Rabbi Yitzchak Twersky
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The Hidden Face of Eliyahu
Rabbi Yitzchak Twerskyתאריך פרסום: תשעב | |
Eliyahu is one of the most misunderstood characters in all of Tanach. Misunderstood by his contemporaries, he has been misunderstood by students of Tanach throughout history (including in our day). This shiur offers a fresh perspective on this fascinating and important personality, shedding much light on the Eliyahu narratives in Sefer Melakhim.
Faces in the shadows: Decrypting Shir Hashirim
Rabbi Yitzchak Twerskyתאריך פרסום: תשע"ג | |
We tend to sense Shir Hashirim’s holiness and majesty, but are perplexed by every aspect of this deeply cryptic ”love story”. Both the surface metaphor and its underlying message seem to elude our grasp. This shiur will BE"H present a holistic approach to the sefer, focusing on a half dozen keys that unlock the deeper meaning of the book, and lend coherence and cogency to both its metaphor and message. In the end, we will better understand of what this Song of Songs sings, and why Shlomo Hamelech’s was uniquely suited to compose it.
The Nameless Women of Tanach
Rabbi Yitzchak Twerskyתאריך פרסום: תשע"ג | |
Three heroines of the Tanach are conspicuously anonymous. Why? In the course of unraveling this mystery, we will also investigate a man who is similarly “slighted”. We will see that they are all actually pieces of a far larger puzzle that spans the breadth of Tanach and speaks to its central issue; relating to the core of human existence and religious struggle.
The Keys to Revealing Kohelet's Hidden Meaning
Rabbi Yitzchak Twerskyתאריך פרסום: תש"ע | |
What is the book of Kohelet about? What does it teach us? This shiur explores these questions in order to understand Kohelet on a deeper level. By examining various stories in Tanach, such as Adam and Chava, Cain and Hevel, and Para Aduma we can gain a clear understanding of the essence of Kohelet - the ability to choose between good and evil, which is critical to understanding life in general.
Inside the Divine Chariot: Deciphering the Book of Yechezkel
Rabbi Yitzchak Twerskyתאריך פרסום: תשע"ד | |
This shiur begins with the Ma’ase Merkava (the Chariot Vision), and takes a broad look at the entire book of Yehezkel, noticing Yehezkel’s distinctive style in dealing with the destruction of the Beit HaMikdash in his prophecies, such as that of the “double prophecy” wherein Yehezkel provides the prophetic content twice: first allegory and then exposition. Emerging from this study is a recurring image of the Garden of Eden, a comparison between the Kohen Gadol and Adam HaRishon, the destruction of the Beit HaMikdash and the expulsion from the Garden of Eden, and a message of sadness and consolation about the departure and return of the Divine Presence.
Tehillim Book 4 - The Roadmap of Jewish History
Rabbi Yitzchak Twerskyתאריך פרסום: תשע"ה | | Hour and 10 minutes
In this shiur we examine what the fourth section of Tehillim is all about. Along the way, we discuss why we don’t mention Moshe in the Haggada on seder night and we gain insights into the readings of Kabbalat Shabbat. We follow the premise that the five books of Tehillim parallel the five books of the Torah.
A Holistic Approach to Understanding Sefer Yeshayahu
Rabbi Yitzchak Twersky | 55 minutesThis shiur discusses the parallels between Sefer Yeshayahu and the song of Ha'azinu, noticing the distinct literary connections between them. By closely examining the book as a whole we can learn about the clear progression throughout the book, beginning with prophecies of destruction and ending with redemption, rebuilding, and consolation.
Echoes: The Secret of Sefer Ezra- Nechamiah
Rabbi Yitzchak Twersky |The books of Ezra and Nehemiah contain specific similarities to events in other parts of the Tanakh. By closely comparing the various texts we can gain a greater understanding as to the depth and real meaning of the messages in Ezra and Nehemiah.
Tehillim 107 and the Meaning of the Inverted "Nun" of Tanach
Rabbi Yitzchak Twersky |We ask how it is possible to witness spectacular miracles and still end up as Dor HaMidbar. We examine the story of Noah and conclude that what is critical is human choice and action - what we do with what God shows us. Looking at the phenomenon Nun Hafukha (the “upside down Nun”) primarily through Mizmor 107 in Tehillim, we will build a large picture view of what the upside down nuns are, what they are about, what the message is, and why they appear in Tanakh where they do.
The Key to Tanach: Haazinu and its Hidden Messages
Rabbi Yitzchak Twerskyתאריך פרסום: 5777 | | Hour and 10 minutes
In this shiur, we explore what Haazinu is indirectly talking about, and how it impacts on the rest of Tanakh. Biblical poetry leaves much of the depth of meaning between the lines, and Haazinu is no different. We identify three dimensions of Haazinu, and the relationship among them is the main focus of the shiur.
Though the surface level of the poem - the peshat - obviously relates to sin and the consequences thereof - questions of how God runs the world, wordplay and allusions seem to point to various key moments of the Torah - the very beginning (the Garden of Eden) and the "middle" - the Sin of the Spies and Moshe and the rock. As we analyze the hints deriving from the word choice within Haazinu and look at the other texts inside, we gain a deeper perspective of the issues of sin and consequence within the relationship between God and Israel, while gaining insights about Moshe along the way.
How did the Rabbis come up with all this? Case studies in understanding peshat and midrash
Rabbi Yitzchak Twersky | HourWhat are the origins of midrashei Chazal? How did the rabbis come to their understanding of the pesukim as reflected in the midrashim? This lecture presents a number of examples of the way in which midrashei Chazal reflect Chazal’s understanding of Tanakh.