Torah Class Archive

We studied the assassination of Ish-bosheth, making David undisputed king, and the founding of Jerusalem as the nation’s capital.

We discussed the murder of Abner and the complicated, tangled relationship of King David and his commander, Joab.

We discussed the defection of Abner from the North to support David’s battle. And we talked about the role of women, concubines and wives, in determining history.

Although Saul died in battle, David is still not the undisputed king. This week we looked at the beginning of the struggle for David to be king in the North, and the fate of Asahel, brother of Joab.

We reviewed David’s famous lament over Saul and Jonathan and discussed the nature if Jonathan and David’s relationship.

We reviewed the David story up to Samuel II in preparation for the new semester.

Just how far does Moses’ faith stretch? Does faith have to be blind? When it comes to practice matters can we rely on human expertise?

What’s with all the counting? Why do we have to have so many different ways of counting our people?

From being pharaoh’s slaves to being God’s slaves? How can God ask us to continue a life of servitude?

What is holiness—a look back to the rabbis and forward to the modern era.

The halachic will: Priests used their discretion, law makers used there’s, but what is the role of the modern spiritual leader’s personal discretion?

Nadav and Avihu: What, how, and why

The Eternal Light

What does it mean to be “before God?”

Bezalel is the lead artisan on the Mishkan project. Who was he that God chose him to build our portable satuary?

We examined the mystical Urim and Thumim which the Bible tells us gave the high priest the ability to communicate with God? What were they and what could we learn from them today? (Rabbi Jason Fruithandler)

We discussed the book of Psalms, David’s authorship, Psalm 3 and Psalm 89.

In today’s class we completed the first book of Samuel as Saul and his dons for in battle clearing the way for David’s kingship.

In today’s class we discussed David’s raid on Ziklag.

Today we read and discussed one of the most enigmatic and strange stories in the entire Tanach: Saul and the Witch of EnDor who calls Samuel up from the underworld.