Topics to be Discussed 

Part 1: Introduction: The Biblical definition of a 'Messianic' time period ( "reishit tzmichat geulateinu"): The famous Cyrus Declaration- and its historic and prophetic setting, including an brief overview of the Biblical books that discuss the time period of Ezra, Chagai & Zecharya

Part 2: Yeshayahu chapters 40-48: Who's the prophet and who's the audience? Can an Orthodox Jew entertain the possibility of more than one Isaiah, and can a Relgious Zionist deny it?

Part 3: Yirmiyahu's prophecy of "the 70 years" and its ramifications during the time period of "Shivat Tzion"

Part 4: The book of Ezra--why it is often misunderstood (and rarely studied). And why it should become part of the core-curriculum in our Jewish Education

Part 5: Is the Jewish year really 5781? How the Biblical books of shivat tzion became its source (and the reason for the controversy)

Part 6: The book of Chagai, and the Biblical roots of how and when we celebrate Chanuka

Part 7: From the concept of 'House for God' in Sefer Breishit, to the desire to rebuild the Temple in Sefer Zecharya

Part 8: How the book of Chronicles 'sets the stage' for understanding the prophetic purpose of the book of Ezra

Part 9: Zecharya chapters 1-6: The vision of the Menorah and the special relevance of the Haftara for Chanuka, as well as exploring it as the symbol of the modern state of Israel

Part 10: Zecharya chapters 7 & 8:  the reason for the 'Four Fasts' commemorating Jerusalem's destruction

Part 11: Chapter 6 & 7 in Sefer Ezra in Light of Chapter 7 & 8 in Sefer Zecharya

Part 12: The 'missing years' of the Second Temple Period & their 'prophetic' Purpose

Jan 17 Part 13: Ezra’s Aliyah, what he found and what he accomplished [Ezra chapters 7-10] :

Jan 24   Nechemya’s Aliyah, what he found and what he accomplished

Jan 31  - Who was Achashverosh of Megillat Esther, and why it makes a difference

Feb 7     Megillat Esther, and its prophetic purpose

Feb. 14th    - Was Amalek still around in Second Temple Period

Feb  21   Re-examining Megillat Esther & Shushan Purim in light of Zecharya

Feb 28   Was the Holyland ‘holy’ during the time of Ezra-Nechemya

March 7    The ‘New Deal’ in Nechemya chapters 8 thru 10