Richmond Jewish Learning Experience

recorded 5/6/2026

recorded on 5/6/2026

recorded 4/22/2026

(recorded 3/25/36)

recorded on 3/11/26

recorded 3/4/2026

recorded 2/25/26

recorded 2/11/2026

recorded 2/4/26

recorded 1/28/26

What is with all the magic? (recorded 1/14/26)

Why does Rashi say Moshe's house was filled with light when he was born? (recorded 1/7/2026)

recorded on 1/1/2026

Why does God distrust farmers? (recorded 12/25/25)

recorded 12/10/2025

(recorded 12/3/2025)

Recorded Thanksgiving 2025

Why does Rashi think that Esav was the cause of Abraham's "premature" death? (Recorded 11/19/2025)

recorded 11/12/2025

recorded 11/5/25

(recorded 10/22/2025)

recorded 10/13/2025

The root כפר/k.p.r. is used in a variety of contexts in the Torah. What does it mean for the high holidays? (recorded 9/17/25)

What can we learn from the style and context of the command not to favor the son of a favored wife? (recorded 8/3/25)

What is the ideal form of government according to scholars throughout Jewish history? (Recorded 8/27/25)

Why are the Ten Commandments told differently in Va'etchanan than they were told in Exodus? (recorded 8/6/25)

Devarim is an illustration of Moshe's deftness in speaking to the Jewish people. Rashi helps us see it. (recorded 7/30/25)

Was the request made by Reuven and Gad good or bad? How did Menashe get roped into the deal? (recorded 7/23/25)

What do the rabbis think about Pinchas? What do we make of the stories involving him in Yehoshua and Shoftim? (recorded on 7/16/25)

3 ways to understand the enigmatic story of Balak and Bilam. (recorded 7/9/25)

Why did the earth swallow people up? (6/25/25)

What did the spies get wrong? What can we learn from the two spy stories in Joshua? The relevance of the parsha to current events. (recorded on 6/18/25)

We are thousands of miles away and just waiting. What does God want of us? (recorded 6/13/25)

The Jews complain, and so does Moshe. Hashem has two different reactions. What's with the word ruach? (recorded 6/11/25)

Why aren't the mitzvot in Naso where they are supposed to be in the book of Vayikra? (recorded on 6/04/25)

How does the historical context of Ruth inform our understanding of the story?

The parsha ends with an enigmatic story about blasphemy and its repercussions. Rashi helps us relate. (recorded 5/15/25)

Why does the Torah mention the deaths of Nadav and Avihu at the beginning of our parsha?

Lessons from the rabbis and the navi for celebrating Yom Haatzmaut during trying times. (recorded 4/30/25)

Rashi and Rashbam differ as to what Nadav and Avihu did wrong. Parallels between the revelation at Mt. Sinai and the inauguration of the 8th day add depth to the Rashbam's explanation. (recorded 4/23/25)

Link to class outline: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1w6K_br8iiKM1Ws6tBhLD7eEOCUUB5J_ATPRDoeZSCyg/edit?usp=sharingrecorded 4/6/2025

Why does Rashi say that Lot baked matza for the angels because it was Pesach? What does that say about the Exodus story?

What was the real sin of the Golden Calf? Why did God "allow" sacrifices?

What did the Jews at the time think of Mordechai? W hat does the author of the Megilla think?

Processing the grim events of the return of murdered hostages

Why Did the Purim Story Happen? Why does the Gemara connect Purim to the Book of Daniel?

The gemara says that Yitro blessed God for the Exodus before the Jews did. Why? How is it connected to Yitro's advice to Moshe?

What is the symbolism behind the bitter waters of Marah?

Why did the rabbis suggest the plague of frogs was brought about through one frog? What political effects did the plagues have?

Did Moshe's mother give him a name? Why does the Torah use the name given by Pharaoh's daughter?