Torah Means Teacher: Lessons from the First Five Books of the Bible: Dr. Nahum Roman Footnick ~ Inspired by Dennis Prager and many more…

More Passover discussion and in the podcast I answer a question about my literary references.  Also, sorry about the odd audio quality in the beginning.  My regular mic is set up part way through the class. Exodus Ch. 12 NIV 43The Lord said to Moses and Aaron, “These are the regulations for the Passover meal: “No foreigner […]

Thankfully I have a full episode for you this week. We will be covering Exodus Ch.12 verses 33 -42. If you have any questions or comments please feel free to share in the comment box below.  Thank You!   Exodus 12: 33The Egyptians urged the people to hurry and leave the country. “For otherwise,” they […]

The broken episode… Yes unfortunately my tape ran out while recording this class.  But regardless I wanted to offer you whatever I do have, hence why I’m putting up only a partially recorded episode. No worries though.  I recognized the recording malfunction before teaching again, and review much of the material in the following class. […]

Lots to cover this week.  Here are the verses: Exodus Chapter 7 1Then the Lord said to Moses, “See, I have made you like God to Pharaoh, and your brother Aaron will be your prophet. 2You are to say everything I command you, and your brother Aaron is to tell Pharaoh to let the Israelites go out of […]

It's just you and me today as we explore Exodus.  Unfortunately I have lost the class recorded a year or so ago.  So, I am doing an encore presentation "live" in the Ultimate Issues Studio. Today I'll be covering Exodus 7:1 - 7:29 (or 8:4). Below...

In this class we cover topics found in Exodus 6:14-7:6.  Commentary from Umberto Cassuto, Dennis Prager, Nahum Sarna, Jacob Milgrom, and Nahum Footnick. Chapter 6:  Moses and Aaron Genealogy 13Now the Lord spoke to Moses and Aaron about the Israelites and Pharaoh king of Egypt, and he commanded them to bring the Israelites out of Egypt. 14These were the heads of their familiesd : The sons of Reuben the firstborn son of Israel were Hanok and Pallu, Hezron and Karmi. These were the clans of Reuben. 15The sons of Simeon were Jemuel, Jamin, Ohad, Jakin, Zohar and Shaul the son of a Canaanite woman. These were the clans of Simeon. 16These were the names of the sons of Levi according to their records: Gershon, Kohath and Merari. Levi lived 137 years. 17The sons of Gershon, by clans, were Libni and Shimei. 18The sons of Kohath were Amram, Izhar, Hebron and Uzziel. Kohath lived 133 years. 19The sons of Merari were Mahli and Mushi. These were the clans of Levi according to their records. 20Amram married his father’s sister Jochebed, who bore him Aaron and Moses. Amram lived 137 years. 21The sons of Izhar were Korah, Nepheg and Zikri. 22The sons of Uzziel were Mishael, Elzaphan and Sithri. 23Aaron married Elisheba, daughter of Amminadab and sister of Nahshon, and she bore him Nadab and Abihu, Eleazar and Ithamar. 24The sons of Korah were Assir, Elkanah and Abiasaph. These were the Korahite clans. 25Eleazar son of Aaron married one of the daughters of Putiel, and she bore him Phinehas. These were the heads of the Levite families, clan by clan. 26It was this Aaron and Moses to whom the Lord said, “Bring the Israelites out of Egypt by their divisions.” 27They were the ones who spoke to Pharaoh king of Egypt about bringing the Israelites out of Egypt—this same Moses and Aaron.   28Now when the Lord spoke to Moses in Egypt, 29he said to him, “I am the Lord. Tell Pharaoh king of Egypt everything I tell you.” 30But Moses said to the Lord, “Since I speak with faltering lips, why would Pharaoh listen to me?”   Chapter 7 1Then the Lord said to Moses, “See, I have made you like God to Pharaoh, and your brother Aaron will be your prophet. 2You are to say everything I command you, and your brother Aaron is to tell Pharaoh to let the Israelites go out of his country. 3But I will harden Pharaoh’s heart, and though I multiply my signs and wonders in Egypt, 4he will not listen to you. Then I will lay my hand on Egypt and with mighty acts of judgment I will bring out my divisions, my people the Israelites. 5And the Egyptians will know that I am the Lord when I stretch out my hand against Egypt and bring the Israelites out of it.” 6Moses and Aaron did just as the Lord commanded them. 7Moses was eighty years old and Aaron eighty-three when they spoke to Pharaoh.  

