Madlik Podcast – Disruptive Torah Thoughts on Judaism

Geoffrey Stern
  • 5.0 (15)
  • JUDAISM
  • UPDATED WEEKLY

The Malcolm Gladwell of the Torah -- That's how listeners describe Madlik™ – where sharp insight meets sacred text. With the curiosity of a cultural critic and the soul of a yeshiva bochur, Madlik ignites Jewish thought from a post-orthodox perspective. Each weekly episode explores the Torah with fresh eyes — drawing unexpected connections, challenging assumptions, and offering a heterodox yet deeply rooted take on halachic and philosophical questions. Born of a lifelong love for Jewish texts and a refusal to let tradition become static, Madlik keeps the flame of Judaism burning — not by preserving the embers, but by lighting new fires. In Hebrew, מדליק (Madlik) means to ignite. But in modern slang, it simply means cool. We aim to be both.

  1. 22H AGO

    No Free Gifts

    We usually think a 'gift with strings attached' is a bad thing, but the Torah actually forbids giving without them. No Free Gifts | Terumah, Purim & The Language of Reciprocity There is no such thing as a free gift. In this episode of Madlik Disruptive Torah, Geoffrey Stern and Rabbi Adam Mintz explore Parshat Terumah through the provocative lens of French sociologist Marcel Mauss and his groundbreaking work The Gift. Key Takeaways Every gift binds. Giving is a language. Reciprocity builds society. Timestamps [00:00] No Such Thing as a Free Gift: Torah Meets Anthropology [00:43] Terumah & Purim: Gifting as Covenant and Community Glue [01:57] Welcome to Madlik: What We're Really Exploring This Week [02:36] Hong Kong & Chinese New Year: Ritual Exchange in Real Life [04:33] Exodus 25 'Take for Me a Gift': The Strange Language of Terumah [06:21] Rashi's French 'Apaisement': Gifts, Favor, and Propitiation [12:24] Marcel Mauss' The Gift: Reciprocity vs. Utilitarianism [14:33] Potlatch, Honor, and Sacrifice: When Gifts Demand a Return [19:06] Sponsor Break: Voice Gift Tag (A Gift That Speaks) [20:00] Purim's Unique Mitzvah: Mishloach Manot as Required Reciprocity [21:38] Why No Blessing on Charity? Fixed Measures & Receiver Dependence [23:30] Megillat Esther's Two Gifts: Friends vs. the Poor [24:48] Halakhic Details: What Counts as Mishloach Manot (and Why) [28:18] Talmud Stories: Reading Meaning into the Gifts We Send [31:35] Meals, Kashrut, and Unity: Maimonides & Rabbi Riskin's Take [32:50] Closing Blessings: Shabbat Shalom and Heading Toward Purim Links & Learnings Sign up for free and get more from our weekly newsletter https://madlik.com/ Sefaria Source Sheet: https://voices.sefaria.org/sheets/709029 Transcript here: https://madlik.substack.com/

    33 min

  2. FEB 12

    From Freedom to Slavery

    The Torah doesn't celebrate freedom. It teaches dependence. Parashat Mishpatim opens with a shock: the Torah's great civil code begins with laws of slavery—spoken to a nation freshly freed from slavery. In this episode of Madlik Disruptive Torah, Geoffrey Stern and Rabbi Adam Mintz ask why the Torah doesn't give an "Emancipation Proclamation," and what freedom even means in a world built on mutual dependence. From Thoreau's Walden myth to Bob Dylan's "You've got to serve somebody," and Yeshayahu Leibowitz's insistence that the Exodus is about serving God, we explore a radical reframing: freedom in the Torah isn't the absence of dependence—it's learning how to depend justly. Key Takeaways Freedom in the Torah is not independence. Mishpatim isn't about preserving slavery — it's about dismantling it. The Torah meets society where it is — and pushes it forward. Timestamps [00:00] Introduction: The Illusion of Absolute Freedom [00:17] Thoreau's Shack and the Reality of Independence [00:40] The Torah's Perspective on Slavery and Freedom [01:35] Welcome to Malik: Exploring Jewish Texts [01:57] The Paradox of Emancipation and Slavery in the Torah [02:56] Analyzing the Laws of Slavery in Exodus [05:18] Rabbinic Interpretations and Commentaries [09:28] Modern Reflections on Slavery and Freedom [29:19] Conclusion: The Interdependence of Society Links & Learnings Sign up for free and get more from our weekly newsletter https://madlik.com/ Sefaria Source Sheet: https://voices.sefaria.org/sheets/707773 Transcript here: https://madlik.substack.com/

