Episode 13: Mentalist Mark Edward "Exposing the Charlatans"

Episode 13: Mentalist Mark Edward "Exposing the Charlatans"

Author: Ben Koren and Benzi Siouni | A Geonic-Maimonidean Approach to Torah Through the Ages and Today March 25, 2022 Duration: 1:30:45
Mr. Edward reveals secrets of the trade and takes us on a journey through the world of illusion. Although he is agnostic, he is doing God's work. We share our different views on faith but there is quite a lot of common ground. In this episode, the Mentalist reveals what differentiates mentalists, magicians, and clairvoyants. He tells stories of his friend, the late great skeptic and magician James Randi (The Amazing Randi), who dedicated his life to exposing fraudsters, whether it be Faith Healers, Mediums, or Psychics. Two famous examples that come to mind are Peter Popoff and Uri Geller. Also, Necromancy is an evil, phony practice that dates back to early civilization, and is explicitly forbidden in the bible. When people are most vulnerable, in pain and desperate they often try anything to get answers. Sadly, there are still those who pose as Mediums today, pretending to have the ability to communicate with the dead. Over the last few years, TV personalities such as the Hollywood Medium, Sylvia Brown, and Theresa Caputo have gained popularity by utilizing Cold, Warm, and Hot Readings on their unsuspecting audiences. In this episode, the Mentalist reveals some of their techniques and even does a reading on us. Are these tactics the same ones used by the FBI or CIA when they interrogate suspects? This episode was not only eye-opening, but it was a lot of fun too. (Warning: Adult Language)

In a world of soundbites, JUDAISM DEMYSTIFIED | A Guide for Today's Perplexed: Torah Foundations, Reason, and Tradition offers a different space: long, thoughtful conversations that delve into the questions and concepts often passed over. Lifelong friends Ben Koren and Benzi Siouni host this series, bringing together voices from across disciplines-religious thinkers, scientists, historians-to examine Jewish wisdom through a specific lens. Their approach is rooted in the Geonic-Maimonidean tradition, a classical stream of Jewish thought that champions reason alongside deep faith, and they thoughtfully engage with the modern intellectual legacy of Rabbi Jonathan Sacks. This isn't about simple answers, but about rediscovering the robust, foundational frameworks of Torah that can speak to contemporary complexity. Each episode aims to build a bridge between ancient text and modern perplexity, reigniting a genuine passion for tradition by taking it seriously as a living, intellectual pursuit. The resulting discussions in this podcast are nuanced, patient, and designed for anyone who feels that standard explanations have left gaps in their understanding. You'll hear explorations where tradition meets rigorous inquiry, where historical context illuminates enduring principles, and where the goal is a more coherent, personally owned Jewish life. It’s a guide for the curious, the skeptical, and the devoted, all seeking a deeper anchor in timeless wisdom.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 139

JUDAISM DEMYSTIFIED | A Guide for Today's Perplexed: Torah Foundations, Reason, and Tradition
Podcast Episodes
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Duration: 1:16:43
In his book 'Eternally Yours', Rabbi Reuven Mann makes an important observation: that most religions and political, intellectual, and social movements trace themselves back to a single founder. Yet as great as our Patria…
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Duration: 44:36
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Duration: 1:36:32
As a teenager, Bernd Wollschlaeger uncovered a very dark secret about his family: that his father was a decorated, high-ranking Nazi who was very proud of his role as a tank commander in Hitler’s army and played a part i…
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Duration: 1:10:31
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Episode 33: Rabbi Dr. Elie Feder "Gematria Refigured" [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:41:27
Gematria is one of the methods of Aggadic interpretation but unfortunately it has developed a bad reputation as something that can be easily manipulated to "prove" any idea. As a respected mathematician and a critical th…
Episode 32: Hakham Mordehai Ish Yemini "Why Even Be Maimonidean?" [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:14:12
The Hakham returns and delivers yet another explosive interview. This time he makes a strong case for the practical reasons Jews should return to the classical Sepharadi tradition and explains why the alternative path ha…
Episode 31: Dr. Susan Weissman "Ghosts, Purgatory & the Undead" [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:38:50
Dr. Susan Weissman delivers a thorough examination of particular areas of Sefer Hasidim by Rabbi Yehuda HaHasid. In her book titled 'Final Judgment and the Dead in Medieval Jewish Thought', she presents how influential t…
Episode 30: Mitchell First Esq. "Jewish Roots & Rituals" [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 47:13
Mitchell First Esq. examines pre-exilic acrostics that point to the Hebrew letter Pe preceding Ayin in the original order of the Hebrew alphabet (as in Eikhah chaps. 2-4, and based on recent archaeological findings) and…
Episode 29: Rabbi Jonathan Livi "Adam, Eve & The Human Condition" [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:18:54
Rabbi Jonthan Livi, host of 3 Podcasts on Apple (The Parasha Podcast, The Navi Podcast, The Tehillim Podcast), carefully analyzes the nuances of the Garden of Eden narrative and uncovers some of its deepest lessons. The…
Episode 28: Rabbi Moshe Ben-Chaim "A Return to Fundamentals" [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 2:13:23
Rabbi Moshe Ben-Chaim makes a strong case to return to fundamentals by using sources and common sense. He explains how Judaism in the modern age has regressed into magical thinking and superstition. We discuss the follow…