Enjoy educational seminars organized in a series of add-free videos (most are exclusive to pshir.com) Open each topic to see the full series.
Hanukkiah is a special lamp used during Hanukkah celebrations. Though it comes in all shapes and sizes today, it was modeled on a seven-branched Menorah that once stood in Jerusalem Temple. But what did the Temple Menorah look like, and what did it seek to convey? In Talmud, we are...
In this first lecture, we delve into the intricate details of the Book of Jeremiah, looking at Chapters 1-30, and examining its structure, themes, and historical context. A systematic approach connects historical events and prophetic messages in order to provide a comprehensive understanding of the text. We discuss the setting...
In the first part we explore the first 40 chapters of the Book of Isaiah, delving into its historical context and symbolic language. We consider Isaiah's words in light of the Syro-Ephraimite War, crucial dates like the fall of Samaria and Jerusalem. We examine the covenant lawsuit against...
I teach about repentance and forgiveness on a regular basis. Every year, I am asked questions about how repentance works. I am asked questions about the dynamics of forgiveness. So, periodically, I take the core ideas and key questions I am asked over and over, reflect on them, and put...
Who are prophets? How was their role understood in the ancient Jewish and non-Jewish world? When it comes to the Bible, the words of the prophets can take some effort to unravel. Their saying should always be read in context. Though we know very little about some of their lives,...
One unique prayer is repeated multiple times daily in Jewish Prayer services besides the Shema (Deut 6:4-9). It's a prayer composed in Aramaic called Kaddish. In modern practice, it is never recited alone, and its ancient words seek to magnify and sanctify God's name corporately....
Are you familiar with Tisha B'Av? On the Jewish calendar, it's a day of fasting and introspection for many reasons. Throughout history, this day has been a day of calamity for Israel as a people at large and for various Jewish communities. In this 45-minute teaching,...
For some, reading Midrash is a beloved preoccupation, and others find it frustrating. Midrash can be beautiful and very inspiring, yet for those who lean toward more strict analytical thought, it seems to take way too many liberties in explaining biblical texts. This is exactly why Midrash needs to be...
Did you know that in antiquity, most people believed that gods were tied to specific lands and territories. Consequently, every country and land had its own local deities. Israel stood out sharply among the nations by worshipping a very different God. Thousands of years ago, Hebrews believed that their God...