JUDAISM DEMYSTIFIED | A Guide for Today's Perplexed: Confronting the Challenges of This Generation

In this episode, Dr. Yael Ziegler shares her thoughtful and layered approach to the study of Tanakh. Known for her deep literary readings and her commitment to both peshat and the broader interpretive tradition, she explains how elements like structure, repetition, and intertextuality shape her analysis of the biblical text. We explore her perspective on Midrash—not as a rewriting of the narrative, but as a sophisticated form of interpretation. Hazal, she explains, were keen readers of both peshat and derash, and even midrashim that appear far from the plain meaning often reflect a deep sensitivity to language, themes, and textual echoes found elsewhere in Tanakh. These interpretive moves open up new layers of meaning while remaining anchored in the biblical text. Dr. Ziegler illustrates this approach through striking examples involving Rachel and Leah, Moshe, Eliyahu, and more. She also reflects on the role of classical commentators like Rashi, Ibn Ezra, Radak, and Ramban, pointing out that these thinkers were highly attuned literary readers—even without the benefit of the modern tools we rely on today. Their insights continue to offer profound guidance in how we read and engage with Tanakh. Toward the end of the episode, Dr. Ziegler briefly touches on her book Ruth: From Alienation to Monarchy, and how it exemplifies her broader methodology: combining rigorous textual analysis with a deep respect for tradition. This conversation offers a window into a kind of Tanakh study that is both intellectually grounded and deeply rooted in the interpretive legacy of our tradition.

---*This episode is dedicated to the refua shelema of our dear friend Yaakov ben Haya Sarah Malakh and to the neshama of Meir ben Moshe a'h — Abdolrahim Ilian, the late father of our dear friend, Rod Ilian.

---• Bio: Dr. Yael Ziegler is the Rosh Batei Midrash and Academic Director of Matan and an Assistant Professor in Tanakh at Herzog College. She received her BA from Stern College and an MA and Ph.D. in Bible at Bar Ilan University. Dr. Ziegler has lectured widely on various Tanakh topics in Israel, the United States, Canada, South Africa, Australia, and Europe. Dr. Ziegler is the author of Promises to Keep: The Oath in Biblical Narrative and Ruth: From Alienation to Monarchy, which has been translated into Hebrew. Her book: Lamentations: Faith in a Turbulent World was released in June, 2021 and is currently being translated into Hebrew. She is now working on a book on Exodus.

---Speaker's Resources• Get her books here: https://www.amazon.com/stores/author/B001JOMV9O/allbooks?ingress=0&visitId=ac94d9f2-8a22-4bf3-b6d2-c69c11e40020&ref_=sr_ntt_srch_lnk_1&ccs_id=c22bbbf3-ea51-4a71-84f2-c838544a8a2e

---• Welcome to JUDAISM DEMYSTIFIED: A PODCAST FOR THE PERPLEXED | Co-hosted by Benjy & Benzi | Thank you to...Super Patron: Jordan Karmily, Platinum Patron: Craig Gordon, Rod Ilian, Gold Patrons: Dovidchai Abramchayev, Lazer Cohen, Travis Krueger, Vasili Volkoff, Vasya, Silver Patrons: Ellen Fleischer, Daniel Maksumov, Rabbi Pinny Rosenthal, Fred & Antonio, Jeffrey Wasserman, and Jacob Winston! Please SUBSCRIBE to this YouTube Channel and hit the BELL so you can get alerted whenever new clips get posted, thank you for your support!

