S2, E20 Must We Rectify the Problem that the Mitvzos Ha’Teluyos Ba’Aretz Present Before We Can Return?
Exile was punishment for being lax in giving ma’aser. Does it follow that we shouldn’t attempt to return to Eretz Yisrael before we rectify our deficiency in that regard? Explore what the sources in Chazal teach us about this matter, and learn what we can do to remedy this shortcoming. For the YouTube video of […]
S2, E19 Do the Mitzvos Ha’Teluyos Ba’Aretz Pose an Insurmountable Challenge?
Rabbenu Chaim Kohen said that due the insurmountable challenge posed by the commandments associated with the land – terumos, ma’asros, shemittah etc. – there is “currently” no mitzvah to live in Eretz Yisrael. What is the underlying logic of this position? Did he intend this for his time or for our time too? Is this […]
S2, E18 The Theology of Jewish History – From Revelation to Exile and on to Redemption
Does exile serve a constructive, divine purpose in history, or is it merely a problem to be rectified? Will the post-exile era of redemption look the same as the pre-exile era, or will something be fundamentally different? Come study the sodos of Jewish history. For this episode’s sources, click here For the YouTube video of […]
S2, E17 Knesses Yisrael’s Trial – Did We Pass or Fail?
The relationship between Hashem and His people is portrayed dramatically in the Song of Songs, a parable about love, which ends with a climactic trial: is the woman (Knesses Yisrael) faithful – a “wall” – or not? Did the nation pass this great trial or did it fail? What are the ramifications for how we […]
S2, E16 The Sin that Marred the Second Temple
The return of the Babylonian exiles to Zion was supposed to be miraculous, like the first coming in the days of Yehoshua, but the “sin” had its effects and the Jews returned only by the permission of Cyrus, King of Persia. What was the sin? Where did we go wrong? And what should we do […]
S2, E15 Is Redemption Really Dependent on Us?
Are we awaiting Hashem, or is He awaiting us? The Kuzari maintains that our connection with Hashem depends on us. He awaits our interest; when we embrace Eretz Yisrael, the Shechinah will return and dwell amongst Yisrael. Is this in fact the case? For this episode’s sources, click here For the related conversations on The […]
S2, E14 The Thousand-Year Exile, Divine Plans and Divine Rules
We can attempt deduce the Divine plan – when and why we are supposed to be in exile – from various midrashim and statements of Chazal. Are we supposed to engage in that kind of speculation in order to determine how we should act? For this episode’s sources, click here Please take a moment to […]
S2, E13 Exilic Times – When Do Jews Not Belong in EY?
The Babylonian Jews who neglected to return to Eretz Yisrael during the Second Temple Era were unwelcome there afterward. They were denigrated and ostracized. Why would Jews be unwelcome in their Holy Land? And for how long were they expected to stay away? For this episode’s sources, click here Please take a moment to subscribe […]
S2, E12 To Go or Not to Go: The Debate about Babylonian Jewry in the Second Temple Era
The best and brightest of the Babylonian Jews stayed behind and didn’t join Ezra in rebuilding the Temple and resettling Eretz Yisrael, thereby earning themselves the reprobation or Reb Yochanan, Resh Lakish and others. What is this machlokes all about?
S2, E11 Choosing Exile – Babylonian Jewry in the Second Temple Era
Why did generations of great Jews and their leaders decline to return to Eretz Yisrael during the Second Temple era? For this episode’s sources, click here Here is a link to my new podcast: The Book of Memories Please take a moment to subscribe and leave a review on Apple Podcasts. Thanks for listening! You […]