Collection
At Madlik we light a spark or shed some light on a Jewish Text or Tradition. Created by Geoffrey Stern, an ex-Yeshiva student and life-long student of the Torah along with Rabbi Adam Mintz; the premier orthodox conversion Rabbi, we publish the Madlik Disruptive Torah Podcast on your favorite podcast platform, on Youtube and on Substack.
madlik.substack.com/
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Shall your Brothers go to war without you?
Parshat Matot - With special guest Agamit Gelb, Vice President of Mothers on the Frontline and host of an Israeli Podcast for Mothers of soldiers, we explore the Torah's treatment of the Tribes of Reuven and Gad's request not to join the Israelite army.
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Jew as Other
Parshat Balak - In this iconic narrative of how the non-Jew sees the Jew, we explore the myth of Otherness or the Jew as an idea in the Modern and Post-Modern world.
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Living Legacy
Parshat Pinchas - An innocuous reference to Serah, the only granddaughter amongst Jacob’s 53 referenced grandsons leads the Rabbis to ascribe to this woman immortality and make of her an example of a living legend. We explore those who touched those who touched our past.
Geoffrey Stern62 ViewsJuly 12, 2025Parashat Pinchas,Serah
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Haredim Enlist!
Parshat Bamidbar - This parsha, called Numbers in English, starts with the headcount of all males over 20 who are obligated to serve in the army. We explore the texts from the perspective of those so called "ultra-Orthodox" who claim exemption from serving in the Israeli army.
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Not in your Life
Parshat Chukat - It is almost a cliche that Judaism rejects a cult of death and a celebrates life. We explore the Biblical and Ancient Near Eastern sources for this radical approach to mortality and man's search for the heroic.
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Arguing the Truth
Parshat Korach - According to Avot, disputes such as Korach will not endure. We take this opportunity to speak with Mark Friedman about his recently published book which celebrates the Torah's Liberal values and associated commitment to disputation, pluralism and relative truth.
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A Different Spirit
Parshat Sh'lach - We revisit the tale of the Biblical Scouts, this time focusing on Caleb ben Yefuneh who, louder than Joshua countered the reservations of the scouts and had a "different spirit".
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Twilight Time
Parshat Beha'alotcha - The Israelites celebrate their first Passover, we are told, at twilight. We argue that Judaism has a focus, maybe fixation on the liminal moments of twilight and the ambiguity and disorientation experienced during this daily transition.
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The Grasshopper Mentality and the New Jew
Parshat Sh'lach - The Biblical Spies looked like grasshoppers to themselves and so they imagined in the eyes of others. We review Rabbinic and later Zionist texts as we explore the pitfalls of a Slave and Ghetto mentality up until today.
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Wanderlust
Parshat Sh'lach - The so-called Biblical Spies are actually not characterized as undercover agents but rather as tourists or in Hebrew; Turim. Broadcasting live from Italy, we take this opportunity to explore the significant impact that journey has played in defining the Jew.
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The Hanukah Dilemma – The Birth of Judaism
How the Rabbis stole Hanukah and gave Judaism a new life…….
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Rashi, Women & Wine
Parshat Nasso - Join us as we read the text of the weekly portion through the eyes of the iconic Torah Commentator; Rashi. Keep in mind that Rashi was the proud father of four daughters (no sons) and had a day job as a vintner. Did this affect his treatment of the Sotah (Unfaithful Wife) and the sober nazirite? Grab a glass of wine and let's discuss. L'chaim!
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The First Fruits of Israeli Judaism
Shavuot – A conversation with Eran Yarkoni, CEO of The Shitim Institute about the fascinating story about the renewal of the Bikkurim ceremonies in the 1920s in Israel in the Jezreel Valley with powerful cultural and historical significance resonating until today.
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Thank the Donkey of the Messiah
Parsha Vaera - The Rabbis learn from Moses the importance of Hakarta HaTov; recognizing good and showing gratitude, even to inanimate objects. We explore this character trait as it relates to personal conduct and current Israeli politics.
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Blind, Deaf, and Chosen
Parshat Emor - For the second parsha in a row, the Torah mentions the blind and the deaf. We use this as an opportunity to explore the Torah's perspective on the visually and hearing impaired and to interview two Israelis experts dedicated to serving this community.
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You are what you eat, or are you?
Parshat Shemini - While Passover celebrates freedom, it does it with a restrictive diet. The Book of Leviticus introduces the Kosher diet and gives us an opportunity to explore how food can uplift, unite, inspire, delight but also disgust, divide and impoverish.
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The Politics of LOVE
Parshat Achrei Mot-Kedoshim - Love your Neighbor as Yourself, often viewed through the lens of Christianity which popularized it and not through Leviticus where it originated. We fix that flaw with the help of Shlomo Riskin, Shai Held and John Rawls' Theory of Justice as Fairness
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The Second Sex
Parshat Tazria-Metzora - The Book of Leviticus introduces the laws of personal purity with the laws of childbirth and we explore the unique perspective that the Hebrew Bible and Rabbinic sources have on gender and sex.
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A New Meaning of Matzah
Parshat Vayikra - Leviticus opens its treatment of the sacrifices with the meal offering of unleavened cakes. The Rabbis ascribe the showcasing of this simple gift to the purity of intent of the poor and we use it to add a new perspective on the iconic start to our Seder.
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The Freedom Seder: A Radical Midrash on the Haggadah
We explore Arthur Waskow's FREEDOM SEDER Haggadah, placing it into context and suggesting Rabbinic sources. We discover that it is far more nuanced and complex then radical progressives would have us believe and it is too rooted in Rabbinic texts for traditionalists to ignore.
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