The Tanakh Podcast

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Study Tanakh with Rav Alex Israel. 5-10 mins. One chapter a day. 929 schedule.

Alex Israel


    • Jun 18, 2025 LATEST EPISODE
    • weekdays NEW EPISODES
    • 11m AVG DURATION
    • 702 EPISODES

    Ivy Insights

    The Tanakh Podcast is a podcast that delves into the wisdom and teachings of the Tanakh, providing concise and powerful insights into various aspects of faith, including God, Torah, Israel, community, and family. Inspired by the works of R. Soloveitchik and R. Sacks, this podcast offers listeners an opportunity to uplift their spirits and deepen their understanding in short, digestible episodes. Hosted by R. Israel, this podcast brings together bite-sized nuggets of wisdom that are perfect for those with limited attention spans, offering 10-minute episodes that are both insightful and thought-provoking.

    One of the best aspects of The Tanakh Podcast is its ability to distill complex concepts into easily understandable insights. R. Israel's concise delivery allows listeners to absorb profound teachings in a short amount of time without feeling overwhelmed. This format is particularly beneficial for individuals who struggle to concentrate for long periods but still wish to engage with religious teachings and expand their knowledge in a meaningful way. Additionally, the inclusion of special songs related to each day's topic adds an extra layer of depth and connection to the material being discussed.

    However, one possible drawback of The Tanakh Podcast is its brevity. While the short-form episodes work well for some individuals seeking quick bursts of inspiration or information, others may find themselves craving more in-depth discussions or analysis on certain topics. This limitation might leave some listeners wanting more depth and exploration beyond what can be covered in just 10 minutes.

    In conclusion, The Tanakh Podcast offers a unique approach to exploring the wisdom found within the Tanakh by presenting concise yet powerful insights into various aspects of faith. R. Israel's delivery style and inclusion of related songs help create an uplifting listening experience that is both accessible and thought-provoking. While some listeners may desire more extensive coverage on certain topics due to the podcast's brevity, overall it provides valuable nuggets of wisdom for individuals looking to deepen their understanding of God, Torah, Israel, community, and family.



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    Latest episodes from The Tanakh Podcast

    Chronicles I ch.16 - Song and Praise

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 18, 2025 13:36


    David installs the Aron in Jerusalem. What type of worship will take place there? If we take our cue from Divrei Hayamim it is music, song! This is the first time that a fixed liturgy has been instituted to be recited daily. This prayer is actually in our daily siddur!

    Chronicles I ch.15 - The Procession of the Aron

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 17, 2025 12:49


    Chapter 15 depicts the (successful) procession of the Aron to Jerusalem. The account in Sefer Shmuel (Book of Samuel ch.6) is so passionate. Our chapter is so technical, filled as it is with names and roles of the Levitical families. Beyond Chronicles' seeming obsession with names, what drives our chapter differently to the narrative in Shmuel?

    Chronicles 1 ch.14 - International Recognition and Military Victory

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 16, 2025 11:28


    In this chapter, David discerns that God is with him, by means of foreign recognition of his rule, and by his victory over the Philistines.

    Chronicles I ch.13 - The Ark Slips. Uzza Falls.

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 15, 2025 14:36


    David tries to bring the Ark to Jerusalem. But there is a tragedy which brings the celebratory national procession to an abrupt end.What is the place of this episode in the broader storyline of Sefer Divrei Hayamim?

    Chronicles I ch.12 - Tribal Specialities

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 14, 2025 14:05


    Reading the details of this chapter we encounter some unique features of the tribes of Binyamin, Gad and Yissachar.

    Chronicles I ch.11 - King David's Coronation!

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 11, 2025 13:10


    Divrei Hayamim is a master of rewriting history, and ch.11-12 is a masterpiece. On the backdrop of David's coronation in Hevron, Divrei Hayamim gives us the perfect unity of Israel, all rallied around David, Jerusalem - and all designated by God. In practice, history was far more messy, but there is a difference between history and collective memory.

    Chronicles I ch.10 - The Death of King Saul

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 10, 2025 11:53


    The narrative segment of Divrei Hayamim opens with Shaul's tragic death. This is the only story of Saul's life. why does Div Hayamim choose to begin at this exact point? Since the author of Div. Hayamim is a very discerning historian, highly attentive to his task, the choice of a beginning must be deliberate and meaningful. What is he trying to communicate?

    Chronicles I ch.9 - Secrets of the Levites

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 9, 2025 9:58


    Our chapter is concerned with:1. The inhabitants of Jerusalem... especially the Levitic role2. The genealogy of King Saul.We will focus on the particular responsibilities of the Levitic guilds, holding traditions which stretch from Samuel and the Tabernacle in Shiloh until the end of the Second Temple.

