Philosophy

Creative Judaism · 15 May 2025

This video explores the legend of Rabbi Shimon Bar Yochai, a prominent Jewish sage from the Talmud, who, according to tradition, spent 13 years in a cave in order to hide from Roman persecution and dedicate himself to Torah study.

0 Philosophy Leadership

Publisher’s Note

Sapir · 14 May 2025

Power in Jewish communal life is increasingly viewed with skepticism, with funders, federations, and leaders often subject to criticism.

0 Philosophy Torah

#95: Venues of Reward and Punishment

Torah 101 · 14 May 2025

Rabbi Wolbe delves into the complexities of reward and punishment in Jewish theology, especially as articulated by the Rambam in his commentary on the Mishnah.

0 Leadership Philosophy

Reclaiming Shepherd Leadership — For Our Leaders, For Ourselves

Yiscah Smith in Lehrhaus · 13 May 2025

Yiscah Smith explores the concept of "shepherd leadership" in Jewish tradition, using Moses as a model.

0 Jewish Law Philosophy

Should Diaspora Jews be buried in Israel? A rabbi responds

Rabbi Daniel Cohen in Forward · 11 May 2025

Rabbi Daniel Cohen reflects on the profound decision of whether Diaspora Jews should be buried in Israel.

0 Politics Philosophy

Progressive Judaism must interrogate progressivism.

Benjamin Kerstein in Future of Jewish · 10 May 2025

Benjamin Kerstein argues that Progressive Judaism often subordinates Judaism to progressive values rather than allowing Jewish traditions to critically examine progressivism.

0 Philosophy Ethics

Evil Isn’t Banal. It’s Visceral.

Israel: State of a Nation · 10 May 2025

In a compelling discussion, Douglas Murray contends that philosopher Hannah Arendt's concept of the "banality of evil" misconstrues the true nature of evil.

0 Philosophy Jewish Law

Do I believe in God? I’m not sure. But I believe in His people.

Benjamin Kerstein in Future of Jewish · 7 May 2025

Benjamin Kerstein explores the nature of belief in Judaism, contrasting it with other Abrahamic faiths.

0 Philosophy Leadership

From grief to generosity: How legacy giving helps me remember my father — and shape a Jewish future

eJewishPhilanthropy · 7 May 2025

Rebecca Leibowitz Engel discusses how her father's sudden passing deepened her understanding of legacy giving and influenced her work in promoting legacy philanthropy through the Harold Grinspoon Foundation’s Life & Legacy program.

0 Jewish Law Philosophy

#94: The (Near Total) Inaccessibility of Spiritual Pleasure

Torah 101 · 7 May 2025

The episode explores Rambam's essay on eschatology, delving into spiritual pleasures and their inaccessibility to the body.

0 Culture Philosophy

Everything Jewish you need to know for the week of 5/4/2025

Chabad.org · 6 May 2025

This week's episode of "Your Jewish Week" podcast introduces listeners to a blend of intriguing and thought-provoking topics.

0 Culture Philosophy

Under Cover Notes

Sharona in Mishpacha · 6 May 2025

Sharona's humorous article explores the whimsical side of indecision, using a fictional letter from a former congregant suffering sleepless nights over a choice between luxury wristwatches as a case study.

0 Philosophy Jewish Law

The Right Kind of Fear

Sharona in Mishpacha · 6 May 2025

In a world rife with unpredictability and fear, the Jewish concept of bitachon, or trust in Hashem, offers a nuanced approach to navigating uncertainty.

0 Philosophy Politics

Wrestling with Martin Buber - The Zionist philosopher couldn’t escape a colonial mindset, but his binationalist vision offers a way forward in Israel/Palestine.

Raef Zreik in Jewish Currents · 6 May 2025

Martin Buber's vision of a Zionism integrated with Palestinian national interests presents an intellectual conundrum for Palestinian thinkers.

0 Philosophy History

Destiny divided: How Rav Soloveitchik’s vision shaped — and splintered — American Jewry

eJewishPhilanthropy · 6 May 2025

Rabbi Joseph B. Soloveitchik, a pivotal 20th-century Jewish thinker, sought to reconcile traditional Judaism with modern challenges through his concepts of Covenant of Fate and Covenant of Destiny.

0 Jewish Law Philosophy

Understanding the Mishkan and Qorbanot (2 of 3) - Freddie Grunsfeld

The Habura · 6 May 2025

Freddie Grunsfeld explores the symbolic and covenantal meanings of the Mishkan and the Korbanot, comparing them to the revelation at Sinai.

0 Philosophy History

Hitler was right to fear the Jews.

Raphael Shore in Future of Jewish · 5 May 2025

Raphael Shore's edited excerpt from his book, "Who's Afraid of the Big, Bad Jew: Learning to Love the Lessons of Jew-Hatred," explores the historic and philosophical reasons behind antisemitism, particularly focusing on the Nazis and Hitler's fear of Jewish influence.

0 Philosophy Communities

Divinity and History in the World of Chabad

Chesky Kopel in Lehrhaus · 5 May 2025

Eli Rubin's new book, "Kabbalah and the Rupture of Modernity: An Existential History of Chabad Hasidism," provides an in-depth analysis of Chabad thought through the lens of the kabbalistic concept of tzimtzum, or God's contraction to create the finite cosmos.

0 Philosophy Culture

I See Angels

Eric Suben in Lehrhaus · 5 May 2025

Exploring personal encounters through the metaphor of angels, Eric Suben reflects on how seemingly ordinary interactions have delivered profound messages at pivotal moments in his life.

0 Philosophy Jewish Law

Rabbi Yossi Paltiel’s SURPRISING Take On Soulmates

Chabad.org · 4 May 2025

Rabbi Yossi Paltiel provides a unique perspective on the concept of soulmates within Jewish thought, challenging conventional wisdom and offering fresh insights into how individuals can understand and approach the idea of soulmates.

0 Philosophy Jewish Law

The world isn’t falling apart. It’s growing up.

Sam Mitzmann in Future of Jewish · 2 May 2025

Sam Mitzmann reflects on the current state of the world, proposing that it is not collapsing but maturing.

0 Jewish Law Philosophy

Our 613 Love Languages

Dovid Bashevkin in Tablet · 2 May 2025

Dovid Bashevkin explores the unconventional consequences outlined in Tractate Makkot, such as the punishment for false witnesses (eidim zomemim) and the exile to cities of refuge (ir miklat) for accidental killers.

0 Philosophy History

Understanding Moshaich

Jewish History Uncensored · 1 May 2025

Rabbi Arnie Wittenstein explores the complex Jewish perspectives on Moshiach, focusing on the differing interpretations by the Rambam and Ramban, and the Tanachic parallels involved.

0 Israel Philosophy

Reishit Tzmichat Geulateinu?

Natan Slifkin in Rationalist Judaism · 1 May 2025

Natan Slifkin reflects on the prayer's description of the State of Israel as "reishit tzmichat geulateinu," or the "first sprouting of our redemption."

0 Philosophy History

In this Hegelian age, we should be talking about Herzl, not Trump

Robert Zaretsky in Forward · 30 Apr 2025

In exploring the philosophical concepts of Hegelianism and how they relate to contemporary figures like Donald Trump, Robert Zaretsky posits that rather than focusing on Hegelian world-historical individuals, we should consider individuals like Theodor Herzl in understanding modern challenges.

	Cindy Scarr
	Mira Fox
	Robert Zaretsky
	Natan Slifkin
	Peter Beinart
	Joshua Hoffman
	Steven Gotlib
	Michael Kurin
	PJ Grisar
	18Forty Staff

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