Come join our class as we discuss some major issues developed in Exodus Ch. 6 verses 7 -30.  I know, I know… I say "23" in the intro, but I was wrong.  To be accurate we get to verse 30.  We'll be talking about Israel, Judaism, Chooseness, and so much more. Read below to follow along. Exodus Ch. 6   verses 7 -30 (KJV) 7 And I will take you to me for a people, and I will be to you a God: and ye shall know that I am the LORD your God, which bringeth you out from under the burdens of the Egyptians. 8 And I will bring you in unto the land, concerning the which I did swear to give it to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob; and I will give it you for an heritage: I am the LORD. 9 And Moses spake so unto the children of Israel: but they hearkened not unto Moses for anguish of spirit, and for cruel bondage. 10 And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying, 11 Go in, speak unto Pharaoh king of Egypt, that he let the children of Israel go out of his land. 12 And Moses spake before the LORD, saying, Behold, the children of Israel have not hearkened unto me; how then shall Pharaoh hear me, who am of uncircumcised lips? 13 And the LORD spake unto Moses and unto Aaron, and gave them a charge unto the children of Israel, and unto Pharaoh king of Egypt, to bring the children of Israel out of the land of Egypt. 14 These be the heads of their fathers' houses: The sons of Reuben the firstborn of Israel; Hanoch, and Pallu, Hezron, and Carmi: these bethe families of Reuben. 15 And the sons of Simeon; Jemuel, and Jamin, and Ohad, and Jachin, and Zohar, and Shaul the son of a Canaanitish woman: these arethe families of Simeon. 16 And these are the names of the sons of Levi according to their generations; Gershon, and Kohath, and Merari: and the years of the life of Levi were an hundred thirty and seven years. 17 The sons of Gershon; Libni, and Shimi, according to their families. 18 And the sons of Kohath; Amram, and Izhar, and Hebron, and Uzziel: and the years of the life of Kohath were an hundred thirty and three years. 19 And the sons of Merari; Mahali and Mushi: these are the families of Levi according to their generations. 20 And Amram took him Jochebed his father's sister to wife; and she bare him Aaron and Moses: and the years of the life of Amram werean hundred and thirty and seven years. 21 And the sons of Izhar; Korah, and Nepheg, and Zichri. 22 And the sons of Uzziel; Mishael, and Elzaphan, and Zithri. 23 And Aaron took him Elisheba, daughter of Amminadab, sister of Naashon, to wife; and she bare him Nadab, and Abihu, Eleazar, and Ithamar. 24 And the sons of Korah; Assir, and Elkanah, and Abiasaph: these are the families of the Korhites. 25 And Eleazar Aaron's son took him one of the daughters of Putiel to wife; and she bare him Phinehas: these are the heads of the fathers of the Levites according to their families. 26 These are that Aaron and Moses, to whom the LORD said, Bring out the children of Israel from the land of Egypt according to their armies. 27 These are they which spake to Pharaoh king of Egypt, to bring out the children of Israel from Egypt: these are that Moses and Aaron. 28 And it came to pass on the day when the LORD spake unto Moses in the land of Egypt, 29 That the LORD spake unto Moses, saying, I am the LORD: speak thou unto Pharaoh king of Egypt all that I say unto thee. 30 And Moses said before the LORD, Behold, I am of uncircumcised lips, and how shall Pharaoh hearken unto me? Any Questions or Ideas you would like to share? Please speak your mind below in the comment area. Thank You!

  Episode 3 of Torah Means Teacher. In this class we discuss Exodus Chapter 6 verses 1-8. Exodus Chapter 6: 1Then the Lord said to Moses, “Now you will see what I will do to Pharaoh: Because of my mighty hand he will let them go; because of my mighty hand he will drive them out of his country.” 2God also said to Moses, “I am the Lord. 3I appeared to Abraham, to Isaac and to Jacob as God Almighty,a but by my name the Lordb I did not make myself fully known to them. 4I also established my covenant with them to give them the land of Canaan, where they resided as foreigners. 5Moreover, I have heard the groaning of the Israelites, whom the Egyptians are enslaving, and I have remembered my covenant. 6“Therefore, say to the Israelites: ‘I am the Lord, and I will bring you out from under the yoke of the Egyptians. I will free you from being slaves to them, and I will redeem you with an outstretched arm and with mighty acts of judgment. 7I will take you as my own people, and I will be your God. Then you will know that I am theLord your God, who brought you out from under the yoke of the Egyptians. 8And I will bring you to the land I swore with uplifted hand to give to Abraham, to Isaac and to Jacob. I will give it to you as a possession. I am the Lord.’ ” Links: Buy Nahum Sarna's "Exploring Exodus" here. or the book I use, JPS Torah Commentary, here.  As well as Umberto Cassuto's book here.  Also mentioned was "Why the Jews?" by Prager and Telushkin. Thank you for listening and learning with us. Any questions or comments? Please feel free to mention below in the comments area. What is hateful to you, do not do to your fellow: this is the whole Torah; the rest is commentary; (and now) go and learn"  ~ Rabbi Hillel (Shabbat 31a)

