Madlik Podcast – Disruptive Torah Thoughts on Judaism
180 episodes - English - Latest episode: 11 days ago - ★★★★★ - 8 ratingsMadlik – Disruptive Torah thoughts from a post-orthodox Jew with a life-long love and appreciation of Jewish texts and a fresh and sometimes heterodox perspective on their meaning, intent and practical (halachic) implications.
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Episodes
Madlik Model Seder 2024
April 18, 2024 02:33 - 50 minutes - 40.4 MBJoin Geoffrey Stern and Rabbi Mintz recorded on Clubhouse. This year our Seder will be different from other seders. For the first time in many of our lives it will be a Leil Shemorim, a night of concern; a night of uncertainty, fatigue and confusion. So, let’s follow the advice of the Rabbis to see ourselves as though we too are leaving our Egypt. Join us as we recast the ancient texts of the Haggadah for our generation and our challenging times. Sefaria Source Sheet: www.sefaria.org/she...
From Farm to Table - Organic Israeli Judaism
April 12, 2024 03:31 - 41 minutes - 33.5 MBOn the last day of a wartime visit to Israel, I visit the Shittim Institute; The Kibbutz Institute for Holidays and Jewish Culture, situated on kibbutz Beit Hashita in Northern Israel. I recently discovered this amazing institute when I purchased a first edition Kibbutz Be'eri Haggadah from 1950. I was researching the provenance of this new edition to my collection when I learned that Machon Shittim has the most extensive and unique archive of what I now recognize as Yahadut Yisraeli, organi...
Where have all the helmets gone?
April 05, 2024 13:54 - 38 minutes - 30.9 MBA conversation in Jerusalem with Professor Daniel Polisar, co-founder of Shalem College and his assistant, Hannah Liberman. We talk about the miraculous and sui generis emergence of the Hamal Yerushalyim; The Jerusalem Civilian Command Center at the beginning of the October 7th War. We also try to quantify and comprehend the IDF’s cataclysmic failure to provide basic protective gear for Israeli troops. Transcript here: https://madlik.com/2024/04/05/where-have-all-the-helmets-gone/
Haredi Soldiers Speak
April 01, 2024 20:49 - 16 minutes - 13.5 MBJoin Geoffrey Stern in the Negev to meet with soldiers in the 97th Netzah Yehuda Battalion, previously known as Nahal Haredi, a battalion in the Kfir Brigade of the Israel Defense Forces. The soldiers are all Haredi and you will be hearing first from the commander and then from one of the new recruits, both of which spoke English and approached me to tell their story. While the government of Israel is on the brink of collapsing over the issue of haredi draft, these young soldiers provide a ...
Veterans of the Yom Kippur War - Optimism and Protest
March 30, 2024 12:56 - 36 minutes - 29.2 MBJoin us for a conversation with Elimelech Crystal; one of the leaders of Beyahad Em Lochamey Kippur 1973, an organization dedicated to supporting Israel's combat soldiers while at the same time protesting the current government. Transcipt on episode web page: https://madlik.com/2024/03/30/veterans-of-the-yom-kippur-war-are-heard/
The Next Day with Ruth Calderon
March 27, 2024 17:25 - 30 minutes - 24.7 MBJoin Geoffrey Stern in conversation with Ruth Calderon. In Israel while the war in Gaza rages on and with over 100 hostages still in captivity, we sit down with Talmud scholar and founder of Amla; Ruth Calderon to discuss the need to reclaim Jewish texts and create a shared cultural language in Israel..... now more than ever. Sefaria Source Sheet: www.sefaria.org/sheets/554640 Transcript on episode web page: https://madlik.com/2024/03/27/the-next-day-with-ruth-calderon/
Torat Cohanim - Then and Now
March 22, 2024 02:56 - 36 minutes - 29.2 MBJoin Geoffrey Stern and Rabbi Mintz recorded on Clubhouse. The Book of Vayikra (Leviticus) is also called Torat Cohanim (The Priestly Torah) and has traditionally been the first book to be studied by children in the Cheder. Today there is a growing and no longer fringe group of Mikdashnikim who want to rebuild the Temple. So today, from the mouth of babes up until the present we will trace and try to understand the unique place these laws play in Jewish theology and modern Israeli politics....
