Jewish Thoughtflow

A fascinating read on it's own right, the Megillah contains amazing hints to the history of the Jews. From the Pogroms in 1648, to the holocaust, the letters in the Megillah foretell the future suffering at the hands of Amalek through history. Perhaps the most famous of which, is the hanging of the ten Nazis following WWII. While many have heard of the famous words shouted at the gallows, the immense amount of hints and references contained in the Megillah will amaze even the most skeptical mind! The exact year of the hanging, the amount of Nazis hanged, the axis alliance, and even the name of the hangman! Join Jewish Thoughtflow as we do a deep dive in to the fantastic predictions from the Megillah and the Gemara, regarding the Nazis, the modern manifestation of Amalek.

Although Hashem tells us 600,00 Jews left Mitzrayim, and traveled through the desert, many academics don't understand how it's possible. Where is the archeological evidence? Wouldn't that make them the biggest nation? Why are there so few firstborns? How did they eat? 

To many of you who graduated 3rd grade, these questions should sound familiar, and the answer clear. Unfortunately, most biblical critics, and even scholars, appear to have been absent those days.

Join Jewish Thoughtflow as we deal with all the questions, as well as an in depth look into the methodology of archeology and population estimates, exposing the flaws, assumptions, and ignorance of those who question the Torah.

What is darkness? Is it just the absence of light, or is it an independent existence which expresses itself outside of light. Why does the Maharsha say it is heresy to say Hashem didn't create darkness? Why is this question relavant?

Join Jewish Thoughflow in another fascinating episode, where we do a deep dive into the nature of darkness, the difference between theory and Torah, and the distinction between absence and nothing. More than just a fun mental exercise, understanding this will help one comprehend Yichud Hashem and even has interesting Halachik ramifications!

If you enjoyed this episode, or any of our previous ones, please make sure to share with your friends and family! Email us at [email protected] with any comments, questions, or compliments. 

Pamphlet Regarding the species of the Chilazon - https://drive.google.com/file/d/1JwOXsYuawlltkpzLYgfv7YbEhbOqq2yC/view?usp=sharing

Pamphlet regarding sources in gemara and rishonim dealing with the Chilazon chapters:

 2-3 - 

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1-nmQrxrkit6LDfhFNnOXg_bBigClkyle/view?usp=sharing

4-7 - https://drive.google.com/file/d/1QEeLBSeVu6R1KZbvGirOrRQtUYRQHC5w/view?usp=sharing

7-8 - https://drive.google.com/file/d/12pwWVExIJOPxvEBS_ytndQm0X0N25Lak/view?usp=sharing

Teshuva from Rabbi Kleinman - https://drive.google.com/file/d/1r-N1QQkMcilK7y7JS8sHghD-fEtmURc1/view?usp=sharingfile:///Users/user/Downloads/Chilazon%20Identity%20Chapter%202-3.PDF 

With the rediscovery of the Murex's dying capabilities came a reborn interest in finding the Chilazon, the source of the 'Biblical Blue' Techeiles. From Reb Herzog's thesis, to Prof. Elsner's discovery, and finally Rabbi Eliyahu Tavger co-founding the ptil-tekhelet institute, the Murex has a rich history, and has convinced many that we have finally found the elusive chilazon.

However, many remain unconvinced. Despite the fact that we have found mounds and mounds of Murex shells in obvious dying industries in the exact locations the Talmud tells us the chilazon was found, despite the fact that many rishonim identified the chilazon as a certain snail, despite the fact that the word chilazon MEANS SNAIL, despite the fact that the ancient decrees against Murex use explains its gradual disappearance from Jewish life, many in the ultra orthodox world won't wear Murex Techelis Tzitzis.

Why not? Join Jewish Thoughtflow in the most comprehensive review of the Murex as the chilazon that can be found, and learn a new, yet unexplored angle that may change the way you view the topic of Murex Techeiles, and perhaps academia at large, forever.

