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Digital Library

Hebrew Bible Text/Tanakh Study

Recent Archived Course: Aaron: Hight Priest or High Crimes?
Featured Lecture: Talking Animals in the Tanakh
Parashat Hashavua
(Weekly Torah Portion)
Former Prophets
Latter Prophets
Psalms
OLLI American University
Reverse a Curse
Judges / Shoftim

 

Recent Archived Course:
Diane M. Sharon at OLLI DC
OLLI - Osner Lifelong Learning Institute at American University, Washington, DC
4801 Massachusetts Ave. NW, Suite 501, Washington DC 20016
Monday, 10-Feb-2025 and Wednesday, 12-Feb-2025
9:45 - 11:15 am
Part of the February 2025 Shorts Study Group series

EGO, IMPULSE, AND FLAWED LEADERSHIP: THE CASE OF SAMSON
The biblical story of Samson features extraordinary examples of flawed leadership starring a high-powered demagogue who resists efforts from all sides to control his impulses. What theological message could possibly be encoded in such scandalous episodes as blatant violation of sacred vows, liaisons with ladies of the night, and violent outbursts featuring a roaring lion, an uprooted city gate, and the jawbone of an ass? And what do these stories tell us about ourselves? We will bring fresh eyes to a close reading of the story of Samson in order to uncover the interplay of Divine will and human perversity in this troubling tale of seduction, destruction, murder, and other mayhem.
A VIRTUAL CLASS

10-Feb-2025 - Lecture 1 of 2
12-Feb-2025 - Lecture 2 of 2


Diane M. Sharon at Sinai and Synapses

THE CASE OF AARON: HIGH PRIEST OR HIGH CRIMES? HOW TO SERVE AN IRRATIONAL GOD

While Moses is at the peak of Sinai receiving the ten Commandments from God, his brother Aaron accedes to the people's request to create an image of molten gold. This act of idolatry merits the death penalty, yet Aaron is soon inaugurated as Israel's first high priest. On that very day, two of Aaron's sons are snuffed out in the midst of dedicating the Tabernacle and the priesthood to God's service. The reason for their deaths is a mystery, and their father is forbidden to mourn. These two episodes offer a case study about the nature of leadership, about the slippery slope between righteousness and apostasy, and about how to live a sacred life when the God we worship appears to be irrational and unpredictable.


Presented at OLLI - Osner Lifelong Learning Institute at American University, Washington, DC,FEB 2024

12-Feb-2024 - Lecture 1 of 2
13-Feb-2024 - Lecture 2 of 2

Featured Lecture:
Diane M. Sharon at Sinai and Synapses

Animal Perceptions: Talking Animals in the Tanakh

As much as science is bringing us fresh and sometimes surprising insights about animals in the present day, all our inquiry is, at the root, heavily inspired by the stories we have told about animals over millennia, and how they have influenced the popular imagination. The Bible generally sees animals as part of the natural world that humans are exhorted to tend to, but there are a couple of unusual cases where the laws of what is today’s fantasy or science fiction intervene – and the animals speak.
Most famous in the Hebrew Bible are a certain duplicitous snake, and a noble donkey who transmits a message from the Divine. What is the literary significance of these episodes? What do they have in common, and what impact may they have had on how we view and treat our nonhuman “others”?


Part of the series Sinai and Synapses, presented at Kol Ami Northern Virginia Reconstructionist Jewish Community, NOV 2023

Watch the Video Here


Diane M. Sharon Parashat Hashavua

 

PARASHAT HASHAVUA

Genesis / Bereshit

  • Bereshit    5781: 15-Oct-2020
  • Noach    5781: 22-Oct-2020
  • Noach    5783: 24-Oct-2022
  • Lech Lechah     5783: 31-Oct-2022
  • Lech Lechah     5782: 14-Oct-2021
  • Lech Lechah     5781: 29-Oct-2020
  • Vayeira     5783: 07-Nov-2022
  • Vayeira     5781: 05-Nov-2020
  • Chayei Sarah     5783: 14-Nov-2022
  • Chayei Sarah     5781: 12-Nov-2020
  • Toldot     5783: 21-Nov-2022
  • Toldot     5781: 19-Nov-2020
  • Vayetze     5783: 03-Dec-2022
  • Vayetze     5781: 26-Nov-2020
  • Vayishlach     5783: 05-Dec-2022
  • Vayishlach     5781: 03-Dec-2020
  • Vayeishev     5781: 10-Dec-2020
  • Miketz     5783: 19-Dec-2022
  • Miketz     5781: 17-Dec-2020
  • Vayigash     5781: 24-Dec-2020
  • Vayechi     5781: 31-Dec-2020
  • Exodus / Sh'mot

