Have any questions, insights, or feedback? Send me a text! This evening (9/8/22), in our first Thursday Night Pirkei Avos shiur of the year, we began with an overview of Pirkei Avos to set the stage. We then read and translated Akavya ben Mahalalel's method of avoiding transgression, raised a bunch of questions and problems, and took a few tentative steps towards answering them. Next time (בג"ה) we'll learn the commentaries and attempt to answer our questions. ---------- מקורות: מיוחס לרש"י - אב...
Sep 09, 2022•58 min•Season 10Ep. 2
Have any questions, insights, or feedback? Send me a text! Memento Mori Musings on the First Day of Yeshiva (Koheles 7:1-2) (א) טוֹב שֵׁם מִשֶּׁמֶן טוֹב וְיוֹם הַמָּוֶת מִיּוֹם הִוָּלְדוֹ. (ב) טוֹב לָלֶכֶת אֶל בֵּית אֵבֶל מִלֶּכֶת אֶל בֵּית מִשְׁתֶּה בַּאֲשֶׁר הוּא סוֹף כׇּל הָאָדָם וְהַחַי יִתֵּן אֶל לִבּוֹ. This morning (9/6/22) we kicked off our inaugural Mishlei shiur of year with Koheles. I shared some musings inspired by a recent levaya I attended in yeshiva (of Rivka Nachmias z"l) in conj...
Sep 06, 2022•30 min•Season 10Ep. 1
Have any questions, insights, or feedback? Send me a text! Synopsis: This is the audio version of the 4-page article I wrote, entitled, Rav Hirsch on Bad Biographies , in which I compare Lawrence Kaplan's critique of Hillel Goldberg's Between Berlin and Slobodka to Rabbi Samson Raphael Hirsch's critique of Heinrich Graetz's History of the Jews , concluding with the question of whether I should continue reading Goldberg's book. Even if you're not interested in MY article, I highly recommend readi...
Aug 16, 2022•14 min•Season 9Ep. 29
Have any questions, insights, or feedback? Send me a text! Note: This is the first time I've livestreamed a shiur on Facebook AND the first time I've had to strip the audio from a Facebook livestream using an audio extractor. If you notice any problems in the video or audio, please bring them to my attention! This morning (8/7/22), at The Island Synagogue (a.k.a. Shevet Achim) on Mercer Island, I gave my annual Tishah b'Av shiur, which I livestreamed on Facebook (hence, the sub-Zoom-quality vide...
Aug 07, 2022•1 hr 17 min•Season 9Ep. 28
Have any questions, insights, or feedback? Send me a text! Synopsis: This is the audio version of the 1-page article I wrote, entitled, Is it Permissible to Enjoy Learning on Tishah b’Av? I rarely write my articles about halacha, but after stating in an earlier article that Tishah b'Av used to be "the most enjoyable day of every summer," on account of the learning we'd do with Rabbi Moskowitz zt"l, I felt it would be appropriate to examine this phenomenon in light of the halachos. ---------- The...
Aug 04, 2022•5 min•Season 9Ep. 27
Have any questions, insights, or feedback? Send me a text! Synopsis: This is the audio version of the 1-page article I wrote, entitled, How to Make Kinnos Real , which showcases two applications of my continually evolving approach to kinnos . The Series: Part 1: The Induction of Metaphysical Trauma Part 2: The Necessity of Metaphysical Trauma for National Teshuvah Part 3: An Approach to the Blasphemy in Eichah and Kinnos Part 4: EFT (Episodic Future Thinking) Training: A Summer 2022 Experiment P...
Aug 03, 2022•5 min•Season 9Ep. 26
Have any questions, insights, or feedback? Send me a text! Synopsis: This is the audio version of the 1-page article I wrote, entitled, Wishful Thinking and Prophetic Interpretation, in which we examine a machlokess between Ibn Kaspi and Rashi on how to learn Neviim and its ramifications for those who attempt to uncover the true meanings of their prophecies today. ---------- The Torah content for these two weeks has been sponsored by Ariel Rachmanov, a friend and Mishlei talmid of mine. Ariel wo...
