Tanach In Depth

isaacson

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JUDAISM
UPDATED WEEKLY

This series of shiurim will cover various topics in Tanach in depth. We will offer a combination of the best in modern academic scholarship and literary analysis along side classic meforshim and Midrashim. I will attempt to include my own interpretations in each series and offer a macro-view of what messages and insights a given portion of Tanach may be conveying. Bonus points for catching the pop-culture references ;)

3D AGO

Paterfamilias: Decoding the Secrets of Mishnah Avot - episode 11

Pirkei Avos 1:8-9 We note again how much of Avot is instruction not for the common person, but for the Avot, the leaders of the people (in this case judges). Next we examine the life of Shimon ben Shetach and see how his teaching here reflects tragedy of his own personal story. Thanks for listening. Please help us grow this channel by leaving an honest review and sharing with others.

14 min
JAN 28

Ezekiel in Depth: Chapters 7 and 8

Yechezkel Chapters 7 & 8: Comparative Religion or Lecha Dodi bête noire With these chapters we finally begin to understand why Hashem is so angry with the people. Yechezkel is taken on an out of body tour of the sins being perpetrated in the Beit HaMikdash. We try to explicate the various forms of idolatry that the prophet is witnessing including Tammuz and the Barsom ritual. We note how much of the language in the chapter duplicates that of Devarim ch. 4 and explain just how disgusting the behavior is by referencing Kiddushin 72b. Finally, on my soapbox I note a similarity to the practice of the congregation turning their backs to the ark (and the East) during the Lecha Dodi prayer Friday night. R' Abe Faur explores the halachic implications of this in his Hakirah article Thank you for learning with us By subscribing and leaving an honest review it helps our channel grow.

25 min
JAN 26

Paterfamilias: Decoding the Secrets of Mishnah Avot - episode 10

Pirkei Avos 1:6-7 (⁶🤷⁷) We spotlight the strange phenomenon of Rabbi Yehoshua ben P'rachai being cited in 4-6th century magic bowls and tie this to his being the purported teacher of Yeshu who was assumed to use black magic (forces of tumah/impurity) to accomplish miraculous feats. For more on this see the links below. Next we examine the mishna of Nittai or Arbel, which may have been a veiled reference to Yochanan Kohen Gadol (John Hyrkanus). We note a textual variant where the name Nittai is actually Mattai and speculate about the implications. More on magic bowls Article 1 Article 2 Book 1 Aramaic bowl spells : Jewish Babylonian Aramaic bowls. Vol. one Example of a magic bowl Thanks for listening. Please help us grow this channel by leaving an honest review and sharing with others.

10 min
JAN 5

Hillel and the introduction of logical justification

Note: This podcast is AI generated This is an audio summary based primarily on Richard Hidary's article Talmudic Topoi: The Hermeneutical Methods of Midrash and Greco-Roman Rhetoric. This podcast explores how early rabbis integrated methods also found in Greco-Roman rhetorical schools into the development of Mishnaic hermeneutics. While scholars like David Daube and R' Saul Lieberman highlight direct parallels between Hillel’s seven rules and classical logic the rabbis themselves remained deeply skeptical of unbridled human reason. They utilized these tools to ground oral traditions in Scripture and engage with surrounding intellectual cultures, yet they simultaneously established strict legal limitations to prevent logic from undermining traditional authority. Ultimately, the sources depict a complex rabbinic encounter with Hellenism where rhetorical dexterity was embraced as a persuasive necessity but was always held subordinate to received tradition and divine revelation. I do not necessarily personally subscribe to all the views contained in this recording and will be discussing this work as well as the sources upon which it is based when our Avot/Paterfamilias shiur gets up to Hillel's Mishnayot. The previous AI podcast received positive feedback and we will try to include one any week where a live recording was not done. Any additional feedback is welcome and appreciated.

42 min
12/23/2025

Paterfamilias: Decoding the Secrets of Mishnah Avot - episode 9

Pirkei Avot 1:5-6 This week we encounter the first zugot (pairs) and learn about their lives and how their statements reflect the period in which they lived (overlapping with Hanukkah) . The statement of these sages seems to be in dialog (tension?) and represents different priorities for the leaders of the generation. We use Yose ben Yoezer's statement to shed light on an enigmatic passage in Yerushalmi Kiddushin and point out a textual variant that makes Yose ben Yohanan's statement regarding conversing with women more comprehensible. Thanks for listening. Please help us grow this channel by leaving an honest review and sharing with others.

32 min
12/22/2025

TEST AI PODCAST: R' Yehoshua ben Perahia the exorcist

TEST AI PODCAST: R' Yehoshua ben Perahia the exorcist I used an AI pdf to podcast creation tool to create this recording analyzing an academic article which explores the fact that R' Yehoshua ben Perahia (of Pirkei Avot fame) is listed in 5-6 century magic Aramic bowls (sort of house amulets) as an exorcist. The source material is here. I thought the AI did a very nice job. If you are interested in more content like this, or never want to see content like this again, please leave a comment and explain why.

13 min
12/16/2025

Ezekiel in Depth: Chapters 5 and 6

Yechezkel Chapters 5 & 6: The Worst of the Cursed We contrast the ghoulish prophecy of punishment with the curses of Vayikra 26 Thank you for learning with us By subscribing and leaving a review it helps our channel grow.

27 min
12/12/2025

Paterfamilias: Decoding the Secrets of Mishnah Avot - episode 8

Paterfamilias: Decoding the Secrets of Mishnah Avot - episode 8 Special Chanukah Excursus: Yohanan Kohen Gadol We explore a missing link in the chain of the mesorah, John Hyrkanus of the Hasmonean family. Who was he and why is such an illustrious figure absent from the first perek of Avot? Josephus tells a compelling story to explain all of this. Thanks for listening. Please help us grow this channel by leaving an honest review and sharing with others.

11 min

This series of shiurim will cover various topics in Tanach in depth. We will offer a combination of the best in modern academic scholarship and literary analysis along side classic meforshim and Midrashim. I will attempt to include my own interpretations in each series and offer a macro-view of what messages and insights a given portion of Tanach may be conveying. Bonus points for catching the pop-culture references ;)

Creator

isaacson
Years Active

2023 - 2026
Episodes

156
Rating

Clean
Copyright

© isaacson
Show Website

Tanach In Depth