Join us for Pentateuch in Perspective: The Life and Times of Isaac, part of our Genesis – The Book of Origins series. This week’s class introduces the Generations of Isaac - Genesis 25:19-35:29. We’ll uncover what sets Isaac apart from the other patriarchs and examine his family dynamics—his wife, Rebekah, and the twins, Jacob and Esau. Do God and the biblical writers show favoritism, and are we meant to follow their lead? We’ll delve into the biblical texts through careful analysis to uncover insights about this pivotal figure and his family. Don’t miss it!

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The story of Abraham’s family, chosen to fulfill the Divine plan, is far from ideal. Conflict, favoritism, jealousy, and strained relationships define their journey, revealing a portrait of extreme dysfunction. In this week’s class, we’ll explore the narratives surrounding Abraham and Sarah, focusing on the women in Abraham’s life and the two sons who both came perilously close to death in the unfolding of heaven’s plan. Join us for a deep dive into this masterfully told and deeply human story.

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This week in Pentateuch in Perspective, we dive into one of the most defining years in Abraham’s life as recorded in Parsha Vayyera (Genesis 18-22:24). Although Abraham’s story spans 175 years, the ancient editors focus intently on this pivotal moment—the miraculous birth of Isaac. Through text-critical and historical analysis, we’ll explore how this extraordinary event was crafted and preserved by ancient scribes to emphasize its profound role in the divine plan. With Sarai’s barrenness, advancing years, and seemingly impossible circumstances, the narrative builds a tension that speaks both to the challenges of faith and the miraculous intervention of the divine. Join us as we investigate the narrative structure and editorial choices that highlight Isaac’s birth, anchoring Abraham’s legacy and shaping biblical history.

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This week’s class on Lech Lecha (Genesis 12:1-17:27) embarks on a quest to uncover the early life of Abram, later known as Abraham. We’ll investigate his origins, family, and his divine call, examining diverse biblical sources to build a clearer picture of this enigmatic figure. Join me as we explore Abram’s life in a new light, questioning assumptions and revealing hidden aspects of the patriarch who became the father of all faithful.

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In this class, we dive into Torah Portion Noach, exploring the fascinating details of the biblical flood narratives as presented in two sources: the Priestly (P) and Yahwist (J) accounts. We’ll look at the nuanced differences in these texts—like the number of animals and the duration of the flood—that give insight into the ancient storytelling tradition. Join us for an engaging journey through the story of Noah as we seek to uncover its deeper layers.

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In the opening chapters of Genesis, we read the story of creation—a foundational text in both Jewish and Christian traditions. But is there more than one account of creation in these early verses? Ross will carefully and exegetically examine the texts, peeling apart the layers to reveal that Genesis may indeed present more than one source, more than one account of creation. Join us as we begin the annual cycle of Torah readings with Bereshith (Genesis 1:1–6:8) and explore this profound question from an academic, historical-critical perspective.

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In this powerful finale to Season 3 of Torah Pearls, Jono, Ross, and Ezra explore the final chapters of Deuteronomy—Moses’s song, his blessings, and his death.

As they unpack sacred poetry, tribal predictions, and divine declarations, they also raise deeper questions: Who wrote the end of the Torah? What happens when later hands write in Moses’s name? And does this really mark the end of the law—or a new beginning?

Join us for one last climb.

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In this week’s Torah Pearls, Jono, Ross, and Ezra explore Vayelekh, a chapter rich with farewell speeches, a sacred scroll, and signs that the pen behind Moses may not have been his own.

We begin with a third-person narrator introducing Moses—not as the author, but the subject. Ross highlights the layered voices within the text and the key moment where “this Torah” is described as a completed scroll—suggesting the hand of a later scribe writing in the name of Moses.

We examine the idiom “go out and come in,” and the evolving reasons given for why Moses was barred from the land—was it disobedience, divine anger, or simply the passage of time?

We also contrast Deuteronomy’s public reading law with Ezra’s very different practice in Nehemiah 8, asking what this divergence reveals about the development of the Torah.

This episode adds yet another layer of evidence to the case: that while the scroll may carry Moses’s name, the ink was still wet from later hands.

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In a world where foundational values are being challenged, this week’s episode opens with a reflection on what it truly means to stand for the covenant—a theme at the heart of Nitzavim.

Moses gathers the entire community of Israel—leaders, strangers, and even future generations—for a solemn covenant renewal ceremony. This parsha warns of hidden sins, public curses, and the devastation of exile, while also offering profound hope through return, restoration, and the circumcision of the heart.

Ross, Jono, and Ezra explore key passages, including the powerful declaration that the Torah is “not in heaven, but very near, in your mouth and in your heart,” and the climactic call to choose life. Together, they trace how these ancient words speak to the enduring need for all people to unite around the Ten Words and the principles of covenant faith.

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This week, Jono Vandor, Ross K. Nichols of the Horeb Institute, and Ezra—the AI “textpert”—explore Ki Tavo (Deut 26:1–29:8). The portion opens with first fruits and the ancient creed, “My father was a wandering Aramean,” then moves to tithes for the Levite, the stranger, the orphan, and the widow. Soon the covenant ceremony at Ebal and Gerizim resumes, raising thorny questions about the role of the Levites, the division of the tribes, and why the biblical accounts differ from one another—and from the Moses Scroll.

What follows is even more puzzling: the text seems to set out the script for the blessings and curses ceremony, but the blessings are conspicuously missing. There are curses, and then we read a list of consequences for obedience and a much longer list of consequences for disobedience. Why this imbalance? Why no blessings, and why is the list of negative consequences so much longer? Is this Mosaic instruction—or later history woven back into the text?

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