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PODCAST

JUDAISM DEMYSTIFIED | A Guide for Today"s Perplexed: Torah Foundations, Reason, and Tradition

Ben Koren and Benzi Siouni | A Geonic-Maimonidean Approach to Torah Through the Ages and Today

Hosted by lifelong friends Ben Koren and Benzi Siouni, Judaism Demystified was founded to explore topics often overlooked in conventional Jewish education. Through long-form conversations with leading religious thinkers, scientists, and historians, the podcast draws from the Geonic-Maimonidean tradition while embracing the intellectual legacy of Rabbi Sacks. Our goal is to reignite a passion for classical Jewish wisdom, returning to foundational ideas and fostering meaningful engagement with Jewish

religion & spirituality judaism

All Episodes

01:12:52

Episode 74: Rabbi Dr. Samuel Lebens "A Guide to the...

JUDAISM DEMYSTIFIED | A Guide for Today"s Perplexed:... ·

2023/08/21

Rabbi Dr. Sam Lebens joins us to discuss his book, "A Guide for the Jewish Undecided: A Philosopher Makes the Case for Orthodox Judaism." He explains his motivations behind writing the book and the philosophical arguments he employs to tackle the complex subject of faith and religion. First, we dive into the introductory chapter of the book, which extensively explores the concept of Jewish conversion. Rabbi Dr. Lebens elaborates on his unique perspective of Jewish conversion and how this

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00:50:13

Episode 73: David Curwin "A Map to Eden"

JUDAISM DEMYSTIFIED | A Guide for Today"s Perplexed:... ·

2023/08/17

David Curwin, author of "Kohelet: A Map to Eden," shares his reasons for choosing to write a book on Kohelet and explains how Rabbi David Fohrman of Aleph Beta influenced this project. In his book, Curwin uncovers various intertextual insights in the Kohelet narrative, providing a unique perspective on the life of Shelomo HaMelekh. From a biblical narrative standpoint, Kohelet presents us with a unconventional view the human experience, offering wisdom on the pursuit of meaning in the face of the

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01:00:51

Episode 72: Dr. Erica Brown "Kohelet and the Search...

JUDAISM DEMYSTIFIED | A Guide for Today"s Perplexed:... ·

2023/08/03

In this captivating interview, we embark on a profound exploration of the enigmatic book of Kohelet with esteemed scholar Dr. Erica Brown. With her unique methodology and deep connection to the late, great Rabbi Jonathan Sacks zt"l, Dr. Brown provides fascinating insights into the diverse aspects of this mysterious biblical text. Kohelet, often regarded as a perplexing addition to the biblical canon, challenges readers with its elusive genre. Dr. Erica Brown lays out the possible genres in which

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00:48:12

Episode 71: Rabbi Dr. Joshua Berman "The Resonating...

JUDAISM DEMYSTIFIED | A Guide for Today"s Perplexed:... ·

2023/07/23

Rabbi Dr. Joshua Berman, a renowned expert in Biblical studies, returns to the podcast and showcases the profound themes of the Book of Lamentations. In this interview, we explore the historical and theological aspects of this ancient text and shed light on its complex nature. Lamentations, a poetic book in the Hebrew Bible, holds a unique place in the biblical canon. He takes us on a journey through its haunting verses, unveiling its profound significance and multifaceted meaning. Our conversation

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00:48:53

Episode 70: Rabbi Jeremy Wieder "The Modern Orthodox...

JUDAISM DEMYSTIFIED | A Guide for Today"s Perplexed:... ·

2023/07/18

The Modern Orthodox community is currently facing financial and moral challenges posed by materialism. Rabbi Jeremy Wieder explains the impact of lavish practices, the clash between individualism and communal responsibility, and the financial and social pressures of "keeping up with the Joneses." Extravagant Passover programs, opulent celebrations, and exorbitant yeshiva tuition costs have raised concerns about inclusivity and the essence of religious values. The Rabbi provides a comprehensive

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00:59:31

Episode 69: Scott Hertzl Cohanpour "A.I. and Religion"

JUDAISM DEMYSTIFIED | A Guide for Today"s Perplexed:... ·

2023/07/07

Join us for an enlightening interview with the renowned Information Technology expert Scott Hertzl Cohanpour as we explore the world of Artificial Intelligence (AI). In this thought-provoking episode, we delve into how AI works, its associated risks, and the role of moral teachings in its governance. Can the Ten Commandments guide AI? Don't miss this captivating episode, where Scott shares insights on AI's decision-making mechanisms and how it processes vast amounts of data. We also address

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00:35:36

Episode 68: Dr. Yoram Hazony "Torah Values in Today's...

