Tzarich Iyun — A Podcast from Yeshivat Orayta

Many observant Jews have a seder night custom to spill out some wine from their cups during the recitation of the ten plagues. What is the source of this custom? Does it reflect a Jewish instinct to mitigate happiness when one's enemies are killed? Or, is it part of a larger story about Jewish uniqueness and particularism? In this episode Rav David Silverstein is joined by Rav Yitzchak Blau to discuss the origin of this custom as well the larger question of rejoicing over the downfall of one's enemies.Rabbi Yitzchak Blau is Rosh Yeshiva of Yeshivat Orayta, the author of Fresh Fruit and Vintage Wine: The Ethics and Wisdom of the Aggada, and Tradition's associate editor. He has taught at Yeshivat Hamivtar, Yeshivat Shvilei Hatorah, and the Yeshivah of Flatbush and currently also teaches at Midreshet Lindenbaum. Rabbi Blau has a BA in English Literature from YU, an MA in Medieval Jewish History from Revel, and smicha from RIETS. Rabbi Blau lives in Alon Shevut with his wife and four children.Questions? Feedback? Have a topic you'd like to hear discussed?Email us at oraytapodcast@gmail.com and we look forward to "continuing the conversation."Music from "Ashreinu" by Omek HaDavarRecorded in the Old City of Jerusalem at Yeshivat Orayta (orayta.org) | Facebook | Instagram

This Shabbat, Jews across this world will read the Torah portion describing the requirement to eradicate Amalek. Does this mitzvah have any practical relevance nowadays? What about the moral challenges associated with this divine command? In this episode, Rav David Silverstein is joined by Rabbi Dr. Shlomo Brody to discuss these issues through the lens of Israel's current war against Hamas.Rabbi Dr. Shlomo Brody is the executive director of Ematai. He previously served as the founding director of the Tikvah Overseas Student Institute and co-dean of the Tikvah Online Academy, a senior instructor at Yeshivat Hakotel, and as a junior research fellow at the Israel Democracy Institute. A summa cum laude graduate of Harvard College, he received rabbinic ordination from the Israeli Chief Rabbinate, an MA in Jewish philosophy at the Hebrew University, and his PhD from Bar Ilan University Law School, where he continues to serve as a post-doctoral fellow. His first book, A Guide to the Complex: Contemporary Halakhic Debates (Maggid), received a National Jewish Book Award. His new book, Ethics of Our Fighters: A Jewish View on War and Morality, is available now in the US and Israel.Questions? Feedback? Have a topic you'd like to hear discussed?Email us at oraytapodcast@gmail.com and we look forward to "continuing the conversation."Music from "Ashreinu" by Omek HaDavarRecorded in the Old City of Jerusalem at Yeshivat Orayta (orayta.org) | Facebook | Instagram

After serving for many years as a Company Commander in the IDF, Rav Binny Freedman has experienced himself in a new role since October 7th—‘drafted,’ as a grandparent. Like hundreds of thousands of other families, the Freedmans have been navigating the complexities of the draft on the home-front, stepping in as their children have been called up to serve. In this episode, Rav Binny joins Rav David Silverstein to discuss how the war has affected the lives of kids, spouses, and parents of reservists and understand its toll on Israeli society at large.Rabbi Binny Freedman is founding Rosh Yeshiva of Yeshivat Orayta. Coming to Israel as a lone soldier in 1982, Rav Binny served as a Company Commander in the Israeli Defense Forces. Rav Binny received his Rabbinic Ordination from the Chief Rabbinate of the State of Israel while studying at Yeshivat Har Etzion under the tutelage of Rav Aharon Lichtenstein, and pursued his BA and MA studies in Education at the Herzog Teacher's College in Israel. He lives with his wife and their four children in Efrat.Questions? Feedback? Have a topic you'd like to hear discussed?Email us at oraytapodcast@gmail.com and we look forward to "continuing the conversation."Music from "Ashreinu" by Omek HaDavarRecorded in the Old City of Jerusalem at Yeshivat Orayta (orayta.org) | Facebook | Instagram

