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

If you've enjoyed our podcast, please consider supporting the Yeshiva's annual scholarship campaign and help us ensure that no student in need of financial help is turned away. Thank...

Mysticism & Modern Jewish Life with Rav Dovid'l Weinberg

S1E12 · May 7, 2023 · 55:43

Why isn’t mysticism a more central piece of the contemporary religious experience? In this episode, Rav David Silverstein is joined by Rav Dovid’l Weinberg to explore the theological...

What Happened to Religious Zionism? with Rav Yitzchak Blau

S1E11 · April 23, 2023 · 51:00

In the current Israeli government, a distinct form of messianic religious Zionism is prevalent. However, what are the other religious Zionist models? In this episode, Rav David Silve...

Modern Orthodoxy and the Study of Mussar with Rav Judah Dardik

S1E10 · March 19, 2023 · 56:42

Why isn’t the study of Mussar a more central component of the Orthodox curriculum? In this episode, Rav David Silverstein is joined by Rav Judah Dardik to discuss his unique Mussar c...

Judaism and the Future of AI with Dr. Aaron Segal

S1E9 · March 5, 2023 · 57:13

What makes human beings unique? Does Judaism think that an AI machine can acquire a soul?  In this episode, Rav David Silverstein is joined by Dr. Aaron Segal of Hebrew University to...

Should an Agnostic Jew Still Pray? with Rav Dovid'l Weinberg

S1E8 · February 19, 2023 · 52:53

Why do Jews pray? Is the prayer experience valuable only to those who have devout faith? In this episode, Rav David Silverstein is joined by Rav Dovid'l Weinberg for a discussion abo...

Can Postmodernism & Traditional Judaism Coexist? with Rav Levi Morrow

S1E7 · February 5, 2023 · 36:39

Rabbi Shimon Gershon Rosenberg (Rav Shagar) was one of the most influential Religious Zionist thinkers. In this episode, Rav David Silverstein is joined by Yeshivat Orayta alum Rav L...

Finding Meaning in Halakhic Details with Rav Yitzchak Blau

S1E6 · January 22, 2023 · 46:23

How are the details of halakhic life related to the Torah's larger vision for society? In this podcast, Rav David Silverstein and Rav Yitzchak Blau address this question while provid...

Ben Shapiro and the Challenge of Jewish Ethics: A Conversation with Rabbi Dr. Tzvi Sinensky

S1E5 · January 8, 2023 · 45:14

In a provocative essay, Ben Shapiro claims that "the Torah’s worldview is most valuable precisely where there is controversy." He then accuses Orthodox leaders of an unwillingness to...

Faith & Doubt - Talking in Learning with Rav Yitzchak Blau & Rav David Silverstein

S1E4 · December 18, 2022 · 47:11

Rav Yitzchak Blau and Rav David Silverstein reflect on how their upbringings ground their respective worldviews, chart how their beliefs about belief have shifted over time, and disc...

Israel: Theocracy or Democracy? with Rav Noam Himelstein & Rav Adi Krohn

S1E3 · November 27, 2022 · 38:33

Israel's Declaration of Independence describes a nation founded on values "as envisaged by the prophets of Israel" yet stops short of any mention of democracy. What does this mean fo...