Sarah and Jason discuss Vaera, the fourteenth portion of the Torah, which begins the book of Exodus and covers the Israelites enslavement in Egypt, Moses’ birth and adoption, and his conversation with G-d at the burning bush. Why is there a threshold of suffering for G-d to intervene? Why does G-d harden Pharoah’s heart and make the freeing of the Israelites more difficult? And is that justifiable?

Browse the chapters below:

(0:00) Introduction

(1:18) Comments from Last Week

(5:06) Portion Summary

(11:00) Discussion Begins - Repetitive Interlude

(13:28) G-d Hears Israelites Suffering

(19:40) Let My People Go (so that they may worship me)

(22:12) Our favorite plagues

(25:36) Dueling Deities

(30:39) G-d hardens Pharoah’s heart

(38:38) Sponsorship and Wrap-Up

Sarah and Jason discuss Shemot, the thirteenth portion of the Torah, which begins the book of Exodus and covers the Israelites enslavement in Egypt, Moses’ birth and adoption, and his conversation with God at the burning bush. What surprised us in this portion that we think we know so well from Passover? Why are the Jewish people always seemingly emboldened by oppression? Was Moses actually a good leader? And would we recognize a sign from G-d today?

Browse the chapters below:

(0:00) Introduction

(1:18) Comments from Last Week

(3:21) Summary Preamble

(6:42) Portion Summary

(17:29) Discussion Begins - What Surprised Us

(26:11) Emboldened by Oppression

(33:58) Grading Moses as a Leader

(43:09) Would we recognize a sign from G-d today?

(46:44) The Passover Story in Media

(48:23) Killing the boys

(49:10) Israel as Jacob and a People

(53:06) Sponsorship and Wrap-Up

Sarah and Jason discuss Vayechi, the twelfth portion of the Torah, which concludes the story of Joseph and Jacob, and also concludes the book of Genesis! Why do Jacob’s sons have such diverse personalities? Why are there so many deceptions going on with this family? Where’d the women go in the stories? And what are our favorite stories looking back at the book of Genesis?

Check out the chapters below:

(0:00) Introduction

(1:24) Portion Summary

(11:51) Discussion Begins - The Diverse Tribes of Israel

(20:22) Jacob and his Deceptions

(23:53) Where’d the Women Go?

(27:40) Honoring Promises

(31:04) Reflecting on Genesis - Our favorite stories

(34:28) Our “Most Powerful” Story

(37:21) Our Favorite Characters

(41:25) Sponsorship and Wrap-Up

Sarah and Jason discuss Vayigash, the eleventh portion of the Torah, which continues the story of Joseph in Egypt, revealing his identity to his brothers and welcoming them to settle in Egypt. How do we think Pharaoh and Joseph fared in managing the famine? What was Joseph’s original plan before he was overcome with emotion? Why is this pharaoh seemingly a good guy? And what are our favorite family reunion stories?

Check out the chapters below:

(0:00) Introduction

(1:55) Portion Summary

(8:00) Discussion Begins - Evaluating Pharaoh and Joseph

(10:12) Joseph and G-d’s plan

(15:21) Family Reunion Drama

(20:44) Playing Favorites

(27:20) Good Pharaoh

(33:32) Pyramid Digression

(34:59) A clue on the Torah’s origin

(38:50) Holiday and Calendar Alignments

(43:04) Sponsorship and Wrap-Up

Sarah and Jason discuss Miketz, the tenth portion of the Torah, which covers the story of Joseph’s ascension to be Pharoah’s right hand man after interpreting his dreams, and some visits from Joseph’s brothers. How would we have interpreted Pharoah’s dream? Was Joseph’s approach to preparing for the famine the best way to do it? What is Joseph planning to do with Benjamin? And how does AI interpret Pharoah’s dream?

Check out the chapters below:

(0:00) Introduction

(2:19) Portion Summary

(10:40) Discussion Begins - Pharoah’s Dream

(21:02) Preparing for the famine

(28:14) Joseph’s plan for his brothers

(31:49) Forgoing Revenge

(35:55) Weekly Take-aways

(36:56) Sponsorship and Wrap-Up

(37:44) AI Interprets Pharoah’s Dream

Sarah and Jason discuss Vayeshev, the ninth portion of the Torah, which covers the story of Joseph sharing his dreams, being sold into slavery in Egypt, and interpreting some other peoples dreams. Why do so many bad things happen to Joseph? What is the meaning behind dreams? What makes someone appear to be blessed? And what did Judah’s sons do to deserve their punishment?

Check out the chapters below:

(0:00) Introduction

(1:45) Comments from Last Week

(2:39) Portion Summary

(9:19) Discussion Begins - describing Joseph

(12:47) Interpreting Dreams

(18:01) The Cupbearer and Bakers Dreams

(22:15) How to tell someone is blessed

(28:02) What did Judah's sons do?

(32:07) Women deceive Judah and Joseph

(35:14) The birth of Judah's twins

(37:50) Our Quick Takeaways

(38:38) When to share your dreams

(40:06) Sponsorship and Wrap-Up

Sarah and Jason discuss Vayishlach, the eighth portion of the Torah, which covers the story of Jacob wrestling with an angel, reuniting with Esau, and the rape of Dinah. Why is the angel wrestling him? Why does Esau forgive Jacob? What is appropriate retribution for the rape of Dinah? And what are our favorite asides in media?

Check out the chapters below:

(0:00) Introduction

(2:05) Comments from Last Week

(5:00) Portion Summary

(13:50) Discussion Begins

(14:15) Wrestling with a Figure

(17:52) Asides

(23:20) Jacob Reunites with Esau

(28:03) Retribution for the rape of Dinah

(33:09) Benjamin’s naming

(34:26) Over-Preparing

(36:43) Critiquing the Portion

(40:55) Wrap-up and Sponsorship

Sarah and Jason discuss Vayetzei, the seventh portion of the Torah, which covers the story of Jacob’s ladder dream, his marriage to Leah and Rachel, and his feud with Laban. What does his dream mean? Is this a sad ending to Jacob and Rachel’s love story? Who’s at fault more, Jacob or Laban? And did Jacob understand genetics?

Check out the chapters below:

(0:00) Introduction

(2:13) Comments from Last Week

(4:59) Portion Summary

(14:55) Discussion Begins

(15:35) Jacob's Ladder Dream

(18:24) Jacob Meets Rachel

(21:17) The Deception with Leah

(24:00) Sister-Wife Drama

(25:51) Using Genetics to Breed

(28:57) Jacob vs. Laban

(32:21) Tithing vs. Taxes

(37:45) Stone Pile as a Border

(39:02) Wrap-Up and Sponsorship