Torah for Christians: Recent Episodes
Rabbi Jordan Parr
Rabbi Jordan Parr brings the beauty of Judaism to a curious non-Jewish audience. We'll discuss Bible, holidays, Jewish thought and dozens of other topics. We'll also learn how a Rabbi reads the Gospels! Our Podcast conversation will continue on Club House and other sites. Please join us!
In this episode, we examine the concept of a just war, found in Deuteronomy, Chapter 20 and learn how this concept applies to the current Israel-Hamas war.
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The first in a series that will try to explain some of the background and tensions concerning the Israel-Hamas crisis in the Middle East. Today, we look at the idea of Covenant in the Torah and why Jews lay claim to this land.
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If you would like to support our work or even suggest a topic for a future podcast, please go to our Buzzsprout link buzzsprout support and contribute to the cause. If we pick up your idea, we’ll give you a shout out at the start of the episode.
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A rebroadcast of one of our favorite episodes: Hanukkah - It's meaning, history, rituals and modern interpretations. A great way to begin the holiday season is to listen to this broadcast again!
TORAH FOR CHRISTIANS
SEASON FIVEEPISODE SEVEN
KING SOLOMON
He was the wisest man of his age. He built the Temple. He hosted the Queen of Sheba. He was Solomon. And he was a disaster.
I’m Rabbi Jordan Parr and on this episode of Torah for Christians, we’ll take another look at King Solomon – the good and the bad. Let’s get started.
MUSIC
Welcome to Torah for Christians. I’m Rabbi Jordan Parr.
Believe me, I don’t like to burst your bubble when it comes to Biblical heroes. But as I have often said, our heroes were not perfect. While they reached for, and often achieved, greatness, heroes such as Jacob, Moses and David were beset with deep flaws. In other words, they were human beings, just like us. That’s what makes them so special.
King Solomon was such a flawed individual. He was the second son of Bathsheba, the infamous consort of King David. As we recall, after David impregnated Bathsheba and then sent her husband, Uriah the Hittite, on a suicide mission, the Prophet Nathan decreed that this son would die shortly after birth – but that the next son born to Bathsheba would inherit David’s kingdom.
This came to pass. But the second part of Nathan’s prophecy is also important. Nathan further prophesied that David’s sons would engage in a fratricidal civil war to decide who would inherit his throne. Even though David proclaimed Solomon as king shortly before his death, Solomon had to fight for the kingdom, even killing one of his brothers to achieve this.
Solomon also expanded David’s kingdom, extending Israel’s territory to the Euphrates River, the modern-day border between Iraq and Syria. He was so powerful, he enticed King Hiram of Tyre, the modern Lebanese city of Sidon, to furnish him with the cedars needed to build the Temple. Interestingly, Hiram was the son of the previous King of Tyre but his mother was of the northern Tribe of Naphtali, making a special connection with Solomon. In a way, they were kin.
Solomon’s greatest accomplishment, of course, was building the First Temple in Jerusalem. David was denied this privilege; God only allowed him to build his palace. David was a man of war; Solomon’s very name means peace – and God determined that a man of peace would build the Temple in Jerusalem.
Later, the rabbis ascribed three books of the Bible to King Solomon: Song of Songs, Proverbs and Ecclesiastes – as well as certain Psalms. These three books are part of a collection called Wisdom Literature, books that are more akin to Plato than to Genesis. Today, we doubt that he wrote these books but the mere fact that the rabbis attribute these books of wisdom to him attests to the high regard in which they held him for his wisdom.
One famous story that we all know shows his wisdom. This story, of course, is the story of the disputed baby. Early in his reign, two prostitutes came to King Solomon to resolve a major dispute: each claimed that a certain infant boy was her child. Obviously, one of the women was lying, if not both. Solomon’s job was to decide which woman was the mother.
After listening to both women, Solomon, in what became known as a Solomonic decision, ordered the baby chopped in half. After all, in many disputes splitting the difference was a good way to solve a problem.
But not when it comes to a baby. When Solomon proposed that he cut the baby in half, one of the prostitutes screamed out to give the child to the other prostitute. Solomon immediately ordered that the baby, the entire baby, be given to the woman who backed down. He said that since she was willing to give up the baby rather than see it killed, she must be the true mother. How brilliant!
But as I said at the start of this episode, there is a dark side to King Solomon, one that had terrible consequences for the Jewish people, consequences that extend to the present day. We’ll look at this after the break.
I’m Rabbi Jordan Parr and this is Torah fo
Here are some charts that describe the different ways Jews and Christians organize the Bible:
[1] For an easy to read table that shows the differences, go to https://catholic-resources.org/Bible/Heb-Xn-Bibles.htm.
[1] For a complete list of the Books of the Apocrypha, go to https://www.sacred-texts.com/bib/apo/index.htm.
