Rabbi Dr. Ezra Labaton A"H Lectures

Egeret HaRambam/Letters of Maimonides (1) 2/2/02

One of the great criticisms of the Rambam/Maimonides was that he did not write down the sources used to explain how he derived and decided Jewish law. His Code of Jewish Law/Mishneh Torah was straight forward without a discussion on…Read...

Parshanut of the Torah (4/4)- 3/7/2001

Recorded March 7th, 2001

Parshanut of the Torah (3/4)- 10/29/2001

Recorded October 29th, 2001

Parshanut of the Torah (2/4)- 10/16/2001

Recorded October 10th, 2001

Parshanut of the Torah (1/4)- 10/25/2000

Recorded October 25th, 2000

Rejecting the State of Israel- 4/17/2002

Recorded April 17th, 2002

Inyanei Pesach/Passover (2 of 2) 3/15/02

Recorded March 15th, 2002

Inyanei Pesach/Passover (1 of 2) 3/12/02

Recorded: March 12, 2002

Pesah

Science and Religion: Contradictory or Complimentary? (2000-2001) Part 9 of 9

Starting in November of 2001 and concluding in February 2001, Rabbi Labaton gave a 9 part weekly class on the topic of “Science and Religion”. This class was given on February 17th, 2001.

Science and Religion: Contradictory or Complimentary? (2000-2001) Part 8 of 9

Starting in November of 2001 and concluding in February 2001, Rabbi Labaton gave a 9 part weekly class on the topic of “Science and Religion”. This class was given on January 13th, 2001.

Science and Religion: Contradictory or Complimentary? (2000-2001) Part 7 of 9

Starting in November of 2001 and concluding in February 2001, Rabbi Labaton gave a 9 part weekly class on the topic of “Science and Religion”. This class was given on December 16th, 2000.

Science and Religion: Contradictory or Complimentary? (2000-2001) Part 6 of 9

Starting in November of 2001 and concluding in February 2001, Rabbi Labaton gave a 9 part weekly class on the topic of “Science and Religion”. This class was given on December 9th, 2000.

Science and Religion: Contradictory or Complimentary? (2000-2001) Part 5 of 9

Starting in November of 2001 and concluding in February 2001, Rabbi Labaton gave a 9 part weekly class on the topic of “Science and Religion”. This class was given on December 2nd, 2000.

Science and Religion: Contradictory or Complimentary? (2000-2001) Part 4 of 9

Starting in November of 2001 and concluding in February 2001, Rabbi Labaton gave a 9 part weekly class on the topic of “Science and Religion”. This class was given on November 25th, 2000.

Science and Religion: Contradictory or Complimentary? (2000-2001) Part 3 of 9

Starting in November of 2001 and concluding in February 2001, Rabbi Labaton gave a 9 part weekly class on the topic of “Science and Religion”. This class was given on November 18th, 2000.

Science and Religion: Contradictory or Complimentary? (2000-2001) Part 2 of 9

Starting in November of 2001 and concluding in February 2001, Rabbi Labaton gave a 9 part weekly class on the topic of “Science and Religion”. This class was given on November 11th, 2000.

Science and Religion: Contradictory or Complimentary? (2000-2001) Part 1 of 9

Starting in November of 2001 and concluding in February 2001, Rabbi Labaton gave a 9 part weekly class on the topic of “Science and Religion”. This class was given on November 4th, 2000.

Qinot (Elegies) with Commentary of Rabbi Soloveitchik- Tisha Be’ab 2013

This class was given on Tisha Be’ab, July 15, 2013 only a few months before the Rabbis passing.

“Lonely Man of Faith” Ideas

“The Lonely Man of Faith”, by Rabbi Joseph B. Soloveitchik is arguably the single most important Jewish Philosophy book written in modern times. This 20 minute class by provides introduction to some of the books ideas.

Tish’a Be’ab 1994

This class was given on Tish’a Be’ab, 1994

Tefilah 7-31-1995

This class was given on July 31st, 1995

Suffering in the Talmud Class #3 Summer 1995

(3 out of 3) This three-part class series was given in the summer of 1995. To our knowledge, the first class in the series was not recorded

Suffering in the Talmud Class #2 Summer 1995

(2 out of 3) This three-part class series was given in the summer of 1995. To our knowledge, the first class in the series was not recorded

Why Rav Soloveitchik is Unique 7-16-1994

This class was given on July 16th, 1994

Rav Soloveitchik’s Perspective on Teshubah

Rav Soloveitchik’s Perspective on Teshubah

Rav Soloveitchik 8-21-1994

This class was given on August 21st, 1994

Missvah HaBa Be’aberah- June 3rd

This class was given on June 3rd

Least Famous People in Tanakh 1994

This class was given in 1994.

How to Deal with Tragedy Class #3 7/2001

(3 out of 3) This three-part class series was given in July of 2001. Dedicated in memory of Joe Betesh A”H, by his wife Sonia, his children and grandchildren.

How to Deal with Tragedy Class #2 7/2001

(2 out of 3) This three-part class series was given in July of 2001. Dedicated in memory of Joe Betesh A”H, by his wife Sonia, his children and grandchildren.