    Chronicles I ch.8 - The Tribe of Benjamin

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 8, 2025 10:17


    Does Divrei Hayamim venerate the tribe of Benjamin or see them somehow as defective? The answer is complex as we shall see.

    Chronicles I ch.7 - Lost Records, and a Premature Exodus

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 7, 2025 12:32


    Why is there so little information on the settlements of the tribes Yissachar, Naftali and Asher? The key information is a military roster from David's army, not a register of villages and towns.And we shall visit verse 21 and a curious Midrash about the Tribe of Efrayim who left Egypt too early and who were massacred.

    Chronicles I ch.6 - The Choir of the Leviim

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 4, 2025 12:03


    Chapter 5-6 depict the tribe of Levi. Divrei Hayamim introduces the musical flair of the Levites and the introduction of music into the arena of the Temple, it would seem by King David.

    Chronicles I ch.5 - The Tribe of Reuven

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 3, 2025 13:17


    The genealogy of Reuven contains many classic theological features of Divrei Hayamim. We bring these into focus.

    Chronicles I ch.4 - The Midrashic Meaning of Names

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 3, 2025 14:00


    Divrei Hayamim I ch.4 is filled yet again with names. Whereas much of teh detail here seem incosequential to us, Midrash uses these texts as a commentary about some of the familiar heroes of Tanakh.

    Chronicles 1 ch.3 - The House of David

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 1, 2025 8:36


    This genealogical list gives us the family tree of the House of David.It is amazing what one can learn from a simple list of names.

    Chronicles 1 Ch.2 - The Tribe of Yehuda

    Play Episode Listen Later May 31, 2025 9:53


    From the universal we turn to the family tree of Yehuda and we meed personalities like Achan, Hur, Betzalel, Calev and ... David, later to be king.Today we describe how several of the chapter's features match the agenda of Divrei Hayamim.

    Chronicles 1 Ch.1 - Introduction to the Sefer

    Play Episode Listen Later May 28, 2025 10:13


    In this podcast we offer an introduction to the structure and themes of Divrei Hayamim.

    Nehemiah ch.13 - New Laws to Bolster Judaism

    Play Episode Listen Later May 27, 2025 13:47


    Nehemiah returns to Jerusalem and finds that Toviah has a office in the Temple (- he throws him out -) , that Shabbat is being widely broken in Jerusalem, and that intermarriage continues among the elites of the city.We discuss the manner in which the rabbinic tradition took these areas of weakness and enacted new laws to bolster religious observance. It might be that Judaism has only survived due to these changes.

    Nehemiah ch.12 - Dedicating the Walls of Jerusalem

    Play Episode Listen Later May 26, 2025 10:04


    The walls of Jerusalem are dedicated with pomp and circumstance in a double procession, concluding with a feast at the Temple.Why are the walls not merely ...walls? Why do they have religious significance?

    Nehemiah ch.11 - The Jerusalem "Volunteers"

    Play Episode Listen Later May 26, 2025 13:00


    In this chapter, a lottery is made and one out of ten families are "volunteered" to live in Jerusalem!

    Nehemiah ch.10 - Renewing the Covenant

    Play Episode Listen Later May 24, 2025 14:16


    At the end of the national "happening" in Jerusalem, Ezra and Nehemiah have the people sign a covenant committing themselves to Torah and religious observance.What are the implications of this moment?

    Nehemiah ch.9 - Learning from History

    Play Episode Listen Later May 21, 2025 11:43


    Before the people disband, they dress in sackcloth and confess their sins before God.The Levites lead a heartfelt prayer reviewing Jewish history - the people's rebellious nature, and God's forbearance and mercy.

    Nehemiah ch.8 - Torah for the People

    Play Episode Listen Later May 20, 2025 15:21


    It is the 1st of Tishrei - what we call Rosh Hashannah.Ezra and Nehemiah join hands and arrange a huge gathering in which the Torah is brought out of the Temple and read and translated. The text emphasizes that Ezra took special measures to have the people understand the sacred text - he translated and explained it - and that the people did indeed comprehend. This is the beginning, the first step of Torah Study as a key tool of Jewish life and continuity.

    Nehemiah ch.7 - Who are the Samaritans?

    Play Episode Listen Later May 19, 2025 14:29


    The bulk of ch.7 is roster, a list of the community, which is essentially identical to Ezra ch.2. So we will take this opportunity to speak about the Samaritans and explain how they fit in to the world of Shivat Zion - the Return to Zion.

    Nehemiah ch.6 - Lies, Treachery and Plot

    Play Episode Listen Later May 19, 2025 9:38


    Sanvallat and Toviah and Geshem try to use everything in their power to frame Nehamiah, to defame him, possibly even to assassinate or physically attack him, as they engage in conspiracy and lies to see if they can deter the building of Jerusalem's walls.

