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

S3, E8 חובות הלבבות, The Duties of the Heart, part #4, Repentance; Examining the Soul; Abstinence; and Love of God 11.04.2022 1:08:09

S3, E7 חובות הלבבות, The Duties of the Heart, part #3, Trust; Devotion; and Submission 28.03.2022 1:06:08

S3, E6 חובות הלבבות, The Duties of the Heart, part #2, Examination and Service of God 14.03.2022 1:03:28

S3, E5 חובות הלבבות, The Duties of the Heart, part #1, Introduction and Unity of God 28.02.2022 1:17:55

S3, E4 אמונות ודעות, The Book of Beliefs and Opinions, part #4, Redemption; The World to Come; Ideal Human Conduct 07.02.2022 1:03:42

 Click here for The Book of Memories Podcast

S3, E3 אמונות ודעות, The Book of Beliefs and Opinions, part #3, Merits and Demerits; The Soul and Death; Resurrection in This World 24.01.2022 59:12

Click here for The Book of Memories Podcast  

S3, E2 אמונות ודעות, The Book of Beliefs and Opinions, part #2, Unity of God; Commandments and Prohibitions; Obedience and Rebellion 10.01.2022 1:12:35

S3, E1 אמונות ודעות, The Book of Beliefs and Opinions, part #1, Introduction and Creation ex Nihilo 27.12.2021 57:06

Intro to אמונות ודעות and creation ex nihilo Here are links to the editions that I'm using: The Book of Beliefs and Opinions. Translated from the Arabic and the Hebrew By Samuel Rosenblatt: Gaon, Saadia. Rosenblatt, Samuel, Tr.: Amazon.com: Books הנבחר באמונות ובדעות / יוסף בכה"ר דוד קאפח (daat.ac.il) Rabbi Shnayor Burton | Linktree Unapologetics | Rabbi Shnayor Burton | Substack

S3, E0 Intro to Season Three: Fundamental Books of Torah Thought 12.12.2021 9:06

Season 3 will dive into the most fundamental and intriguing works of Torah thought. We will dedicate 4 episodes each to reviewing the following great books: 1) אמונות ודעות 2) חובות הלבבות 3) כוזרי 4) האמונה הרמה 5) מורה נבוכים 6) אור השם Rabbi Shnayor Burton | Linktree Unapologetics | Rabbi Shnayor Burton | Substack

Eretz Yisrael – Magical Protection Against Sin? 14.10.2021 30:12

This is a guest shiur that I delivered at Ohr Mattisyahu in Lakewood. The sefer about the mitzvah of living in EY is available for purchase here: Ha'aretz Asher Arecha - R. Shnayor Burton הארץ אשר אראך - חובת הישיבה בארץ ישראל | eBay and here: הארץ אשר אראך: Rabbi Shnayor Burton: 9798218080600: Amazon.com: Books Unapologetics | Rabbi Shnayor Burton | Substack

S2, E28 What Makes Eretz Yisrael Special? Part 7, How to do Geulah 12.09.2021 53:33

In this final episode of Season 2 we explore yet one more aspect of godly vision and how to attain it and also learn how to redeem the land, freeing it from Satan and sanctifying it through thoughts ands action to ultimately create Heaven on Earth. For this episode's sources, click here For the updated, full chart of season 2, click here For the YouTube video of this episode, click here The sefer...

S2, E27 What Makes Eretz Yisrael Special? Part 6, How to See Beneath the Surface 05.09.2021 48:02

"Send for yourself men, and let them explore the land of Canaan"/ "You will see it and remember… Then you won't go exploring the lusts of your own heart or your eyes." Tzitzis teaches us how to be successful meraglim : by seeing beneath the surface. For this episode's sources, click here For the essay, click here For the YouTube video of this episode, click here The sefer about the mitzvah of livi...

S2, E26 What Makes Eretz Yisrael Special? Part 5, The Time has Come to Rectify the Sin of the Meraglim 30.08.2021 40:07

We are all meraglim now. If you can articulate what was the question that the meraglim set out to determine and can reach a conclusion about that, then you too are a meragel . You must take a position: are you with Yehoshua and Calev or are you with the other ten? Let the deliberations begin! For this episode's sources, click here   For the YouTube video of this episode, click here The sefer...

S2, E25 What Makes Eretz Yisrael Special? Part 4, How to Make Heaven on Earth 22.08.2021 48:12

What would it take for a land to become a dwelling-place for God and how could humans make it so?  For this episode's sources, click here   For the YouTube video of this episode, click here The sefer about the mitzvah of living in EY is available for purchase here: Ha'aretz Asher Arecha - R. Shnayor Burton הארץ אשר אראך - חובת הישיבה בארץ ישראל | eBay and here: הארץ אשר אראך: Rabbi Shnay...