Transparency, Accountability and Citation
March 15, 2024 04:09 - 45 minutes - 36.8 MBJoin Geoffrey Stern and Rabbi Adam Mintz recorded on Clubhouse. Moses feels obliged to acknowledge the individuals who designed and built the Tabernacle and to provide an exact accounting of all the funds used. We explore the profound place that transparency, accountability and most of all; honoring one’s sources, play in Jewish tradition, culture and in light of the reckoning that lies ahead for the State of Israel and the Jewish People… will play in the future of our people. Sefaria Sour...
Shekels Count
March 08, 2024 04:57 - 28 minutes - 23 MBJoin Geoffrey Stern and Rabbi Adam Mintz recorded on Clubhouse. By tradition, the holiday of Passover is preceded by five specially named Shabbatot. The first is called Shekalim and we discuss the meaning of this shabbat in light of both Rabbinic and New Testament texts and in the process join our forebears in preparing for the Spring awakening. Sefaria Source Sheet: www.sefaria.org/sheets/549744 Transcript on episode web page: https://madlik.com/2024/03/06/shekels-count/
Human and Divine Interactions
March 01, 2024 06:21 - 35 minutes - 28.7 MBJoin Geoffrey Stern and rabbi Adam Mintz recorded on Clubhouse. We invite Berel Dov Lerner the author of recently published: Human-Divine Interactions in the Hebrew Scriptures to discuss his book and his premise of Covenants and Cross-Purposes. We’ll use a simple basin made of pedestrian copper found in the Tabernacle as our point of departure. Sefaria Source Sheet: www.sefaria.org/sheets/547714 Transcript on episode web page: https://madlik.com/2024/02/29/human-divine-interactions/
The Sorcerers Apprentice
February 22, 2024 22:57 - 37 minutes - 29.8 MBJoin Geoffrey Stern and Rabbi Adam Mintz recorded on Clubhouse. We explore the enigma of the Urim and Thummim; the priestly breastplate, especially within the context of the Torah’s explicit rejection of sorcery and divination. And we wonder …. We wonder about contemporary incarnations of divination and prophesy in the form of opinion-polling and social media engagement. Sefaria Source Sheet: www.sefaria.org/sheets/546029 Transcript on episode web page: https://madlik.com/2024/02/21/the...
Paradigm Shift
February 16, 2024 02:46 - 33 minutes - 27 MBJoin Geoffrey Stern and Rabbiu Adam Mintz recorded on Clubhouse. According to Rabbinic tradition Moses was shown a paradigm of the Menorah but was uncertain how to translate the vision into reality of the moment. Bezalel had no such reservations and succeeded where Moses failed. We use this tradition to explore the modern concept of Paradigm Shift and wonder whether we are at such an inflection point today. Sefaria Source Sheet: www.sefaria.org/sheets/544480 Transcript on episode web pag...
The Black Church and Israel
February 09, 2024 02:44 - 34 minutes - 27.6 MBJoin Geoffrey Stern, Rabbi Adam Mintz and special guest, the Reverand Dumisani Washington recorded on Clubhouse. As the rubber meets the road and the Torah begins to translate its vision of liberation into practical rules and regulations, we sense a pattern. The Torah starts by addressing a legal institution close to home; slavery, and provides laws of emancipation. Next the Torah begins to create social solidarity amongst this previously persecuted multitude. Finally the Torah addresses a n...
Jethro and the Druze
February 02, 2024 00:48 - 31 minutes - 25.3 MBJoin Geoffrey Stern, Rabbi Adam Mintz and special guest Shikh Muhan Fares for a discussion recorded on Clubhouse.. We celebrate Yitro and our Druze brothers and sisters. We marvel at the superlatives that the Torah uses to describe Jethro and how the same characteristics of loyalty, leadership and integrity are showcased by Israeli Druze today…. and maybe in the process, we learn a little bit more about the Druze and about ourselves. Sefaria Source Sheet: www.sefaria.org/sheets/541621 T...
