The first episode of David Solomon’s Elul Zoom lecture series, The Power of Change, the Challenge of Teshuva, considers early biblical figures whose individual examples of teshuva illustrate a range of human responses to this powerful idea of self-investigation, repentance, and remorse. David examines four biblical stories, those of: Cain Avimelech King Saul King David …

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This final episode of David Solomon’s series “Unorthodox Episodes of the Talmud” explores the idea of the evil inclination – the yetzer harah – with a particular focus on problems relating to sexual temptation. The Yetzer Harah David explains that sages of the Talmud discussed how few things are as powerful as the desire for …

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The third part of David’s series, Unorthodox Episodes from the Talmud, explores a fascinating series of interconnected stories involving: a high-level international diplomatic mission,  undercover rabbinical espionage, a cast of remarkable Talmudic rabbinical figures, parental concern, a curious question of Jewish law, the mystical powers of the rabbis,  a sighting of looted treasures from the …

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Part two of David’s Zoom series, Unorthodox Episodes from the Talmud, mixes Jewish history with textual learning and fascinating storytelling. The talk continues the story begun in the previous episode regarding Rav Kahana, a third-century sage who fled Babylonian authorities to find refuge in the Land of Israel following a violent confrontation in a rabbinical court. …

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David Solomon explores several fascinating episodes described in the Talmud. This first lecture in the series discusses an unusual Talmudic incident involving disloyalty, self-righteousness, contempt, justice, death, restitution, escape, and consequences. As with many stories from the Talmud, this incident is set during a time known as the Amoraic period – between the 3rd and …

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David Solomon examines the prophets who lived during the period after Israel’s return to Zion, following the Babylonian exile, namely: Hagai Zechariah Malachi. With their unique post-exilic messages, these three prophets addressed the concerns of a population grappling with rebuilding Jerusalem after generations away. Some of the ideas expressed in their powerful prophetic books include: …

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Part three of David Solomon’s lecture series on the Trei Asar, the twelve ‘minor’ prophets of Israel, examines the texts and themes of: Nachum, Habakkuk, and Tzephaniah. While these three books are short in length, David explains the importance of each, their place in the prophetic continuum, and how they sit in relation to significant …

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This second instalment of David Solomon’s series on the Trei Asar, the twelve “minor” prophets, explores the lives and books of: Ovadiah (Obadiah), Yonah (Jonah), and Michah. David examines the historical contexts of all three prophets and how they are reflected in the texts. He also discusses the key themes in these three prophetic books, …

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This first lecture in David’s four-part series on the Trei Asar, the twelve minor prophets, explores how these remarkable biblical figures transformed the idea of religious practice – in particular, the way in which nations and individuals should worship a divine entity that cannot be seen. In this talk, David examines the lives and messages …

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 In this Jewish History lecture, David Solomon follows the chronological narrative of the Tanach (Hebrew Bible), outlining the key figures and events of the biblical period, including: the patriarchs and matriarchs the Egyptian exile and the going out of Egypt the settling of the land and the period of the judges the period of the …

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