Aug 02, 2022•5 min•Season 9Ep. 25
Have any questions, insights, or feedback? Send me a text! Synopsis: In lieu of a 1-page article, here is the audio version of the book review I wrote on Faith Shattered and Restored: Judaism in the Postmodern Age , by R' Shagar . I don't usually post my book reviews on my blog or record them as podcasts, but I felt like I had to make an exception here, for reasons which I explain in the preface to what is essentially an essay on my first thoughts about R' Shagar's approach. I'll note that while...
Aug 01, 2022•25 min•Season 9Ep. 24
Have any questions, insights, or feedback? Send me a text! Synopsis: This is the audio version of the 1-page article I wrote, entitled Masei: How to Read the Travels of Bnei Yisrael , in which we learn the Rambam's answer to the question, "Why does the Torah 'waste' so many pesukim by listing all 42 encampments of Bnei Yisrael in the Wilderness?" and discuss its implications for how we read this perek . ---------- The Torah content for this week has been sponsored by Ellis and Janice Cohen in me...
Jul 29, 2022•5 min•Season 9Ep. 23
Have any questions, insights, or feedback? Send me a text! Synopsis: This is the audio version of the 1-page article I wrote, entitled Why Talk About Other Religions? which is a response to a series of questions asked by a friend of mine about why I made a statement comparing Judaism to other religions in one of my articles last week. Related Content: - Minhag Mythbusters: Does a Husband Sing Eishes Chayil for His Wife? - Is Judaism a Religion? (Version 2.0) - Hillel and the Converts ---------- ...
Jul 28, 2022•5 min•Season 9Ep. 22
Have any questions, insights, or feedback? Send me a text! Synopsis: This is the audio version of the 1-page article I wrote, entitled Sefer Mishlei's Jargon-Filled Introduction (Mishlei 1:1-6) . I recently initiated a project to learn Mishlei from the beginning again (as opposed to my usual practice of learning and teaching pesukim from Chapter 10 and on). I can't promise that I'll write up ALL my findings as articles, but I decided to make an attempt with this first set of pesukim . We'll how ...
Jul 27, 2022•5 min•Season 9Ep. 21
Have any questions, insights, or feedback? Send me a text! Synopsis: This is the audio version of the 1-page article I wrote, entitled Ralbag on the Speculative Nature of Taamei ha'Mitzvos , in which I defend the Ralbag (using his own words) against those who take issue with his Aristotelian explanations of mitzvos. ---------- The Torah content for this week has been sponsored by Ellis and Janice Cohen in memory of Rabbi Moskowitz zt"l. ---------- If you have questions, comments, or feedback, I ...
Jul 26, 2022•5 min•Season 9Ep. 20
Have any questions, insights, or feedback? Send me a text! Synopsis: This is the audio version of the 1-page article I wrote, entitled Abandonment by Hashem as a Catalyst for Teshuvah , in which I share my new theory of how national catastrophe will lead Klal Yisrael to engage in teshuvah - a theory inspired by a passage in Amor Towles's The Lincoln Highway . ---------- The Torah content for this week has been sponsored by Ellis and Janice Cohen in memory of Rabbi Moskowitz zt"l. ---------- If y...
Jul 25, 2022•5 min•Season 9Ep. 17
Have any questions, insights, or feedback? Send me a text! Synopsis: This is the audio version of the 1-page article I wrote, entitled Haftaras Parashas Pinchas: Goyishe Jews . Here's my lengthy disclaimer: I wasn't in the mood to write a dvar Torah article for this Friday. I almost didn't write anything at all, but I told myself, "I'll just start writing and see if I end up with anything good." Well, I ended up with something, but it ain't a dvar Torah! I don't even know if there are any "ideas...
Jul 22, 2022•6 min•Season 9Ep. 16
Have any questions, insights, or feedback? Send me a text! Synopsis: This is the audio version of the 7-page article I wrote entitled, My Rejected Kiruv Article on the Purpose of Life . I begin by providing you with the assignment I was given and the circumstances surrounding that assignment. I then read the article I wrote. After that, I share the feedback I received and my thoughts on that feedback. I conclude by asking you what you think, and I hope that at least some of you will share your t...
