How did geographic diversity and separation impact rabbinic culture? In the season opener, we begin with the story of the four captives, the story that ended season one. This narrative offers an example of how rabbinic learning spread. We introduce the challenges and opportunities that faced Jewish communities which connect our four regions: Muslim Spain and North Africa, France, Germany, and Christian Spain. The season also includes a stand-alone episode about the monumental figure of Maimonides. Hosted by: Rabbi Mordecai Marcus SchwartzProduced by Ellie GettingerEdited by Sarah BrownCover art: Lee WilletTheme music: Stock media provided by u19_studios / Pond5

2.1 Journeys in Torah Study

In Season two of The Evolution of Torah, Rabbi Mordecai Schwartz takes usto four regions of the Medieval world to understand the specific Torah cultures that emerged from each place and their approach to Torah learning. The season covers Muslim Spain and North Africa, France, Germany, and Christian Spain over the course of 500 years, from the closing of the Talmud around the year 800 to the Spanish Inquisition. There is also one episode about Maimonides.

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Check out this new series from JTS Podcasts, Exploring Kabbalah. Dr. Eitan Fishbane shares the complext history of Jewish mystical thought from the Torah to Hasidism. Subscribe now:RSS: https://www.spreaker.com/show/3550593/episodes/feedApple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/exploring-kabbalah/id1739159484Hosted by: Dr. Eitan FishbaneProduced by Ellie GettingerEdited by Sarah BrownCover art: Lee WilletTheme music: “Yah Notein Binah” from Seeds of SongFind more JTS Podcasts at www.jtsa.edu/torah/podcasts

Introducing: Exploring Kabbalah

All the legal cultures we discussed in this season come together in Christian Spain in the 14th Century. Rabbi Asher ben Yehiel (the Rosh) is one of the rabbis leading the integration of the legal culture of Muslim Spain, with the interpretative work of France and the rabbinic authority that was standard in Germany. This episode traces the Rosh’s immigration to Spain and highlights the period until the Spanish Inquisition. We end this season on the precipice of even broader geographic dispersion and as moveable type is about to revolutionize rabbinic and Jewish culture.Hosted by: Rabbi Mordecai Marcus SchwartzProduced by Ellie GettingerEdited by Sarah BrownCover art: Lee WilletTheme music: Stock media provided by u19_studios / Pond5

2.6 Evolution of Torah: Christian Spain

The German Jewish community was at once highly organized and prosperous. At the same time, they were subject to the potentially violent whims of non-Jewish community around them. These parallels of strength and challenge are at the core of this episode about rabbinic culture in the Germanic provinces in the 13th century. We will focus on the specific struggles of two rabbis, the Maharam (Rabbi Meir ben Barukh) of Rothenberg and Rabbi Mordechai ben Hillel while exploring their and others’ contributions to Jewish practice.Hosted by: Rabbi Mordecai Marcus SchwartzProduced by Ellie GettingerEdited by Sarah BrownCover art: Lee WilletTheme music: Stock media provided by u19_studios / Pond5

2.5 Evolution of Torah: Germany

For this episode, we focus solely on Rabbi Moses ben Maimon (1138–1204, Maimonides/Rambam), whose work in diverse disciplines from medicine to philosophy worked to elevate rabbinic legal culture. We examine the Mishneh Torah, Maimonides’s companion to the written Torah, which is the oldest in existence and delve into his rigorous work life. Through his letters, we get a sense of Maimonides personal challenges and extensive reach during his lifetime underscoring our desire to dedicate an episode to this transformational figure. Hosted by: Rabbi Mordecai Marcus SchwartzProduced by Ellie GettingerEdited by Sarah BrownCover art: Lee WilletTheme music: Stock media provided by u19_studios / Pond5

2.4 Maimonides

This episode focuses on Rashi (1040 - 1105, Rabbi Solomon ben Isaac) and his intellectual (and genetic) heirs. We start by exploring the significant differences between French rabbinic culture and that of North Africa and Muslim Spain. As opposed to summarizing the law as presented in the Talmud which was the central aim of scholars like the RIF, Rashi embarked on a broader interpretative process which led his predecessors to the mammoth task of harmonizing conflicting and contradictory Talmudic discussion.Hosted by: Rabbi Mordecai Marcus SchwartzProduced by Ellie GettingerEdited by Sarah BrownCover art: Lee WilletTheme music: Stock media provided by u19_studios / Pond5

2.1 Journeys in Torah Study

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