Deuteronomy: The Last Speech of Moses

Micah Goodman Teaches Deuteronomy: The Last Speech of Moses

The ideas of the Book of Deuteronomy changed the world. One of Israel’s leading intellectuals delves into the theological and political lessons of Moses’s final speech.

Micah Goodman

Micah Goodman was named by the Jerusalem Post as one of the 50 most influential Jews in 2017, and by the Israeli magazine Liberal as one of the 100 most influential Israelis in 2019. He is the author of six bestselling books. His first three—Moses’s Final Speech, The Dream of the Kuzari, and The Secrets of the Guide for the Perplexed—explore classical Jewish thought. His next three—The Wondering Jew, Catch 67, and The Attention Revolution—explore contemporary Israeli issues and ideas. Dr. Goodman is one of the founders of Mabua – Israeli Beit Midrash. He is also a Research Fellow at the Kogod Research Center of the Shalom Hartman Institute in Jerusalem, and—alongside Efrat Shapira Rosenberg—hosts the popular Israeli podcast “Mifleget Hamachshavot” (“The Party of Thoughts”), produced by Beit Avi Chai.

Episodes

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In Exodus, Moses led the Israelites out of Egypt. In this opening lecture, Dr. Goodman shows how in Deuteronomy, Moses seeks to take Egypt out of Israel.

Leaving Egypt: Power, Memory, and Leadership 33:18

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Deuteronomy is not just a repetition of the Torah. It is Moses's unique interpretation of it—his own Oral Torah.

Moses's Oral Torah 33:04

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For the Book of Deuteronomy, religious ritual is most powerful only when we understand its limits.

God's House and the Limits of Ritual 31:21

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The monotheistic revolution was about more that reducing the number of gods. It was about removing magic from religion.

Hubris and Humility 29:24

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Deuteronomy presents the Torah's only laws about kingship. And, as Dr. Goodman explains, they are all about limiting his power.

Politics and Power 31:39

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In this lecture, Dr. Goodman take a look at the history of ancient Israel and asks whether the religious and political revolutions of Deuteronomy succeeded or failed.

The Failure of Deuteronomy's Revolution 32:13

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Dr. Goodman tells the story of King Josiah's religious revolution, and explores what the tragic end of his reign teaches us about the relationship between piety and politics.

Renewal and Destruction 32:33

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In this concluding lecture, Dr. Goodman offers some final thoughts on King Josiah's fatal mistake and summarizes the key messages of Moses's last words to the People of Israel.

Conclusion: Moses's Final Word 31:59

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This course is generously sponsored by
Stephanie Dishal in memory of her parents
Sidney and Anna Dishal

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Deuteronomy: The Last Speech of Moses

The ideas of the Book of Deuteronomy changed the world. One of Israel’s leading intellectuals delves into the theological and political lessons of Moses’s final speech.

Micah Goodman

Episodes

01: Leaving Egypt: Power, Memory, and Leadership

In Exodus, Moses led the Israelites out of Egypt. In this opening lecture, Dr. Goodman shows how in Deuteronomy, Moses seeks to take Egypt out of Israel.

02: Moses's Oral Torah

Deuteronomy is not just a repetition of the Torah. It is Moses's unique interpretation of it—his own Oral Torah.

03: God's House and the Limits of Ritual

For the Book of Deuteronomy, religious ritual is most powerful only when we understand its limits.

04: Hubris and Humility

The monotheistic revolution was about more that reducing the number of gods. It was about removing magic from religion.

05: Politics and Power

Deuteronomy presents the Torah's only laws about kingship. And, as Dr. Goodman explains, they are all about limiting his power.

06: The Failure of Deuteronomy's Revolution

In this lecture, Dr. Goodman take a look at the history of ancient Israel and asks whether the religious and political revolutions of Deuteronomy succeeded or failed.

07: Renewal and Destruction

Dr. Goodman tells the story of King Josiah's religious revolution, and explores what the tragic end of his reign teaches us about the relationship between piety and politics.

08: Conclusion: Moses's Final Word

In this concluding lecture, Dr. Goodman offers some final thoughts on King Josiah's fatal mistake and summarizes the key messages of Moses's last words to the People of Israel.

Deuteronomy: The Last Speech of Moses

The ideas of the Book of Deuteronomy changed the world. One of Israel’s leading intellectuals delves into the theological and political lessons of Moses’s final speech.

Micah Goodman

Episodes

01: Leaving Egypt: Power, Memory, and Leadership

01: Leaving Egypt: Power, Memory, and Leadership

You must be logged in to view

In Exodus, Moses led the Israelites out of Egypt. In this opening lecture, Dr. Goodman shows how in Deuteronomy, Moses seeks to take Egypt out of Israel.

02: Moses's Oral Torah

02: Moses's Oral Torah

You must be logged in to view

Deuteronomy is not just a repetition of the Torah. It is Moses's unique interpretation of it—his own Oral Torah.

03: God's House and the Limits of Ritual

03: God's House and the Limits of Ritual

You must be logged in to view

For the Book of Deuteronomy, religious ritual is most powerful only when we understand its limits.

04: Hubris and Humility

04: Hubris and Humility

You must be logged in to view

The monotheistic revolution was about more that reducing the number of gods. It was about removing magic from religion.

05: Politics and Power

05: Politics and Power

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Deuteronomy presents the Torah's only laws about kingship. And, as Dr. Goodman explains, they are all about limiting his power.

06: The Failure of Deuteronomy's Revolution

06: The Failure of Deuteronomy's Revolution

You must be logged in to view

In this lecture, Dr. Goodman take a look at the history of ancient Israel and asks whether the religious and political revolutions of Deuteronomy succeeded or failed.

07: Renewal and Destruction

07: Renewal and Destruction

You must be logged in to view

Dr. Goodman tells the story of King Josiah's religious revolution, and explores what the tragic end of his reign teaches us about the relationship between piety and politics.

08: Conclusion: Moses's Final Word

08: Conclusion: Moses's Final Word

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In this concluding lecture, Dr. Goodman offers some final thoughts on King Josiah's fatal mistake and summarizes the key messages of Moses's last words to the People of Israel.

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