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. 

 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. 

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

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.  

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

God versus Gods: Judaism in the Age of Idolatry https://amzn.to/36a05Kt

Lectures: https://sites.google.com/view/rcklein/

Weekly Column: http://ohr.edu/this_week/whats_in_a_word/

He can be reached at [email protected] 

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.

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/

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

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

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.