Jewish Quest
Each week, join us on an adventure as we deconstruct that week’s parasha, exploring new insights and meaning in the Torah. Hosted by Simon Eder and sponsored by the Louis Jacobs Foundation, Jewish Quest aims to honour the statement of R' Jacobs z"l who said: 'The quest for Torah is itself Torah.' Welcome to that Quest.
Find out more about our work at louisjacobs.org
Episodes
171 episodes
25/23 Vayera with Dr.Noam Cohen
Dr Noam Cohen uncovers the fascinating link between the background to Isaac's birth and the Ugaritic text of the Aqhat Epic. Dr. Noam Cohen is Visiting Assistant Professor of Hebrew and Jewish Studies at Muhlenberg College in Allent...
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30:04
Jewish Quest from 2005 - 7th SPECIAL English Judaism as a Religious Outlook with Rabbi Dr. Louis Jacobs z'l'
Due to several requests we are extending this series of audios featuring Rabbi Jacobs, from 2005 recordings. All are also avaialable with video by visiting www.booksof.louisjacobs.org. A free months subscription is available.
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53:27
Jewish Quest from 2005 - 6th SPECIAL Variety in Modern Judaism with Rabbi Dr. Louis Jacobs z'l' Episode
Rabbi Jacobs discusses the various Jewish groups which make up the contemporary world. He begins with a discussion of the charedim. He points out that their approach to religious matters, for example dress, is uncompromising, althou...
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48:35
Jewish Quest from 2005 - 5th SPECIAL Ten Commandments with Rabbi Dr. Louis Jacobs z'l' Episode
Rabbi Jacobs discusses the relation of the Ten Commandments to the other biblical injunctions, which traditionally number 613 and their role as symbols of Jewish loyalty. The Ten Commandments both need to be amplified, and to understood in thei...
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53:29
Jewish Quest 2005 - 4th SPECIAL Time and Eternity with Rabbi Louis Jacobs z'l `
Recorded in 2005 Rabbi Jacobs reflects, in this Audio, on the Jewish notions of time and eternity. Faithful to his own convictions, he subjects both concepts to careful scrutiny – examining the biblical and rabbinic understandings of the terms ...
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37:10
Jewish Quest 2005 3rd SPECIAL - The Elliot Cosgrove Interview with Louis Jacobs z'l
On a visit to London, Rabbi Dr Elliot Cosgrove of the Park Avenue Synagogue in New York took the opportunity to interview Rabbi Jacobs. They first discuss the influences on Rabbi Jacobs’s thought, particularly the differences between his yeshiv...
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57:45
25/AGM Special - Rabbi Louis Jacobs on Masorti UK
PLEAST NOTE THIS VIDEO CONTAINS AN ADDITIONAL SHORT SECTION- A few seconds silence is in between each, so please dont switch off until the music plays.Replacing this weeks Sedra podcast, we share a recording from Rabbi Dr Louis Ja...
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48:07
25/22 - Naso with Professor Idan Dershowitz
Professor Dershowitz discusses the nature of guilt in the Torah’s restitution laws and also the laws concerning Sotah.Professor Idan Dershowitz completed his undergraduate and graduate training at the Hebrew University, following several...
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30:21
25/21 - Bamidbar with Rabbi Andy Shugerman
Rabbi Andy Shugerman is a multifaceted Jewish educator and development professional currently serving as the inaugural Development Director at Congregation Beth Shalom in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. In this role, he focuses on enhancing the synag...
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18:42
25/20 - Behar/Bechukotai with Professor James Diamond
Professor James Diamond discusses the treatment of non-Israelite slaves from Moses to Moses.Prof. James A. Diamond is the Joseph and Wolf Lebovic Chair of Jewish Studies at the University of Waterloo and former director of the university...
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31:15
25/Special - Rabbi Louis Jacobs on Israel and Zionism
This very recently discovered audio tape has just been digitized. This lecture, although spoken almost 50 years ago is an important contribution to the debate on Zionism. Simon Eder, Education Director of The Louis Jacobs Foundation ...