Nachshon and Action Bias
January 26, 2024 04:22 - 33 minutes - 26.6 MBJoin Geoffrey Stern and Rabbi Adam Mintz recorded on Clubhouse. Nachshon is the posterchild of what Heschel called “Praying with your feet”. He personifies Judaism’s clear bias for action over the status quo, action over prayer and even action over reflection. Today we explore the darker side of Nachshon and the potential deficiencies of Action Bias in decision theory. Sefaria Source Sheet: www.sefaria.org/sheets/539799 Transcript on episode web page: https://madlik.com/2024/01/24/n...
Entitlement Reform
January 19, 2024 02:04 - 31 minutes - 25.2 MBJoin Geoffrey Stern and Rabbi Adam Mintz recorded on Clubhouse. Of all the plagues, only the plague of the firstborn carries a timeless message. It represents the culmination of the Torah’s critique of primogeniture and takes on a life of its own in the Israelite law of the firstborn and first fruits. So join us as we explore how the death of the firstborn impacts the message of the Exodus. Sefaria Source Sheet: www.sefaria.org/sheets/538044 Transcript onm episode web page: https://madl...
MLK and Exodus
January 12, 2024 03:21 - 49 minutes - 39.6 MBJoin Geoffrey Stern and Rabbi Adam Mintz recorded on Clubhouse. We explore Martin Luthur King Jr.’s iconic “I have a Dream” speech along with an interview he gave at the Convention of the Rabbinical Assembly for Conservative Judaism, a year after the 6 Day War and 10 days before he was assassinated. We will showcase King’s identification with a prophetic tradition which saw the universality of the Exodus story without diminishing its unique message for the Children of Israel. Sefaria Sourc...
Exodus and the birth of a nation
January 05, 2024 01:29 - 33 minutes - 27.2 MBJoin Geoffrey Stern and Rabbi Adam MIntz recorded on Clubhouse. Following Classical Rabbinic sources that show a link between the Family Story of Genesis and the Birth of a Nation Story of Exodus we review a recently published book: Why the Bible Began: An Alternative History of Scripture and its Origins by Jacob Wright and reflect on what made the Hebrew Bible so unique and its message so eternally timely. Sefaria Source Sheet: www.sefaria.org/sheets/534972 Transcript on episode websit...
Until Shiloh Comes
December 29, 2023 03:03 - 42 minutes - 34.2 MBJoin Geoffrey Stern and Rabbi Adam Mintz recorded on Clubhouse. As we complete the book of Genesis, we look at a few verses that have been interpreted by both Jewish and Christian exegetes and explore how these commentaries may have been a conversation rather than a polemic. In the process, and without ignoring the divisive nature of religion, we wonder at the power of scripture and the potential for religion to bring us together. Sefaria Source Sheet: www.sefaria.org/sheets/533990 Tran...
A Wonderful Life
December 22, 2023 02:48 - 34 minutes - 27.8 MBJoin Geoffey Stern and Rabbi Adam Mintz recorded on Clubhouse. Joseph is confronted with his long-lost family who thought he had died. It is the so called: “holiday season” which can be a difficult time. While many of us celebrate, some of us wonder, with the passing of another season, of another year, what difference has our life made. In wartime, with our finest youth being cut down before the prime of their life we anguish, what difference could they have made. So join us as we ponder: A...
Appeasement in its time
December 01, 2023 05:26 - 31 minutes - 25.3 MBJoin Geoffrey Stern and Rabbi Adam Mintz recorded on Clubhouse. Jacob, now called Israel, approaches is estranged brother with trepidation. He splits his clan in half in order to minimize any losses and he sends gifts and otherwise tries to appease Esau. We explore appeasement and compromise in the Torah and Rabbinic Literature. Sefaria Source sheet: www.sefaria.org/sheets/528058 Transcript on episode web page: https://madlik.com/2023/11/29/appeasement-in-its-time/
Conflict Resolution
November 23, 2023 02:10 - 29 minutes - 23.9 MBJoin Geoffrey Stern and Rabbi Adam Mintz recorded on Clubhouse. In a week where indirect negotiations between Israel and Hamas, mediated by Qatar and with pressure from the public and the US have appeared to have reached a tentative and partial hostage deal, we explore, what according to Rabbinic tradition was the first instance of an anti-Israel campaign and its resolution. Is this a model of how we deal with our neighbors with whom we disagree? What are the lessons to be learnt? Sefaria ...
