Simone deBeuvoir reads the Torah
Madlik Podcast – Disruptive Torah Thoughts on Judaism
Release Date: 05/01/2025
Love as Political Theory
Madlik Podcast – Disruptive Torah Thoughts on Judaism
The biblical command to love others might be more about social contracts than warm fuzzy feelings. What if "love your neighbor" wasn't just a moral cliché, but a radical political theory? In this week's Madlik episode, we explore how the biblical concept of love in Judaism goes far beyond sentiment, representing a powerful social contract that shapes how we build just societies. Challenging Conventional Wisdom Many associate "love your neighbor as yourself" with Christian teachings, unaware of its origins in Leviticus. This episode aims to reclaim this foundational concept, examining it...
info_outline
Simone deBeuvoir reads the Torah
Madlik Podcast – Disruptive Torah Thoughts on Judaism
This episode explores the biblical and rabbinic perspectives on gender, sex, and reproduction through the lens of Leviticus 12. We examine how the Torah's language of "seed" and agricultural metaphors connect childbirth to creation and redemption. We explore the biblical imagination where women's reproductive power links her to primal creative forces. What does it mean that a woman's body mirrors the act of creation? The Torah's description of childbirth in Leviticus 12 might seem straightforward at first glance. However, the use of the word "tazria" (to seed) opens up a world of...
info_outline
Kosher Laws and Identity
Madlik Podcast – Disruptive Torah Thoughts on Judaism
Passover, which we recently celebrated, bans bread. Leviticus bans pigs. Ashkenazim banned rice, but Mizrachim and the rabbis of the Talmud did not. What do these bans and dietary practices actually say about us? For 2,000 years the Jewish people have been doing something that nowadays is indispensable... reading food labels. It's required nowadays to list whether a food contains lactose or gluten. Was this made in a factory where they also process peanuts? Is it organic and sustainable? But the ancient Israelites and modern-day Jews have been understanding the importance of diet for a...
info_outline
Freedom Haggadah: Tradition Meets Social Justice
Madlik Podcast – Disruptive Torah Thoughts on Judaism
Whether you’re a radical Progressive or Traditionalist, are you ready to be Free? Join Jews and Gentiles, blacks and whites, progressives and traditionalists and return to April 4th 1969 (MLK's first Yartzeit) at Arthur Waskow's radical and controversial Freedom Seder. I recently picked up a first edition of this Mao-sized red booklet, and it's far more nuanced than I expected. Radical progressives will be surprised by its Jewish particularism and its defense of taking up arms to defend one’s people. Traditionalists will be struck by how rooted it is in Rabbinic tradition and delighted by...
info_outline
Matzah's Hidden Meaning
Madlik Podcast – Disruptive Torah Thoughts on Judaism
Forget Exodus - the key to understanding matzah lies in Leviticus. As we approach Passover, it's time to challenge our assumptions about one of the holiday's most iconic symbols: matzah. What if I told you that the true significance of this unleavened bread goes far beyond the rushed exodus from Egypt? In this episode of Madlik, we explore a revolutionary interpretation of matzah that will transform your Seder experience. Key Takeaways Matzah as a Poor Man's Offering - the purity of intent from those with little to give. The act of breaking matzah is a universal gesture of creating reciprocal...
info_outline
How the Israelites Gave Us Self Care & Daily Rituals
Madlik Podcast – Disruptive Torah Thoughts on Judaism
Skincare isn’t just self-care—it’s a divine commandment. Join us as we uncover the surprising connections between everyday skincare routines and sacred rituals, and how this ancient practice can transform and inspire us. In this week's episode of Madlik, we explore a fascinating aspect of ancient Israelite culture that's often overlooked: the significance of anointing oil. Far from being a mere cosmetic practice, anointing held deep spiritual and social importance in biblical times. Key Takeaways Anointing with oil wasn’t just a ritual—it was a powerful status symbol that...
info_outline
Electric Sabbath
Madlik Podcast – Disruptive Torah Thoughts on Judaism
Think Shabbat is all about turning things off? Think again. This week's Torah portion, Vayakhel, offers a unique perspective on Shabbat observance. While the prohibition of lighting fires is explicitly mentioned, it's just one piece of a much larger puzzle. Let's explore how Shabbat has evolved over time and continues to change in our modern world of LED lights and electric vehicles. Key Takeaways We're empowered to ask questions and engage deeply with how we observe Shabbat. There's no single "correct" way to observe – different communities and individuals may have valid approaches. The...