Jul 21, 2022•20 min•Season 9Ep. 15
Have any questions, insights, or feedback? Send me a text! Synopsis: This is the audio version of the 1-page article I wrote entitled, "Hump Day," Wednesday, and Yom Revii l'Shabbos , in which I explain why hearing a Starbucks customer wish the barista a "happy hump day!" made me grateful to be Jewish. ---------- The Torah content for these two weeks has been sponsored by Judah and Naomi Dardik in loving memory of Rabbi Moskowitz zt''l, who taught his students to pursue truth by asking questions...
Jul 20, 2022•5 min•Season 9Ep. 14
Have any questions, insights, or feedback? Send me a text! Synopsis: This is the audio version of the 1-page article I wrote entitled, Does a Husband Sing Eishes Chayil for His Wife? , in which we answer the titular question by engaging in some "halachic archaeology" in an attempt to trace the minhag back to its origins. ---------- The Torah content for these two weeks has been sponsored by Judah and Naomi Dardik in loving memory of Rabbi Moskowitz zt''l, who taught his students to pursue truth ...
Jul 19, 2022•5 min•Season 9Ep. 13
Have any questions, insights, or feedback? Send me a text! Synopsis: This is the audio version of the 1-page article I wrote entitled, The Role of Episodic Memory in the Three Weeks and Tishah b'Av , in which I attempt to articulate the current framework I'm working with as we enter into the three weeks this year. For the sake of convenience, here are the links to the audio versions of the six articles I reference. - The Induction of Metaphysical Trauma - The Necessity of Metaphysical Trauma for...
Jul 18, 2022•5 min•Season 9Ep. 12
Have any questions, insights, or feedback? Send me a text! Synopsis: In lieu of a 1-page article on Parashas Balak, here is a 4-page article I originally wrote as a Facebook post last summer, entitled 17th of Tammuz Reflections on Waikiki . The impetus for this article was Jonathan Lear's, Radical Hope: Ethics in the Face of Cultural Devastation, and the insights it triggered as I observed the taanis on Waikiki. Come to think of it, this article IS related to a pasuk from this week's parashah: "...
Jul 15, 2022•11 min•Season 9Ep. 11
Have any questions, insights, or feedback? Send me a text! Synopsis: This is the audio version of the 1-page article I wrote entitled, The Pros and Cons of Postmodernist Analysis of Halacha , in which I express my approbations and objections to an example of Rabbi Shagar's postmodernist approach to Judaism. ---------- The Torah content for these two weeks has been sponsored by Judah and Naomi Dardik in loving memory of Rabbi Moskowitz zt''l, who taught his students to pursue truth by asking ques...
Jul 14, 2022•5 min•Season 9Ep. 10
Have any questions, insights, or feedback? Send me a text! Synopsis: This is the audio version of the 1-page article I wrote entitled, Judaism and the Benefits of EFT (Episodic Future Thinking) in which we explore of the regular opportunities we have in halacha to practice EFT and enumerate the benefits of such a practice. Note that this is a sequel to yesterday's episode , which you are advised to listen to before this one. Here's a link to the video I referred to. ---------- The Torah content ...
Jul 13, 2022•5 min•Season 9Ep. 9
Have any questions, insights, or feedback? Send me a text! Synopsis: This is the audio version of the 1-page article I wrote entitled, EFT (Episodic Future Thinking) A Summer 2022 Project , which I hope will serve as an introduction to a concept and a practice which I suspect will dominate my thinking for the next couple of months. ---------- The Torah content for these two weeks has been sponsored by Judah and Naomi Dardik in loving memory of Rabbi Moskowitz zt''l, who taught his students to pu...
