About Gateways
For too long, the Jewish community has struggled to learn the books of the Later Prophets, נביאים אחרונים, of Isaiah, Jeremiah, Ezekiel, and the Twelve Prophets.
My ambition with Gateways is to allow people to experience the Nevi'im Acharonim—the Later Prophets—through the teachings of Don Yitzchak Abarbanel, distilled into easy-to-follow lessons.
Join Us
Please be an active reader and learner of these lessons. Share your thoughts, let me know where I got it wrong, and let’s create something that can inspire us to follow in the footsteps of the prophets.
You’ll get
When you subscribe, you’ll get a weekly email that includes:
A brief synopsis of the verses.
An easy-to-read translation of the verses.
Insightful questions and answers provided by the Abarbanel.
A short takeaway section, offering a lesson or observation.
I’ll aim to offer two semesters each year. There will be a series of lessons in the winter, followed by a break for Passover, פסח, and pick up again over the summer with another break for תשרי.
Why the Abarbanel?
For starters, it was important to us to select one commentator. If you’ve studied the Torah and its commentators directly, you’ll know the feeling you get when engaging with a primary text. When you read an explanation that’s been woven together by a contemporary, it’s a different experience. Think of it like the difference between drinking a fine wine and a mixed drink. The mixed drink might be great, but it’s more a reflection of the bartender’s skill rather than the vintner’s craft of distilling the gifts of heaven and earth.
There are several reasons why I selected the Abarbanel as the commentator of choice.
Prepared mini lessons—Abarbanel identifies each prophecy with its relevant sections for us. This greatly aids in creating easy-to-follow lessons.
Question and answer format—we learn best when we have questions to pique our interest. Abarbanel asks insightful questions that draw our attention to the answers he provides.
Relatable to the modern mind—Abarbanel’s commentary doesn’t rely on understanding complicated Hebrew grammar. He uses the traditions of the חכמים when appropriate, but doesn’t limit himself to their interpretation when there is another that seems more plausible.
Addresses the pressing issues—one of the consistent refrains when Abarbanel finishes explaining a section is, “With that I have explained all that seems fitting to explain on this section.” I’ll adopt the same approach and address the verses and the parts of the prophecies that seem to be most relatable and accessible. Of course, every word is sacred and precious. But my goal is to provide a gateway into understanding the words of the prophets. With time, perhaps you’ll be motivated to return and study the prophecies I didn’t cover in this publication.
On a personal note, my family left Toledo Spain in 1492, just like Abarbanel. So this is some small way of feeling connecting to my past and letting it color how I embrace the present and hope for the future.
Subscribe, Share, & Support
I hope you’ll subscribe and be an active participant in Gateways. Share this publication with your friends so we can help root the Jewish community more deeply in the words, hopes, and desires of the prophets.
If you can, consider being a paid supporter. While the Torah is, of course, free, each lesson takes hours to prepare. With funding, I’ll be able to prepare more, teach more, and together take part in the religious renewal that we hope for every day.
וְעָֽרְבָה֙ לַֽה׳ מִנְחַ֥ת יְהוּדָ֖ה וִירוּשָׁלָ֑͏ִם כִּימֵ֣י עוֹלָ֔ם וּכְשָׁנִ֖ים קַדְמֹנִיֹּֽת
“Then the offering of Judah and Jerusalem will be pleasing to the Lord as in days of old and years past” (Malachi 3:4).
About Me
My name is Jeff Alhadeff. Originally from Seattle, I studied at Yeshivat HaKotel, Yeshiva University, and Ner Israel. After earning my Master’s in Liberal Arts from Johns Hopkins, my wife and I returned to Seattle, where I worked at the Seattle Kollel and the Seattle Hebrew Academy for seven years. For nearly the past 20 years, I have worked as a technical writer and learning architect. I currently live in Baltimore, Maryland, with my wife, children, and grandchildren.
