Rabbi Dr. Ezra Labaton A"H Lectures: Recent Episodes
Rabbi Dr. Ezra Labaton A"H Lectures
One of the great criticisms of the Rambam/Maimonides was that he did not write down the sources used to explain how he derived and decided Jewish law. His Code of Jewish Law/Mishneh Torah was straight forward without a discussion on…Read more ›
Starting in November of 2001 and concluding in February 2001, Rabbi Labaton gave a 9 part weekly class on the topic of “Science and Religion”. This class was given on February 17th, 2001.
Starting in November of 2001 and concluding in February 2001, Rabbi Labaton gave a 9 part weekly class on the topic of “Science and Religion”. This class was given on January 13th, 2001.
Starting in November of 2001 and concluding in February 2001, Rabbi Labaton gave a 9 part weekly class on the topic of “Science and Religion”. This class was given on December 16th, 2000.
Starting in November of 2001 and concluding in February 2001, Rabbi Labaton gave a 9 part weekly class on the topic of “Science and Religion”. This class was given on December 9th, 2000.
Starting in November of 2001 and concluding in February 2001, Rabbi Labaton gave a 9 part weekly class on the topic of “Science and Religion”. This class was given on December 2nd, 2000.
Starting in November of 2001 and concluding in February 2001, Rabbi Labaton gave a 9 part weekly class on the topic of “Science and Religion”. This class was given on November 25th, 2000.
Starting in November of 2001 and concluding in February 2001, Rabbi Labaton gave a 9 part weekly class on the topic of “Science and Religion”. This class was given on November 18th, 2000.
Starting in November of 2001 and concluding in February 2001, Rabbi Labaton gave a 9 part weekly class on the topic of “Science and Religion”. This class was given on November 11th, 2000.
Starting in November of 2001 and concluding in February 2001, Rabbi Labaton gave a 9 part weekly class on the topic of “Science and Religion”. This class was given on November 4th, 2000.
This class was given on Tisha Be’ab, July 15, 2013 only a few months before the Rabbis passing.
“The Lonely Man of Faith”, by Rabbi Joseph B. Soloveitchik is arguably the single most important Jewish Philosophy book written in modern times. This 20 minute class by provides introduction to some of the books ideas.
(3 out of 3) This three-part class series was given in the summer of 1995. To our knowledge, the first class in the series was not recorded
(2 out of 3) This three-part class series was given in the summer of 1995. To our knowledge, the first class in the series was not recorded
(3 out of 3) This three-part class series was given in July of 2001. Dedicated in memory of Joe Betesh A”H, by his wife Sonia, his children and grandchildren.
(2 out of 3) This three-part class series was given in July of 2001. Dedicated in memory of Joe Betesh A”H, by his wife Sonia, his children and grandchildren.
(1 out of 3) This three-part class series was given in July of 2001. Dedicated in memory of Joe Betesh A”H, by his wife Sonia, his children and grandchildren.
Lecture given 11-28-06. Presented by Merkaz Moreshet Yisrael. View Class Notes TurkeyClassnotes1106 – View the Rabbi’s 8 pages of notes used during the lecture. TurkeySourcedocs1106 – View 17 pages of source documents, all with the Rabbi’s annotations, used in preparation for the lecture.
He discusses the ethical, spiritual, and rational elements of the Rambam’s/Maimonides Mishneh Torah/Code of Jewish Law. This was recorded on 3/8/04.
The Rabbi explains the 13 Principles of Faith put forth by Rambam/Maimonides and how we should interpret them.
What’s the impact HaRambam/Maimonides has had and continues to have on the world? 3/1/04
Being the “Chosen” people has put the Jews in very precarious situations over the years. Moreover, being “Chosen” has led to anti-Semitism. Has this idea of being “Chosen” helped or hindered our work in this world?
The Jewish Calendar itself is a mechanism or means of studying the ideas, ideals, and values of Judaism. Our method of celebration of a holiday is not simply to teach or read about the holiday, rather to experience and live the…Read more ›
Deals with philosophy within every aspect of Judaism. Why we must understand Jewish and non-Jewish philosophy. And, the obligation for Rabbi’s to be educaed, sophisticated, aware, and knowledgable to answer difficult questions. People within the community ask their rabbis about non-jewish…Read more ›
(1 of 4) Exploring Sefer Bereshit/Genesis as the source of the ideas, ideals, and values which have shaped the modern world.