JUDAISM DEMYSTIFIED | A Guide for Today"s Perplexed:... ·

2023/06/29

In his book Conservatism: A Rediscovery, Dr. Yoram Hazony discusses how Anglo-American conservatism became a distinctive alternative to divine-right monarchy, Puritan theocracy, and the liberal revolution — and why this idea is as much or more important today than ever before. As an Orthodox Jew, he makes the case that conservatism is a clear Torah value, and over the course of our talk, he provides Biblical support for his thesis. We also discuss why political conservatism is irrelevant without

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01:10:02

Episode 67: Professor Kenneth Seeskin "Messianic...

JUDAISM DEMYSTIFIED | A Guide for Today"s Perplexed:... ·

2023/06/18

The idea of the Messiah is both "Pandora's Box and the Elixir of Life," as Dr. Kenneth Seeskin puts it. Join us as the professor dives into the evolution of the Messianic idea throughout history and presents five distinct approaches of the sages (all of which are deeply rooted in explicit TaNaKh verses) aimed at contending with the dichotomy between the hopeful and dangerous aspects of messianism in Jewish thought. He begins by introducing us to the five categories of understanding the

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01:19:04

Episode 66: Physics to God "God vs. The Multiverse"

JUDAISM DEMYSTIFIED | A Guide for Today"s Perplexed:... ·

2023/06/13

Rabbi Dr. Elie Feder and Rabbi Aaron Zimmer, both passionate about the blend of religion and intellect, initially delved into the fine-tuning argument for the existence of God through literature from Smolin and Rees. Unlike the Intelligent Design argument, their focus lay in fundamental physics, not biology. They took their argument public on their former blog, devoted to teaching Talmudic analysis. The argument was refined over around 20 posts, highlighting the conflict between the multiverse

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02:17:30

Episode 65: Dr. Brian Crawford "The Enduring Heresy"

JUDAISM DEMYSTIFIED | A Guide for Today"s Perplexed:... ·

2023/06/08

Dr. Crawford shares his experiences visiting Spain and laments the atrocity of the Expulsion and Inquisition while discussing his stance on coercion in religion as a Protestant evangelical Christian. We also learn about his journey in studying Kabbalah and Gnosticism and his feelings about Jewish persecution at the hands of the Catholic Church over the centuries. Theologically speaking, it goes without saying that we disagree with Dr. Crawford about the identity of the Messiah as well as many other

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01:36:01

Episode 64: Reb Alex Guttman "Voodoo Judaism"

JUDAISM DEMYSTIFIED | A Guide for Today"s Perplexed:... ·

2023/06/01

Reb Alex Guttman explores the relationship between religion and power/control; how many leaders are afraid of losing their influence or congregation if they choose to approach matters rationally instead of the current catering of "feel-good" magical beliefs. Reb Guttman expresses concern over this recent shift in Judaism, which prioritizes instant gratification and superficial rituals at the expense of having a meaningful relationship with God. He argues that a Jew must have a goal to

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01:58:05

Episode 63: Rabbi Matt Schneeweiss "Can God Do the...

JUDAISM DEMYSTIFIED | A Guide for Today"s Perplexed:... ·

2023/05/28

In this fascinating interview, Rabbi Matt Schneeweiss tackles timeless questions that have ignited debates for centuries: "Can God create a rock He can't lift?" "Can God do anything and everything?" and "Can God do the impossible?" Approaching the question first from the standpoint of logic, and then through the interpretations of prominent medieval commentators (Rambam, Meiri, Saadia Gaon, R' Yosef Albo, and Ramban), Rabbi Schneeweiss explores the implications

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02:15:42

Episode 62: J.J. Kimche "Is the Zohar Authentic?"

JUDAISM DEMYSTIFIED | A Guide for Today"s Perplexed:... ·

2023/05/21

Is the Zohar authentic? Join us as we take a deep-dive into one of the most influential and controversial works in Jewish mysticism and the book that changed Judaism forever, the Zohar. Hakham J.J. Kimche provides us with a clear definition of the Zohar, and discusses its major ideas at its core, including the Zohar's new conceptions of theology, Torah and Mitzvot, and mankind/Jews. The authorship of the Zohar is a topic of much debate, and we delve into the subject in this podcast. J.J. Kimche

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00:52:31

Episode 61: Rabbi Joseph Dweck "Does the Maimonidean...

