Climb Sinai: The Big Ideas of Judaism

Rabbi Jack Cohen EdM
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This podcast is for people who want access to timeless Torah wisdom that will improve their 21st century lives. Rabbi Jack Cohen (rabbijackcohen.com) makes the Torah relatable by sharing deep principles using common sense thinking, contemporary language, relatable metaphors, psychological insight, and practical advice. We will be generally following the path of foundational ideas outlined in Rabbi Aryeh Kaplan's Handbook of Jewish Thought.

  1. 06/02/2023

    #25 - Idolatry as a Cognitive Mistake

    Based on Mishnah Torah I: Book of Knowledge, the Laws of Strange Worship, Ch. 1 Is there any relevence to the Torah's emphatic prohibition of idolatry to our lives today? How might we be able to think about the cognitive error at the root of idolatry? If you want to read some of my writing, check out my Substack: theexpressionoflife.com

    2 min

  2. 05/30/2023

    #24 - Strategic Excommunication

    Based on Mishnah Torah I: Book of Knowledge, the Laws of Learning/Teaching Torah, Ch. 7 Is excommunication ever allowed? Why is it hard for us to grasp this concept in our modern, Western society? If you want to read some of my writing, check out my Substack: theexpressionoflife.com

    3 min

  3. 05/30/2023

    #23 - Honor and Respect for All Torah Educators

    Based on Mishnah Torah I: Book of Knowledge, the Laws of Torah Learning/Teaching, Ch. 6 Do we need to afford honor and respect to all Torah teachers or just our own? Is reverence just a formality? How might practicing reverence towards the people who deserve it impact us as people? Every society is shaped by its relationship to its teachers. Reverence produces an receptivity to the wisdom a society seeks to transmit to the next generation, and a general irreverence nurtures an instability that is untenable. If you want to read some of my writing, check out my Substack: theexpressionoflife.com

    4 min

  4. 05/30/2023

    #22 - Honor & Reverence for Parents and Teachers

    Based on Mishnah Torah I: Book of Knowledge, the Laws of Learning/Teaching Torah, Ch. 5 Should we relate to our parents and teachers in the same way we relate to everyone else? Or should they receive special treatment since we wouldn't exist, either physically or spiritually, without them? Honor is a bit easier to grasp precisely because it is more concrete. Reverence is hard to come by in a world flattened by secularism. If you want to read some of my writing, check out my Substack: theexpressionoflife.com

    3 min

  5. 05/25/2023

    #21 - The Interplay Between Torah & Character

    Based on Mishnah Torah I: Book of Knowledge, the Laws of Torah Study, Ch. 4 Can you teach Torah to anyone? Should you teach someone who is a jerk? Maybe the Torah will make them better people? Should you learn from anyone who knows Torah?

    2 min

  6. 05/25/2023

    #20 - Torah as a Meritocracy

    Based on Mishnah Torah I: Book of Knowledge, the Laws of Torah Study, Ch. 3 What takes priority? Study or Practice? What form of leadership is most important? The King? The High Priest? The Rabbi?

    5 min

  7. 05/23/2023

    #19 - Putting Our Money Where Our Mouths Are On Jewish Education

    Based on Mishnah Torah I: Book of Knowledge, the Laws of Torah Study, Ch. 2 What happens if a Jewish community just doesn't set up a Jewish school for some reason? Is Jewish education just about "checking the box" or is there some standard of quality? Like all priorities and values, the devil is in the details, and ideals have to make it into practice. Jewish education, among our highest of values, is certainly no different. If you want to read some of my writing, check out my Substack: theexpressionoflife.com

    4 min

  8. 05/22/2023

    #18 - The Mitzvah of Learning/Teaching Torah

    Based on Mishnah Torah I: Book of Knowledge, the Laws of Torah Study, Ch. 1 Why is there a separate mitzvah to study Torah? Isn't it assumed that we'll know the law to keep the law? To what extent do we have to teach Torah to others? Torah study is the heart and soul of Judaism, but why? In the words of Rabbi Shlomo Freifeld zt"l: "Religious observance is personal, but ignorance is treason." Not knowing is tantamount to not teaching or mis-teaching. We're letting ourselves down, and we're letting down everyone who depends on us for guidance. If you want to read some of my writing, check out my Substack: theexpressionoflife.com

    4 min
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This podcast is for people who want access to timeless Torah wisdom that will improve their 21st century lives. Rabbi Jack Cohen (rabbijackcohen.com) makes the Torah relatable by sharing deep principles using common sense thinking, contemporary language, relatable metaphors, psychological insight, and practical advice. We will be generally following the path of foundational ideas outlined in Rabbi Aryeh Kaplan's Handbook of Jewish Thought.

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