Sourcesheet: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1POj6IVX8oP4DqLc8oAYUNFR8fNhXCJWqwi-K cLAUVc/ Now that we've met Yehudah Halevi in the previous episode, we are ready to dive into his monumental work of Jewish Though, the Kuzari. The main claim of this book is often taken to be a definite proof of the truths of Judaism and its Torah, but what did the book's author think of it? Why, if the book is supposed to prove the truth of "the despised Jewish faith," does it go about this defense in such a strange way? And why would Rabbi Yehudah Halevi himself dismiss the importance of his own masterpiece, claiming it to be nothing more than a response to the claims of a Karaite? In this episode, we take a sophisticated, three-tiered approach to understanding and appreciating this extraordinary book, learn how it fits into its Arabic context, and consider its relevance to the 21st century. For more sheets and other info check out ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://sites.google.com/view/rishonim⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Check out my Substack writing: Shmuel's Substack⁠⁠ Do you want to send me some suggestions? Criticism or corrections? Comments or questions? Contact me at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠[email protected]⁠⁠⁠

Sourcesheet: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1WJ7XoKkEkvWhPRXTwmuHGGyVQkRf2ei58zWBRARp7r8/edit?usp=drive link The episode tackles the first (of five) essays of the great book by R. Yehudah Halevi known as the Kuzari. Building off of the previous episode outlining the book's framing and methodology, we see how this is applied to the primary question of Judaism: why the Jewish people? We take R. Yehudah Halevi's answer to this question seriously, while noting that it may not be representative of mainstream Jewish thought. For more sheets and other info check out ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://sites.google.com/view/rishonim⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Check out my Substack writing: ⁠Shmuel's Substack⁠⁠⁠ Do you want to send me some suggestions? Criticism or corrections? Comments or questions? Contact me at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠[email protected]⁠⁠⁠⁠

Source Sheet: ⁠https://docs.google.com/document/d/1SNyNnVdFnZCoBTyuwf8ocJfCeTRGE7-t8pM-uW0TTpM/edit?usp=share link This episode will discuss: Transitions between the Amoraim, Savoraim, and Geonim The Iggeres (Letter or Epistle) of R. Sherira Gaon Compilation of the Gemara by Amoraim and Savoraim The three “C”s of Talmudic commentary Literary output - and literary lacuna - of the Geonim  Teaching and transmitting Torah in person and through texts  For more source sheets and other info check out ⁠https://sites.google.com/view/rishonim⁠  Do you want to send me some suggestions? Criticism or corrections? Comments or questions? Contact me at [email protected] 

Source sheet: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1YJGHBKD90rKI6t7Yl wgPudTdPUYcmpUpsPS4N7 v84/edit?usp=sharing Rabbi Yehudah Halevi is the fourth of the great Jewish poets from Muslim Spain (al-Andalus), who served as an inspiration for Jews across the centuries through his lyrics as well as by his life story. This pivotal writer left a legacy through his great book on Jewish thought, hundreds of poems, and by his personal example as a man who ventured out to the Land of Israel in his last stage of life. What drove this spiritual giant to turn his back and everyone and everything he loved in Muslim Spain to follow in the footsteps of the prophets? For more sheets and other info check out ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://sites.google.com/view/rishonim⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Do you want to send me some suggestions? Criticism or corrections? Comments or questions? Contact me at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠[email protected]⁠⁠⁠

Sourcesheet: ⁠https://docs.google.com/document/d/1WJ7XoKkEkvWhPRXTwmuHGGyVQkRf2ei58zWBRARp7r8/edit?usp=drive link⁠ The episode continues where the last one left off, discussing the extraordinary work by R. Yehudah Halevi known as the Kuzari. In exploring the second part of this book, we learn how to find God in the world through the history of the Jewish people and their teachings? Throughout, we take up the challenge: "come on, really, the Jews???" For more sheets and other info check out ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://sites.google.com/view/rishonim⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Check out my Substack writing: ⁠⁠Shmuel's Substack⁠⁠⁠⁠ Do you want to send me some suggestions? Criticism or corrections? Comments or questions? Contact me at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠[email protected]⁠⁠⁠⁠

Source Sheet:  ⁠https://docs.google.com/document/d/1RtogU6W81ocniuCG0F3H9Q5lJCuNa-Bji8kvt0v8yqM/edit?usp=sharing⁠ This is a second episode about Rabbeinu Hananel (or "Chananel"), discussing some of his more interesting and influential positions in halakha and philosophy. What did R. Hananel say, what did he believe, and how can his impact be seen on Judaism today? For more source sheets and other info check out ⁠⁠https://sites.google.com/view/rishonim⁠⁠  Do you want to send me some suggestions? Criticism or corrections? Comments or questions? Contact me at ⁠[email protected]⁠ 

Source Sheet:  https://docs.google.com/document/d/1tqpV9 9uyDQiQBpKu5NAUCULz4j3JGbZL8MnC21e6Xg On this episode, we meet Rabbi Nissim of Kairouan. We discuss his works and personality at length, showing his incredible efforts at synthesizing all of rabbinic literature together for generations of students, and also how he sought to make Torah more reasonable in responding to anti-rabbinic critics. Broadening the lens to look at Rabbi Nissim’s historical context, we also try to answer the question: was this man a “Gaon,” a “Rishon,” or both?  For more source sheets and other info check out ⁠⁠https://sites.google.com/view/rishonim⁠⁠ Do you want to send me some suggestions? Criticism or corrections? Comments or questions? Contact me at ⁠[email protected]⁠