Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | RSS
In this week’s torah portion, Devarim (words), Israel’s leader, Moshe, delivers his final speech before his death. Yoel addresses some technical issues surrounding this ancient document, as well as the governing of Israel.
Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | RSS
What do you do if you caused someone’s death, but it was an accident? The Torah provides cities of refuge for those who commit manslaughter. Yoel explains the function of these places for the double torah portion, Matot/Masai (tribes/stages).
Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | RSS
In this week’s torah portion, Pinchas (Phinehas), Yoel addresses textual practices, priesthood, genealogy, and inheritance for women.
Hebrew in Israel
Não Falar o Nome – Aprenda Torah
A Proibição de Falar o Nome – Uma Visão Geral de Fontes Selecionadas
Ultimamente eu tenho visto a renovação do debate em relação ao uso do nome de Deus. O assunto à mão não é sobre a pronúncia correta, mas sobre o assunto base de usar o nome em geral.
Tem-se tornado um clamor comum que os sábios Judaicos, ou rabis, são aqueles que decretaram uma proibição sobre falar o nome de Deus. Contudo, um exame das fontes leva a uma conclusão completamente diferente.
The Torah teaches us that Bil’am was extremely important at his time. This importance echoed into later times and to the Jewish sages who recognized how powerful he was. This power was so great that rabbis said he was called to do the job of cursing because he had the same God-given gift as Moses—the power of speech.
Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | RSS
This week’s torah portion, Balaq (Balak) contains the very first occurrence of the word Satan in the bible. Listen as Yoel explains the history of the word and the character.
Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | RSS
This week’s torah portion, Chukat (regulation), gives us the strange command concerning the red heifer. Listen as Yoel sheds some light from the ancient world on this regulation.
Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | RSS
In this week’s torah portion, Qorach (Korah), Yoel tackles a ramification of what happened in Korah’s rebellion .
Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | RSS
Our focus in this week’s torah portion, Shelach (send), is on the commands to set apart some of our bread dough for YHWH and to wear tzitzit, and the man who collected firewood on Shabbat.
Lately I have been seeing the renewal of the debate in regard to the use of the name of God. The subject at hand is not about the correct pronunciation, but on the base subject of using the name in overall.
It has become a common claim that the Jewish sages, or rabbis, are the ones who decreed a prohibition on speaking God’s name. However, an examination of the sources leads to a completely different conclusion.
The class is done in a virtual class room with multiple participants. We meet on Sundays at 11:45am US eastern, or 6:45pm Israel time. You do not need to know Hebrew for this class, and you also receive a recording of the classes every month. For the link and how to join, click the More Info Button to email us.
