Terumat Maaser: It's More Honourable to Give - Jul 5, 2019 - Three ways to look at the lesson of terumat maaser in the wake of Korach's rebellion: Respect for kohanim; Respect for Hashem; Gaining respect by giving.

Shemuel #36a - Conclusion of Chapter 11: Who is Shaul Now? - Jul 4, 2019 - Looking at the evidence of Chapters 9-11 regarding Shaul's character, in terms of Leadership, Relationship with G-d, Mercy and Humility.

Shemuel #36b - 12:1-5 - Why is Shemuel Defending Himself? - Jul 4, 2019 - Introduction to Chapter 12 - a brief outline of Chapters 1-11, and three ways to read 12:1-5, Shemuel's self-justification: (1) Guidance for the future, (2) A defensive retirement; (3) A delayed rebuke for the nation's request for a king. To be continued, Gd-willing.

Jew of the Future 2: Bear Fruit, Screen and Multiply? - Jul 3, 2019 - Is a process of in vitro fertilization (IVF) and preimplantation genetic diagnosis (PGD) approved for parents who carry genes for serious diseases? What are the halachic and ethical concerns? (And a little bit on using IVF/PGD to select gender.) Geared toward an audience including people without strong background in Torah text study.

Shoftim 2:11-23 - The Shoftim Spiral - Jul 2, 2019 - The stages of Jewish decline in the era of the Shoftim; questions about whether teshuvah came before the Shofeit, or happened at all; Divine "rage"

Kiddushin: Pilegesh - Jun 28, 2019 - Rav Yaakov Emden's approach to the subject of Concubines - his explanation of Rambam's approach to znut and Rambam's distinction between kings and others, and his defense of the pilegesh in general.

Shemuel #35 - 11:7-15 - Saving Yavesh, Crowning Shaul - Jun 27, 2019 - Shaul successfully rallies the Jews to save Yavesh Gilad from Amon, and is then embraced by the nation as their new king, complete with a renewed coronation. Next session: What do we know about Shaul, now?

Jew of the Future 1: Can a Jew Have Three Mothers? - Jun 26, 2019 - When an egg comes from one woman, mitochondrial DNA come from a second woman, and the embryo is implanted in a third woman, who is the mother, in the eyes of Jewish Law? Geared toward an audience including people without strong background in Torah text study.

Yeshayah, Week 30: 19-20 - Future Conversion? Yeshayah's Exposure? - Jun 25, 2019 - Revisiting the subject of whether the world will convert to Judaism in the future, as it sounds like Egypt/Assyria will in Chapter 19. And then understanding whether Yeshayah truly went about unclothed in Chapter 20, and what his message was. The source sheet includes an outline of the first 20 chapters.

Why isn't Olam HaBa Promised? Part 2 of 2 - Jun 20, 2019 - Why doesn't the Torah promise Olam HaBa in Parshat Bechukotai and in Parshat Ki Tavo, or elsewhere? Summing up Part 1, and completing our look at a range of approaches.