  • Shemot     5781: 07-Jan-2021
  • Vayeira     5781: 14-Jan-2021
  • Bo     5781: 21-Jan-2021
  • Beshalach     5782: 10-Jan-2022 5782
  • Beshalach     5781: 01-Apr-2021
  • Beshalach     5781: 28-Jan-2021
  • Yitro     5782: 17-Jan-2022
  • Yitro     5781: 04-Feb-2021
  • Yitro     5780: 28-May-2020
  • Mishpatim     5782: 24-Jan-2022
  • Mishpatim     5781: 11-Feb-2021
  • Terumah     5782: 31-Jan-2022
  • Terumah     5781: 18-Feb-2021
  • Tetzaveh     5782: 07-Feb-2022
  • Tetzaveh     5781: 25-Feb-2021
  • Ki Tisa     5782: 14-Feb-2022
  • Ki Tisa     5781: 04-Mar-2021
  • Vayakhel     5782: 21-Feb-2022
  • Vayakhel-Pekudei     5781: 11-Mar-2021
  • Pekudei     5782: 28-Feb-2022
  • Leviticus / Vayikra

  • Vayikra     5782: 07-Mar-2022
  • Vayikra     5781: 18-Mar-2021
  • Tzav     5782: 14-Mar-2022
  • Tzav     5781: 25-Mar-2021
  • Sh'mini     5782: 21-Mar-2022
  • Sh'mini     5781: 08-Apr-2021
  • Tazria     5782: 28-Mar-2022
  • Tazria-Metzora     5780: 23-Apr-2020
  • Metzora     5782: 18-Apr-2022
  • Acharei Mot     5782: 25-Apr-2022
  • Acharei Mot-Kedoshim30-Apr-2020
  • Kedoshim     5782: 02-May-2022
  • Emor     5782: 09-May-2022
  • Emor     5780: 07-May-2020
  • Behar     5782: 16-May-2022
  • Behar - Bechukotai     5780: 12-May-2020
  • Bechukotai     5782: 23-May-2022
  • Numbers / Bemidbar

  • Bemidbar     5781: 13-May-2021
  • Bemidbar     5780: 21-May-2020
  • Naso     5780: 04-Jun-2020
  • Behaalotecha     5782: 13-Jun-2022
  • Behaalotecha     5780: 11-Jun-2020
  • Sh'lach     5782: 20-Jun-2022
  • Sh'lach     5780: 18-Jun-2020
  • Korach     5782: 27-Jun-2022
  • Korach     5781: 10-Jun-2021
  • Korach     5780: 25-Jun-2020
  • Chukat-Balak     5780: 02-Jul-2020
  • Balak     5782: 11-Jul-2022
  • Pinchas     5782: 18-Jul-2022
  • Pinchas     5780: 09-Jul-2020
  • Matot Masei     5781: 08-Jul-2021
  • Matot Masei     5780: 16-Jul-2020
  • Deuteronomy / Devarim

  • Devarim     5782: 01-Aug-2022 5782
  • Devarim     5780: 23-Jul-2020Devarim
  • Vaetchanan     5782: 08-Aug-2022 5782
  • Vaetchanan     5780: 27-Jul-2020Vaetchanan
  • Ekev     5782: 15-Aug-2022 5782
  • Ekev     5780: 06-Aug-2020Ekev
  • Re'eh     5782: 22-Aug-2022 5782
  • Re'eh     5780: 13-Aug-2020Re'eh
  • Shoftim     5781: 12-Aug-2021 5781
  • Shoftim     5780: 20-Aug-2020Shoftim
  • Ki Teitzei     5780: 27-Aug-2020
  • Ki Tavo     5782: 13-Sep-2022
  • Ki Tavo     5780: 03-Sep-2020
  • Nitzavim     5782: 19-Sep-2022
  • Nitzavim-Vayelech     5780: 10-Sep-2020
  • Vayelech     5781: 09-Sep-2021 5782
  • Ha'Azinu     5783: 03- Oct-2022
  • Ha'Azinu     5780: 24-Sep-2020
  • V'Zot HaBerachah/Shemini Atzeret/Simchat Torah     5781: 08-Oct-2020
  • Holidays

