Pinchas Shir

My research is focused on the interpretations of biblical texts in the contexts of ancient culture, languages, and history.

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Deliver Us

As soon as Jacob resolved to head back home to Canaan, he knew he would be in danger because of his brother. Him and his entire family. So, in Gen 32:12, Jacob prays - hatizileni na meyad achi “Deliver me please from the hand of my brother.” Jacob was gripped

Video

Psalm 15 in Hebrew & English

Psalm 15 asks a question about the kind of person one has to be in order to be worthy to live near to God. And then it gives us the answer! Most people would assume that it is enough to simply believe in God. According to the psalm there is

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Articles

Binding and Loosing like Jesus

In Matthew’s Gospel Jesus said to his disciple Peter, “I will give you the keys of the Kingdom of Heaven and whatever you bind on earth shall have been bound in heaven and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven” (Matt 16:19). A couple of

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The Jewish Gospels by Daniel Boyarin

One of the books I often recommend is "The Jewish Gospels" by Daniel Boyarin. A short but provocative book written by an eloquent and erudite professor who taught at Hebrew University, Yale, Harvard, Yeshiva University and now at Berkley. The book presents a cogent academic take on the

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Be One More

In the weekly Torah reading Vayera (Gen 18-22), we read the story of Sodom and Amorah. It is a story of true sinners in the hands of an angry God. Only things are a bit different for them. They have an unexpected advocate. In Torah, we encounter Abram and

Audio

Hope in Revelation

The role of the prophet is not to predict what is to come, but to speak into their present moment, so how does Revelation fit into the prophetic category? We also discuss how the author uses imagery to connect the dots between the ideas of a suffering Messiah and a

Audio

Revelation: Pop Culture and Armageddon

Have you been fascinated by the Book of Revelation but felt that something must be missing in modern interpretations of this anti-Roman, Jewish document? Revelation is an extremely multifaceted book filled with rich cultural imagery and allusions that many people simply misread. Why? Because they know too little about

Audio

Revelation: The end of the world...or is it?

What is apocalyptic literature, and how does it change the way we read Revelation? What were the cultural developments that birthed the apocalyptic genre, and is that genre a Greco-Roman or Jewish style of literature? This week we talk about the overall context of Revelation and why pop culture

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>Seminars

Villains and Heroes of Hanukkah

The story of Hanukkah is epic, much more epic than the books of Maccabees paint it. Yes, it’s the story of the Jewish wars against the mad and tyrannical Antiochus IV. But the Seleucid king himself was entangled in a series of wars that began long before he was

Video

Hanukkah Modern and Ancient

Many people know what Hanukkah is like based on how it is celebrated today. But not many know how the ancient people viewed it. Hanukkah is over 2000 years old! Peek into some old perspectives on Hanukkah.

Video

Development of Christmas Customs by History Channel

Christmas is an important cultural holiday in the Western world. And while most Jews don't participate in it, it is a very meaningful celebration for the majority of Christians. Its foundation is the birth of Jesus in the New Testament. But did you know Christmas wasn't

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Be The Light

In Gen 1:14-19 the Torah says that Hashem has set the lights in the sky for several reasons. First - to separate the day from the night. Second - to serve as signs for the times, days, and years. In other words to display stable predictable patterns to help us

Video

The History of Hanukkah by History Channel

How much do you know about Hanukkah? Though for many today presents are involved it's not a Jewish version of Christmas. History Channel explores the traditions of Hanukkah in this short video. Learn something new or see how much you really know about the Festival of lights.

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>Seminars

Atonement and Messiah's Sacrifice (~5hrs)

Do you understand Atonement? What are the foundations of this concept in your mind? In this multi-part seminar, we look at the language of Atonement, Sacrifice, and Redemption in the New Testament as it is applied to Jesus and consider it in the broader light of the Hebrew Bible

Video

Samaritans: Documentary

How much do you know about the Samaritans? This video is a fascinating look into the life and history of the Samaritan community. Most people have heard the name "Samaritan" but know so little about these ancient people. It is a true miracle that some modern descendants of

Video

Psalm 145 in Hebrew

Psalm 145 expresses profound thanksgiving for the care God takes for all of his creatures. (Translation by Pinchas Shir) תְּהִלָּה לְדָוִד אֲרוֹמִמְךָ אֱלוֹהַי הַמֶּלֶךְ וַאֲבָרֲכָה שִׁמְךָ לְ

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Pirke De-Rabbi Eliezer

Pirke De-Rabbi Eliezer is an ancient Jewish commentary on various passages of the Torah. This book is attributed to Rabbi Eliezer ben Hyrcanus, who lived in the 1st century CE. Yet most scholars do not see a direct connection between the contents of this volume and the early sage.

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Embracing Spiritual Duty: Benei Mitzvah Tradition (~1.5h)

Many cultures around the world have rituals that signify the coming of age. Bar and Bat Mitzvah ceremonies are customs of this variety that have developed in Jewish culture. In the Jewish context, however, the custom has to do with reaching spiritual maturity. It's a moment when a

Video

Yom Kippur Customs and Observances by BimBam

Learn the basics of the Day of Atonement in 3 minutes. Yom Kippur is the most holy day of the Jewish year and it is full of spiritual opportunity if you open yourself up to its customs, prayers and melodies. This short video is a basic primer on what Yom

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The Sound of Shofar

Have you wondered about the Shofar? This is a discussion on the tradition of sounding the Shofar, what it means, and its purpose. This interactive talk was recorded live and includes questions and comments from the audience.

Articles

Reviving the Ancient Shofar Sound in Israel

The piercing note of a shofar – a ram’s horn used in Jewish religious ceremonies – cuts through the mountain air of the Galilee. Here in northern Israel, shepherdess Jenna Lewinsky is raising a flock of “Jacob Sheep” as a religious calling. With anything up to six horns on each animal,

Audio

A person is not what he knows... Rebbe Nachman

"A person is not what he knows, a person is not what he does. A person is what he is longing for." Rabbe Nachman of Breslov When making an acquaintance, it is common for people to ask each other what they do for a living. Occupations can somewhat

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Was Jesus a Rabbi?

Was Jesus a Rabbi? Some people would say yes, some no and some would be unsure how to answer. There is a good reason why the answers are often different. This is not a straightforward question. The term rabbi appeared sometime just prior to the first century CE and its

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From Rabbi to Lord to Jesus (~2hrs)

Was Jesus a Rabbi? Some people would say yes, some no and some would be unsure how to answer. There is a good reason why the answers are often different. This is not a straightforward question. The term rabbi appeared sometime just prior to the first century CE and its

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The Psalms of Solomon 1-3 Audio

The Psalms of Solomon are a collection of eighteen Jewish poetic compositions from around the second or first century BCE. They were originally composed in Hebrew or possibly in Aramaic. But the oldest manuscripts that have survived to our times are the Greek and Syrian Aramaic translations of the original