The Weekly Torah Controversy

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Join Rabbi Reuven Brand as he explores a fascinating torah-based controversy, its historical context and contemporary spiritual applications each week.

Rabbi Reuven Brand


    • Aug 4, 2024 LATEST EPISODE
    • every other week NEW EPISODES
    • 45m AVG DURATION
    • 33 EPISODES


    Search for episodes from The Weekly Torah Controversy with a specific topic:

    Latest episodes from The Weekly Torah Controversy

    The Perfection of the Patriarchs: A Philosophical and Educational Debate with Rabbi Yair Lichtman

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 4, 2024 31:26


    Chalav Yisrael vs Chalav Stam with Rabbi Ephraim Wiesenberg

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 28, 2024 24:26


    To Wear or Not to Wear (תכלת) with Rabbi Yitzy Weiss

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 21, 2024 32:50


    Flags in Shul

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 14, 2024 24:51


    Do We Need a New Nusach for Nachem?

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 7, 2024 33:08


    Betting, Gambling, and Playing the Lottery

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 30, 2024 30:01


    Are they Jewish? The Beta Israel Controversy

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 23, 2024 35:43


    Challenging Hashem

    Play Episode Listen Later May 26, 2022 42:37


    From Elie Wiesel and Yosel Rakover to the prophet Chavakuk and Reb Levi Yitzchak of Berditchev, we explore the controversial approach to challenging and confronting Hashem.

    Sefirat Haomer, the Sudducees and the Nation of Israel

    Play Episode Listen Later May 12, 2022 63:10


    We explore the ancient controversy between the traditional Halachic Jews and their Sudducee opponents in light of the modern day events in Israel.

    Make Yom Haatzmaut a Controversy

    Play Episode Listen Later May 3, 2022 48:39


    A plea for renewing our passionate debate about Israel and cultivating a sense of connection with Eretz Yisrael.  

    Hand Matzah or Machine Matzah?

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 31, 2022 52:08


    Exploring the longstanding debate over the ideal Matzah for the Seder: hand made or machine made?

    Is Veal Kosher?

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 24, 2022 54:39


    Understanding the controversy regarding the Kashrut of veal through the development of Halacha and its practical complexities.

    The Purim Shpiel

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 15, 2022 45:15


    We explore the background and potential perils of the Purim Shpiel.

    Ascending Har Habayit Today

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 10, 2022 54:27


    An overview of the complexities regarding ascending the Temple Mount today from a Halachic perspective.  

    The Mechitza

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 3, 2022 55:44


    A discussion of issues related to the Mechitzah in Shul, with historical, Halachic and personal implications.

    Halachik Subterfuge? The Heter Mechira Debate with special Guest, Rabbi Daniel Feldman

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 24, 2022 55:10


    The International Date Line

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 17, 2022 37:19


     A quick snapshot of the WWII era Halachic controversy and its contemporary implications.  

    Tzitz & Choshen The Evolution of Rabbi Joseph B. Soloveitchik zt”l

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 10, 2022 57:17


    Rabbi Joseph B. Soloveitchik delivered a historic eulogy for Rav Chaim Ozer Grodzenski; we consider this perspective in light of the Rav's transition from Agudah to Mizrachi and the role of Torah leaders in general life decisions.

    The Keruvim

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 3, 2022 46:24


    This week's presentation explores the Keruvim- the controversial sculptures above the Aron- to understand their shape, meaning and significance.

    Sarah Schenirer, the Chafetz Chaim and Talmud Torah for women

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 13, 2022 57:53


    This presentation explores the context and development of women's Talmud Torah in light of key historical figures and Halachic sources.

    Rav Menachem Ziemba zt"l Hy'd's role in the Warsaw Ghetto Uprising

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 6, 2022 47:17


    We explore the controversy regarding the legacy of Rav Menachem Ziemba zt"' Hy"d, his role in the Warsaw Ghetto uprising and its complicated implications.

    Moshe Rabbeinu and the Question of Our Perfection

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 23, 2021 40:07


    The legend about Moshe Rabbeinu, cited by the Tiferes Yisrael, stirs and controversy and a question about how we pursue perfection in our Torah lives.  

    A New Look at the Brain Death Debate

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 16, 2021 48:38


    This presentation explores a new, spiritual dimension of the debate regarding the Jewish definition of death: the role of the brain and the heart.

    The Emden - Eybeshutz Controversy

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 9, 2021 50:11


    Arguably the most significant and famous rabbinic controversies of the modern era, the  Emden - Eybeshutz  argument remains an unsolved mystery.

    The Debate Over Secession: Frankfurt Am Main

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 25, 2021 48:33


    We explore the intense debate between Rabbi Seligman Ber Bamberger and Rabbi Samson Raphael Hirsch regarding Orthodox secession from the general Frankfurt Jewish community with contemporary implications.

    The Dignity of Difference

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 18, 2021 56:37


    This controversy surrounds Rabbi Jonathan Sacks' post 9/11 book which proposes his interpretation of a Jewish worldview on how he views "the Other" and other Religions.

    The Manhattan Eruv

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 11, 2021 53:21


    The Manhattan Eruv was one of the most prominent Halachic controversies in 20th century American life. This presentation explores historical highlights through the prism of Jewish law.

    The Caveman Speech

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 4, 2021 57:05


    This week we explore the controversy regarding Rabbi Dr. Norman Lamm zt”l's speech at the RIETS centennial dinner regarding Torah learning and the cave of Rabbi Shimon Bar Yochai.

    Rav Kook's “Hesped” for Herzl

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 28, 2021 55:36


    This week's episode explores the controversy surrounding Rav Kook's remarks at the memorial for Theodore Herzl in Jaffa in 1904 with an appreciation of its subtle messaging.

    Assisted Reproductive Technologies

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 21, 2021 45:15


    This segment of the weekly Torah controversy explores Rav Moshe Feinstein's Halachic view of artificial insemination with its wide ranging implications.

    Metzitzah Bpeh

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 11, 2021 51:41


    We explore the recent and historical controversies of Metzitzah B'Peh in light of the overarching question regarding our sages' understanding of science.    

    Introduction: Perspectives on Our Spiritual Role Models

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 7, 2021 52:50


    This week's introductory episode highlights attitudes toward controversy in the Jewish tradition and explores how we portray Rabbinic role models and view Biblical giants, with a takeaway from opposing perspectives on Noach. 

    The Weekly Controversy Promo

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 27, 2021 2:15


    Find out what Rabbi Reuven Brand's Weekly Torah Controversy Podcast is all about.

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