Shemuel #152 - Chapter 30:20-25 - The Story of the Spoils - Feb 16, 2023 - Why do Dovid's men declare "These are Dovid's spoils" as they march? And why does Dovid split the spoils between the warriors and those who did not fight? And what is the connection to Avraham's war of the four kings vs the five kings?

Giants Of #15: Rav Hai - The Conclusion - Feb 16, 2023 - Rav Hai Gaon's approach to aggadata, and to the supernatural. Note: The history is more overview than granular, and certainly not academic.

Parshah Questions: Mishpatim 5783 - Religion, Justice, Sanctuary - Feb 16, 2023 - A quick look at questions on the parshah. Parshat Mishpatim: Why would a murderer think he could save himself by running to the mizbeiach (altar)? Why did Adoniyahu and Yoav think they could do so? Five approaches.

Judaism and Intelligent Extraterrestrial Life #1: Philosophy - Feb 15, 2023 - From a philosophical perspective, could Judaism accept the existence of intelligent extraterrestrial life? The classic anthropocentricity debate - are human beings the sole purpose of Divine creation? Rav Saadia Gaon and the Rambam, and based in part on Rabbi Dr. Lamm's classic article. Lessons from malachim (angels) and Hashem's speech to Iyov. Geared toward a group including people who lack strong background in Torah text study.

Mishlei, Week 6b: The Legacy of Mishlei, Part 1 - Feb 14, 2023 - Starting on the legacy of Mishlei - its use in gemara (aggadata and halachah), and its influence on Ben Sira

Mishlei, Week 6a: The Simplicity of Mishlei - Feb 14, 2023 - Wrapping up our original question: Why does a book in Tanach contain advice which seems so simple, and a worldview of good and evil that seems so simplistic? Is this advice for children and their teachers, or something else?

Medical Ethics: The Shoteh - Judaism and the Irrational Patient - Feb 13, 2023 - What is a shoteh? Who evaluates it, and what is the place of contemporary psychological testing? How does one end shoteh status? What about behaviours which might demonstrate irrationality, but could be explained away? What about localized irrationality, or episodic irrationality?

Parshah Questions: Yitro 5783 - Midbar and Mountain - Feb 9, 2023 - A quick look at questions on the parshah. Parshat Yitro: Why does the Torah tell us separately that the Jews camped in Midbar Sinai, and at the mountain (19:2)? And why does it stress that Yisrael camped at the mountain?

Giants Of #14: Rav Hai Gaon, Part 3 - Feb 9, 2023 - Rav Hai Gaon's approach to learning philosophy, and his own practical approach to philosophical questions. Note: The history is more overview than granular, and certainly not academic.

Shemuel #151 - Chapter 30:11-22 - Dovid Defeats Amalek - Feb 9, 2023 - Dovid's kindness to an Egyptian leads to victory over Amalek, and initiates Dovid into the historic battle against Esav. Then he exhibits kindness to the 200 soldiers who didn't join the battle, and the results are not as positive...