The Tanakh Podcast

Why does God appear to Moshe in a burning bush? What is the symbolism of that image?

In this chapter we meet Moses. What values does he exhibit? What are his influences?

Today we frame the Book of Exodus and then speak about Pharaoh's campaign to fight the demographic expansion of the Israelites.

Discover the intriguing reasons behind Jacob's double burial instructions and their significance. Unpack the complexities of Jacob's oath to Joseph and its political implications in Egypt. Explore the contrasts between his negative and positive burial messages and their long-lasting effects. Delve into the dual nature of Jacob's funeral – a grand Egyptian affair followed by an intimate family tribute. Finally, uncover Joseph's powerful call for faith in future redemption, echoing through time and linking to the Exodus narrative.

In this chapter, as Jacob is about to die, he is surrounded by his 12 sons and he addresses each one in turn.Is there a single theme that unifies all these blessings? Are they all blessings?

Yaakov is sick. Yoseph takes his sons to visit.The Midrash says that Yaakov is the first person ever to get sick. What did they mean by this?And here we see a special blessing to Efrayim and Menashe. What can we learn from this scene?

In our chapter we read about Joseph's economic management of the famine.Joseph saved Egypt but also ended up nationalizing all the assets of the country.Does his policy express care and compassion, or exploitation and opportunistic power? Should we laud Yoseph or be critical of him?

If Jacob went to Egypt to visit his son, why didn't he return to Canaan?If the brothers went to Egypt to survive the famine, why didn't they return home?As we shall see, ch.46 is in fact the start of the Exile, predicted in Genesis ch.15 - in the Brit Bein Habetarim.But why Exile?

How can the stories we tell of our lives reshape our experience of reality? That is the question we will ponder as we read Joseph's explanation of his story, that he is a tool in God's plan. Will this have the ability to reshape the traumas of the past?

The Joseph story reaches its climax when Joseph breaks down and reveals his true identity to his brothers. But why does he break down at this particular moment?