Madlik Podcast – Disruptive Torah Thoughts on Judaism

• Love as Political Theory

  The biblical command to love others might be more about social contracts than warm fuzzy feelings. What if "love your neighbor" wasn't just a moral cliché, but a radical political theory? In this week's Madlik episode, we explore how the biblical concept of love in Judaism goes far beyond sentiment, representing a powerful social contract that shapes how we build just societies. Challenging Conventional Wisdom Many associate "love your neighbor as yourself" with Christian teachings, unaware of its origins in Leviticus. This episode aims to reclaim this foundational concept, examining it through the original texts and a Jewish lens and uncovering its profound implications for social and political philosophy. Key Insights: • Context is crucial: The commandment appears alongside practical economic and ethical guidelines, suggesting a broader application beyond personal relationships. • Love as action: The Hebrew phrasing implies loving what's good for your neighbor, focusing on welfare and justice rather than emotion alone. • A tool for ethical decision-making: The Bible creates a thought experiment that by considering what we'd want for ourselves, we gain a framework for fair treatment of others. • The gift of giving: Some interpretations link "love" (ahava) to the concept of giving (hav), emphasizing generosity as a core expression of love. Rethinking Love as a Social Contract Geoffrey Stern challenges us to view "love your neighbor" not just as an individual ethical guideline, but as a foundational principle for structuring society. This perspective aligns fascinatingly with the work of political philosopher John Rawls. Rawls' "Veil of Ignorance": • Imagine creating a society without knowing your place in it (rich/poor, talented/average, religious, secular etc.) • This thought experiment forces us to consider fairness for all, not just the majority • It echoes the biblical command to love your neighbor "as yourself" – putting yourself in another's position "What if 'love your neighbor' is the measuring stick we need to use when creating a just society?" - Geoffrey Stern Practical Implications: • Rethinking social safety nets: If you didn't know whether you'd be born advantaged or disadvantaged, what protections would you want in place? • Balancing opportunity and security: How do we create a system that rewards initiative while ensuring basic dignity for all? What if “neighbor” refers less to someone of the same religion, tribe or ethnicity and more for someone who one wishes to form a social contract with? • Defining community: Who counts as our "neighbor" in an increasingly interconnected world? Challenges to Consider Emotional agency: Can love truly be commanded? While we can't control feelings, we can cultivate loving actions and mindsets. Balancing self and other: How do we interpret "as yourself" without neglecting self-care or enabling codependency? Applying ancient wisdom: How do we translate these principles into modern policy and social structures? What We Learned About Love and Justice This exploration of "love your neighbor" reveals it's far more than a simple ethical maxim. It's a powerful tool for ethical reasoning, a guide for building just societies, and a challenge to constantly expand our circle of moral consideration. The next time you encounter this familiar phrase, consider: • How would your decisions change if you couldn’t determine where you stood in your social system? • What would our communities look like if we used this principle as a foundation for policy-making? • How can you actively practice this form of love in your daily interactions and civic engagement? By reframing "love your neighbor" as a radical social contract, we unlock its potential to transform not just individual hearts, but entire societies. This episode of Madlik invites us to see love not as mere sentiment, but as a powerful force for justice and human flourishing. Timestamps [00:00] — The Radical Reframe: Is “Love Your Neighbor” Really About Politics? [01:45] — How Leviticus 19 Contextualizes Love With Justice and Economics [04:02] — Ethical Laws in Detail: Gleaning, Wages, and Honesty [06:25] — Love vs. Hate: The Torah’s Practical Definitions [10:13] — Rabbi Akiva's Declaration: Why This Verse is a “Great Principle” [12:01] — How Medieval Commentaries Interpret “Love” Through Justice [17:15] — Emotional Agency and the Commandment to Love [20:17] — Christianity’s Take: How the New Testament Riffs on Leviticus [24:55] — Giving as an Act of Love: Rabbi Riskin on the Root of Aha’vah [28:02] — John Rawls and Torah: Justice, Fairness, and the Veil of Ignorance Links & Learnings Sign up for free and get more from our weekly newsletter https://madlik.com/ Safaria Source Sheet: https://www.sefaria.org/sheets/645145 Transcript on episode web page: https://madlik.com/?p=5948

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• Simone deBeuvoir reads the Torah

