Haredim: A Path Forward
Madlik Podcast – Disruptive Torah Thoughts on Judaism
Release Date: 05/29/2025
Death Cults vs. Israel: Why Judaism Chooses Life
Madlik Podcast – Disruptive Torah Thoughts on Judaism
Death rituals reveal a civilization's deepest beliefs. But what if a religion rejects the cult of death entirely? In this episode we explore Judaism's unique perspective on death and mortality. It is almost a cliché that Judaism is all about “Choosing Life”, but in our conversation we rely heavily of the academic research of Biblical scholar Baruch Levine who uncovers how the Torah's approach to death rituals stands in stark contrast to ancient Near Eastern practices. This normally under spoken scholar exclaims: “death rids the community of death!” Key Takeaways In this episode we...
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Madlik Podcast – Disruptive Torah Thoughts on Judaism
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A Different Spirit
Madlik Podcast – Disruptive Torah Thoughts on Judaism
The Surprising Link Between Biblical Spies and Modern Warfare The Torah doesn't celebrate team players. It celebrates disruptors. This week on Madlik, we explore the story of Caleb, a biblical figure who defied groupthink with fierce truth. In our latest episode, we dive into the fascinating tale of the biblical scouts and focus on Caleb Ben Yefuneh, who possessed a "ruach acheret" - a different spirit. We unpack what this spirit means and why being a holy troublemaker might be exactly what God wants. In light of Israel's recent surprise attack on Iran, we explore what it means to not just...
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Madlik Podcast – Disruptive Torah Thoughts on Judaism
The magic of twilight isn't just for vampires—it's a cornerstone of Jewish ritual and philosophy. Twilight in Judaism is more than just a daily transition—it's a liminal space rich with spiritual significance and halachic implications. We explore the concept of "bein hashmashot" (between the suns) in Jewish law and philosophy, examining its role in Shabbat observance, Passover rituals, and prayer timing. The episode delves into rabbinic debates on defining twilight and its duration, revealing how this ambiguous period embodies uncertainty and celebrates mystery in Jewish thought. Key...
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Haredim: A Path Forward
Madlik Podcast – Disruptive Torah Thoughts on Judaism
October 7th shattered more than Israel's security - it's challenging core Haredi beliefs. In the wake of October 7th, a seismic shift is occurring within Israel's ultra-Orthodox community. The long-standing exemption from military service for Haredi yeshiva students is facing unprecedented scrutiny – not just from secular Israelis, but from within the Haredi world itself. This week's Torah portion, Bamidbar (Numbers), offers a timely lens through which to examine this complex issue. As we explore the biblical census and military draft, we uncover surprising parallels to today's debate over...
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First Fruits of Israeli Judaism
Madlik Podcast – Disruptive Torah Thoughts on Judaism
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Disabilities in Jewish Texts and Israel
Madlik Podcast – Disruptive Torah Thoughts on Judaism
Societal Stigma and Technological Advances in Disabilities Empowering the Blind and Deaf: Lessons from Israeli Innovators When was the last time you truly appreciated your ability to see and hear? For many of us, these senses are so fundamental that we rarely pause to consider their significance. But what if I told you that understanding disability could bring us closer to revelation? In this eye-opening episode of Madlik, we dive deep into the world of visual and hearing impairments, guided by two remarkable Israeli experts who have dedicated their lives to empowering the blind and deaf....
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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...
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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...
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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_outlineOctober 7th shattered more than Israel's security - it's challenging core Haredi beliefs.
In the wake of October 7th, a seismic shift is occurring within Israel's ultra-Orthodox community. The long-standing exemption from military service for Haredi yeshiva students is facing unprecedented scrutiny – not just from secular Israelis, but from within the Haredi world itself. This week's Torah portion, Bamidbar (Numbers), offers a timely lens through which to examine this complex issue. As we explore the biblical census and military draft, we uncover surprising parallels to today's debate over Haredi enlistment.
Key Takeaways
- The Torah provides precedent for both military service and exemptions
- Current Haredi exemptions stem from out-dated post-Holocaust efforts to rebuild yeshivas
- Internal voices are now challenging the status quo of Haredi non-service
Timestamps
- [00:00] – Opening statement: The Torah doesn't protect Israel? A challenge to traditional exemptions.
- [01:00] – Introduction to the episode and its biblical context in Parshat Bamidbar.
- [02:57] – Discussion begins on modern military service issues in Israel and relevance of the parsha.
- [04:00] – Examination of Torah's census and the military obligation for Israelites over 20.
- [06:00] – Introduction of the Levite exemption and its relevance to today’s arguments.
- [10:59] – Broader discussion on deferments and biblical precedents for military exemptions.
- [12:34] – The pivotal 1998 Supreme Court case on yeshiva deferments and its historical context.
- [17:59] – Debate on exposure and risks in army life for Haredim and their integration challenges.
- [21:20] – Spotlight on Rabbi David Leibel and his reformative stance within the Haredi community.
- [30:59] – Reflection on societal impact, army service as potential transformation for struggling youth.
Links & Learnings
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Transcript on episode web page: https://madlik.com/2025/05/28/haredim-a-path-forward/