Prior to October 7th, the Israeli political and military establishment mistakenly thought that Hamas was deterred from attacking Israel. What other misconceptions lay behind Israeli thinking? How can the Israeli government rectify these errors moving forward? In this episode, Rav David Silverstein is joined by military strategist Akiva Bigman to discuss these questions and reflect on possible new paradigms for Israeli leaders to think about the war in Gaza.Akiva Bigman is the Chief Editor at Mida (Hebrew/English), an Israeli news and commentary website. He previously served as the Chief Investigative Journalist for Chanel 14 as well as a columnist for Yisrael Hayom. He holds a Master’s in Jewish history from Bar Ilan University and is currently pursuing his PhD in military strategy.Questions? Feedback? Have a topic you'd like to hear discussed?Email us at oraytapodcast@gmail.com and we look forward to "continuing the conversation."Music from "Ashreinu" by Omek HaDavarRecorded in the Old City of Jerusalem at Yeshivat Orayta (orayta.org) | Facebook | Instagram

Traditional Jewish theology understands that a national crisis can serve as a catalyst for collective reflection and teshuva. What can we learn from the horrors of October 7th? What national sins must be rectified moving forward? In this episode, Rav David Silverstein discusses these questions with Rabbi Dr. Joshua Berman through the prism of his provocative and important article, "Is this war a divine punishment?"Rabbi Dr. Joshua Berman is a professor of Bible at BarIlan University and an Associate Fellow at the Shalem Center in Jerusalem. A graduate of Princeton University, Rabbi Berman received his rabbinical ordination from the Chief Rabbinate of Israel after learning for eight years at Yeshivat Har Etzion. He is the author of several books, most recently Ani Maamin: Biblical Criticism, Historical Truth and the Thirteen Principles of Faith (Maggid). He, his wife and their four children reside in Bet Shemesh.Questions? Feedback? Have a topic you'd like to hear discussed?Email us at oraytapodcast@gmail.com and we look forward to "continuing the conversation."Music from "Ashreinu" by Omek HaDavarRecorded in the Old City of Jerusalem at Yeshivat Orayta (orayta.org) | Facebook | Instagram

2023 was one of the most divisive years in Israel's history. Polarization and the debate surrounding the judicial reform lead Israel to the brink of civil war culminating in altercations on Yom Kippur, the holiest day of the Jewish year.  After the horrors of October 7th, however, we have seen the country unified around a shared sense of mission and purpose. How do we maintain this feeling of unity for the duration of the war and after the war's completion? How can Israelis learn to live together despite their religious and political differences? In this episode, Rav David Silverstein is joined by JJ Sussman, the International Director of Gesher, to discuss these questions through the lens of his recent Jerusalem Post article.JJ Sussman is the International Director at Gesher where his role includes leading delegations of Israeli influentials to experience Jewish communities in the US. In addition, he is responsible for resource development. Prior to Gesher, JJ worked in Israel’s high-tech sector at leading firms such as SanDisk, Jerusalem Global, and Israel Seed Partners. Having made Aliyah from New York 25 years ago, JJ now lives in Modi’in. He holds a BA from Yeshiva University and an MBA from Kellogg/Tel Aviv University.Questions? Feedback? Have a topic you'd like to hear discussed?Email us at oraytapodcast@gmail.com and we look forward to "continuing the conversation."Music from "Ashreinu" by Omek HaDavarRecorded in the Old City of Jerusalem at Yeshivat Orayta (orayta.org) | Facebook | Instagram

Israeli ultra-Orthodoxy has maintained an isolationist stance toward the general public in Israel since the State’s founding. In the aftermath of October 7th, however, segments of the ultra-Orthodox community have activated to support the war effort in unprecedented ways — including some 3,000 who have drafted into the IDF. In this episode, Rav David Silverstein is joined by Hareidi rabbi, leader, and activist Rav Yehoshua Pfeffer to discuss the evolving relationship between Hareidim and the State of Israel.Rabbi Yehoshua Pfeffer, a rabbi and rabbinical judge, learned under Rav Asher Arieli and Rav Asher Weiss, holds a law degree from the Hebrew University, and clerked at the Israel Supreme Court. In addition to serving as the founding editor of Tzarich Iyun, a journal of Charedi thought (that shares the name of our podcast!), Rabbi Pfeffer directs programs for the haredi community in Israel for the Tikvah Fund, teaches on the law faculty of The Hebrew University, and is a community rabbi of Kehillat Ohr Chadash in Ramot, Jerusalem.Questions? Feedback? Have a topic you'd like to hear discussed?Email us at oraytapodcast@gmail.com and we look forward to "continuing the conversation."Music from "Ashreinu" by Omek HaDavarRecorded in the Old City of Jerusalem at Yeshivat Orayta (orayta.org) | Facebook | Instagram

