)

Pinchas: Good or Bad? 17.07.2025 38:41 ↓

What do the rabbis think about Pinchas? What do we make of the stories involving him in Yehoshua and Shoftim? (recorded on 7/16/25)

Balak: Did Bilam Curse the Jews? 10.07.2025 48:15 ↓

3 ways to understand the enigmatic story of Balak and Bilam. (recorded 7/9/25)

Korach: How the Punishment Fits the Crime 10.07.2025 45:48 ↓

Why did the earth swallow people up? (6/25/25)

Shelach: Faith as Hope 19.06.2025 41:06 ↓

What did the spies get wrong? What can we learn from the two spy stories in Joshua? The relevance of the parsha to current events. (recorded on 6/18/25)

The Anxiety of Waiting for Iran's Response - Thoughts 13.06.2025 9:25 ↓

We are thousands of miles away and just waiting. What does God want of us? (recorded 6/13/25)

Behaalotcha: Two Complaints, One Story 12.06.2025 51:50 ↓

The Jews complain, and so does Moshe. Hashem has two different reactions. What's with the word ruach? (recorded 6/11/25)

Naso: A Mishkan for All People 10.06.2025 45:39 ↓

Why aren't the mitzvot in Naso where they are supposed to be in the book of Vayikra? (recorded on 6/04/25)

Ruth: Real Story vs. Reel, Story 26.05.2025 50:28 ↓

How does the historical context of Ruth inform our understanding of the story?

Emor: Blasphemy, Sympathy, and Accountability 15.05.2025 46:24 ↓

The parsha ends with an enigmatic story about blasphemy and its repercussions. Rashi helps us relate. (recorded 5/15/25)

Acharei Mot Kedoshim: The Nadav and Avihu Non-Sequitur 08.05.2025 49:35 ↓

Why does the Torah mention the deaths of Nadav and Avihu at the beginning of our parsha?

Yom Haatzmaut/Tazria-Metzora: Pain and Partial Geula 08.05.2025 43:28 ↓

Lessons from the rabbis and the navi for celebrating Yom Haatzmaut during trying times. (recorded 4/30/25)

Elitism in the Priesthood: The Sin of Nadav and Avihu 24.04.2025 34:51 ↓

Rashi and Rashbam differ as to what Nadav and Avihu did wrong. Parallels between the revelation at Mt. Sinai and the inauguration of the 8th day add depth to the Rashbam's explanation. (recorded 4/23/25)

All You Need to Know About: Shabbos Erev Pesach 07.04.2025 34:01 ↓

Link to class outline: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1w6K_br8iiKM1Ws6tBhLD7eEOCUUB5J_ATPRDoeZSCyg/edit?usp=sharing recorded 4/6/2025

Did Lot Celebrate Pesach? 27.03.2025 55:50 ↓

Why does Rashi say that Lot baked matza for the angels because it was Pesach? What does that say about the Exodus story?

Vayakhel: The Golden Calf and the Mishkan 20.03.2025 48:51 ↓

What was the real sin of the Golden Calf? Why did God "allow" sacrifices?

Mordechai: Hero or Shlemeil? 27.02.2025 55:53 ↓

What did the Jews at the time think of Mordechai? W hat does the author of the Megilla think?

A Torah thought on the hostage tragedy 20.02.2025 5:28 ↓

Processing the grim events of the return of murdered hostages

The Purim Story: Midrashic and Historical Context 20.02.2025 1:06:15 ↓

Why Did the Purim Story Happen? Why does the Gemara connect Purim to the Book of Daniel?

Yitro: Thinking Outside the Box 13.02.2025 55:30 ↓

The gemara says that Yitro blessed God for the Exodus before the Jews did. Why? How is it connected to Yitro's advice to Moshe?