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46:11
25/19 - Achrei Mot/Keddoshim with Dr Eve Levavi Feinstein
Dr Eve Levavi Feinstein discusses the uniqueness of the sexual prohibitions outlined in Leviticus 18 and 20. Dr. Eve Levavi Feinstein holds a Ph.D. in Hebrew Bible from Harvard University. Her dissertation, Sexual Pollution in t...
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16:16
25/17 - Shemini with Dr Rabbi David Freidenreic
Dr Rabbi David Freidenreich discusses what the dietary laws teach us about holiness. Dr. Rabbi David M. Freidenreich is the Pulver Family Professor of Jewish Studies at Colby College. He earned his Ph.D. at Columbia University...
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23:21
25/18 - Tazria/Metzora with Dr Yitzhaq Feder
Dr Yitzhaq Feder uncovers the parallels between The skin disease Tzaraat in Leviticus and literature of the Ancient Near East. Yitzhaq Feder is a lecturer in the Department of Biblical Studies at the University of Haifa and tel av...
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19:17
25/16, Ki Tissa with Professor Berel Dov Lerner
Professor Berel Dov Lerner considers the commentary of Rabbi Meir Simcha of Dvinsk on the breaking of the Tablets. Berel Dov Lerner is currently an associate professor of philosophy at the Western Galilee College in Akko. He ...
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29:08
25/15 - Yitro with Professor Kenneth Seeskin
Professor Kenneth Seeskin asks just what was heard by the people, if anything, during the revelation at Sinai?Professor Seeskin is Professor of Philosophy and Philip M. and Ethel Klutznick Professor of Jewish Civilization at Northwestern...
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25:10
25/14 - Bo with Rabbi Daniel Zucker
Rabbi Daniel Zucker discusses the influence of Egyptian belief for understanding repeated references to Pharaoh’s heavy heart. Rabbi Zucker, D.D. is the Rabbi of Temple Israel of the Poconos, in Stroudsburg, PA, and President and...
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20:13
25/13 - Shemot with Professor Edward Greenstein
Professor Edward Greenstein shares how the Moses story both conforms and deviates from fugitive hero narratives of the Ancient Near East?Professor Greenstein is Professor Emeritus of Bible at Bar-Ilan University. He received the EMET Pri...
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34:01
25/12 Vayechi with Rabbi Rachel Ain
Rabbi Rachel Ain discusses the significance of the way Jacob blesses his sons and his legacy as Patriarch. Rabbi Rachel Ain is the Rabbi of Sutton Place Synagogue, a Conservative Synagogue in Midtown Manhattan. Before jo...
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20:08
25/11 - Vayigash with Rabbi Ariel Abel
Rabbi Ariel Abel explores how Joseph delicately balances his identity as an Egyptian leader with his Hebrew roots during the reunion with his brothers.Rabbi Abel lives with his wife Shulamit and two children t...
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26:18
24/10 - Miketz with Professor Gary Rendsburg
Professor Gary Rendsburg invites us to understand the Joseph story as ancient literary art at its very best. Prof. Rendsburg serves as the Blanche and Irving Laurie Professor of Jewish History in the Department of Jewish Studies at Rutg...
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27:55
24/9 - Vayeshev with Dr Dov Berel Lerner
Dr Dov Berel Lerner considers what Joseph's dreams symbolise and their importance within the wider themes of Genesis. Dr Lerner is currently an associate professor of philosophy at the Western Galilee College in Akko and also teache...
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33:40
24/8 - Vayishlach with Dr. Alison Joseph
Dr Alison Joseph asks just who is the victim of the Dinah Story?Dr. Alison Joseph is the Director of Digital Scholarship and Associate Professor of Bible at Gratz College, Assistant Managing Editor of The Posen Library for Jewish Cu...
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22:30