In Conversation with Rabbi David Stav
November 16, 2023 19:46 - 36 minutes - 29.3 MBRav Stav is the co-founder of the Tzohar, a rabbinical organization which aims to provide religious services to and create dialogue with the broader Israeli population. He also serves as the rabbi of the city of Shoham. Previously he served as the rabbi of the religious film school, Maale, and was one of the founding heads of Yeshivat Hesder Petach Tikva. He is the author of Bein Ha-Zemanim, a book about culture and recreation in Jewish thought and law. One of Israel’s most visible rabbinic...
Women Wage War
November 10, 2023 03:04 - 30 minutes - 24.1 MBJoin Geoffrey Stern and Rabbi Adam Mintz recorded on Clubhouse. In the only parsha named after a woman we continue our exploration of issues raised by Israel at war. In the Jewish State, Jewish law (Halacha) has exclusive jurisdiction over marriage and divorce for Jews. One area where Orthodox women have radically broken with Rabbinic authority is with regard to divorce. Traditionally women have been at the mercy of the patriarchy, whether their husbands or the rabbinic courts. These women,...
Making a Place for the Displaced
November 03, 2023 03:13 - 40 minutes - 32.3 MBJoin Geoffrey Stern and Rabbi Adam Mintz recorded on Clubhouse. Over 250,000 innocent civilians have been displaced since the advent of the Oct 7th war from both the South and the North of Israel. Volunteers, non-government organizations and tech workers who were organizing protests a month ago have taken the lead in welcoming these fugitives and providing all sorts of support, both physical, spiritual, social and psychological. Join us as we study a parsha that celebrates the hosting of gue...
Abraham and the Birth of the Jewish Problem
October 27, 2023 01:58 - 33 minutes - 26.9 MBJoin Geoffrey Stern and Rabbi Adam Mintz recorded on Clubhouse. What about Abraham was so radical? What about Abraham has created such extremes of love and hate… such rivalry, such animosity, such promise and such despair? Sefaria Source Sheet: www.sefaria.org/sheets/520323 Transcript on episode web page: https://madlik.com/2023/10/25/abraham-and-the-birth-of-anit-semitism/
A Tzaddik in Peltz
October 20, 2023 02:22 - 38 minutes - 30.9 MBJoin Geoffrey Stern and Rabbi Adam Mintz recorded on Clubhouse. Noah has been denigrated for saving only himself and his family and not for saving all of humanity. In a world where victims and survivors of terrorism are vilified and protecting ones life and the security of ones family a sin, we look at Noah differently and learn something about ourselves and our enemies. Sefaria Source Sheet: www.sefaria.org/sheets/518474 Transcript on Episode Web page: https://madlik.com/2023/10/18/a-tz...
