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A collection of teachings and close Talmudic readings by Joe Septimus, a veteran community teacher, lifelong learner, and consummate mensch.
Joe is the CFO of a mortgage bank and teaches Torah at Darkhei Noam, his prayer community, Central Synagogue, and other adult education venues. Joe loves analyzing Biblical and Rabbinic texts and enabling adult learners to weave their own life experiences into our traditional texts and Jewish wisdom. A number of years ago, at the invitation of Rabbi Buchdahl, Joe regularly studied with the Central clergy. He has an MBA from NYU and BA in Philosophy, and studied at Yeshiva Chaim Berlin, in Brooklyn, and Kerem B’Yavneh, in Israel. Joe is a Wexner Heritage alum, the father of four amazing adult children, and the husband of Renee, a writer, teacher, and social worker.
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Vayikra Small AlephThe small Aleph that begins Sefer Varikra is a call to humility
Berachos Definition Source Sheet (Copy)
we are quick to translate Bracha as "Blessing". But what does that mean. Bracha is a primal and multifaceted concept that seems to evolve in its potency from being a value that God bestows onto the world, to the ability of human to bestow unto others, and even unto God.
Chanukah - Beis Shamai and Beis Hillel "days to come", "days gone by" (see text comments below)see the lighting opinions of Beis Shamai and Beit Hillel Shabbos 21B in light of the winter solstice as described in the gemara Avodah Zarah 8a
Arithmetic of the 400 vs 430 years of slavery back to Lech Lecha (see notes at end of source sheet)The Torah has two accounts of "exile" 400 years (from the time of Yitzchok's birth, Rashi) and 430 (from the time of Bris Bain haBisarim, Rashi). Avaraham is 100 YO at the time of Yitzchok's birth. thus, 70 YO at the time of Bris Bain haBisarim. Yet Lech lecha begin when Avraham is 75 YO. One must conclude that Bris Bain haBesarim occure before Lech Lecha.
Joe Septimus•521 Views•October 25, 2020•Bris Bain Habisarim,Avraham,V'yitain,Abraham,Lech Lecha,Brachah,400 Years,Blessings
Fear - Dealing With Human Limitations: Overcome or Compensate (v2)Moshe has limitations like every human. In some cases, having to do with fears outside of himself, he learns to overcome. When he perceives the limitation is at his essence, he continues to be frail, but relies on the possibility to compensate.
Abuse of Rabbinic & Political Power; Woman as Other - Succah 31A (Copy)Arrogance and disrespect rules over the judge, Rav Nachman, who disregards the claims of a nameless old lady who has a monetary and "religious" claim against the powerful elite of Nahardah.
Not Published•Joe Septimus•21 Views•November 4, 2021•Rabbinic Abuse,Power,Nameless Woman,Nameless Other,Succah,Other,Sukkah,Rav Nachman,Woman as OtherAbuse of Rabbinic & Political Power; Woman as Other - Succah 31AArrogance and disrespect rules over the judge, Rav Nachman, who disregards the claims of a nameless old lady who has a monetary and "religious" claim against the powerful elite of Nahardah.
Joe Septimus•184 Views•September 17, 2021•Other,Sukkah,Nameless Other,Woman as Other,Rabbinic Abuse,Succah,Rav Nachman,Nameless Woman,Power
Predator and Prey: A TheologyThe reality of our world includes survival based on the dynamics of predator and prey. What theology can we construct about the God who creates a world where the survival of one depends on the destruction of the other.
Joe Septimus•4458 Views•March 4, 2014•Mercy,Survival of the Fittest,Predator,God,Killing,Theology,Purim,Amalek
Matzah Marror and Sipur Yitzias Mitzrayim as Experience and MemoryDaniel Kahneman argues there is a fundamental difference in the way in which the Experiencing Self and the Remembering Self obtain and process data and turn them into values, narratives, memories and meaning. By understanding these functions and their difference we can better understand the roles of Matzah & Marror at the seder, as compared to Sipur Yitzias Mitzrayim.
Zachor v'Shamor b'Dibur Echod Ne'emruWe are familiar with "Shamor v'Zachor b'dibur Echod. asking to engage in two different mindsets simultaneously. the more complex part of the Midrash is what follows, asking us to engage in contradictory actions.
Sotah, Eglah Arufa and the Societal Deterioration of the Trump YearsThe Gemara in Sotah charts the decline of civilization based on the cascading effect of lies, distorted values, arrogance and fear of people.
Are Idol Worshipers Idiots?What is idolatry? Do Idol worshipers really believe that the wood or stone IS God? How are we to understand the human need for a physical representation of the abstract divine? After revelation the Torah already warns us, in God's words, to serve God through the earth, not through gold. What is the essence of that message? In the end God wants the devotion of "Adam" the essential human, as in an alter of "Adama: ...
From the Bottom, Up.After the experience of Revelation the people realize they cannot sustain the elevated state, they withdraw, and the Torah speaks to them to fortify them, building from the ground up.
It is difficult to pair them as splitting the Reed SeaOur tradition has it that God matches couples, and it is as difficult as splitting the Yam Suf, Reed Sea. How difficult is it for the omnipotent God to split the sea?
Birchat Yaakov Birchas Yaacov -The blessings of Yaakov to his childrenBirchat yaacov appears to be a misnomer as much of the content is a critique and chastisement of his children, How is hearing that from a father in fact a blessing - Bracha?
Joe Septimus•1663 Views•December 26, 2020•The Blessing of Truth,Permission to Have Weaknesses\,Yaakov,Birchat Yaakov,Permission to Fail,Birchas
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Joe Septimus
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