About this episode

The episode discusses the uncomfortable implications of forced labor used in the construction of the first Temple in relation to the Torah's teachings.

For parashat Terumah, the Rabbis pair a Torah reading about Terumah, donation from the heart, with the account of Solomon's building of the first Temple, which was done using "mas," forced labor, the customary tax of the time. But wasn't that what was forced on the Israelites in Egypt, and to which much of the Torah is a direct response? Shouldn't we be just a little bit uncomfortable?

People in this episode

Host: Rabbi Nadav Caine

Topics covered

• forced labor
• first Temple
• Torah
• donation
• Israelites
• spiritual discomfort

Keywords

• forced labor
• first Temple
• Torah
• Solomon
• parashat Terumah
• donation
• Israelites
• spirituality

Mentioned in this episode

Books & works: parashat Terumah, Torah

Places: Egypt

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