Semikha 1.5: Tanakh & Halakhic Minset

In this episode we review some of the details of the chapters immediately following the Ten Commandments. The Torah emphasizes personal responsibility and caring for others. There is a push towards the abolition of slavery but also some laws which seem very harsh. We discuss the problem of Religious OCD and how the focus of observance has shifted since biblical times. We also discuss the role of the Jewish people as understood from Moshe's negotiations with God following the sin of the golden calf. Finally, we discuss the problem of sacred prostitution and its presence in Shemot.