S2, E24 What Makes Eretz Yisrael Special? Part 3, Seeing the Good and Doing the Good 15.08.2021 38:21

How do you learn to see as Hashem does? And what will this do to you? For the YouTube video of this episode, click here The sefer about the mitzvah of living in EY is available for purchase here: Ha'aretz Asher Arecha - R. Shnayor Burton הארץ אשר אראך - חובת הישיבה בארץ ישראל | eBay and here: הארץ אשר אראך: Rabbi Shnayor Burton: 9798218080600: Amazon.com: Books To access the shiurim on Kol Halasho...

S2, E23 What Makes Eretz Yisrael Special? Part 2, Knowing Hashem 08.08.2021 45:11

Eretz Yisrael is so central to the Torah. But why? Learn the meaning of "דעת אלהים בארץ," how to experience Hashem and His Divine attributes in the Holy Land – and how to achieve this.  For this episode's sources, click here For the YouTube video of this episode, click here   The sefer about the mitzvah of living in EY is available for purchase here: Ha'aretz Asher Arecha - R. Shnayor Bu...

S2, E22 What Makes Eretz Yisrael Special? Part 1, Seeing as Hashem Sees 01.08.2021 35:25

Eretz Yisrael is so central to the Torah. But why?   Learn the meaning of "הארץ אשר אראך"; how we can learn to see things from Hashem's perspective. For this episodes sources, click here   For the YouTube video of this episode, click here The sefer about the mitzvah of living in EY is available for purchase here: Ha'aretz Asher Arecha - R. Shnayor Burton הארץ אשר אראך - חובת הישיבה בארץ...

S2, E21 Living in Eretz Yisrael – Summary and Conclusions 25.07.2021 39:22

We have finally reached the answer to the question that we set out to answer: Should we live in Eretz Yisrael? All of season 2 is summarized in this episode, and matters are brought to their crystal-clear conclusion. For the chart of season 2, click here . For the YouTube video of this episode, click here . The sefer about the mitzvah of living in EY is available for purchase here: Ha'aretz Asher...

S2, E20 Must We Rectify the Problem that the Mitvzos Ha’Teluyos Ba’Aretz Present Before We Can Return? 11.07.2021 40:24

Exile was punishment for being lax in giving ma'aser. Does it follow that we shouldn't attempt to return to Eretz Yisrael before we rectify our deficiency in that regard? Explore what the sources in Chazal teach us about this matter, and learn what we can do to remedy this shortcoming. For the YouTube video of this episode, click here For this episode's sources, click here To access t...

S2, E19 Do the Mitzvos Ha'Teluyos Ba'Aretz Pose an Insurmountable Challenge? 27.06.2021 34:51

Rabbenu Chaim Kohen said that due the insurmountable challenge posed by the commandments associated with the land – terumos, ma'asros, shemittah etc. – there is "currently" no mitzvah to live in Eretz Yisrael. What is the underlying logic of this position? Did he intend this for his time or for our time too? Is this the halachah? For this episode's sources, click here For the YouTube video of this...

S2, E18 The Theology of Jewish History – From Revelation to Exile and on to Redemption 20.06.2021 47:51

Does exile serve a constructive, divine purpose in history, or is it merely a problem to be rectified? Will the post-exile era of redemption look the same as the pre-exile era, or will something be fundamentally different? Come study the sodos of Jewish history.  For this episode's sources, click here For the YouTube video of this epsiode, click here Please take a moment to subscribe and leav...

S2, E17 Knesses Yisrael’s Trial – Did We Pass or Fail? 13.06.2021 39:27

The relationship between Hashem and His people is portrayed dramatically in the Song of Songs, a parable about love, which ends with a climactic trial: is the woman (Knesses Yisrael) faithful – a "wall" – or not? Did the nation pass this great trial or did it fail? What are the ramifications for how we understand our state of exile today, and how we should act vis-à-vis Eretz Yisrael and redemptio...

S2, E16 The Sin that Marred the Second Temple 06.06.2021 37:01

The return of the Babylonian exiles to Zion was supposed to be miraculous, like the first coming in the days of Yehoshua, but the "sin" had its effects and the Jews returned only by the permission of Cyrus, King of Persia.  What was the sin? Where did we go wrong? And what should we do to make things right?  For this episode's sources, click  here For the YouTube video of this episo...

S2, E15 Is Redemption Really Dependent on Us? 30.05.2021 45:32

Are we awaiting Hashem, or is He awaiting us? The Kuzari maintains that our connection with Hashem depends on us. He awaits our interest; when we embrace Eretz Yisrael, the Shechinah will return and dwell amongst Yisrael.  Is this in fact the case? For this episode's sources, click here For the related conversations on The Book of Memories, click here and here For the YouTube video of this ep...

S2, E14 The Thousand-Year Exile, Divine Plans and Divine Rules 23.05.2021 39:51

We can attempt deduce the Divine plan – when and why we are supposed to be in exile – from various midrashim and statements of Chazal. Are we supposed to engage in that kind of speculation in order to determine how we should act? For this episode's sources, click here Please take a moment to subscribe and leave a review on Apple Podcasts . Thanks for listening! You can email Rabbi Burton with ques...