The TanachTalks Podcast

This episode looks at the two haftorot of Tisha B'Av (Jeremiah/Yermiyahu 8-9 and Isaiah/Yshayahu 55-56) and the differences between them. Support the show (https://www.patreon.com/tanachtalks)

Discusses Yeshayahu (Isaiah) the time and content of his opening vision, and the question of whether God wanted sacrifices.Support the show (https://www.patreon.com/tanachtalks)

Discusses the episode where Elisha sicks two bears on children who were mocking him (2 Kings 2 - Melachim Bet) ... One of the Tanach's great stories!Support the show (https://www.patreon.com/tanachtalks)

Discusses the haftorah of the seventh day of Pesach, David'd Song (Shmuel Bet 22) - its structure, its purpose in the book of Shmuel, and why it is read on Pesach.Support the show (https://www.patreon.com/tanachtalks)

Discusses Eliyahu's Death, the meaning of his last interaction with Elisha, and the secret to his immortality.Support the show (https://www.patreon.com/tanachtalks)

Describes the final showdown between Eliyahu and Ahaziah, containing a background of the history betwen the prophet and the house of Ahav, and of course ... FIREBALLS!Support the show (https://www.patreon.com/tanachtalks)

Shares the meaning behind a brilliant insight by R Menachem Leibtag regarding the double ending of Sefer Shemot and how the book continues in two directionsSupport the show (https://www.patreon.com/tanachtalks)

Throughout Tanach we find what we call the "VaYomer VaYomer phenomenon" - interrupted speech. In this podcast we look at two examples of this in Exodus 32 and 34.Support the show (https://www.patreon.com/tanachtalks)

Tanach extensively uses word play, allusion, and omissions to convey its message - as these three short examples from Esther 6 clearly demonstrate - Happy Purim!Support the show (https://www.patreon.com/tanachtalks)

Discusses various approaches to the moral question of God hardening Pharaoh's heart among medieval and modern commentators.Support the show (https://www.patreon.com/tanachtalks)

Gives an explanation for the enigmatic episode where Moshe nearly dies on his way back to Egypt based on an overview of his life.Support the show (https://www.patreon.com/tanachtalks)

Analyzes the solutions to Joseph's dreams, Pharaoh's Dreams, and the role that repeating stories play through the Genesis narrativeSupport the show (https://www.patreon.com/tanachtalks)

Discusses the stories of Yehudit, Hannah, and Miriam and their contribution to the debate regarding the real meaning of Chanukah. Recording at Lev haTorah 5780.Support the show (https://www.patreon.com/tanachtalks)

Discusses the parallels between the story of Judah and Tamar with the story of Joseph, and the purpose of interrupting the latter story with this episode and all the parallels.Support the show (https://www.patreon.com/tanachtalks)

Explains the nature of the gifts that Jacob sends to Esau and the legnthy lists at the end of chapter 36 in GenesisSupport the show (https://www.patreon.com/tanachtalks)

Discusses different approaches to the episode where Jacob tricks Isaac to get the blessing destined for Esau.Support the show (https://www.patreon.com/tanachtalks)

Discusses the meaning of the test, and competing interpretations regarding Avraham's state of mind.Support the show (https://www.patreon.com/tanachtalks)

Discusses Genesis 12-13 - the structure of the story of the separation between Abraham and LotSupport the show (https://www.patreon.com/tanachtalks)

Discusses the MANY interpretations of the enigmatic story of the Tower of Babel, from the traditionalists to Jordan Peterson, Richard Fenyman and Anakin Skywalker.Support the show (https://www.patreon.com/tanachtalks)

Discusses the structure of the arden of Eden story and its message - includes identifying its boundaries, what the tree of Knowledge symbolizes, and whether the exile is a punishment or was pre-destinedSupport the show (https://www.patreon.com/tanachtalks)

Compares the differing approaches of Mishlei and Kohelet / Proverbs and Ecclesiastes regarding wisdom and the purpose of life, and discusses why Kohelet is read by Jews on Sukkot, of all holidays,Support the show (https://www.patreon.com/tanachtalks)

Explores the tumultous eighth century BCE which saw the emergence of four of Israel's greatest prophets - Isaiah, Amos, Hosea, and Micah. Discusses the historical social and political changes that swept across the Ancient Ner East and how they influenced Israel's religious works forever.Support the show (https://www.patreon.com/tanachtalks)

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Rabbi Leibtag discusses his innovative approach to understanding the historical books of the Bible, and applies this approach to Sefer Shmuel. He outlines the various sections of the book, and argues for a series of authors that attempt to justify Davidic rule over the kingdoms.Support the show (https://www.patreon.com/tanachtalks)

On this podcast we discuss the Shema, when the phrase Baruch Shem Kavod Malchulto Le'Olam Va'Ed was added, and the hidden connection to the Ten Commandments based on the structure of the book of Deuteronomy (Sefer Devarim)Support the show (https://www.patreon.com/tanachtalks)

This short podcast deals with the Torah reading for Tisha BeAv - Deut (Devarim 4), looks at its literary structure (hint - its a chiasm!), keywords, and explains why the rabbis chose which books of the Tanach could be studied on TIsha BeAv and which other ones could not ...Support the show (https://www.patreon.com/tanachtalks)

Discusses the contradictions in the accounts between the books of Numbers and Deuteronomy about the episode of the spies, and presents three possible solutions.Support the show (https://www.patreon.com/tanachtalks)

Numbers 36 - Why did the tribe of Menashe wait before complaning about the daughters of Zelophad, and how does this story foreshadow the events of the book of Judges? Support the show (https://www.patreon.com/tanachtalks)

A longer episode than most, we discuss the Book of Kings with Rabbi Alex Israel, author of the recently published "Kings 2: Into the Whirlwind" by Maggid Press (2019) - the sequel to his commentary on Kings 1. During the discussion Rabbi Israel and I discuss the fascinating and sometimes overlooked characters and stories of the book of Kings, and its purpose in the framework of Tanach.Support the show (https://www.patreon.com/tanachtalks)

This podcast discusses chapter 32 in Bemidbar (the book of Numbers). With a close reading of the text, we try to answer the classic argument of the commentators whether Moshe's outburst against them was justified, or the sign of a leader who has lost touch with the people ...Support the show (https://www.patreon.com/tanachtalks)

In this Tanach Talks podcast , we deal with the first Haftorah of the Three Weeks - Jeremiah chapter 1 and his introduction to prophecy. We discuss:* the meaning of the word Haftorah and its source* how a prophet is consecrated* the meaning of Jeremiah's first two prophecies* why is God giving Jeremiah a vision test?Support the show (https://www.patreon.com/tanachtalks)

Why would Joshua send spies - didn't he learn from Moses' failed experience from over forty years before? This episode discusses the story of the spies, Rahab and Jericho, using comparative techniques with other similar episodes. We look at both the Malbim's explanation for sending the spies, and at a surprising comparison between Joshua 2 and Genesis 19. We attempt to explain the meaning of the many thematic and literary parallels between the Rahab and Lot stories.www.tanachtalks.comSupport the show (https://www.patreon.com/tanachtalks)

Our first podcast asks the question - what is Tanach? From there, we discuss the number of books in the Hebrew Bible, the order in which they appear, and the differences between the Tanach's three main sections (Torah, Nevi'im, and Ketuvim).Support the show (https://www.patreon.com/tanachtalks)