(2 of 4) Exploring Sefer Bereshit/Genesis as the source of the ideas, ideals, and values which have shaped the modern world.
(3 of 4) Exploring Sefer Bereshit/Genesis as the source of the ideas, ideals, and values which have shaped the modern world.
(4 of 4) Rabbi Labaton discuss’s how the themes within Sefer Bereshit/Book of Genesis contain the ideas, ideals, and values we should live by. It’s the source book of our lives.
“We’ve been studying about one of the foremost thinkers of the 20th century, Rav Joseph Soloveitchik. He has distinguished himself in two distinct areas, in halachic/law formulation, Analysis, and the way he approaches any sugya/passage in Talmud is one as…Read more ›
Class 2 of 2- Recorded on 5/18/04 Rabbi Labaton shares his personal reflections on his Rabbi and teacher, the Rav/Rabbi Soloveitchik (1903-1993). He received his smicha/Rabbinical Ordination from the Rav/Rabbi Soloveitchik at Yeshiva University REITS.
Class 1 of 2 –Recorded 5/3/04 Here, Rabbi Labaton shares his personal reflections on his Rabbi and teacher, the Rav/Rabbi Soloveitchik (1903-1993). He received his smicha/Rabbinical Ordination from the Rav/Rabbi Soloveitchik at Yeshiva University REITS. He asks the following questions: “Why do we have…Read more ›
*“Our goal tonight is to try and rescue the Rambam/Maimonides (1135C.E.-1204CE) from the clutches of the Kabbalists/Mystics.” “Our task really is to try to explain what went wrong. How could it be that one of the great rationalists of all…Read more ›
Physical and/or Spiritual Resurrection? The Rambam/Maimonides (1135C.E.-1205C.E) was criticized for not believing in physical resurrection and not including it in his Mishneh Torah/Code of Jewish Law. The Ra’vaad/Rabbeinu Abraham ben David (1125C.E.-1198C.E.) who was mystically inclined who challenged much of…Read more ›
Part 2 of 8 on Inyaneh Teshuvah. Focus of this class is how the Rambam/Maimonides deals with Teshuvah/Repentance. The below are some of the sources used in this class. These are not exact quotes with exact chapters and so on.…Read more ›
Part 3 of 8 on Inyaneh Teshuvah. The Rabbi uses King Shaul’s reign (1020BCE -1000BCE) as an example of where Repentance fails. Below are the texts Rabbi Labaton discusses in this class (JPS English translation). [Book of Samuel 1, Chapter 13:1- 13:7]…Read more ›
Part 4 of 8 on Inyaneh Teshuvah – Rabbi Labaton recalled a situation when he asked The Rav’s grandson in-law, who does the family think understood Rav Soloveitchik best? The answer he received was Rabbi Walter Wurzberger. When you listen to this class,…Read more ›
(2 of 2) Rabbi Labaton discuss’s some of the most controversial parts of the book of Samuel, in Prophets. In addition, he discusses how sometimes the commentators will take a strange text and find ways to normalize it or unstrangize it.…Read more ›
(1 of 2) Rabbi Labaton discuss’s some of the most controversial parts of the book of Samuel, in Prophets. In addition, he discusses how sometimes the commentators will take a strange text and find ways to normalize it or unstrangize…Read more ›
Rabbi Labaton spoke at the Edah Conference on how Kavod Haberiot/Respecting one’s Dignity and how it factors into the halachic decision making process.
given 1/25/11 at Yeshivat Eretz HaTzvi. What do the Rambam’s “Guide for The Perplexed”, “Sherlock Holmes”, and “The Fool” have in common? The following comes from (http://www.sacred-texts.com/jud/gfp/index.htm) “Maimonides (1120-1190) was a brilliant Hispanic Jewish scholar who lived in Spain and Egypt…Read more ›
“The Rambams/Maimonides view of the Torah/Bible is that the Torah/Bible is an esoteric work, it’s a hidden work. The Torah/Bible itself is written in code. What does it mean for something to be written in code? What it means is…Read more ›
The Rabbi discusses how one should approach the text in order to maximize one’s experience. In addition, how one should approach commentaries and the questions one should ask prior to learning a commentary. Is the commentator a pashtan or darshan?…Read more ›
This recording was given to us by Gina Tawil. This was part of R. Labaton’s sunday morning class. 7/7/13.
