The Torah bans bribery — so why do our holiest rituals look like payoffs?

We're diving into a provocative topic as we enter the month of Elul - bribes, sacrifices, and cosmic payoffs in Judaism. We explore the tension between Deuteronomy's clear prohibition on bribery and the sacrificial rituals found elsewhere in the Torah that look suspiciously like attempts to curry favor with the divine.

1. The language of bribery and ransom intersects with concepts of atonement in Jewish texts
2. Deuteronomy emphasizes internal purification over ritualistic practices
3. Rituals like Kaparot and Tashlich can be viewed as attempts to influence divine judgment

• [00:00:00] Bribery in Torah and the puzzle of Yom Kippur’s absence in Deuteronomy
• [00:02:29] Surprising omission of the High Holidays in Deuteronomy
• [00:03:00] Deuteronomy’s clear ban on bribery and its implications
• [00:06:20] Ransom, redemption, and the link to atonement
• [00:08:06] Rambam and the scapegoat: is it a bribe to Satan?
• [00:12:00] Rambam’s sensitivity: accusations of idolatry and bribery in ritual
• [00:15:05] Yom Kippur as atonement—bribe or genuine repentance?
• [00:17:00] Deuteronomy’s alternate vision: inner repentance over ritual
• [00:19:46] The Christian “Ransom Theory” of atonement and Jewish parallels
• [00:23:50] Kapparot, petty bribery, and the danger of cheap rituals

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Safaria Source Sheet: https://www.sefaria.org/sheets/671028

Transcript here: https://madlik.substack.com/

The Radical Contraction and expansion of Ancient Israelite Religion

The book of Deuteronomy presents a radical shift in religious practice that continues to shape modern Judaism and beyond. Far from expanding religious institutions as empires typically do, Deuteronomy takes the surprising approach of contracting and centralizing worship while simultaneously broadening its reach into everyday life.

This week's Torah portion, Re'eh, highlights this revolutionary approach. It restricts temple worship to a single location and forbids importing practices from other cultures. At first glance, this seems counterintuitive. Why limit religious expression when entering a new land?

1. Deuteronomy proposes a unique path that refuses both colonization and cultural blending
2. The centralization of worship and prohibition of foreign practices creates a religious vacuum
3. This approach leads to a transformation of holiness from specific locations to everyday life

• [00:00:00] The radical shift in Deuteronomy – centralizing worship and banning outside practices
• [00:02:52] Why centralized worship was so controversial
• [00:04:28] Should destroyed cultures still influence us?
• [00:07:22] Why Israelites were tempted by idols
• [00:09:28] Borrowing rituals from other religions
• [00:12:39] Contracting Judaism as expansion begins
• [00:16:39] Religion beyond the land of Israel
• [00:19:41] The diaspora’s role in the covenant
• [00:22:42] Sacralization vs. secularization of daily life
• [00:27:54] Final reflections and closing blessings

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Safaria Source Sheet: https://www.sefaria.org/sheets/668904

Transcript here: https://madlik.substack.com/

The Dangers of a world seen on a screen: What Judaism Knew All Along

In our visually-dominated world, we're raising a generation that can see but not hear. This week's Madlik episode challenges us to reconsider the primacy of listening in Jewish tradition and its profound impact on our spiritual and emotional lives.

1. Deuteronomy emphasizes listening 92 times, highlighting Judaism's unique focus on auditory over visual experiences.
2. Memory and Music: We explore how sound and music are deeply connected to memory and emotion, even in cases of dementia.
3. High Fidelity Judaism: From the shofar to Torah chanting, we discuss how sound preserves traditions across millennia.

• [00:00:00] Seeing vs. Hearing – The Deuteronomy Perspective
• [00:01:33] Why “Just Listen” Matters in a Screen-Obsessed World
• [00:03:01] The Word “Ger” – Stranger and Convert
• [00:05:11] Rabbi Jonathan Sacks on the Radical Act of Listening
• [00:08:42] “Nothing But a Voice” – The Mount Sinai Moment
• [00:11:04] Video Killed the Radio Star – A Spiritual Parallel
• [00:14:28] How Screens Impact Language and Social Development
• [00:16:14] Music, Memory, and the Jewish Tradition
• [00:20:37] Mnemonics, Oral Torah, and Memory Devices
• [00:26:19] Maimonides and the Loss of Oral Tradition

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Safaria Source Sheet: https://www.sefaria.org/sheets/668904

Transcript here: https://madlik.substack.com/ https://sapirjournal.org/chosenness/2025/the-paradoxes-of-conversion/

https://open.spotify.com/episode/3fdQnTi6N3rG7MQfwFdy7H?si=bFHgMvQ3ShWc6-5J7x506A

The Torah's allure is so powerful, rabbis had to warn against misusing it.

