Saul Weinreb - Let the Prophets Speak

Nehemiah 10 - Rabbinic Judaism is Born

The "Men of the Great Assembly" set out the constitution which created what is now known as Rabbinic Judaism.  They all agreed to to follow God's Torah, and enacted a wide range of legislation to preserve and protect the sanctity of the relationship between the Jewish people and God.

Nehemiah 9b - Confession and Prayer

The people conclude their prayer before God, and the foundation and structure of Jewish prayer is set for generations to come.  

Nehemiah 9a - The Party is Over

After celebrating the holidays, the people return to their sadness.  They mourn all of the years they and their ancestors ignored the Torah of God.  They study, they learn, and then they turn to God with a new covenant.  They begin by remembering all of God's greatness, and their own shortcomings.

Nehemiah 8 - Celebrating the High Holidays

In this beautiful chapter Ezra teaches the people the Torah, and they learn to celebrate Rosh HaShanah and Sukkot together.

Nehemiah 7 - A Census Review

Nehemiah completes the walls of the city, and finds the city to be sparsely populated and lacking housing.  He begins a full census review to determine the families presents, where they live, and their numbers.  The chapter ends as the month of the high holidays approaches, and its time for the people to gather in Jerusalem.

Nehemiah 6 - The Enemy Within

Nehemiah has to contend with enemy spies, and all sorts of creative but evil plans to weaken his leadership.  They will stop at nothing to break his will and ruin his ability to lead, but Nehemiah outsmarts them and doesn't fall for their tricks.

Nehemiah 5 - Economic Justice

In one of the most powerful and instructive chapters of Nehemiah, we read of the economic inequality that plagued the people of Judah, and Nehemiah's response.  We learn of economic justice, how respect for God leads to doing the right thing, and how these issues issues can only be addressed through honest and transparent leadership.

Nehemiah 4 - The Jewish Defense Force

Nehemiah teaches us how a Jew is supposed to defend him/herself. Pray to God, give credit to God, then develop a strategy, take up your weapons and fight!  We learn how Nehemiah developed his strategy, how he gathered intelligence, and how he never stopped building Jerusalem despite the threats.

Nehemiah 3 - The Walls Of Jerusalem Are Rebuilt

Despite the taunts and cynicism and threats of Sanvalat and his cohorts, Nehemiah restores the people's morale.  Everyone, including the leaders, government officials and even the women get together and rebuild the city.

Nehemiah 2b - A Midnight Tour

Nehemiah arrives in Jerusalem, and he conducts a midnight survey of the city of Jerusalem.  Finding the city in a state of awful disrepair, he encourages the people to find the courage and strength to rebuild.  The opposition doesn't take it so well, however, and they begin to challenge Nehemiah and his project.