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/Sheets
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American Jews and the Transformation of Israeli JudaismParshat Vayishlach - As Yaakov returns to the land of Israel, carrying with him all that he has gained from his exile, we invite Adam Ferziger to discuss his book: Agents of Change - American Jews and the Transformation of Israeli Judaism
Connected Through AramaicParshat Vayetzei - Like the Rosetta Stone the Torah provides a Aramaic translation for Jacob's Gal-Ed treaty stone. Wit our guest Shadi Khalloul we explore the shared language, culture and impact of this unique language.
Geoffrey Stern•81 Views•November 20, 2025•Vayetzei,Aram,The Hebrew Language,Languages, Aramaic,Christianity
Trickery or EvolutionParshat Toldot - Rather than excuse or explain away the troubling aspects of Jacob stealing the birthright, we ask why the Torah chose to portray the third patriarch in this manner.
Sarah and HerStoryParshat Chayei Sara -We talk with Wendy Zierler a scholar dedicated to feminist midrash who has recently published a book on Hebrew Poetry. We explore a feminist Midrashic approach to Sarah and to get a taste of what Hebrew Poetry has to teach us about our matriarchs.
Lost & Found in TranslationParshat Toldot - Isaac and Jacob choose brides from Aram. Aramaic is the chosen language of the Rabbis and the lingua franca of antiquity. Why is Laban vilified and should we slander or offer thanks to the Arameans?
God's Gracious RuseParshat Beshalach - God leads the Jews on the scenic (long) route to the Promised Land and the classical commentators wonder why. All of them find a pedagogic approach but their conclusions are diverse and in some cases, startling!
Geoffrey Stern•1938 Views•January 11, 2022•Perpelexed,Moreh Nevuchim,Guide for the Perplexed,Confused,40 Years in the Desert,Wandering
EnoughParshat Vaetchanan - Moses pleads with God to cross the Jordan into the Promised Land. God is cross with Moses. When should we ask for more? When do we ask for too much? That is the question.
For Argument’s Sake: Nobody Wants ThisParshat Vayera - We explore the overt and covert friction and conflict in the narratives of the prediction of a child to Sarah, the trial of Sodom and the Binding of Isaac. We view it through the lens of texts and a tradition which embraces dispute.
Geoffrey Stern•127 Views•November 2, 2025•Vayera,Akeda,Abraham and Sodom,Abraham and Sarah,Arguing,Arguing With God
Aliya - Then and NowParshat Lech L'Cha - We use the narrative of Abraham's Aliyah to Canaan as an opportunity to talk with Noah Efron, a progressive American who made aliya in the 80's, to share his story and insight.
Unbinding IsaacParshat Vayera - We look at the Binding of Isaac and wonder whether Abraham passed or failed this test. What possible lessons are to be learnt from this narrative other than blind faith and obedience. Finally, we are puzzled why Abraham confronts God over Sodom and confronts Sarah over sending away Ishmael but remains silent when it comes to sacrificing his son.
Geoffrey Stern•1694 Views•November 9, 2022•Abraham,Child Sacrifice,Abraham and Sodom,Akeda,Kiddush Hashem,Martyrdom,Faith,Obedience
Security and the Art of TranslationParshat Noach - We are joined by Yigal Carmon who uses translation to bridge the gap between what our enemies say and what they really mean in order to prevent catastrophe and provide hope for the future.
Abraham's Epic Journey and our OwnParshat Lech Lecha - We explore various ways of viewing Abraham's epic journey and how it reflects our own.
The Philistinians and the HebrewsParshat Toldot - Are we defined by our names or by the stories we tell? We explore Parashat Toldot, diving into the intricate relationships between the Philistines and ancient Israelites "up until today." Join Geoffrey Stern and Rabbi Adam Mintz in a conversation that highlights the melting pot of cultures in ancient Israel. We reveal that the Philistines, like the Hittites and Hebrews, were newcomers to the land and for the most part contributed culturally and integrated well. When friction arose, they willingly separated and made agreements that showcased mutual recognition and trust. In a week that the 2024 cease fire between Israel and Lebanon is consummated and we in the US celebrate Thanksgiving we wonder what lessons from the past we can take to guide us in these challenging times.
A Different SpiritParshat 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".
Radical Disruption and the Birth of FaithParshat Lech L'cha - We wake up one morning and our world is in chaos. We do the most radical thing that a man can do. We leave our home, our family and our prior beliefs and we leave. Today, we follow a founder of the Abrahamic Faiths as he makes his move and we find inspiration.
In the Image of God and ManParasha Bereshit - We interview Tomer Persico, author of "In God's Image" about the meaning and impact that this unique idea had and continues to have on the intellectual history of Western Civilization and the rest of the world.
Geoffrey Stern•206 Views•October 11, 2025•Comparative Religion,Bereshit,Image of God,Christianity,Universalism,Human Rights
What does Sukkot Really Mean?Sukkot - Ancient holidays were repurposed by the Israelite religion to commemorate the Exodus and Sukkot appears to be the most natural. The Torah itself connects the temporary booths of the Fall harvest with the temporary boots of the migrating Israelite tribes .. or not
Aging as a CommunityParshat Vayeilech - Moses describes the debilitating infirmities of old age and we explore care for the elderly in the Bible, Rabbinic Texts and up into the present.
The Words of My MouthParshat Ha'Azinu - If they are anything, the High Holidays are days of prayer and liturgy. We are struck that the introduction to Moses' penultimate swan song begins with terms and verses that have been adopted to introduce our Prayer and so we explore the dilemma of Prayer.
Geoffrey Stern•270 Views•September 27, 2025•Amidah,Kavanah,Ha'azinu,If It Be Your Will,יִהְיוּ לְרָצוֹן,Prayer,Leonard Cohen
Listening to the lyrics of Jewish LawParshat Ki Teitzei - When was the last time you listened to the lyrics, poetry and sounds of the mitzvot? We are told that there never was nor never will be a case of the Biblical Rebellious Son and that we are simply to be rewarded for its study. We explore, with the help of Haim Nachman Bialik, how all of the commandments provide similar rewards for those willing to listen to their lyrical nature.
Geoffrey Stern•2484 Views•August 18, 2021•Aggada,Rebellious Son,Bialik,Halacha,Death Penalty,Ki Teitzei,Mamzer
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Geoffrey Stern
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