aderaba

Jewish Studies, Naturally

Fri, 03 Oct 2025 04:01:26 +0000

In this episode of 'ADERABA,' hosts Rafe Neis and Gilah Kletenik delve into so-called nature, the natural, and the unnatural in Jewish Studies. The discussion opens by addressing Rabbinic approaches to nature and the ways in which such texts are excluded from what is conventionally deemed "science" and "scientific." Then, they discuss how the naturalism of medieval Islamic and Jewish philosophy present alternatives to the hegemony of Christian transcendence from nature, conceits of escapes from the natural. Particular attention is granted to Maimonides and Spinoza. The conversation then turns to analyze the ways in which notions of "deviance," "natural law," and the "natural," are deployed today in the realms of reproduction, sexgender, and the family. They conclude by considering the ways in which certain Jewish studies scholarship perpetuates certain Christian frames of thinking, as regards reproduction and the nuclear family, notions of freedom, and radical individualism. Mention is made of affect theory, feminist scholarship, and possibilities for future study.

00:00 Introduction to the Podcast

00:40 Nature in Rabbinic Texts

02:32 The Exclusion of Jewish Sources in the History of Science

04:52 Rabbis and Their Approach to Nature

17:05 Medieval Jewish and Islamic Philosophy on Nature

20:21 Nature, Law, and Morality

30:37 Modern Science and Its Theological Underpinnings

45:07 Conclusion and Reflections

What's Wrong with the "West"?

Fri, 26 Sep 2025 04:01:32 +0000

In this episode of ADERABA: Jewish Studies on the Contrary, hosts Gilah Kletenik and Rafe Neis critically examine the construct of the so-called "West," through the fields of Classics and Philosophy. They discuss the problematic exclusion of Jewish ideas and texts from what is traditionally considered the "West," and delve into the historical and ongoing marginalization of Jewish Studies across fields of the humanities. The episode explores how ancient Jewish history and texts are sidelined in favor of a mythologized Greek and Roman past and highlights efforts by scholars to decolonize these disciplines. Additionally, they touch on the ways German Jewish thinkers claimed a Jewish influence on "Western" culture, while register modern Jewish movements that resisted such moves. They unpack the ideology undergirding the current valorization of a so-called "Western" tradition in certain educational precincts and its political implications.

00:00 Introduction to the Episode

01:16 Defining Classics and Its Criticisms

04:33 The Influence of Classics on "Western" Thought

07:39 The Political Dimensions of Classics

08:37 Reckoning with the Field of Classics

12:44 Jewish Studies and Its Intersection with Classics

17:38 The Broader Context of Ancient Studies

23:15 Ethical Considerations in Historical Studies

27:38 The Ethical Minefield of Artifact Provenance

28:52 The British Museum and Greek Antiquities

29:48 Modern Greek Identity and "Western" Civilization

30:34 Jewish Studies and Ethical Reckoning

31:17 German Jewish Thinkers and "Western" Exclusion

33:14 Jewish Scholars and the Canon

38:35 Jewish Orientalism and the Golden Age of Spain

43:51 Hegel's Supersessionism

48:31 Concluding Thoughts and Upcoming Stories

music by Dali Muru & the Polyphonic Swarm - FITH

art/logo by Rafael Rachel Neis

cosponsors UW Stroum Center for Jewish Studies and UM Frankel Center for Judaic Studies

Why Halakhah Is not Law

Fri, 19 Sep 2025 04:01:14 +0000

In this episode of ADERABA, hosts Gilah Kletenik and Rafe Neis delve into the complexities of the term 'Halakha'. They discuss its multifaceted meaning, historical context, and the problems with equating it to 'Jewish Law.' The hosts emphasize the diverse genres covered in rabbinic literature, which cover ritual practices, hermeneutics, and narratives but also what would today be classified as natural science, medicine, mathematics, epistemology, and so much more. They explore how Halakha has been interpreted and misinterpreted over time, particularly its reception in the Middle Ages and its modern implications, including its intersection with state laws. The conversation also touches on the influence of Christian and Islamic jurisprudence on Jewish law and the contemporary stakes in advocating for Jewish traditions in a legal context both in Israel and in the US.

