The Rishonim

Sourcesheet: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1POj6IVX8oP4DqLc8oAYUNFR8fNhXCJWqwi-K_cLAUVc/Now that we've met Yehudah Halevi in the previous episode, we are ready to dive into his monumental work of Jewish Though, the Kuzari. The main claim of this book is often taken to be a definite proof of the truths of Judaism and its Torah, but what did the book's author think of it? Why, if the book is supposed to prove the truth of "the despised Jewish faith," does it go about this defense in such a strange way? And why would Rabbi Yehudah Halevi himself dismiss the importance of his own masterpiece, claiming it to be nothing more than a response to the claims of a Karaite? In this episode, we take a sophisticated, three-tiered approach to understanding and appreciating this extraordinary book, learn how it fits into its Arabic context, and consider its relevance to the 21st century.For more sheets and other info check out ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://sites.google.com/view/rishonim⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Check out my Substack writing: Shmuel's Substack⁠⁠Do you want to send me some suggestions? Criticism or corrections? Comments or questions? Contact me at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠therishonim@gmail.com⁠⁠⁠

Source sheet: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1YJGHBKD90rKI6t7Yl_wgPudTdPUYcmpUpsPS4N7_v84/edit?usp=sharing Rabbi Yehudah Halevi is the fourth of the great Jewish poets from Muslim Spain (al-Andalus), who served as an inspiration for Jews across the centuries through his lyrics as well as by his life story. This pivotal writer left a legacy through his great book on Jewish thought, hundreds of poems, and by his personal example as a man who ventured out to the Land of Israel in his last stage of life. What drove this spiritual giant to turn his back on everyone and everything he loved in Muslim Spain to follow in the footsteps of the prophets? ***NOTE: This is the second version of the episode; the first version published, which was slightly shorter than 2 hours, is missing a piece beginning at 1:15 (1 hour 15 sec into the podcast) For more sheets and other info check out ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://sites.google.com/view/rishonim⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Do you want to send me some suggestions? Criticism or corrections? Comments or questions? Contact me at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠therishonim@gmail.com⁠⁠⁠

Source sheet: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1MjTs3eG4Y5FfE5AO7jnfMer8Bp4fhavyau7UzBHZSKE/edit?usp=sharing This episode introduces us to an often under-appreciated by exemplary figure of the Spanish Golden Age, who worked out a sophisticated synthesis of Arabic intellectual culture and Torah study. Why did Moshe ibn Ezra believe that Hebrew poetry would best be served by using Arabic literary conventions? In what way can Muslim writers help Jews appreciate and understand their own Torah? And is a "frum (religious) Jew" allowed to say that the Torah might not be the most beautiful book ever written? For more sheets and other info check out ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://sites.google.com/view/rishonim⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Do you want to send me some suggestions? Criticism or corrections? Comments or questions? Contact me at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠therishonim@gmail.com⁠⁠⁠

Source sheet: ⁠https://docs.google.com/document/d/1lN-O34kPd8FSbtgsNGc8PhkOtgn5_B220OYA-Sk476M/edit?usp=sharing⁠ We grapple with the philosophy of the great poet Shelomo ibn Gabirol, whose identity as the author of Fountain of Life, a highly influential work for Medieval Christain scholasticism, was hidden under the name "Avicebron." In bringing this work back to its Jewish context, we puzzle over its metaphysics, connect it to ibn Gabirol's poems, and use this book and other philosophical writings of Shelomo ibn Gabirol to ponder his legacy as a key figure in Jewish thought and even kabbalah. For more sheets and other info check out ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://sites.google.com/view/rishonim⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Do you want to send me some suggestions? Criticism or corrections? Comments or questions? Contact me at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠therishonim@gmail.com⁠⁠⁠

Source Sheet:  https://docs.google.com/document/d/1nTbnPdB3EcACb-gLjd7YL3Ol0ND1akVT/edit?usp=drive_link&ouid=113373638612291302231&rtpof=true&sd=true A historical (and somewhat thematic) introduction to the development of piyyut and poetry. Rewinding a bit in history, we ask, where did all these Spanish poets come from? What's the deal with interrupting the prayers to sing rhyming songs? For more sheets and other info check out ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://sites.google.com/view/rishonim⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Do you want to send me some suggestions? Criticism or corrections? Comments or questions? Contact me at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠therishonim@gmail.com⁠⁠

Source Sheet:  https://docs.google.com/document/d/1lN-O34kPd8FSbtgsNGc8PhkOtgn5_B220OYA-Sk476M/edit?usp=sharing Introducing the man who called himself "master of the song," the philosopher-poet Shelomo (Solomon) ibn Gabirol. By sampling from his poetry, we try to appreciate how he was indeed a master of both the poem and the piyyut, despite his exceptionally short and troubled life, and wonder about whether he belongs in the beit midrash as much as in the synagogue. For more sheets and other info check out ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://sites.google.com/view/rishonim⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Do you want to send me some suggestions? Criticism or corrections? Comments or questions? Contact me at ⁠⁠⁠⁠therishonim@gmail.com⁠⁠

