The Tanakh Podcast

Each of the "Avot" represent a unique contribution to the mosaic of Jewish existence and ideas. Today we probe what Yitzchak - in many ways the most hidden of all the Avot - represents.

Yaakov and Esav commence their rivalry in the womb. The forces that drive them to conflict seem to operate beyond the rational. Reading the story, why does Isaac love Esav and Rivka love Yaakov? And why do we see Esav as evil. If anything, it is Yaakov who tricks his brother out of the birthright!

This is the story of Rivka's betrothal. Why did Avraham make his servant take an oath? What makes Rivka so special?

Chapter 23 describes the death of Sarah and Avraham's purchase of a burial site for her. But why is the story depicted with such verbosity? Couldn't the story have been told in amore concise way? I think the to and fro here reveals the key to the story.

This is the most awesome of all the tests of Abraham. The Binding of Isaac. But why did Avraham not answer back and refuse this test? Is it legitimate to slaughter a child?

What did Yishmael do that made Sarah take the decision to make Avraham drive his son out of their home? Did Avraham send his own son to possible death by thirst in the desert?

Why do Sarah and Abraham need to pass themselves off as siblings? Can't they be up-front about their marital status? And in our chapter, as God protects Avraham, Avimelekh complains and says "will you kill the innocent too?" he sounds quite similar to Avrham in ch.18. Why does the Torah choose to put this phraseology into Avimelekh's mouth?

Why did Lot deserve to be saved? Was he righteous, practicing Abraham's tradition of hospitality? But who sends their two virgin daughters out to a mob?

This chapter contains two scenes: 1. Avrham practicing hospitality. The 3 angels. The angels announce the prospect of the birth of Isaac to Sarah. 2. Avraham bargains/argues with God for the fate of Sedom. How do these two scenes connect and coalesce?

In this chapter, Avraham is given another covenant and the enaction of the covenant is Brit Mila- the circumcision of male children at 8-days old. What is there about this mitzvah that gives it such foundational status as regards Jewish identity? Is it merely a ritual or is there meaning behind it?

Sarai sees that she is infertile. She suggests that Avraham be intimate with Hagar, an Egyptian slave-woman, and that she will have a surrogate child. But once she is pregnant Hagar shows no intention to hand over the child. She asumes parity with Sarah. The pan has backfired. Now Sarah "oppresses" Hagar and Hagar runs away, only to be met by an angel at the well. Was Sarai's actions...

In this chapter, Avraham challenges God. He says - You promised me offspring, and yet I cannot have children! - You promised a land. How will that ever happen? Avraham asks for assurances from God. And God understands that Avraham needs that reassurance. God offers a Brit - a pact, a contract, a covenant - and this covenant has some interesting imagery - animals cut in two, birds of prey, fire and...

In this chapter: 1. War in the Jordan valley - four Mesopotamian kings take control of the five kingdoms of the valley. After the five kings revolt, the four-kings come and conquer the valley taking its population captive, including Lot. 2. Abraham embarks in a military rescue mission to save his nephew Lot with 318 fighters - called "his students, those born in his household." He is vic...

Lot has traveled all the way from Mesopotamia at Avraham's side! Why do they split up now? And why choose Sedom?

Today our attention turns to Abraham and Sarah and their trek to the promised land. Why did God choose Abraham? Did God choose him *because* he was special or did God choose him to *become* special?

We begin today with the Tower of Babel. What is wrong with building skyscrapers? Why did God intervene?

Our chapter depicts the three lines of the Sons of Noach - Yefet, Ham and Shem and the development of their civilizations. This is the story of the "Seventy Nations".

What is the symbol of the rainbow? Why does Noach get drunk and lol naked in his tent? And was Noach a Tzaddik?

Today we discuss: 1. How the restoration of the world after the flood reflects the Creation of ch.1 2. Anthropomorphic expressions in the chapter 3. The "evil inclination of the heart of man" - How can it be a reason to DESTROY the world and also to PRESERVE the world? 4. The alienation between ADAM and ADAMA

Today we address 3 topics: 1. The double story of the Flood 2. The dates of the flood 3. The notion of "Zikaron" And a few connections to the Yamim Noraim (the High Holy Days)

Chapter 6 describes the cryptic episode of the "sons of God" and the "daughters of man". God's patience with humanity is running out! Soon, God decides to de-create his creation in a great "MAbul" - more a "confusion" than a flood.

This is a list of genealogies, of a family tree! We will discover that there is much that one can learn from a list! The key? - Look at the differences, the aberrations and deflections from the standard formula!

Cain and Abel. The first murder. Brother kills brother. It seems like Bereshit is addressing some of humanity's fundamental weaknesses and flaws. But then the chapter turns to the seventh generation, and the family and poem of Lemekh. We offer two modes of interpretation for this cryptic story. --- For my podcast in which I teach the story of the tension between Kayin and Hevel and the murder itse...

This is the story of the sin and expulsion from the Garden of Eden.

One of the greatest and classic challenges of biblical scholarship has been the contradictions between chapter 1 and 2. Many don't pay attention, but in fact the chapters are quite at odds with one another. Today we articulate many of the differences between the chapters and then we offer a dialectical model which sees ch.1 and 2 in dialectical tension, in the end offering a more holistic picture...