Episode 2 of Torah Means Teacher.  Exodus 5:4-5:23. Commentaries include Dennis Prager, Nahum Sarna, Umberto Cassuto, Rambam, Nehama Leibowitz and more. Exodus Chapter 5: 4But the king of Egypt said to them, “Moses and Aaron, why do you draw the people away from their work? Get back to your labors!”5Again Pharaoh said, “Look, the people of the land are now many, and you would have them cease from their labors!”6So the same day Pharaoh commanded the taskmasters over the people and their foremen, saying,7“You are no longer to give the people straw to make brick as previously; let them go and gather straw for themselves.8“But the quota of bricks which they were making previously, you shall impose on them; you are not to reduce any of it. Because they are lazy, therefore they cry out, ‘Let us go and sacrifice to our God.’9“Let the labor be heavier on the men, and let them work at it so that they will pay no attention to false words.” 10So the taskmasters of the people and their foremen went out and spoke to the people, saying, “Thus says Pharaoh, ‘I am not going to give you any straw.11‘You go and get straw for yourselves wherever you can find it, but none of your labor will be reduced.’”12So the people scattered through all the land of Egypt to gather stubble for straw.13The taskmasters pressed them, saying, “Complete your work quota, your daily amount, just as when you had straw.”14Moreover, the foremen of the sons of Israel, whom Pharaoh’s taskmasters had set over them, were beaten and were asked, “Why have you not completed your required amount either yesterday or today in making brick as previously?” 15Then the foremen of the sons of Israel came and cried out to Pharaoh, saying, “Why do you deal this way with your servants?16“There is no straw given to your servants, yet they keep saying to us, ‘Make bricks!’ And behold, your servants are being beaten; but it is the fault of your own people.”17But he said, “You are lazy, very lazy; therefore you say, ‘Let us go and sacrifice to the LORD.’18“So go now and work; for you will be given no straw, yet you must deliver the quota of bricks.”19The foremen of the sons of Israel saw that they were in trouble because they were told, “You must not reduce your daily amount of bricks.”20When they left Pharaoh’s presence, they met Moses and Aaron as they were waiting for them.21They said to them, “May the LORD look upon you and judge you, for you have made us odious in Pharaoh’s sight and in the sight of his servants, to put a sword in their hand to kill us.” 22Then Moses returned to the LORD and said, “O Lord, why have You brought harm to this people? Why did You ever send me?23“Ever since I came to Pharaoh to speak in Your name, he has done harm to this people, and You have not delivered Your people at all.” Links: Buy Nahum Sarna's "Exploring Exodus" here. or the book I use, JPS Torah Commentary, here.  As well as Umberto Cassuto's book here.  Also mentioned was "Why the Jews?" by Prager and Telushkin. Thank you for listening and learning with us. Any questions or comments? Please feel free to mention below in the comments area.

  In this class we discuss the meaning and commentary in Exodus 4:27 - 5:3.  Exodus Ch. 4: 27Now the LORD said to Aaron, “Go to meet Moses in the wilderness.” So he went and met him at the mountain of God and kissed him.28Moses told Aaron all the words of the LORD with which He had sent him, and all the signs that He had commanded him to do.29Then Moses and Aaron went and assembled all the elders of the sons of Israel;30and Aaron spoke all the words which the LORD had spoken to Moses. He then performed the signs in the sight of the people.31So the people believed; and when they heard that the LORD was concerned about the sons of Israel and that He had seen their affliction, then they bowed low and worshiped. Exodus Ch.5: 1And afterward Moses and Aaron came and said to Pharaoh, “Thus says the LORD, the God of Israel, ‘Let My people go that they may celebrate a feast to Me in the wilderness.’”2But Pharaoh said, “Who is the LORD that I should obey His voice to let Israel go? I do not know the LORD, and besides, I will not let Israel go.”3Then they said, “The God of the Hebrews has met with us. Please, let us go a three days’ journey into the wilderness that we may sacrifice to the LORD our God, otherwise He will fall upon us with pestilence or with the sword.”   Links: Buy Nahum Sarna's "Exploring Exodus" here. or the book I use, JPS Torah Commentary, here.  As well as Umberto Cassuto's book here. Thanks for listening. Post any questions, comments, or criticisms below.  I love it when you share!