Rabbi Ari Kahn graduated Yeshiva University with a BA in psychology and an MS degree in Talmud. A renowned speaker, he has lectured worldwide. Currently Rabbi Kahn is a Senior lecturer at Aishs Essentials, Fellowships and Executive Learning Center pragrams as well as the Director of the Foreign Student Program for Bar Ilan University. Rabbi Kahn is the author of the recently published book, Explorations, an in-depth analysis of the weekly Torah reading.
One of the most dramatic episodes in the bible is when Joseph's brothers sell him into slavery. But this fascinating narrative is abruptly interrupted by an apparently unrelated licentious meeting of Judah and Tamar. Rabbi Kahn rearranges the puzzle pieces showing how both events were essential for sowing the seeds of the Messianic Age.
Joseph turns out to be a jack of many trades, and successful in all. He is charismatic, handsome and brilliant - all the ingredients for a great leader. Yet he's lacking one important element that only the angel Gabriel can provide. Don’t miss this exciting valuable talk.
Jacob's state of grieving and mourning never saw closure after the loss of his favorite son Joseph. Unbeknownst to his bereaved father, Joseph was enjoying his powerful position as Egypt's second in command. Why didn't Joseph have the decency to contact his bereaved father? In this powerful class, Rabbi Kahn braves a new frontier in describing Joseph's rise to power.
The negotiation between the tribes and their long-lost brother Joseph seems to border on the ridiculous. Wasn't Joseph's intention with all his false charges closer to taking revenge? To what extent did Joseph's attempt to heal this breach which ripped the family apart really work?
Everyone underneath it all is at least curious to know when the Messiah’s date of arrival will be. Just before Jacob was about to die, he was so close to revealing this game-changing piece of information but, at the very last moment something went way off. Hear how the opening verses of 'Shema Yisrael' bring a new meaning to the magnetic question of WHEN.
Is living forever really possible? We learn how Yaakov's challenging life led to his living eternally, and how King David, who also had his share of hard times continues to live - as we sing David Melech Yisrael, Hy V'kayim. Rabbi Kahn shows how the divergent paths of Yaakov and David brought one to the level of Adam before the sin and the other to Adam's level after the sin.
Do you ever see women performing a circumcision? God was 'enraged' that the son of Moses was not circumcised until Moses' wife heroically performed the operation herself. Why was Moses negligent in this critical paternal responsibility? Rabbi Kahn cuts through this near-fatal mistake with a novel approach, and exposes the scarcely known background of the life of Jesus.
Moshe is probably the most fascinating characters in the Bible. Join Rabbi Kahn to examine this quintessential leader's parents and the purity of purpose their second marriage entailed. Learn about Moshe's birth, his years being raised in a cushy palace environment, and the incredible strength of character he displays by retaining the ability to leave power behind for his love of his brothers.
Snakes are slithering and sly creatures that instill fear in most people. When God frightens Moses with one, even he recoils in terror. How is this event a re-enactment of the Garden of Eden and what important idea does it come to add? Also hear the metaphysical meanings for the various names of God.
Why were the last three Egyptian plagues split from the first seven? Rabbi Kahn explores Pharoah's role in the crescendo of God's revelation, how he lost his relevance by that stage and the deeper implications of those final punishments. Hear how these plagues put all the puzzle pieces into place for the emergence of our nationhood - and for our future.