Exploring the concept of "limud" (learning) unique to Deuteronomy, we uncover the rabbis' complex relationship with Torah study. From the joy of learning to the fear of misuse, the discussion spans intentionality, secular study, and the power of Torah to attract even non-believers. We delve into the debate between studying "lishma" (for its own sake) vs. applied learning, and examine how different Jewish movements approach Torah study.

The rabbis recognized the profound allure of Torah study, to the point where they had to warn against misusing it for personal gain or pride… or even to make a living. We explore the emergence of the academic and scientific study of our texts as well as contemporary women’s yeshivot and secular yeshivot and different rabbinic opinions on the matter, from those who believe any Torah study can lead to observance to those who fear misinterpretation. The segment provides insight into an ongoing debate within Judaism about the nature and purpose of sacred text study.

We conclude with the potential for new insights to arise from diverse groups studying Torah highlighted with the fascinating Talmudic story of Rabbi Meir learning from the heretic Elisha Ben Abuya, illustrating the idea that valuable wisdom can come from unexpected sources.

1. The word "limud" (learning) appears only in Deuteronomy, signaling a shift in Torah transmission.
2. Rabbis grappled with the allure of Torah study for non-religious purposes.
3. The debate continues: should Torah study be restricted to believers or open to all?

• [00:00:00] – The episode opens with a provocative framing: Can the Torah survive being studied like secular literature?
• [00:02:00] – Discussion on Tisha B’Av and the idea that Torah learning brings too much joy to be permitted on a day of mourning.
• [00:03:00] – Story from Rabbi Riskin about the heretic who insists he’s not a goy, highlighting the irresistible pull of Torah study.
• [00:04:42] – Deep dive into Deuteronomy and the word “limud,” and how teaching and learning emerge in the text.
• [00:07:00] – Exploring Maimonides' take on the commandment to teach Torah not just to sons, but to students as children.
• [00:10:00] – Pirkei Avot is introduced, differentiating learning to teach vs. learning to practice.
• [00:13:00] – Cautionary wisdom from the sages: Don’t use Torah as a tool for ego or profit.
• [00:17:00] – Talmudic view that learning Torah for the wrong reasons may still lead to righteous practice.
• [00:23:00] – Norman Lamm and others weigh in on secular vs. sacred motivations for Torah study.
• [00:30:00] – The closing story of Rabbi Meir and Elisha ben Abuya explores the value of learning Torah even from a heretic.

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Safaria Source Sheet: https://www.sefaria.org/sheets/667572

Transcript here: https://madlik.substack.com/

Ancient Jewish texts offer surprising insights into contemporary debates on judicial activism, restraint and independence

Join us as we delve into a fascinating exploration of Moses' farewell address in Parashat Devarim. This episode uncovers striking parallels between ancient concerns about judicial integrity and modern debates over judicial reform in Israel.

1. Moses' emphasis on judicial reform highlights its critical importance to societal stability
2. The tradition of leadership farewell addresses often includes moral warnings for the future
3. Ancient Jewish texts offer surprising insights into contemporary debates on judicial activism and restraint

• [00:00:00] – Opening: Moses’ Final Warning is About Justice
• [00:02:27] – Farewell Speeches as a Genre
• [00:05:12] – Eisenhower’s Farewell and Military-Industrial Complex
• [00:09:00] – Urian’s Speech and Jewish Exceptionalism
• [00:12:00] – Moses’ First and Final Acts: Appointing Judges
• [00:14:45] – Deuteronomy 1:12–18 – The Core Torah Passage
• [00:17:00] – Eicha (How?!) – Midrash and Lamentation Connection
• [00:21:32] – Ramban: Justice Means More than Judges
• [00:26:00] – Judicial Activism vs. Restraint in Rashi
• [00:28:00] – Maimonides (Rambam) on Appointing Unfit Judges

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Safaria Source Sheet: https://www.sefaria.org/sheets/665537

Transcript here: https://madlik.substack.com/

70,000 mothers are fighting for Israel's future - one draft notice at a time.

Mothers on the Front Line founder Agamit Gelb joins us to discuss the contentious issue of Haredi military service in Israel. We explore biblical parallels from Numbers, where Moses confronts tribes seeking exemption from conquest. The conversation delves into the social contract, national solidarity, and the unique perspective mothers bring to this debate. Agamit shares her organization's efforts to promote equality in service and challenge exemptions through legal and grassroots means. Agamit Gelb and her organization, Mothers on the Front Line, are at the forefront of this debate. Founded in April 2023, months before the October 7th attacks, this group of 70,000 mothers is fighting for equality in military service. But their mission goes beyond mere policy change—they're striving to redefine the very notion of national service and solidarity.