In the aftermath of the horrific attack by Hamas on October 7th, anti-semitic incidents have drastically increased worldwide. How should open societies committed to the freedom of expression respond? Is limiting the rights of extremist groups the answer? Or, are there other ways to curb hate speech while maintaining commitment to the free flow of ideas? In this podcast, Rabbi David Silverstein is joined by Dr. Russ Roberts of Shalem College to discuss these issues through the prism of his important article, "The Dilemma of the West: What Is to Be Done About Jew Hatred?"Professor Russ Roberts is President of Shalem College. An economist, writer, and teacher, he is also the John and Jean De Nault Research Fellow at Stanford University’s Hoover Institution and the founder of EconTalk: Conversations for the Curious, an award-winning weekly podcast with more than 900 episodes and millions of unique downloads. Roberts has taught at Stanford University, the University of California, Los Angeles, George Mason University, the University of Rochester, and Washington University in St. Louis, where he was the director of what is now the Center for Experiential Learning. He holds a PhD in economics from the University of Chicago and received his undergraduate degree in economics from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.Questions? Feedback? Have a topic you'd like to hear discussed?Email us at oraytapodcast@gmail.com and we look forward to "continuing the conversation."Music from "Ashreinu" by Omek HaDavarRecorded in the Old City of Jerusalem at Yeshivat Orayta (orayta.org) | Facebook | Instagram

Western media often criticizes the IDF for "collective punishment" and a lack of proportionality in its military response to Hamas’s horrific attacks on October 7th.  How are we supposed to respond to these accusations? What are Israel's ethical obligations regarding avoiding civilian casualties? Should the IDF endanger its soldiers' lives in order to protect civilians in Gaza? In this episode, Rabbi David Silverstein is joined by Rabbi Dr. Shlomo Brody to discuss these questions through the prism of his important new book, Ethics of Our Fighters: A Jewish View on War and Morality.Rabbi Dr. Shlomo Brody is the executive director of Ematai and the Jewish Law Live columnist for the Jerusalem Post. He previously served as the founding director of the Tikvah Overseas Student Institute and co-dean of Tikvah Online Academy, a senior instructor at Yeshivat Hakotel, and as a junior research fellow at the Israel Democracy Institute. A summa cum laude graduate of Harvard College, he received rabbinic ordination from the Israeli Chief Rabbinate, an MA in Jewish philosophy at the Hebrew University, and his PhD from Bar Ilan University Law School, where he continues to serve as a post-doctoral fellow. His first book, A Guide to the Complex: Contemporary Halakhic Debates (Maggid), received a National Jewish Book Award. His new book, Ethics of Our Fighters: A Jewish View on War and Morality, is available for pre-order in the US and will be available in Israel in the coming weeks.Questions? Feedback? Have a topic you'd like to hear discussed?Email us at oraytapodcast@gmail.com and we look forward to "continuing the conversation."Music from "Ashreinu" by Omek HaDavarRecorded in the Old City of Jerusalem at Yeshivat Orayta (orayta.org) | Facebook | Instagram

What Torah sources can we look to for guidance during our current crisis? How should we understand the rise in global anti-semitism and the shocking support for Hamas on some university campuses? In this episode, Rav David Silverstein is joined by Rav Yitzchak Blau to discuss these questions and offer some preliminary thoughts about the evolving situation in Israel.Rabbi Yitzchak Blau is Rosh Yeshiva of Yeshivat Orayta, the author of Fresh Fruit and Vintage Wine: The Ethics and Wisdom of the Aggada, and Tradition's associate editor. He has taught at Yeshivat Hamivtar, Yeshivat Shvilei Hatorah, and the Yeshivah of Flatbush and currently also teaches at Midreshet Lindenbaum. Rabbi Blau has a BA in English Literature from YU, an MA in Medieval Jewish History from Revel, and smicha from RIETS. Rabbi Blau lives in Alon Shevut with his wife and four children.Questions? Feedback? Have a topic you'd like to hear discussed?Email us at oraytapodcast@gmail.com and we look forward to "continuing the conversation."Music from "Ashreinu" by Omek HaDavarRecorded in the Old City of Jerusalem at Yeshivat Orayta (orayta.org) | Facebook | Instagram