    Nehemiah ch.5 - Slavery and Freedom

    Play Episode Listen Later May 17, 2025 12:21


    The people cry out to Nehemiah because due to poverty and outstanding loans, their children and their farms are being siezed by lenders and loansharks. Nehemiah turns his attention to rectifying the situation.

    Nehemiah ch.4 - Building and Defending

    Play Episode Listen Later May 14, 2025 9:09


    The enemies of Judah see that the building of Jerusalem's city wall is progressing. They threaten military action. As a result, Nehemiah has to divide the human resources - half the people will be on guard duty and half will continue to build: "Those who carried materials did their work with one hand and held a weapon in the other, and each of the builders wore his sword at his side as he worked. "

    Nehemiah ch.3 - Building the Walls

    Play Episode Listen Later May 13, 2025 16:12


    Nehemiah divides the building of the wall between various villages, groups, families and guilds. In this way, each group works autonomously while everyone is coordinated into a national project. This is a great example of a successful collaboration.There is much that can be learned from this chapter. We will spend some time speaking about the location of King David's tomb.

    Nehemiah ch.2 - A Nighttime Hike

    Play Episode Listen Later May 12, 2025 14:40


    Nehemiah receives a royal commission and is posted as governor of Yehud. As soon as he arrives, he goes out alone at night to survey the city walls, embarking on his most important project - rebuilding the walls of Jerusalem.

    Nehemiah ch.1 - News from Jerusalem

    Play Episode Listen Later May 12, 2025 8:55


    We jump 13 years forward and meet Nehemia, a devout Jews in Shushan who works for the king. He hears about the derelict state of Jerusalem and the low situation of the Jews living there, he prays and resolves to do something to rectify the situation.

    Ezra ch.10 - Rain and Divorce in Jerusalem

    Play Episode Listen Later May 11, 2025 9:40


    Ezra is looking for a solution to the rampant intermarriage within the community.He calls the community to a summit in Jerusalem. But it all goes rather wrong when they gather in a winter rainstorm. They take some measures to resolve the issue, but the impression is that the response is merely cosmetic. We leave Ezra with the feeling that this challenge is far from resolved.

    Ezra ch.9 - Intermarriage

    Play Episode Listen Later May 7, 2025 13:56


    No sooner has Ezra arrived in Jerusalem, he is informed that the community is intermarrying at a rapid rate; the leaders are the greatest culprits. Ezra falls to his knees in prayer.In this podcast we will speak about the novel philosophical perception of intermarriage offered by Ezra, something quite different from that which we see in the Torah.

    Ezra ch.8 - Ezra's Aliyah

    Play Episode Listen Later May 6, 2025 11:02


    Ezra makes Aliyah with an entourage of approximately 10,00 people. This group consists of Kohanim (priests), Leviin, Israelites, and Netinim - a non-Jewish group who were adjunct to the Temple. Ezra brings teachers. He brings silver and gild and sacrifices. This is an Aliyah that seeks to boost Jerusalem's central institution, it seeks to bolster Jerusalem numerically, financially, spiritually and to raise the morale of the returnees.

    Ezra ch.7 - Meet Ezra!

    Play Episode Listen Later May 5, 2025 10:30


    This chapter introduces Ezra as a religious figure, recognized by Persian royalty and government, who sets his heart on boosting and rehabilitating religious life in Jerusalem.

    Ezra ch.6 - The Second Temple is Built!

    Play Episode Listen Later May 5, 2025 13:37


    In ch.6 we read Cyrus' original memorandum giving the Jews permission to build the Temple. We shall focus on some of the unique features of this document.The Temple is completed on the 3rd Adar in the 6th year of Darius. It took 4 years to complete.The Jews - who still describe themselves as the "Captives of Yehudah" or possibly the "Returnees of Yehudah " - engaged in a celebratory Pesach and dedicated the Temple in a 7-day celebration.

    Ezra ch.5 - Do You Have a Planning Permit?

    Play Episode Listen Later May 3, 2025 11:02


    It is the 2nd year of Darius.After a 15 year hiatus, the prophets Hagai and Zecharia encourage the Jews to renew the building of the Temple.The Persan governor Tattenai hears of this and enquires whether they have a permit.Most of our chapter is a letter that Tetennai sends back to central government in Persia relaying what the Jews have told him, and asking that the facts be verified.Chapter 6 will bring the royal response.

    Ezra ch.4 - Temple On Hold

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 30, 2025 12:49


    The "Enemies of Yehuda and Binyamin" - the Samaritans, request to join the building of the Temple. When they are rebuffed by Yehoshua and Zeubavel, they turn against the Jews, appealing to central government - Persia - accusing the Jews of disloyalty. This leads to the Persians calling a halt to the Temple construction.The Temple is put on hold until further notice.

