Video

A collection of 51 posts

Video

The Salt of The Earth

In Matthew 5:13 Jesus said to his disciples, "You are the salt of the earth..." but what exactly did he mean by that?  Look beyond the English idioms. Look deeper into history. Consider how ancient Greeks and Jews perceived salt in antiquity. What did salt mean to Romans? Study

Video

No Judaism in Josephus

This is a lecture by Daniel Boyarin who taught at Hebrew University, Yale, Harvard, Yeshiva University, and now lectures at Berkley. Besides being a prolific writer Professor Boyarin constantly challenges conventional scholarship with ideas that seem provocative, but always well-researched. In this lecture, he proposes that Judaism is not an

Video

Psalm 1 in Hebrew (with English Translation)

Psalm 1 describes two paths, two choices, two directions that one can take in life. If you are on Hashem's path be strengthened. If you are not, wake up! Let these ancient words speak to you wherever you are. אַשְׁרֵי־הָאִישׁ אֲשֶׁר לֹ

Video

Why Study Zohar and Kabbalah?

This is a lecture by Daniel Matt a scholar of Kabbalah and a Professor at the Graduate Theological Union in Berkeley. He taught at Stanford University and the Hebrew University of Jerusalem. Dr. Matt is a translator of the first nine volumes of the twelve-volume Zohar (Pritzker edition). In my

Video

Jesus Kept Kosher

Professor Daniel Boyarin can boast of a distinguished career in academia, both in Israel and in the USA, in religious and in secular institutions. His ideas and research often challenge preconceived notions of both Jews and Christians, and he receives plenty of criticism for his bold claims. His books are

Video

Psalm 121 (Hebrew - English)

Psalm 121 speaks of God's protection of those who trust in Hashem. God's ever-present hand, a shadow besides traveler. שִׁיר לַמַּעֲלוֹת אֶשָּׂא עֵינַי אֶל־הֶהָרִים מֵאַיִן יָבֹא עֶזְרִי׃ עֶ

Video

Rethinking Jewish Spirituality and Mysticism

This is a lecture by Rachel Elior, a Professor of Jewish Philosophy and Jewish Mystical Thought at the Hebrew University, a talk given in front of an audience of peers. Her research is insightful and often challenges the status quo academic thinking. In this segment, she raises questions of definitions

Video

What is Judaism?

This is a lecture by Shaye J. D. Cohen who is a Professor of Hebrew Literature and Philosophy in the Department of Near Eastern Languages and Civilizations at Harvard University. He is a well-known historian who also holds rabbinic ordination from the Jewish Theological Seminary. His lectures often probe deep

Video

Psalm 150 in Hebrew (with English Translation)

Psalm 150 in Hebrew is a song of praise that should ring in the hearts of all who live and move. The very breath we breathe is the breath of Hashem who made us alive. הַלְלוּ יָהּ הַלְלוּ־אֵל בְּקָדְשׁוֹ

Video

Psalm 15 (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! A standard to live up to. מִזְמוֹר לְדָוִד יהוה מִי־יָגוּ

Video

Fists & Ritual Handwashing in Mark 7:3

Remember a story in the Gospel where some pious Jews asked Jesus about his disciples not washing hands before they ate? What was the big deal? You may not know this, but most Bible translations have struggled to translate these sentences quite a bit.

Video

Who Was Judah the Maccabee? by Breaking Matzo

Spend a couple of minutes and get a quick summary about Judah Maccabee in this informational video by Breaking Matzo. Learn who Judah was and why he is significant in Jewish history.

Video

God's Name in the Hebrew Bible: Yahweh, Jehovah & Adonai

I was lecturing to a group of students at a Christian University and one of the students asked me about God's name in the Hebrew Bible. Is it Yahweh, is it Jehovah? This video an excerpt from my lecture. I put my notes aside and explain the popular pronunciations of

Video

Was Jesus the First Christian? by Bible History

If Jesus was a Jew, and Christianity became his religion, then it makes sense that Jesus was the first Christian. However, Dr. James Charlesworth, of Princeton Theological Seminary argues that this was just not the case; Jesus did not part ways with Judaism.

Video

Did Paul Actually Convert to Christianity? by Bible History

The late Dr. Krister Stendahl, of Harvard Divinity School, suggests that he did not. This video summarizes his reasons why. Stendahl notices that Paul and the author of Acts describe Paul's transformative experience with Jesus in the same terms as the Jewish prophets Isaiah, Jeremiah, and Ezekiel describe there own,

Video

Have Kosher Laws Been Abolished? by Bible History

In his book, Torah Praxis After 70 CE: Reading Luke-Acts as Jewish Texts, Dr. Isaac Oliver of Bradley University argues that Peter's vision in Acts is not about the abolishment of kosher laws, but the “purification and sanctification of Gentile believers"

Video

3 Ways Scholars View Paul's Relationship to Judaism by Bible History

In the Jewish Annotated New Testament, Dr. Paula Fredriksen summarizes 3 of the top ways scholars view Paul's relationship to Judaism. Was Paul against Judaism? Alongside? Or did he remain within Judaism throughout his entire life?

Video

Did Jesus Abolish the Torah? by Bible History

Erik and Jonathan, the hosts of the YouTube Bible History channel consider this controversial question and present opinions that some would agree with and others would wish to challenge. It's a loaded question.

Video

Two Seals from the First Temple Era

In 2013 a volunteer looking through the dirt that had been excavated from Robinson’s Arch found a 1-centimeter seal impression. After closer examination, some archaeologists came to believe that this was a First Temple era seal.

Video

The Ring of Pontius Pilate

Anyone familiar with stories about Jesus, even those who have never read the gospels for themselves heard of Pontius Pilate who ordered the crucifixion. Some archaeologists believe they may have found Pilate's ring!

Video

A Name at the Bottom of the Sea

In 2016 during an underwater excavation in the Mediterranean Sea, Israeli archaeologists from Haifa University uncovered a large stone with an ancient inscription. The writing was determined to be roughly 1900 years old and bore the name of mostly unknown procurator of Judea - Gargilius Antiquus.

Video

Psalm 112:7-8 - Trusting in the LORD

Psalm 112 describes a person who has an amazing relationship with God and one of the key facets of this relationship is trust. "He is not afraid of evil tidings; his heart is firm, he trusts in the LORD. His heart is resolute, he is unafraid; in the end, he

Video

Psalm 119:29 - Teach Me Your Law

If you love to read the book of Psalms, then you are aware of how often it mentions God’s law. When reading Psalms in English, people do not realize what Hebrew words lay behind the English translations.  Consequently, the depth of their meaning often evades people. Take this verse

Video

The World of Hebrew Prophets: 04 Moses, Balaam & Samuel

This video is a lecture I gave to a group of undergraduate students at a Christian University. It takes note of some prophets before the era of kings. I start with Moses, quickly consider Bilam and his unusual case. Then I move on to Samuel, a remarkable prophet who served

Video

The World of Hebrew Prophets: 03 Their Roles and Functions in Ancient Israel

This video is a lecture delivered to a group of students at a Christian University. The Hebrew prophets are not completely unique. Other people of the Ancient Neat East also had seers, priests, and those who would determine the will of the gods. But there are fundamental differences in how