Madlik Podcast – Disruptive Torah Thoughts on Judaism – Details, episodes & analysis

What happens when women finally enter the conversation that's been about them all along?

In this episode of Madlik: Disruptive Torah, Geoffrey Stern and Rabbi Adam Mintz are joined by Prof. Rabbi Wendy Zierler — Sigmund Falk Professor of Modern Jewish Literature and Feminist Studies at HUC-JIR, ordained by Yeshivat Maharat, and author of Going Out with Knots: My Two Kaddish Years with Hebrew Poetry.

1. Expect to rethink assumptions about primary biblical characters—especially the matriarchs—and appreciate the living tradition of midrash as a vehicle for creativity and challenge.
2. Hear how feminist perspectives and modern poetry revitalize Jewish text study, offering new interpretations for "the life of Sarah"—and the legacies that women shape.
3. Explore the argument that literary and artistic creation in Hebrew is as much a part of Jewish commentary as classic text study.

[00:00:00] Geoffrey introduces the episode and guest Rabbi Professor Wendy Zierler, setting up a feminist exploration of Sarah's story in Genesis.

[00:02:31] Discussion begins on Sarah's laughter and how women's scholarship reframes her response and role in Torah narratives.

[00:03:46] Wendy explains the irony of "Chayei Sarah" focusing on Sarah's death and how reading the gaps reveals her inner life.

[00:05:36] They examine Abraham and Sarah's separation after the Akedah and what it reveals about love, obedience, and divine testing.

[00:09:02] Wendy argues the Akedah causes a rupture—between Abraham and Sarah, Abraham and Isaac, and even Abraham and God.

[00:12:40] The hosts explore new feminist midrash: Sarah's imagined agency, waiting for angels, and representing love over fear.

[00:17:22] Conversation turns to Sarah's burial choice as an act of leadership that shaped the matriarchal roots of the Jewish story.

[00:19:53] Transition to Wendy's book Going Out with Knots and how Hebrew poetry became her lens for mourning and feminist study.

[00:21:41] Wendy teaches Leia Goldberg's reinterpretation of "the three pillars of the world," highlighting women's creative renewal of tradition.

[00:26:42] Discussion closes with Yehuda Amichai's outsider voice, women's return to Hebrew literature, and modern creativity as living midrash.

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Sefaria Source Sheet:https://www.sefaria.org/sheets/688219

Transcript here: https://madlik.substack.com/

Link to Wendy's Book: https://jps.org/books/going-out-with-knots/

Link to theTorah.com article: https://www.thetorah.com/article/sarah-finally-separates-herself-from-abraham

A Netflix rom-com jokes that Judaism "encourages me to argue." Turns out, that's not a joke—it's what set Abraham apart.

A Netflix rom-com gives us a throwaway line that might be the most Jewish thing ever said on screen. When a young rabbi admits that Judaism loves two opposing opinions, his girlfriend lights up: "A religion that encourages me to argue? Love that." It's meant as a joke, but this week's Torah portion proves her right. Sarah laughs at divine promises, Abraham bargains with God over justice, and on Mount Moriah, even silence feels like protest. Judaism doesn't shy from disagreement—it builds holiness out of it. In Nobody Wants This Argument With God, we explore how faith, laughter, and dissent became inseparable in the Jewish imagination.

1. From Sarah's laughter to Abraham's debate, the Torah's heroes don't obey blindly — they question boldly.
2. In Judaism, arguing with God isn't heresy — it's how prayer begins.
3. Laughter is not only a survival mechanism its an act of defiance.

• [00:00:00] Opening story – bingeing "Nobody Wants That" and connecting its theme of argument to the Abraham story.
• [00:01:22] Framing the Torah portions – arguing as Judaism's "love language."
• [00:02:19] Introduction to the podcast and this week's Parsha topic.
• [00:05:34] Beginning analysis of Genesis 18 – Sarah's laughter and disbelief.
• [00:08:09] Discussion of women's Torah commentary and reinterpretation of Sarah's fear.
• [00:12:30] Transition to the Sodom narrative – Abraham arguing with God.
• [00:17:41] Exploration of rabbinic interpretations that amplify Abraham's argument.
• [00:20:07] "Prayer as battle" – how the rabbis turned debate with God into daily practice.
• [00:26:13] Transition to the Binding of Isaac – silent inner arguments and faith.
• [00:30:44] Closing reflections – dialogue with God as Judaism's defining feature and farewell.

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Sefaria Source Sheet:https://www.sefaria.org/sheets/686496

Transcript here: https://madlik.substack.com/

Are there times were we should strive not to be present or in the moment?

As we enter the month of Elul and approach the High Holidays, many of us instinctively tighten our grip on spiritual practices. We double down on prayer, intensify our focus, and strive for flawless kavanah (intention). But what if true holiness sometimes emerges when we loosen our hold?

