Rabbi Shnayor Burton

The Great Sources with Rabbi Shnayor Burton

Religion EN ↓ 238 episodes

To help support this podcast, please consider making a tax-deductible donation via Zelle to jacoblightsfoundation@gmail.com. Lecture series in Jewish Philosophy. What was the purpose of Creation? What is man's place in the world? What are prophecy and prayer about? What is the significance of Shabbos and the Promised Land? Explore these fundamental questions of Judaism from their sources, and become familiar with the systems developed by the great Torah thinkers: R' Saadiah Gaon, R' Yehuda HaLevi, R' Bachya ibn Paquda, Rambam and the school of the Mekubalim.

Author

Rabbi Shnayor Burton

Episodes

S10, E4 In Pursuit of Knowing Hashem: The Prophets’ Four-Step Path to Da’as Hashem 01.08.2025 1:34:28

Conversation # 4 of the series In this conversation, Zev and I analyze the first step of the prophetic path to Da’as Hashem – its logic, practice, and universal relevance.5:00 The four-step discipline of the prophets for reaching Da'as Hashem 13:00 The doctrine of Da'as Hashem is universally intelligible and meaningful even without accepting Torah or Judaism 16:45 The universality of Da'as Hashem...

S7, E15 The Guide of the Perplexed, Rambam’s Messianic Vision (03): Torah and the Parable Without a Meaning 30.07.2025 1:16:41

00:00 The project of the Guide is the rectification of the challenges associated with prophecy 2:30 The need for the Torah to be unlocked 12:00 King Solomon was a Messianic figure who commenced the unlocking of the Torah, which was then completed by Rabbi Akiva 20:45 The innovation in the Torah which is itself rooted in the Torah: Rambam's rereading of the Torah's mission to uproot idolatr...

S5, E51 Exodus, Exile and Redemption, Sec. 4, Chapter 5: Where Redemption Lives 28.07.2025 4:33

" Exodus, Exile and Redemption " is a study of the profound significance of Judaism's history. Written essays are published bi-weekly ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ . Please subscribe! This series is made possible by the Jacob Lights Foundation. To support this and other ongoing foundation initiatives, please consider becoming a paid subscriber to the Substack newsletter or making a tax-deductib...

S7, E14 The Guide of the Perplexed, Rambam’s Messianic Vision (02): Do Not Say "Water, Water" 23.07.2025 1:11:32

0:00 How does Rambam intend to extract us from exile? 2:30 Rabbi Akiva as the great teacher whose Torah completes the Messianic teaching 6:30 The need for the Torah to be clarified and for its meaning to be unlocked 10:00 In what sense Rabbi Akiva is called a "prophet" 18:30 The diminished significance of the Messiah as an individual man of great wisdom and prophetic power 24:00 Allusion...

S7, E13 The Guide of the Perplexed, Rambam’s Messianic Vision (01): Rabbi Akiva and the Redemption of Kingship 16.07.2025 1:16:56

0:00 Why are the Redemption and the Messiah not treated of in the Guide, considering that they comprise the 12th principle of faith? 5:30 Chasam Sofer's dispute with Rambam regarding the 12th principle 9:00 The redemption is a principle of faith since it involves the success of the Torah's overall project 11:30 The entire Guide is the means for the Torah's project to succeed: Through t...

S5, E50 Exodus, Exile and Redemption, Sec. 4, Chapter 4: The Counter-Testimony of the Prophet 14.07.2025 11:00

" Exodus, Exile and Redemption " is a study of the profound significance of Judaism's history. Written essays are published bi-weekly ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ . Please subscribe! This series is made possible by the Jacob Lights Foundation. To support this and other ongoing foundation initiatives, please consider becoming a paid subscriber to the Substack newsletter or making a...

S10, E3 In Pursuit of Knowing Hashem: Psychology or Metaphysics? 01.07.2025 1:49:53

conversation # 3 of the series In this conversation, Zev and I share a list of questions related to Knowing Hashem, and discuss whether it involves psychological transformation or mastery of metaphysical knowledge. Links: https://open.substack.com/pub/shnayor... https://open.substack.com/pub/shnayor... https://open.substack.com/pub/shnayor... https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0727TH8X8 0:00 A list of que...

