Collection
At Madlik we light a spark or shed some light on a Jewish Text or Tradition. Created by Geoffrey Stern, an ex-Yeshiva student and life-long student of the Torah along with Rabbi Adam Mintz; the premier orthodox conversion Rabbi, we publish the Madlik Disruptive Torah Podcast on your favorite podcast platform, on Youtube and on Substack.
madlik.substack.com/Sheets
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Hasbara - Inside and Out
Parshat Sh'lach - The Torah's first Hasbara crisis? From the spies' report and "bechi shel chinam" to modern battles over narrative, media, and public diplomacy.
We the Tribes
Parshat Bamidbar: We the Tribes explores the census as constitutional politics, tribal federalism, and covenantal nationhood.
Entitlement Reform cont.
Parshat Beha'alotcha - How the Torah demoted priests, firstborn sons, and every inherited claim to power.
Splitting Hairs with Michael Broyde
Parshat Naso - Hair covering as a window into halakha, sociology, and evolving Jewish norms with Professor Michael Broyde.
Made on Shabbat
Parshat Behar–We explore the Sabbatical year and Shabbat itself where resting is not a passive negation but a positive act of creation.
Rashi, Women & Wine
Parshat Nasso - Join us as we read the text of the weekly portion through the eyes of the iconic Torah Commentator; Rashi. Keep in mind that Rashi was the proud father of four daughters (no sons) and had a day job as a vintner. Did this affect his treatment of the Sotah (Unfaithful Wife) and the sober nazirite? Grab a glass of wine and let's discuss. L'chaim!
The Echo of Sinai
Shavuot - Judah Halevi argues that the public nature of the revelation at Sinai proves the primacy of Judaism. We reflect on how his argument transforms our understanding of Torah, history and the mission of the Jewish People until today.
The Perfect Offering Problem
A unified reading of the priestly laws on death, marriage & physical perfection—reframing ḥalal not as disqualification, but as permission
Lost & Found in Translation
Parshat Toldot - Isaac and Jacob choose brides from Aram. Aramaic is the chosen language of the Rabbis and the lingua franca of antiquity. Why is Laban vilified and should we slander or offer thanks to the Arameans?
When Homes Are Torn Open
Parshat Tazria-Metzora - While there is a general consensus that the Biblical Leprosy is a punishment for Lashon Hora, there is silence regarding the cause of tzaraat on a house. We use this to explore the secrets contained in walls.
Brotherly Love from Lisbon
Acharei Mot from Lisbon: Abarbanel on two goats—exile, identity, redemption through Torah, Midrash Leo Strauss & Israel Yuval.
How the Rabbis got their Power
Parshat Vayikra - From laying hands on sacrifices to Daas Torah we explore how the evolution of the transfer of authority and the emergence of Rabbinic jurisdiction in Judaism.
From Disgrace to Praise - Finding the Stranger in the Hagaddah
"You shall not oppress a stranger, ... having yourselves been strangers in the land of Egypt" and the motif of loving the stranger is not found in the Haggadah unless we follow the advise of the Mishnah and read the parsha until the end...
Pour out Your Wrath on my Hametz
An analysis of the "Pour out Your Wrath" incantation to understand the propriety of it's inclusion at the most climactic moment of the Seder, and some suggestions for alternatively authentic replacements.
Where has all the Hametz Gone? ClubHouse
Source Sheet for Discussion on ClubHouse March 12, 2021 4:00pm ET
Madlik Model Seder 2024
This year our Seder will be different from other years. For the first time in many of our lives it will be a Leil s\Shimurim,, a night of concern, uncertainty, fatigue and confusion. Let us follow the advice of the Rabbis to see ourselves as though we too are leaving our Egypt.
Where has all the Hametz Gone?
Why does the prohibition of owning or benefiting from Hametz (leavened bread) not appear in the Haggadah? We explore different suggestions such as simple male chauvinism or the schism with Christianity and suggest some alternative texts which would address this glaring oversight.
A New Meaning of Matzah
Parshat Vayikra - Leviticus opens its treatment of the sacrifices with the meal offering of unleavened cakes. The Rabbis ascribe the showcasing of this simple gift to the purity of intent of the poor and we use it to add a new perspective on the iconic start to our Seder.
Exodus and the birth of a national narrative
Parshat Shemot - 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 Alternative History of Scripture by Jacob L Wright and we reflect on what made the Hebrew Bible so unique and eternal.