Passover: What Does it Mean to be Chosen?

Torah Reading: Be'halot'cha

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Aleph Beta Academy is bringing the words of our sages to life through illustrative video. For additional material, see: www.alephbeta.org.

Click here if you are unable to view these videos.

1: Passover Puzzles

2: With a Heavy Heart

3: Power vs. Precision

4: What's in a Name

5: God Against the "Gods"

6: Educating Pharaoh

7: Plan B

8: What Does it Mean to be Chosen

Aleph Beta Academy is bringing the words of our sages to life through illustrative video. For additional material, see: www.alephbeta.org.

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Published: March 9, 2013

Visitor Comments: 14

(13) Anonymous, March 29, 2013 2:30 AM

Great videos but no continuity

I loved these videos but I thought they would flow better ... For instance with Power and Precision we are left hanging on a cliff at the end as to why pharoh prefers the latter to the former... I was waiting for the next video to answer that question but the next was a completely different topic! If you could post the continuation of that video itcwould he great

(12) Robert, March 20, 2013 7:20 PM

Loved it! Can I get the PowerPoint???

This was a great video series and worth every minute. I would love to be able to incorporate it into my seder. Is there any way you could make the PowerPoint file available for download??

Chag Kasher V'Sameach!

(11) Jossef, March 17, 2013 12:52 AM

Excellent Analysis

This video series just like the previous one on Purim represents a new a different approach to explaining the original texts around the holidays, which is more methodolgical, analytical and therefore more convincing and educational for the modern mind, than the traditional approach.

Rachel, March 24, 2013 9:42 PM

This IS the traditional approach!

I too loved the videos and Rabbi Fohrman's style. But this IS the traditional style of learning: textual. Read many commentaries and you will find that this sort of examination and comparing of words is done all the time. Try to learn HOW Rashi comes to his conclusions and you will see the depth is all there.

(10) Sara Yoheved Rigler, March 16, 2013 9:30 PM

Outstanding!

Everything about Rabbi Forman's video series is outstanding: his questions, ideas, interpretations, graphics, and lessons. This series should be shown to every Jewish teenager and adult everywhere. It will be a very different Passover!

(9) Henry, March 15, 2013 9:18 PM

Excellent teaching

Thiis is excellent teaching and I am wondering if this is available for purchase on DVD's. I want to watch it several times.

(8) MENDY, March 15, 2013 5:11 PM

PHENOMINAL

Absolutely GREAT ! The detailed explanation of a complex question was presented in a pheniominal manner. I will try my best at our Seder to do it justice. Thank you Rabbi Fohrman.

(7) Cindy, March 15, 2013 2:40 PM

Woooow

I loved it, shiur online. Very enlightening and well explained

(6) Max Rom, March 15, 2013 1:08 PM

By far the best illustrative exposition of the meaning of Pesach - it's HOW, WHY, PURPOSE and RAISON D'ETRE of being proudly Jewish

(5) betty ustun, March 15, 2013 12:21 PM

i am going to forward this to my teo sons an d ask fortheir comments. their father is turkish. and they raised their children to be observant . i think they will appreciate this alot.

(4) Wassim, March 15, 2013 11:12 AM

Mesmerising, hypnotising, illuminating.

I've been going to a progressive synagogue in Melbourne on and off for 5 or so years... they have nice organ music and they're very lovely welcoming people, but I can't find anything like this level of depth of understanding of the text. I think it's time to visit an orthodox shul again. I attended shul at the synagogue in Rome a few months ago, had a hard time going through security (as you can imagine) but I made it through. The journey continues, who knows to where. Happy Pesach.

(3) Hessel Meilech, March 14, 2013 6:47 PM

chosen people

Take it one step forward. We live on the chosen planet.
Óf all the billions of galaxies Hashem has chosen planet Earth as his chosen planet and us his chosen people.

(2) Moshe Schorr, March 14, 2013 2:17 PM

unanswered question

There was a question at the very beginning about why mention the "broken neck" firstborn. While Rabbi Fohrman didn't get to it, I think the answer can be understood. From his description of the _function_ of the firstborn, that it is the best one of the many children to translate the values of the parents to the rest, it would follow that a firstborn who _refuses_ to do this, loses that privilege.

(1) Davidovici, March 11, 2013 6:14 PM

Beautiful work of explanation of Pessah. Thanks so much. sd

Beautiful work of explanation & understanding. Thank you

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About the Author

Rabbi David Fohrman

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Rabbi David Fohrman directs the Areivim Curriculum Project, and was an editor and writer for ArtScroll’s Schottenstein Edition of the Talmud. Rabbi Fohrman’s works seek to open layers of meaning of Biblical text, and to help the reader develop a relationship with the texts that make us who we are. Many of his lectures are available on the web at rabbifohrman.com.