Misfit Torah

Misfit Torah

By Akiva WeisingerReligion & Spirituality
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Misfit Torah episodes

  • Seforno: On Embracing Your Context

    Binaries are proposed and rejected. The author's alma mater is briefly mentioned. Italians' rationality is defended. Historical headcanons are proposed. Context is continuously provided. Quotes are read in a haughty voice. Aesthetics become spiritual, but are clumsily explained. The limits of ethical apologetics are pondered.  The ability to step outside one's context is questioned, both practically and prescriptively. 

    53 min
  • Abravanel: The First Modern Biblical Commentator

    Part 10 of the "Who the Heck is that Guy" series. Modernity is discussed, existence is pondered, paths around the sun are considered. Comparisons to hit musicals are made, prolific writing is marveled at, our protagonist rapidly gain power and just as rapidly loses it, rabbinic jokes are made and explained, the utility of questions is explained lines to the American Revolution are drawn, revolutionary zeal is pondered. 

    53 min
  • Medieval Roundup:

    Part 9 of the "Who The Heck is that Guy" series


    Akiva wraps up the unit on medieval commentators with a roundup of commentators that are important but didn't get their own episode. Authors are thanked and remembered. Listeners are urged to read. Saadia Gaon is called a badass. Mahari Kara's name is mispronounced, maybe. Bechor Shor's astuteness is applauded. Radak is complimented as boring. Ibn Kaspi's character is pondered. Rabbeinu Bahya's role model is revealed. Mental flowcharts are explicated. Promises about future episodes are made. 

    52 min
  • In Defense of a Larger Toolbox: The Zohar and Mystical Biblical Commentary, Part 8 of the "Who The Heck is That Guy?" Series

    The Zohar is discussed. Stories of young firebrands getting shut down are told. Hearts are warmed. Things get a little raunchy. The limits of rationalism are probed. The word "theosophy" presents some trouble. Promised edits never arrive. The significance of sea monsters is discussed. Gaps appear between vocabulary and pronunciation. Davidic improprieties are pondered. Communal priorities are thought over. Paths forwards are hesitantly pointed towards.

    1 hr 1 min
  • What I Know vs. What I Believe: The Ralbag and Rationalist Commentary

    The relationship between religion and truth is pondered. The Ralbag is introduced. A joke about Maimonidean esotericism is clumsily made. An article is promoted. Stories are rationalized, naturalized, and reinterpreted. The podcast becomes PG-13. Some wacky comments of The Ralbag are read. Light misogyny and body shaming is awkwardly handled. Death stares become literal. Exhortations to never give up are made. 

    1 hr 2 min
  • A Dinner with Ibn Ezra
    Ibn Ezra is discussed. Stars are railed against. Riddles are puzzled over. Palindromes are given and taken on faith. Bovine-based insults are explicated. Hamilton is invoked and millenials are pandered to. The nature of inconsistency and doubt are probed.
    1 hr 16 min

About Misfit Torah

From the publisher's feed

Who the Heck Is This Guy?: Akiva Weisinger goes through the Jewish Library telling who the heck is that guy, what he does, and when you'd use his book. Come for the Torah, stay for the Ibn Ezra jokes.