In this episode, we’re joined by Rabbi Menachem Leibtag, a leading educator in the Gush (Yeshivat Har Etzion) Tanakh methodology—a literary-contextual approach to the study of Tanakh that emphasizes peshat, structure, and thematic development, while reading the text in its historical and narrative context. Rabbi Leibtag lays out the foundations of this method and responds to some of the critiques raised in our previous conversations with J.J. Kimche and Rabbi Yaakov Beasley. We explore concerns that anchoring the Torah in its historical setting may risk weakening its eternal relevance, versus the argument that understanding the text in its original context deepens, rather than diminishes, its meaning. We also examine the tension between drawing out literary structure and preserving the emotional and theological rawness of the text. Another critique addressed is the worry that modern readers—armed with more information and systematic tools—can generate ḥiddushim (novel interpretations) that feel out of bounds to traditionalists, particularly when such ideas were not raised by classical commentators. In contrast, advocates argue that these insights represent a continuation of the interpretive process rather than a break from it. Rabbi Leibtag offers a thoughtful and compelling case for the method’s relevance today—rooted in tradition, informed by literary tools, and committed to making Tanakh learning more engaging, rigorous, and meaningful for the modern student.*This episode is dedicated to the refua shelema of our dear friend Yaakov ben Haya Sarah Malakh and to the neshama of Meir ben Moshe a'h — Abdolrahim Ilian, the late father of our dear friend, Rod Ilian. • Bio: Rabbi Menachem Leibtag, an internationally acclaimed bible scholar and pioneer of Jewish Education on the internet, is well known in the Jewish community for his essays on the weekly Bible portion. His vibrant thematic-analytical approach blends the methods of modern academic scholarship with traditional Jewish approaches to the Biblical text. He is best known for his ability to teach students how to study rather than simply read Biblical passages. As his essays focus on meta-themes in the Bible, his readership has expanded to students of the Bible from all religions and walks of life. In Israel, Rabbi Leibtag teaches at Yeshivat Har Etzion, Matan, Yeshivat Shaalavim, Midreshet Lindenbaum, and at MTVA. He also routinely lectures around the globe, primarily as a Scholar in Residence in communities in North America; and is a regular guest lecturer for students at universities such as Columbia, Harvard, Princeton, NYU, Penn, and Brandeis.• Read one of his essays here: https://www.amazon.com/Torah-MiEtzion-Yeshivat-Har-Etzion/dp/1613290063• Welcome to JUDAISM DEMYSTIFIED: A PODCAST FOR THE PERPLEXED | Co-hosted by Benjy & Benzi | Thank you to...Super Patron: Jordan Karmily, Platinum Patron: Craig Gordon, Rod Ilian, Gold Patrons: Dovidchai Abramchayev, Lazer Cohen, Travis Krueger, Vasili Volkoff, Vasya, Silver Patrons: Ellen Fleischer, Daniel Maksumov, Rabbi Pinny Rosenthal, Fred & Antonio, Jeffrey Wasserman, and Jacob Winston! Please SUBSCRIBE to this YouTube Channel and hit the BELL so you can get alerted whenever new clips get posted, thank you for your support!

In this episode, we sit down with Jessie Fischbein, author of 'Infertility in the Bible: How the Matriarchs Changed Their Fate; How You Can Too.' Jessie’s book stands out for its informal, accessible style and its ability to resonate with readers beyond just Jewish or theistic audiences. We discuss what inspired her to write it and how readers struggling with infertility have responded. We also dive into her rational approach to prayer, addressing a common struggle—why pray if God is unchanging? Jessie clarifies what prayer truly is and how it differs from common misconceptions. Exploring biblical narratives, we examine how emotions played a critical role in fertility, from Leah and Rachel’s sibling rivalry to Hannah’s prayers. Jessie shares insights on the connection between emotions, prayer, and transformation, offering lessons that couples facing infertility can apply in their own lives. Finally, we discuss divine intervention and personal agency. Jessie unpacks the Torah’s view on providence and how individuals can actively work on themselves to reshape their path. Don’t miss this thought-provoking conversation!

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• Bio: Whenever Jessie Fischbein visits a new community, she hopes she will get the privilege to learn Torah with them. Jessie taught high school for over twenty years in yeshiva day schools, and she homeschools her children, giving her a unique perspective on Jewish education and learning disabilities. She is the author of the book Infertility in the Bible, about how our Matriarchs handled their challenges and what that means for us, and the book Scandals in the Bible, about some of the most challenging and difficult to understand stories in Tanach. Jessie believes that the Torah's wisdom is eternally relevant and fun to learn and strives to share that wherever she goes.

---• Welcome to JUDAISM DEMYSTIFIED: A PODCAST FOR THE PERPLEXED | Co-hosted by Benjy & Benzi | Thank you to...Super Patron: Jordan Karmily, Platinum Patron: Craig Gordon, Rod Ilian, Gold Patrons: Dovidchai Abramchayev, Lazer Cohen, Travis Krueger, Vasili Volkoff, Vasya, Silver Patrons: Ellen Fleischer, Daniel Maksumov, Rabbi Pinny Rosenthal, Fred & Antonio, Jeffrey Wasserman, and Jacob Winston! Please SUBSCRIBE to this YouTube Channel and hit the BELL so you can get alerted whenever new clips get posted, thank you for your support!

As our 'Getting to Know the Rishonim' series continues, we explore the towering figure of Rashi with Rabbi Dr. Ephraim Kanarfogel, one of the foremost scholars of medieval Jewish thought. French Jewry produced a remarkable corpus of Torah commentators—from Rashi to Rashbam, Bechor Shor, Rav Yosef Kara, and Hizkuni. What makes this school of biblical interpretation unique, and is there a common thread in their methodologies? We also examine the process by which Rashi’s Torah commentary achieved a near-canonical status—how early did this happen, and why? One of the most debated aspects of Rashi’s legacy is his relationship with Peshuto Shel Mikra. While Rashi famously states that his goal is to explain the simple meaning of the text, he frequently incorporates Aggadah. How should we understand his approach to peshat and his use of Midrash? Are peshat and aggadah fundamentally intertwined in his conception of biblical interpretation? Finally, we discuss whether the way Rashi is studied today aligns with how he originally intended his commentary to be understood. Join us for a fascinating deep dive into Rashi’s methodology, influence, and lasting legacy.