How to Deal with Tragedy Class #1 7/2001

(1 out of 3) This three-part class series was given in July of 2001. Dedicated in memory of Joe Betesh A”H, by his wife Sonia, his children and grandchildren.

Evil 8-20-97

Lecture given on August 20th, 1997.

Ethics & Punishment: Summer 1995

Lecture given in the summer of 1995

Was Your Turkey Kosher? Do Not Copy Their Ways 11-28-06

Lecture given 11-28-06. Presented by Merkaz Moreshet Yisrael. View Class Notes TurkeyClassnotes1106 – View the Rabbi’s 8 pages of notes used during the lecture. TurkeySourcedocs1106 – View 17 pages of source documents, all with the Rabbi’s annotations, used in preparation for the lecture.

Ethical, Spiritual, and Rational Elements of Mishneh Torah/ Rambam’s Code of Jewish Law – 3/8/04

He discusses the ethical, spiritual, and rational elements of the Rambam’s/Maimonides Mishneh Torah/Code of Jewish Law. This was recorded on 3/8/04.

13 Principles of Maimonides: The Ongoing Discussion

The Rabbi explains the 13 Principles of Faith put forth by Rambam/Maimonides and how we should interpret them.

“A Man for All Seasons: Contemporary Relevance of HaRambam/Maimonides – 3/1/04

What’s the impact HaRambam/Maimonides has had and continues to have on the world? 3/1/04

Dangers of Being “Chosen” (Summer 1999)

Being the “Chosen” people has put the Jews in very precarious situations over the years. Moreover, being “Chosen” has led to anti-Semitism. Has this idea of being “Chosen” helped or hindered our work in this world?

What’s So Special About The Jewish Calendar?

The Jewish Calendar itself is a mechanism or means of studying the ideas, ideals, and values of Judaism. Our method of celebration of a holiday is not simply to teach or read about the holiday, rather to experience and live the…Read...

Is Philosophy Jewish? (2002)

Deals with philosophy within every aspect of Judaism. Why we must understand Jewish and non-Jewish philosophy. And, the obligation for Rabbi’s to be educaed, sophisticated, aware, and knowledgable to answer difficult questions. People within the community ask their rabbis about non-jewish…Read more...

Source Book for Our Lives- (1of4) Bereshit/Genesis 10/15/09

(1 of 4) Exploring Sefer Bereshit/Genesis as the source of the ideas, ideals, and values which have shaped the modern world.

Source Book for Our Lives- (2of4) Bereshit/Genesis 10/19/09

(2 of 4) Exploring Sefer Bereshit/Genesis as the source of the ideas, ideals, and values which have shaped the modern world.

Source Book for Our Lives- (3of4) Bereshit/Genesis 10/27/09

(3 of 4) Exploring Sefer Bereshit/Genesis as the source of the ideas, ideals, and values which have shaped the modern world.

Source Book for Our Lives- (4of4) Bereshit/Genesis 12/2009

(4 of 4) Rabbi Labaton discuss’s how the themes within Sefer Bereshit/Book of Genesis contain the ideas, ideals, and values we should live by. It’s the source book of our lives.

“Creating Meaningful Halacha/Law”- The Rav/Rabbi Joseph Soloveitchik

“We’ve been studying about one of the foremost thinkers of the 20th century, Rav Joseph Soloveitchik. He has distinguished himself in two distinct areas, in halachic/law formulation, Analysis, and the way he approaches any sugya/passage in Talmud is one as…Read...

Why We Should Know the Rav/Rabbi Soloveitchik (2 of 2)- Rabbi Labaton’s Reflections of his Teacher at Yeshiva University REITS

Class 2 of 2- Recorded on 5/18/04  Rabbi Labaton shares his personal reflections on his Rabbi and teacher, the Rav/Rabbi Soloveitchik (1903-1993). He received his smicha/Rabbinical Ordination from the Rav/Rabbi Soloveitchik at Yeshiva University REITS.

Why We Should Know the Rav/Rabbi Soloveitchik (1of 2)- Rabbi Labaton’s Reflections of his Teacher at Yeshiva University REITS

Class 1 of 2 –Recorded 5/3/04 Here, Rabbi Labaton shares his personal reflections on his Rabbi and teacher, the Rav/Rabbi Soloveitchik (1903-1993). He received his smicha/Rabbinical Ordination from the Rav/Rabbi Soloveitchik at Yeshiva University REITS. He asks the following questions: “Why do we have…Read...

“Captured by the Mystics”- The Case of the Rambam/Maimonides 12/08/03

*“Our goal tonight is to try and rescue the Rambam/Maimonides (1135C.E.-1204CE) from the clutches of the Kabbalists/Mystics.” “Our task really is to try to explain what went wrong. How could it be that one of the great rationalists of all…Read...

Resurrection Controversy around the Rambam’s/Maimonides Writings- 2009

Physical and/or Spiritual Resurrection? The Rambam/Maimonides (1135C.E.-1205C.E) was criticized for not believing in physical resurrection and not including it in his Mishneh Torah/Code of Jewish Law. The Ra’vaad/Rabbeinu Abraham ben David (1125C.E.-1198C.E.) who was mystically inclined who challenged much of…Read...