Category: Rabbinic Thought and Theology

Ep. 146 Current Jewish Questions 45 – Segulot, Simmanim, and Superstitions 4

In the final installment of the Segulot, Simmanim, and Superstition series, Rabbi Yuter addresses the difficulties in distinguishing between permitted and forbidden folk rituals in Rabbinic law.

Segulot, Simmanim, and Superstitions 4 Sources (PDF)

Segulot, Simmanim, and Superstitions 4




Ep. 144 Current Jewish Questions 44 – Segulot, Simmanim, and Superstitions 3

This installment of Segulot, Simmanim, and Superstitions discusses approaches to dreams in Rabbinic thought.

Current Jewish Questions – Segulot Simmanim and Superstitions 3 Sources (PDF)

Current Jewish Questions – Segulot, Simmanim, and Superstitions 3




Ep. 142 Current Jewish Questions 43 – Segulot, Simmanim, and Superstitions 2

This second installment of Segulot, Simmanim, and Superstitions covers potentially improper appeals to God, and Rabbinic uses of finding “Signs” in everyday life.

Current Jewish Questions 43 – Segulot Simmanim and Superstitions 2 Sources (PDF)

Current Jewish Questions 43 – Segulot Simmanim and Superstitions 2




Ep. 140 Current Jewish Questions 41 – Segulot Simmanim and Superstitions 1

Rabbi Yuter’s Current Jewish Questions starts a new series discussing the roles of Segulot, Simmanim, and Superstitions in Jewish folk religion as compared to prohibitions of idolatry.

Current Jewish Questions – Segulot Simmanim and Superstitions 1 Sources (PDF)

Current Jewish Questions – Segulot Simmanim and Superstitions 1




Ep. 74 Rabbinic Thought and Theology 6 – Mazal

Everyone knows the exclamation “Mazal Tov!” but the definition and role of the “mazal” in rabbinic thought is itself presents a fascinating range of perspectives of how God’s world operates.

Rabbinic Thought And Theology – Mazal Sources (PDF)

Rabbinic Thought And Theology – Mazal




Ep. 73 Rabbinic Thought and Theology 5 – Theodicy and the Problem of Evil

The question of evil and divine justice has engaged and vexed theologians of all religions for centuries. In the class, Rabbi Yuter demonstrates the range of approaches in Rabbinic literature and offers his unique approach towards finding a resolution. (An update of the earlier post Talmudic Theodicy)

Rabbinic Thought and Theology – Theodicy and the Problem of Evil Sources (PDF)

Rabbinic Thought and Theology – Theodicy and the Problem of Evil




Ep. 69 Rabbinic Thought and Theology 4 – Where is God?

The song goes “Hashem is here, Hashem is there, Hashem is truly everywhere” but is he? Rabbi Yuter explores different possibilities from Rabbinic sources, and wonder if “Where is God?” is really the right question to ask.

Rabbinic Thought and Theology 4 – Where is God? Sources (PDF)

Rabbinic Thought and Theology 4 – Where is God?




Ep. 68 Rabbinic Thought and Theology 3 – Gehenom / Hell

In this installment of Rabbinic Thought and Theology, Rabbi Yuter explores some of the Rabbinic descriptions for Gehenom, commonly understood as “Hell”

Rabbinic Thought and Theology 3 – Gehenom / Hell Sources (PDF)

Rabbinic Thought and Theology 3 – Gehenom / Hell




Ep. 65 Rabbinic Thought and Theology 2 – What is Olam Haba / The World to Come

Rabbi Yuter’s Rabbinic Thought and Theology series begins to examine the range of rabbinic opinions about Olam Haba / The World to Come.

Rabbinic Thought and Theology – What is Olam Haba / The World to Come? Sources (PDF)

Rabbinic Thought and Theology – What is Olam Haba / The World to Come?




Ep. 64 Rabbinic Thought and Theology 1 – Introduction / Angels

Rabbi Yuter’s introduces his new series on Rabbinic Thought and Theology with a survey of Angels in rabbinic literature, and a discussion on the methodological approach of the class.

Rabbinic Thought and Theology 1 – Introduction / Angels Sources (PDF)

Rabbinic Thought and Theology 1 – Introduction / Angels