What is halakha? Is it just a system of law or also a legal medium to discuss some of Judaism's most weighty religious questions? In this episode, Rav David Silverstein is joined by Professor Chaim Saiman to discuss these issues through the prism of Professor Saiman's important book, Halakha: The Rabbinic Idea of Law.Professor Chaim Saiman is Professor of Law at Villanova Law School, and has served as Gruss Visiting Professor of Talmudic Law at both Harvard Law School and the University of Pennsylvania Law School, a visiting fellow at Princeton University and as a visiting professor at the University of Toronto, Bar-Ilan, Hebrew University and IDC faculties of law. He is the author of Halakhah: The Rabbinic Idea of Law, published by Princeton University Press. Professor Saiman earned his J.D. from Columbia University School of Law, and studied for a number of years at Yeshivat Har-Etzion (Gush) and Yeshivat Kerem B’Yavneh in Israel. He also served as a law clerk to Judge Michael McConnell on the Tenth Circuit Court of Appeals.Questions? Feedback? Have a topic you'd like to hear discussed?Email us at oraytapodcast@gmail.com and we look forward to "continuing the conversation."Music from "Ashreinu" by Omek HaDavarRecorded in the Old City of Jerusalem at Yeshivat Orayta (orayta.org) | Facebook | Instagram

The study of Gemara dominates the daily schedule of most yeshivot. Beyond yeshiva, Daf Yomi has become an international phenomenon with people taking time out of their daily schedules to study a page of Talmud. What is Gemara learning all about? Why is it prioritized over the study of Jewish thought or Tanakh? In this episode, Rav David Silverstein is joined by Rabbi Yehuda Turetsky of Yeshivat Sha'alvim to discuss these questions as well as address the different learning methodologies used to convey the profundity of Gemara learning.Rabbi Yehuda Turetsky serves as a Ram at Yeshivat Sha’alvim, where he teaches Talmud and contemporary Jewish thought. He studied at Yeshiva University and received a B.A. in Psychology, M.S. in Jewish Education, and Semicha as a member of the Wexner Semicha Honors Program. He is also an alumnus of YU’s prestigious Kollel Elyon and currently serves as the associate director of NCSY Kollel. He has given shiurim and presentations throughout North America and has published articles on a wide range of topics, including Talmud, Jewish Education, and the Sociology of the Modern Orthodox community. He resides in Sha’alvim with his wife, Dr. Ilana Turetsky, and their four children.Questions? Feedback? Have a topic you'd like to hear discussed?Email us at oraytapodcast@gmail.com and we look forward to "continuing the conversation."Music from "Ashreinu" by Omek HaDavarRecorded in the Old City of Jerusalem at Yeshivat Orayta (orayta.org) | Facebook | Instagram

After a survey of different approaches to divine providence in the last episode, Rav Binny Freedman joins Rav David Silverstein to discuss what role theology should play in our lives. Why doesn't theology occupy a larger space in contemporary Orthodox discourse? How do we choose an approach amidst conflicting perspectives on God’s involvement in the world? Rabbi Binny Freedman is founding Rosh Yeshiva of Yeshivat Orayta. His proficiency in applying Jewish concepts to contemporary life in a personal and meaningful manner has made him a sought-after speaker and educator around the world. Coming to Israel as a lone soldier in 1982, Rav Binny served as a Company Commander in the Israeli Defense Forces. Rav Binny received his Rabbinic Ordination from the Chief Rabbinate of the State of Israel while studying at Yeshivat Har Etzion under the tutelage of Rav Aharon Lichtenstein, and pursued his BA and MA studies in Education at the Herzog Teacher's College in Israel. He lives with his wife and their four children in Efrat.Questions? Feedback? Have a topic you'd like to hear discussed?Email us at oraytapodcast@gmail.com and we look forward to "continuing the conversation."Music from "Ashreinu" by Omek HaDavarRecorded in the Old City of Jerusalem at Yeshivat Orayta (orayta.org) | Facebook | Instagram

