Classes by Mordechai Dinerman

101

When A London Rabbi Was Accused of Heresy

Dec 16, 2022

57:11

In November 1703, Rabbi David Nieto delivered a controversial sermon at the Bevis Marks Synagogue in London, causing a rift in the local Jewish community. The cause of the feud may have been mundane politics, but it forced a thought-provoking rabbinic responsum about nature, G-d, deism, and pantheism. When A London Rabbi Was Accused of Heresy

102

Between Ashkenaz and Sefard: Medieval Women, Biblical Dena, and the Public Square

Dec 7, 2022

56:37

We can learn about the public presence of women in a given society by examining how various rabbis understood the story of Dina. We’ll witness the difference between Ashkenazic and Sefardic commentaries, between the Tanchuma and Bereishis Rabah, and between Ashkenazic and Sefardic halachic norms. Between Ashkenaz and Sefard: Medieval Women, Biblical Dena, and the Public Square

103

The Meaning of Dreaming: Talmudic Perspectives

Nov 30, 2022

1:02:24

Are our dreams significant? Do they have predictive value? Should we pay heed to their warnings? The Talmud seems to offer contradictory teachings on this subject, and this will lead us toward two classic approaches to this matter. The Meaning of Dreaming: Talmudic Perspectives

104

Liturgical Warfare Among 16th-Century Italian Jews

Nov 23, 2022

1:02:38

As Italian Jews immigrated to the Ottoman Empire during the sixteenth century, many wanted to switch to the Sephardic liturgical style. The question then was whether it was permitted to abandon well-entrenched communal customs—a question that’s very much relevant today. Liturgical Warfare Among 16th-Century Italian Jews

105

Is It Kosher To Elope? Marriage Without Parental Consent

Nov 16, 2022

58:46

Does the mitzvah of honoring parents imply that parents wield halachic control over their children’s marriage? Intriguingly, this question became a factor in the tensions that arose with the advent of the Chasidic movement in the eighteenth century. Is It Kosher To Elope? Marriage Without Parental Consent

106

Friday Night Kiddush Between 6 and 7

Nov 9, 2022

56:56

This class traces the minhag of avoiding the recitation of the Friday night kiddush during the seventh hour after midday. When and why did this custom begin? Friday Night Kiddush Between 6 and 7

107

After A Decade of Barrenness: What Actually Happens

Nov 2, 2022

1:04:38

The Talmud famously rules that a childless couple must divorce after ten years of infertility. Yet, this law has often been overlooked, a reality that goes back many centuries. This class explores how, when, and why this occurred. After A Decade of Barrenness: What Actually Happens

108

The Battle Over Machnisei Rachamim (Part 2)

Sep 21, 2022

55:28

In the previous episode, we witnessed some of the greatest halachic figures waging war against Machnisei Rachamim and a number of other piyutim. In Part 2, we hear the voices of the supporters. The Battle Over Machnisei Rachamim (Part 2)

109

The Battle Over Machnisei Rachamim (Part 1)

Sep 14, 2022

52:59

It’s a beloved piece of liturgy, recited as we begin the new year. But some of the greatest halachic figures waged war against it, suggesting that it expresses quasi-heretical beliefs. In Part 1 we hear the voices of the opponents, and Part 2 will examine the defense. The Battle Over Machnisei Rachamim (Part 1)

110

Buried Alive: The 18th-Century Halachic Debate

Sep 7, 2022

1:03:12

In 1772, the Duke of Mecklenburg decreed that Jews could not bury their dead until three days after death. The Jewish community faced difficult questions about the mitzvah of burial. Buried Alive: The 18th-Century Halachic Debate

111

The Cracow Couple and Rama's Remarkable Responsum

Aug 31, 2022

1:03:29

A controversial wedding ceremony ca. 1550 sheds important light on the inner rabbinic process, the history of Jewish marriage, and the limits of rabbinic law. The Cracow Couple and Rama's Remarkable Responsum

112

The Rebbe Rashab, Zionism, and Expediting the End

Aug 10, 2022

1:02:18

The Rebbe Rashab invoked “dechikas haketz” as one reason to be against Zionism. What are the contours of this prohibition? Does it still apply? The Rebbe Rashab, Zionism, and Expediting the End

113

The Barcelona Disputation: Was Moshiach Born on Tisha B’Av?

