Audio follows on the loyalty of Yaakov, the disloyalty of Israel and the imagery of clouds in Tanakh. Text here: https://www.sefaria.org/Hosea.13

In ch.11 God's anger and resentment towards Israel is overwhelmed by his tenderness for them, while in ch.12 Hoshea turns his attention to the stories of Yaakov Avinu -an almost unique chapter for a navi to provide an interpretation to the stories of the Avot. Text can be found here: https://www.sefaria.org/Hosea.11

Calev Ben Dor uses our chapter as a glimpse into the geopolitical difficulties that the northern kingdom finds itself in. Samaria’s monarchy is vanishing Like foam upon water.

Text for this chapter can be found here:

https://www.sefaria.org/Hosea.10

In my audio I attempt to explain why this chapter is illustrative of what makes nevi'im acharonim - the prophets of Hoshea's epoch - so unique compared to those who came before them. Text here: https://www.sefaria.org/Hosea.9

More metaphors of Israel aberrant politics: reaping the whirlwind and like a lonely desert ass. Text here: https://www.sefaria.org/Hosea.8

In today's audio I try to consider what this metaphor might mean - for the leadership of a people to be compared to the science of baking. Text here: https://www.sefaria.org/Hosea.7

Today we are honoured to receive another recording from the bard of London, Rafi Addlestone, as he reflects on Hoshea chapters 5 and 6, channeling John Legend and A.J. Heschel to unpack Hoshea's philosophy of divine love and the prophet's unique innovation of the concept of da'at elokim - not just knowledge of God, but empathy and identification.

The prophet directs his criticism at the people, suggesting that perhaps they should have protested against their leadership. The chapter culminates on a rather harsh note, "a people that is without sense must stumble." The recording today focuses on the first few verses, trying to understand the connection between environmental harm and the verse "Let no man rebuke, let no man protest!”. Text here: https://www.sefaria.org/Hosea.4

Ilana Stein shares Torah with us from a wintry Johanesburg with a powerful reading of the adjusted metaphor as portraying a relationship with God in the reality of exile. Text here: https://www.sefaria.org/Hosea.3

If yesterday's chapter contained some of the harshest verses of rebuke in the Tanakh, today's chapter has some of the most beautiful uplifting language of God's love for Israel וארשתיך לי לעולם. Text here: https://www.sefaria.org/Hosea.2