S5, E49 Exodus, Exile and Redemption, Sec. 4, Chapter 3: A Heretical Torah Discourse 30.06.2025 5:49

" Exodus, Exile and Redemption " is a study of the profound significance of Judaism's history. Written essays are published bi-weekly ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ . Please subscribe! This series is made possible by the Jacob Lights Foundation. To support this and other ongoing foundation initiatives, please consider becoming a paid subscriber to the Substack newsletter or making a ta...

S5, E48 Exodus, Exile and Redemption, Sec. 4, Chapter 2: Other Gods 16.06.2025 6:06

" Exodus, Exile and Redemption " is a study of the profound significance of Judaism's history. Written essays are published bi-weekly ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ . Please subscribe! This series is made possible by the Jacob Lights Foundation. To support this and other ongoing foundation initiatives, please consider becoming a paid subscriber to the Substack newsletter or making a tax-...

S5, E47 Exodus, Exile and Redemption, Sec. 4, Chapter 1: Manasseh’s Case for Idolatry 04.06.2025 9:14

" Exodus, Exile and Redemption " is a study of the profound significance of Judaism's history. Written essays are published bi-weekly ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ . Please subscribe! This series is made possible by the Jacob Lights Foundation. To support this and other ongoing foundation initiatives, please consider becoming a paid subscriber to the Substack newsletter or making a tax-deductible donat...

S10, E2 In Pursuit of Knowing Hashem: How We Lost the Art of Knowing God 28.05.2025 1:12:19

How come nobody has been talking about knowing Hashem?0:00 Why is the ideal of knowing Hashem so revolutionary? And doesn't any person who serves Hashem already know Him?3:30 Hashem as the solution to political problems5:15 Is knowledge of Hashem the totality of all knowledge or a specific knowledge?12:30 Is the blessed state of the world a result of knowing Hashem or the reverse?20:00 Why the...

S10, E1 In Pursuit of Knowing Hashem: Man’s True Mission 23.05.2025 1:09:28

What does it mean to truly know Hashem? A conversation with Zev Lowy about the prophetic ideal — and why it’s still the greatest mission of all. 0:00 Knowledge of Hashem is supposed to be the most fundamental subject for humanity but is seldom discussed 5:30 Knowledge of Hashem is not well defined. How can it perfect humanity? What should we do to promote it? 9:00 Should we articulate how knowledg...

S5, E46 Exodus, Exile and Redemption, Sec. 3, Chapter 21: Yitzchak Does Not Know 19.05.2025 5:14

" Exodus, Exile and Redemption " is a study of the profound significance of Judaism's history. Written essays are published bi-weekly ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ . Please subscribe! This series is made possible by the Jacob Lights Foundation. To support this and other ongoing foundation initiatives, please consider becoming a paid subscriber to the Substack newsletter or making a tax-deductible donatio...

S5, E45 Exodus, Exile and Redemption, Sec. 3, Chapter 20: Yaakov’s Imperfection Reconsidered 05.05.2025 5:45

" Exodus, Exile and Redemption " is a study of the profound significance of Judaism's history. Written essays are published bi-weekly ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ . Please subscribe! This series is made possible by the Jacob Lights Foundation. To support this and other ongoing foundation initiatives, please consider becoming a paid subscriber to the Substack newsletter or making a tax-deduct...

S5, E44 Exodus, Exile and Redemption, Sec. 3, Chapter 19: Avraham’s Doubt and the Path of Torah 21.04.2025 6:04

" Exodus, Exile and Redemption " is a study of the profound significance of Judaism's history. Written essays are published bi-weekly ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ . Please subscribe! This series is made possible by the Jacob Lights Foundation. To support this and other ongoing foundation initiatives, please consider becoming a paid subscriber to the Substack newsletter or making a tax-deductib...

The Work of Freedom: Avraham's Hidden Sin and the Ongoing Exodus from Idolatry 04.04.2025 1:29:14

Why does the Haggadah begin by reminding us that our ancestors were idolaters ?What is the secret sin of Avraham Avinu , and why did he ask for it to remain hidden? This shiur explores the tension between freedom and servitude , the esoteric struggle with idolatry in every generation, and how the Torah guides us through an annual Exodus that is far from over. Uncover true liberation develops from...

