The Tanakh Podcast

Our chapter speaks about promises or vows that invoke God's name. These verbal pronouncements must be kept.But why would a person vow?And why is this topic relevant at this point in Sefer Bamidbar?And how do we deal with the status of women in this chapter?---Regarding bookings for Shabbat Scholar-in-residence, email alexisrael99@gmail.com or see https://www.alexisrael.org/scholar-in-residence

Ch.29 completes the annual cycle of Jewish festivals, in listing the additional sacrifices for festive days.We talk today about some of the ideas and patterns that are revealed through the numbers contained in this detail laden chapter.

Chapter 28 and 29 are dedicated to the daily and "additional" sacrifices. What lessons can this chapter teach us?

Today we discuss leadership via the stories of the Daughters of Tzelophchad, and the appointment of Joshua bin Nun.

A new generation. A new census.But how does this second count of the nation differ in texture, context, and purpose than the first?

Chapter 25 gives us the worst sin of this generation - the seduction and idolatry at Baal Peor. But why were Israel not condemned as they were at the sin of the Golden Calf? Possibly because this was a deliberately planned attempt by the enemy (Midyan, Moav and Bilaam) to subvert and corrupt the Israelites.

Today we address three themes:1. The theme of lions in Bilaam's prophecy, and the balance between peaceful and warlike images.2. Bilaam as a source for the Messiah and the End of Days3. The parallel between Bilaam and Avraham.

Balak takes Bilaam higher and higher on the mountains overlooking the camp of Israel. At each location he sets up 7 altars and brings elaborate sacrifices. The Pagan assumption is that increased vision (and altitude?) would facilitate a spell, a curse; and that sacrifices could force God's hand. But the story turns satirical as Bilaam defies all expectations and King Balak gets increasingly angry.

Is Bilaam a saintly prophet or a greedy, pride-driven antisemite?That is the debate between Ramban and Rashi.What do we think from reading the text?And if God forbids Bilaam from making his way to Moab, then why does he reverse his pronouncement and allow him to go?

The Israelites are making their way to Arvot Moav in the Transjordan, the point at which they will launch their invasion of Eretz Yisrael.This chapter speaks of their journey there, a story filled with victories and songs, and a chapter that offers us a window into the character of this new generation.

Our chapter sees the death of Miriam and Aharon.It also sees Moses' famous sin that will deny him entry to the Land.As we shall suggest. all of this has much to do with the fact that we have just jumped 38 years and we are now in the final year of the Wilderness, and this is a new generation.

The Red Heifer is a purification ritual. Why is it in Bamidbar and not the book of Vayikra?And if it purifies, why does it induce impurity in all who come into contact with it?

Chapter 18 details the responsibilities and duties as well as the gifts and privileges of the Kohanim (priests) and the Leviim (Levites). We talk about 24 different "gifts" that must be given to the priests/Levites.In many cases, they are God's representatives, and the only way to fulfill our obligations to God is in fact to offer various items - foodstuffs or livestock - to the priest.

The Korach revolt will not die. God offers sign after sign, but the people remain disgruntled and oppositional. Is there any resolution to this challenge to the leadership, and the authority of God?

The Korach revolt takes an amalgam of different agendas and unites them into a full scale rebellion. Who's who in the opposition to Moshe and Aharon?What was the agenda(s) of the renegades?

Chapter 15 contains 5 mitzvot that seem entirely disconnected from the storyline of events in Bamidbar. We attempt to connect the dots into an integrated narrative.

Are the nation culpable for the sin of the Spies?They were manipulated and misled. Should the be punished for forty years for this inadvertent mistake?

If God told Moshe to send Spies, how did it go so wrong?In this podcast we discuss the spies' report, whether they were sent to be objective observers, or the opposite - to endear the covenantal land to the nation.

Miriam and Aharon speak disparagingly about Moses.God springs to his defence and reminds us why Moshe is in a league of his own.In this class we highlight three unique aspects of Moshe's persona and role.

In our chapter, the people complain and cry for meat, and Moses has a crisis.What is happening in the camp of Israel?How has order unraveled so rapidly?

Bamidbar 10 is a momentous chapter. After a year at Mount Sinai, the nation embark to realize Jewish history, the promises to the Patriarchs, the fulfillment of the Exodus - they begin the march to Eretz Yisrael!

Why do we see the law of Pesach at this point in the book?Why should there be a second opportunity to do Pesach, when this doesn't apply to other laws?

Chapter 8 depicts the cermonial dedication of the Levites.We pick three points of interest here:1. The "semicha" - the laying of the people's hands on the Levites2. The lighting of the Menorah - The power of the small routine actions that make a big difference3. After age fifty, the Levites retire. What is their role at that point in their lives? We speak of the older levites as a force of sage wisdom that can modify and temper religious passions and fads.----Classes for Purim/Megillat Esther https://www.alexisrael.org/megillat-esther-podcasts

In our chapter, the Mishkan, the Tabernacle, is dedicated in a 12-day ceremony as each of the leaders of the 12 tribes bring their offerings and gifts.But this is the THIRD time the Torah has visited this celebratory event. Why do we need this (highly repetitive) chapter?

Today we discuss both the Nazirite and the Priestly Blessings as we ask the question, how do we live in a world of divine blessing?

We have been telling a story in ch.1-4 - the story of the organization of the camp and the assignment of roles to the nation and the Levites.Suddenly Bamidbar takes a surprising turn into five legal segments (parshiot). Why does Bamidbar lurch from narrative to law?Why these five laws?