The question of divine providence is one of the most complex questions in Jewish thought, affecting our day-to-day experience of the world. In this episode, Rav David Silverstein is joined by Rabbi Netanel Wiederblank to explore both medieval and modern approaches to understating hashgacha, God’s involvement in the world.Rabbi Netanel Wiederblank is a Maggid Shiur at Yeshiva University where he teaches college students and semikhah students Tanakh, Talmud, Halakha, and Jewish Philosophy at RIETS and MYP. He studied at the Yeshiva of Greater Washington, Kerem B’Yavne, Chevron Yeshiva (Givat Mordechai), Yeshiva University, and RIETS. He is the author of the "Illuminating Jewish Thought” series published by Koren.Questions? Feedback? Have a topic you'd like to hear discussed?Email us at oraytapodcast@gmail.com and we look forward to "continuing the conversation."Music from "Ashreinu" by Omek HaDavarRecorded in the Old City of Jerusalem at Yeshivat Orayta (orayta.org) | Facebook | Instagram

Why is the "Gadol" (great rabbinic figure) so central to many Orthodox communities? Do centrist or liberal Orthodox communities relate differently to Gedolim than their Charedi counterparts? In this episode, Rav David Silverstein is joined by Rav Yitzchak Blau to discuss these questions against the larger background of rabbinic authority in the 21st century.Rabbi Yitzchak Blau is Rosh Yeshiva of Yeshivat Orayta, the author of Fresh Fruit and Vintage Wine: The Ethics and Wisdom of the Aggada, and Tradition's associate editor. He has taught at Yeshivat Hamivtar, Yeshivat Shvilei Hatorah, and the Yeshivah of Flatbush and currently also teaches at Midreshet Lindenbaum. Rabbi Blau has a BA in English Literature from YU, an MA in Medieval Jewish History from Revel, and smicha from RIETS. Rabbi Blau lives in Alon Shevut with his wife and four children.Questions? Feedback? Have a topic you'd like to hear discussed?Email us at oraytapodcast@gmail.com and we look forward to "continuing the conversation."Music from "Ashreinu" by Omek HaDavarRecorded in the Old City of Jerusalem at Yeshivat Orayta (orayta.org) | Facebook | Instagram

How have new technologies changed people’s relationship to rabbinic authority? How have rabbis responded to these challenges? In this episode Rav David Silverstein is joined by Rav Elli Fischer to discuss these questions through the prism of various 21st century rabbinic leaders.Rav Elli Fischer is an independent writer, translator, and rabbi. Previously, he was the OU-JLIC rabbi and campus educator at the University of Maryland. He holds BA and MS degrees from Yeshiva University, rabbinical ordination from Israel’s Chief Rabbinate, and is working toward a doctorate in Jewish History at Tel Aviv University. He is a founding editor of The Lehrhaus, a web magazine of contemporary Jewish thought. His original writing on religion and politics in Israel, the interplay between legal and nonlegal elements of the Talmud, Jewish religious culture, and Central European Jewish History have been widely published. He is the translator of By Faith Alone: The Story of R. Yehuda Amital and the editor of R. Eliezer Melamed’s Peninei Halakha series in English.Questions? Feedback? Have a topic you'd like to hear discussed? Email us at oraytapodcast@gmail.com and we look forward to "continuing the conversation." Music from "Ashreinu" by Omek HaDavarRecorded in the Old City of Jerusalem at Yeshivat Orayta (orayta.org) | Facebook | Instagram