  • Rosh Hashanah Readings     5781; 17-Sep-2020
  • Shabbat Chag Sukkot     5781: 01-Oct-2020


  • Diane M. Sharon at Congregation Tehillah Riverdale NY

    EGO, IMPULSE, BAD JUDGMENT, FLAWED LEADERSHIP: THE CASE OF SAMSON

    Yom Kippur 2024 / 5785
  • This course was presented as part of the Yom Kippur teaching at Congregation Tehillah of Riverdale, NY.



     

    FORMER PROPHETS

    Diane M. Sharon Text Wrestlers Former Prophets

    Text Wrestlers: The Former Prophets

  • 08-Sep-2022 - The Former Prophets 01 - I Samuel - Introduction
  • 15-Sep-2022 - The Former Prophets 02 - I Samuel - 1st Chapter
  • 22-Sep-2022 - The Former Prophets 03 - I Samuel - 2nd Chapter
  • 29-Sep-2022 - The Former Prophets 04 - I Samuel - 3rd Chapter
  • 06-Oct-2022 - The Former Prophets 05 - I Samuel - 4th Chapter
  • 13-Oct-2022 - The Former Prophets 06 - I Samuel - 5th Chapter
  • 20-Oct-2022 - The Former Prophets 07 - I Samuel - 6th Chapter
  • 27-Oct-2022 - The Former Prophets 08 - I Samuel - 7th Chapter
  • 03-Nov-2022 - The Former Prophets 09 - I Samuel - 8th Chapter
  • 10-Nov-2022 - The Former Prophets 10 - I Samuel - 9th Chapter
  • 17-Nov-2022 - The Former Prophets 11 - I Samuel - 10th Chapter
  • 01-Dec-2022 - The Former Prophets 12 - I Samuel - 11th Chapter
  • 08-Dec-2022 - The Former Prophets 13 - I Samuel - 12th Chapter
  • 15-Dec-2022 - The Former Prophets 14 - I Samuel - 13th Chapter
  • 09-Feb-2023 - The Former Prophets 15 - I Samuel - 14th Chapter
  • 16-Feb-2023 - The Former Prophets 16 - I Samuel - 15th Chapter
  • 23-Feb-2023 - The Former Prophets 17 - I Samuel - 16th Chapter
  • 02-Mar-2023 - The Former Prophets 18 - I Samuel - 17th Chapter
  • 09-Mar-2023 - The Former Prophets 19 - I Samuel - 17th (Conclusion)-18th Chapters
  • Article cited in this lecture: Ora Horn Prouser, "Suited To the Throne: the Symbolic Use of Clothing in the David and Saul Narratives," Journal for the Study of the Old Testament, Volume 21, Issue 71 (1996), pp. 27-37.
  • 23-Mar-2023 - The Former Prophets 20 - I Samuel - 19th Chapter
  • 30-Mar-2023 - The Former Prophets 21 - I Samuel - 20th Chapter
  • 20-Apr-2023 - The Former Prophets 22 - I Samuel - 21st - 22nd Chapters
  • 27-Apr-2023 - The Former Prophets 23 - I Samuel - 23rd - 25th Chapters
  • 04-May-2023 - The Former Prophets 24 - I Samuel - 25th Chapter cont.
  • 11-May-2023 - The Former Prophets 25 - I Samuel 26
  • 18-May-2023 - The Former Prophets 26 - I Samuel 27 - 28
  • 25-May-2023 - The Former Prophets 27 - I Samuel Conclusion
  • 15-Jun-2023 - The Former Prophets 28 - II Samuel - Introduction
  • 22-Jun-2023 - The Former Prophets 29 - II Samuel - 2nd Chapter continued/expanded
  • 29-Jun-2023 - The Former Prophets 30 - II Samuel - Ch.s 3 - 5
  • 06-Jul-2023 - The Former Prophets 31 - II Samuel - 6th Chapter
  • 13-Jul-2023 - The Former Prophets 32 - II Samuel - 8th Chapter
  • 13-Jul-2023 - The Former Prophets 33 - II Samuel - 11th Chapter
  • 17-Aug-2023 - The Former Prophets 34 - II Samuel - 12th Chapter
  • 24-Aug-2023 - The Former Prophets 35 - II Samuel - 13th Chapter
  • 31-Aug-2023 - The Former Prophets 36 - II Samuel - 14th Chapter
  • 07-Sep-2023 - The Former Prophets 37 - II Samuel - 15th Chapter
  • 14-Sep-2023 - The Former Prophets 38 - II Samuel - 18th Chapter
