Good and Evil

Found 6 Search results

1. A Better Smell and a Better World

   Chazal's Preambles to Megillat Esther: Part 6

   Rabbi Moshe Taragin | 23 minutes

   Pesukim about shrubbery in Yeshayahu are interpreted as symbolizing Esther, Vashti, Mordechai, and Haman. Is Vashti evil? Why does she appear here? The symbolism in Yeshayahu suggests tangible, objective improvement. In addition to justice against the would-be destroyers of the Jewish people and Temple, the triumph of the righteous heroes cause an objective improvement to society at large.

2. Does Teshuva Diminish Free Will?

   HaTanakh.com Staff

3. The Image of the Snake - Between Gan Eden, the Exodus and the Entering of Eretz Yisrael

   Rabbi Dov Berkovits

   תאריך פרסום: תשע"ה | |

   The image of the snake addresses fundamental issues of free will, good and evil, life and death. We will explore the richness of the text in the Gan Eden story and in the appearances of the snake in the formative events that shaped the spirit of Bnei Yisrael to deepen our understanding of the Torah's approach to the challenge of being human.

4. Rav Soloveitchik's Interpretation of Sefer Iyov

   Rabbi Yair Kahn | Hour and 10 minutes

   Sefer Iyov is one of the more challenging books in Tanakh. What is the meaning of the conclusion and how does it solve the difficult problems raised throughout the sefer? This lesson focuses on Rav Soloveichik’s interpretations in his works “Kol Dodi Dofek” and “Out of the Whirlwind” and deal with the themes of evil, suffering, Divine justice, and the lessons we can learn after the Holocaust. 

5. The Elusive Iyov

   Rabbi Yitzchak Etshalom | Hour and 6 minutes

   What is the goal of Sefer Iyov? What is the historical context? Did Iyov actually exist, or is the book allegorical? An examination of the various answers to these questions leads us to entertain many different ideas as to the purpose of Sefer Iyov, both as a particularly Jewish text but also as a universal one, presenting universal challenges and solutions. 

6. Mishlei - Part 12: Concluding the First Book of Mishlei

   Rabbi Shlomo Dov Rosen | 45 minutes

   In our final shiur on the first Book of Mishlei, we will notice that the last two poems serve as a summary of the basic ideas that we have studied: the relationship between the fear of God and wisdom, natural wisdom and what it means to be pushed away from developing the potential for wisdom, approaching God through wisdom, and the possibility and pitfalls of being led astray.

   We will look at the last five verses of the eighth chapter which constitute the penultimate poem, and then we will move on to the ninth chapter – the last chapter of the first part of Mishlei. Why does the text say that one who hates wisdom loves death? Why cannot it not say that one who loves wisdom loves life? Natural wisdom is necessary to develop one’s potential goodness, but it is wrong to equate it with goodness in and of itself. Wisdom along with spirituality, morality and ethics will make life better and can lead to the potential for closeness with God.