Samson, Week 2: Restraint or Role Model? - Feb 10, 2021 - Why would anyone become a nazir? Why was the behavior of Hatzlelponi (Shimshon's mother) restricted? Why was Shimshon designated to be a nazir - and an odd form of nazir, at that? Geared toward a group including people without strong background in Torah text study.

Esther, Week 15: Charvonah, and Irreversible Persian Decrees - Feb 9, 2021 - Who was Charvonah, and how did he know the gallows was 50 amot tall? And was Achashverosh telling the truth regarding the irreversibility of Persian decrees? Is there evidence in Daniel and Ezra?

Shoftim 20:40-21:3 - Destroying Binyamin, and Regretting It - Feb 9, 2021 - Understanding the poetic text regarding the destruction of Binyamin, and the reactions of the rest of Israel

Ketuvot 6b - Initial relations and Halachic Stress - Feb 7, 2021 - Abbaye and Rava debate whether anyone permits initial relations on Friday night - and if not, why one might be exempt from Shema that Shabbat.

Anthropocentricity: What Makes Us Special? - Feb 4, 2021 - Two different midrashim about the battle between Moshe and the malachim (angels) for the Torah. Why did the malachim oppose sharing the Torah with us? What does "having the Torah" mean? And why do these midrashim give different justifications for our receipt of the Torah?

Shemuel #86 - 18:10-16 - King Shaul's first attempt to kill David - Feb 4, 2021 - Shaul's renewed ruach ra'ah and assault on Dovid; Dovid's unwitting escape, and Shaul's reaction

Samson, Week 1: Soldier or Renegade? - Feb 3, 2021 - If Samson was supposed to be a leader (shofeit!) and saviour of Israel, why are all of his battles recorded in Tanach solo vendettas and counterattacks? And why did he spend so much time (socially as well as militarily) in Philistine territory? Geared toward an audience including people without strong background in Torah text study.

Shoftim 20:26-40 - Pinchas Victorious - Feb 2, 2021 - What was the role of Pinchas in turning around the war against Binyamin? What was the military strategy?

Esther, Week 14a: Why does Chapter 6 matter? Part 2 of 2 - Feb 2, 2021 - The significance of Achashverosh's sleeplessness and Mordechai's parade, Part 2 of 2

Esther, Week 14b: "I wouldn't care if we were slaves"? - Feb 2, 2021 - In Chapter 7 - Isn't Esther also accusing Achashverosh? And what does Esther mean when she says, "I wouldn't care if we were sold as slaves"?