    33 min

  3. FEB 4

    Blessed are the Survivors

    In the darkest place imaginable, four men discovered that gratitude can keep you alive. This episode of Madlik Disruptive Torah begins not in ancient text, but underground—inside the testimony of former hostage Eli Sharabi, who describes a ritual he and three others created in captivity: every night, they forced themselves to name one good thing that happened that day. Not because it felt true—but because without gratitude, hope would die. Key Takeaways Gratitude isn't a feeling—it's a practice Jethro's greatest gift wasn't law—it was blessing Saying it out loud is how we stay human Timestamps [00:00] Introduction: The Power of Gratitude [02:04] Elie Sarabi's Story of Survival [03:05] The Ritual of Thanksgiving [06:24] Jethro's Blessing and Its Significance [09:45] The Concept of Blessings in Judaism [13:24] Voice Gift Play: A New Way to Share Stories [14:27] The Importance of Verbalizing Gratitude [27:31] Finding the 'Why' in Survival [30:52] Conclusion: The Secret to Survival Links & Learnings Sign up for free and get more from our weekly newsletter https://madlik.com/ Sefaria Source Sheet: https://voices.sefaria.org/sheets/705869 Transcript here: https://madlik.substack.com/

    32 min

  4. JAN 28

    Left Behind-The Jewish Rapture

    How a Story of Liberation Was Used to Exclude What if the Exodus wasn't just a story of freedom… but also a story of exclusion? Key Takeaways Redemption stories are rarely neutral—they are often weapons. The charge of being "left behind" usually says more about the accuser than the accused. A story about leaving becomes an excuse for not moving at all. Timestamps [00:00] Moses' Uncompromising Message to Pharaoh [00:24] The Irony of the 'Left Behind' Story [01:48] Introduction to Madlik and This Week's Topic [02:42] Exploring the Tradition of Those Left Behind [04:00] The Ambiguous Word in Exodus 13:18 [05:24] Rashi's Interpretation and the Fifth Child [11:08] Ezekiel's Rewriting of the Exodus Narrative [13:25] The Polemic Against Those Who Stayed Behind [25:05] The Tradition of Jewish Names, Language, and Dress [29:56] Conclusion and Final Thoughts Links & Learnings Sign up for free and get more from our weekly newsletter https://madlik.com/ Sefaria Source Sheet: https://voices.sefaria.org/sheets/704560 Transcript here: https://madlik.substack.com/

    31 min

  5. JAN 21

    Who's In, Who's Out — A 3,000-Year-Old Debate

    The Exodus isn't just a freedom story — it's the Torah's first argument about gatekeeping. Pharaoh asks a simple question: "Who exactly is going?" — mi va-mi ha-holchim. Moses answers with a revolution: Everyone. Key Takeaways Who's going?" really means "Who counts? Inclusion isn't modern — it's Torah. Presence matters more than status. Timestamps [00:00] Pharaoh's Question: Who's Going? [01:26] Introduction to Madlik and This Week's Topic [01:58] The Essence of Hasidism and Inclusion [05:03] Exploring the Exodus Story [07:14] Moses' Radical Answer to Pharaoh [17:08] Modern Interpretations and Commentary [20:45] The Inclusive Revolution in Judaism [27:35] Concluding Thoughts and Reflections Links & Learnings Sign up for free and get more from our weekly newsletter https://madlik.com/ Sefaria Source Sheet: https://voices.sefaria.org/sheets/702597 Transcript here: https://madlik.substack.com/

