This lecture series is a project of the Jacob Lights Foundation

This lecture series is a project of the Jacob Lights Foundation

For a written version of this shiur, click here

For a written version of this shiur, click here

The story of Yehudah and Tamar stands for the story of Knesses Yisrael and their miraculous return to Hashem after 70 years of Babylonian exile.

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At his mysterious meeting with Tamar, Yehuda didn't know what was going on - and that's the whole point.

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What was Tamar's plan? What was she thinking would happen? 

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Tamar is the ideal woman for the royal house: in the days of Yehuda, in the days of David, and in the days of Rabbi Yehuda HaNasi.

You can email Rabbi Burton with questions or comments at: oros.yaakov@gmail.com

For a lecture series on major topics in Jewish philosophy, see here: https://anchor.fm/shnayor-burton

Yehuda's royal progeny is at risk of coming to an end. Tamar is the life force that preserves it, and after her, Rus, who continues both the story of Tamar and that of Lot's daughters.

 Yehuda needed Tamar in his family. She provided him with the opportunity to rise from his fall. She is the woman who could bring goodness by fixing man's aloneness, the only thing "not good" in creation.  

When Yehuda "turned to a certain Addulamite," he was turning off the path of Hashem's ways, the path of prophecy. This is consistent with the sale of Yosef, that terrible act that initiated a long period of divine concealment.

Highlights:

1:30 Why is the story of the Megillah framed as a narrative of Ahasuerus' kingship? 6:45 The focus on the hapless Persian king is meant ironically and reminds us that we long for a Davidic king 9:00 The prophet Hagai predicted the overthrow of the Persian Empire and the reinstitution of a Davidic monarch 11:30 2 potential ways for the Jews to return to Zion: under the rule of a Davidic king, independently, or under the rule of a Persian king 15:00 Haman's decree against the Jews of Judea and Jerusalem according to the book of Ezra 18:40 Two different perspectives on Haman's decree: Was the problem only that he wouldn't allow the Jews to rebuild the Temple, or was the problem that he declared genocide on the Jewish people? 24:30 Ahasuerus' concern about losing political power if he would allow the Jews to rebuild the Temple 26:00 The fickle positions of power of Mordechai and Esther 29:00 Mordechai sought peace and good for the Jewish people, but all while under the dominion of a Persian king 32:00 Overturning the Persian throne and the reversal that brought the Jews to rule over their enemies 35:40 The powerful Jew in the court of the idolatrous king doesn't guarantee safety

The narrative of Yosef is interrupted with a story about Yehudah. 

This mysterious story takes us from Yosef's challenges to realize his kingly destiny to Yehudah and his royal house. The theme of divine hiddenness, introduced through Yosef and his sale, continues and takes on different dimensions. 

Sources:

מלאכי ב יא-יב

שופטים יד-טז

מגילת רות

You can email Rabbi Burton with questions or comments at: oros.yaakov@gmail.com

For a lecture series on major topics in Jewish philosophy, see here: https://anchor.fm/shnayor-burton

When the brothers 'lifted up their eyes and saw a caravan' there was also something that they didn't see. They didn't see properly and they misinterpreted the symbol that presented to them.

This shiur highlights the concept of symbols, their meaning, and the prophetic skill of interpreting them correctly.

Sources:

1. ירמיה פרקים א-ב
2. עמוס פרקים ז-ח

You can email Rabbi Burton with questions or comments at: oros.yaakov@gmail.com

For a lecture series on major topics in Jewish philosophy, see here: https://anchor.fm/shnayor-burton

The Medanim/ merchants and the metaphysical status of land/ a summary of chapter 37 

You can email Rabbi Burton with questions or comments at: oros.yaakov@gmail.com

For a lecture series on major topics in Jewish philosophy, see here: https://anchor.fm/shnayor-burton

The reason that Yaakov couldn't be comforted/ Yosef like an only son/ selling Yosef was an unforgivable and unforgettable act/ the hunger in Egypt was really a hunger for the word of Hashem

Sources: 

עמוס פרק ח

Yaakov's sin was to live in a way that was hidden from Hashem – in a dimension where He isn't fully present. Like King David who sinned in the same way, he was punished with strife in his family, and, measure for measure, the great drama revolves around disguises and concealment.

You can email Rabbi Burton with questions or comments at: oros.yaakov@gmail.com

For lectures on major topics in Jewish philosophy, visit: https://anchor.fm/shnayor-burton

 
Rabbi Shnayor Burton | Linktree

Unapologetics | Rabbi Shnayor Burton | Substack

You can email Rabbi Burton with questions or comments at: oros.yaakov@gmail.com

For lectures on major topics in Jewish philosophy, see here: https://anchor.fm/shnayor-burton

You can email Rabbi Burton with questions or comments at: oros.yaakov@gmail.com

For lectures on major topics in Jewish philosophy, see here: https://anchor.fm/shnayor-burton

You can email Rabbi Burton with questions or comments at: oros.yaakov@gmail.com

For lectures on major topics in Jewish philosophy, see here: https://anchor.fm/shnayor-burton

You can email Rabbi Burton with questions or comments at: oros.yaakov@gmail.com

For lectures on major topics in Jewish philosophy, see here: https://anchor.fm/shnayor-burton

You can email Rabbi Burton with questions or comments at: oros.yaakov@gmail.com

For lectures on major topics in Jewish philosophy, see here: https://anchor.fm/shnayor-burton

You can email Rabbi Burton with questions or comments at: oros.yaakov@gmail.com

For lectures on major topics in Jewish philosophy, see here: https://anchor.fm/shnayor-burton

You can email Rabbi Burton with questions or comments at: oros.yaakov@gmail.com

For lectures on major topics in Jewish philosophy, see here: https://anchor.fm/shnayor-burton

You can email Rabbi Burton with questions or comments at: oros.yaakov@gmail.com

For lectures on major topics in Jewish philosophy, see here: https://anchor.fm/shnayor-burton

You can email Rabbi Burton with questions or comments at: oros.yaakov@gmail.com

For lectures on major topics in Jewish philosophy, see here: https://anchor.fm/shnayor-burton

You can email Rabbi Burton with questions or comments at: oros.yaakov@gmail.com

For lectures on major topics in Jewish philosophy, see here: https://anchor.fm/shnayor-burton

You can email Rabbi Burton with questions or comments at: oros.yaakov@gmail.com

For lectures on major topics in Jewish philosophy, see here: https://anchor.fm/shnayor-burton

You can email Rabbi Burton with questions or comments at: oros.yaakov@gmail.com

For lectures on major topics in Jewish philosophy, see here: https://anchor.fm/shnayor-burton

You can email Rabbi Burton with questions or comments at: oros.yaakov@gmail.com

For lectures on major topics in Jewish philosophy, see here: https://anchor.fm/shnayor-burton