Were the branches of the menorah straight or curved? If you ask your average person (try it) you will generally recieve the response: It's a machlokes Rishonim. If you ask a more academic leaning person, the answer may be 'it was definitely rounded, haven't you seen the arch?'. However, the Lubavitcher Rebbe was adament that it was in fact straight. Who is correct?

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Sources used in the episode:

תרומה כה:לב - וְשִׁשָּׁ֣ה קָנִ֔ים יֹצְאִ֖ים מִצִּדֶּ֑יהָ שְׁלֹשָׁ֣ה ׀ קְנֵ֣י מְנֹרָ֗ה מִצִּדָּהּ֙ הָאֶחָ֔ד וּשְׁלֹשָׁה֙ קְנֵ֣י מְנֹרָ֔ה מִצִּדָּ֖הּ הַשֵּׁנִֽי

רש'י תרומה כה:לב. - לְכָאן וּלְכָאן בַּאֲלַכְסוֹן, נִמְשָׁכִים וְעוֹלִין עַד כְּנֶגֶד גָּבְהָהּ שֶׁל מְנוֹרָה שֶׁהוּא קָנֶה הָאֶמְצָעִי.

רמב'ם ביאת המקדש 3:2 - וְשָׁלֹשׁ רַגְלַיִם הָיוּ לָהּ. וּשְׁלֹשָׁה כַּפְתּוֹרִים אֲחֵרִים הָיוּ בִּקְנֵה הַמְּנוֹרָה שֶׁמֵּהֶן יוֹצְאִים שֵׁשֶׁת הַקָּנִים. שְׁלֹשָׁה מִצַּד זֶה וּשְׁלֹשָׁה מִצַּד זֶה.

פירוש המשניות מנחות ג:ז. - ראיתי לצייר בכאן צורת המנורה שלימה... ואני מצייר עכשיו הצורה הזאת שהגביעים צורת דבר משולש והכפתור עגולה והפרח חצי עגולה כדי שיהיה קל להצטייר שאין הכוונה בצורה הזאת להודיע בה צורת הגביע על אמתתו לפי שכבר בארתי אותו לך אבל הכוונה להודיע בה מספר הגביעים וכפתורים והפרחים ומקומותם והשיעור הנשאר מעמוד המנורה שאין בו שום דבר והמקומות שהיו בהן הפרחים והכפתורים וכולה איך היתה וזו היא צורת כל זה:

אברהם בן הרמב'ם תרומה כה:לב -

בכור שור תרומה כה:לא - וכל הקנים היו שוים במדה אחת ועשוים כמין ענפי האילן קנה גוף המנורה גבוה מכולם שנים שבצדו נמוכים ממנה מעט כפי האלכסין והשנים נמוכים מן הראשונים כפי שהם יוצאים בנמוך והשלישיים יותר כפי שהם יוצאים בנמוך

Menachos 28b - ר' יוסי בר רבי יהודה אומר אף של עץ לא יעשה כדרך שעשו מלכי בית חשמונאי אמרו לו משם ראיה שפודים של ברזל היו וחיפום בבעץ העשירו עשאום של כסף חזרו והעשירו עשאום של זהב

אבן עזרא כה:לב - וששה. טעם קנים. עגולים ארוכים חלולים

braaisa in midos 46 (yalkut brings down pretty much the same) - שבעה נרותיה כנגד שבעה כוכבים המשמשין את העולם ואלו הן שצ״מ חנכ״ל

https://templeinstitute.org/menorah-archeological-evidence/

https://outorah.org/p/5720/

After shedding light on the history of the Chilazon and the Murex respectively, we know turn our attention to the descriptions given in the gemara and rishonim, starting with the most important question: What species was the Chilazon? After establishing the species, the aesthetic of the Chilazon must be compared to our foundering candidate. What does a fish look like? What color is the sea? Think those are easy questions? Think again. Join us in part two of the fascinating topic sweeping across Judaism: The Great Techeiles Debate!