Jul 12, 2022•6 min•Season 9Ep. 8
Have any questions, insights, or feedback? Send me a text! Synopsis: This is the audio version of the 1-page article I wrote entitled, How Rambam Sees God in the Sunset , which examines whether the feeling of awe we experience upon seeing a beautiful sunset constitutes a "valid religious experience" according to the Rambam's views. ---------- The Torah content for these two weeks has been sponsored by Judah and Naomi Dardik in loving memory of Rabbi Moskowitz zt''l, who taught his students to pu...
Jul 11, 2022•5 min•Season 9Ep. 7
Have any questions, insights, or feedback? Send me a text! Synopsis: This is the audio version of the 1-page article I wrote entitled, State of the Blog: Summer 2022 , in which I state my plans for the next two weeks and the rest of the summer, as far as this blog is concerned. ---------- This week's Torah content has been sponsored by Naomi Mann in honor of Rabbi Moskowitz zt"l, whose shloshim is this week. ---------- If you have questions, comments, or feedback, I would love to hear from you! ...
Jun 27, 2022•5 min•Season 9Ep. 6
Have any questions, insights, or feedback? Send me a text! Synopsis: This is the audio version of the 1-page article I wrote entitled, Leo Tolstoy, Eishes Chayil, and Caring What Others Think , which analyzes a quotation from the Russian novelist which parallels the final pasuk of Mishlei, showing a path to freedom from caring about the opinions of others. ---------- This week's Torah content has been sponsored by Naomi Mann in honor of Rabbi Moskowitz zt"l, whose shloshim is this week. --------...
Jun 23, 2022•5 min•Season 9Ep. 4
Have any questions, insights, or feedback? Send me a text! Synopsis: This is the audio version of the 1-page article I wrote entitled, When Hashem Prefers Telling Lies Over Doing Miracles , which is a write-up of a basic idea about hashgachah pratis that appears in dozens of places in the Rishonim which I happened to stumble upon in my recent learning of Sefer Shmuel. (And yes - this, too, ends in an educational rant.) ---------- This week's Torah content has been sponsored by Naomi Mann in hono...
Jun 22, 2022•5 min•Season 9Ep. 3
Have any questions, insights, or feedback? Send me a text! This is a recording of the shloshim memorial event for Rabbi Morton Moskowitz zt"l which took place over Zoom on June 21, 2022 (22 Sivan 5782). For a link to the book written by Rabbi Moskowitz and Doug Taylor, "Getting it Straight: Practical Ideas for a Life of Clarity," click this link: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1ulYh70S2_gEvq6reP6iUxeLH2L7x8Mri/view?usp=sharing...
Jun 22, 2022•2 hr 4 min
Have any questions, insights, or feedback? Send me a text! Synopsis: This is the audio version of the 1-page article I wrote entitled, On Reading the Rambam's Mishneh Torah Like a Love Letter , which is part PSA and part rant regarding the widespread practice to favor the standard printed editions of the Mishneh Torah over the critical editions. ---------- This week's Torah content has been sponsored by Naomi Mann in honor of Rabbi Moskowitz zt"l, whose shloshim is this week. ---------- If you h...
Jun 21, 2022•6 min•Season 9Ep. 2
Have any questions, insights, or feedback? Send me a text! Synopsis: This is the audio version of the 1-page article I wrote entitled, An Example of My Idiosyncratic Brand of Spirituality , in which I recount a spiritual experience I had this past Shabbos and describe my personal form of spirituality (without defining it or explaining it). ---------- This week's Torah content has been sponsored by Naomi Mann in honor of Rabbi Moskowitz zt"l, whose shloshim is this week. ---------- If you have qu...
Jun 20, 2022•5 min•Season 9Ep. 1
Have any questions, insights, or feedback? Send me a text! This morning (6/10/22), in our "Machshavah Lab" series for women, we took up one of my "pet sugya" questions which rolls around once a year: Why does the Torah "waste" so much space writing about the twelve identical offerings brought by the princes of the twelve tribes? I would have loved to find twelve answers to this question, but this year, I was only able to find a total of nine. ---------- מקורות: במדבר ז:א-ב,י-כג אברבנאל – במדבר פ...
Jun 10, 2022•1 hr 28 min•Season 8Ep. 13
