Daily Podcasts Video Research
Rationalist Judaism Clueless People 26 Mar
Natan Slifkin addresses misconceptions among American Orthodox Jews regarding the political and economic dynamics of Israel, particularly focusing on the dif...
26 Mar
Rationalist Judaism Thief, Robber, or Liar? 23 Mar
Natan Slifkin critically examines the recent comments by Yitzchok Goldknopf, leader of the Torah party under Agudas Yisrael and Minister of Housing Developme...
23 Mar
Rationalist Judaism From Madness to Insanity 21 Mar
Rabbi Natan Slifkin discusses the growing political insanity in Israel, particularly focusing on Prime Minister Netanyahu's recent actions and statements. Sl...
21 Mar
Rationalist Judaism Self-Churban, Episode LXXI 18 Mar
Natan Slifkin critiques the current stance of Charedi and political leaders in Israel who support the exemption of Charedi Jews from military service. Citing...
18 Mar
Rationalist Judaism The Mad King 17 Mar
Natan Slifkin criticizes Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, depicting him as a leader overtaken by self-interest and tyrannical tendencies. He detail...
17 Mar
Rationalist Judaism Happy Purim? 14 Mar
Natan Slifkin expresses his deepening concerns about global and domestic challenges faced by Israel, affecting his mood during the Purim celebrations. Addres...
14 Mar
Rationalist Judaism Torah vs. Daas Torah, Yet Again 11 Mar
Natan Slifkin critiques the distortion of Torah teachings by charedi leaders to oppose drafting yeshiva students into the IDF. He highlights a recent announc...
11 Mar
Rationalist Judaism Saving Charedim, Saving Israel 8 Mar
Natan Slifkin addresses the looming economic and security crises posed by the growing Charedi population in Israel, which largely eschews secular education a...
8 Mar
Rationalist Judaism "No Other Land" 6 Mar
Natan Slifkin addresses the complex reactions to the Oscar-winning documentary "No Other Land," which focuses on the Israeli Defense Forces' destruction of a...
6 Mar
Rationalist Judaism (Don't) Just Say No 2 Mar
Natan Slifkin discusses the lack of Charedi participation in the IDF and the broader societal issues stemming from their underemployment and educational defi...
2 Mar
Rationalist Judaism Anti-Zionism with Integrity 27 Feb
Rav Dov Landau, a leader in the charedi Lithuanian community, has taken a principled stand against charedi involvement in the World Zionist Organization (WZO...
27 Feb
Rationalist Judaism The Palestine Problem 23 Feb
Natan Slifkin explores Winston Churchill's approach to the Palestine question post-Ottoman Empire breakup, as detailed in David Fromkin's historical analysis...
23 Feb
Rationalist Judaism Palestine Is Not For Sale! 17 Feb
Natan Slifkin discusses a protest by Palestinian activists creating their version of the song "Jerusalem Is Not For Sale," highlighting historical nuances in...
17 Feb
Rationalist Judaism An Expert on Zionism 14 Feb
Natan Slifkin critiques the work of Irus Braverman and Hanine Shehadeh, who interpret Zionism as a violent, oppressive ideology. Braverman's book, criticized...
14 Feb
Rationalist Judaism Gedolim Against Israel 12 Feb
Rabbi Dov Landau, a leading figure in the Lithuanian stream of Charedi Judaism, has made contentious statements against Zionist ideology, attributing the sur...
12 Feb
Rationalist Judaism Some Israelis Have Lost It 10 Feb
Natan Slifkin discusses the controversial and extremist rhetoric within Israeli society, particularly in response to ongoing conflicts with Hamas. He acknowl...
10 Feb
Rationalist Judaism Israelis are not Moral Monsters 8 Feb
Natan Slifkin addresses the reactions to former President Trump's ambiguous proposal regarding Gaza, highlighting the starkly different perspectives between ...