    31 min

  6. JAN 15

    Rabbi Shlomo Wolbe - The Answer Within

    Rav Shlomo Wolbe, Mussar, and the Theology of Human Greatness Moses delivers the greatest promise in Jewish history—freedom, redemption, a future—and the Torah says something heartbreaking: the Israelites don't listen. Not because they reject God or Moses, but because of "kotzer ruach" (Exodus 6:9)—shortness of spirit. Key Takeaways The Torah's Greatest Threat Isn't Sin — It's Smallness True Greatness Is Internal, Not External Mussar Teaches Us How to Grow, Not Just What to Do Timestamps [00:00] The Devastating Reality of kotzer ruach [00:45] Introduction to Rabbi Shlomo Wolbe [03:11] The Teachings of Rabbi Shlomo Wolbe [08:08] The Greatness of the Human Being [10:25] The Inner Life and Human Potential [17:15] Modern Reflections and Critiques [27:40] Conclusion: Embracing Our Greatness Links & Learnings Sign up for free and get more from our weekly newsletter https://madlik.com/ Sefaria Source Sheet: https://www.sefaria.org/sheets/701299 Transcript here: https://madlik.substack.com/

    31 min

  7. JAN 8

    Reading the Torah like a Child

    What Children Hear That Adults Miss We begin the Book of Shemot (Exodus) with a New Year's-style resolution: read more Torah out loud—to our children, and to our grandchildren. Because the Exodus isn't just Judaism's greatest story; it's Judaism's most re-read story—told at the Seder, year after year, the longest-running book club in history. We're joined by scholar and author Ilana Kurshan to discuss her new book Children of the Book, a beautiful exploration of how reading to kids shapes not only them, but us. Together we read Exodus through young eyes: the burning bush as a lesson in attention, "seeing" as a form of leadership, pictures as commentary, and Moses himself sounding like a nervous child—"slow of speech." Whether you're a parent, grandparent, or just someone who loves texts, this episode is about the power of rereading—and the intimacy of reading aloud. Key Takeaways The Torah is meant to be reread Reading out loud is how Jewish memory is formed Reading with children changes how we read. Timestamps [00:00] Introduction to Malik Disruptive Torah [00:35] Guest Introduction: Scholar Arthur Ilana Khan [00:54] The Importance of Reading Aloud [01:38] Meet Ilana Khan: Author and Scholar [03:43] The Concept of Repetition in Jewish Reading [08:54] The Burning Bush: A Story of Attention and Vision [10:52] The Role of Close Reading in Jewish Tradition [13:52] The Art of Reading in Modern Times [24:05] Children's Unique Perspective on Stories [31:41] The Power of Reading Aloud to Children [34:53] Conclusion and Final Thoughts Links & Learnings Sign up for free and get more from our weekly newsletter https://madlik.com/ Link to Ilana's Book: https://ilanakurshan.com/ Sefaria Source Sheet: https://www.sefaria.org/sheets/699868 Transcript here: https://madlik.substack.com/

    36 min

  8. 12/31/2025 · VIDEO

    When Shiloh Comes: Religion at Its Best and Worst

    In this episode of Madlik Disruptive Torah, Geoffrey Stern and Rabbi Adam Mintz explore one of the Torah's most enigmatic verses—Jacob's blessing of Judah and the phrase "until Shiloh comes." Claimed by Judaism, Christianity, and Islam, this single line opens a sweeping conversation about the power of religion to shape history—for good and for evil. Drawing on classical commentators, medieval Jewish-Christian encounters, and modern interfaith scholarship, we ask hard questions: What happens when sacred texts become battlegrounds? Can religion be part of the solution to religious conflict? And where are the moral red lines that faith must never cross? The episode concludes with a remarkable live contribution from Yochanan, known as the Rosh Kollel of Clubhouse—a former Hasidic Jew with encyclopedic Torah knowledge who left his community, is suing for lack of secular education, and brings both sharp critique and disarming wonder to his rediscovery of the wider world—including celebrating his first-ever birthday. This is a conversation about scripture, identity, responsibility, and hope—offered as a reflective closing to the year, and a thoughtful opening to what comes next.

    44 min
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About

The Malcolm Gladwell of the Torah -- That's how listeners describe Madlik™ – where sharp insight meets sacred text. With the curiosity of a cultural critic and the soul of a yeshiva bochur, Madlik ignites Jewish thought from a post-orthodox perspective. Each weekly episode explores the Torah with fresh eyes — drawing unexpected connections, challenging assumptions, and offering a heterodox yet deeply rooted take on halachic and philosophical questions. Born of a lifelong love for Jewish texts and a refusal to let tradition become static, Madlik keeps the flame of Judaism burning — not by preserving the embers, but by lighting new fires. In Hebrew, מדליק (Madlik) means to ignite. But in modern slang, it simply means cool. We aim to be both.

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