S5, E43 Exodus, Exile and Redemption, Sec. 3, Chapter 18: The Unknowable Ways of God 31.03.2025 7:24

" Exodus, Exile and Redemption " is a study of the profound significance of Judaism's history. Written essays are published bi-weekly ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ . Please subscribe! This series is made possible by the Jacob Lights Foundation. To support this and other ongoing foundation initiatives, please consider becoming a paid subscriber to the Substack newsletter or making a tax-deductible...

S5, E42 Exodus, Exile and Redemption, Sec. 3, Chapter 17: The Prophet of Bondage 17.03.2025 4:18

" Exodus, Exile and Redemption " is a study of the profound significance of Judaism's history. Written essays are published bi-weekly ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ . Please subscribe! This series is made possible by the Jacob Lights Foundation. To support this and other ongoing foundation initiatives, please consider becoming a paid subscriber to the Substack newsletter or making a tax-deductible d...

S5, E41 Exodus, Exile and Redemption, Sec. 3, Chapter 16: Prayers of Ministers and of Slaves 17.03.2025 5:45

" Exodus, Exile and Redemption " is a study of the profound significance of Judaism's history. Written essays are published bi-weekly ⁠⁠⁠⁠here⁠⁠⁠⁠ . Please subscribe! This series is a project of the Jacob Lights Foundation. To support this and other ongoing projects of the foundation, please consider becoming a paid subscriber to the Substack newsletter or making a donation via Zelle...

S5, E40 Exodus, Exile and Redemption, Sec. 3, Chapter 15: In Praise of Slavery 03.03.2025 10:54

" Exodus, Exile and Redemption " is a study of the profound significance of Judaism's history. Written essays are published bi-weekly ⁠⁠⁠⁠here⁠⁠⁠⁠ :Please subscribe! This series is a project of the Jacob Lights Foundation. To support this and other ongoing projects of the foundation, please consider becoming a paid subscriber to the Substack newsletter or making a donation via Zelle...

S7, E12 The Guide of the Perplexed, The Revelation at Mount Sinai, 04: The Face of God and Eternal Miracles 26.02.2025 1:14:42

This lecture series is a project of the Jacob Lights Foundation

S7, E11 The Guide of the Perplexed, The Revelation at Mount Sinai, 03: Echoes from a Silent World 19.02.2025 59:05

This lecture series is a project of the Jacob Lights Foundation

S7, E10 The Guide of the Perplexed, The Revelation at Mount Sinai, 02: How to Hear Hashem's Voice 12.02.2025 1:14:43

This lecture series is a project of the Jacob Lights Foundation 00:00 Did Moshe alone perceive Hashem face to face, or did all of Israel perceive Hashem face to face? 2:00 Hearing the Voice of Hashem without intermediation of an angel is considered speaking with Him face to face 15:00 What is the Voice of Hashem? 43:45 We can't know the nature of the Revelation at Sinai nor the nature of Hashem's...

S7, E9 The Guide of the Perplexed, The Revelation at Mount Sinai, 01: Was It Prophecy? 05.02.2025 1:11:49

This lecture series is a project of the Jacob Lights Foundation 0:00 The importance of the Revelation at Mount Sinai 3:00 Chapter 2:32 of the Guide and the requirements for attaining prophecy 6:00 The prediction in Joel of the return of widespread prophecy 8:45 Anyone who can divine hidden things is called a " navi " 10:30 Three problems with interpreting the prediction in the Book of Joel as refe...

S5, E39 Exodus, Exile and Redemption, Sec. 3, Chapter 14: The Godly Power of Man 03.02.2025 3:25

" Exodus, Exile and Redemption " is a study of the profound significance of Judaism's history. Written essays are published bi-weekly ⁠⁠⁠here⁠⁠⁠ : Please subscribe! This series is a project of the Jacob Lights Foundation. To support this and other ongoing projects of the foundation, please consider becoming a paid subscriber to the Substack newsletter or making a donation via Zelle t...