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. MAR 25

    The Haggadah After October 7

    What if I told you that the most powerful way to read the Passover Haggadah... is to write your own? In this episode of Madlik, we explore a radical idea born on Israel's early kibbutzim in the 1920s and 30s: that Judaism isn't just inherited—it's authored. We're joined by Eran Yarkoni and Anton Marks of the Shittim Institute, who are traveling the U.S. with their exhibition Haggadah of Hope.   Key Takeaways   1. The Haggadah Isn't a Book—It's a Framework The kibbutzim didn't treat the Haggadah as sacred text to preserve, but as a structure to fill. They understood something we often forget: the power of the Seder comes not from repeating the words—but from making them speak to your moment. 2. "Bechol Dor Vador" Is a Command to Create We've been taught to relive the Exodus. The kibbutzim took it one step further: we are obligated to rewrite it. Every generation doesn't just inherit the story—it adds a chapter. 3. Ritual Isn't Escapism—It's How We Process Reality From pioneers in the 1930s to displaced families after October 7, the Seder became a place to confront the present, not escape it. By writing their pain, loss, and hope into the Haggadah, these communities show that ritual, at its best, is not about the past—it's about making meaning in real time.   Timestamps   [00:00] Kibbutz Haggadah Reimagined [01:24] Meet the Shitim Institute [04:07] Haggadah of Hope Tour [07:09] Inside the Kibbutz Archive [10:44] Haggadah as a Living Story [13:23] After October 7 Texts [15:01] Sponsor Break [16:08] Return Home in the Fourth Cup [23:26] Ma Nishtana Then and Now [28:23] US Reactions and Roadshow [30:16] Wrap Up and Passover Wishes   Links & Learnings   Sign up for free and get more from our weekly newsletter https://madlik.com/ Sefaria Source Sheet: https://voices.sefaria.org/sheets/715964 Transcript here: https://madlik.substack.com/ To donate to Shitim Institute: https://pefisrael.org/charity/machon-shittim/

    33 min

  2. MAR 18

    How the Rabbis got their Power

    Unlike almost every other major world religion, Judaism has absolutely no Pope—and the beautiful reason why is hidden deep in the Book of Leviticus. Rabbis today are "ordained." But the original system of rabbinic ordination—semikhah, the laying on of hands—collapsed almost 1,600 years ago. So how did rabbinic authority survive? In this episode of Madlik Disruptive Torah, Geoffrey Stern and Rabbi Adam Mintz trace the surprising story of how a simple biblical gesture—placing hands on a sacrifice—became the foundation for Jewish leadership and authority. Key Takeaways Authority in Judaism started as a gesture, not an institution Rabbinic authority survives not because the chain held—but because it broke Judaism chose influence over control Timestamps [00:00] Hands and Authority [01:49] Leviticus Semikhah [05:26] Blessing and Transference [08:50] Two Hands Rule [11:40] Women and Semikhah [15:17] Sponsor Break [16:23] Communal Offerings [21:30] Joshua Commissioned [23:22] Chain of Tradition [25:13] Ordination Disrupted [29:14] No Pope in Judaism [30:53] Closing 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/714754 Transcript here: https://madlik.substack.com/

