Episode 45: Rabbi Yoni Sacks "Simplifying Torah Study"

Episode 45: Rabbi Yoni Sacks "Simplifying Torah Study"

Author: Ben Koren and Benzi Siouni | A Geonic-Maimonidean Approach to Torah Through the Ages and Today February 17, 2023 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 diverges from the original teachings of Moshe at Sinai. He takes a deep dive into the core problems with Torah study that Rambam identified, and how these problems are present in our current community's approach to Talmud Torah. This is an episode not to be missed, as Rabbi Sacks explains how the Mishneh Torah restores the original method of Talmud Torah and solves the problems with current forms of Talmud Torah. But that's not all, the Rabbi also provides his insightful perspective on what changes Rambam would advise in our approach to Talmud Torah today, making this episode a must-listen for anyone interested in the study of Torah and Judaism. With Rabbi Sacks' engaging storytelling and deep knowledge, this episode provides a much-needed inspirational and educational experience for the modern learner. Tune in to broaden your understanding of Talmud Torah and gain a new perspective on essential aspects of Jewish learning.

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 16: Rabbi Joshua Maroof "Judaism vs. Spinoza & Atheism" [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:39:47
In the recently published book 'Strauss, Spinoza, & Sinai' (Kodesh Press), it is said that both the Enlightenment and Orthodoxy rest on axioms that neither side can fully prove or fully refute (as Leo Strauss presented).…
Episode 15: Hakham Mordehai Ish Yemini "Foundational Principles" [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:09:13
Hakham Mordehai provides a brave and unsafe space to explore the legacy, ideology, and principles of the Torah according to Maimonides. He makes an impassioned plea for the return to classical Judaism, explains the diffe…
Episode 13: Mentalist Mark Edward "Exposing the Charlatans" [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

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 g…
Episode 12: Reuben Ebrahimoff "My Crypto-Jewish Heritage" [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:05:05
This particular episode is more personal for the hosts of the podcast, as Mr. Ebrahimoff speaks to Ben about their shared roots as descendants of Iranian crypto-Jews. He gives a brief overview of the Mashhadi story then…
Episode 11: Rabbi Shmuel Phillips "Judaism Reclaimed" [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:39:55
Rabbi Phillips provides an in-depth analysis of Judaism's most complex concepts such as Resurrection of the Dead, the Afterlife, Esotericism, the pursuit of human perfection, Rabbinic innovation, and the concept of Sacre…
Episode 10: Professor Henry Abramson "Unmasking History" [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 46:32
Dr. Abramson brilliantly breaks down how historians process data to determine what sources are reliable, the respective approaches of historians and archaeologists in interpretating events, the difference between biblica…
Episode 9: Professor Jeffrey L. Rubenstein "Stories of Our Sages" [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:34:30
Dr. Rubenstein explains the difference between midrash and aggadah, the methodology in deciphering aggadot, how to go about navigating through the different versions of aggadot (specifically between Talmud Bavli and Yeru…
Episode 8: Rabbi Tovia Singer "Why Jews Reject Jesus" [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:21:14
Rabbi Singer (www.outreachjudaism.org) presents an eye-opening historical account of Jesus, and discusses how Paul of Tarsus invented antisemitism, why the Jews rejected Jesus, how the gospels paganized Judaism to form a…
Episode 7: Rabbi Abe H. Faur "The Horizontal Society" [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:14:15
Rabbi Faur addresses a variety of pertinent topics such as the importance of understanding diqduq (Hebrew grammar) when interpreting Torah verses, the general idea of classical mysticism, the prophetic experience, the Ho…