Source Sheet:  ⁠https://docs.google.com/document/d/1FN86253bMbOADfXwkyq53FtxOPagkpknBGDctZy7bdA/⁠ This episode continues our discussion of the Rishonim's "Most Interesting Man in the World," by focusing on the writings - both lost and found - of Rabbi Shmuel ibn Naghrila, known as Shmuel ha-Nagid. We talk some halakhic positions, his attitude towards the Geonim, and various aspects of his thought that is cited by later Rishonim and that can be discerned from his gorgeous poetry. For more sheets and other info check out ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://sites.google.com/view/rishonim⁠⁠⁠⁠ Do you want to send me some suggestions? Criticism or corrections? Comments or questions? Contact me at ⁠⁠⁠therishonim@gmail.com⁠⁠⁠

Source Sheet:  https://docs.google.com/document/d/1FN86253bMbOADfXwkyq53FtxOPagkpknBGDctZy7bdA/ This episode introduces the "Disney character" of the Rishonim, Rabbi Shmuel ibn Naghrila, known as Shmuel ha-Nagid. We explore his epic career through the lens of his own poetic compositions, talking about how he rose to the greatest social positions available at the time. How did this great religious scholar live so much of his life on the battlefield and in a Muslim royal court? For more sheets and other info check out ⁠⁠⁠https://sites.google.com/view/rishonim⁠⁠⁠ Do you want to send me some suggestions? Criticism or corrections? Comments or questions? Contact me at ⁠⁠therishonim@gmail.com⁠⁠

Source Sheet:  https://docs.google.com/document/d/1tqpV9_9uyDQiQBpKu5NAUCULz4j3JGbZL8MnC21e6Xg On this episode, we meet Rabbi Nissim of Kairouan. We discuss his works and personality at length, showing his incredible efforts at synthesizing all of rabbinic literature together for generations of students, and also how he sought to make Torah more reasonable in responding to anti-rabbinic critics. Broadening the lens to look at Rabbi Nissim's historical context, we also try to answer the question: was this man a “Gaon,” a “Rishon,” or both?  For more source sheets and other info check out ⁠⁠https://sites.google.com/view/rishonim⁠⁠ Do you want to send me some suggestions? Criticism or corrections? Comments or questions? Contact me at ⁠therishonim@gmail.com⁠

Source Sheet:  ⁠https://docs.google.com/document/d/1RtogU6W81ocniuCG0F3H9Q5lJCuNa-Bji8kvt0v8yqM/edit?usp=sharing⁠ This is a second episode about Rabbeinu Hananel (or "Chananel"), discussing some of his more interesting and influential positions in halakha and philosophy. What did R. Hananel say, what did he believe, and how can his impact be seen on Judaism today? For more source sheets and other info check out ⁠⁠https://sites.google.com/view/rishonim⁠⁠  Do you want to send me some suggestions? Criticism or corrections? Comments or questions? Contact me at ⁠therishonim@gmail.com⁠ 

Source Sheet: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1Qv-bP9kAz7FZr4v3xywvlNbHGax7WDtkety7BuwNEA8/ This episode is about Rabbeinu Hananel (or "Chananel"): it covers some biographical deatails about his life and books, and then delves into his Talmudic commentary. What does R. Hananel's commentary do, and how does he do it? For more source sheets and other info check out ⁠https://sites.google.com/view/rishonim⁠  Do you want to send me some suggestions? Criticism or corrections? Comments or questions? Contact me at therishonim@gmail.com 

Sourcesheet link: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1kLWjTHPxmD1NDESzpElZlS88TUbFxJYGN7CRLyzekLs/edit This episode will discuss: The Geonim as heads of an intellectual empire The uneven but inexorable decline of the Geonic hegemony  Periodization: how do we know when an era is over? How Rishonim came to replace the Geonim  The story of “the four captives” The city of Kairouan and its scholars Two “founders' fathers”: R. Hushiel, father of R. Hananel, and R. Yaakov, father of R. Nissim Gaon

Source Sheet: ⁠https://docs.google.com/document/d/1SNyNnVdFnZCoBTyuwf8ocJfCeTRGE7-t8pM-uW0TTpM/edit?usp=share_link This episode will discuss: Transitions between the Amoraim, Savoraim, and Geonim The Iggeres (Letter or Epistle) of R. Sherira Gaon Compilation of the Gemara by Amoraim and Savoraim The three “C”s of Talmudic commentary Literary output - and literary lacuna - of the Geonim  Teaching and transmitting Torah in person and through texts  For more source sheets and other info check out ⁠https://sites.google.com/view/rishonim⁠  Do you want to send me some suggestions? Criticism or corrections? Comments or questions? Contact me at therishonim@gmail.com 

What is this thing? It's a podcast about the Rishonim! For source sheets check out ⁠https://sites.google.com/view/rishonim⁠ Theme music: “La Quinte Estampie Real,” from a recording available at musopen.org Cover art: “The Brother Haggadah,” The British Library, Oriental 1404 folio 9v Do you want to send me some suggestions? Criticism or corrections? Comments or questions? Contact me at therishonim@gmail.com