Giants Of #23b: The Baalei haTosafot - Jun 1, 2023 - A ridiculously brief explanation of the Baalei haTosafot, their style and their impact. Note: The history is more overview than granular, and certainly not academic.

Giants Of #23a: Rashi, Part 2 - Jun 1, 2023 - Rashi's commentaries, and Rashi as a halachic authority and influence on Ashkenazi Judaism. Note: The history is more overview than granular, and certainly not academic.

Parshah Questions: Naso 5783 - What Are the Kohanim Doing? - Jun 1, 2023 - A quick look at questions on the parshah. Parshat Naso: Why do the Kohanim face the people? And are they really intermediaries? An idea from the Dubno Maggid.

Kohelet, Week 7: The Meaning of Amal in Tanach and Kohelet - May 30, 2023 - Does "עמל amal" mean painful struggle, bad conduct, or wealth? And what are the four exceptions for which Kohelet says that amal will bring satisfaction?

Jewish Migrations: Origins of Ashkenazim and Sephardim, Part 4a - May 24, 2023 - The first part of week 4 of a 4-part series on how Ashkenazim and Sephardim developed. One more early Ashkenazi leader: Rabbeinu Tam. Geared toward a group including people who lack strong background in Torah text study.

Jewish Migrations: Origins of Ashkenazim and Sephardim, Part 4b - May 24, 2023 - Last segment of a series on how Ashkenazim and Sephardim developed. Two of the best-known differences between Ashkenazim and Sephardim: Kitniyot and Pronunciation of Hebrew. Geared toward a group including people who lack strong background in Torah text study.

Kohelet, Week 6b: The meaning of Hevel in Tanach and Kohelet - May 23, 2023 - "Hevel" as a term referring to 1) insubstantial and non-enduring, 2) idolatry, 3) bad or corrupt, in different books in Tanach. And the name Hevel.

Kohelet, Week 6a: Approach 3 to the Problems - May 23, 2023 - Why is Kohelet canonized, if it contains internal contradictions as well as contradictions of the general outlook of Tanach? Viewing the book as a declaration that the world is not entirely about and for human beings, much less comprehensible to human beings, and we are meant to deal with that by living the life Hashem wants us to live.

Naomi's Rejection - May 18, 2023 - Three approaches to the question of why Naomi turned away Ruth and Orpah, and what we can learn from this.

Jewish Migrations: Origins of Ashkenazim and Sephardim, Part 3 - May 17, 2023 - Week 3 of a 4-part series on how Ashkenazim and Sephardim developed. Concluding the leaders of early Sepharad with the Rambam, and then moving over to Ashkenaz and Rabbeinu Gershom and Rashi. Next week we should conclude this portion with Rabbeinu Tam. Geared toward a group including people who lack strong background in Torah text study.