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Madlik Podcast Disruptive Torah Thoughts on JudaismAuthor: Geoffrey Stern
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, (Madlik) means to ignite. But in modern slang, it simply means cool. We aim to be both. Language: en Genres: History, Judaism, Religion & Spirituality Contact email: Get it Feed URL: Get it iTunes ID: Get it |
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When Homes Are Torn Open
Wednesday, 15 April, 2026
Look closely at the broken walls of Israel, and you might just see the hidden history, resilience, and ancient secrets waiting to be uncovered in the rubble. The Bible contains an enigmatic set of laws about a house that becomes afflicted—and somehow needs to be cured. But the Rabbis flip the script. What if this "plague" isn't a punishment… but a gift? What if tearing down a wall reveals something hidden בתוך הקיר—inside the wall? Key Takeaways Our homes are not just structures—they are stories The Torah teaches that a house can carry memory, history, and even moral weight. Whether through Midrash, archaeology, or modern Israel, we learn: What's inside the walls is not empty—it's the past, waiting to be uncovered. 2. Sometimes breaking is a form of revealing What looks like destruction can also be exposure. The Rabbis reframed tzara'at not as punishment—but as a gift: When the walls come down, hidden truths—about the past and about ourselves—come to light. 3. The real "treasure" is resilience Today, as we see homes in Israel torn open, it's hard to imagine anything positive. And yet: The treasure isn't gold in the walls— it's the strength, courage, and resilience of the people who built—and will rebuild—again. Timestamps [00:00] Afflicted House Mystery [01:08] Meet The Hosts [01:29] Reading Metzora Laws [03:32] Rashi Hidden Treasures [08:00] Why Only In Israel [09:34] Mold Medicine And Ritual [15:37] Walls Have Ears [18:26] Sponsor Break [19:33] Archaeology And Spolia [25:50] Artist Finds In Concrete [29:15] War Ruins And Resilience [31:10] Closing Blessings Links & Learnings Sign up for free and get more from our weekly newsletter https://madlik.com/ Sefaria Source Sheet: https://voices.sefaria.org/sheets/719351 Transcript here: https://madlik.substack.com/
