The Book of Yehoshua starts where the Torah leaves off, as the Jewish people are preparing to enter the Land of Israel to conquer it, and to establish the model society that will revolutionize the world. Rav Binny dedicated over half of a year of his weekly Tele-Torah presentations to exploring this holy and profound book.
Sefer Yehoshua 02 – Why We Need A Land
Do we need a land? What is our relationship with the Land of Israel? How does Yehoshua’s leadership differ from Moshe’s?
Sefer Yehoshua 03 – The Power of the People
How important is the opinion of the people in national referendums? In this class, Rav Binny explores the role of the entire Jewish people in Yehoshua’s ascension and in acquiring the Land.
Sefer Yehoshua 04 – Are We Losing Israel?
After revisiting the importance of the Land of Israel, Rav Binny looks at the conversations that Yehoshua has with the Shotrim, and then with the tribes of Reuven and Gad.
Sefer Yehoshua 05 – The Challenges of War
Why is Yehoshua given the bracha of strength? What demands from him this strength? What is the essence of Jewish leadership?
Sefer Yehoshua 06 – The Spies, Pt1
In this class, Rav Binny asks a number of questions around Yehoshua sending out spies, especially in light of the disaster of the last spy mission in the desert.
Sefer Yehoshua 07 – The Spies, Pt2
After a quick review of Part One, Rav Binny zooms in on why the spies were successful, and on Rachav’s crucial role in the success of their mission.
Sefer Yehoshua 08 – Entering the Land
What is the importance of Yehoshua’s awakening early on the day of croosing the Jordan River? Why and how did the Jordan River stop flowing?
Sefer Yehoshua 09 – Circumcision & Redemption
What is the connection between the circumcision and the three-day wait before leaving Egypt, and the same before crossing over the Jordan? What does it mean that Yehoshua told the people to ‘make yourselves kodesh’?
Sefer Yehoshua 10 – Does The Ark Carry Us?
When the Ark led us across the dry banks of the Jordan River, why did the Kohanim have to carry it? Why couldn’t it just float in front of us? In this class, Rav Binny goes in-depth into the Torah’s mitzvah of carrying the Ark.
Sefer Yehoshua 11 – The Two Arks
Though not mentioned explicitly in the text here in Sefer Yehoshua, we know from the Exodus from Egypt that there was another Ark that came out with us into the desert, and now is coming in with us to the Land of Israel. What is this Ark, and what is its significance at this point as we cross the Jordan?
Sefer Yehoshua 12 – Stepping Forward
How was it possible that all of the Jewish people were able to fit between the carrying poles of the Ark?! What is the nature of space in a spiritual experience?
Sefer Yehoshua 13 – Crossing the River
In addition to addressing the experiential significance of crossing the Jordan, Rav Binny also expands upon three major purposes for the splitting of the river.
Sefer Yehoshua 14 – Shevet & Mattei
What is the difference between the understanding of the two different Hebrew words for ‘tribe’. How do they help us to grasp the ideal role of the tribes in the collective of the Jewish people.
Sefer Yehoshua 15 – Entering the Land
In this class, Rav Binny discusses the quickness of crossing the Jordan, how we take initiative in our relationship with G-d, and the strange incident of the 12-stone exchange in the dry riverbed.
Sefer Yehoshua 16 – The Brit
Why do the Jewish people do the brit mila (circumcision) after crossing over the Jordan? What is the significance of a brit and how does it help us to complete the world?
Sefer Yehoshua 17 – Encamping at Gilgal
Is it a coincidence that the Jewish people encamped at Gilgal after entering the Land? What does the name ‘Gilgal’ teach us? How is the orginal Pesach in Egypt connected to the Pesach celebration now, forty years later.
Sefer Yehoshua 18 – Matza & The Man
After soon as the Gilgal Pesach celebration ended, the man (manna) stopped falling. What is the connection? On a symbolic level, what is the difference between ‘bread’ and ‘man’ (manna)?
Sefer Yehoshua 19 – Preparing to Conquer
Who is the mysterious man who walks up to Yehoshua with his sword drawn? Rav Binny delves into the Jewish teachings about angels, to understand the differences between angels and us.
Sefer Yehoshua 20 – Beginning the War
Why was Yericho chosen to be the first city to be conquered? Why do the walls have to fall down? What is the difference between the Jewish and pagan worldview?
Sefer Yehoshua 21 – How to Conquer Yericho
Rav Binny takes an in-depth look at the instructions that G-d gave to Yehoshua to conquer Yericho. What is the significance of the number of days and number of times to walk around the city?
Sefer Yehoshua 22 – Conquering Yericho
In the conquering of Yericho, why was it necessary to blow the shofarot? What about that moment of silence right after the blasts. Rav Binny also addresses the issues of the idolatrous city and the conquering happening on Shabbat.