1. The issue of Haredi military service cuts to the core of Israeli society, affecting fairness and national unity
2. Biblical texts offer relevant insights on shared responsibility and leadership in times of national challenge
3. Mothers play a crucial role in shaping societal values and can be powerful agents for change

• [00:00:00] – Introduction: The central issue of military service in Israel and its societal implications.
• [00:01:45] – Guest Introduction: Agame Gelb and the founding of Mothers on the Front Line.
• [00:04:55] – October 7th and the catalyst for mobilization of mothers across Israel.
• [00:06:45] – The emotional and demographic power of Israeli mothers and national unity.
• [00:10:40] – Inequality and the principle of service from the perspective of motherhood.
• [00:12:30] – Legal petitions, community organizing, and educational programming.
• [00:16:05] – Biblical context: Reuben and Gad's request and Moses’ moral leadership.
• [00:21:15] – Rabbinic insights on morale, equality, and the impact of opt-outs.
• [00:25:50] – The army’s evolving infrastructure for Haredi service and leadership resistance.
• [00:30:15] – Final reflections: Love of country, courage, and the hope for democratic unity.

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Safaria Source Sheet: https://www.sefaria.org/sheets/663980

Transcript here: https://madlik.substack.com/

Link to Donate to Israeli Mother on the Frontline: https://pefisrael.org/charity/mothers-on-the-frontline/

Link to Imahot Bahazit: https://www.imahot.org/en

Link to Podcast: A mother's Journey to a Beret: https://open.spotify.com/show/6cmqoZdNZnt6lF7LaDLngW?si=cf43c1b1d3504b62(Hooky First Line)

The only Israelite to go down to Egypt and enter the Promised Land was a woman.

In the years after the Civil War, heritage groups began honoring a rare category of Americans: Real Sons and Real Daughters — children born to aging veterans of that war. Not grandchildren. Not great-grandchildren. Their actual children. Living, breathing links to a fading past.

Today, the same honor is given to the children of Holocaust survivors. These are voices that don’t just remember history — they carry it.

In the Torah, there is one figure who embodies this idea more than any other.

Her name is Serach bat Asher.

According to legend, she enters Egypt with Jacob’s family — and, somehow, centuries later, she helps Moses find Joseph’s bones, enters the Promised Land and even consults with 3rd Century Rabbis of the Talmud. She provides us with a paradigm for a social institution that is undervalued... the Living Legacy. We explore this critical source of cultural history in the Bible, Rabbinic texts, other religions and cultures.

1. The power of intergenerational wisdom
2. The value of seeking out and listening to living witnesses
3. That authenticity comes from experience, not just bloodlines

• [00:00:00] – Introduction to “real daughters” and the historical role of living links to the past
• [00:02:48] – Rabbi Adam begins discussing the Parsha and the uniqueness of Serach bat Asher
• [00:05:08] – Reflections on personal connections to historical generations and legacy
• [00:08:06] – Discussion of adoption, inheritance, and authenticity in Jewish tradition
• [00:10:03] – Serach reveals the location of Joseph’s bones, showing her enduring memory
• [00:13:10] – Why Serach, as a woman, may have symbolized enduring legacy and transition
• [00:16:00] – Midrash: Serach gently reveals to Jacob that Joseph is alive through song
• [00:19:32] – Serach credited with prophetic knowledge of Joseph's survival
• [00:23:00] – Serach offers eyewitness testimony at the splitting of the sea
• [00:29:00] – Broader discussion on real sons/daughters, Holocaust survivors, and living legacy

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Safaria Source Sheet: https://www.sefaria.org/sheets/662562

Transcript on episode web page: https://madlik.com/2025/07/16/serach-the-keeper-of-israels-collective-memory/

What happens when the sacred victim becomes the sovereign nation?

We delve into a provocative exploration of Jewish identity and otherness in this week's episode. Drawing inspiration from the Torah portion Balak and a thought-provoking essay by Hussein Aboubakr Mansour, we challenge long-held beliefs about Judaism's role as the quintessential "other" in society.

Have we been misinterpreting our own history?