8 Feb
Rationalist Judaism On Ethnic Cleansing 5 Feb
Natan Slifkin examines the moral outrage surrounding population relocations and ethnic cleansing, focusing on Trump's proposal to relocate Gazans. He critiqu...
5 Feb
Rationalist Judaism Three Types of Jews 3 Feb
In the article "Three Types of Jews," Natan Slifkin explores the contrasting attitudes towards military service among different segments of Israeli society. ...
3 Feb
Rationalist Judaism There's No Ceasefire Here 28 Jan
Natan Slifkin criticizes the ultra-Orthodox (Charedi) community's opposition to military service in Israel, highlighting the provocative language and imagery...
28 Jan
Rationalist Judaism The Lottery Farce 26 Jan
Natan Slifkin critiques the Israeli government's lottery system, which subsidizes housing for select groups, arguing that it should primarily benefit IDF vet...
26 Jan
Rationalist Judaism Of Churbans and Nakbas 23 Jan
Natan Slifkin explores the contrasting ways Jewish and Palestinian societies process national tragedies, comparing reactions to the fall of Judea (churban) w...
23 Jan
Rationalist Judaism Charedim Take Action Against Terrorists 21 Jan
Natan Slifkin critiques the charedi community's response to the security risks arising from the release of hundreds of prisoners in a swap deal. While claimi...
21 Jan
Rationalist Judaism "Daas Torah" on the Hostage Deal 19 Jan
Natan Slifkin critiques the concept of "Daas Torah" as presented by Rabbi Chaim Feinstein regarding the Israeli hostage release deal. Feinstein dismisses del...
19 Jan
Rationalist Judaism Gaza Wins and Losses 16 Jan
The complex aftermath of the recent Israeli-Gaza conflict highlights the stark contrast in the losses and perceptions of victory between the two sides. While...
16 Jan
Rationalist Judaism Lions and America 13 Jan
Natan Slifkin is developing a new book titled "The Lions of Zion," which explores the Biblical natural history connected to Israel. The book will consist of ...
13 Jan
Rationalist Judaism When Yeshivos Crushed Syria 10 Jan
Natan Slifkin critiques recent claims from Israel's charedi newspaper Yated Neeman, which attributed Syria's collapse to the power of Torah learning by yeshi...
10 Jan
Rationalist Judaism Daas Torah's Violent Death 8 Jan
In "Daas Torah's Violent Death," Natan Slifkin contrasts the American yeshivish Jewish community's perception of Daas Torah with the current reality in Israe...
8 Jan
Rationalist Judaism 2025: Next Level Charedi Resentment 2 Jan
In 2025, tensions rise in Israel as the general population grows increasingly resentful towards the charedi community. This is due to the perception that the...
2 Jan
Rationalist Judaism Needed: More Yeshiva Students! 31 Dec 2024
Natan Slifkin challenges the charedi claim that yeshiva students' Torah study is crucial for Israel's protection, pointing out the lack of any effort to incr...
31 Dec 2024
Rationalist Judaism The Blood of the Maccabees 30 Dec 2024
Natan Slifkin explores the symbolic significance of the flower Helichrysum sanguineum, also known as dam ha-maccabim or the "blood of the Maccabees," in Isra...
30 Dec 2024
Rationalist Judaism "And For The Miracles" 27 Dec 2024
Natan Slifkin reflects on the enduring significance of miracles in Jewish life, drawing parallels between the ancient Hanukkah miracles and the contemporary ...
27 Dec 2024
Rationalist Judaism A Gazan Voice on Hamas 24 Dec 2024
Natan Slifkin shares insights from Ahmed Fouad Alkhatib, a Palestinian from Gaza, who provides a critical perspective on Hamas's role in perpetuating the Gaz...
24 Dec 2024
Rationalist Judaism Prepare your Horses 22 Dec 2024
Natan Slifkin challenges a common Charedi belief that Israel's military success is solely dependent on Torah study rather than military preparedness. Citing ...