Aug 3, 2022

1:06:41

At two medieval disputations, a famous Midrash was invoked to argue that Moshiach had already come. The rabbinic approaches to this Midrash unveil different approaches to Talmudic Aggadah. The Barcelona Disputation: Was Moshiach Born on Tisha B’Av?

114

The Mekashya Mystery

Jul 27, 2022

1:01:17

Tunisian Jews used to refer to Tanach as Mekashya, but few understood why. Fortunately, illuminated medieval Jewish manuscripts can help solve this mystery, revealing a unique perspective on the study of Tanach. The Mekashya Mystery

115

Does Israel Amount to (the Beginnings of) Kibutz Goliyos?

Jul 24, 2022

1:07:27

The Rebbe Rashab addressed this issue when confronted with Zionism, and the Rebbe did the same a few decades later after the State of Israel was established. Does Israel Amount to (the Beginnings of) Kibutz Goliyos?

116

The Day After: Reacting to Moshiach’s Not Coming in Chabad History

Jul 20, 2022

59:34

How have Jewish sages responded when a predicted Messianic time didn’t materialize? Here we focus on this phenomenon within Chabad history. The Day After: Reacting to Moshiach’s Not Coming in Chabad History

117

Predicting the Redemption: What About the Talmudic Prohibition?

Jul 12, 2022

1:00:58

The Talmud tells us to refrain from predicting when Moshiach will come, and Rambam affirms this ruling in his code of law. But Rambam himself, and so many other rabbinic sages, issued messianic predictions. Why? Predicting the Redemption: What About the Talmudic Prohibition?

118

The Dead Sea Scrolls (Part 3): The Philosophical Dispute

Jul 10, 2022

1:02:26

The abundance of name calling in some of the Dead Sea Scrolls exposes diverging worldviews about how halachic interpretation should operate. The Dead Sea Scrolls (Part 3): The Philosophical Dispute

119

Paris 1240: Disputation and Devastation

Jul 6, 2022

1:04:02

Rabbi Yechiel of Paris was forced to defend the Gemara before a Christian tribunal. Despite his courageous efforts, the Talmud was condemned to the flames. Paris 1240: Disputation and Devastation

120

The Dead Sea Scrolls (Part 2): An Alternative Jewish Calendar

Jul 3, 2022

55:49

The Dead Sea Scrolls present a sectarian system for measuring time and celebrating the festivals, and it may help us understand an enigmatic line in our Mishnah. The Dead Sea Scrolls (Part 2): An Alternative Jewish Calendar

121

Gun Control: Talmudic Perspectives

Jun 29, 2022

1:01:54

The Supreme Court recently issued a landmark decision regarding the “right to bear arms.” What does Halachah offer on this topic? Gun Control: Talmudic Perspectives

122

Who Wrote the Dead Sea Scrolls? A Talmudic Approach

Jun 26, 2022

56:36

The first of a three-part series analyzing how the Dead Sea Scrolls can deepen our understanding of the Mishnah and Talmud. Who Wrote the Dead Sea Scrolls? A Talmudic Approach

123

The Scandal of the Missing Line: Allegations of Textual Corruption against Chabad

Jun 22, 2022

1:05:36

The Tzemach Tzedek wrote about the proper brachah to make on a talis katan, but some have alleged that we tampered with his text. The Scandal of the Missing Line: Allegations of Textual Corruption against Chabad

124

The Curious Case of the Desert Dead

Jun 19, 2022

57:43

The Talmud famously recounts how one of its sages discovered the “dead of the desert.” Drawing on a range of sources, the Rebbe explained this Talmudic tale with symbolic depth and personal relevance. The Curious Case of the Desert Dead

125

Remembering and Forgetting: The History of Chof Sivan

Jun 15, 2022

1:00:01

This day has a sad history of persecution, but also an interesting tendency to be taken seriously at first, only to peter out after some time. Remembering and Forgetting: The History of Chof Sivan

126

The Rebbe’s Reshimas Hamenorah: An Overview

Jun 12, 2022

1:00:04

Rabbi Elazar and Rabbi Yehudah (Rebbi) debated how the furniture in the Beis Hamikdash was situated, and this reflected their philosophies about life. The Rebbe’s Reshimas Hamenorah: An Overview