info_outline
Unveiling the Hidden Wisdom of Purim: A Feast of Fools for Modern Times
Madlik Podcast – Disruptive Torah Thoughts on Judaism
Dressing up as the opposite gender on Purim: a tradition or a taboo? As we approach the joyous holiday of Purim, it's time to look beyond the costumes and revelry to uncover the profound lessons this ancient celebration holds for our modern world. In this eye-opening episode of Madlik, we explore the surprising connections between Purim and other global festivals of excess, revealing how these celebrations can transform our perspective on joy, tragedy, and the human experience. Key Takeaways 1. Purim is not just a Jewish holiday; it shares themes of excess and celebration with global festivals...
info_outline
The High Priest's Breastplate: A Symbol of Unity and Representation
Madlik Podcast – Disruptive Torah Thoughts on Judaism
What if the biblical tribes of Israel were more radical than we ever imagined? At the heart of our discussion is the high priest's breastplate, described in Exodus 28. This ornate piece of priestly attire wasn't just a decorative element—it was a powerful symbol of the entire Israelite nation. The breastplate featured 12 precious stones, each engraved with the name of one of the tribes of Israel. This was a profound representation of a radical social structure God was establishing for His people. "The stone shall correspond in number to the names of the sons of Israel, 12 corresponding to...
info_outline
Torah On the Move
Madlik Podcast – Disruptive Torah Thoughts on Judaism
Ever wondered why we stand when the Torah is taken out? Our latest Madlik episode uncovers the surprising history behind this universal Jewish tradition. Join Rabbi Adam Mintz and Geoffrey Stern as they explore the concept of "Torah on the Move" in this week's parsha, Terumah. We unpack the symbolism behind the Ark of the Covenant and its enduring impact on Jewish tradition. Some highlights: • The origins of Jews being called "People of the Book" • Surprising details about the Mishkan's construction and materials • How the Ark's design emphasized mobility and permanence • What...
info_outlineThis episode explores the biblical and rabbinic perspectives on gender, sex, and reproduction through the lens of Leviticus 12. We examine how the Torah's language of "seed" and agricultural metaphors connect childbirth to creation and redemption. We explore the biblical imagination where women's reproductive power links her to primal creative forces. What does it mean that a woman's body mirrors the act of creation? The Torah's description of childbirth in Leviticus 12 might seem straightforward at first glance. However, the use of the word "tazria" (to seed) opens up a world of interpretation that spans millennia. "The verb refers to a woman producing an offspring," notes The Torah: A Women's Commentary. This active language challenges traditional notions of women as passive vessels in reproduction. It's a subtle yet powerful shift that sets the stage for deeper discussions on gender roles and biology. The discussion delves into ancient and modern interpretations of conception, from rabbinic debates on determining a child's sex to Simone de Beauvoir's critique of biological determinism. This week on Madlik, we're diving into the fascinating world of gender, sex, and creation in the Torah. Starting with the opening verses of Parshat Tazria, we unpack the rich agricultural metaphors used to describe conception and birth. We share some intriguing rabbinic interpretations about how the embryo is formed and what determines a child's sex. We also look at how these ancient texts have been reinterpreted over time - from medieval commentators to modern thinkers like Rabbi Shlomo Riskin and Simone de Beauvoir. There are some surprising insights about sexual ethics and gender roles that feel remarkably progressive for their time.
Key Takeaways
- The Torah links women's reproductive power to primal creative forces
- Rabbinic tradition shows early sensitivity to mutual sexual needs in marriage
- Ancient beliefs about conception shaped gender roles, but are open to reinterpretation
Timestamps
- [00:00] The Second Sex: Introducing Simone de Beauvoir and biblical connections
- [01:45] Exploring Torah laws of childbirth and personal purity
- [04:05] The metaphor of seed, soil, and creation in Genesis and Leviticus
- [08:55] Agriculture, menstruation, and exile: a deeper metaphor
- [11:00] The rabbinic obsession with embryology and “who contributes what”
- [13:50] Color-coded anatomy and Greek philosophy in Jewish texts
- [17:30] Could Adam have been male and female? What creation myths suggest
- [19:00] Can prayer change the sex of a child? The rabbis weigh in
- [22:30] Kosher Sex and rabbinic views on orgasm and mutual satisfaction
- [26:30] Simone de Beauvoir, Aristotle, and feminist deconstruction of biology
Links & Learnings
Sign up for free and get more from our weekly newsletter https://madlik.com/
Safaria Source Sheet: https://www.sefaria.org/sheets/643110
Transcript on episode web page: