Machshavah Lab

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Length: 1 hour 27 minutes
Synopsis: This morning (11/13/26), in our Friday morning Machshavah Lab shiur for women (the first of the season!), we embarked on a quest to answer one question: What are WE supposed to get out of the first creation account (Bereishis 1:1 - 2:3)? The purpose of this first installment was to lay the groundwork. We read and discussed an excellent article by Rabbi Scott Kahn outlining seven approaches to the conflict between the Torah's first account of creation and modern science. We evaluated the pros and cons of each approach as we read. Next time (בג"ה), I'll present two of those approaches inside the text (Rambam and Ramban), then share the approach that led to my own take. And in Part 3, I plan to share my own understanding.
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מקורות:
בראשית א:א - ב:ג
משנה חגיגה ב:א
Rabbi Scott Kahn, "The Torah’s Account of Creation: Literal, Metaphorical, or Another Option (Part 1)"
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The Torah content for the month of November is sponsored by Judah and Naomi Dardik in honor of the upcoming wedding of Dovid Lichter and Leora Cohn, and in honor of all those who serve the needs of the community.
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If you've gained from what you've learned here, please consider supporting my work via Patreon, Venmo, Zelle, or PayPal — links below. Even a small contribution helps cover production costs and gives me the freedom to create more Torah content. To sponsor a day's or week's worth of content, or to inquire about tutoring or teaching, reach me at rabbischneeweiss at gmail. Thank you for listening, reading, and supporting my efforts to make Torah ideas available and accessible to everyone.

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Synopsis: This is the audio version of the 5-page article I wrote and published on rabbischneeweiss.substack.com/ on 11/12/26 titled: Toldos: How Tefilah Works. This is my attempt to capture in writing the most fundamental concepts I know about how tefilah works. It is most important article about tefilah I’ve ever written. You’ll tell me whether it delivers.

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The Torah content for the month of November is sponsored by Judah and Naomi Dardik in honor of the upcoming wedding of Dovid Lichter and Leora Cohn, and in honor of all those who serve the needs of the community.

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If you've gained from what you've learned here, please consider supporting my work via Patreon, Venmo, Zelle, or PayPal — links below. Even a small contribution helps cover production costs and gives me the freedom to create more Torah content. To sponsor a day's or week's worth of content, or to inquire about tutoring or teaching, reach me at rabbischneeweiss at gmail. Thank you for listening, reading, and supporting my efforts to make Torah ideas available and accessible to everyone.

Patreon | [Venmo: @Matt-Schneeweiss] | [Zelle/PayPal: mattschneeweiss at gmail]

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Synopsis: This is the audio version of the 4-page article I wrote and published on rabbischneeweiss.substack.com/ on 11/6/26 titled: Chayei Sarah: Rivkah’s Birth, Sarah’s Death, and the Tzadikim in Every Generation. The Sages teach us that a tzadik does not depart from the world before a tzadik like him has been born to take his place. What does this mean?

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The Torah content for the remainder of October has been sponsored by Naomi Schwartz Rothschild, who writes: "My stepmother was nifteres. She was a mother to me for almost 20 years. She called me her daughter. She was always positive and b'simchah. My Ima also helped and then took over my father's (z״l) Partners in Torah when he had difficulty and then couldn't do it all." May the memory of Chava Leah bas Tzivia Rochel be for a blessing.

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If you've gained from what you've learned here, please consider supporting my work via Patreon, Venmo, Zelle, or PayPal — links below. Even a small contribution helps cover production costs and gives me the freedom to create more Torah content. To sponsor a day's or week's worth of content, or to inquire about tutoring or teaching, reach me at rabbischneeweiss at gmail. Thank you for listening, reading, and supporting my efforts to make Torah ideas available and accessible to everyone.

Patreon | [Venmo: @Matt-Schneeweiss] | [Zelle/PayPal: mattschneeweiss at gmail]

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Have any questions, insights, or feedback? Send me a text!

Length: 2 hours 17 minutes
Synopsis: This morning (11/1/26), I gave a YBT Sunday Shiur on the weighty and controversial topic of what the Rambam holds about Gehinnom. Specifically, does the Rambam agree with the traditional concept of Gehinnom as a post-mortem spiritual punishment? As I mention at the outset of the shiur and at several points throughout, I feared this shiur would start off well, then crash and burn. It’s the only Sunday Shiur I did not feel prepared for at the time it began, because it expanded in scope at the last minute and I didn’t have time to account for that. Thankfully, the shiur went over well! It’s a little messy at the end, but I believe I achieved all the goals I stated at the outset. Feedback is always welcome, but here I’m especially interested in disagreements, counterarguments, and evidence I hadn’t considered.
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מקורות:
Rabbi Dr. Isadore Twersky, An Introduction to the Code of Maimonides (Mishneh Torah), pp.234-235
רמב"ם - פירוש המשניות, אבות א:ה; ד:יז; ה:כ
רמב"ם - פירוש המשניות, הקדמה לסנהדרין פרק חלק
רמב"ם - פירוש המשניות, הקדמה
משנה עדיות ב:י
רמב"ם - משנה תורה: ספר שופטים, הלכות סנהדרין והעונשין המסורין להם כג:ח
רמב"ם - משנה תורה: ספר המדע, הלכות יסודי התורה ד:ז-ט; ה:ד
רמב"ם - משנה תורה: ספר המדע, הלכות תשובה ג:ג, ה-ו; ח:א-ה; ט:א
ערובין דף יט עמוד א
ראש השנה דף טז עמוד ב - דף יז עמוד א
דרור ארליך - על השמטת מושג הגיהינום מ'משנה תורה' לרמב"ם, חלמיש למעיינו מים, עמ' 235-255
מיוחס לרמב"ם - מילות ההגיון פרק ד
Menachem Kellner, Must a Jew Believe Anything? (Second Edition), p.154, note 12; pp.157-158
Rabbi Dr. Marc B. Shapiro, The Limits of Orthodox Theology, p.137
Moshe Halbertal, Maimonides: Life and Thought, p.141
Hannah Kasher, Some Notes About the Ultimate Punishment, p.97
Howard Kreisel, Reward and Punishment in Medieval Jewish Philosophy, p.43, note 51
משנה אבות ד:יז (גירסת הרמב"ם)
ר' יצחק שילת - רמב"ם מדויק, הלכות תשובה ג:ו (הערה)
כתב יד אוקספורד, הנטינגטון 80 (ספר המוגה) - הלכות תשובה ג:ו
Rabbi Saul Zucker, WhatsApp exchange, 11/26/25
רמב"ן - תורת האדם, שער הגמול לו-לז; מד-מז (לפי חלוקת ספריא)
רמב"ן - אגרת לרבני צרפת
Rabbi Moshe Maimon, private email correspondence, 11/17/25; 11/24/25
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The Torah content for the month of November is sponsored by Judah and Naomi Dardik in honor of the upcoming wedding of Dovid Lichter and Leora Cohn, and in honor of all those who serve the needs of the community.

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If you've gained from what you've learned here, please consider supporting my work via Patreon, Venmo, Zelle, or PayPal — links below. Even a small contribution helps cover production costs and gives me the freedom to create more Torah content. To sponsor a day's or week's worth of content, or to inquire about tutoring or teaching, reach me at rabbischneeweiss at gmail. Thank you for listening, reading, and supporting my efforts to make Torah ideas available and accessible to everyone.

Patreon | [Venmo: @Matt-Schneeweiss] | [Zelle/PayPal: mattschneeweiss at gmail]

Substack | YouTube | YUTorah | Instagram

Podcasts: The Stoic Jew | Machshavah Lab | The Mishlei Podcast | Rambam Bekius | The Tefilah Podcast

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Have any questions, insights, or feedback? Send me a text!

Synopsis: This is the audio version of the 3-page article I wrote and published on rabbischneeweiss.substack.com/ on 10/29/26 titled: Vayeira: Radak on the Akeidah (Part 1: Questions). Radak has a beautiful interpretation of Akeidas Yitzchak (the Binding of Isaac), but it’s not without its difficulties. In Part 1, we summarize his approach and raise two major problems.

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The Torah content for the remainder of October has been sponsored by Naomi Schwartz Rothschild, who writes: "My stepmother was nifteres. She was a mother to me for almost 20 years. She called me her daughter. She was always positive and b'simchah. My Ima also helped and then took over my father's (z״l) Partners in Torah when he had difficulty and then couldn't do it all." May the memory of Chava Leah bas Tzivia Rochel be for a blessing.

-----

If you've gained from what you've learned here, please consider supporting my work via Patreon, Venmo, Zelle, or PayPal — links below. Even a small contribution helps cover production costs and gives me the freedom to create more Torah content. To sponsor a day's or week's worth of content, or to inquire about tutoring or teaching, reach me at rabbischneeweiss at gmail. Thank you for listening, reading, and supporting my efforts to make Torah ideas available and accessible to everyone.

Patreon | [Venmo: @Matt-Schneeweiss] | [Zelle/PayPal: mattschneeweiss at gmail]

Substack | YouTube | YUTorah | Instagram

Podcasts: The Stoic Jew | Machshavah Lab | The Mishlei Podcast | Rambam Bekius | The Tefilah Podcast

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Have any questions, insights, or feedback? Send me a text!

Synopsis: This is the audio version of the 2-page article I wrote and published on rabbischneeweiss.substack.com/ on 10/23/26 titled: Lech Lecha: Can We Still Call Him Avram? (A Meta-Halachic PSA). The Gemara says that one who calls Avraham “Avram” transgresses a positive or a negative commandment. Seems pretty clear-cut ... or is it? This turned out to be more of a PSA than a dvar Torah.

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The Torah content for the remainder of October has been sponsored by Naomi Schwartz Rothschild, who writes: "My stepmother was nifteres. She was a mother to me for almost 20 years. She called me her daughter. She was always positive and b'simchah. My Ima also helped and then took over my father's (z״l) Partners in Torah when he had difficulty and then couldn't do it all." May the memory of Chava Leah bas Tzivia Rochel be for a blessing.

-----

If you've gained from what you've learned here, please consider supporting my work via Patreon, Venmo, Zelle, or PayPal — links below. Even a small contribution helps cover production costs and gives me the freedom to create more Torah content. To sponsor a day's or week's worth of content, or to inquire about tutoring or teaching, reach me at rabbischneeweiss at gmail. Thank you for listening, reading, and supporting my efforts to make Torah ideas available and accessible to everyone.

Patreon | [Venmo: @Matt-Schneeweiss] | [Zelle/PayPal: mattschneeweiss at gmail]

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Podcasts: The Stoic Jew | Machshavah Lab | The Mishlei Podcast | Rambam Bekius | The Tefilah Podcast

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Synopsis: This is the audio version of the 2-page article I wrote and published on rabbischneeweiss.substack.com/ on 10/16/26 titled: Noach: Microlooting and the Mabul. Chazal say that theft sealed the fate of the Generation of the Flood. But what kind? Armed robbery? Kidnapping? The Yerushalmi says it was a type that’s becoming increasingly acceptable today.

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The Torah content for the remainder of October has been sponsored by Naomi Schwartz Rothschild, who writes: "My stepmother was nifteres. She was a mother to me for almost 20 years. She called me her daughter. She was always positive and b'simchah. My Ima also helped and then took over my father's (z״l) Partners in Torah when he had difficulty and then couldn't do it all." May the memory of Chava Leah bas Tzivia Rochel be for a blessing.

-----

If you've gained from what you've learned here, please consider supporting my work via Patreon, Venmo, Zelle, or PayPal — links below. Even a small contribution helps cover production costs and gives me the freedom to create more Torah content. To sponsor a day's or week's worth of content, or to inquire about tutoring or teaching, reach me at rabbischneeweiss at gmail. Thank you for listening, reading, and supporting my efforts to make Torah ideas available and accessible to everyone.

Patreon | [Venmo: @Matt-Schneeweiss] | [Zelle/PayPal: mattschneeweiss at gmail]

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Podcasts: The Stoic Jew | Machshavah Lab | The Mishlei Podcast | Rambam Bekius | The Tefilah Podcast

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Have any questions, insights, or feedback? Send me a text!

Synopsis: This is the audio version of the 2-page article I wrote and published on rabbischneeweiss.substack.com/ on 10/8/26 titled: Bereishis: Rav Hirsch vs. the World on Divine “Emotions.” If I had written about this 18 years ago, when I first encountered this Rav Hirsch, it would have turned out to be a polemic. I don’t THINK this is a polemic, but you can be the judge of that.

