Andrew Rehfeld, President & Professor of Political Thought of Hebrew Union College, presents his findings on the state of American Judaism. Are seminaries in crisis? What can be done about the shortage of rabbis?View From The Top: A Discussion Series w/ Rabbi LizziRabbis are on the front lines of leading communities, speaking out for moral clarity and Jewish values, and representing Jews in multi-faith spaces. But there is a rabbinic pipieline problem in the world outside of Orthodoxy, and this moment in American Jewish history has been called “the end of the Golden Age of Judaism in America.” Are we headed for a renaissance of American Judaism or a decline? Join Rabbi Lizzi for a series with the heads of different rabbinical seminaries training the next generation of Jewish leaders, on what they’re seeing from where they sit — what challenges and opportunities, and where they see American Judaism headed.****For upcoming Shabbat services and programs, check our event calendar, and see our Accessibility & Inclusion page for information about our venues. Follow us on Instagram and like us on Facebook for more updates. To support Mishkan's important work of creating radically inclusive, down-to-earth, inspired Judaism, we invite you to join as a Builder or donate today.https://www.mishkanchicago.org/support/be-a-builder/https://www.mishkanchicago.org/support/makeyourgift/Produced by Mishkan Chicago. Music composed, produced, and performed by Kalman Strauss.Transcript

Shapiro

Tes Sivan (22:10) 💬 When the air of the world isn’t tahor, we can’t feel our connection to Hashem very well. The world needs to have more tahor air! 📄 Link to Full Text 🏆 Link to Quiz

Amon is assasinated by his servants

This week’s Prophet reading—traditionally called the Haftorah—is Judges 13:2–25. It accompanies the Torah portion Nasso (Numbers 4:21–7:89).This Haftorah begins the famous story of Samson. After 40 years of Philistine oppression, God promises to raise up a deliverer. A divine messenger announces the birth and mission of Samson and instructs his parents about certain special requirements concerning their son. Samson is to be a Nazirite from the time of his conception to the end of his life. Listen to Keith Johnson and Nehemia Gordon as they discover priceless gems in this installment of Prophet Pearls: Exploring Biblical Prophecy for Yesterday, Today, and Tomorrow.If you would like to listen to Keith and Nehemia discuss the Torah portions that correlate to the Prophet portions here are the original Torah Pearls programs recorded in 2011-2012.Support the show

For centuries, Jewish thinkers have asked two parallel questions. First, what is the reasoning behind an individual commandment and second, why bother heeding a command at all, something Dr. Brafman terms “reasons for” vs “reasons of” the commandments. In his newest book, Critique of Halakhic Reason: Divine Commandments and Social Normativity (Oxford UP, 2024), Dr. Brafman looks closely at the second of these questions. After considering answers from some of the most important Jewish thinkers of the 20th century, Joseph Soloveitchik, Yeshayahu Leibowitz, and Eliezer Berkovits, Dr. Brafman introduces his own system of thought. For him, the reasons for the commandments depend on a number of factors. We don’t follow them blindly. And they don’t always have to adhere to perfect and pure reason. Instead they are, to use a term he employs throughout is book, “constructed” based on any number of factors including our relationship with God and the norms that exist within our society. In conversation with some of the most important secular legal theorist and philosophers of the past 100 years, Dr Brafman charts a new course in Jewish theology, both defending and reimagining the place of our obligation to halakhah, Jewish law, for the 21st century. Professor Yonatan Brafman is Associate Professor of Modern Judaism in the Department of Religion, with a secondary appointment in the Department of Literary and Cultural Studies at Tufts University. Rabbi Marc Katz is the Senior Rabbi at Temple Ner Tamid in Bloomfield, NJ. He is most recently the author of Yochanan’s Gamble: Judaism’s Pragmatic Approach to Life (JPS) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/jewish-studies

It is customary to read the first chapter of Yehezkel (Ezekiel) as the Haftarah on Shabuot, a section known as Ma'aseh Merkava – the vision of the Divine Chariot. This profound and mysterious prophecy was revealed to Yehezkel while in exile by the River Kevar in Babylon. Despite being in galut, the Shechina appeared to him, teaching us that Hashem's presence remains with us even outside the Land of Israel. The imagery in the Haftarah is highly symbolic: four-faced angels, wheels of fire, and a glowing chariot representing the heavenly realms. The four faces—human, lion, ox, and eagle—symbolize dominion over different realms of creation. Above them all sits the Divine presence, symbolizing Hashem's supremacy over all. According to the Zohar, the human face seen in the vision is that of Yaakov Avinu , whose spiritual greatness earned him a place under the Heavenly Throne. The Haftarah is read on Shabuot because the revelation at Sinai was similarly accompanied by clouds, lightning, and thunder. Just as Matan Torah revealed Hashem's glory, so too does this vision reflect a celestial dimension of His presence. Although the details are esoteric and not meant to be publicly expounded, practical lessons emerge: Angels are stationary – they do not grow spiritually. Their legs are straight and fixed, teaching us that only humans can elevate themselves spiritually through effort, Torah, and mitzvot. Shabuot is the perfect time to recommit to personal growth. Angels of judgment travel slowly , while angels of mercy travel instantly. From this, we learn to pause before reacting in anger or judgment , giving ourselves time to calm down and choose a better path. Acting with patience brings mercy into our decisions. The vision also hints that the Shechina was departing from the Beit HaMikdash, a symbolic warning that without spiritual substance, even a holy building becomes just bricks and stone. Despite the complexity of this Haftarah, the overarching message is clear: Hashem is with us in every generation, in every place—even in exile—and our mission is to grow, learn, and draw closer to Him through Torah .