  This episode explores the biblical and rabbinic perspectives on gender, sex, and reproduction through the lens of Leviticus 12. We examine how the Torah's language of "seed" and agricultural metaphors connect childbirth to creation and redemption. We explore the biblical imagination where women's reproductive power links her to primal creative forces. What does it mean that a woman's body mirrors the act of creation? The Torah's description of childbirth in Leviticus 12 might seem straightforward at first glance. However, the use of the word "tazria" (to seed) opens up a world of interpretation that spans millennia. "The verb refers to a woman producing an offspring," notes The Torah: A Women's Commentary. This active language challenges traditional notions of women as passive vessels in reproduction. It's a subtle yet powerful shift that sets the stage for deeper discussions on gender roles and biology. The discussion delves into ancient and modern interpretations of conception, from rabbinic debates on determining a child's sex to Simone de Beauvoir's critique of biological determinism. This week on Madlik, we're diving into the fascinating world of gender, sex, and creation in the Torah. Starting with the opening verses of Parshat Tazria, we unpack the rich agricultural metaphors used to describe conception and birth. We share some intriguing rabbinic interpretations about how the embryo is formed and what determines a child's sex. We also look at how these ancient texts have been reinterpreted over time - from medieval commentators to modern thinkers like Rabbi Shlomo Riskin and Simone de Beauvoir. There are some surprising insights about sexual ethics and gender roles that feel remarkably progressive for their time. Key Takeaways The Torah links women's reproductive power to primal creative forces Rabbinic tradition shows early sensitivity to mutual sexual needs in marriage Ancient beliefs about conception shaped gender roles, but are open to reinterpretation Timestamps [00:00] The Second Sex: Introducing Simone de Beauvoir and biblical connections [01:45] Exploring Torah laws of childbirth and personal purity [04:05] The metaphor of seed, soil, and creation in Genesis and Leviticus [08:55] Agriculture, menstruation, and exile: a deeper metaphor [11:00] The rabbinic obsession with embryology and “who contributes what” [13:50] Color-coded anatomy and Greek philosophy in Jewish texts [17:30] Could Adam have been male and female? What creation myths suggest [19:00] Can prayer change the sex of a child? The rabbis weigh in [22:30] Kosher Sex and rabbinic views on orgasm and mutual satisfaction [26:30] Simone de Beauvoir, Aristotle, and feminist deconstruction of biology Links & Learnings Sign up for free and get more from our weekly newsletter https://madlik.com/ Safaria Source Sheet: https://www.sefaria.org/sheets/643110 Transcript on episode web page:

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  31:38
• Kosher Laws and Identity

  Passover, which we recently celebrated, bans bread. Leviticus bans pigs. Ashkenazim banned rice, but Mizrachim and the rabbis of the Talmud did not. What do these bans and dietary practices actually say about us? For 2,000 years the Jewish people have been doing something that nowadays is indispensable... reading food labels. It's required nowadays to list whether a food contains lactose or gluten. Was this made in a factory where they also process peanuts? Is it organic and sustainable?  But the ancient Israelites and modern-day Jews have been understanding the importance of diet for a long, long time. This week on Madlik we delve into the fascinating world of Jewish dietary laws and their profound impact on Jewish identity. In this episode, we explore how ancient legal discussions about food continue to shape modern Jewish society, challenging our assumptions about the purpose and relevance of these laws today. The Torah introduces dietary restrictions in Leviticus, using language that goes beyond simple dietary prohibitions: • The text uses terms like "tameh" (impure) and "sheketz" (detestable), not unkosher, to describe forbidden foods. • These laws are presented as a means of separating the Israelites from other nations and elevating their lifestyle. The recent Passover holiday brought to light a common question among Ashkenazi Jews: Why can't we eat rice, corn, or hummus during this time? This seemingly simple inquiry opens up a complex discussion about the nature of Jewish dietary laws, their origins, and their role in shaping Jewish identity throughout history. The exploration of kosher laws and the kitniyot debate reveals that Jewish dietary practices are about much more than just food. They serve as a powerful tool for shaping identity, fostering community, and navigating the complexities of tradition in a modern world. These discussions challenge us to reconsider our assumptions about the purpose and relevance of dietary laws in Jewish life. They invite us to reflect on how our food choices can connect us to our heritage, distinguish us from others, and potentially unite us as a people. As we continue to grapple with these ancient laws in our modern context, we're reminded that the way we eat is intimately connected to who we are and who we aspire to be as a community. Key Takeaways Dietary restrictions in Leviticus use language that goes beyond simple dietary prohibitions Passover illustrates how dietary practices can evolve and differ among Jewish communities It is a continuing challenge to maintain distinct customs while fostering unity Timestamps [00:00] Why Rice Is Forbidden: A Modern Question with Ancient Roots [02:19] Snack Shaming in Israel: Identity in a Bag of Chips [04:21] Impure or Just Unkosher? Leviticus' Language Decoded [09:06] Detestable vs. Impure: What Fish Teach About Bias [13:33] Dietary Laws as a Reflection of Egypt and Elevation [17:45] The Kitniyot Debate: What Really Happened [20:58] Slippery Slopes: From Rice to Mustard Seeds [24:55] The Legal and Cultural Pull of Tradition [27:48] The Economic Pain Behind Prohibitions [29:39] Uniting the People Through What’s on the Plate Links & Learnings Sign up for free and get more from our weekly newsletter https://madlik.com/ Safaria Source Sheet: https://www.sefaria.org/sheets/641409 Transcript on episode web page:  https://madlik.com/2025/04/23/kosher-laws-and-identity/