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The Torah content for the remainder of October has been sponsored by Naomi Schwartz Rothschild, who writes: "My stepmother was nifteres. She was a mother to me for almost 20 years. She called me her daughter. She was always positive and b'simchah. My Ima also helped and then took over my father's (z״l) Partners in Torah when he had difficulty and then couldn't do it all." May the memory of Chava Leah bas Tzivia Rochel be for a blessing.

-----

If you've gained from what you've learned here, please consider supporting my work via Patreon, Venmo, Zelle, or PayPal — links below. Even a small contribution helps cover production costs and gives me the freedom to create more Torah content. To sponsor a day's or week's worth of content, or to inquire about tutoring or teaching, reach me at rabbischneeweiss at gmail. Thank you for listening, reading, and supporting my efforts to make Torah ideas available and accessible to everyone.

Patreon | [Venmo: @Matt-Schneeweiss] | [Zelle/PayPal: mattschneeweiss at gmail]

Substack | YouTube | YUTorah | Instagram

Podcasts: The Stoic Jew | Machshavah Lab | The Mishlei Podcast | Rambam Bekius | The Tefilah Podcast

WhatsApp Content Hub | Old Blog | Amazon Wishlist

Have any questions, insights, or feedback? Send me a text!

Synopsis: This is the audio version of the 2-page article I wrote and published on rabbischneeweiss.substack.com/ on 10/2/26 titled: Hoshana Rabbah 5787: Ho’il Moshe’s Theory of Hoshana Rabbah. After years and years of Hoshana Rabbah apathy, confusion, and disgruntlement, I have finally encountered a theory of the day that resonates with me.

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The Torah content for the month of Elul has not yet been sponsored. If you’re interested in sponsoring, let me know! Additionally, I'm in search of a sponsor for this year's Zoom subscription and for an actual SoferAI account, so that I can start transcribing my 700+ recorded Mishlei shiurim in preparation for writing my book on Mishlei.

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If you've gained from what you've learned here, please consider supporting my work via Patreon, Venmo, Zelle, or PayPal — links below. Even a small contribution helps cover production costs and gives me the freedom to create more Torah content. To sponsor a day's or week's worth of content, or to inquire about tutoring or teaching, reach me at rabbischneeweiss at gmail. Thank you for listening, reading, and supporting my efforts to make Torah ideas available and accessible to everyone.

Patreon | [Venmo: @Matt-Schneeweiss] | [Zelle/PayPal: mattschneeweiss at gmail]

Substack | YouTube | YUTorah | Instagram

Podcasts: The Stoic Jew | Machshavah Lab | The Mishlei Podcast | Rambam Bekius | The Tefilah Podcast

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Have any questions, insights, or feedback? Send me a text!

Synopsis: This is the audio version of the 1-page article I wrote and published on rabbischneeweiss.substack.com/ on 9/25/26 titled: Maimonidean Musings: Mitzvos Between Man and God, or Between Man and Himself? Is there such a category as “bein adam la’atzmo”? How does the Rambam understand the categories of mitzvos? Here are two insights: one I found shocking, the other subversive.

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The Torah content for the Aseres Yemei Teshuvah (and appaerently beyond!) has been sponsored by Avital Richter, with a request that Hashem grant us all an upcoming year filled with learning and a refuah sheleimah for her father. Shanah tovah!

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If you've gained from what you've learned here, please consider supporting my work via Patreon, Venmo, Zelle, or PayPal — links below. Even a small contribution helps cover production costs and gives me the freedom to create more Torah content. To sponsor a day's or week's worth of content, or to inquire about tutoring or teaching, reach me at rabbischneeweiss at gmail. Thank you for listening, reading, and supporting my efforts to make Torah ideas available and accessible to everyone.

Patreon | [Venmo: @Matt-Schneeweiss] | [Zelle/PayPal: mattschneeweiss at gmail]

Substack | YouTube | YUTorah | Instagram

Podcasts: The Stoic Jew | Machshavah Lab | The Mishlei Podcast | Rambam Bekius | The Tefilah Podcast

WhatsApp Content Hub | Old Blog | Amazon Wishlist