In this 5-part miniseries, we explore the tension between the universalistic role of the Jewish people versus the particularism of their destiny, with a focus on residing in Eretz Yisrael.
For the video version of this lecture, click here. 
This lecture series is a project of the Jacob Lights Foundation. To support this and other ongoing projects of the foundation, please consider making a donation via Zelle to jacoblightsfoundation@gmail.com. 
For more on this topic, subscribe to https://shnayor.substack.com/ and follow the essay series entitled "Exodus, Exile and Redemption."



S4, E5 Universalism vs. Particularism: Israel and the Nations in the End of Days

Lecture series in Jewish Philosophy. 
What was the purpose of Creation? What is man's place in the world? What are prophecy and prayer about? What is the significance of Shabbos and the Promised Land?
Explore these fundamental questions of Judaism from their sources, and become familiar with the systems developed by the great Torah thinkers: R' Saadiah Gaon, R' Yehuda HaLevi, R' Bachya ibn Paquda, Rambam and the school of the Mekubalim. 

Opportunities for sponsorship of podcasts are available. Rabbi Burton can be reached at: oros.yaakov@gmail.com

Religion & Spirituality

Other

Spirituality

Christianity

Buddhism

Hinduism

Judaism

Islam


"Exodus, Exile and Redemption" is a study of the profound significance of Judaism's history.
Written essays are published bi-weekly here:
⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://shnayor.substack.com/s/from-exodus-to-exile-to-redemption
⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Please subscribe!
This series is a project of the Jacob Lights Foundation. To support this and other ongoing projects of the foundation, please consider becoming a paid subscriber to the Substack newsletter or making a donation via Zelle to jacoblightsfoundation@gmail.com.

S5, E22 Exodus, Exile and Redemption, Sec. 2, Chapter 16: Man’s Crooked Heart and its Remedy

1:00 Sh'ma is a constant guide to our lives
3:45 The meaning of the Sh'ma according to Rashi
4:30 The meaning of there being many gods
6:30 Metaphysics is not interesting to Tanach
8:15 Whether there are many gods or only one depends on people's behavior
10:00 When you say Sh'ma, you should envision redemption and plan for it
12:00 How humanity will attain the Messianic Era and what we should do about it
14:00 Unity and love
16:45 Reaching "Hashem is one" without defining Hashem
20:00 Humanity converging on one value means they are serving Hashem; all the Torah cares about is not serving "other gods"
22:45 Not every monotheist serves Hashem; "as if" being an idolater is extremely important
27:00 The Messianic Era is not totalitarian 
28:30 Human progress and reaching unity of Hashem
31:45 Everyone has a god; the god that you "as if" worship is more important for some purposes than the god that you actually worship
34:30 The unity of action achieved by a person who worships one God must apply to any potential future experiences as well, which is why you have to envision giving up your life when saying Sh'ma
38:00 The Jewish problem and the 70 ministering angels
42:00 Creation ex nihilo and disregard for the universe
45:20 Why Jews must be unlike other nations; how to effect unifications
48:30 How to manipulate history and why we need to program AI to effect Redemption
This lecture is a project of the Jacob Lights Foundation





How to Make the Torah Come True: Sh'ma and the Redemption

"Exodus, Exile and Redemption" is a study of the profound significance of Judaism's history.
Written essays are published bi-weekly here:
⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://shnayor.substack.com/s/from-exodus-to-exile-to-redemption
⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Please subscribe!
This series is a project of the Jacob Lights Foundation. To support this and other ongoing projects of the foundation, please consider becoming a paid subscriber to the Substack newsletter or making a donation via Zelle to jacoblightsfoundation@gmail.com.



S5, E21 Exodus, Exile and Redemption, Sec. 2, Chapter 15: Baring the Soul before Hashem

The lecture is a project of the Jacob Lights Foundation
1:15 "הא לחמא עניא": our conversation centers around the meal; the 4 questions are all about food5:00 "עבדים היינו": the answer to the son's question; the son's question is that the events of the past are not current events, so why is the night of Pesach treated as a unique time10:00 The significance of the fact that it is the son who asks the question: the next generation doesn't understand why the past is relevant to it13:30 "ואילו לא הוציא הקב"ה את אבותינו ממצרים הרי אנו ובנינו ובני בנינו משעובדים היינו לפרעה": there are moments in life that have historic, cosmic import17:00 "ברוך המקום": the Torah talks about the sons in 4 places, corresponding to 4 kinds of children19:00 "אילו היה שם לא היה נגאל": the wicked son doesn't accept that there are significant, historic moments in life, and without realizing that, he wouldn't have seized the opportunity of redemption and would have stayed behind in Egypt21:30 והמבין יבין!22:40 "מתחילה עובדי עבודה זרה": a new narrative, according to which the servitude in Egypt is part of the solution, not part of the problem26:00 The recurring historic theme of Jewish suffering and redemption and its providential purpose; a second answer to the son's question about history30:00 והמבין יבין!33:10 The natural causes of Jewish suffering and persecution35:30 "צא ולמד": the recurring theme already happened with the forefathers; a segue into "ארמי אובד אבי"38:15 "רבן גמליאל היה אומר": a third answer to the son's question about history: it happened to us as well, in every generation40:15 The whole Haggadah revolves around the question about how the past bears on the present43:00 "חייב אדם לראות את עצמו כאילו הוא יצא ממצרים": meaning and how it's done44:30 "ואותנו הוציא משם": Aristotle on natural slaves; how freedom really depends on knowing Hashem; the most honest people would be slaves if they lacked knowledge of Hashem



The Haggadah: Its Structure, Meaning and Message


"Exodus, Exile and Redemption" is a study of the profound significance of Judaism's history.
Written essays are published bi-weekly here:
⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://shnayor.substack.com/s/from-exodus-to-exile-to-redemption
⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Please subscribe!
This series is a project of the Jacob Lights Foundation. To support this and other ongoing projects of the foundation, please consider becoming a paid subscriber to the Substack newsletter or making a donation via Zelle to jacoblightsfoundation@gmail.com.

S4, E5 Universalism vs. Particularism: Israel and the Nations in the End of Days

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