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• Freedom Haggadah: Tradition Meets Social Justice

  Whether you’re a radical Progressive or Traditionalist, are you ready to be Free? Join Jews and Gentiles, blacks and whites, progressives and traditionalists and return to April 4th 1969 (MLK's first Yartzeit) at Arthur Waskow's radical and controversial Freedom Seder. I recently picked up a first edition of this Mao-sized red booklet, and it's far more nuanced than I expected. Radical progressives will be surprised by its Jewish particularism and its defense of taking up arms to defend one’s people. Traditionalists will be struck by how rooted it is in Rabbinic tradition and delighted by the meaningful rituals it re-introduces. We explore how Waskow, a typical 60’s social activist who only later became a rabbi, created an "activist Midrash" that balances Jewish particularity with universal themes. Key Takeaways Universality meets particularity: Waskow's Haggadah balances universal themes with deeply Jewish elements, challenging both progressives and traditionalists Ritual innovations: The Freedom Seder introduces thought-provoking additions to the traditional Seder, including a moment of silent meditation before candle lighting. Nuanced perspectives: Waskow doesn't shy away from addressing difficult topics, including Jewish shortcomings and the complexities of liberation. Timestamps [00:00:05] — Introduction: Passover a year after MLK’s assassination and the origin of the Freedom Seder. [00:04:07] — Arthur Waskow’s background and path to becoming a rabbi through the Freedom Seder. [00:09:14] — Distinction between universal and Jewish themes in the Haggadah. [00:10:42] — Observations on the symbolism of unlit candles and the unique kiddush for Saturday night. [00:14:29] — Discussion on Waskow’s reimagined translation of “Melech Haolam” and blessing reinterpretations. [00:19:08] — Story of Rabbi Mendel and the power of silence and speech in the Seder. [00:20:09] — Ritual of darkness and silence before candle lighting, using silence and speech as symbolic themes. [00:21:41] — Opening the door for Elijah and referencing Ha Lachma Anya with new interpretations. [00:24:25] — Reflecting on “Next year in Jerusalem” as both literal and metaphorical. [00:26:39] — Revolutionary themes in Moses’ story and the broader message of activism and discomfort in liberation. Links & Learnings Sign up for free and get more from our weekly newsletter https://madlik.com/ Safaria Source Sheet: https://www.sefaria.org/sheets/638787 Transcript on episode web page: https://madlik.com/2025/04/09/freedom-haggadah-tradition-meets-social-justice/

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  32:16
• Matzah's Hidden Meaning

  Forget Exodus - the key to understanding matzah lies in Leviticus. As we approach Passover, it's time to challenge our assumptions about one of the holiday's most iconic symbols: matzah. What if I told you that the true significance of this unleavened bread goes far beyond the rushed exodus from Egypt? In this episode of Madlik, we explore a revolutionary interpretation of matzah that will transform your Seder experience. Key Takeaways Matzah as a Poor Man's Offering - the purity of intent from those with little to give. The act of breaking matzah is a universal gesture of creating reciprocal relationships. Reinterpreting the Seder as a call to action Timestamps [00:00] - Introduction and setting the stage for the discussion [02:15] - The traditional understanding of Matzah in Jewish history [05:08] - A new perspective: What Matzah symbolizes beyond its basic meaning [07:42] - Comparing interpretations from different Jewish texts [10:55] - How historical context shapes the evolving meaning of Matzah [14:21] - The contrast between Matzah as affliction vs. Matzah as redemption [18:03] - Personal reflections: What Matzah means today [21:17] - The significance of Matzah in Jewish rituals and practice [25:12] - Modern applications of the Matzah symbolism [28:30] - Final thoughts and closing remarks Links & Learnings Sign up for free and get more from our weekly newsletter https://madlik.com/ Safaria Source Sheet: https://www.sefaria.org/sheets/637051 Transcript on episode web page: https://madlik.com/2025/04/02/matzahs-hidden-meaning/

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