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Philosophical Jew: Daily Summaries Delivered
by Dovidchai Abramchayev
Do you ever feel that Orthodox Judaism does not engage enough with the global marketplace of ideas? That it's voice was missing in the great Theistic debates of the early 21st century? Interested in the deeper wisdom of Judaism? One that has much to say about the current age - not shying away from the truly big questions with cute answers? You've come to the right place. In this podcast, we will delve into the philosophical questions of the age as well as philosophical questions of the ages. All through the analysis of the methods of reason put forth by our Sages. Check our YT!
Latest Episodes
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- 2 days ago1h 25m
Ep 11 - What Does it Mean to be Chosen? The Thought of Eliyahu Benamozegh explored with Rabbi Yonatan HaLevy
Chosen Instead of Humanity... Or For? | Rabbi Yonatan HaLevy on Elijah BenamozeghIs Judaism a religion intended exclusively for Jews, or does it hold a universal mission for all of mankind?In Episode 11 of The Philosophical Jew Podcast, we sit down with Rabbi Yonatan HaLevy to explore the radical and beautiful worldview of the 19th-century Italian sage, Rabbi Elijah Benamozegh. Through his seminal work, Israel and Humanity, Benamozegh flips the traditional understanding of the “Chosen People” on its head, arguing that Jewish particularism—the commandments, the covenant, the separation—is not a sign of divine favoritism, but the necessary means to preserve a universal truth for the rest of the world.We discuss Judaism as a “priesthood of humanity,” the concept of Hebraism (Noahism and Mosaism as two doctrines of one divine revelation), and why moving from interfaith “tolerance” to genuine theological “partnership” might be the ultimate key to human redemption. If you’ve ever struggled with the concept of chosenness or wondered what Judaism actually thinks about Christianity, Islam, and the secular world, this conversation will change the way you read the tradition.In This Episode:Who was Rabbi Elijah Benamozegh?Reimagining Chosenness: Are Jews chosen instead of the world, or for the world?The Firstborn Sibling: Understanding Israel’s priestly vocationHebraism: How Noahide and Mosaic law work togetherBiblical examples of non-Jews serving God imperfectlyThe Temple as a universal center: Are Jews and non-Jews equal before God?Why has Judaism hidden its universal message for 2,000 years?Moving beyond “tolerance” to genuine interfaith partnershipRabbi HaLevy’s vision for the future of Jewish-Gentile relationsWhere to find Rabbi HaLevy (Shiviti)Guest Info: Rabbi Yonatan HaLevy is the spiritual leader of Kehillat Shaar HaShamayim in San Diego and the founder of Shiviti, a movement dedicated to improving the world through the study of Torah and wisdom. Learn more and support his work at: https://www.shiviti.org/ YouTube: @ShivitiSubscribe & Follow: If you enjoyed this conversation, please like, subscribe, and leave a comment below. Follow The Philosophical Jew on Substack and Spotify for more deep dives into Jewish thought, philosophy, and history.
- 2 weeks ago1h 6m
Ep 10 - Mekorism: Rebooting Halakha? with Gavriel Martindale
Are we practicing the Torah, or centuries of accumulated medieval inventions?In this episode of The Philosophical Jew, we sit down with Gavriel Martindale explore a radical yet deeply traditional movement quietly making waves in the Orthodox world: Mekorism.Derived from the Hebrew word for "source" (mekor), Mekorism challenges the idea that post-Talmudic codifications—or even the Babylonian Talmud itself—hold absolute, infallible authority over Jewish law. Gavriel argues that by blindly accepting later interpretations and social consensus, the Orthodox community has strayed from the original texts, leading to historical and halachic absurdities (like redefining the size of an olive to be half an egg).We dive deep into the mechanics of Jewish law, the problem with centralized Rabbinic authority, the limits of Kabbalistic influence, and how a rigorous return to the original sources can restore intellectual honesty and vibrancy to Halakhic practice. Whether you are a lifelong Yeshiva student or just curious about the evolution of Jewish thought, this conversation will challenge everything you thought you knew about modern Halakha.Explore Gavriel Martindale’s Work:Mekor Mayim Hayim: Dive deeper into Mekorist perspectives and originalist Halachic analysis at https://mekormayimhayim.substack.com/Non-Zionism: Read Gavriel’s philosophical and theological writings on Jewish sovereignty at https://nonzionism.com/Haggadah Berurah: Get Gavriel’s meticulously researched, source-based Haggadah for your Seder table at https://haggadahberurah.com/Follow The Philosophical Jew:Follow on InstagramSubscribe to the Publication: Read essays on Jewish thought, ethics, and theology at the philosophicaljew.substack.com.Listen & Subscribe: Don't forget to like, subscribe, and leave a review if you enjoyed this deep dive into the philosophy of Halakha.