Today we discuss two topics:1. The transportation of the Aron2. The role and service mindset of Shevet Levi

In chapter 3 we watch as the Leviim are consecrated, and assigned roles in transporting the Sanctuary in their family clans - Gershon, Kehat and Merari. The Levites are also redeemed or exchanged with the Firstborn.But why were the Levites given this special role? Why are we seeing this role only now? And in what way do the Levites interplay with the firstborn?

Today we discuss two questions:1. In what formation did the Israelites march through the desert? In other words, what is meant by the phrase (2:17): "As they encamped so they travelled?"2. The count here is 603,550 adult me. But the same number appears in Shemot 38:26 - a count which would have ben taken at least 6 months previously. Did the population remain static? Did no one die? How do we resolve this mystery?

Chapter 1 of Bamidbar counts the nation by their males (age 20+). Why now? What is the purpose of taking a national census?

Ch.27 deals with all sorts of donations to God.What happens if I donate my own value to God?How do I redeem a field or an animal that I have donated to God?But why is this the final chapter of the book? It even seems like an appendix to ch.25! Why is this the close of Vayikra?

Today we reflect on the Blessings and Curses:1. Why are the curses longer than the blessings?2. Why are the curses incremental - stage by stage?3. Why are the blessings and curses this worldly rather than other-worldly?Lastly, we discuss the analogy of the blessings to the Garden of Eden.

This chapter is an economic chapter.It starts with the Sabbatical and Jubilee years - Shemitta and Yovel - and then engages in a series of paragraphs which describe an individual who gets deeper and deeper into financial distress. The key words- fall, brother, and redemption - give us a sense of what is at stake and how small acts can redeem our world.

An intriguing episode about a man who doesn't find his place in the camp, and takes his rage out against God, pronouncing God's name and blaspheming God. The man is put to death.This story bears a striking resemblance to a Story about Moshe! What is the difference?

Chapter 23 is one of the most comprehensive depictions of the chagim - the annual cycle of festivals. But it has a rich usage of words whose meaning is unclear: Moed, Mikra Kodesh, Shabbaton. We attempt to deepen our understanding of these words and to reach the deep-meaning of the chapter.

Today we address four dimensions of Kiddush and Hillul Hashem - the Sanctification and Desecration of God's name.

The priests, the kohanim, have special rules about their marriages, haircuts, mourning practices, impurity. They can also be disqualified from active service due to a variety of physical disfigurations.Today we attempt to lend some explanation to the unique role and rules of the Kohanim.

What is the prominence of idolatrous warnings in our chapter?Why do we hear - twice - a list of abhorrent sexual practices?And how does this relate to "Hukot Hagoy" - the notion of the ambient culture of Canaan.Today we explain the unit of ch.18-20 and what it seeks to say about the Torah's ethical lifestyle in contrast to the degenerate ways of the Canaanite nations.

Today we discuss the structure and form of chapter 19 as well as the famous dictum, "Love your Neighbour as Yourself."

In this podcast we discuss Rav David Zvi Hoffman's division of Vayikra into two halves, each with a particular language and a very different orientation.

Our chapter deals with meat sacrificed or slaughtered OUTSIDE the Mishkan. When is it permitted? When is it prohibited? We demonstrate that the ethical and religious concerns here are not timeless; they are highly contingent upon circumstance and context.

Its Yom Kippur in the Sanctuary.And the High Priest does a lottery.Two goats. One as a sin offering to God; the second sent to "Azazel"What is Azazel? Why this lottery? What does it mean?

Our chapter describes the nature of various bodily fluids, some natural, others involuntary, and speaks of the Tum'ah that they create and the rites of purification.Today we speak about various perspectives about the nature and effects of "Tum'ah" and whether sometimes God prefers Israel even in an impure state of being.

Why is the Tzara'at of houses contained in a separate section to the Tzaraat of skin and clothing?We explore two opposite and yet complementary dynamics in Hazal's explanation of this plague.

Is Tzaraat (sometimes translated incorrectly as leprosy) a medical ailment or a spiritual one?The Tanakh speaks of several instances of people afflicted by Tzaraat. What causes this condition?

A woman who births a child contracts impurity! Why?And she has to bring a sin offering?What sin did she incur?We will frame this episode in the broader framework of these chapters, which will go some way to answering these questions.

In this chapter we hear the laws of forbidden foods - Kosher animals, fish, birds and insects.But why are some animals forbidden and others allowed? Is there a logic to the particular animals that are banned for consumption? And why do non-kosher animals engender ritual impurity?

On what should have been the happiest day, tragedy strikes in the Mishkan. Nadav and Avihu, young priests - Aharon's sons - bring foreign fire and are struck down - by fire - before God. Why did they break the protocol of the Temple?What motivated them flout the laws and recklessly disregard the Temple service?

"The Eighth Day" is the day "that God will appear" to the nation. It is purported to be the day in which the Tabernacle/Mishkan reaches its climax - God's fire will descend to the nation.But we reach into the silent gaps in this story through Midrash and Rashi and speak of the hidden drama in this narrative; one of apprehension, guilt and brotherhood.

Today we try to get to the essence of the Miluim, the 7-day consecration of the Priests. We will discover that they are almost becoming part of the architecture of the Temple itself!

As Prof Yechezkel Kaufman pointed out, the Temple is a world of silence. There are no prayers or curses or incantations. Just silence. What should we make of this?