A Single Life
October 13, 2023 02:23 - 34 minutes - 27.3 MBJoin Geoffrey Stern and Rabbi Mintz recorded on Clubhouse. As Hamas finally achieves its goal of massacring thousands of Israelis, we reconsider the Talmudic saying that man was created single to teach that for anybody who destroys a single life it is counted as if he destroyed an entire world. So join us as we mourn and Study Torah.... Sefaria Source Sheet: www.sefaria.org/sheets/516652 Transcript: https://madlik.com/2023/10/11/a-single-life/
Learning Torah for a Living
October 06, 2023 02:30 - 38 minutes - 31.1 MBJoin Geoffrey Stern and Rabbi Adam Mintz recorded on Clubhouse. As we finish the annual Torah cycle we use the legendary partnership between Zebulun and Issachar to explore Rabbinic Judaism’s various and many times conflicting position on financial support for Torah Study. Sefaria Source Sheet: www.sefaria.org/sheets/515056 Transcript on Episode web page: https://madlik.com/2023/10/04/learning-torah-for-a-living/
The Yom Kippur Sermon I Wanted to Hear
September 28, 2023 02:02 - 28 minutes - 22.6 MBJoin Geoffrey Stern recorded on Clubhouse as he preaches the Yom Kippur Sermon on the 50th Anniversary of the Yom Kippur War and while 100s of thousand Iisraeli citizens are protesting on a weekly basis for the soul of Israel and the future of the Jewish People. Sefaria Source Sheet: www.sefaria.org/sheets/513577 Transcripton on episode website: https://madlik.com/2023/09/26/the-yom-kippur-sermon-i-wanted-to-hear/
Inventing Traditon
September 22, 2023 02:20 - 34 minutes - 27.8 MBJoin Geoffrey Stern and Rabbi Adam Mintz recorded on Clubhouse. We have previously remarked that the ultra-orthodox are re-creating a world and traditions that never existed. Moses admonishes the Children of Israel to “Ask your parent, who will inform you” and we explore the function and exploitation of custom in the Rabbinic Tradition up unto today. Sefaria Source Sheet: www.sefaria.org/sheets/512114 Transcript on episode web page: https://madlik.com/2023/09/20/inventing-tradition/
What will the goyim say?
September 08, 2023 04:11 - 36 minutes - 29.1 MBJoin Geoffrey Stern and Rabbi Adam Mintz recorded on Clubhouse. One of the arguments that you hear for not supporting the current demonstrations in Israel is that they are supported or funded by foreign players or …. that criticizing the Government of Israel will provide fodder to our enemies. And so …. we examine a deep-seeded reflex of the Ancient Israelites and their heirs to focus on foreign opinion and blame foreign intervention to vindicate their shortcomings. Sefaria Source Sheet:...
Read it till the end...
September 01, 2023 02:59 - 38 minutes - 31 MBJoin Geoffrey Stern and Rabbi Adam Mintz recorded on Clubhouse. We re-visit Bikkurim; the offering of the First Fruits to the priest. We explore the development of this parsha from its ancient beginnings where it excluded everyone besides a male landowner through Rabbinic literature up until the present where it is used to accommodate converts and gender differences. Sefaria Source Sheet: www.sefaria.org/sheets/507524 Transcript on episode web page: https://madlik.com/2023/08/30/read-...
God - hanging here from these gallows
August 25, 2023 03:02 - 43 minutes - 34.8 MBJoin Geoffrey Stern and Rabbi Adam Mintz recorded on Clubhouse. The Biblical prohibition against leaving a human being unburied overnight; no matter how unworthy the deceased may be, has both practical and profound lessons …. which we shall explore. Sefaria Source Sheet: https://www.sefaria.org/sheets/506265 Transcript on episode web page: https://madlik.com/2023/08/23/god-hanging-here-from-these-gallows/
Courting Justice
August 18, 2023 02:34 - 40 minutes - 32.5 MBJoin Geoffrey Stern and Rabbi Adam Mintz recorded on Clubhouse. As the State of Israel is polarized by the role and authority of the Supreme Court we read the Biblical injunction to provide Judges and pursue Justice. We will study the primary sources and we wonder ….. why both sides are claiming the mantle of Democracy but no one in the Jewish State is discussing Judaism! So join us for Courting Justice. Sefaria source Sheet: https://www.sefaria.org/sheets/505087 Transcipt: http...
Next Year in Yavneh
August 11, 2023 03:54 - 34 minutes - 27.5 MBJoin Geoffrey Stern and Rabbi Adam Mintz recorded on Clubhouse. Deuteronomy, and only Deuteronomy stipulates … over 20 times, centralized worship in what ultimately became Jerusalem. The Samaritans accepted this centralized approach but substitute Mt. Gerizim for Jerusalem. The Essenes rejected Jerusalem and its corrupt priests and power-brokers and moved to the desert to achieve spiritual purity. Finally the Rabbis ….. chose Yavneh and it’s scholars… and we discuss.... Sefaria Source Shee...
