Episode 40: Rabbi David Fohrman "Method of Midrash & Divine Authorship"

Rabbi David Fohrman has changed the game of online Torah learning with AlephBeta.org, a remarkable and innovative tool for the modern age. In this episode, he describes his methodology in learning the biblical text, of which he brilliantly draws a parallel to the complex interconnectivities of the worldwide web. Additionally, since Midrash is often misunderstood in today’s generation by both the Orthodox and secular world, he advocates for the healthier, classical approach to learning Chazal's lessons. He gives some incredible textual examples of how to "crack the code" of what Midrash is and how it is to be understood. In the second segment of the podcast, we discuss the fact that the unity of the biblical text has sadly been scrutinized with the advent of modern biblical scholarship i.e., Source Criticism. Thankfully, his profound methodology includes noticing literary constructs, chiastic structures, and intertextuality littered throughout the biblical texts, which heavily undermine the assertions made by biblical critics. He shares his favorite examples of intertextuality that showcase the fact that seemingly disjointed biblical texts are in fact utilizing sophisticated literary devices that serve to induce meaning, inspire interpretation, and deepen understanding of the verses. His presentation dismantles the Documentary Hypothesis, proving that the Torah cannot possibly be the work of multiple authors. He ends with a powerful slideshow analyzing the supposed "disharmony" of Genesis 1 and 2 (for this part, switch over to the video version on YouTube so you can view his slideshow).