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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Bo - Who's In - Who's Out
Parshat Bo - Pharoah asks exactly who will leave and Moses replies, everyone. We discuss the politics of inclusion and exclusion.
Reading Out Loud
Parshat Shemot - As we start a new Book of the Torah we entertain a New Year's resolution: To read more Torah to our children and grandchildren. We invite scholar and author Ilana Kurshan to share her new book: Children of the Book
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?
Rabbi Shlomo Wolbe and The Wonder of Being Human
Parshat Vaera - The enslaved Israelites are incapable of hearing Moses' message because of "shortness of spirit" "Kotzer ruach". We use this as an opportunity to study a teaching from Rav Shlomo Wolbe called "The Wonder of Being Human" נוראות האדם
Rav Shlomo Wolbe on Human Greatness
Parshat Vaera - Moses comes with God's message of redemption to the enslaved Israelites and they do not listen due to "Kotzer Ruach" 'shortness of spirit". We use this to explore a primary teaching of the great Mussar master R. Shlomo Wolbe
Holy Crap
Parshat Vaera: We use an innocuous reference to Pharaoh's personal hygiene in Rabbinic Literature to explore the unique disposition of Judaism to the physical body and bodily functions.
More Righteous Than I: What Tamar Teaches About LGBTQ+ Belonging
A conversation with Rabbi Steve Greenberg on Parshat Vayeshev, Tamar’s fight to belong, Judah’s צדקה ממני, and what these stories teach about LGBTQ+ inclusion, Yibum, Hesed, and the evolving place of queer Jews in today’s Jewish community.
Until Shiloh Comes
Parshat Vayechi - As we complete the book of Genesis, we look at a few verses that have been interpreted by both Jewish and Christian exegetes and explore how these commentaries may have been engaged in a conversation rather than a polemic. In the process, and without ignoring the divisive nature of religion, we wonder at the power of scripture and the potential for religion to bring us together.
Seventy faces
Parshat Vayigash - The Torah says twice that Seventy people went down to Egypt. Even if you are not a proponent of numerology you cannot ignore the implied significance of the number 7 and 70 (not to mention 49) in the Bible. Join us as we explore.
American Jews and the Transformation of Israeli Judaism
Parshat Vayishlach - As Yaakov returns to the land of Israel, carrying with him all that he has gained from his exile, we invite Adam Ferziger to discuss his book: Agents of Change - American Jews and the Transformation of Israeli Judaism
Connected Through Aramaic
Parshat Vayetzei - Like the Rosetta Stone the Torah provides a Aramaic translation for Jacob's Gal-Ed treaty stone. Wit our guest Shadi Khalloul we explore the shared language, culture and impact of this unique language.
Trickery or Evolution
Parshat Toldot - Rather than excuse or explain away the troubling aspects of Jacob stealing the birthright, we ask why the Torah chose to portray the third patriarch in this manner.
Sarah and HerStory
Parshat Chayei Sara -We talk with Wendy Zierler a scholar dedicated to feminist midrash who has recently published a book on Hebrew Poetry. We explore a feminist Midrashic approach to Sarah and to get a taste of what Hebrew Poetry has to teach us about our matriarchs.
God's Gracious Ruse
Parshat Beshalach - God leads the Jews on the scenic (long) route to the Promised Land and the classical commentators wonder why. All of them find a pedagogic approach but their conclusions are diverse and in some cases, startling!
Enough
Parshat Vaetchanan - Moses pleads with God to cross the Jordan into the Promised Land. God is cross with Moses. When should we ask for more? When do we ask for too much? That is the question.
For Argument’s Sake: Nobody Wants This
Parshat Vayera - We explore the overt and covert friction and conflict in the narratives of the prediction of a child to Sarah, the trial of Sodom and the Binding of Isaac. We view it through the lens of texts and a tradition which embraces dispute.
Aliya - Then and Now
Parshat Lech L'Cha - We use the narrative of Abraham's Aliyah to Canaan as an opportunity to talk with Noah Efron, a progressive American who made aliya in the 80's, to share his story and insight.
Unbinding Isaac
Parshat Vayera - We look at the Binding of Isaac and wonder whether Abraham passed or failed this test. What possible lessons are to be learnt from this narrative other than blind faith and obedience. Finally, we are puzzled why Abraham confronts God over Sodom and confronts Sarah over sending away Ishmael but remains silent when it comes to sacrificing his son.
Security and the Art of Translation
Parshat Noach - We are joined by Yigal Carmon who uses translation to bridge the gap between what our enemies say and what they really mean in order to prevent catastrophe and provide hope for the future.
Abraham's Epic Journey and our Own
Parshat Lech Lecha - We explore various ways of viewing Abraham's epic journey and how it reflects our own.