- Oct 23, 20251h 2m
Ep. 9 - Why Judaism Lost Prophecy — and How to Get It Back
In this deep and wide-ranging conversation, Rabbi Shnayor Burton joins The Philosophical Jew to explore his “Daat Hashem” (Knowledge of God) series — a profound re-examination of what it means to truly know God.Drawing on Tanakh, Rambam, and prophetic consciousness, Rabbi Burton argues that humanity’s highest calling isn’t wealth, status, or even meaning — but Da’at Hashem, a lived familiarity with divine reality.Together, we discuss:Why “knowing God” is central to the prophets but absent from the Torah itselfThe loss of prophecy — and how rationalism, idolatry, and Greek philosophy reshaped Jewish consciousnessThe danger and beauty of anthropomorphizing GodThe prophetic four-step path to Da’at Hashem: baring the soul, refining character, cultivating faith, and attaining experiential knowledgeWhat it means to “walk with God” in an age of science and skepticism📖 Rabbi Burton’s blog: Unapologetics (https://shnayor.substack.com)Check out Rabbi Burtons Pod - The Great Sources 📚 Explore the Daat Hashem series: [https://linktr.ee/rabbishnayorburton]✡️ Subscribe to The Philosophical Jew for more conversations bridging Torah, philosophy, and modern thought: [philosophicaljew.substack.com]#Judaism #Philosophy #RabbiBurton #DaatHashem #Prophecy #PhilosophicalJew #TorahThought #JewishPodcast
- Aug 3, 20251h 14m
Ep 8 - Ask Hillel: The AI🤔 That Thinks Like a Jewish Ethicist
📜 Episode Description:In this groundbreaking episode, I sit down with the anonymous Substack writer Elder of Ziyon to explore his bold new creation: Ask Hillel, an AI built to think like a Jewish ethicist. How might Jewish ethics reshape secular moral discourse—and could AI help? Join us as Elder of Ziyon explains the design of Ask Hillel, an AI framework that distills halakha methodology into a tiered value system. We explore pikuach nefesh, din v’rachamim, and more, examining what happens when millennia of Jewish thought meet cutting-edge technology.From defining Jewish values outside halakha to challenging the limits of secular moral philosophy, we dive into what it means to encode thousands of years of Jewish ethical tradition into a machine—and why that might be exactly what our confused moral discourse needs. You’ve never heard AI—or Jewish ethics—discussed like this.Purchase Elder’s Book on Anti-Semitism here - https://a.co/d/euJKfx6
- Jun 29, 202553 min
Ep.7 - From Golems to ChatGPT: AI, Halacha & Humanity 🧠📜 with Rabbi Gil Student from Torah Musings!
Join us for a fascinating conversation with Rabbi Gil Student—author of Articles of Faith 📘 and editor of the popular blog Torah Musings—as we explore the Jewish perspective on Artificial Intelligence 🤖🧠.🧩 In this episode:🦾 AI al regel achat: What is AI, really? And why does it matter halachically?🧱 AI vs. Golem: Why comparing ChatGPT to the Maharal’s golem might not be so far-fetchedResponsibility & ethics: If an AI causes damage, who’s responsible—owner, creator, or AI itself?❤️ Emotional AI & loneliness: Can tech “solve” human suffering—or does it risk replacing real connection?🙊 Saying ‘please’ to machines?: What the Rambam and Ramban might say about our etiquette with AI🕍 Halachic categories: Where does AI fall on the spectrum of human, animal, and object?🔗 Featured Links:📝 Read Rabbi Student’s full article: “AI, Golem, and Not-So-Silly Questions” on Torah Musings: https://www.torahmusings.com/2025/04/ai-golem-and-not-so-silly-questions/📚 Check out his book: Articles of Faith https://www.amazon.com/Articles-Faith-Traditional-Jewish-Internet/dp/B0DJ1459L4 (Also available wherever Jewish books are sold)🌐 More from Rabbi Gil Student: https://www.torahmusings.com/🎧 Subscribe to Philosophical Jew for deep dives into Torah, philosophy, ethics, and the big questions that shape our generation. 🧠✨ If you enjoyed this episode, like, comment, and share! Let us know: What do you think—should we treat AI like a golem, a gadget, or something entirely new? 👇
- Jun 22, 20251h 13m
Ep 6 - Physics, Fine-Tuning & the Fingerprints of God with Rabbis Elie Feder and Aaron Zimmer🎙️
