loader from loading.io

Intentional and Unintentional Holiness

Madlik Podcast – Disruptive Torah Thoughts on Judaism

Release Date: 09/04/2025

Thank God for the Rebellious Son show art Thank God for the Rebellious Son

Madlik Podcast – Disruptive Torah Thoughts on Judaism

Why Some Torah Laws were Meant to be Heard not followed Live at the JCC’s new Shtiebel, Geoffrey Stern and Rabbi Adam Mintz ask: what do we learn from laws that never happened? From the rebellious son to Bialik’s Halakha and Aggada, discover halakhah as a language of Jewish life. In this week's episode of Madlik, we delve into a fascinating exploration of Jewish law that challenges our conventional understanding of mitzvot (commandments). As we navigate through the complexities of Halakhah, we uncover a profound truth: sometimes, the most impactful lessons come not from observance, but...

info_outline Intentional and Unintentional Holiness show art Intentional and Unintentional Holiness

Madlik Podcast – Disruptive Torah Thoughts on Judaism

Are there times were we should strive not to be present or in the moment? As we enter the month of Elul and approach the High Holidays, many of us instinctively tighten our grip on spiritual practices. We double down on prayer, intensify our focus, and strive for flawless kavanah (intention). But what if true holiness sometimes emerges when we loosen our hold? In this week's Torah portion, Ki Teitze, we encounter a surprising perspective on mitzvot (commandments) that challenges our assumptions about intentionality and control. Let's explore how embracing the unintentional might deepen our...

info_outline Can You Bribe God? Rethinking Yom Kippur show art Can You Bribe God? Rethinking Yom Kippur

Madlik Podcast – Disruptive Torah Thoughts on Judaism

The Torah bans bribery — so why do our holiest rituals look like payoffs? We're diving into a provocative topic as we enter the month of Elul - bribes, sacrifices, and cosmic payoffs in Judaism. We explore the tension between Deuteronomy's clear prohibition on bribery and the sacrificial rituals found elsewhere in the Torah that look suspiciously like attempts to curry favor with the divine. Key Takeaways The language of bribery and ransom intersects with concepts of atonement in Jewish texts Deuteronomy emphasizes internal purification over ritualistic practices Rituals like Kaparot and...

info_outline Secularization and Sacralization in Deuteronomy show art Secularization and Sacralization in Deuteronomy

Madlik Podcast – Disruptive Torah Thoughts on Judaism

The Radical Contraction and expansion of Ancient Israelite Religion The book of Deuteronomy presents a radical shift in religious practice that continues to shape modern Judaism and beyond. Far from expanding religious institutions as empires typically do, Deuteronomy takes the surprising approach of contracting and centralizing worship while simultaneously broadening its reach into everyday life. This week's Torah portion, Re'eh, highlights this revolutionary approach. It restricts temple worship to a single location and forbids importing practices from other cultures. At first glance, this...

info_outline How Sound Shapes Jewish Identity show art How Sound Shapes Jewish Identity

Madlik Podcast – Disruptive Torah Thoughts on Judaism

The Dangers of a world seen on a screen: What Judaism Knew All Along In our visually-dominated world, we're raising a generation that can see but not hear. This week's Madlik episode challenges us to reconsider the primacy of listening in Jewish tradition and its profound impact on our spiritual and emotional lives. Key Takeaways Deuteronomy emphasizes listening 92 times, highlighting Judaism's unique focus on auditory over visual experiences. Memory and Music: We explore how sound and music are deeply connected to memory and emotion, even in cases of dementia. High Fidelity Judaism: From the...

info_outline Beyond Faith: The Unexpected Joy of Torah Study show art Beyond Faith: The Unexpected Joy of Torah Study

Madlik Podcast – Disruptive Torah Thoughts on Judaism

The Torah's allure is so powerful, rabbis had to warn against misusing it. Exploring the concept of "limud" (learning) unique to Deuteronomy, we uncover the rabbis' complex relationship with Torah study. From the joy of learning to the fear of misuse, the discussion spans intentionality, secular study, and the power of Torah to attract even non-believers. We delve into the debate between studying "lishma" (for its own sake) vs. applied learning, and examine how different Jewish movements approach Torah study. The rabbis recognized the profound allure of Torah study, to the point where they had...

