Madlik Podcast – Disruptive Torah Thoughts on Judaism

This week’s parsha is Acharei Mot.. literally; After Death. From Rabbinic Judaism up until the present, we Jews “Choose Life”. Was it always so? Was it so obvious? Is it the secret sauce of Jewish survival? And…. Is it at the core of the current conflict? So many questions and only half an hour. Join us for Life Comes First recorded live on Clubhouse. Source Sheet: www.sefaria.org/sheets/561608 Transcript on episode web page: https://madlik.com/2024/05/01/life-comes-first/

Join Geoffrey Stern and Rabbi Mintz recorded on Clubhouse. This year our Seder will be different from other seders. For the first time in many of our lives it will be a Leil Shemorim, a night of concern; a night of uncertainty, fatigue and confusion. So, let’s follow the advice of the Rabbis to see ourselves as though we too are leaving our Egypt. Join us as we recast the ancient texts of the Haggadah for our generation and our challenging times. Sefaria Source Sheet: www.sefaria.org/sheets/559081 Transcript: https://madlik.com/2024/04/16/madlik-model-seder-2024/

On the last day of a wartime visit to Israel, I visit the Shittim Institute; The Kibbutz Institute for Holidays and Jewish Culture, situated on kibbutz Beit Hashita in Northern Israel. I recently discovered this amazing institute when I purchased a first edition Kibbutz Be'eri Haggadah from 1950. I was researching the provenance of this new edition to my collection when I learned that Machon Shittim has the most extensive and unique archive of what I now recognize as Yahadut Yisraeli, organic Israeli Judaism. So join me as we learn about the archive, it's history and it's potential to build resiliency and unity in Israel and the diaspora. Transcript on episode web page: https://madlik.com/2024/04/11/from-farm-to-table-organic-israeli-judaism/

A conversation in Jerusalem with Professor Daniel Polisar, co-founder of Shalem College and his assistant, Hannah Liberman. We talk about the miraculous and sui generis emergence of the Hamal Yerushalyim; The Jerusalem Civilian Command Center at the beginning of the October 7 War. We also try to quantify and comprehend the IDF’s cataclysmic failure to provide basic protective gear for Israeli troops. Transcript here: https://madlik.com/2024/04/05/where-have-all-the-helmets-gone/

Join Geoffrey Stern in the Negev to meet with soldiers in the 97th Netzah Yehuda Battalion, previously known as Nahal Haredi, a battalion in the Kfir Brigade of the Israel Defense Forces. The soldiers are all Haredi and you will be hearing first from the commander and then from one of the new recruits, both of which spoke English and approached me to tell their story. While the government of Israel is on the brink of collapsing over the issue of haredi draft, these young soldiers provide a little light and a lot of inspiration. These soldiers were all supported by a great not-for-profit called Nahal Haredi. Feel free to lend your support and enjoy. Be sure to click on the link below to see the original videos of these two pioneers! YouTube Video Link: https://youtu.be/2ftxUBwJ9rM

Join us for a conversation with Elimelech Crystal; one of the leaders of Beyahad Em Lochamey Kippur 1973, an organization dedicated to supporting Israel's combat soldiers while at the same time protesting the current government. Transcipt on episode web page: https://madlik.com/2024/03/30/veterans-of-the-yom-kippur-war-are-heard/

Join Geoffrey Stern in conversation with Ruth Calderon. In Israel while the war in Gaza rages on and with over 100 hostages still in captivity, we sit down with Talmud scholar and founder of Amla; Ruth Calderon to discuss the need to reclaim Jewish texts and create a shared cultural language in Israel..... now more than ever. Sefaria Source Sheet: www.sefaria.org/sheets/554640 Transcript on episode web page: https://madlik.com/2024/03/27/the-next-day-with-ruth-calderon/

Join Geoffrey Stern and Rabbi Mintz recorded on Clubhouse. The Book of Vayikra (Leviticus) is also called Torat Cohanim (The Priestly Torah) and has traditionally been the first book to be studied by children in the Cheder. Today there is a growing and no longer fringe group of Mikdashnikim who want to rebuild the Temple. So today, from the mouth of babes up until the present we will trace and try to understand the unique place these laws play in Jewish theology and modern Israeli politics. Sefaria Source Sheet: www.sefaria.org/sheets/553283 Transcript on episode web page: https://madlik.com/2024/03/20/torat-cohanim-then-and-now/

Join Geoffrey Stern and Rabbi Adam Mintz recorded on Clubhouse. Moses feels obliged to acknowledge the individuals who designed and built the Tabernacle and to provide an exact accounting of all the funds used. We explore the profound place that transparency, accountability and most of all; honoring one’s sources, play in Jewish tradition, culture and in light of the reckoning that lies ahead for the State of Israel and the Jewish People… will play in the future of our people. Sefaria Source Sheet: www.sefaria.org/sheets/550971 Transcript on episode web page: https://madlik.com/2024/03/13/transparency-accountability-and-citation/

Join Geoffrey Stern and Rabbi Adam Mintz recorded on Clubhouse. By tradition, the holiday of Passover is preceded by five specially named Shabbatot. The first is called Shekalim and we discuss the meaning of this shabbat in light of both Rabbinic and New Testament texts and in the process join our forebears in preparing for the Spring awakening. Sefaria Source Sheet: www.sefaria.org/sheets/549744 Transcript on episode web page: https://madlik.com/2024/03/06/shekels-count/

