Matan: One on One Parsha Podcast

This week Dr. Tanya White shares a novel reading of Terah's journey to Canaan through the lens of grief and how Abraham manages to pick up where his father left off. Dr. Tanya White is a senior lecturer at Matan and Bar-Ilan and the host of the acclaimed podcast series, Books and Beyond: The Rabbi Sacks Podcast. This is a special podcast miniseries produced by Matan and hosted by Dr. Yosefa Fogel Wruble which will drop each week of the Omer counting between the holidays of Pesach and Shavuot. In each episode, a Bible scholar explores an iconic biblical text in light of the changing Israeli, Jewish, and world realities.

In this fascinating conversation with R. Alex Israel, we explore several perspectives on Tzaraat impurity and what this means for us today. We conclude with a study of the parsha's haftara reading about the four lepers (II Melachim 7) and how it relates to this week's national days of remembrance and gratitude. Our Vayikra series focuses on the lived experience of Torah observance and explores some of the harder issues within observant communities in accordance with the mitzvot taught in each weekly parsha.

This is a special podcast miniseries produced by Matan and hosted by Dr. Yosefa Fogel Wruble. The series will comprise seven episodes to be aired during the seven weeks of the Omer counting between the holidays of Pesach and Shavuot. Each week we will be re-reading iconic biblical texts in light of the changing Israeli, Jewish, and world realities. This first episode is a conversation with Judy Klitsner about the nature of successful and failed resilience in the stories of Noah and Jonah. Judy is a senior educator at Pardes Institute of Jewish Studies and the author of Subversive Sequels in the Bible: How Biblical Stories Mine and Undermine Each Other, which received a National Jewish book award.

In this fascinating conversation with Rabbanit Dena (Freundlich) Rock, we use the repeated verse, "Do not cook a kid in a mother's milk" to explore the relationship between Halakhic development and its divine source. Then we explore different rationales for Kashrut laws as well as the reasons why observant Jews wait different amounts of time between meat and milk. This week's episode has been sponsored in memory of Deanna Radin Lubin by her family on her 9th yahrtzeit. Our Vayikra series focuses on the lived experience of Torah observance and explores some of the harder issues within observant communities in accordance with the mitzvot taught in each weekly parsha.

In this episode with R. Yitzchak Blau, we zoom in on the laws of the Pesach sacrifice in order to zoom out on its meaning within the Exodus experience. Taking the animal on the 10th of the month, spreading its blood on the doorpost and so many other details that seem far removed from our modern reality, become the keys to kernels of wisdom explored in this wonderful conversation. Tucked between Torah insights, are some educational ideas for Pesach at home with kids.

Dr. Tova Ganzel, a Senior Lecturer at Bar-Ilan University specializing in biblical studies and Jewish law, dives deep into the fascinating world of sacrifices in ancient worship. She discusses the historical roots of korbanot and their significance in Vayikra, shedding light on how these rituals shaped Jewish spirituality. Ganzel contrasts differing perspectives from traditional rabbinic sources to modern interpretations influenced by the Reform movement. The conversation reveals the evolving nature of sacrificial practices and their intriguing relevance in today's spiritual landscape.

In this episode, which closes our episodes on national formation, beloved tour guide Shulie Mishkin walks us through the biblical reality and significance of the Mishkan's long-standing home in Shiloh. Chazak, Chazak, V'nitchazek! Stay tuned for our Vayikra series which focuses on mitzvah observance and a Torah way of life. The series asked what axiomatic ideas sit at the root of Israel’s national formation, without which we wouldn’t be who we are? How might we adjust our current trends in the Jewish world to realign with these principles? This week's episode is dedicated in memory of Roz Bramson. To donate to Matan or sponsor a podcast episode, visit the Matan Website’s DONATE page: https://www.matan.org.il/en/donatenow/

This week's conversation with R. David Fohrman, beloved Tanakh teacher and principal educator at Aleph Beta, was a joy. We begin by thinking about the connection between Betzalel and the world's creation. We ponder the wonders of AI and the relationship between the womb and God's contraction (tzimtzum), and then flesh out the fascinating textual and essential relationship between Betzalel and Yosef. Enjoy this magical Biblical tour with a true Tanakh giant. The series asks what axiomatic ideas sit at the root of Israel’s national formation, without which we wouldn’t be who we are? How might we adjust our current trends in the Jewish world to realign with these principles? This week’s episode has been dedicated in memory of David Shmuel ben Yitzchak. To donate to Matan or sponsor a podcast episode, visit the Matan Website’s DONATE page: https://www.matan.org.il/en/donatenow/

Join Professor Leon Kass, Dean of Faculty at Shalem College and expert in the Hebrew Bible, as he dives into the intricate themes of Parashat Ki Tisa. They explore the relationship between national identity and divine covenant, discussing the complexities of sin, forgiveness, and the impact of leadership during trials. Kass shares insights on the transformative power of the Mishkan and how communal projects foster identity. This thought-provoking conversation illuminates how storytelling in the Torah shapes our faith and collective memory.

In this illuminating conversation with Rabbanit Shayna Goldberg, we begin by discussing the centrality of priestly clothing in this week's parsha and then broaden the conversation by exploring other biblical manifestations of clothing alongside its personal and societal functions. This is an episode worth sharing with your teenagers. It really steers the conversation in a refreshing direction, away from 'tzniut' (halakhic modesty) of dress to an ethic more inherent, intuitive, and holistic. The series asks what axiomatic ideas sit at the root of Israel’s national formation, without which we wouldn’t be who we are? How might we adjust our current trends in the Jewish world to realign with these principles? To donate to Matan or sponsor a podcast episode, visit the Matan Website’s DONATE page: https://www.matan.org.il/en/donatenow/