Episode 27: Professor Matt Goldish "The Sabbatean Prophets"

Episode 27: Professor Matt Goldish "The Sabbatean Prophets"

Author: Ben Koren and Benzi Siouni | A Geonic-Maimonidean Approach to Torah Through the Ages and Today September 2, 2022 Duration: 2:11:35
Dr. Goldish provides a detailed analysis on the history of messianic movements, with a specific focus on a relatively recent false messiah, Shabbetai Ẓevi. We discuss the influence on Zoharic and Lurianic Kabbalah on Ẓevi and his prophet, Nathan of Gaza. This story has been largely swept under the rug and if we don't learn our history, we're doomed to repeat it. What's troubling is that a large portion of the Jewish population believed he was the messiah, including respected Talmidei Hakhamim and Rabbis. How did they all fall for this, considering that he was openly breaking Halakha, including his eventual conversion to Islam? Find out how the after-effects of Sabbateanism still linger today via his remaining followers in Turkey and other unsuspecting Jewish sects its ideas crept into. And how can we have a healthier approach to awaiting Mashiach that isn't destructive and doesn't lead to extremism?

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
Episode 46: Yirmiyahu Danzig "The Battle Over Jewish Identity" [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:12:21
Yirmiyahu "That Semite" Danzig joins the podcast to discuss his journey into social media activism and clarify the different aspects of Jewish identity. He explains the difference between being Jewish, Judean, Israelite,…
Episode 45: Rabbi Yoni Sacks "Simplifying Torah Study" [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 55:07
Rabbi Yoni Sacks presents us with an approach to Torah study that is a lost art: mastering the basics first. Rabbi Sacks shares his personal journey to Rambam, exploring the ways in which today's approach to Talmud Torah…
Episode 44: Dr. Jacob Howland "Plato and the Talmud" [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:41:39
In a fascinating discussion with Dr. Jacob Howland about his book, Plato and the Talmud, we delve into his groundbreaking study. In it, he examines the relationship between Athens and Jerusalem through the lens of the Pl…
Episode 43: Imam Abdullah Antepli "May the Sons of Abraham Unite" [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 57:00
In a thought-provoking discussion with Imam Abdullah Antepli, he talks about growing up in a secular family in Turkey and overcoming the Antisemitic indoctrination in his youth. He responds to the notion that Jew hatred…
Episode 42: Rabbi Mark Wildes "Kiruv for the Next Generation" [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:16:45
Rabbi Mark Wildes shares his journey in Kiruv and delves into the reasons behind the lack of engagement of many Jews with Judaism. He argues that a lack of proper Jewish education is a major contributor to this and that…
Episode 41: Dr. Brian Keating "God and the Astrophysicists" [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 49:27
Dr. Brian Keating's book 'Losing the Nobel Prize' is a memoir about his scientific and personal journey. In one of his talks, he said, "searching for God was in a way searching for my father." He explains how being estra…
Episode 38: Rich Cohen "The Tough Jews of the Mafia" [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 46:52
Rich Cohen is an American non-fiction writer. He is a contributing editor at Vanity Fair and Rolling Stone. He is co-creator, with Martin Scorsese, Mick Jagger and Terence Winter, of the HBO series Vinyl. His works have…