The Tanakh Podcast

How can the stories we tell of our lives reshape our experience of reality? That is the question we will ponder as we read Joseph's explanation of his story, that he is a tool in God's plan. Will this have the ability to reshape the traumas of the past?

The Joseph story reaches its climax when Joseph breaks down and reveals his true identity to his brothers. But why does he break down at this particular moment?

Today we demonstrate many aspects of the Joseph story that revisit and resurface aspects of the events of the past, and allow the characters to grapple with the moral and emotional implications of the events twenty years earlier.

The brothers come down to Egypt. Joseph identifies them. He starts a series of false accusations, incriminations and manipulations. Why did Yoseph torment and torture his brother (and his father)? Was it pure vindictiveness?

Pharaoh has 2 bafflng dreams. The butler recalls Yoseph. Yoseph is summoned to the palace, he dazzles Pharaoh with his dream interpretation, and is appointed to the highest office in the land.Today we focus on two points.1. Joseph's growing God awareness and his perception that his life is guided by God2. His integration into Egyptian culture. This leaves us with the question - which I think Joseph might have asked himself - will he ever return to his family?

Joseph finds himself in jail - the pit. Again!And yet again, he is recognized for his tremendous leadership abilities and promoted to supervise the jail.He encounters the butler and the baker and interprets their dreams. Are their dreams similar or different? Why do we need to hear the details of these dreams? What does this contribute to the central storyline?

The Rabbis call Joseph "Yoseph HaTzaddik" because he resists the seduction of Mrs. Potiphar. What can we learn from this story?

Why is a random story about Yehudah and his daughter-in-law inserted into the Joseph saga?Why did Yehudah visit a prostitute?And what did Tamar teach Yehuda that changed the course of the family - and Jewish history?

Would you kill someone because of their dreams?Why are the brothers so agitated, so aggravated by Joseph's dreams?

Before we leave Esav we list his extensive progeny - children, military generals and kings. Esav would appear to have a kingdom that is fully formed, way before Israel become a nation. And that might be the point!I referenced this article in the podcast https://www.alexisrael.org/single-post/2019/12/12/vayishlach-insignificant-verses-really

In this chapterYaakov and family return to Beit El to fulfil Yaakov's vowYaakov's name-change is ratified by GodRachel goes into labor and dies in childbirth. Benjamin is born. The 12th son.Reuven's sin.In our podcast today, we weave these episodes into a single story.

Dinah is raped and abducted.Shimon and Levi rescue her, and murder the people of Shchem.Were they justified?Why did Yaakov rebuke them?

In our chapter 33, after a nail-biting tense chapter of worried anticipation, Yaakov and Esav meet. But there is little animosity here. There is a hug, a kiss, tears. Like long lost brothers, Esav asks Yaakov about his family, his wivesand kids; Yaakov offers him gifts, Esav suggests that they travel together, Yaakov politely refuses. Where did all the tension go?

Jacob is returning to Canaan. He notifies his brother Esau. HE gets a message: Esav is coming to meet you with 400 men.Yaakov is petrified. He suspects that Esav is coming to massacre him and his household!But when the brothers meet, Esav simply hugs Yaakov and expresses brotherly love.Did Yaakov misunderstand Esav?What is the drama here?

Why did Yaakov need to leave Haran like a thief in the night?Why did Yaakov need to cheat Lavan by secret "genetic engineering" of his herds?Who is the cheat - Lavan or Yaakov?In this podcast we demonstrate Yaakov's stellar moral integrity and Lavan's manipulative treatment of Yaakov and his family.

Our chapter demonstrates the phenomenal tension between Rachel and Leah and the strong emotions that rage in the family. We discuss the characters of these two matriarchs and preset a framework to appreciate their unique strengths.

We shall read chapter 29 as slowly exposing several of the challenges - personal and moral - that Yaakov will face in his sojourn in Haran - the challenges of Exile.

Why does God appear to Yaakov at Beit-El? Why now?What is the meaning of the dream about the ladder? And why does Yaakov respond by setting up a stone pillar?

Why did Yaakov steal the blessings?Was he (and Rivka) correct?Can a blessing be stolen?

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 ethical?Why is the Tanakh so sympathetic to Hagar?

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 smoke, a sky filled with stars. What does it all mean?Today we explore this dramatic exchange, and the meaning behind the imagery.

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 victorious.3. On his return, Abraham is greeted by two kings - polar opposites - the King of Sedom, and Maki Tzedek. With whom will he ally?

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.12. Anthropomorphic expressions in the chapter3. 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 Flood2. The dates of the flood3. 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 itself, listen here

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 of the world.

Chapter 2 zooms in on the human, and humanity's uniqueness: Spirituality, responsibility, loneliness and relationships.

What is the purpose Creation narrative?Is it intended to teach us that the world was brought into being in a mere six days?Or does it teach us something about the nature of life, being, human purpose and dignity?

Tanakh ends with a beginning.The Galut, the Exile happens, but there is a Return, an "Aliyah" - this is the "end without an ending."

Indiana Jones went looking for it. But where is it?Our chapter gives us a few clues!

Yoshiyahu is another exemplary king. Rising to power as a child, he leads the nation back to God.We will focus on the remarkable discovery of a Sefer Torah in the storerooms of the Temple. What is this scroll? Was the Torah lost for a while?

Do we suffer for our parents sins?Today we suffer the most evil king of Yehudah - King Mennasseh. In the book of Kings his idolatry is the cause of the Hurban - the national exile. But here in Divrei Hayamim, we witness Menasseh repenting and recanting from his idolatrous ways. What is the truth? Why does Divrei Hayamim report this previously unknown story?

The Assyrians attack, but since Hezekiah has led the nation to such devotion to God, we can rest assured that God will save His nation.The story here has a radically different emotional tone and emphasis than that in Melakhim and Isaiah.