Join Geoffrey Stern and rabbi Adam Mintz recorded on Clubhouse. We invite Berel Dov Lerner the author of recently published: Human-Divine Interactions in the Hebrew Scriptures to discuss his book and his premise of Covenants and Cross-Purposes. We’ll use a simple basin made of pedestrian copper found in the Tabernacle as our point of departure. Sefaria Source Sheet: www.sefaria.org/sheets/547714 Transcript on episode web page: https://madlik.com/2024/02/29/human-divine-interactions/

Join Geoffrey Stern and Rabbi Adam Mintz recorded on Clubhouse. We explore the enigma of the Urim and Thummim; the priestly breastplate, especially within the context of the Torah’s explicit rejection of sorcery and divination. And we wonder …. We wonder about contemporary incarnations of divination and prophesy in the form of opinion-polling and social media engagement. Sefaria Source Sheet: www.sefaria.org/sheets/546029 Transcript on episode web page: https://madlik.com/2024/02/21/the-sorcerers-apprentice/

Join Geoffrey Stern and Rabbiu Adam Mintz recorded on Clubhouse. According to Rabbinic tradition Moses was shown a paradigm of the Menorah but was uncertain how to translate the vision into reality of the moment. Bezalel had no such reservations and succeeded where Moses failed. We use this tradition to explore the modern concept of Paradigm Shift and wonder whether we are at such an inflection point today. Sefaria Source Sheet: www.sefaria.org/sheets/544480 Transcript on episode web page: https://madlik.com/2024/02/15/paradigm-shift/

Join Geoffrey Stern, Rabbi Adam Mintz and special guest, the Reverand Dumisani Washington recorded on Clubhouse. As the rubber meets the road and the Torah begins to translate its vision of liberation into practical rules and regulations, we sense a pattern. The Torah starts by addressing a legal institution close to home; slavery, and provides laws of emancipation. Next the Torah begins to create social solidarity amongst this previously persecuted multitude. Finally the Torah addresses a natural inclination towards a victim mentality and a lens that sees only privilege and victims. We use this opportunity to invite our friend Rev Dumisani Washington to discuss the current state of the Black Church and its relationship with Israel. Sefaria source Sheet: www.sefaria.org/sheets/543156 Transcript on podcast web page: https://madlik.com/2024/02/07/the-black-church-and-israel/

Join Geoffrey Stern, Rabbi Adam Mintz and special guest Shikh Muhan Fares for a discussion recorded on Clubhouse.. We celebrate Yitro and our Druze brothers and sisters. We marvel at the superlatives that the Torah uses to describe Jethro and how the same characteristics of loyalty, leadership and integrity are showcased by Israeli Druze today…. and maybe in the process, we learn a little bit more about the Druze and about ourselves. Sefaria Source Sheet: www.sefaria.org/sheets/541621 Transcript on episode webpage: https://madlik.com/2024/01/31/jethro-and-the-druze/

Join Geoffrey Stern and Rabbi Adam Mintz recorded on Clubhouse. Nachshon is the posterchild of what Heschel called “Praying with your feet”. He personifies Judaism’s clear bias for action over the status quo, action over prayer and even action over reflection. Today we explore the darker side of Nachshon and the potential deficiencies of Action Bias in decision theory. Sefaria Source Sheet: www.sefaria.org/sheets/539799 Transcript on episode web page: https://madlik.com/2024/01/24/nachshon-and-action-bias/

Join Geoffrey Stern and Rabbi Adam Mintz recorded on Clubhouse. Of all the plagues, only the plague of the firstborn carries a timeless message. It represents the culmination of the Torah’s critique of primogeniture and takes on a life of its own in the Israelite law of the firstborn and first fruits. So join us as we explore how the death of the firstborn impacts the message of the Exodus. Sefaria Source Sheet: www.sefaria.org/sheets/538044 Transcript onm episode web page: https://madlik.com/2024/01/17/entitlement-reform/

Join Geoffrey Stern and Rabbi Adam Mintz recorded on Clubhouse. We explore Martin Luthur King Jr.’s iconic “I have a Dream” speech along with an interview he gave at the Convention of the Rabbinical Assembly for Conservative Judaism, a year after the 6 Day War and 10 days before he was assassinated. We will showcase King’s identification with a prophetic tradition which saw the universality of the Exodus story without diminishing its unique message for the Children of Israel. Sefaria Source Sheet: www.sefaria.org/sheets/536664 Transcript on episode web page: https://madlik.com/2024/01/11/mlk-and-exodus/

Join Geoffrey Stern and Rabbi Adam MIntz recorded on Clubhouse. Following Classical Rabbinic sources that show a link between the Family Story of Genesis and the Birth of a Nation Story of Exodus we review a recently published book: Why the Bible Began: An Alternative History of Scripture and its Origins by Jacob Wright and reflect on what made the Hebrew Bible so unique and its message so eternally timely. Sefaria Source Sheet: www.sefaria.org/sheets/534972 Transcript on episode website: https://madlik.com/2024/01/04/exodus-and-the-birth-of-a-nation/

Join Geoffrey Stern and Rabbi Adam Mintz recorded on Clubhouse. 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 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. Sefaria Source Sheet: www.sefaria.org/sheets/533990 Transcript on episode web page: https://madlik.com/2023/12/27/until-shiloh-comes/