00:00 Introduction to the Podcast

00:11 Exploring the Concept of Halakha

01:08 Jewish Law vs. Halakha

02:19 Personal Encounters with Jewish Legal Theory

02:57 Academic Perspectives on Jewish Law

04:25 The Role of Jewish Law in Modern Contexts

17:12 Halakha and Its Historical Context

26:27 Exploring Halakhah in Everyday Life

27:03 Jewish Law vs. Christian Law

27:51 Authority and Audience in Law

30:31 The Babylonian Talmud: An Introduction

30:55 Halakha and Aggadah: A Problematic Binary

33:04 Anti-Semitic Insults and Jewish Legalism

34:42 Philo of Alexandria and the Torah

36:40 The Evolution of Jewish Law

46:50 Maimonides's Mishnah Torah

50:13 Jewish Law in Modern Contexts

53:21 Colonialism and the Interpretation of Jewish Law

54:53 Concluding Thoughts and Future Discussions

music by Dali Muru & the Polyphonic Swarm - FITH

art/logo by Rafael Rachel Neis

cosponsors UW Stroum Center for Jewish Studies and UM Frankel Center for Judaic Studies

What's Bad about Being in the Image of God?

Fri, 12 Sep 2025 04:01:56 +0000

In this episode of ADERABA, hosts Gilah Kletenik and Rafe Neis discuss the multifaceted and often contradictory Jewish notion that humans are created in the image of God. They explore the historical context of this idea in ancient near Eastern cultures and its interpretation through Jewish and Christian philosophical traditions. The hosts delve into the dark side of this notion, including its use in exclusionary ideologies, the hierarchies it inducts, and its potential pitfalls. They also debate whether alternative theological frameworks better address contemporary issues like climate change, ultimately suggesting a nuanced approach that balances the ideal of human dignity with a broader ecological responsibility.

00:00 Introduction and Episode Overview

00:37 Personal Reflections on Being in God's Image

01:53 Historical and Scholarly Context

04:48 Theological Implications and Interpretations

08:33 Modern Applications and Misuses

11:40 Rabbinic Literature and Human Dignity

18:56 Contemporary and Controversial Uses

24:16 Exploring the Concept in Biblical Interpretation

24:53 Jewish and Christian Traditions on God's Image

25:42 Medieval Jewish Philosophy and the Image of God

26:32 Biblical Traditions and God's Invisibility

27:14 Human Representations of the Deity

28:42 The Dark Side of the Being in the Image of God

30:19 Conservative and Liberal Thought

32:09 Exclusions in Jewish Ritual

34:43 Human Responsibility in the Age of Climate Catastrophe

38:01 Debating Human Specialness and Responsibility

42:17 Concluding Thoughts and Book Recommendations

music by Dali Muru & the Polyphonic Swarm - FITH

art/logo by Rafael Rachel Neis

cosponsors UW Stroum Center for Jewish Studies and UM Frankel Center for Judaic Studies

Have Trans People Always Existed? What Would the Rabbis Say?

Fri, 05 Sep 2025 04:01:47 +0000

In this episode of ADERABA, hosts Gilah Kletenik and Rafe Neis explore the question, 'Have Trans People Always Existed?' by examining rabbinic texts and different approaches to sexgender. They discuss the current attacks on trans people, especially youth, and the response from the trans community and their allies. The conversation examines a passage from the Tosefta, a 3rd century rabbinic text concerning the so-called "androgynous" person. It then turns to the Babylonian Talmud, a rabbinic text edited into the 8th century, to discuss Rabbi Yohanan and Resh Laqish and what a story about them tells us about gender identity in late antique Jewish culture. The hosts raise critical questions about the sexgender binary, arguing against a transhistorical, essentializing conception, which challenges the assumption that cis people have always existed.

00:00 Introduction and Episode Premise

00:26 Current Challenges for Trans People

01:32 Historical Existence of Trans People

03:38 Rabbinic Texts and Gender Diversity

06:10 The Androgynous Figure in Rabbinic Literature

08:49 Obligations and Entitlements of the Androgynous

15:21 Philosophical Implications and Practical Questions

23:48 Exploring Gender and Slavery in Rabbinic Texts

25:04 Intersectionality in Jewish Law

27:30 Economic and Social Classifications

31:16 Challenging Binary Gender in Rabbinic Sources

35:12 The Story of Rabbi Yohannan and Reish Laish

42:26 Concluding Thoughts on Gender and Rabbinic Literature

music by Dali Muru & the Polyphonic Swarm - FITH

art/logo by Rafael Rachel Neis

cosponsors UW Stroum Center for Jewish Studies and UM Frankel Center for Judaic Studies ?

Welcome to ADERABA!

Tue, 02 Sep 2025 22:06:30 +0000

Welcome to the inaugural episode of ADERABA, a podcast that brings spirited, critical, and often contrarian conversations to the world of Jewish studies. Hosts Gilah Kletenik and Rafe Neis introduce themselves, the meaning behind the show’s name, and the unique approach they bring to exploring Jewish texts, ideas, and the field of Jewish studies.

music by Dali Muru & the Polyphonic Swarm - FITH

art/logo by Rafael Rachel Neis

cosponsors UW Stroum Center for Jewish Studies and UM Frankel Center for Judaic Studies ?