TanakhCast

In this week’s episode: Exodus 13-16.  Thanks to the miracle of Skype, Michael Wex, author of Born to Kvetch: Yiddish Language and Culture in All Its Moods, explains the intricacies of kvetching and why Jews have been kvetching for as long as there have been Jews, Egyptian bondage notwithstanding.

In this week’s episode: Exodus 9-12.  We re-examine the question of collective punishment as the remaining plagues ravage Egypt and, in the process, probably manage to piss off probably every working lawyer by taking a poke at the legal profession’s favourite fictional character Atticus Finch.

ICYMI, have a listen to the Gettysburg episode of Slate's Political Gabfest podcast so you can get a sense of context for David Plotz's comments.  And here is Dalia Lithwick's piece on Atticus Finch as well as Malcolm Gladwell's jab at the legendary fictional lawyer.

In this week’s episode: Exodus 5-8.  We examine the beginning of the grand game between Pharaoh and Moshe, a contest which not only results in the first three plagues and the punishment of a whole nation for the recalcitrance of one man - but also demonstrates why Tit-for-Tat works best when facing down your opponents.  And my daughter Heala weighs in on the notion of collective punishment!

One additional note:  Richard Dawkins’ love for Tit-for-Tat in the Prisoner’s Dilemma game is based largely on simulations where there are more than two players in the game - which suggests that Tit-for-Tat, though the best strategy for multiple opponents, might not work as well in the Egyptian Bondage version.

UPDATE: It seems that prisoners are more cooperative than expected...

In this week’s episode: Exodus 1-4.  Dan Libenson, President of the Institute for the Next Jewish Future, explains why God has a lot to learn about mentoring Moshe at the Burning Bush, and how sometimes, it is better NOT to walk in the ways of God if it means that you cannot grow and learn to be a better leader.

I was going to insert a picture of Dan Libenson, but then I realized that folks would connect the header and the image.

Dan is a distinguished leader and wise mentor.

Bill Lumbergh is NOT.

In this week’s episode: Genesis 48-50.  We examine the coda of the Yosef story and the attempts to tie up all the loose ends in this family drama.  Through the lengthy blessings of the brothers, we look at the convention of blessings in the Tanakh.  And through the brothers’ final ruse, we will consider the importance of the apology as a necessary lubricant in human relations.  And if this reads as repetitive, I am sorry.

ICYMI, the Kickstarter apology can be found here.  Coverage of Enron CEO Jeffrey Skilling's total bullsh&t apology can be found here.  Speaking of bullsh&t apologies, if you have the stomach, why not read coverage about lame offerings from John Sununu and Gareth Evans?  And no discussion about apologies would be complete without a TOP TEN LIST!

In this week’s episode: Genesis 44-47.  We examine the build-up to and the climax of the Yosef drama - the Big Reveal of Yosef’s identity - and consider how this reveal, like all dramatic twists in the Tanakh, is inherently a Captain Obvious Reveal.  And we will also consider how Yosef’s economic policies would have made Newt Gingrich squeal with glee.

In this week’s episode: Genesis 40-43.  We examine the role of cupbearer in Egypt and Westeros as well as how, for Yosef, dreams are not the royal road to the unconscious, but the path to royalty in the court of Pharaoh.

ICYMI, Nizam al-Mulk's Book of Government can be found here.

In this week’s episode: Genesis 36-39.  We examine the story of Tamar, the daughter-in-law/baby mama of Yehuda who uses the whore’s veils to accomplish a neat trick.  And we will also explore the fifth iteration of sibling rivalry in Genesis between Yosef, his coat of many colours and his brothers - which results in some violence, enslavement and yet another ruse.  In short, any scream will do.

ICYMI, the Claire Messud interview, in its entirety can be found here.

In this week’s episode: Genesis 32-35.  We examine yet another disturbing story in the Tanakh - the rape of Dinah - and how commentators of various persuasions (male and female, strident and stodgy) have understood the incident.  We also consider how female sexuality and sex work challenge male notions of propriety and morality - and how, in the Tanakh, it usually ends badly for everyone.  Sigh.

BTW, Ellen Frankel's Five Books Of Miriam: A Woman's Commentary on the Torah can be purchased here and Elyse Goldstein's Women's Torah Commentary can be purchased here.

In this week’s episode: Genesis 28-31.  Alongside with numerous Beastie Boys references, we consider a popular corollary to the notion of biblical justice and ponder the role of commentaries in our understanding of Tanakh.  So here's a-nother one for y’all to peep.  It’s called T-A-N-A on the K-H-C.

BTW, the link to the New York Times article about the near-toppling of an Israeli government because of a "disparaging" comment about King David can be found here.