In this week's Torah portion, Ki Teitze, we encounter a surprising perspective on mitzvot (commandments) that challenges our assumptions about intentionality and control. Let's explore how embracing the unintentional might deepen our spiritual practice and transform our relationship with the Divine.

1. The nuanced approach to returning lost objects and when it's okay to "hide your eyes"
2. How the agricultural law of forgotten sheaves (shichecha) relates to selective memory during the High Holidays
3. The serendipitous nature of the bird's nest commandment and its character and environmental implications

• [00:00:00] Holiness in forgetting and letting go
• [00:02:07] Rabbi joins from Italy
• [00:03:00] Announcements and upcoming live event
• [00:04:00] Returning lost objects in Deuteronomy
• [00:06:03] The subway lesson: looking away
• [00:09:00] Exceptions to returning lost items
• [00:12:00] The mitzvah of forgetting sheaves in the field
• [00:17:00] Selective memory and Rosh Hashanah
• [00:22:00] The bird's nest commandment
• [00:28:00] Wrapping up: intentional vs. unintentional holiness

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Transcript here: https://madlik.substack.com/

Rav Stav is the co-founder of the Tzohar, a rabbinical organization which aims to provide religious services to and create dialogue with the broader Israeli population. He also serves as the rabbi of the city of Shoham. Previously he served as the rabbi of the religious film school, Maale, and was one of the founding heads of Yeshivat Hesder Petach Tikva. He is the author of Bein Ha-Zemanim, a book about culture and recreation in Jewish thought and law. One of Israel's most visible rabbinic figures, he regularly appears on Israeli television and radio, and lectures to a wide range of audiences. We discuss his organization and the challenges and opportunities presented by the war and its aftermath.

Join Geoffrey Stern and Rabbi Adam Mintz recorded on Clubhouse. In the only parsha named after a woman we continue our exploration of issues raised by Israel at war. In the Jewish State, Jewish law (Halacha) has exclusive jurisdiction over marriage and divorce for Jews. One area where Orthodox women have radically broken with Rabbinic authority is with regard to divorce. Traditionally women have been at the mercy of the patriarchy, whether their husbands or the rabbinic courts.  These women, the NGOs and Rabbis who support them have used Biblical and Rabbinic texts to claim rights long denied. The primary source relates to King David and a single verse in the Book of Samuel protecting military wives. Join us as we explore these initiatives and texts.

Sefaria Source Sheet: www.sefaria.org/sheets/523840 

Transcript on episode web page: https://madlik.com/2023/11/08/women-wage-war/ 

Join Geoffrey Stern and Rabbi Adam Mintz recorded on Clubhouse. Over 250,000 innocent civilians have been displaced since the advent of the Oct 7th war from both the South and the North of Israel. Volunteers, non-government organizations and tech workers who were organizing protests a month ago have taken the lead in welcoming these fugitives and providing all sorts of support, both physical, spiritual, social and psychological. Join us as we study a parsha that celebrates the hosting of guests.

Sefaria Source Sheet: www.sefaria.org/sheets/522063

Transript on episode web page: https://madlik.com/2023/11/01/making-place-for-the-displaced/ 

Join Geoffrey Stern and Rabbi Adam Mintz recorded on Clubhouse. What about Abraham was so radical? What about Abraham has created such extremes of love and hate… such rivalry, such animosity, such promise and such despair?

Sefaria Source Sheet: www.sefaria.org/sheets/520323 

Transcript on episode web page: https://madlik.com/2023/10/25/abraham-and-the-birth-of-anit-semitism/ 

Join Geoffrey Stern and Rabbi Adam Mintz recorded on Clubhouse. Noah has been denigrated for saving only himself and his family and not for saving all of humanity. In a world where victims and survivors of terrorism are vilified and protecting ones life and the security of ones family a sin, we look at Noah differently and learn something about ourselves and our enemies.

Sefaria Source Sheet: www.sefaria.org/sheets/518474

Transcript on Episode Web page: https://madlik.com/2023/10/18/a-tzaddik-in-peltz/ 

Join Geoffrey Stern and Rabbi Mintz recorded on Clubhouse. As Hamas finally achieves its goal of massacring thousands of Israelis, we reconsider the Talmudic saying that man was created single to teach that for anybody who destroys a single life it is counted as if he destroyed an entire world. So join us as we mourn and Study Torah....

Sefaria Source Sheet: www.sefaria.org/sheets/516652 

Transcript: https://madlik.com/2023/10/11/a-single-life/ 

Join Geoffrey Stern and Rabbi Adam Mintz recorded on Clubhouse. As we finish the annual Torah cycle we use the legendary partnership between Zebulun and Issachar  to explore Rabbinic Judaism's various and many times conflicting position on financial support for Torah Study.

Sefaria Source Sheet:  www.sefaria.org/sheets/515056

Transcript on Episode web page:  https://madlik.com/2023/10/04/learning-torah-for-a-living/