If you've enjoyed our podcast, please consider supporting the Yeshiva's annual scholarship campaign and help us ensure that no student in need of financial help is turned away. Thank you very much!Diaspora poskim are deeply divided about the halakhic status of brain stem death as the definition of halakhic death. Yet in Israel, this is arguably the one issue that unifies almost all rabbis across the ideological spectrum of Religious Zionism. In this episode, Rav David Silverstein is joined by Rabbi Dr. Shlomo Brody to discuss this issue as well as the larger  challenges and opportunities of legislating halakha in the modern state of Israel. Rabbi Dr. Shlomo Brody is the executive director of Ematai and the Jewish Law Live columnist for the Jerusalem Post. He previously served as the founding director of the Tikvah Overseas Student Institute and co-dean of Tikvah Online Academy, a senior instructor at Yeshivat Hakotel, and as a junior research fellow at the Israel Democracy Institute. A summa cum laude graduate of Harvard College, he received rabbinic ordination from the Israeli Chief Rabbinate, an MA in Jewish philosophy at the Hebrew University, and his PhD from Bar Ilan University Law School, where he continues to serve as a post-doctoral fellow. His first book, A Guide to the Complex: Contemporary Halakhic Debates (Maggid), received a National Jewish Book Award. His next book, Judaism Confronts War: Jewish Military Ethics for the 21st Century, is scheduled to be published in both Hebrew and English in early 2024.Questions? Feedback? Have a topic you'd like to hear discussed? Email us at oraytapodcast@gmail.com and we look forward to "continuing the conversation." Music from "Ashreinu" by Omek HaDavarRecorded in the Old City of Jerusalem at Yeshivat Orayta (orayta.org) | Facebook | Instagram

Why isn’t mysticism a more central piece of the contemporary religious experience? In this episode, Rav David Silverstein is joined by Rav Dovid’l Weinberg to explore the theological roots of Jewish mysticism and discuss mysticism’s relevance for the modern Jew.Rabbi Dovid’l Weinberg is an educator, musician, and author. A rebbe at Yeshivat Orayta in the Old City of Yerushalayim, Rav Dovid'l is the author of Birth of the Spoken Word and is currently translating Rav Kook's Oros HaTorah (the first volume, released in December, can be found here). Rav Dovid’l and his wife, Rina, live in Ramot Bet with their three children.Questions? Feedback? Have a topic you'd like to hear discussed? Email us at oraytapodcast@gmail.com and we look forward to "continuing the conversation." Music from "Ashreinu" by Omek HaDavarRecorded in the Old City of Jerusalem at Yeshivat Orayta (orayta.org) | Facebook | Instagram

In the current Israeli government, a distinct form of messianic religious Zionism is prevalent. However, what are the other religious Zionist models? In this episode, Rav David Silverstein is joined by Rav Yitzchak Blau to discuss the strengths and weaknesses of the competing religious Zionist ideologies.Rabbi Yitzchak Blau is Rosh Yeshiva of Yeshivat Orayta, the author of Fresh Fruit and Vintage Wine: The Ethics and Wisdom of the Aggada, and Tradition's associate editor. He has taught at Yeshivat Hamivtar, Yeshivat Shvilei Hatorah, and the Yeshivah of Flatbush and currently also teaches at Midreshet Lindenbaum. Rabbi Blau has a BA in English Literature from YU, an MA in Medieval Jewish History from Revel, and smicha from RIETS. Rabbi Blau lives in Alon Shevut with his wife and four children.Questions? Feedback? Have a topic you'd like to hear discussed? Email us at oraytapodcast@gmail.com and we look forward to "continuing the conversation." Music from "Ashreinu" by Omek HaDavar. Recorded in the Old City of Jerusalem at Yeshivat Orayta (orayta.org).

Why isn’t the study of Mussar a more central component of the Orthodox curriculum? In this episode, Rav David Silverstein is joined by Rav Judah Dardik to discuss his unique Mussar curriculum and how an added focus on the study of Mussar can help create a more refined religious personality.Rabbi Judah Dardik is a Sgan Rosh Yeshiva at Yeshivat Orayta, where he teaches full-time and directs Orayta's adult learning programs and missions. Before making aliyah in 2014, he completed thirteen years as the spiritual and community leader of Beth Jacob Congregation in Oakland, California. He received his BA from Yeshiva University’s Sy Syms School of Business, his Master’s degree from the Azrielli Graduate School of Jewish Education, and his ordination from the Rabbi Isaac Elchanan Theological Seminary (RIETS) of Yeshiva University. He is passionate about Jewish education and welcomes the opportunity to learn with people of all backgrounds and perspectives. He lives in Gush Etzion with his wife Naomi and their six children. He loves hiking, making wine, and playing roller hockey.Questions? Feedback? Have a topic you'd like to hear discussed? Email us at oraytapodcast@gmail.com and we look forward to "continuing the conversation." Music from "Ashreinu" by Omek HaDavar. Recorded in the Old City of Jerusalem at Yeshivat Orayta (orayta.org).