Iyun Lemachshava English

Yitzchok Lowy
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Classes by Yitzchok Lowy on jewish thought and philosophy

  1. FEB 26

    Why everyone started to think internal intention is the only good thing

    The modern split between "inner" and "outer" goodness stems from the loss of natural teleology — once you deny that things in the world have inherent purposes, goodness can no longer reside in actions themselves and gets trapped entirely in human intention, producing the familiar but incoherent idea that being "good on the inside" is what really matters. This shift generated both utilitarianism (goodness as subjective feeling) and deontology (goodness as obedience to moral law), and stands behind the Tanya vs. Nefesh HaChaim dispute, the modern reinterpretation of kavana as a mental state rather than a description of what you're actually doing, and the strange claim that Torah lishma is about your headspace rather than your learning. Purim embodies the corrective: chitzoniyus IS pnimiyus — happiness is not a feeling but a fact, realized through concrete action like matanos l'evyonim, not through interior emotional states.

  2. FEB 19

    Contrasting two theories s of Lo Sachmod

    This shiur examines the prohibition of Lo Tachmod (do not covet) through two competing readings: one that treats desire itself as the root of all evil and calls for its suppression, and another that insists goodness is defined by external moral reality—knowing what actually belongs to you and what doesn't—rather than by internal emotional refinement. The discussion opens with how the mazal of Chodesh Adar and the thirteenth month illustrate that celestial influences reach humans only through human mediation and the decisions of Beis Din, then applies this principle of channeling to argue that real moral progress requires detailed knowledge of obligations and property rights (Choshen Mishpat), not just the squashing of desire, since a person free of passion but ignorant of what he owes others remains a thief.

  3. FEB 12

    Lo Sachmod is the Midda for Lo Tignov Tirtzach Tinaf Taane

    This lecture explores the distinction between authentic and false interiority in Jewish ethics, arguing that true inner virtue must always be directed toward external action rather than being self-focused. Using the commandment of Lo Tachmod (don’t covet) as a case study, the instructor demonstrates how this final commandment of the Ten Commandments represents the internal […]

  4. FEB 5

    Being a good person internally doesn’t mean wanting to be a good person

    Being a good person internally doesn’t mean wanting to be a good person 📌 Related Content 📺 Watch on YouTube https://youtu.be/_DSWVR5X6Zc 🎬 Video Post https://yitzchoklowy.com/english/being-a-good-person-internally-doesnt-mean-wanting-to-be-a-good-person-video/ 📝 Read Transcript https://yitzchoklowy.com/english/being-a-good-person-internally-doesnt-mean-wanting-to-be-a-good-person-transcript/

  5. JAN 22

    Virtuous habits don’t make actions automatic

    Iyun Lemachshava English

  6. JAN 15

    Nobody ever experienced “Free Will” but “Choice”

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  7. JAN 1

    Why only the crazy people are normal

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  8. 12/12/2025

    Torah can only be translated into Greek

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About

Classes by Yitzchok Lowy on jewish thought and philosophy

Information

  • Creator
    Yitzchok Lowy
  • Years Active
    2025 - 2026
  • Episodes
    29
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © 2025 וּכְשֵׁם שֶׁאֲנִי
  • Show Website
    Iyun Lemachshava English