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Dilemmas On Screen: A Jewish Perspective

Dilemmas On Screen

We take ambiguous moral situations in popular fictional movies and TV shows and analyze them from a Torah lens. We explore a range of issues that come up and examine them from a Jewish point of view. For example, can someone be so evil that there’s a point of no return? Do the ends justify the means, either on a personal or societal level? Are we allowed to take revenge? How about pranking someone? Are we allowed to steal from the rich to give to the poor? The analysis will cover the dilemma from

religion & spirituality judaism

All Episodes

77:20

16. [Avengers: Infinity War] Was Thanos Right? Do the...

Dilemmas On Screen: A Jewish Perspective ·

2025/10/29

In this episode, join Rabbi Moshe Friedman (a.k.a. "Rav Mo") in addressing the shocking twist at the end of Avengers: Infinity War - Thanos succeeds. Equipped with the Infinity Stones, Thanos snaps his fingers and wipes out half of all life across the universe. Thanos did this to spare the remaining half what he understood was certain doom. Was Thanos right? In confronting this question, Rav Mo and I address a question, perhaps THE question, that has bothered humanity for centuries, even millennia:

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53:13

15. [Pulp Fiction] Miracle, or luck? "Don't blow this...

Dilemmas On Screen: A Jewish Perspective ·

2025/09/21

In this episode, join Rabbi Rick Fox and I in unraveling one of the most common questions we encounter on an even daily basis: is Gd actively involved in our lives? Are things that happen to us coincidence, or purposefully orchestrated by our Creator? “We got lucky” v. “What happened here was a miracle and I want you to acknowledge it!” Who’s right, Vincent (Travolta) or Jules (Samuel L. Jackson)?As a quick overview: Pulp Fiction (1994) is a nonlinear crime film directed by Quentin Tarantino. In

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56:58

14. [Whiplash] Pushing to Greatness or Pushing Too...

Dilemmas On Screen: A Jewish Perspective ·

2025/08/31

Join Rabbi Ganger and I in exploring the movie Whiplash and how far we can push our students, children - and ourselves - in pursuing our path to greatness. Was Terrence Fletcher a visionary mentor or an abusive tyrant?Whiplash follows Andrew Neiman is a 19-year-old jazz drummer at the elite Shaffer Conservatory, the best music school in the country. He is invited to join the top studio band led by Terence Fletcher, a highly respected but notoriously abusive conductor. Neiman is driven to be “one of

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01:03:37

13. [Lord of the Rings] Frodo or Sam - Who's The...

Dilemmas On Screen: A Jewish Perspective ·

2025/07/23

Join R. Siderson for the classic question: who's the bigger hero, Frodo or Sam? A deeper look into what Judaism views as heroism.The Lord of the Rings follows Frodo, a hobbit who inherits a magical ring that turns out to be the One Ring, which was created by the Dark Lord Sauron to control Middle-earth. The only way to destroy the Ring is to bring it deep into Sauron’s territory, Mordor, and cast it into the fires of Mount Doom. Frodo volunteers for the mission and is joined by a fellowship to help

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50:10

12. [Gladiator] "And I Will Have My Vengeance" - Does...

Dilemmas On Screen: A Jewish Perspective ·

2025/06/23

In this episode, Rabbi Benzion Klatzko joins us in investigating whether taking revenge is an ideal to strive for in Jewish thinking.As background, Maximus Decimus Meridius is a loyal Roman general who leads the empire to victory in battle under Emperor Marcus Aurelius. The emperor, disillusioned with his corrupt son Commodus, chooses Maximus as his successor, believing he will restore Rome to a republic and return power to the Senate. When Commodus learns of this, he murders Marcus Aurelius and

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58:11

11. [The Office] Jim and Pam - The Ideal Relationship?

Dilemmas On Screen: A Jewish Perspective ·

2025/05/12

In this episode, join Rabbi Yoni Spinka in working through Jim and Pam's relationship over the course of The Office. Do they represent an ideal to aspire to? If so, what are we looking to emulate? If not, what are we hoping to avoid?The Office is set the small city of Scranton, PA and centers around characters working for Dunder Mifflin, a company that sells paper. The company has multiple branches, but we’re mostly focused on the Scranton branch. There are probably about 15 characters in Scranton,

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41:50

10. [Top Gun] Pulling Rooster's Papers - Can Parents...

Dilemmas On Screen: A Jewish Perspective ·

2025/04/07

In this episode, join Rabbi Yoni Sonnenblick in exploring the Jewish perspective on parent-child dynamics. The Torah commands children to respect their parents - it's one of the Ten Commandments! But how far does this authority go? Does it have any limits - if so, what are they, and when do they apply?Top Gun: Maverick (2022) follows Captain Pete "Maverick" Mitchell, a top fighter pilot, who returns to the elite Top Gun flight school as an instructor. Tasked with training a new generation of pilots

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53:23

9. [The Matrix] Blue Pill or Red Pill?

Dilemmas On Screen: A Jewish Perspective ·

2025/03/05

In this episode, join Rabbi Rick Fox in figuring out what the Torah would advise Neo: blue pill or red pill? Do we choose to live an illusory life of comfort, or engage harsh reality head on? And why?Neo is a computer programmer puzzled by repeated online encounters with the phrase “the Matrix”. This leads Neo to a meeting with Trinity and Morpheus and the antagonistic Agents. In turn, this leads to the scene where Morpheus presents Neo with the now-famous dilemma: blue pill or red pill? The Blue

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34:16

8. [The Godfather] Was Don Corleone A Good Man?