  • 28-Sep-2023 - The Former Prophets 39 - II Samuel - 19th Chapter
  • 05-Oct-2023 - The Former Prophets 40 - II Samuel - 20th Chapter
  • 12-Oct-2023 - The Former Prophets 41 - II Samuel - 22th Chapter (emphasis on poetry and parallels to Psalm 18)
  • 19-Oct-2023 - The Former Prophets 42 - II Samuel - 22th Chapter (continued)
  • 26-Oct-2023 - The Former Prophets 43 - II Samuel - 23rd Chapter
  • 02-Nov-2023 - The Former Prophets 44 - II Samuel - 24th Chapter
    Diane M. Sharon Text Wrestlers Former Prophets
  • 09-Nov-2023 - The Former Prophets 45 - I Kings - 1st Chapter
  • 16-Nov-2023 - The Former Prophets 46 - I Kings - 2nd Chapter
  • 30-Nov-2023 - The Former Prophets 47 - I Kings - 3rd Chapter
  • 07-Dec-2023 - The Former Prophets 48 - I Kings - 5th Chapter
  • 14-Dec-2023 - The Former Prophets 49 - I Kings - 6th Chapter
  • 21-Dec-2023 - The Former Prophets 50 - I Kings - 7th Chapter
  • 28-Dec-2023 - The Former Prophets 51 - I Kings - 8th Chapter
  • 04-Jan-2024 - The Former Prophets 52 - I Kings - 8th Chapter (cont.)
  • 11-Jan-2024 - The Former Prophets 53 - I Kings - 8th Chapter (cont.)
  • 18-Jan-2024 - The Former Prophets 54 - I Kings - 8th Chapter (cont.)
  • 25-Jan-2024 - The Former Prophets 55 - I Kings - 9th Chapter
  • 01-Feb-2024 - The Former Prophets 56 - I Kings - 10th Chapter
  • 08-Feb-2024 - The Former Prophets 57 - I Kings - 11th Chapter
  • 15-Feb-2024 - The Former Prophets 58 - I Kings - 12th Chapter
  • 22-Feb-2024 - The Former Prophets 59 - I Kings - 13th Chapter
  • 29-Feb-2024 - The Former Prophets 60 - I Kings - 14th Chapter
  • 07-Mar-2024 - The Former Prophets 61 - I Kings - 15th Chapter
  • 14-Mar-2024 - The Former Prophets 62 - I Kings - 16th Chapter
  • 21-Mar-2024 - The Former Prophets 63 - I Kings - Characteristics and Language of Former Prophets
  • 28-Mar-2024 - The Former Prophets 64 - I Kings - 17th Chapter
  • 04-Apr-2024 - The Former Prophets 65 - I Kings - 17th - 18th Chapters
  • 11-Apr-2024 - The Former Prophets 66 - I Kings - 18th Chapter (cont.)
  • 02-May-2024 - The Former Prophets 67 - I Kings - 19th Chapter
  • 09-May-2024 - The Former Prophets 68 - I Kings - 21st Chapter
  • 16-May-2024 - The Former Prophets 69 - I Kings - 21st Chapter
    Diane M. Sharon Text Wrestlers Former Prophets
  • 30-May-2024 - The Former Prophets 70 - II Kings - 1st - 2nd Chapters
  • 06-Jun-2024 - The Former Prophets 71 - II Kings - 3rd Chapter
  • 20-Jun-2024 - The Former Prophets 72 - II Kings - 4th Chapter
  • 27-Jun-2024 - The Former Prophets 73 - II Kings - 5th Chapter
  • 11-Jul-2024 - The Former Prophets 74 - II Kings - 8th Chapter
  • 05-Sep-2024 - The Former Prophets 75 - II Kings - 9th Chapter
  • 12-Sep-2024 - The Former Prophets 76 - II Kings - 11th Chapter
  • 19-Sep-2024 - The Former Prophets 77 - II Kings - 13th Chapter
  • 31-Oct-2024 - The Former Prophets 78 - II Kings - 15th Chapter
  • 07-Nov-2024 - The Former Prophets 79 - II Kings - 16th Chapter
  • 14-Nov-2024 - The Former Prophets 80 - II Kings - 17th Chapter
  • 21-Nov-2024 - The Former Prophets 81 - II Kings - 18th Chapter
  • 05-Dec-2024 - The Former Prophets 82 - II Kings - 19th Chapter
  • 12-Dec-2024 - The Former Prophets 83 - II Kings - 21st Chapter
  • 19-Dec-2024 - The Former Prophets 84 - II Kings - 23rd Chapter