A Jewish Homeland or a Homeland for the Jews?
August 04, 2023 03:04 - 37 minutes - 30.1 MBJoin Geoffrey Stern and rabbi Adam Mintz, recorded on Clubhouse. Moses links the rights the Israelites have to occupy their homeland with the radically contingent nature of those rights. We marvel at how when asked what is the most important concept in the Torah, Israelis almost always answer ‘am segulah’ … a Chosen People, or the like and the Americans almost always answer ‘tikkun olam’ or the like. So, join us as we attempt to unravel this riddle. Sefaria Source Sheet: https://www.sefar...
Tisha B'Av Came Early This Year
July 27, 2023 23:29 - 39 minutes - 31.5 MBJoin Geoffrey Stern and Rabbi Adam Mintz recorded on Tisha B'av 2023 / 5783. In this past week, Israel has been subjected to nationwide protests, potentially catastrophic strikes, deep division and a total lack of political leadership culminating in a rash move by the Knesset. We’ve seen this movie before… so we mourn, we learn and maybe we discover a glimmer of hope. Sefaria Source Sheet: https://www.sefaria.org/sheets/501664 Transcript on episode web page: https://madlik.com/2023/07...
Eleven Days from Horeb
July 21, 2023 02:54 - 31 minutes - 25.1 MBJoin Geoffrey Stern and Rabbi Adam Mintz recorded on Clubhouse. Moses tries to (re)formulate the message of the Torah for a new generation which did not know the Exodus. The founders of the State of Israel chose not to write a constitution and we wonder if and how the ideals of those who established the State of Israel can guide a new generation. Sefaria Source Sheeet: https://www.sefaria.org/sheets/500692 Transcript on episode web page: https://madlik.com/2023/07/19/eleven-days-from-hor...
no promises
July 14, 2023 03:27 - 35 minutes - 28.7 MBJoin Geoffrey Stern and Rabbi Adam Mintz recorded on Clubhouse. In all honesty, we really can’t promise to light a spark or shed some light on this week’s parsha but we will, bli neder, review the laws of making and annulling vows and in so doing explore the ambiguous relationship that Judaism has with keeping one’s word. Sefaria Source Sheet: www.Sefaria.org/sheets/499543 Transcript on episode website: https://madlik.com/2023/07/12/no-promises/
Party On
July 07, 2023 04:34 - 35 minutes - 28.5 MBJoin Geoffrey Stern and Rabbi Adam Mintz recorded on Clubhouse as we review the literature on the obscure word "Atzeret" which can variously mean an assembly, a captive audience, a day-off from work or an after-party. With particular focus on "after-party" we use Atzeret as an opportunity to explore the concept of The Feast in the Ancient Near East and in the Torah. Sefaria Source Sheet: https://www.sefaria.org/sheets/497992 Transcript on episode web page: https://madlik.com/2023/07/0...