127

Spelling Hashem’s Name in Hebrew Manuscripts

Jun 8, 2022

1:02:52

We are used to seeing two Yudin as a substitute for G-d’s ineffable name. But it wasn’t always that way. Spelling Hashem’s Name in Hebrew Manuscripts

128

Shavuos Art, and the Strange History of Akdamus

Jun 1, 2022

1:14:47

By examining the liturgy and art in a tiny medieval machzor, we learn how hearing the Aseres Hadibros was experienced seven hundred years ago, and how it's both similar and different today. Shavuos Art, and the Strange History of Akdamus

129

Shavuos Through the Lens of Historic Jewish Art

May 29, 2022

1:08:25

Why animal heads replace human heads; why the luchos morph into a Torah scroll; and the origins of the areinfirenish and dairy on Shavuos. Shavuos Through the Lens of Historic Jewish Art

130

Explaining the Holocaust? Multiple Approaches by the Frierdiker Rebbe and Rebbe

May 25, 2022

1:06:31

Many assume that "explaining" and "Holocaust" are never to be seen in the same sentence. How did we get here? And was it always this way? Explaining the Holocaust? Multiple Approaches by the Frierdiker Rebbe and Rebbe

131

Mishneh Torah: A Biography

May 22, 2022

1:09:19

We can document how the Mishneh Torah was drafted, finalized, updated, disseminated, illuminated, critiqued, printed, and censored. Mishneh Torah: A Biography

132

The Cairo Genizah: Shedding Light on the Life and Works of the Rambam

May 18, 2022

56:21

The Cairo Geniza unveils much about Rambam’s communal activism, teaching, authorship, lost works, and overall life. The Cairo Genizah: Shedding Light on the Life and Works of the Rambam

133

A Jewish Guide to Horoscopes and Astrology (Part 3)

May 15, 2022

59:06

The final class of the series, in which we introduce Rambam’s position, Chasidic sources, and wrap up the topic with the key takeaways. A Jewish Guide to Horoscopes and Astrology (Part 3)

134

Overturning Roe v. Wade: Good for the Jews?

May 11, 2022

1:14:57

A leaked draft suggests that the highest court of the land is primed to overturn one of the most controversial cases in American history. It’s time to revisit what Halachah has to say on the topic of abortion and the beginning of life. Overturning Roe v. Wade: Good for the Jews?

135

A Jewish Guide to Horoscopes and Astrology (Part 2)

May 8, 2022

42:09

Continuing to explore astrology from a Jewish perspective. What are the theological problems with accepting astrology and how did the rabbis address this? We will discover a range of opinions about how easy or difficult it is to subvert an astrological outcome. A Jewish Guide to Horoscopes and Astrology (Part 2)

136

A Jewish Guide to the Evil Eye

May 4, 2022

1:06:07

The background and origins of red strings, kinora, and “poo-poo”; Rambam’s position on the matter; and two models for how Jews understood this mysterious phenomenon. A Jewish Guide to the Evil Eye

137

A Jewish Guide to Horoscopes and Astrology (Part 1)

May 1, 2022

58:21

Continuing our series of classes on Judaism and the paranormal, this class begins a three-part deep dive into the topic of astrology. As with all of these mysterious topics, two divergent pathways emerge. A Jewish Guide to Horoscopes and Astrology (Part 1)

138

A Jewish Guide to Demons and Spirits

Apr 27, 2022

59:35

Do demons exist? Did they ever exist? Is adultery with a demon considered adultery? (Yes, poskim addressed that question.) Jewish sources are not of one voice on this topic. A Jewish Guide to Demons and Spirits

139

Blatant Disregard of a Torah Law? On the Prohibition Against Settling in Egypt

Apr 18, 2022

1:01:32

Some of the greatest Torah sages lived in Egypt even as the Talmud ruled that this was forbidden. Over the years, numerous justifications have been provided. Which will resonate with you? Blatant Disregard of a Torah Law? On the Prohibition Against Settling in Egypt

140

Dominating Wives, Suffering, and Reincarnation: The Debate About Gilgul and It’s Connection to Pesach

Apr 13, 2022

1:00:01

While the kabbalists embraced the concept of reincarnation, other rabbis were skeptical. What lies at the root of this dispute? And how did the kabbalists address the various challenges raised about this doctrine? Dominating Wives, Suffering, and Reincarnation: The Debate About Gilgul and It’s Connection to Pesach