22 Dec 2024
Rationalist Judaism A "Fire" Sale 18 Dec 2024
An advertisement in Mea Shearim, a charedi neighborhood in Jerusalem, exemplifies the disconnection some ultra-Orthodox communities feel towards the ongoing ...
18 Dec 2024
Rationalist Judaism Israelopathic Israelis 16 Dec 2024
Natan Slifkin explores the phenomenon of what he terms "Israelopathic" Israelis, referring to a group of Israelis who harbor a deep-seated animosity towards ...
16 Dec 2024
Rationalist Judaism Rabbis on the Inside 15 Dec 2024
This article delves into a rare interview with three anonymous charedi rabbis, providing insight into the tensions within Haredi society and its opposition t...
15 Dec 2024
Rationalist Judaism Crocodile Tears 13 Dec 2024
Natan Slifkin critiques Rabbi Uri Deutsch's comments from a recent Agudah convention, where Deutsch suggested that American Torah Jews shouldn't feel too ups...
13 Dec 2024
Rationalist Judaism No Right to Refuse 11 Dec 2024
Natan Slifkin critiques a recent episode of the Headlines podcast on the topic of achdus (unity) and its implications for charedi involvement in the Israeli ...
11 Dec 2024
Rationalist Judaism GI Yosef 10 Dec 2024
Natan Slifkin explores the significance of a new set of IDF action figures called 'Giborei Yisrael' (Israeli Heroes), which celebrate the diversity and heroi...
10 Dec 2024
Rationalist Judaism The Belz of Change 8 Dec 2024
The article discusses a shift within certain chassidic communities in Israel, particularly the Belz, in response to growing economic and security challenges ...
8 Dec 2024
Rationalist Judaism How Many Learners? 4 Dec 2024
Natan Slifkin tackles the complex issue of drafting charedi Jews into the Israeli army, highlighting both practical and ideological challenges. Practically, ...
4 Dec 2024
Rationalist Judaism The Political Spectrum regarding Israel 2 Dec 2024
Natan Slifkin explores the diverse spectrum of opinions regarding Israel and the Palestinians, categorizing them into seven distinct ideological positions ra...
2 Dec 2024
Rationalist Judaism The Partition Plan 29 Nov 2024
Marking the anniversary of the UN's Partition Plan for Palestine, Natan Slifkin explores the divergent Jewish and Arab reactions to the proposal that allocat...
29 Nov 2024
Rationalist Judaism Charedi Draft-Dodging: The Movie 27 Nov 2024
Natan Slifkin discusses the contentious issue of draft-dodging among Charedi Jews in Israel, highlighting the tension between military service and traditiona...
27 Nov 2024
Rationalist Judaism Arguing Small and Strong 25 Nov 2024
Natan Slifkin explores the strategic and philosophical implications of engaging with criticisms against Jewish practices and Israel. He argues for the use of...
25 Nov 2024
Rationalist Judaism Convenient Beliefs 21 Nov 2024
Natan Slifkin reflects on his past views regarding the avoidance of military service by charedi Jews, questioning the theological justification for exempting...
21 Nov 2024
Rationalist Judaism Lawrence, Lions and Teaneck 18 Nov 2024
Natan Slifkin announces two speaking engagements in New Jersey—one in a private home in Lawrence to raise funds for his museum dedicated to Biblical Natural ...
18 Nov 2024
Rationalist Judaism Chessed? You mean Cruelty. 18 Nov 2024
Natan Slifkin critiques Rav Moshe Hillel Hirsch's assertion that charedi Torah study and supposed acts of chessed (kindness) are vital for Israel's survival,...
18 Nov 2024
Rationalist Judaism O Canada 14 Nov 2024
Natan Slifkin shares his experience of obtaining a permit to enter Canada, while also planning a future visit to the US, with a particular interest in Florid...
14 Nov 2024