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

00:17:58

#43 | Genesis ch.42 - Why did Joseph Torment his...

The Tanakh Podcast ·

2025/10/26

The brothers come down to Egypt. Joseph identifies them. He starts a series of false accusations, incriminations and manipulations. Why did Yoseph torment and torture his brother (and his father)? Was it pure vindictiveness?

00:17:44

#42 | Genesis ch.41 - Joseph becomes the Egyptian...

The Tanakh Podcast ·

2025/10/25

Pharaoh has 2 bafflng dreams. The butler recalls Yoseph. Yoseph is summoned to the palace, he dazzles Pharaoh with his dream interpretation, and is appointed to the highest office in the land.Today we focus on two points.1. Joseph's growing God awareness and his perception that his life is guided by God2. His integration into Egyptian culture. This leaves us with the question - which I think Joseph might have asked himself - will he ever return to his family?

00:15:41

#41 | Genesis ch.40 - One Dream or Two?

The Tanakh Podcast ·

2025/10/22

Joseph finds himself in jail - the pit. Again!And yet again, he is recognized for his tremendous leadership abilities and promoted to supervise the jail.He encounters the butler and the baker and interprets their dreams. Are their dreams similar or different? Why do we need to hear the details of these dreams? What does this contribute to the central storyline?

00:12:35

#40 | Genesis ch.39 - Joseph's Seduction

The Tanakh Podcast ·

2025/10/21

The Rabbis call Joseph "Yoseph HaTzaddik" because he resists the seduction of Mrs. Potiphar. What can we learn from this story?

00:15:24

#39 | Genesis ch.38 - Yehuda & Tamar and the Lessons...

The Tanakh Podcast ·

2025/10/20

Why is a random story about Yehudah and his daughter-in-law inserted into the Joseph saga?Why did Yehudah visit a prostitute?And what did Tamar teach Yehuda that changed the course of the family - and Jewish history?

00:14:20

#38 | Genesis ch.37 - Joseph: Dreams and Vision

The Tanakh Podcast ·

2025/10/19

Would you kill someone because of their dreams?Why are the brothers so agitated, so aggravated by Joseph's dreams?

00:10:44

#37 | Genesis ch.36 - The Kingdom of Edom

The Tanakh Podcast ·

2025/10/18

Before we leave Esav we list his extensive progeny - children, military generals and kings. Esav would appear to have a kingdom that is fully formed, way before Israel become a nation. And that might be the point!I referenced this article in the podcast https://www.alexisrael.org/single-post/2019/12/12/vayishlach-insignificant-verses-really

00:15:55

#36 | Genesis ch.35 - Twelve Tribes

The Tanakh Podcast ·

2025/10/16

In this chapterYaakov and family return to Beit El to fulfil Yaakov's vowYaakov's name-change is ratified by GodRachel goes into labor and dies in childbirth. Benjamin is born. The 12th son.Reuven's sin.In our podcast today, we weave these episodes into a single story.

00:18:05

#35 | Bereshit ch.34 - Shimon, Levi and the Ethics of...

The Tanakh Podcast ·

2025/10/15

Dinah is raped and abducted.Shimon and Levi rescue her, and murder the people of Shchem.Were they justified?Why did Yaakov rebuke them?

00:12:46

#34 | Genesis ch.33 - Be Yourself!

The Tanakh Podcast ·

2025/10/13

In our chapter 33, after a nail-biting tense chapter of worried anticipation, Yaakov and Esav meet. But there is little animosity here. There is a hug, a kiss, tears. Like long lost brothers, Esav asks Yaakov about his family, his wivesand kids; Yaakov offers him gifts, Esav suggests that they travel together, Yaakov politely refuses. Where did all the tension go?

00:17:06

#33 | Genesis ch.32 - Jacob's Fear

The Tanakh Podcast ·

2025/10/12

Jacob is returning to Canaan. He notifies his brother Esau. HE gets a message: Esav is coming to meet you with 400 men.Yaakov is petrified. He suspects that Esav is coming to massacre him and his household!But when the brothers meet, Esav simply hugs Yaakov and expresses brotherly love.Did Yaakov misunderstand Esav?What is the drama here?

00:16:24

#32 | Bereshit ch.31 - Yaakov's Integrity

The Tanakh Podcast ·

2025/10/11

Why did Yaakov need to leave Haran like a thief in the night?Why did Yaakov need to cheat Lavan by secret "genetic engineering" of his herds?Who is the cheat - Lavan or Yaakov?In this podcast we demonstrate Yaakov's stellar moral integrity and Lavan's manipulative treatment of Yaakov and his family.

00:16:16

#31 | Genesis ch.30 - Rachel and Leah

The Tanakh Podcast ·

2025/10/08

Our chapter demonstrates the phenomenal tension between Rachel and Leah and the strong emotions that rage in the family. We discuss the characters of these two matriarchs and preset a framework to appreciate their unique strengths.

00:16:54

#30 | Genesis ch.29 - Challenges of Exile

The Tanakh Podcast ·

2025/10/07

We shall read chapter 29 as slowly exposing several of the challenges - personal and moral - that Yaakov will face in his sojourn in Haran - the challenges of Exile.

00:16:44

#29 | Genesis ch.28 - Jacob's Ladder

The Tanakh Podcast ·

2025/10/05

Why does God appear to Yaakov at Beit-El? Why now?What is the meaning of the dream about the ladder? And why does Yaakov respond by setting up a stone pillar?

00:15:37

#28 | Genesis ch.27 - Yaakov Steals the Blessing

The Tanakh Podcast ·

2025/10/05

Why did Yaakov steal the blessings?Was he (and Rivka) correct?Can a blessing be stolen?

00:16:29

#27 | Genesis ch.26 - Yitzchak's Tenacity

The Tanakh Podcast ·

2025/10/04

Each of the "Avot" represent a unique contribution to the mosaic of Jewish existence and ideas.Today we probe what Yitzchak - in many ways the most hidden of all the Avot - represents.

00:17:01

#26 | Genesis ch.25 - Yaakov and Esav

The Tanakh Podcast ·

2025/09/30

Yaakov and Esav commence their rivalry in the womb. The forces that drive them to conflict seem to operate beyond the rational.Reading the story, why does Isaac love Esav and Rivka love Yaakov?And why do we see Esav as evil. If anything, it is Yaakov who tricks his brother out of the birthright!

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.

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