1. The concept of Jews as universal "others" may be more modern than we realize
2. Embracing particularism might be more authentic to Jewish tradition than universal symbolism
3. Zionism can be seen as a return to Jewish particularity rather than just a political movement

• [00:00] Introduction to the episode and the theme of “The Jew as Other”
• [01:45] How the term “other” appears in this week’s Parsha and Moab’s fear
• [03:50] Biblical context: Egyptians and Haman’s perspective on Jews
• [06:45] Jewish laws and their role in antisemitic narratives
• [09:30] Rabbinic interpretations and perceived Jewish separateness
• [12:15] Rabbinic blame of God for antisemitism through Jewish laws
• [14:30] Evolution from oppression to loving the stranger in Torah
• [17:00] Introduction of Hussein Aboubakr Mansour’s argument
• [20:15] Breakdown of the Jew as metaphor and object of culture
• [28:00] Zionism’s rejection of “otherness” and affirmation of sovereignty

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Hussein Aboubakr Mansour‘s Substack article

https://open.substack.com/pub/critiqueanddigest/p/the-jew-after-otherness

Transcript on episode web page: https://madlik.com/2025/07/09/understanding-anti-semitism-through-history/

Death rituals reveal a civilization's deepest beliefs. But what if a religion rejects the cult of death entirely?

In this episode we explore Judaism's unique perspective on death and mortality. It is almost a cliché that Judaism is all about “Choosing Life”, but in our conversation we rely heavily of the academic research of Biblical scholar Baruch Levine who uncovers how the Torah's approach to death rituals stands in stark contrast to ancient Near Eastern practices. This normally under spoken scholar exclaims: “death rids the community of death!”

In this episode we explore Judaism's unique perspective on death and mortality. It is almost a cliché that Judaism is all about “Choosing Life”, but in our conversation we rely heavily of the academic research of Biblical scholar Baruch Levine who uncovers how the Torah's approach to death rituals stands in stark contrast to ancient Near Eastern practices. This normally under spoken scholar exclaims: “death rids the community of death!”

• [00:00:00] — Introduction: A cultural view of death across civilizations and contrast with Torah.
• [00:02:00] — Show overview and episode topic: Judaism’s rejection of the cult of death.
• [00:03:26] — Start of Torah discussion: Impurity and the Red Heifer ritual in Numbers 19.
• [00:05:06] — Defining "Ger" and the universality of death rituals in Torah.
• [00:07:00] — Scholarly insight from B. Levine on priestless death rites.
• [00:09:55] — Application of purification rites in Numbers 31 and death in warfare.
• [00:14:45] — Judaism’s rejection of temple burials and the Cult of the Dead.
• [00:20:36] — The minimalist account of Miriam’s death and narrative transition.
• [00:24:00] — Aaron’s death and the seamless transition of priestly leadership.
• [00:28:00] — Philosophical and theological reflections on death, legacy, and the mission beyond death.

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Safaria Source Sheet: https://www.sefaria.org/sheets/659883

Transcript on episode web page: https://madlik.com/2025/07/02/death-cults-vs-israel-why-judaism-chooses-life/ 

How a failed biblical uprising reveals the power of productive disagreement.

Mark Friedman, author of "Come Now, Let Us Reason Together," joins Madlik to explore Judaism's embrace of disagreement. We dive into the Korach story, contrasting it with the debates of Hillel and Shammai to illustrate how Judaism values constructive conflict. Friedman connects ancient Jewish wisdom to modern philosophical concepts, drawing parallels between Talmudic discourse and Karl Popper's theories on truth-seeking. The episode challenges the notion of absolute truth in religious interpretation, advocating for pluralism within tradition.

1. Judaism celebrates constructive disagreement as a path to progress
2. The Korach story teaches the importance of sincere, well-intentioned debate
3. Modern philosophical concepts can illuminate traditional Jewish approaches to truth and interpretation=

• [00:00] – Introduction of the theme: Judaism thrives on disagreement, not dogma.
• [01:44] – Mark Friedman shares his background and journey from secular Judaism to deep Torah engagement.
• [05:00] – Introduction to Pirkei Avot and the concept of a “dispute for the sake of Heaven.”
• [07:36] – Why Korach’s argument failed: selfish motives vs. truth-seeking intent.
• [09:34] – Korach’s logic vs. divine command: the flaw in rationalizing sacred law.
• [12:23] – Misapplied questions and the importance of framing debate with sincerity.
• [16:00] – Comparing the Tower of Babel to Korach: when unity becomes tyranny.
• [20:00] – Applying Karl Popper’s philosophy of falsifiability to Talmudic pluralism.
• [27:00] – Why Hillel’s flexibility makes his rulings endure more than Shammai’s rigidity.
• [31:00] – Wrapping up with pluralism, tradition, and valuing minority opinions in Jewish thought.

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Come Now, Let Us Reason Together: Uncovering the Torah's Liberal Values Paperback – December 30, 2024 by Mark D. Friedman

Safaria Source Sheet: https://www.sefaria.org/sheets/658585

Transcript on episode web page: https://madlik.com/2025/06/26/pluralism-in-judaism/