Here at the Jewish Philosophy Podcast (JPP) we aim to bring you fascinating insights into the world of Jewish Philosophy through a series of interviews with contemporary Jewish philosophers and authors. The JPP is hosted by Benjamin Zemmel who has spent almost ten years in Talmudic College (Yeshiva) and Kollel. He has also completed an MA in the philosophy of religion and ethics at the University of Birmingham and a PgCert in epistemology and the history of science and religion at the University of Edinburgh. He is additionally studying for a PhD in Jewish Intellectual History at the Warburg Institute, University of London where is being supervised by Professor Charles Burnett and Professor Bill Sherman. For more information email benjaminzemmel@gmail.com
In the first episode of the Lashon HaKodesh series, I will be examining the introducion to the Sefer Ha-Egron of Sa'adyah Gaon (b. 882) where we find the first discussion on the nature of Lashon HaKodesh by a medieval Rabbinic Jewish thinker.
References:
Allony, N. [Ed.] (1969). Ha-Egron. The Academy of the Hebrew Language.
Brody, R. (1998). The geonim of Babylonia and the shaping of medieval Jewish culture. Yale University Press. pp. 317-318; idem. (2013). Sa'adyah Gaon. Liverpool University Press. pp.79-84 [translation of Egron from these pages].
Glinert, L. (2017). The story of Hebrew. In The Story of Hebrew. Princeton University Press. pp. 81-85.
Septimus, B. (1994). Maimonides on Language. in Aviva Doron, ed., The Culture of Spanish Jewry: Proceedings of the First International Congress. Tel Aviv: Levinsky College of Education. pp. 38-39.
10 Mar 2023
Language, Holiness & Meaning: Series Intro
In this new mini-series, I will be looking at the nature of Lashon HaKodesh (Hebrew Language) through the eyes of various medieval Jewish thinkers. I will be paying particular attention to how their views about this topic relate to their broader theological positions.
Citations for Podcast: Dan, J. (Ed.). (2002). The heart and the fountain: An anthology of Jewish mystical experiences. Oxford University Press. pp.9-11.
4 Mar 2022
Knowing an Unknowable God: Torah vs Prophets with Rabbi Burton
On this episode, Rabbi Shnayor Burton discusses the difference between the Torah (5 books of Moses) and the Prophet's perspective on knowing and seeing God. Topics discussed include the purpose of the sacrificial services (Korbanot), Moses' knowledge of God and much more. Rabbi Burton opens a new perspective that he hopes will solve many difficulties and contradictions between the Torah and the Prophets. Rabbi Burton's own podcast can be found here: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-great-sources-with-rabbi-shnayor-burton/id1493232233 See Torah vs Prophets
Maimonides of Sacrifices: Guide For the Perplexed 3:32
Talmud on Moses vs Isaiah: Yevamot 49b
12 Feb 2022
The Torah, Idealism and the Blueprints of the Universe with Rabbi Toledano
On this episode, Rabbi David Toledano- Kabbalist and philosopher of science- discusses the relationship between the natural laws of the universe and the Torah's laws. Rabbi Toledano draws upon a variety of sources and arguments to make his case for idealism. Topics discussed include: materialism, Kant's transcendental idealism, knowledge of God and much more.
22 Dec 2021
Is Judaism A Monotheistic Religion? with Rabbi Klein
In this podcast, Rabbi Reuven Chaim Klein (author of 'God versus Gods: Judaism in the Age of Idolatry') discusses whether Judaism is best understood as a monotheistic religion or perhaps as something else. Topics discussed include Biblical Criticism, theology, religous pluralism and the nature of angels.
Here are a few links to Rabbi Klein's works and lectures:
Lashon HaKodesh: History, Holiness, & Hebrew https://amzn.to/3F5hVxL (https://amzn.to/3F5hVxL)
God versus Gods: Judaism in the Age of Idolatry https://amzn.to/36a05Kt (https://amzn.to/36a05Kt)
Lectures: https://sites.google.com/view/rcklein/ (https://sites.google.com/view/rcklein/)
Weekly Column: http://ohr.edu/this_week/whats_in_a_word/ (http://ohr.edu/this_week/whats_in_a_word/)
He can be reached at historyofhebrew@gmail.com (mailto:historyofhebrew@gmail.com)
25 Nov 2021
Faith & Fate with Rabbi Dr. Benji Levy
In this episode, I discuss Jewish identity, conversion, covenant and those that leave the covenant with Rabbi Dr. Benji Levy, Co-Founder of Israel Impact Partners. Many of his thoughts are on his website www.RabbiBenji.com and I highly recommend his brand new book Covenant and the Jewish Conversion Question: Extending the Thought of Rabbi Joseph B. Soloveitchik which you can purchase here: https://link.springer.com/book/10.1007/978-3-030-80145-8.
4 Nov 2021
An Introduction To Halakhic Man with Rabbi Jeffrey Saks
In this episode, I discuss Rabbi Joseph B. Soloveitchik's essay 'Halakhic Man' with Rabbi Jeffrey Saks of ATID and webyeshiva.org. We discuss how the concept of the 'Halakhic Man' differs from the 'Scientific Man' and the 'Religious Man' as well as the other major themes in this work.
Rabbi Saks also ran on online course on Halakhic Man which can be found here https://www.webyeshiva.org/course/halakhic-man/
15 Oct 2021
Parasha Philosophy Series-Lech Lecha: Philosophy or Experience?
In this podcast, I consider the two approaches of Maimonides and Rav Crescas on how Abraham discovered God.