[1] Please see the complete list at http://www.pseudepigrapha.com/.
With y om Kippur, the holiest day of the Jewish year, upon us. it's time to revisit one of our most popular episodes from last year.
From all of us, we wish you a sweet and wonderful New Year. May you be inscribed and sealed in the Book of Good Life - whether you are Jewish or not!
An encore performance of our discussion of the Shofar, the great ram's horn that Jews sound on Rosh HaShanah to herald the New Year. Come and listen!
A repeat episode of our famous Rosh HaShanah podcast. With two weeks before the start of the Jewish New Year, it's a good time to remind ourselves of this awesome time of the year.
Listen again to my interview with Rabbi Heather Miller, the author of the book ReSoulutions, a day by day devotional for the Hebrew month of Elul, which immediately precedes Rosh Hashanah. Jewish or not, this interview - and especially this book - will inspire you.
A covenant is a matter of integrity. Let's see how Moses embodied this leadership aspect.
"There arose in Egypt a Pharaoh who knew not Joseph." Was he unaware of Joseph or did her choose not to know Joseph? That is the question to answer on this episode of Torah for Christians.
In this episode, we look at Ruth, a beautiful book of the Bible, customarily read on Shavuot. It speaks of love, of redemption and, at the end, there is a great surprise!
Let's explore thee history of - and rituals surrounding - conversion in the Jewish tradition. It's a beautiful journey.
A description of the Jewish way of divorce: the reasons for divorce, the process of divorce and difficult divorce situations.
Let's explore these interesting yet controversial topics within the Jewish framework. We won't always agree but we can agree to learn from each other in an honest and open manner.
Mazal Tov! Let's take a look at the reasons to get married - and how Jews actually get married. Plus, we'll meet some demons and evil spirits along the way.
On this episode, we discuss the major coming of age ceremony in Judaism, the Bar/Bat Mitzvah. We will learn how it originated, what the kids are to do and why they do it. Come and listen!
A most important episode: Adoption, in-vitro fertilization, genetic testing and abortion are some of the topics that we discuss on this episode, all couched in Jewish terms.
Judaism has specific rituals for when boys and girls are born; they are among the most widely celebrated observances of our people. Come and listen to what we have to say about them!
Join us as we look at the last major holidays of the Jewish fall calendar - and learn why Jews brought palm fronds to the Temple in the fall!
Welcome to an exploration of Yom Kippur, the holiest day of the Jewish year. In this talk, we will discuss the various parts of the day: fasting, ancient sacrifices, prayers and other important details.
Come and learn about the most iconic of Jewish symbols: the Shofar. And at the end, you get to hear it sounded!
Here is a welcome to Rosh HaShanah, the beginning of the Jewish New Year. Come and hear of its significance, theology and customs. Shanah Tovah, Happy Jewish New Year!
We talked about sin and repentance. Now we are going to discuss how we Jews forgive one another.
An exploration of sin, repentance and ultimate salvation as Jews approach the High Holidays.
Let's become familiar with a fascinating Jewish movement, one of the most important and influential in the world today: Chassidic Judaism. Come and Listen!
A look at the most liberal of the streams of Judaism: its history, theology and values.
A look at what is often called the "Middle Ground" between Orthodoxy and Reform, Conservative Judaism is a vital and important stream in and of itself. Come and hear what it has to offer!
We are taking a look at Orthodox Judaism, the stream that most closely follows traditional Jewish law and practice.
An exploration of the historical roots of anti-Semitism and how we can confront anti-Semitism and hatred today.
Israel is more than a state; it is a state of mind. Come and explore the ancient ideas behind the land and people of Israel. (Note: this is not a discussion of the modern state or any politics associated with Israel and the Palestinians.)
Is Jesus the Messiah? And if not him, than whom?
We'll examine how Jews and Christians describe Messianism and discuss what Jesus as the Messiah means for both of our faiths.
Are Jews the Chosen People? And is Jesus the fulfillment of God's Covenant with David? Let's find out.
Do Jews believe in God? And where does Jesus fit in? We're looking at Jewish conceptions of God, how Jews express them today and how Jesus and the Trinity came from ancient Jewish beliefs.
Why don't Jews believe in Jesus? What DO Jews believe ABOUT Jesus? And why did the split occur? Come and listen!
What books do Jews see as holy? Which books are holy to Christians but not to Jews? Take a listen and find out!
Who is a Jew? Such a basic question, such a complex answer. Let's unpack it together.
Torah for Christians is a podcast series devoted to explaining Jewish ideas and values to the non-Jewish world. Rabbi Jordan Parr is an accomplished teacher, scholar and public speaker who has been explaining Judaism to Christian audiences for many years. Feedback is always welcome.