PODCAST

The Tanakh Podcast

Alex Israel

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

religion & spirituality judaism

All Episodes

00:18:19

#25 | Genesis ch.24 - Finding Rivka

The Tanakh Podcast ·

2025/09/30

This is the story of Rivka's betrothal.Why did Avraham make his servant take an oath? What makes Rivka so special?

00:13:26

#24 | Genesis ch.23 - A Stranger or a Resident?

The Tanakh Podcast ·

2025/09/29

Chapter 23 describes the death of Sarah and Avraham's purchase of a burial site for her. But why is the story depicted with such verbosity? Couldn't the story have been told in amore concise way?I think the to and fro here reveals the key to the story.

00:13:33

#23 | Genesis ch.22 - The Binding of Isaac

The Tanakh Podcast ·

2025/09/28

This is the most awesome of all the tests of Abraham. The Binding of Isaac. But why did Avraham not answer back and refuse this test? Is it legitimate to slaughter a child?

00:13:28

#22 | Bereshit ch.21 - Yitzchak and Yishmael

The Tanakh Podcast ·

2025/09/27

What did Yishmael do that made Sarah take the decision to make Avraham drive his son out of their home?Did Avraham send his own son to possible death by thirst in the desert?

00:12:24

#21 | Genesis ch.20 - "She is my Sister!"

The Tanakh Podcast ·

2025/09/25

Why do Sarah and Abraham need to pass themselves off as siblings? Can't they be up-front about their marital status?And in our chapter, as God protects Avraham, Avimelekh complains and says "will you kill the innocent too?" he sounds quite similar to Avrham in ch.18. Why does the Torah choose to put this phraseology into Avimelekh's mouth?

00:16:59

#20 | Genesis ch.19 - Was Lot Righteous?

The Tanakh Podcast ·

2025/09/25

Why did Lot deserve to be saved?Was he righteous, practicing Abraham's tradition of hospitality? But who sends their two virgin daughters out to a mob?

00:13:33

#19 | Genesis ch.18 - Justice and Kindness

The Tanakh Podcast ·

2025/09/21

This chapter contains two scenes:1. Avrham practicing hospitality. The 3 angels. The angels announce the prospect of the birth of Isaac to Sarah.2. Avraham bargains/argues with God for the fate of Sedom.How do these two scenes connect and coalesce?

00:09:35

#18 | Genesis ch.17 - Brit Milah

The Tanakh Podcast ·

2025/09/21

In this chapter, Avraham is given another covenant and the enaction of the covenant is Brit Mila- the circumcision of male children at 8-days old.What is there about this mitzvah that gives it such foundational status as regards Jewish identity? Is it merely a ritual or is there meaning behind it?

00:17:04

#17 | Genesis ch.16 - Hagar's Suffering

The Tanakh Podcast ·

2025/09/20

Sarai sees that she is infertile.She suggests that Avraham be intimate with Hagar, an Egyptian slave-woman, and that she will have a surrogate child.But once she is pregnant Hagar shows no intention to hand over the child. She asumes parity with Sarah. The pan has backfired.Now Sarah "oppresses" Hagar and Hagar runs away, only to be met by an angel at the well.Was Sarai's actions ethical?Why is the Tanakh so sympathetic to Hagar?

00:15:07

#16 | Genesis ch.15 - Brit Bein Habetarim. The...

The Tanakh Podcast ·

2025/09/17

In this chapter, Avraham challenges God.He says - You promised me offspring, and yet I cannot have children! - You promised a land. How will that ever happen?Avraham asks for assurances from God.And God understands that Avraham needs that reassurance. God offers a Brit - a pact, a contract, a covenant - and this covenant has some interesting imagery - animals cut in two, birds of prey, fire and smoke, a sky filled with stars. What does it all mean?Today we explore this dramatic exchange, and the

00:14:12

#15 | Genesis ch.14 - Avram to the Rescue!

The Tanakh Podcast ·

2025/09/16

In this chapter:1. War in the Jordan valley - four Mesopotamian kings take control of the five kingdoms of the valley. After the five kings revolt, the four-kings come and conquer the valley taking its population captive, including Lot.2. Abraham embarks in a military rescue mission to save his nephew Lot with 318 fighters - called "his students, those born in his household." He is victorious.3. On his return, Abraham is greeted by two kings - polar opposites - the King of Sedom, and Maki

00:16:47

#14 | Genesis ch.13 - Lot and Avraham Part Ways

The Tanakh Podcast ·

2025/09/15

Lot has traveled all the way from Mesopotamia at Avraham's side! Why do they split up now?And why choose Sedom?

00:17:37

#13 | Genesis ch.12 - Lech Lecha

The Tanakh Podcast ·

2025/09/14

Today our attention turns to Abraham and Sarah and their trek to the promised land.Why did God choose Abraham?Did God choose him *because* he was special or did God choose him to *become* special?

00:14:12

#12 | Genesis ch.11 - From Babel to Avraham

The Tanakh Podcast ·

2025/09/13

We begin today with the Tower of Babel. What is wrong with building skyscrapers? Why did God intervene?

00:15:40

#11 | Genesis ch.10 - The Seventy Nations

The Tanakh Podcast ·

2025/09/10

Our chapter depicts the three lines of the Sons of Noach - Yefet, Ham and Shem and the development of their civilizations. This is the story of the "Seventy Nations".

00:16:39

#10 | Bereshit ch.9 - The New World

The Tanakh Podcast ·

2025/09/10

What is the symbol of the rainbow?Why does Noach get drunk and lol naked in his tent?And was Noach a Tzaddik?

00:17:39

#09 | Genesis ch.8 - Re-Creation

The Tanakh Podcast ·

2025/09/08

Today we discuss:1. How the restoration of the world after the flood reflects the Creation of ch.12. Anthropomorphic expressions in the chapter3. The "evil inclination of the heart of man" - How can it be a reason to DESTROY the world and also to PRESERVE the world?4. The alienation between ADAM and ADAMA

00:13:49

#08 | Genesis ch.7 - The Year of the Flood

The Tanakh Podcast ·

2025/09/07

Today we address 3 topics:1. The double story of the Flood2. The dates of the flood3. The notion of "Zikaron" And a few connections to the Yamim Noraim (the High Holy Days)

00:16:46

#07 | Genesis ch.6 - The End of the World

The Tanakh Podcast ·

2025/09/06

Chapter 6 describes the cryptic episode of the "sons of God" and the "daughters of man". God's patience with humanity is running out!Soon, God decides to de-create his creation in a great "MAbul" - more a "confusion" than a flood.

00:14:02

#06 | Genesis ch.5 - From Adam to Noah

The Tanakh Podcast ·

2025/09/03

This is a list of genealogies, of a family tree!We will discover that there is much that one can learn from a list! The key? - Look at the differences, the aberrations and deflections from the standard formula!

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