  •  

    PSALMS

    Diane M. Sharon Text Wrestlers PSALMS
  • PSALMS 16-Jan-2025
  • PSALMS 23-Jan-2025
  • PSALMS 30-Jan-2025
  • PSALMS 06-Feb-2025
  • PSALMS 13-Feb-2025
  • PSALMS 20-Feb-2025
  • PSALMS 27-Feb-2025
  • PSALMS 06-Mar-2025
  • PSALMS 13-Mar-2025
  • PSALMS 20-Mar-2025
  • PSALMS 27-Mar-2025
  • PSALMS 03-Apr-2025
  • PSALMS 24-Apr-2025
  • PSALMS 08-May-2025
  • PSALMS 15-May-2025 - Psalm 104
  • PSALMS 22-May-2025 - Psalm 104 (cont.)
  • PSALMS 29-May-2025 - Psalm 104 (cont.)
  • PSALMS 05-Jun-2025 - Psalm 82
  • PSALMS 12-Jun-2025
  • PSALMS 19-Jun-2025 - Psalm 96

  •  

    LATTER PROPHETS

    Hosea, Jeremiah, Ezekiel

  • Diane M. Sharon at Skirball Streicker

    THE AGONY OF THE LATTER PROPHETS
    Spring 2022

    The powerful words of the latter prophets resonate in our liturgy and in our speech even two thousand years after they lived. But behind the poetry of exhortation and divine warning are human beings who are chosen by God with no chance to opt out, men who endure loneliness, despair, derision, and illness, all in service to the God of Israel. In this course we will look at pivotal events in the lives of Hosea, Jeremiah, and Ezekiel that mark them for life. Come and discover the risks and travails of being chosen as a prophet of God.

    28-Feb-2022 - Lecture 1 of 6
  • 07-Mar-2022 - Lecture 2 of 6
    14-Mar-2022 - Lecture 3 of 6
    21-Mar-2022 - Lecture 4 of 6
    28-Mar-2022 - Lecture 5 of 6
    28-Mar-2022 - Lecture 6 of 6

    This course was presented at the The Skirball Academy at the Streicker Center of Temple Emanuel. It is also a part of the Skirball Courses section of the Digital Library.

