Why Some Torah Laws were Meant to be Heard not followed

Live at the JCC's new Shtiebel, Geoffrey Stern and Rabbi Adam Mintz ask: what do we learn from laws that never happened? From the rebellious son to Bialik's Halakha and Aggada, discover halakhah as a language of Jewish life.

In this week's episode of Madlik, we delve into a fascinating exploration of Jewish law that challenges our conventional understanding of mitzvot (commandments). As we navigate through the complexities of Halakhah, we uncover a profound truth: sometimes, the most impactful lessons come not from observance, but from observing and listening.

Key Takeaways

1. The Rebellious Son: A law that never was and never will be, yet teaches us volumes.
2. Halakha as Language: How Jewish law communicates deeper truths beyond mere observance.
3. Bialik's Perspective: The unexpected harmony between Halakha and Aggadah from a secular Jewish thinker.

Timestamps

• [00:00:37] Intro — recording live at the JCC Manhattan
• [00:01:42] Mitzvot as a cultural language, not just observance
• [00:02:56] The rebellious son in Deuteronomy 21 and its harsh punishment
• [00:04:13] Talmud: "There never was and never will be a rebellious son"
• [00:06:18] Death penalty framed as pedagogy vs deterrence
• [00:07:45] Fear as a teaching tool, like fairytales and folklore
• [00:08:32] The "idolatrous city" — another law never fulfilled
• [00:11:09] Reward in Torah study as outcome, not payment
• [00:15:47] Maimonides reduces 248 commandments to only 60 definite ones
• [00:20:36] Soloveitchik: Halakha as the language of Judaism

Links & Learnings

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