    Ezra ch.3 - Founding the Second Temple

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 29, 2025 13:02


    The people have returned.Now they set their attention to the Temple.First they begin offering the Tamid, the daily sacrifice, on an altar on the Temple Mount.Next they set the Foundation Stone of the Secodn Temple, amidst great fanfare.

    Ezra ch.2 - The Returnees

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 28, 2025 13:00


    42, 360 Jews return. This chapter gives a roster of sorts of all the returnees, according to their ancestral lineage and geographical origin.

    Ezra ch.1 - The Cyrus Declaration

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 27, 2025 15:52


    Cyrus takes the reins of the Persian Empire.He allows the Jews, (and other nations) to return to their homeland and rebuild the Temple. He even restores the original 1st Temple vessels to the Jewish emigrees. is exile over?

    Daniel ch.12 - Resurrection of the Dead

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 26, 2025 15:09


    Today our chapter provides fertile ground for the ideas of resurrection of the dead, the final judgement, the book of life, and the notion of a "ketz" a pre-prescribed end-point of history. Here are the ingredients of Jewish eschatology, but as Daniel is told, the details are a riddle, a secret.

    Daniel ch.11 - A Short History of the Greek Empire

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 23, 2025 9:25


    Daniel ch.11 gives us the history of the Greek Empire until the period of the Maccabees. What implications might we draw from this historical overview?

    Daniel ch.10 - Seeing Angels

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 22, 2025 16:03


    Ch.10 is the introduction to the final vision of the book.This chapter gives us a front-row seat as to the experience of prophecy, or at least, the encounter with a being - an angel - from the spiritual sphere.

    daniel ch seeing angels
    Daniel ch.9 - Daniel's Prayer (and Yom Hashoah)

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 21, 2025 15:15


    Daniel sees that 70 years have past but the Exile is not over. He prays to God for mercy.One question raised by the Talmud is how a person's faith can remain intact after horrors like the Hurban (or the Holocaust) - and their meditation on our chapter offers some insight as to the changing nature of faith amid tragedy.

    Daniel ch.8 - Predicting the "End"

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 20, 2025 19:03


    This chapter was used by many to try to calculate when the Redemption would arrive.

    Daniel ch.7 - Four Wild Beasts

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 19, 2025 9:55


    With ch.7 we begin the second segment of Sefer Daniel - Daniel's vision. We start with a vision of 4 terrifying beasts outlining the history of "Four Kingdoms" of which we have already learned in ch.2.We close this podcast with Meir Ariel's song The Iron BeastListen here. English lyrics here"The metal era, the iron ageReminds me of an animal in Daniel's visionThe metal animal, the iron beastThe similarity to these days is disturbing.."

    Daniel ch.6 - In the Lion's Den

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 16, 2025 11:43


    Chapter 6 bears a startling similarity to ch.3.What are the unique lessons we can glean from this chapter? Why is the storyline repeated?

    Daniel ch.5 - The Writing on the Wall

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 15, 2025 9:37


    This chapter, immortalized in a historic painting by Rembrandt, tells how Belshazzar, drinking at a royal feast from the Temple vessels, is startled by the appearance of a hand, writing an indecipherable script on the wall of the banquet hall. Why could he not read it? What did it mean? And what is the meaning of this enigmatic story?

    Daniel ch.4 - The King who became a Bird

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 15, 2025 12:52


    The king has a dreadful dream (- yet again!) Daniel interprets it. It is all about a tree being cut down. What does it mean?

    Daniel ch.3 - The Statue of Dura and the Fiery Furnace

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 14, 2025 15:43


    In an exciting story of religious defiance, self-sacrifice, and miraculous salvation, Daniel's three friends prefer death rather than bow to the great statue in Dura, set up by Nebbuchadnezzar. They prefer martyrdom than renouncing their religious identities. This story has become a foundation for many Jewish acts of sacrifice, from the times of the Hasmoneans, to the Ten Martyr Rabbis, to the Crusades, Inquisitions and the Holocaust.

    Daniel ch.2 - The Dream Interpreter

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 10, 2025 14:08


    In a nail-biting chapter, the king threatens his "wise-men" if they fail to recall and interpret his dream. Daniel prays to God and succeeds.We discuss the comparisons and contrasts to the Joseph-Pharaoh episode, and we ask whether Daniel was indeed a prophet.

    Daniel ch.1 - The Jew in a Foreign Culture

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 9, 2025 16:07


    Today we introduce the book and figure of Daniel.Daniel is a personality who is very much in dialogue with other "Jews in a foreign court" - the Biblical Joseph and Mordechai and Esther (And Nehemiah) - but quite different. Daniel is a proud, open Jew, who observes his Jewish practices loudly and unashamedly even as he serves as an advisor to a world leader.

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