    Skirball Courses




    Diane M. Sharon Text Wrestlers Latter Prophets

    Text Wrestlers: The Latter Prophets
    Introduction to the Latter Prophets:

  • 15-Apr-2021 - The Latter Prophets 01 - Introduction i
  • 22-Apr-2021 - The Latter Prophets 02 - Introduction ii
  • 29-Apr-2021 - The Latter Prophets 03 - Introduction iii
  • 06-May-2021 - The Latter Prophets 04 - Intercession
  • Amos

  • 20-May-2021 - The Latter Prophets 05 - Amos
  • 27-May-2021 - The Latter Prophets 06 - Amos
  • 03-Jun-2021 - The Latter Prophets 07 - Amos
  • 17-Jun-2021 - The Latter Prophets 08 - Amos
  • 24-Jun-2021 - The Latter Prophets 09 - Amos
  • 01-Jul-2021 - The Latter Prophets 10 - Amos (Completion)
  • Hosea

  • 15-Jul-2021 - The Latter Prophets 11 - Hosea
  • 22-Jul-2021 - The Latter Prophets 12 - Hosea
  • 05-Aug-2021 - The Latter Prophets 13 - Hosea
  • 19-Aug-2021 - The Latter Prophets 14 - Hosea
  • 26-Aug-2021 - The Latter Prophets 15 - Hosea
  • 02-Sep-2021 - The Latter Prophets 16 - Hosea
  • 23-Sep-2021 - The Latter Prophets 17 - Hosea
  • 30-Sep-2021 - The Latter Prophets 18 - Hosea
  • 07-Oct-2021 - The Latter Prophets 19 - Hosea
  • 21-Oct-2021 - The Latter Prophets 20 - Hosea
  • Isaiah

  • 28-Oct-2021 - The Latter Prophets 21 - Isaiah
  • 04-Nov-2021 - The Latter Prophets 22 - Isaiah
  • 11-Nov-2021 - The Latter Prophets 23 - Isaiah
  • Jeremiah

  • 18-Nov-2021 - The Latter Prophets 24 - Isaiah end/Jeremiah start
  • 02-Dec-2021 - The Latter Prophets 25 - Jeremiah
  • 09-Dec-2021 - The Latter Prophets 26 - Jeremiah
  • 16-Dec-2021 - The Latter Prophets 27 - Jeremiah/II Kings
  • 23-Dec-2021 - The Latter Prophets 28 - Jeremiah/II Kings
  • 06-Jan-2022 - The Latter Prophets 29 - Jeremiah
  • 13-Jan-2022 - The Latter Prophets 30 - Jeremiah
  • 20-Jan-2022 - The Latter Prophets 31 - Jeremiah
  • 27-Jan-2022 - The Latter Prophets 32 - Jeremiah's Literary Traits
  • 03-Feb-2022 - The Latter Prophets 33 - Jeremiah Conclusion
  • Ezekiel

  • 10-Feb-2022 - The Latter Prophets 34 - Ezekiel
  • 17-Feb-2022 - The Latter Prophets 35 - Ezekiel
  • 24-Feb-2022 - The Latter Prophets 36 - Ezekiel
  • 03-Mar-2022 - The Latter Prophets 37 - Ezekiel
  • 10-Mar-2022 - The Latter Prophets 38 - Ezekiel
  • 10-Mar-2022 - The Latter Prophets 39 - Ezekiel Conclusion

  • Diane M. Sharon Text Wrestlers Latter Prophets

     

    REVERSE A CURSE

    Presented at Congregation Tehillah of Riverdale, NY

    Reverse a Curse, Approach a Blessing - Feb. 2021 / 5781

     

    JUDGES / SHOFTIM

  • Diane M. Sharon Rash Vows and Dire Consequences

    RASH VOWS AND DIRE CONSEQUENCES IN THE BOOK OF JUDGES
    2020

    When someone makes a vow out of desperation or recklessness in the Hebrew Bible the outcome is almost always unexpected and often devastating. In this three-session course we will look at three episodes from the book of Judges in which ill-advised vows are made, or broken, with disastrous outcomes.
    If viewing the sessions, it is helpful to have a complete Bible available, JPS preferred.

    12-Aug-2020 - Lecture 1 of 3
  • 19-Aug-2020 - Lecture 2 of 2
    26-Aug-2020 - Lecture 3 of 3


  • Diane M. Sharon Interview on Book of Judges

    THE BOOK OF JUDGES INTERVIEW

    Discussing the Book of Judges in an interview with Rabbi Leon Morris of the Skirball Academy at the Streicker Center of Temple Emanuel.

    Listen to the Interview


  • Links to the other sections of the Digital Library:

    Ancient Near East


    Skirball Courses




    

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