JUDAISM DEMYSTIFIED | A Guide for Today"s Perplexed:... ·

2023/05/16

In this enlightening episode, we sit down with Rabbi Joseph Dweck, a distinguished scholar and religious leader, to explore the fascinating world of the Maimonidean tradition and its relevance in today's spiritual landscape. We begin by addressing the question of whether the Maimonidean path lacks "spirituality" (and what that term even means). Rabbi Dweck delves into the common misconception that Maimonidean philosophy focuses more on rationality and intellectual pursuits, often overlooking the

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00:43:23

Episode 60: Rabbi Josh Yuter "Sacred Slogans"

JUDAISM DEMYSTIFIED | A Guide for Today"s Perplexed:... ·

2023/05/14

Rabbi Josh Yuter, a renowned Torah scholar and teacher, takes us on a journey through the world of "Sacred Slogans." These are phrases and idioms taken from the Torah and Talmud that have been appropriated to promote various agendas. But what makes them so powerful is that they are infused with the cultural weight of religious authority. We begin by exploring the concept of "Tzelem Elokim" or "Imago Dei," which asserts that all human beings are created in the image of

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00:50:31

Episode 59: Rabbi Jeremy Rosen "Dealing with Strife &...

JUDAISM DEMYSTIFIED | A Guide for Today"s Perplexed:... ·

2023/05/09

Rabbi Jeremy Rosen shares his unique perspective on the balance between rationality and mysticism growing up in a Litvish and Hassidic household. He discusses the trend in the frum world where religious observance is becoming stricter and stricter, and how this phenomenon can be attributed to the Holocaust and Israeli politics. As we delve deeper into the conversation, Rabbi Rosen speaks about the current mood in the Haredi and Hassidic communities and how he sees the "tail wagging the dog." He

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00:31:06

Episode 58: Ike Dweck "Overcoming Addiction"

JUDAISM DEMYSTIFIED | A Guide for Today"s Perplexed:... ·

2023/05/04

Ike Dweck shares his inspiring journey from being a compulsive gambler to founding The Safe Foundation and saving the lives of addicts. He discusses the challenges of dealing with the stigma of addiction in Jewish communities and how his organization addresses this issue. One of the obstacles that children face is the mixed messages they receive from their parents who may drink heavily at parties, Kiddush Clubs, and holidays. Ike also delves into the question of how someone knows they have a problem

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01:22:55

Episode 57: Rabbi Yonatan Halevy "Bridging the...

JUDAISM DEMYSTIFIED | A Guide for Today"s Perplexed:... ·

2023/04/28

Rabbi Yonatan Halevy shares his personal journey to becoming the rabbi of his community and sheds light on the differences between Sephardic and Ashkenazi communities with regards to halacha and hashkafa. He offers insightful solutions to bridge the cultural and religious divide, emphasizing the importance of education in secular matters alongside Torah, as mandated by our tradition. One of the highlights of the conversation is our discussionabout Rabbi Halevy's video series, "Crimes of Kiruv," in

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00:58:06

Episode 56: Pastor Dumisani Washington "Zionism and...

JUDAISM DEMYSTIFIED | A Guide for Today"s Perplexed:... ·

2023/04/27

We had the privilege of interviewing Pastor Dumisani Washington, a prominent figure in the Black Christian community and a great supporter of Jews and Zionism. During our discussion, we delved into the concerning trends of antizionism and antisemitism that are prevalent in America and the world today, particularly in Hollywood and on college campuses. We also addressed the attacks on Jewish identity by Black Hebrew Israelites, Kyrie Irving, and Kanye West, as well as the dangerous rise of Jew hatred

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01:01:26

Episode 55: Rabbi Yamin Levy "The Mysticism of...

JUDAISM DEMYSTIFIED | A Guide for Today"s Perplexed:... ·

2023/04/23

Rabbi Yamin Levy's phenomenal new book, The Mysticism of Andalusia: Exploring HaRambam's Mystical Tradition, is a remarkable presentation of the Andalusian tradition, a significant but often overlooked part of Jewish history. In this episode, Rabbi Levy shares invaluable insights into the teachings of HaRambam through meticulous research and analysis, challenging the misconceptions that have long surrounded this pivotal figure. His book effectively refutes the notion that Rambam was a "daat yachid,"

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