Kinot: Ohali - Aug 11, 2019 - Brief introduction to the kinah, looking at what Rabbi Elazar haKallir did in emphasizing that the series of Ohalot created by Hashem were meant to be our ohalot, our spaces to inhabit with Hashem, and accusing Hashem of abandoning those spaces. The goal of the Jew is to share a space with Hashem, and we mourn the loss of this hope on Tisha b'Av.

here to the last eight pesukim of Eichah, in his role as a mekonein: Embellishment, and Drawing out the voice of the mourner

Shoftim 3:15-31 - Ehud and Shamgar - Jul 23, 2019 - Ehud's assault, Eglon's redeeming act and Shamgar's cattle goad

The Zionism of Yeshayahu - Jul 21, 2019 - Three messages of Yeshayah regarding Zion, targeted to Kings Uziahu, Achaz and Chizkiyahu.

The Ketubah Text: A few technical issues - Jul 19, 2019 - Is the ketubah a "maaseh beit din"? Nuances in writing the date in a ketubah. And does a name-change necessitate a new ketubah?

Tears for Moav - Jul 19, 2019 - Why does Yeshayah cry for Moav in Yeshayah 15:5 and 16:9? Or does he? Four ways to understand this apparent show of mercy for the nation which hired Bilam to curse us, was ungrateful for Avraham's aid, and attacked us on multiple occasions.

Jew of the Future 4: Fortune Telling, Horoscopes and Predictive Algorithms - Jul 17, 2019 - Is police work based on predictive analytics consistent with Jewish ethics and the approach of judging people באשר הוא שם, as they are now? Does reliance on predictive algorithms violate prohibitions against use of omens, or lead people away from faith in Gd? Geared toward an audience including people without strong background in Torah text study.

Shoftim 3:1-14 - First Blood - Jul 16, 2019 - Which non-Jewish nations were left in Israel, and why did Gd want us to learn war? Why was Kushan Rishatayim of Aram our first foe? Introduction to Aram and Moav, and Lot.

The Ketubah's Financial Goals, and Inadmissibility in Court - Jul 12, 2019 - Two Ketubah-related items: (1) The goal of shared finances in a Jewish marriage, and (2) The obstacles to recognition of a Ketubah in civil court.

S. Y. Agnon's Zionist Iyov: Ma'gilei Tzedek - Jul 10, 2019 - S. Y. Agnon's story of an old, long-suffering vinegar maker who longs to go to Israel, if only for burial, and who unwittingly stores his money in a Christian charity box. Is this short story a flirtation with Christianity? A tale of injustice? A Chassidic metaphor? An anti-British Zionist polemic? A story of Zionism leading to mitzvot? Or something else?

Jew of the Future 3: Must an Artificial Intelligence Observe Shabbat? - Jul 10, 2019 - Could an AI (artificial intelligence) be considered human, and become Jewish? If not, is there still an issue of שביתת בהמתו and למען ינוח requiring that I not let it perform my melachah? Is there an issue of כל מלאכה לא יעשה בהם? What about concerns of appearances and risking violation of Shabbat, as well as the mitzvah of Shabbaton? Geared toward an audience including people without strong background in Torah text study.