What if the very fabric of our universe was whispering something deeper?In this episode of The Philosophical Jew, I sit down with Rabbi Elie Fader and Rabbi Aaron Zimmer—co-hosts of the Physics to God podcast—for a deep and fascinating exploration of the fine-tuning argument for God. This isn’t about plugging gaps in science—it’s about following the evidence wherever it leads.We cover:✅ What physicists mean by “fine-tuning”✅ Why certain constants are shockingly precise✅ How fine-tuning reshapes the debate about God and the multiverse✅ What it all means for science, faith, and our own livesThese Rabbis aren’t just smart—they’re clear, engaging, and passionate about making these complex ideas accessible to everyone. Whether you're into science, philosophy, religion, or just wondering what this universe is all about… this episode is for you. 💫📺 Watch, think, subscribe—and join the conversation.🔗 Subscribe to Physics to God: https://www.youtube.com/@PhysicsToGod📰 Read their Daily Wire article: "Why Modern Physics Points to God" https://www.dailywire.com/news/why-modern-physics-points-to-god?author=Elie+Feder+and+Aaron+Zimmer📚 Explore Rabbi Elie Feder’s books:Gematria Refigured → https://a.co/d/4GULi7EHappiness in the Face of Adversity: Powerful Torah ideas from a Mom's parting words → https://a.co/d/canNC6S👇 Drop your thoughts in the comments. Do you find the fine-tuning argument compelling?#philosophicaljew #PhysicstoGod #finetuning #cosmology #godandscience #Multiverse #modernphysics #jewishphilosophy #theology #intelligentdesign #podcast
- May 4, 202543 min
Ep. 5 - Media, Meaning, and Torah
🎧 NEW EPISODE “Media, Meaning, and Torah” w/ Rav Mo (@MenschSense)* 🎬 What if your favorite show... was sacred? 💭 Rav Mo breaks down how Torah + pop culture can tell the same deeper story.From X-Men ➡ Kabbalah ➡ spoken word 🎤 This one’s 🔥 for thinkers, seekers, & storytellers.📲 Tap the link in bio to listen! 👂🎙 #JewishPodcast #TorahAndCulture #MenschSense #DeepTalks #PhilosophyVibes In this episode of The Philosophical Jew Podcast, we sit down with Rav Mo (@MenschSense)—rabbi, poet, YouTuber, and cultural thinker—for a rich and inspiring conversation about seeing life as a story. Check out his channel here https://www.youtube.com/@menschsense1We explore how pop culture, from The Simpsons to X-Men to Jordan Peterson, can actually mirror ancient Jewish wisdom. Rav Mo shares his journey from a media-saturated childhood to deep Torah study, and how he now uses spoken word, rap, and modern storytelling to bridge secular culture with spiritual growth.Together, we unpack the concept of “dynamic perfection,” the redemptive power of imperfection, and how even the most unlikely moments can be part of a sacred narrative. Whether you’re navigating your Netflix queue or your personal growth, this episode will help you see both through a deeper lens.
- Apr 27, 202551 min
Ep 4 -Judaism as Rebellion with Rabbi Nathan Lopes Cardozo
In this soul-stirring episode of Philosophical Jew, we sit down with Rabbi Nathan Lopez Cardozo to explore a bold and inspiring vision of Judaism—one that reclaims its rebellious roots. Drawing from his work Jewish Law as Rebellion, Rabbi Cardozo argues that the Torah was never meant to be a static legal code but a living, breathing call to moral and spiritual revolution.We begin by unpacking the revelation at Sinai as the ultimate act of divine rebellion—an invitation to challenge societal norms and spiritual complacency. Rabbi Cardozo challenges us to reimagine Halakha not as rigid and finalized, but as a dynamic force that must evolve in response to the historical and existential realities of the Jewish people.As we navigate morally difficult passages in the Torah, Rabbi Cardozo offers a radically faithful yet critical approach—one that honors the divine core while engaging modern ethical consciousness. He passionately defends the relevance of Torah in the modern world, not merely as a cultural artifact but as a transcendent path that uniquely binds heaven and earth.And finally, in his signature blend of honesty and spiritual urgency, Rabbi Cardozo shares one practice he believes could reignite the Jewish soul worldwide.If you’ve ever struggled with the tension between tradition and modernity, law and spirit, faith and reason—this conversation is your invitation to join the rebellion.Website - https://www.cardozoacademy.org/author/nlcardozo/Books - https://www.amazon.com/stores/Nathan-Lopes-Cardozo/author/B00J8UMWEA?ref=sr_ntt_srch_lnk_1&qid=1743972209&sr=8-1&isDramIntegrated=true&shoppingPortalEnabled=trueGet his new book now! - https://www.cardozoacademy.org/book/cardozo-on-the-parashah-volume-3-the-book-of-vayikra-leviticus/
About Philosophical Jew
Do you ever feel that Orthodox Judaism does not engage enough with the global marketplace of ideas? That it's voice was missing in the great Theistic debates of the early 21st century? Interested in the deeper wisdom of Judaism? One that has much to say about the current age - not shying away from the truly big questions with cute answers? You've come to the right place. In this podcast, we will delve into the philosophical questions of the age as well as philosophical questions of the ages. All through the analysis of the methods of reason put forth by our Sages. Check our YT!
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