Tzarich Iyun — A Podcast from Yeshivat Orayta

Should Jewish Leaders Dialogue with Moderate Muslims? with Rav Yaakov Nagen

Is 'fundamentalist Islam' a misnomer? What Muslim voices authentically represent traditional Islam? In this episode Rav David Silverstein is joined by Rav Yaakov Nagen to discuss these issues as well the larger question of Jewish/Muslim interfaith dialogue. Rabbi Dr. Yakov Nagen is the head of Ohr Torah Stone’s Blickle Institute for Interfaith Dialogue and Beit Midrash for Judaism and Humanity, as well as the Executive Director of the Ohr Torah Interfaith Center. For 25 years, Rabbi Nagen served as a senior educator at Yeshivat Otniel. A prominent advocate of religion as a means for promoting peace, he has been a leading figure in interfaith dialogue, particularly between Judaism and Islam, for two decades. His new book, Ushmo Echad/God Shall Be One, is out in Hebrew [https://korenpub.com/collections/yakov-nagen/products/ushmo-ehad] now and English [https://korenpub.com/collections/yakov-nagen/products/god-shall-be-one] soon. Questions? Feedback? Have a topic you'd like to hear discussed? Email us at oraytapodcast@gmail.com [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 [https://orayta.org/]) | Facebook [https://www.facebook.com/Yeshivat.Orayta] | Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/yeshivatorayta/]

How Is Learning Gemara Religiously Meaningful? A Centrist Orthodox Perspective with Rav Yitzchak Blau

Gemara learning dominates the Centrist Orthodox Yeshiva curriculum. Do Centrist Orthodox Yeshivot approach Gemara differently than their Chareidi counterparts? Are there varied perspectives within the world of Centrist Orthodoxy? In this podcast, Rav David Silverstein is joined by Rav Yitzchak Blau to discuss these questions through the lens of Rav Blau's own experiences in both Chareidi and Centrist Orthodox Yeshivot. 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 [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 [https://orayta.org/]) | Facebook [https://www.facebook.com/Yeshivat.Orayta] | Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/yeshivatorayta/]

How Is Learning Gemara Religiously Meaningful? A Chareidi Perspective with Rav Gavriel Singer

How should we understand the central role of the Talmud Bavli in Chareidi communities? What are the goals of the 'Ivies' of the Yeshiva World? How does intensive focus on the Gemara create a certain student and society? Rav Gavriel Singer pulls back the curtain in conversation with Rav Dovid Silverstein in the Season 3 Premiere of Tzarich Iyun. Rav Gavriel Singer, Rebbe at Yeshiva Orayta, is originally from Philadelphia and currently lives in the Sanhedriya Murchevet neighborhood of Yerushalayim with his family. He studied in various yeshivot spanning from Netiv Aryeh, Mir Yerushalayim and Kollel Ateres Elimelech.  He also published a sefer on Masechet Makkot, Metzius Ish, and served as a Rebbe at Yeshivas Shaar HaChaim. Questions? Feedback? Have a topic you'd like to hear discussed? Email us at oraytapodcast@gmail.com [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 [https://orayta.org/]) | Facebook [https://www.facebook.com/Yeshivat.Orayta] | Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/yeshivatorayta/]

Should We Celebrate the Downfall of Our Enemies? A Special Episode for Pesach with Rav Yitzchak Blau

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 [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 [https://orayta.org/]) | Facebook [https://www.facebook.com/Yeshivat.Orayta] | Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/yeshivatorayta/]

Is Hamas Amalek? A Special Episode for Parshat Zachor with Rabbi Dr. Shlomo Brody

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 [https://ematai.org/]. 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 [https://korenpub.com/products/ethics-of-our-fighters] and Israel [https://korenpub.co.il/collections/%D7%97%D7%93%D7%A9/products/ethics-of-our-fighters]. Questions? Feedback? Have a topic you'd like to hear discussed? Email us at oraytapodcast@gmail.com [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 [https://orayta.org/]) | Facebook [https://www.facebook.com/Yeshivat.Orayta] | Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/yeshivatorayta/]