Episodes

Should Jewish Leaders Dialogue with Moderate Muslims? with Rav Yaakov Nagen

S3E3 · November 3, 2024 · 50:07

Is 'fundamentalist Islam' a misnomer? What Muslim voices authentically represent traditional Islam? In this episode Rav David Silverstein is joined by Rav Yaakov Nagen to discuss the...

How Is Learning Gemara Religiously Meaningful? A Centrist Orthodox Perspective with Rav Yitzchak Blau

S3E2 · October 13, 2024 · 49:03

Gemara learning dominates the Centrist Orthodox Yeshiva curriculum. Do Centrist Orthodox Yeshivot approach Gemara differently than their Chareidi counterparts? Are there varied persp...

How Is Learning Gemara Religiously Meaningful? A Chareidi Perspective with Rav Gavriel Singer

S3E1 · September 15, 2024 · 49:42

How should we understand the central role of the Talmud Bavli in Chareidi communities? What are the goals of the 'Ivies' of the Yeshiva World? How does intensive focus on the Gemara ...

Should We Celebrate the Downfall of Our Enemies? A Special Episode for Pesach with Rav Yitzchak Blau

S2E12 · April 14, 2024 · 49:45

Many observant Jews have a seder night custom to spill out some wine from their cups during the recitation of the ten plagues. What is the source of this custom? Does it reflect a Je...

Is Hamas Amalek? A Special Episode for Parshat Zachor with Rabbi Dr. Shlomo Brody

S2E11 · March 20, 2024 · 47:35

This Shabbat, Jews across this world will read the Torah portion describing the requirement to eradicate Amalek. Does this mitzvah have any practical relevance nowadays? What about t...

When Even Grandparents Are Drafted with Rav Binny Freedman [Israel at War, Part 8]

S2E10 · February 11, 2024 · 52:30

After serving for many years as a Company Commander in the IDF, Rav Binny Freedman has experienced himself in a new role since October 7th—‘drafted,’ as a grandparent. Like hundreds ...

What We Misunderstood Before October 7th with Akiva Bigman [Israel at War, Part 7]

S2E9 · January 28, 2024 · 01:01:59

Prior to October 7th, the Israeli political and military establishment mistakenly thought that Hamas was deterred from attacking Israel. What other misconceptions lay behind Israeli ...

October 7th & National Teshuva with Rabbi Dr. Joshua Berman [Israel at War, Part 6]

S2E8 · January 14, 2024 · 47:25

Traditional Jewish theology understands that a national crisis can serve as a catalyst for collective reflection and teshuva. What can we learn from the horrors of October 7th? What ...

A Civic Vision for the Day After with JJ Sussman [Israel at War, Part 5]

S2E7 · December 31, 2023 · 52:27

2023 was one of the most divisive years in Israel's history. Polarization and the debate surrounding the judicial reform lead Israel to the brink of civil war culminating in altercat...

Ultra-Orthodox Jews and their Changing Relationship with the State of Israel with Rabbi Yehoshua Pfeffer [Israel at War, Part 4]

S2E6 · December 10, 2023 · 01:05:55

Israeli ultra-Orthodoxy has maintained an isolationist stance toward the general public in Israel since the State’s founding. In the aftermath of October 7th, however, segments of th...

Anti-Semitism, Free Speech, and the Challenge of the West with Dr. Russ Roberts [Israel at War, Part 3]

S2E5 · November 19, 2023 · 58:53

In the aftermath of the horrific attack by Hamas on October 7th, anti-semitic incidents have drastically increased worldwide. How should open societies committed to the freedom of ex...

The Ethics of War with Rabbi Dr. Shlomo Brody [Israel at War, Part 2]

S2E4 · November 12, 2023 · 55:03

Western media often criticizes the IDF for "collective punishment" and a lack of proportionality in its military response to Hamas’s horrific attacks on October 7th.  How are we supp...

How Can Torah Sources Help Us Navigate This Difficult Time? with Rav Yitzchak Blau [Israel at War, Part 1]

S2E3 · October 29, 2023 · 42:10

What Torah sources can we look to for guidance during our current crisis? How should we understand the rise in global anti-semitism and the shocking support for Hamas on some univers...

Gemara, Halakha & Chazal's Unique Conception of Law with Professor Chaim Saiman [Gemara, Part 2]

S2E2 · September 10, 2023 · 01:04:26

What is halakha? Is it just a system of law or also a legal medium to discuss some of Judaism's most weighty religious questions? In this episode, Rav David Silverstein is joined by ...

Why Is Gemara So Central to Orthodox Jewish Life? with Rabbi Yehuda Turetsky [Gemara, Part 1]

S2E1 · August 27, 2023 · 01:03:27

The study of Gemara dominates the daily schedule of most yeshivot. Beyond yeshiva, Daf Yomi has become an international phenomenon with people taking time out of their daily schedule...

Personal Perspectives on Divine Providence with Rav Binny Freedman [Divine Providence, Part 2]

S1E17 · August 6, 2023 · 57:43

After a survey of different approaches to divine providence in the last episode, Rav Binny Freedman joins Rav David Silverstein to discuss what role theology should play in our lives...

How Much Does God Intervene in Our Daily Lives? with Rabbi Netanel Wiederblank [Divine Providence, Part 1]

S1E16 · July 16, 2023 · 58:25

The question of divine providence is one of the most complex questions in Jewish thought, affecting our day-to-day experience of the world. In this episode, Rav David Silverstein is ...

The Role of Gedolim in Modern Judaism with Rav Yitzchak Blau [Rabbinic Authority, Part 2]

S1E15 · July 2, 2023 · 51:32

Why is the "Gadol" (great rabbinic figure) so central to many Orthodox communities? Do centrist or liberal Orthodox communities relate differently to Gedolim than their Charedi count...

Rabbinic Authority and the Technological Revolution with Rav Elli Fischer [Rabbinic Authority, Part 1]

S1E14 · June 18, 2023 · 01:10:37

How have new technologies changed people’s relationship to rabbinic authority? How have rabbis responded to these challenges? In this episode Rav David Silverstein is joined by Rav E...

Medical Ethics and the Modern State of Israel with Rabbi Dr. Shlomo Brody

S1E13 · May 21, 2023 · 49:58

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