Dilemmas On Screen: A Jewish Perspective ·

2025/02/05

In this episode, Rabbi Chaim Willis joins us in investigating what makes someone a good person. This dilemma presents itself in the depiction of Don Vito Corleone, a.k.a. "the Godfather", in The Godfather.As background, Don Corleone is the head of a mafia family in New York. He is respected and feared in the world of organized crime. He is most well-known for conducting business based on loyalty, favors, and a strict moral code—helping those who respect him while dealing ruthlessly with enemies. He

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50:55

7. [Cobra Kai] Intent to Harm (Miguel) v. Devastating...

Dilemmas On Screen: A Jewish Perspective ·

2025/01/09

In this episode, Rabbi Mordechai Becher joins us in investigating whether the intent to cause harm, but with no ill effect is considered more morally culpable than a lack of intent to harm, but with yes ill effect. This dilemma presents itself in the way Miguel and Robby fought each other on two separate occasions.As background, Cobra Kai is a TV series that serves as a sequel to the Karate Kid film franchise. The show focuses on two teenage karate stars, (i) Miguel, who ends up being trained by

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37:30

6. [Harry Potter] Snape v. Dumbledore - Can Murder Be...

Dilemmas On Screen: A Jewish Perspective ·

2024/12/11

Severus Snape is a professor at Hogwarts. He is a suspicious character who is constantly, over the course of the series, suggested to be in league with the bad guys, and is friendly with the “bad guy” students at Hogwarts.That being said, Dumbledore trusts Snape, and it is repeatedly made clear how much he trusts Snape. The audience is never told why. The audience does know that Snape is serving as a double agent and infiltrated Voldemort’s ranks back in the day. When Voldemort returns, Snape goes

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42:21

5. [Robin Hood] Can You Steal from the Rich to Give...

Dilemmas On Screen: A Jewish Perspective ·

2024/10/30

Robin Hood is a legendary figure in English folklore, renowned as an outlaw who "robbed from the rich to give to the poor." His tales have been told for centuries, though Robin Hood’s historical existence remains unconfirmed. Set in medieval England, the story follows Robin, a nobleman (or in earlier versions, a yeoman) turned outlaw, who becomes the leader of a group of Merry Men living in Sherwood Forest. Together, they rob from the rich to give to the poor, challenging the tyranny of the corrupt

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45:21

4. [Lord of the Rings] Was Frodo's Failure A Moral...

Dilemmas On Screen: A Jewish Perspective ·

2024/09/26

The Lord of the Rings is a story about a hobbit, or a halfling, named Frodo, who comes into possession of a powerful magic ring. One of its powers is that when a person puts it on, they become invisible. This ring turns out to be the One Ring, which was forged by the Dark Lord Sauron ages ago to take control of Middle Earth and everyone in it. In order to destroy Sauron, and save Middle Earth, the Ring must be destroyed.The thing is, the Ring cannot be destroyed just anywhere or in any which way

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01:00:08

3. [Good Will Hunting] Does Will Have A Moral...

Dilemmas On Screen: A Jewish Perspective ·

2024/09/01

Good Will Hunting is a movie about Will, a genius who is 20 years old. Will is an orphan, poor, a blue-collar worker with blue collar friends living in a rough neighborhood. He works as a janitor at MIT and secretly solves math equations on the blackboards of classrooms and he does so effortlessly. We also learn that he was physically abused as a child, and has trust issues due to abandonment.Will has three principal relationships in the movie. The first is with Gerald Lambeau, a gifted MIT

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34:58

2. [Star Wars] Did Darth Vader Truly Redeem Himself?

Dilemmas On Screen: A Jewish Perspective ·

2024/08/01

Anakin Skywalker was picked up as a kid by the Jedi. He was expected to be the Chosen One who would bring balance to the Force. Anakin was a very powerful Force user. After many years of training, Anakin secretly married Padme Amadala, which went against Jedi rules. Anakin has dreams of Padme dying and is desperate to save her. He is eventually manipulated by Chancellor Palpatine (who is secretly Darth Sidious/the [future] Emperor) into turning to the Dark Side. Anakin proceeds to exterminate the

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01:59

What is "Dilemmas On Screen: A Jewish Perspective?"

Dilemmas On Screen: A Jewish Perspective ·

2024/07/14

If you've ever watched a movie with a legitimate moral dilemma and wondered, "Honestly, I don't really know what the right thing to do is here" - so have we. We take those questions and dive into Judaism's perspective on those questions. What does the Torah have to see? Is it totally black-and-white? What circumstances might mitigate the dilemma? Join us for an interesting, thoughtful discussion and enjoy the Jewish take on these questions.

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46:43

1. [Harry Potter] Does Harry Owe the Dursleys a Debt...

Dilemmas On Screen: A Jewish Perspective ·

2024/07/11

Harry Potter is a wizard whose parents were murdered when he was a year old. Harry’s only living relative is his mother’s sister, Petunia. Albus Dumbledore, the Headmaster of Hogwarts, is the most powerful wizard alive, and was very close to Harry’s parents. Professor Dumbledore decides Harry should be raised by his aunt and her husband, Vernon.Harry ends up living with his aunt, her husband, and their child, Dudley (who is the same age as Harry), for the next ten years. Harry was often underfed,

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