The main sources quoted in this podcast can be found here:
Maimonides: https://www.sefaria.org/Mishneh_Torah%2C_Foreign_Worship_and_Customs_of_the_Nations.1.3?lang=en
Crescas: https://hebrewbooks.org/pdfpager.aspx?req=22063&st=&pgnum=135
Dr Kadish: https://www.thetorah.com/article/how-did-abraham-discover-god-the-experiential-approach
5 Oct 2021
Parasha Philosophy Series-Noach: Maimonides on the Genealogy of Noach
In this Parasha Philosophy Podcast, I consider why the Torah includes extensive lists of Noach's family in this week's Parasha. The main theme of the podcast is discussing Maimonides view on seemingly unnecessary verses in the Torah.
Here is a link to the section of the Guide of the Perplexed quoted in this podcast: https://www.sefaria.org/Guide_for_the_Perplexed%2C_Part_3.50?ven=Guide_for_the_Perplexed,_English_Translation,_Friedlander_(1903)&lang=bi
1 Oct 2021
Evidence and Belief In God with Rabbi Dr. Aaron Segal
In this podcast, Rabbi Dr. Aaron Segal discusses whether arguments and evidence for God's existence are necessary in order to hold belief in God rationally.
Rabbi Dr. Aaron Segal, is a faculty member at the Philosophy Department of the Hebrew University of Jerusalem. He completed his PhD at the University of Notre Dame where he studied under the world renowned philosopher Alvin Plantinga.
27 Sept 2021
Approaching God in Jewish Philosophy with Rabbi Shmuel Phillips
In this podcast, Rabbi Phillips author of 'Judaism Reclaimed', discusses the different ways of approaching God in Jewish philosophy. Rabbi Phillips focuses on Rav Hirsch's criticism of Maimonides' intellectual approach to God.
Rabbi Shmuel Phillips has spent almost two decades studying in yeshiva and kollel. During this time, he has also completed a law degree from the University of London. His book 'Judaism Reclaimed' examines a range of theological and philosophical discussions emerging from the Torah. Inspired by the approaches of Rambam, Rabbi Samson Raphael Hirsch, and other leading Jewish thinkers, the author analyzes both narrative and halachic areas of the Torah’s teachings. Drawing on a wide range of sources, he examines a number of challenges posed to Orthodox Judaism from the halls of academia and addresses them from the perspective of Jewish tradition. A link to the book's website can be found here: https://judaismreclaimed.com/. Rabbi Phillips also hosts a lively Facebook page with discussions on Jewish philosophy which can be found here https://www.facebook.com/groups/JudaismReclaimed/
24 Sept 2021
Parasha Philosophy Series-Bereshis: Maimonides on Adam & Eve
In this mini-series, I consider some of the most important and difficult questions posed by various figures in Jewish philosophy on the weekly Parasha.
Here is a link to the section of the Guide that I discuss in this podcast: https://www.sefaria.org/Guide_for_the_Perplexed%2C_Part_1.2?lang=en
9 Jul 2021
The Problem of Evil and Jewish Philosophy with Rabbi Dr. Harris
In this podcast, Rabbi Dr. Harris explains the various classical and contemporary solutions to the problem of evil and how these ideas can be found in traditional Jewish sources such as the book of Job (Iyov) and the Talmud. Rabbi Dr. Harris pays particular attention to the more recent notion of 'Skeptical theism Theism' which is the thesis that we should be skeptical about our ability to understand why there is so much evil and suffering in the world.
Rabbi Dr. Harris was born in London and has been rabbi of the Hampstead Synagogue since 1995. Prior to this he was rabbi of the Southend and Westcliff community. He has semicha from the Israeli Chief Rabbinate and holds a PhD in philosophy from London University. He additionally studied philosophy as an undergraduate at Cambridge and completed his masters in philosophy and Jewish thought at Hebrew University.
16 Jun 2021
Maimonides and Aristotle with Rabbi Daniel Rowe
In this podcast, Rabbi Daniel Rowe discusses to what extent Aristotelian thought influenced Maimonides.
Rabbi Daniel Rowe is the Executive Director of Aish UK. He holds a BA in Philosophy from University College London and an MPhil in Philosophy from Birkbeck College. He studied for a decade in Israel in various Talmudic institutes and is considered one of the most dynamic Jewish speakers in the UK, teaching in campuses, communities and schools across the country.
For more information visit https://www.aish.org.uk/about/team/rabbi-daniel-rowe#
20 May 2021
Maimonides' Negative Theology and Wittgenstein with Rabbi Dr. Samuel Lebens
In this podcast Rabbi Dr. Lebens explains how different ways of reading Wittgenstein's Tractatus Logico-Philosophicus can help us understand an important paradox that seems to be at play in Maimonides’ negative theology.
Rabbi Dr. Samuel Lebens is a research fellow in the philosophy department at the University of Haifa, and a dynamic Jewish educator. He holds a PhD in philosophy from Birkbeck College (University of London), and held postdoctoral positions at the University of Notre Dame and Rutgers. He is also an ordained Orthodox Rabbi, having studied at various Israeli Rabbinical schools (Yeshivat Hakotel, Yeshivat Hamivtar, and Yeshivat Har Etzion).
30 Apr 2021
The Garden of Eden, The Test and Its Implications For Humanity with Rabbi Mordechai Goodman
In this podcast Rabbi Mordechai Goodman describes the episode of Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden in an original way. He discusses the details of their test and how it affects humanity today.
Since 2007, Rabbi Goodman has directed Jewish Education in Manchester (JEM) servicing the North of England with seminars, courses, social events and more, enhancing Jewish awareness and identity at all ages across the Jewish spectrum.
20 Mar 2021
Jewish Bioethics with Rabbi Dr. Akiva Tatz
In this podcast, Rabbi Dr. Akiva Tatz discusses the relationship between Jewish and secular medical ethics.
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