Madlik Podcast – Disruptive Torah Thoughts on Judaism

Join Geoffrey Stern and Rabbi Adam Mintz recorded on clubhouse on July 14th 2022. We read the story of Balaam and note the selective use of the generic "God-Elohim" and the particular name of the God of Israel – "YHVH". We wonder if it is simply stylic variation or does it have significance. In the process we compare traditional Rabbinic solutions to the so-called Documentary Hypothesis and consid...

Join Geoffrey Stern and Rabbi Adam Mintz recorded July 7th 2022 on Clubhouse. In a parsha dedicated to death and with much attention on the enigmatic law of the Red Heifer we also witness the death of Moses and his siblings; the primary protagonists of the Exodus. Miriam dies in two verses and Moses and Aaron are sentenced to death with Aaron quickly dispatched. Which leads to the age-old question...

Join Geoffey Stern and Rabbi Adam Mintz recorded on June 30th 2022 on Clubhouse as we take a fresh look at Korach's rebellion. Dathan and Abiram refer to Egypt as a Land Flowing with Milk and Honey and defy Moses even were he to offer fields and vineyards in a land flowing with milk & honey. What does the Biblical "Flowing with Milk & Honey" mean? Sefaria Source Sheet: www.sefaria.org/sheets/41670...

Join Geoffrey Stern and Rabbi Adam Mintz recorded on Clubhouse June 23rd, 2022 as we discuss parshat Shelach.  We ignore the headline story of the spies who lacked vision. We overcome the urge to defend the מְקֹשֵׁ֣שׁ עֵצִ֑ים the gatherer of sticks on Shabbat.  We even pass up a chance to enjoy the blue indigo of the tzitzit. Instead, we focus on the lowly loaf of challah and explore how it saved...

Join Geoffrey Stern and Rabbi Adam Mintz recorded on Clubhouse on June 16th 2022. The Torah breaches the subject of a Ger (Convert alt. resident alien) celebrating the Exodus from Egypt. Jews-by-birth praise God who took "us" out of Egypt and we wonder along with Nachmanides and Maimonides whether a convert can or should consdier him/herself a part of past Jewish historical experience as well as p...

Join Geoffrey Stern and Rabbi Adam Mintz recorded on Clubhouse on June 9th 2022 as we read the text of the weekly portion through the eyes of the iconic Torah Commentator; Rashi. Keep in mind that Rashi was the proud father of four daughters (no sons) and had a day job as a vintner. Did this affect his treatment of the Sotah (Unfaithful Wife) and the sober Nazirite? Grab a glass of wine and let's...

Join Geoffrey Stern and Rabbi Adam Mintz recorded on Clubhouse on as we meet a man named Nachshon ben Aminadav. A man with only a insignificant walk-on role in the text of the Torah but an iconic presence in Jewish religious and secular thought, culture and mythology. Sefaria Source Sheet: www.sefaria.org/sheets/410450 Transcript on episode web site: https://madlik.com/2022/06/01/nachshon/  

Join Geoffrey Stern and Rabbi Adam Mintz recorded on Clubhouse on May 26th 2022. This week we see the flip side of not owning our land. We are exposed to exile and alienation, both physical and emotional. But mostly, we are struck by the almost too  rich vocabulary and overly haunting imagery the Torah exhibits for a people without a land. Sefaria Source Sheet: www.sefaria.org/sheets/408510 Transc...

Join Geoffrey Stern and Rabbi Adam Mintz recorded on clubhouse on May 19th 2022. The earth is the Lord's resonates throughout the Torah nowhere stronger than in the laws of the Sabbatical and Jubilee years. We explore what a Promised Land means when land ownership is only temporary. Sefaria Source Sheet: www.sefaria.org/sheets/406956 Transcript on episode web page: https://madlik.com/2022/05/18/th...

Join Geoffrey Stern and Rabbi Adam Mintz recorded on Clubhouse on May 12th 2022 for a discussion of the Biblical taboo against contact with death. We explore Biblical and Rabbinic texts and wonder what the Torah's aversion to death teaches us about life. Sefaria Source Sheet: www.sefaria.org/sheets/404890 Transcript on episode website: https://madlik.com/2022/05/11/life-after-death/  

Join Geoffrey Stern and Rabbi Adam Mintz recorded on Clubhouse on May 5th 2022 as we ask: what does it mean to be holy? Does holiness divide or unite us? Join us as we ask whether the revolutionary perception of holiness contained in the biblical text is eclipsed by puritanism and sectarianism. Sefaria Source Sheet: www.sefaria.org/sheets/403778 Transcript: https://madlik.com/2022/05/04/divide-and...

Join Geoffrey Stern and Rabbi Adam Mintz recorded on Clubhouse on April 28th for Madlik Disruptive Torah. A goat is thrown off a cliff to atone for our sins. A troubling rite with a rich history for the Jewish people and for Christianity that believes in a Savior who died to expiate the sins of mankind. Sefaria Source Sheet: www.sefaria.org/sheets/401839 Transript on Podcast web page: https://madl...