info_outline Moses last word: Judicial Independence show art Moses last word: Judicial Independence

Madlik Podcast – Disruptive Torah Thoughts on Judaism

Ancient Jewish texts offer surprising insights into contemporary debates on judicial activism, restraint and independence Join us as we delve into a fascinating exploration of Moses' farewell address in Parashat Devarim. This episode uncovers striking parallels between ancient concerns about judicial integrity and modern debates over judicial reform in Israel. Key Takeaways Moses' emphasis on judicial reform highlights its critical importance to societal stability The tradition of leadership farewell addresses often includes moral warnings for the future Ancient Jewish texts offer surprising...

info_outline What the Haredi Draft Crisis Says About Israel show art What the Haredi Draft Crisis Says About Israel

Madlik Podcast – Disruptive Torah Thoughts on Judaism

70,000 mothers are fighting for Israel's future - one draft notice at a time. Mothers on the Front Line founder Agamit Gelb joins us to discuss the contentious issue of Haredi military service in Israel. We explore biblical parallels from Numbers, where Moses confronts tribes seeking exemption from conquest. The conversation delves into the social contract, national solidarity, and the unique perspective mothers bring to this debate. Agamit shares her organization's efforts to promote equality in service and challenge exemptions through legal and grassroots means. Agamit Gelb and her...

info_outline Serach - The Keeper of Israel’s Collective Memory show art Serach - The Keeper of Israel’s Collective Memory

Madlik Podcast – Disruptive Torah Thoughts on Judaism

The only Israelite to go down to Egypt and enter the Promised Land was a woman. In the years after the Civil War, heritage groups began honoring a rare category of Americans: Real Sons and Real Daughters — children born to aging veterans of that war. Not grandchildren. Not great-grandchildren. Their actual children. Living, breathing links to a fading past. Today, the same honor is given to the children of Holocaust survivors. These are voices that don’t just remember history — they carry it. In the Torah, there is one figure who embodies this idea more than any other. Her name is Serach...

info_outline Understanding Anti-Semitism Through History show art Understanding Anti-Semitism Through History

Madlik Podcast – Disruptive Torah Thoughts on Judaism

What happens when the sacred victim becomes the sovereign nation? We delve into a provocative exploration of Jewish identity and otherness in this week's episode. Drawing inspiration from the Torah portion Balak and a thought-provoking essay by Hussein Aboubakr Mansour, we challenge long-held beliefs about Judaism's role as the quintessential "other" in society. Have we been misinterpreting our own history? Key Takeaways The concept of Jews as universal "others" may be more modern than we realize Embracing particularism might be more authentic to Jewish tradition than universal symbolism...

info_outline
 
More Episodes

Are there times were we should strive not to be present or in the moment?

As we enter the month of Elul and approach the High Holidays, many of us instinctively tighten our grip on spiritual practices. We double down on prayer, intensify our focus, and strive for flawless kavanah (intention). But what if true holiness sometimes emerges when we loosen our hold?

In this week's Torah portion, Ki Teitze, we encounter a surprising perspective on mitzvot (commandments) that challenges our assumptions about intentionality and control. Let's explore how embracing the unintentional might deepen our spiritual practice and transform our relationship with the Divine.

Key Takeaways

  1. The nuanced approach to returning lost objects and when it's okay to "hide your eyes”
  2. How the agricultural law of forgotten sheaves (shichecha) relates to selective memory during the High Holidays
  3. The serendipitous nature of the bird's nest commandment and its character and environmental implications

Timestamps

  • [00:00:00] Holiness in forgetting and letting go
  • [00:02:07] Rabbi joins from Italy
  • [00:03:00] Announcements and upcoming live event
  • [00:04:00] Returning lost objects in Deuteronomy
  • [00:06:03] The subway lesson: looking away
  • [00:09:00] Exceptions to returning lost items
  • [00:12:00] The mitzvah of forgetting sheaves in the field
  • [00:17:00] Selective memory and Rosh Hashanah
  • [00:22:00] The bird’s nest commandment
  • [00:28:00] Wrapping up: intentional vs. unintentional holiness

Links & Learnings

Sign up for free and get more from our weekly newsletter https://madlik.com/

Safaria Source Sheet: https://www.sefaria.org/sheets/672300

Transcript here: https://madlik.substack.com/