Rabbi Francis Nataf Podcast
1) Was Moshe a Postmodernist?
In Deuteronomy, Moshe seems to have his own narrative of the story of the spies that we read in Bemidbar. Is that because he was a postmodernist before his time? See what Abarbanel, Nietzsche and Rav ...Show More
2) Why You Can't Trust Yourself in Elul and What to do About it
It is normal to be subjective, but when it comes to making decisions, it is wise to minimize it. While we can do that reasonably well in that department when it comes to others, it is much harder when...Show More
3) Can We Pray for Sports?
When does prayer have a role, if at all, in sports? When American political commentator, David French, echoes Ramban on this week's parsha. And whether the Israeli Olympic team might be different. --...Show More
4) Women Rabbis and the Daughters of Tzelofehad
How does one go about seeking legitimate change and the real problem with women rabbis. Why women rabbis are less of a problem than you might think, but one that must be reckoned with nevertheless. In...Show More
5) Bulls and Bears, Evolution and Why R. Yehoshua Preferred Shortcuts
Join me as we discuss our love of shortcuts and how Jewish history and texts warn us about their inefficacy. Also, why was Rav Kook so enthusiastic about evolution? And also, an important correction t...Show More
6) Dissent, Orthoprax and Red Lines - A Conversation with Rabbi Dr. Gidon Rothstein
Listen to this freewheeling discussion about what rabbis and teachers want to accomplish and some of the obstacles they face. Also, should we be excited about the possibly first identifiably religious...Show More
Dissent, Orthoprax and Red Lines - A Conversation with Rabbi Dr. Gidon Rothstein
20:28 | May 30th, 2021
7) Equal Marriages and Relating to God
Kings and servants, husbands and wives. What metaphors can still be used for the relationship between God and man? And another open question, digging into an insight from Rabbi Shlomo Wolbe, z'l. ---...Show More
8) Bad Bus Drivers, Risk and Faith
It seems that the Torah wants us to be exposed to risk in certain contexts, such as with shemitah. How are we to deal with that - is there a middle road or should we try to find other avenues to God-a...Show More
9) Is it a Symphony or is it Jazz?
Rabbi Natan Lopes Cardozo once wrote an essay called Halacha as Symphony, but Netziv relates to kedushah like jazz music. The importance of using the best possible metaphors and why metaphors are bett...Show More
10) Groundhog Day, the Israeli Elections and Collective Punishment
No, our intention was not that the Israeli elections are collective punishment, though it would appear that they are. Rather what is intended is that the Torah's underlying justification of collective...Show More