This morning (10/8/21), in our "Machshavah Lab" series for women, we attempted to understand the pshat of the Migdal Bavel story, free from any midrashic biases. With the Ibn Ezra and Ralbag as our guides, we learned through the story and emerged with a fresh (and somewhat radical) view with implications for our present day lives. Perhaps more important was the showcasing of Ibn Ezra's pshat-oriented approach to the text.
Link to Midrashic Betrayal: How the Lack of Clarity Surrounding Pshat and Drash Has Given Rise to Confusion, Disillusionment, and Conflict in Jewish High School Students
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This week's Torah content has been sponsored by an anonymous donor, in memory of her grandmother, Golda Henya bat Devora a"h.
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מקורות:
בראשית יא:א-ט
רש"י - בראשית יא:א
מהר"י קרא - א' שמואל א:יז
אבן עזרא - בראשית יא:ד
אבן עזרא שיטה אחרת - בראשית יא:ה
רלב"ג - בראשית יא:ב-ד ביאור הפרשה
סנהדרין פרק י משנה ג
Coming of Age in the Milky Way (1988), by Timothy Ferriss
"The Tower of Babylon" (short story) from Stories of Your Life and Others (2010), by Ted Chiang
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YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/user/rabbischneeweiss
Blog: https://kolhaseridim.blogspot.com/
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