To Hit or not Hit the Rock
June 29, 2023 23:05 - 30 minutes - 24.8 MBJoin Rabbi Adam Mintz and Rabbi Avraham Bronstein recorded on Clubhouse. This week while Geoffrey is Island hopping in Greece Madlik hosts a lively discussion between his two favorite co-hosts as they discuss the dramatic episode of Moses seeming disregard for God's command to talk to the rock and his fatal decision to strike it. Sefaria Source Sheet: https://www.sefaria.org/sheets/497433 Transcript on episode page: https://wordpress.com/post/madlik.com/4231
The People v. Korach
June 22, 2023 20:02 - 34 minutes - 27.8 MBJoin Geoffrey Stern and Rabbi Adam Mintz recorded on Clubhouse. We sense that Korach’s rebellion has something to do with correct governance and even democracy, it’s just not clear what the message is and whose side we’re on. Join us as we survey Classical Jewish and philisophic literature on Korach and the enigma of Democracy. Sefaria Source Sheet: https://www.sefaria.org/sheets/496058 Transcript on episode web page: https://madlik.com/2023/06/21/the-people-v-korach/
The Grasshopper Mentality and the New Jew
June 16, 2023 03:04 - 44 minutes - 35.3 MBJoin Geoffrey Stern and Rabbi Adam Mintz recorded on June 15th 202 on Clubhouse. The Biblical Spies looked like grasshoppers to themselves and so they imagined in the eyes of others. We review Rabbinic and later Zionist texts as we explore the pitfalls of a Slave and Ghetto mentality up until today. Sefaria Source Sheet: https://www.sefaria.org/sheets/494982 Transcript of episode web page: https://madlik.com/2023/06/14/the-grasshopper-mentality-and-the-new-jew/
Kosher Queer
June 09, 2023 02:25 - 39 minutes - 31.4 MBJoin Geoffrey Stern and Rabbi Adam Mintz recorded on June 8th 2023 on Clubhouse. Pesah Sheni, the makeover Passover has been adopted by the Orthodox LGBTQ community as a Biblical holiday to accept different pathways, identities and evolutions amongst the Jewish People. We review the sources and celebrate! Sefaria Source Sheet: https://www.sefaria.org/sheets/493778 Transcript on episode web page: https://madlik.com/2023/06/07/kosher-queer/
Truth or Dare
June 02, 2023 03:24 - 50 minutes - 40.5 MBJoin Geoffrey Stern and Rabbi Adam Mintz recorded on Clubhouse on June 1st 2023. We compare and contrast the Biblical Sotah (Suspected Woman) and the ritual of the bitter waters to the trial by ordeal found in ancient societies up until the Salem Witch Trials. We ask, what we can learn from this primitive form of justice. Sefaria Source sheet: https://www.sefaria.org/sheets/492460 Transcript on episode web page: https://madlik.com/2023/06/01/truth-or-dare/
The Echo from Sinai
May 26, 2023 06:24 - 48 minutes - 38.5 MBJoin Geoffrey Stern for live Shavuot night learning on Clubhouse. We’ll prove, with the help of Yehudah Halevi, and beyond the shadow of a doubt, that the Torah was given at Sinai. In the process, we hope to share an insight into the meaning and challenge of Sinai. Sefaria Source Sheet: https://www.sefaria.org/sheets/489667 Transcript on episode web page: https://madlik.com/2023/05/24/the-echo-of-sinai/
God wants you to serve
May 19, 2023 03:17 - 39 minutes - 31.7 MBJoin Geoffrey Stern and Rabbi Adam Mintz recorded on May 18th 2023 on Clubhouse. The Torah counts every able-bodied male to serve in the army and to pay their share of taxes and we look at the Haredi demand that they be exempt from military service and subsidized by the State and wonder…. why? Sefaria Source Sheet: https://www.sefaria.org/sheets/487982 Transcript on episode web page: https://madlik.com/2023/05/18/god-wants-you-to-serve/
Prozbul & Iska LLC
May 12, 2023 04:25 - 31 minutes - 25 MBJoin Geoffrey Stern and Rabbi Adam Mintz recorded on May 11th 2023 on Clubhouse. We marvel at how Rabbinic Judaism modified if not totally abrogated explicite Biblical injunctions against selling land in perpetuioty and taking interest on loans. Using the Pruzbol and Heter Iska as case studies we explore the audacity of Rabbinic Judaism. Sefaria Source Sheet: https://www.sefaria.org/sheets/486023 Transcript on episode web page: https://madlik.com/2023/05/10/prozbul-and-iska-llc/
rounding the corner
May 05, 2023 04:23 - 34 minutes - 28 MBJoin Geoffrey Stern and Rabbi Adam Mintz recorded on May 4th 2023 on Clubhouse. This week’s Torah portion is Emor. In it we come across the source for the tradition for Jewish men to grow beards and Peyot (side curls) and the prohibition to cut the corners of the beard. We are struck by a recurring theme of the holiness of the corner whether in beard grooming, agricultural laws or in the four-cornered garment and we wonder whether there is something more at play. Sefaria Source Sheet: htt...