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ParshaNut Podcast

Torah for your ears.
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Now displaying: 2016
Jun 16, 2016

Who were these princes that appear in this week's parsha to present tributes to the Tabernacle for their tribes? And how did they claim their titles? It turns out there is quite a backstory, but it must be carefully reconstructed from fragments spread out across the Torah.

Jun 10, 2016

The Book of Numbers, in Hebrew is called, "Bamidbar," or, "In the Desert." This week we explore the deeper meaning of that name with the help of a very, very old commentator: The Prophet Hosea.

Jun 2, 2016

This week, a deep dive into one wild and beautiful piece of commentary by the master, the great Rashi.

May 26, 2016

Some lines in the Torah just seem like dealbreakers. Like, what do we do with this:

For the Children of Israel are slaves to Me, they are My slaves. (Lev. 25:55)

Now what kind of God wants slaves? And is there any way of redeeming the religion after it declares a thing like this?  Our valiant commentators give it their best try!

May 19, 2016

This week we look at a different model for celebrating holidays - not the classic resting experience of Shabbat, but a more anxious kind of observance suggested by the lesser-known holiday, Shemini Atzeret. What could be the virtue of worry? Plenty, says 15th-century Italian commentator, Rabbi Ovadia Seforno.

May 12, 2016

Of all the forbidden idolatrous practices, the very worst is the Cult of Molech. For that god is to be pacified with child sacrifice. The Torah hates Molech, and anyone who dares to follow him is to be excommunicated forever! But there's one big problem with this law... Molech isn't the only one who asked for a child offering.

May 5, 2016

What is cultural judaism, exactly? So many Jews today identify as culturally Jewish, but would be hard-pressed to say exactly what they mean by that. Surprisingly, the Torah is also concerned with the question of cultural Judaism. A deep dive into one verse in this week's parsha reveals that, according to commentators, it isn't enough to just be religious; a Jew must also defend Jewish culture.

Apr 14, 2016

What's the connection between gossip and skin disease?

This week we explore how a condition in Leviticus often translated as 'leprosy' came to be understood as a punishment for speech crimes. Along the way, we compare 'textual' and 'conceptual' modes of Biblical interpretation.

Apr 7, 2016

The first person God created was a hermaphrodite.

I think that's all the preview you need for this one.

Mar 31, 2016

Something is wrong with the High Priest. He's seeing things. Are they visions from God, or demons from his past? 

This week we follow one of the greatest of the Medieval commentators, Moses Nachmanides, down a path of investigation that will reveal both the inner workings of Aaron the Priest, and the riches of parshanut.

Mar 25, 2016

This week's parsha is more of the same from last week. Details, details, details of animal sacrifices. Not the most pleasant read.

But there is one unique thing in Parshat Tzav: a "shalshelet."

What is a shalshelet, you ask? Take a listen and find out.

Mar 17, 2016

Can God smell things? If not, then why does the Torah describe the sacrificial offerings as having "a pleasant scent to the Lord"? Our attempt to grapple with this question will take us back to Marcel Proust, Moses Mendelssohn, and Noah.

Welcome to the Book of Leviticus!

Mar 10, 2016

We've reached the end of the Book of Exodus, the Tabernacle is complete, and the presence of God has entered into it. But there's a problem. That presence so fills the space that Moses cannot actually enter into it to meet with God. How will he figure out a way in? The answer will take us on an intricate journey, into the heart of one of Judaism's great theological debates.

Mar 3, 2016

Once there was a man named Hur, a great leader in Israel. He was there on the battlefield with Moses and Aaron. He judged the people when Moses was on the mountaintop.

But then, suddenly, he disappeared. After Moses came back from Mount Sinai, we never heard about Hur again. Who was Hur, and what ever happened to him?

This week, we find out.

Feb 25, 2016

Moses comes down from the mountain and his face is radiating light. The people see it and are a little freaked out. In fact, it's so intense that he has to start wearing a mask to contain it.

So... what happened up there?

Feb 19, 2016

The recent passing of Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia has reignited a national conversation around his distinct constitutional legal theory. In this post, we take up some of these issues as we explore the relationship between the clothing of the High Priest and some famous works of Jewish Law.

Feb 11, 2016

This week, the Children of Israel receive the commandment to build the Tabernacle - the portable altar for the desert journey. The question is, where did they get all the wood to build it, out there in the desert? As we search for an answer, we come across important new questions about the nature of religion.

Feb 4, 2016

This week's podcast was put together in support of the Hebrew Free Loan Society of San Francisco's Parshat Mishpatim Project. Check out that great organization out at: https://www.hflasf.org/ and support their good work.

But first, take a listen and learn about the Jewish value of lending.

Jan 28, 2016

Nobody reads the Bible literally.

They may think they do, but the greatest of the Torah commentators explains why this cannot possibly be so. And his answer will help us better understand that most mysterious of Biblical events: The Revelation on Mount Sinai.

Jan 21, 2016

The miracle at the Red Sea, the parting of the waters, is usually remembered for allowing the Israelites to cross over to the other side. But we sometimes forget to mention that the waters came back and drowned all the Egyptians behind us.

Well, all but one.

Jan 14, 2016

'The Four Children' is one of the most well-known sections of the Passover Haggadah. But of the four, one of these children seems a little out of place. Unlike the others, he does not even know how to ask questions. But his presence may turn out to be critical to the Passover experience.

Jan 7, 2016

Exodus is a book full of miracles. But the very first "miracle" that God brings before Pharaoh seems more like a silly magic trick than an epic wonder. Why does God start so small?

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