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• Bio: Rabbi Dr. Ephraim Kanarfogel is the E. Billi Ivry University Professor of Jewish History, Literature and Law at Yeshiva University, where he teaches and directs doctoral dissertations at the Bernard Revel Graduate School of Jewish Studies. He researches the fields of medieval and early modern Jewish intellectual history and rabbinic literature. Rabbi Kanarfogel received his PhD from Yeshiva University’s Bernard Revel Graduate School of Jewish Studies and his rabbinical ordination from the Rabbi Isaac Elchanan Theological Seminary. He is the author or editor of nine books and nearly 100 articles, and is a winner of the National Jewish Book Award, the Association for Jewish Studies’ Jordan Schnitzer Book Prize, and the International Book Award sponsored by the Goldstein-Goren Center for Jewish Thought at Ben-Gurion University of the Negev.

• Welcome to JUDAISM DEMYSTIFIED: A PODCAST FOR THE PERPLEXED | Co-hosted by Benjy & Benzi | Thank you to...Super Patron: Jordan Karmily, Platinum Patron: Craig Gordon, Gold Patrons: Dovidchai Abramchayev, Lazer Cohen, Travis Krueger, Vasili Volkoff, Rod Ilian, Silver Patrons: Ellen Fleischer, Daniel Maksumov, Rabbi Pinny Rosenthal, Fred & Antonio, Jeffrey Wasserman, and Jacob Winston! Please SUBSCRIBE to this YouTube Channel and hit the BELL so you can get alerted whenever new clips get posted, thank you for your support!

In this episode, Rabbi David Wolpe joins us for a thought-provoking conversation about the challenges and opportunities facing the Jewish people today. In the wake of October 7th, intra-faith dialogue is as critical as interfaith dialogue. The Jewish community must find ways to foster understanding, break down barriers, and build unity among diverse perspectives. Rabbi Wolpe reflects on the enduring influence of Maimonides, whose teachings continue to resonate across Jewish movements and explores how his philosophy shapes modern Jewish thought. We discuss the evolution of New Atheism, from Christopher Hitchens to Alex O’Connor, and what this shift means for conversations about faith within the Jewish context. The conversation also delves into culturally religious figures like Dennis Prager and Jordan Peterson, examining whether a meaningful religious message can be upheld without traditional observance. Rabbi Wolpe addresses the hardest questions raised by atheists—about evil, belief, and God’s hiddenness—and shares his vision for making faith relevant and compelling in a skeptical world. This episode challenges us to think deeply about faith, unity, and the future of Judaism. Don’t miss this essential conversation.

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• Bio: Named The Most Influential Rabbi in America by Newsweek and one of the 50 Most Influential Jews in the World  by The Jerusalem Post, and twice named one of the 500 Most Influential People in Los Angeles by the Los Angeles Business Journal, David Wolpe is the Max Webb Emeritus Rabbi of Sinai Temple. He serves as the ADL’s inaugural rabbinic fellow and a scholar in residence at the Maimonides Fund. Rabbi Wolpe has taught at Harvard, the Jewish Theological Seminary, the American Jewish University, Hunter College, and UCLA. Rabbi Wolpe has published widely, including in The New York Times, Los Angeles Times, Washington Post, Time, Newsweek and The Atlantic. He has been featured on The Today Show, Face the Nation, ABC This Morning, and CBS This Morning as well as series on PBS, A&E, History Channel, and Discovery Channel, and has engaged in widely watched public debates with Christopher Hitchens, Sam Harris, Richard Dawkins, Steven Pinker and many others about religion and its place in the world. Rabbi Wolpe is the author of eight books, including the national bestseller Making Loss Matter: Creating Meaning in Difficult Times (Riverhead). His latest is titled David, the Divided Heart (Yale U Press). It was a finalist for the National Jewish Book Awards, and has been optioned for a movie by Warner Bros.---• Welcome to JUDAISM DEMYSTIFIED: A PODCAST FOR THE PERPLEXED | Co-hosted by Benjy & Benzi | Thank you to...Super Patron: Jordan Karmily, Platinum Patron: Craig Gordon, Gold Patrons: Dovidchai Abramchayev, Lazer Cohen, Travis Krueger, Vasili Volkoff, Rod Ilian, Silver Patrons: Ellen Fleischer, Daniel Maksumov, Rabbi Pinny Rosenthal, Fred & Antonio, Jeffrey Wasserman, and Jacob Winston! Please SUBSCRIBE to this YouTube Channel and hit the BELL so you can get alerted whenever new clips get posted, thank you for your support!