Shoftim 14:1-6 - Initial Descent, and a Lion - Jun 30, 2020 - Parallels and differences in the trips of Yehudah and Shimshon to Timnah/Timnatah; the Parent dynamic; Jewish fear of Philistines; the Lion attack; why not tell your parents?

Yeshayah, Week 62: 39:3-8 - Punishment and Acceptance - Jun 30, 2020 - Why would Chizkiyahu's treatment of the "Babylonian" delegation deserve such a harsh punishment? What is the meaning of the Talmud's placement of Nevuchadnezzer on the scene? And how should we understand Chizkiyahu's response to Yeshayah?? Conclusion of our two-year series.

Avodah Zarah 75b - Tevilat Kelim with different materials; Collateral Kelim - Jun 28, 2020 - Immersing utensils made of glass or lined with metal; Kelim held as collateral

הכל כמנהג המדינה Part 1 of 3 - Jun 26, 2020 - First of a planned 3 shiurim on the impact of communal employment practices on individual situations. In this shiur: Understanding the basic gemara. And may an employee forgive the rights accorded by communal custom? And do we mind-read employer intent based on the wages offered?

Shemuel #68a - 16:18-23 - Why was David Overlooked? - Jun 25, 2020 - If David had all of the wonderful traits described in 6:18 - Hashem is "with him", protecting him from wrongdoing! - why wasn't he brought out with his brothers, if not at the forefront, when Shemuel told Yishai he meant to choose a new king?

Shemuel #68b - Review of Chapters 12-16 - Jun 25, 2020 - A quick run through what we learned in the 5780 series, for review.

Rabbis in the New World 4: Slavery in Jewish Surinam - Jun 24, 2020 - Jewish Life in 16th and 17th century colonies. Slaves and Jewish life in Surinam. What would the Torah have expected of Jews, regarding slaveholding - and did Jews follow those rules? If not, why not? Last session in a Zoom-based series geared toward people without strong background in Torah text study.

Shoftim 14:1 - The Shofeit and the Plishti Women? - Jun 23, 2020 - Three approaches to the question of how Shimshon could have married/consorted with Philistine women and yet served as a Shofeit. And the descent to Timnah/Timnatah.

Yeshayah, Week 61: 39:2-7 - Visit and Punishment - Jun 23, 2020 - What did Chizkiyahu show his visitors? What was wrong with his actions? Why did Yeshayahu question him? And how did the punishment fit the crime?

Avodah Zarah 75b - Klei Seudah, Borrowed Kelim - Jun 21, 2020 - Wrapping up a note on the Rambam's view regarding tevillat kelim as divrei sofrim. Then a couple of notes on Rav Nachman's limitation of tevillat kelim to (1) klei seudah ("meal implements") and (2) kelim a Jew owns, rather than borrows.