Join Geoffrey Stern and Rabbi Adam Mintz recorded on clubhouse on Thursday April 7th 2022 as we explore how the affliction of Leprosy became identified with slander in Rabbinic texts. We'll watch our tongue as we revisit the theme of Mitzvot as symbol, language and metaphor.  We'll see that the Rabbinic concept of slander covered a lot more than idle gossip and included character assasination, que...

Join Geoffrey Stern and Rabbi Adam Mintz recorded on Clubhouse on March 31st 2022 as we use the Torah's treatment of postpartum impurity to explore postpartum depression, gender definition and female sexual needs and rights, to name a few stimulating topics... Sefaria Source Sheet: www.sefaria.org/sheets/396094 Transcript on episode web page: https://madlik.com/2022/03/31/of-woman-born/  

Join Geoffrey Stern and Michael Posnik recorded on March 24th 2022 on Clubhouse as we ask: Was the death of the two sons of Aaron a tragedy or the ultimate sanctification of God's Name…. or both? We explore the concept of martyrdom in the Bible and Rabbinic texts and into modern times with the Warsaw Ghetto Uprising and the creation of the State of Israel. Sefaria Source Sheet: www.sefaria.org/she...

Parshat Tzav - Join Geoffrey Stern and Rabbi Adam Mintz and grab a drink as we explore this week's Torah reading and how it relates to Spring Folly and Spring Cleaning. Exposed to the ingredients that are used in the sacrifices we realize that Hametz, Matzah and Bread (not to mention hard liquor) have significance unrelated to the Exodus story and more related to the trials, violence as well as jo...

Join Geoffrey Stern and Rabbi Adam Mintz recorded on Clubhouse on March 10th 2022 as they encounter the first mention of the Hebrew word for a mistake (Shegaga).  They explore the Biblical and Rabbinic idea of the stain, intention and the etiology of sin either as a deficiency in character or treatable condition. Sefaria Source Sheet: www.sefaria.org/sheets/390805 Transcript on episode website: ht...

Join Geoffrey Stern and Rabbi Adam Mintz recorded on clubhouse on March 3rd at 1:00pm Eastern as we complete the Book of Exodus and its lengthy treatment of the construction of the Tabernacle. In so doing, we recognize the twofold message that the cloud covered the Tent of Meeting, and the Presence of God filled the Tabernacle but also that when the cloud lifted from the Tabernacle, the Israelites...

Join Geoffrey Stern and Rabbi Adam Mintz recorded on Clubhouse on February 24th as we continue our discussion of melacha – work. Last week we discovered that creative work, even the construction of the holy tabernacle is subservient to the sanctification of time. This week we celebrate creative work as a reflection of the divine. We explore the eclipse of manual labor and the arts in Jewish cultur...

Parshat Ki Tisa - The Torah references the observance of the Sabbath in the context of building the Tabernacle (Mishkan). The Rabbis learn from this simple juxtapostion that there are 39 forms of labor prohibited on the Sabbath. If you observe the Sabbath you appreciate the deep significance and practical ramifications of this interpretation. We explore the connection between the Tabernacle and th...

Join Geoffrey Stern and Rabbi Adam Mintz for a new episode of Madlik Disruptive Torah. We'll explore the Torah's preeminent use of a hue of blue called Tekhelet in the construction of the Tabernacle and in the Priestly garb. This rare and dear dye; extracted from a non-kosher mollusk, was also used on the four-cornered tallit of every simple Jew. Sefaria Source Sheet: www.sefaria.org/sheets/383005...

Join Geoffrey Stern and Rabbi Adam Mintz recorded on Clubhouse on February 3rd 2022 as we explore a single verse: "Make Me a temple and I will dwell within them" This iconic verse, pregnant with meaning, enables us to visit classical Jewish commentaries and discover some surprising views of God's relationship with His/Her creation, not just with a tabernacle or temple. Sefaria Source Sheet: www.se...

Join Geoffrey Stern and Rabbi Adam Mintz recorded live on Clubhouse on January 27th 2020 discuss Parshat Mishpatim. Moses places twelve stone slabs (stelas) engraved with a code of law before his people. We take a look at the similarities and differences with other ancient Near Eastern Codes such as Eshnunna and Hammurabi and ask: What's new with Moses' Code of the Covenant? Sefaria Source Sheet:...

parshat yitro - Join Geoffrey Stern and Rabbi Adam Mintz recorded on Clubhouse on January 20th 2022 as we discuss the Torah portion that includes the Ten Commandments but is named after a non-Jewish priest. A priest who blesses God, successfully offers sacrifices, shares a sacred meal and, with God's sanction, establishes institutions of jurisprudence for the Jewish People. For a religion that is...

Join Geoffrey Stern and Rabbi Adam Mintz recorded on Clubhouse on January 13th 2022. God leads the Jews on the scenic (long) route to the Promised Land and the classical commentators wonder why. All of them find a pedagogic approach but their conclusions are diverse and in some cases, perplexing!  We join the Israelites as they embark on this fateful trip into the desert and we learn a little some...