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From Micah’s prophecy to Israel, Yoel examines Cultural influence/Cultural Imperialism, YHWH’s legal plea against Israel, as well as a critical and deadly mistake people make in trying to understand the bible in this week’s haftarah Balaq.
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“Now Yiftach, a brave soldier from Gil‘ad, was the son of a prostitute.” Judges 11:1
Who is Yiftach (Jephthah)? Why was the name of another god on his lips and what are we to make of his shocking vow? Yoel fleshes out his backstory from what the biblical text and ancient culture tell us about his birth, home, upbringing and social life, and offers insight on these questions.
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“When you saw that Nachash the king of the people of ‘Amon was attacking you, you said to me, “No, we want a king to rule over us” — when YHWH your God was your king.”
The prophet Shmu’el (Samuel) gives a speech to the people at the end of his life as Shaul (Saul) is inaugurated as Israel’s first earthly King. Yoel walks us through the Hebrew text and introduces us to the motif of speeches in the bible and kingship in Israel in Haftarah Qorach.
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“…she had brought them up to the roof and hidden them under some stalks of flax she had spread out there.”
Haftarah Shelach give us the story of Rahab and the two spies to Jericho. Yoel and Jono Vandor examine chapters 1-5 in this first episode from our Light Of The Prophets series.
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“‘Not by might, and not by power, but by my Spirit,’ says YHWH-Tzva’ot.”
Zechariah is shown Joshua the High Priest and his adversary, and a visual message for Zerubbabel in this week’s haftarah Beha’alotkha.
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“”For indeed you will conceive and bear a son. No razor is to touch his head, because the child will be a nazir for God from the womb.”
The Nazirite vow, angels, the issue of cross-breeding and more are discussed in this episode from our Light Of The Prophets series.
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“I will betroth you to me forever; yes, I will betroth you to me in righteousness, in justice, in grace and in compassion; I will betroth you to me in faithfulness, and you will know YHWH.”
As a supplement to the previous recording, we more closely examine the text and message of Hoshea chapter 2, discussing the meaning of love in Deuteronomy vs. Hoshea, and the relationship of YHWH and Israel.
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“Rebuke your mother, rebuke her; for she isn’t my wife, and I’m not her husband.”
In Haftarah Bamidbar, the prophet Hoshea uses imagery of divorce, shaming and execution to convey YHWH’s message to Israel. Yoel and Jeff Gilbert discuss these images, and the redemption, in this episode (3) of our Hoshea series with Talking Torah.
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“The heart is deceitful above all things, and it is exceeding weak–who can know it?”
Haftarah Bechuqotai presents song, prophecy, and wisdom writings all in one place. Also, we begin with an explanation of why torah readings and holiday observances are different in the diaspora than in the Land.
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“I signed on the purchase contract, sealed it, called witnesses and weighed out the money for him on a balance scale.”
Yirmiyahu (Jeremiah) brings witnesses when he buys property in Israel while they are being besieged by Babylon. We examine testimonies and witnesses in the bible as our prelude to Haftarah Behar.
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.
