In this episode of ADERABA, hosts Gilah Kletenik and Rafe Neis delve into the complexities of the term 'Halakha'. They discuss its multifaceted meaning, historical context, and the problems with equating it to 'Jewish Law.' The hosts emphasize the diverse genres covered in rabbinic literature, which cover ritual practices, hermeneutics, and narratives but also what would today be classified as natural science, medicine, mathematics, epistemology, and so much more. They explore how Halakha has been interpreted and misinterpreted over time, particularly its reception in the Middle Ages and its modern implications, including its intersection with state laws. The conversation also touches on the influence of Christian and Islamic jurisprudence on Jewish law and the contemporary stakes in advocating for Jewish traditions in a legal context both in Israel and in the US.

00:00 Introduction to the Podcast

00:11 Exploring the Concept of Halakha

01:08 Jewish Law vs. Halakha

02:19 Personal Encounters with Jewish Legal Theory

02:57 Academic Perspectives on Jewish Law

04:25 The Role of Jewish Law in Modern Contexts

17:12 Halakha and Its Historical Context

26:27 Exploring Halakhah in Everyday Life

27:03 Jewish Law vs. Christian Law

27:51 Authority and Audience in Law

30:31 The Babylonian Talmud: An Introduction

30:55 Halakha and Aggadah: A Problematic Binary

33:04 Anti-Semitic Insults and Jewish Legalism

34:42 Philo of Alexandria and the Torah

36:40 The Evolution of Jewish Law

46:50 Maimonides's Mishnah Torah

50:13 Jewish Law in Modern Contexts

53:21 Colonialism and the Interpretation of Jewish Law

54:53 Concluding Thoughts and Future Discussions

music by Dali Muru & the Polyphonic Swarm - FITH

art/logo by Rafael Rachel Neis

cosponsors UW Stroum Center for Jewish Studies and UM Frankel Center for Judaic Studies