141

The Blood Libel and Talmudic Censorship

Apr 10, 2022

58:30

Since ancient times, Jews have been falsely accused of killing non-Jews for ritual purposes. In medieval Europe, beginning in the twelfth century, this was often accompanied by accusations that Jews used their victims’ blood to bake matzah for the Jewish holiday of Passover. This ridiculous but deadly lie would eventually lead to subtle Talmudic Censorship. The Blood Libel and Talmudic Censorship

142

The Old, the New, the Forgotten: Halachah and Minhag In Haggadah Art

Apr 6, 2022

58:47

Medieval illuminated Haggadahs shed light on how the observance of the past was both similar to and different from the present. Taking this journey is an excellent way to review some of the laws and customs of Pesach. The Old, the New, the Forgotten: Halachah and Minhag In Haggadah Art

143

Finders Keepers? Halachic Implications From Tzaraas In the Home

Apr 3, 2022

56:38

Every so often we hear of someone who is blessed with a true windfall. In such instances, we often find multiple parties claiming a stake in the bonanza. How do we determine ownership when there are conflicting claims to life’s valued surprises? Finders Keepers? Halachic Implications From Tzaraas In the Home

144

Evolution of the Haggadah: A Pictorial History, from the Cairo Genizah, to the Medieval Art Workshop, to the Modern Printing Press

Mar 30, 2022

1:01:09

The Story of the Haggadah is synonymous with the story of the Jewish people. Observe how this most famous Jewish liturgical work has evolved in its appearance from one generation to the next. Yes, things do change, but they also stay the same. Evolution of the Haggadah: A Pictorial History, from the Cairo Genizah, to the Medieval Art Workshop, to the Modern Printing Press

145

Kosher Pig? Analyzing a Mysterious Midrash (Part 2)

Mar 27, 2022

50:59

Continuing to explore whether there can ever be a time when mitzvos are suspended, and how this relates to the mysterious teaching that the pig will one day become kosher. Kosher Pig? Analyzing a Mysterious Midrash (Part 2)

146

The Letter and Spirit of the Law vis-a-vis Imitation Products

Mar 23, 2022

57:40

Is it appropriate for a Jew to eat kosher imitation bacon, crab, or shrimp? Is this undermining the spirit of Kashrus? Central to the contemporary discussion is a fascinating Talmudic passage about a conversation between Yalta and Rav Nachman, which deserves analysis and exploration.  The Letter and Spirit of the Law vis-a-vis Imitation Products

147

Kosher Pig? Analyzing a Mysterious Midrash (Part 1)

Mar 20, 2022

59:47

There’s a well-known tradition that it will be permissible for Jews to consume the meat of a pig when Moshiach comes. What is the source for this teaching and what is its logic? Can there ever be a time when mitzvos are suspended? There are multiple approaches to these questions. Kosher Pig? Analyzing a Mysterious Midrash (Part 1)

148

Purim Through the Lens of Historic Jewish Art

Mar 16, 2022

1:11:13

The Jews throughout the ages who employed art to depict the Purim story left us a legacy rife with messaging. Synagogue walls, biblical manuscripts, and medieval machzorim can teach us a lot about what Purim used to mean and what it can still mean today. Purim Through the Lens of Historic Jewish Art

149

Purim Class - The Manos Halevi by Rabbi Shlomo Alkabetz: Overview and Highlights

Mar 13, 2022

57:45

One of the most important commentaries on Megilas Esther was authored by Rabbi Shlomo Halevi Alkabetz (d. 1576), the famed author of Lecha Dodi. We explore eight memorable teachings from Manos Halevi and examine how they are cited and explained in Chabad sources. Purim Class - The Manos Halevi by Rabbi Shlomo Alkabetz: Overview and Highlights

150

Rabbinic Police Powers, Love and Hate, and Stern Censorship: Insights from Newly Discovered Passages of the Alter Rebbe’s Shulchan Aruch

Mar 9, 2022

56:02

The Czarist regime forbade rabbinical courts from employing coercive measures and adopted policies to promote assimilation. This led to the censoring of Jewish texts, and a recent discovery has shown that this also affected the Alter Rebbe’s Shulchan Aruch. Rabbinic Police Powers, Love and Hate, and Stern Censorship: Insights from Newly Discovered Passages of the Alter Rebbe’s Shulchan Aruch 

Classes by Mordechai Dinerman

שיעורים מהרב מרדכי דינרמן