The Tanakh Podcast

Who may dwell in God's tent, Who may dwell on His holy mountain? Is it the person who brings the fattest ram or the finest goat? Or possibly some other requirement?

This Psalm closes the series of Psalms dealing with the righteous being victimized by the evil. We will address the question of how "There is no God" relates to unscrupulous conduct.

This chapter turns from deep despair to exaltation. How does it happen? How does one have faith that fortunes will reverse, that exile will become redemption? - That might well be the secret of Pesach. Yonatan Razel - link Aharon Razel - link

When speech loses its integrity, society abandons trust. What happens when language is abused, and instead of truth, it is merely about what gets me ahead?

What does a person do when society turns to violence, when law and order fall apart? Does one "run to the hills" or does one stay and have faith in God?

Is it blasphemy to challenge God in times of distress? In this chapter the author of Psalms challenges God with the question as to why the innocent suffer, and the butchers of history are not brought to justice? This is a question asked from the Israelites in Egypt to the works of Elie Weisel. "On Being" Interview with Elie Weisel is here Opening music: Leonard Cohen - You Want it Darker

A chapter of joy, of victory against our enemies, of the restoration of justice and order in the world, an almost messianic reality.

Is humankind insignificant and lowly, or just a little lower than God?

What does a person do when they are falsely accused, pursued for no fault of their own?

This chapter is the text that we use for Tachanun, in the rabbinic phraseology, "Nefilat Apayim - falling on one's face." As we shall see, this chapter tells a tale of intense dejection and sudden salvation.