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.

Key Takeaways

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

Timestamps

• [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

Links & Learnings

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