In a showdown with the priest Amatzia, we receive valuable biographical information about who Amos is, even if we might be surprised by his claim that he is not a prophet - לא נביא ולא בן נביא. Aliza Libman Baronofsky thinks deeply about the various interpretations of Amos' profession and origins and what they might mean for how we can understand his role. Text here: https://www.sefaria.org/Amos.7

In Ch.4 the navi describes the many warnings and punishments that God has sent Israel - the line that repeats ולא שבתם עדי - you have not returned to me. Ch.5 gives us a dirge, a description of the day of the Lord and the lines which Martin Luther King would quote: "Let justice roll down like water, and righeousness like a mighty stream" Ilana Stein presents ch.5 and concludes with a reflection of how elephants in Africa have helped her understand the different translations of the verse ויגל כמים whether water wells up or rolls down - justice can appear buried, but with a change in actions, a society that appears to be dead can return to life. Text here: https://www.sefaria.org/Amos.5

Our chapter begins with the stark claim that Israel's should not understand God taking them out of Egypt as imparting a luxury of chosenness rather they should understand it to mean that they will be truly held accountable. In my recording today I ask the question of what yetziat mitzrayim meant for Amos and offer three deeply challenging perspectives our navi has on the significance of the exodus from egypt. Text here: https://www.sefaria.org/Amos.3

Delighted to welcome back Aliza Libman Baronofsky who describes how Amos's critique skilfully weaves references and allusions to the Torah's obligations of how to treat those who are unable to protect themselves - connecting well to my audio yesterday that the way the nevi'im give their critiques is to use the terms and references of Am Yisrael's history to show them that they are not living up to their mission. Text here: https://www.sefaria.org/Amos.2

In my audio today I try to give a sense of the themes of the book and how our chapter is illustrative of what separates Amos from Plato, prophecy from philosophy. Text here: https://www.sefaria.org/Amos.1

Audio exploring the connection between our chapter and Yizkor - what God can forgive the nations for and what He cannot. Text here: https://www.sefaria.org/Joel.4

Honored to have audio today from Rabbi Dr Shlomo Zukier who explores the many connections between our chapter (and Yoel as a whole) with the story of yetzitat mitzrayim with a particular focus on the plagues, many of which appear here in Yoel as well.
Shlomo, aside from being a great educator and a dear friend, has been writing some of the most interesting Jewish reflections on COVID. Following is a link to one of his articles (part of a series) as well as to his very active Facebook page for those who wish to follow him https://thelehrhaus.com/timely-thoughts/making-seder-out-of-the-zoom-seder-controversy. Text here: https://www.sefaria.org/Joel.3

An old and dear friend, and even former Tanakh chevruta, Harris Lorie, shares his thoughts on our chapter today with particular focus on the parallels and differences between Yoel's take on teshuva and that of Moshe's in Shemot after the golden calf. As Harris presents it, Yoel has a very original take on Hashem's attitude to repentance but not one that the Jewish tradition has really embraced. Text here: https://www.sefaria.org/Joel.2

A terrifying plague (of locusts), economic collapse and the demand for a spiritual response. Sound timely? Delighted to welcome Ariel Koschitzky, a long time follower but first time presenter for this group who provides an excellent introduction to the themes and structure of the sefer, probes the question of when Yoel lived, and powerfully explores the themes of the chapter - that every significant moment requires a spiritual response. I found particularly interesting, the insight that in contrast to Hoshea where sins are everywhere, in the case of Yoel no mention is made of Israel's guilt - but that does not mean that the moment lacks religious meaning. Text here: https://www.sefaria.org/Joel.1

The final chapter of Hoshea, and one of the most famous chapters in the Tanakh on the topic of teshuva (so much so that it is even the haftara of Shabbat Shuva, the Shabbat inbetween Rosh HaShanah and Yom Kippur). Text here: https://www.sefaria.org/Hosea.14