    32 min

  3. MAR 11

    Midrash Through the Looking Glass

    The Torah is incredibly strict about what goes into its holiest sanctuary, which is why one bizarre detail in Exodus chapter 38 makes absolutely no sense. In the inventory of materials used to build the Mishkan, the Torah accounts for the weight and value of all the gold, silver, copper, wood, and linen material used. It's very clinical, with no reference to significance or context. There is one striking exception. Exodus 38:8 tells us that the priestly washing basin was made "from the mirrors of the women who gathered at the entrance of the Tent of Meeting." Why does the Torah suddenly reveal the provenance of this one object? Who were these women—and what were they doing there? In this episode of Madlik Disruptive Torah, Geoffrey Stern and Rabbi Adam Mintz explore how a single enigmatic verse sparked generations of interpretation. Key Takeaways The Holiest Objects May Come from the Least Holy Places A Tiny Detail Can Create a Whole Tradition A Mirror Is the Perfect Metaphor for Interpretation Timestamps [00:00] Mirrors in the Mishkan [00:56] Meet the Hosts [01:36] Podcast Intro [02:51] Reading Exodus 38 [04:48] Women at the Tent [07:40] Rashi's Famous Midrash [13:01] Word Study on Mirrors [14:32] Sponsor Break [15:45] Eli's Sons and Innuendo [19:22] Scholars Offer Explanations [22:43] Egyptian Mirrors and Fertility [26:02] Repurposing Pagan Objects [26:42] Cassuto and Poetic Memory [29:39] Found Object Theology [31:26] Modern Fertility Sculpture [32:52] Wrap Up and Farewell Links & Learnings Sign up for free and get more from our weekly newsletter https://madlik.com/ Sefaria Source Sheet: https://voices.sefaria.org/sheets/713285 Transcript here: https://madlik.substack.com/

    33 min

  4. MAR 4

    Upside Down Thinking

    What if I told you the Talmud's greatest secret for surviving a crisis isn't fighting harder—it's assuming the exact opposite of what you think is true? In this special Purim episode of Madlik Disruptive Torah, Geoffrey Stern and Rabbi Adam Mintz explore the Megillah's phrase וְנַהֲפוֹךְ הוּא (ve-nahafoch hu) — "everything was turned upside down" — and ask what it means after Purim, in a world facing crisis and uncertainty. Key Takeaways Reversal Is a Mindset, Not a Miracle. Crisis Is an Invitation to Rethink the Paradigm. Argue Hard. Stay Together. Timestamps [00:00] Purim Eve Tension [00:43] V'nahafoch Hu Mindset [01:57] Meet the Hosts [03:20] Esther Texts Reversal [05:01] Greenberg on Paradox [07:15] Turn It Over, Pirkei Avot [09:18] Talmudic Opposite Logic [14:55] Cafe Hafuch and Disagreement [18:31] Purim Rule Breaking [21:44] Kuhn and Paradigm Shifts [25:26] Startup Nation Debate Culture [28:26] War Reality and Prayer Links & Learnings Sign up for free and get more from our weekly newsletter https://madlik.com/ Sefaria Source Sheet: https://voices.sefaria.org/sheets/711758 Transcript here: https://madlik.substack.com/

    30 min

  5. FEB 26

    The Lost Color of the Jewish People

    If you want to understand the Jewish story, start with a color. This week we're rebroadcasting one of my favorite episodes from 2022 — an episode about a single color that somehow contains an entire Jewish narrative: tekhelet, that rare, stubborn, unforgettable blue. We're revisiting a conversation that feels more timely than ever. As antisemitism re-emerges in public life, people are reaching again for symbols — simple, visible markers that say: I'm here. I'm not hiding. I'm not alone. One of those symbols is the Blue Square Campaign — a small square of blue worn or posted as a public expression of solidarity. Key Takeaways Blue teaches that holiness belongs to everyone. Blue reminds us that identity is visible, resilient, and remembered. Blue proves that a people can lose its Temple and still keep its thread. Timestamps [00:00] Why Blue Now [02:23] The Torah's Blue Thread [04:19] Tekhelet in the Mishkan [08:27] From Priest to People [13:19] Sea, Sky, and the Throne of Glory [17:04] The Desert Supply Mystery [19:45] Royal Blue and Authority [22:40] Lost and Found Tekhelet [25:20] Fakes and Black Markets [28:01] Tzitzit and P'til Tekhelet: Wordplay [32:29] Blue and White, and Israel [34:18] Shabbat Wrap Up Links & Learnings Sign up for free and get more from our weekly newsletter https://madlik.com/ Sefaria Source Sheet: https://voices.sefaria.org/sheets/383005 Transcript here: https://madlik.substack.com/

    35 min

  6. FEB 18

    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

  7. 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

  8. 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
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5
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15 Ratings

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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