Category: Jewish Thought, Theology, and Machshava

Ep. 50 Fundamentals of Judaism 5 – Basis for Rabbinic Authority

In this Very Special 50th Podcast, Rabbi Yuter’s Fundamentals of Judaism explores the basis for Rabbinic authority.

Fundamentals of Judaism 5 – Basis for Rabbinic Authority Sources (PDF)

Fundamentals of Judaism 5 – Basis for Rabbinic Authority




Ep. 48 Fundamentals of Judaism 4 – What God Wants

Rabbi Josh Yuter addresses biblical solutions to the fundamental question: What Does God Want?

Fundamentals of Judaism 4 – What God Wants Sources (PDF)

Fundamentals of Judaism 4 – What God Wants




Ep. 47 Confronting Chosenness 4 – Jews and Non-Jews in the Bible

Rabbi Yuter’s Confronting Chosenness class concludes the Biblical segment with a discussion of how the Bible expects the Jews/Israelites were supposed to be distinguished from the other nations.

Confronting Chosenness 4 – Jews and Non-Jews in the Bible Sources (PDF)

Confronting Chosenness 4 – Jews and Non-Jews in the Bible




Ep. 46 Fundamentals of Judaism 3 – God in the Torah

In the third installment Fundamentals of Judaism, Rabbi Yuter explores how God is depicted in the Torah.

Fundamentals of Judaism 3 – God in the Torah Sources (PDF)

Fundamentals of Judaism 3 – God in the Torah




Ep. 44 Fundamentals of Judaism 2 – God and Torah

Rabbi Yuter discusses the importance of establishing the divine origins of the Torah as the foundational faith underlying Judaism.

Fundamentals of Judaism 2 – God and Torah Sources (PDF)

Fundamentals of Judaism 2 – God and Torah




Ep. 43 Confronting Chosenness 2 – Biblical Covenants

Rabbi Josh Yuter’s Confronting Chosenness series continues discussing various biblical covenants and their implications for understanding the nature of Jewish chosenness.

Confronting Chosenness 2 – Biblical Covenants Sources (PDF)

Confronting Chosenness 2 – Biblical Covenants




Ep. 42 Fundamentals of Judaism 1 – Introduction

Rabbi Yuter’s new Fundamentals of Judaism class begins by explaining the unique approach we’ll be taking on this intellectual journey.

Fundamentals of Judaism 1 – Introduction




Ep. 41 Confronting Chosenness 1 – Biblical Foundations

Rabbi Yuter begins a brand new shiur series titled “Confronting Chosenness” which will discuss Jewish exceptionalism in thought and practice. This first class begins exploring the biblical foundations the Jews being God’s “chosen people”.

Confronting Chosenness 1 – Biblical Foundations Sources (PDF)

Confronting Chosenness 1 – Biblical Foundations




Episode 39 – Politics of Exclusion: Preserving Gender Roles Part 2 – Women Rabbis

Rabbi Yuter discusses the recent controvery of Maharat/Rabba and women serving leadership roles in Judaism

Preserving Gender Roles 2 – Women Rabbis Sources (PDF)

Preserving Gender Roles 2 – Women Rabbis




A Judaism of Laws or of Men

An Orthodox colleague recently created a controversy after writing a blog post explaining why he no longer recites the blessing shelo asani isha – thanking God for not creating him as a woman. Several Orthodox rabbis criticized this position for various reasons with one even questioning the author’s right to call himself “Orthodox,” ostensibly for deviating from the traditional liturgy through his omission. In the grand scheme of Orthodox Jewish history this rabbi’s personal choice is relatively trivial. However, in the subsequent squabbling over one rabbi’s legitimacy, the Orthodox rabbinate inadvertently exposes the inherent cognitive dissonance prevalent in the contemporary Orthodox community.