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Devarim 5784: Facing Giants

What can a giant teach us about overcoming obstacles and building a better society?

In this episode, Tzvi Hirschfield and Rabbi Haim Shalom delve into the Parsha of Devarim, highlighting the significance of Moshe’s speeches as the Jewish people stand on the brink of entering the land of Canaan. They discuss the fascinating detail of Og, the giant king, and what his story teaches us about overcoming seemingly insurmountable obstacles. Their conversation focuses on the importance of internal resilience and the dangers of both underestimating and overestimating challenges. They also examine modern applications of these lessons, focusing on the critical need for unity and the creation of a coherent, connected society in Israel and the diaspora.

Rabbi Haim Shalom – Pardes Faculty
Rabbi Zvi Hirschfield – Pardes Faculty and Host of Pardes from Jerusalem

Haim Shalom

Rabbi Haim Shalom is Director of Israel Studies at Pardes. A proud Pardes alumnus (BMP ‘03-04), Haim has rabbinic ordination from HUC-JIR, degrees in Jewish History, Middle Eastern Studies and Jewish Education, and certification as a tour guide. He also holds an Adjunct Faculty position at HUC-JIR.

Haim is a seventh generation Reform Jew, with his ancestors among the founders of the Reform Movement in England. He has served as a congregational rabbi in his hometown of Manchester, UK, and in Jerusalem, and has held Jewish education positions around the globe, from Poughkeepsie to Perth.