10 minute class on Halachot (Laws) ben Adam L’Makom (Laws between Man and G-d) and ben Adam L’Havero (Laws between Man and Man). The Rabbi uses the Rambam’s (Maimonides) work of Mishneh Torah with Hilchot De’ot (laws of moral attributes).…Read more ›
Part of an ongoing series “Striking but True Aspects of Tanach”. In this class, the Rabbi touches on Sefer Iyov/Job, and focuses primarily on the book of Shemuel/Samuel. ~2010
Recorded on 1/25/03: Anyone who ever heard a speech, took a class, or spent time with Rabbi Labaton heard the concept of Selem Elokim . He felt this was one of, if not the most fundamental tenets in Judaism. Selem Elokim= Every person is created in the…Read more ›
Anyone that ever heard a speech, took a class, or spent time with Rabbi Labaton heard the concept of Selem Elokim . He felt this was one of, if not the most fundamental tenets in Judaism. Selem Elokim= Every person is created in the image…Read more ›
Recorded on 12/24/02: Anyone that ever heard a speech, took a class, or spent time with Rabbi Labaton heard the concept of Selem Elokim . He felt this was one of, if not the most fundamental tenets in Judaism. Selem Elokim= Every person is created…Read more ›
Recorded: 12/19/02 Anyone that ever heard a speech, took a class, or spent time with Rabbi Labaton heard the concept of Selem Elokim . He felt this was one of, if not the most fundamental tenets in Judaism. Selem Elokim= Every person is created in the…Read more ›
Anyone that ever heard a speech, took a class, or spent time with Rabbi Labaton heard the concept of Selem Elokim . He felt this was one of, if not the most fundamental tenets in Judaism. Selem Elokim= Every person is created in the image…Read more ›
Anyone that ever heard a speech, took a class, or spent time with Rabbi Labaton heard the concept of Selem Elokim . He felt this was one of, if not the most fundamental tenets in Judaism. Selem Elokim= Every person is created in the image…Read more ›
Anyone that ever heard a speech, took a class, or spent time with Rabbi Labaton heard the concept of Selem Elokim . He felt this was one of, if not the most fundamental tenets in Judaism. Selem Elokim= Every person is created in the image…Read more ›
In this lecture, Rabbi Labaton examines the text of Genesis, and how one man ultimately influenced the world. Lecture courtesy of TorahCentral.com
Lecture given 9-16-09 at Congregation Beth Torah in Brooklyn, NY. We thank Merkaz Moreshet Yisrael for making this available. Wikipedia Definition of Ba’al Teshuva: Baal teshuva or ba’al teshuvah (Hebrew: בעל תשובה; for a woman, בעלת תשובה, baalat teshuva; plural, בעלי תשובה, baalei teshuva), sometimes abbreviated…Read more ›
Recorded 10-27-03. See the article discussed in this class Science and Religion article part 1
Recorded 6/16/03- Philosophy of the Bible Series – Iyob (Job) This course provides a historical/conceptual overview of the Bible, explaining its Ancient Near Eastern context and the philosophical and religious ideas that emerged from that context. Each book of the Bible…Read more ›
Recorded 6/9/03. Philosophy of the Bible Series – Tehilim (Psalms) and Mishle (Proverbs) This course provides a historical/conceptual overview of the Bible, explaining its Ancient Near Eastern context and the philosophical and religious ideas that emerged from that context. Each…Read more ›
Recorded 6/2/03. Philosophy of the Bible Series This course provides a historical/conceptual overview of the Bible, explaining its Ancient Near Eastern context and the philosophical and religious ideas that emerged from that context. Each book of the Bible will be…Read more ›
Recorded 5/12/03. Philosophy of the Bible Series – Tehilim (Psalms) This course provides a historical/conceptual overview of the Bible, explaining its Ancient Near Eastern context and the philosophical and religious ideas that emerged from that context. Each book of the…Read more ›
Recorded 5/5/03. Philosophy of the Bible Series – Tere Asar (Twelve Prophets) This course provides a historical/conceptual overview of the Bible, explaining its Ancient Near Eastern context and the philosophical and religious ideas that emerged from that context. Each book…Read more ›
Recorded 3/31/03. Philosophy of the Bible Series – Neviim (Prophets) This course provides a historical/conceptual overview of the Bible, explaining its Ancient Near Eastern context and the philosophical and religious ideas that emerged from that context. Each book of the…Read more ›
Recorded 3/24/03. Philosophy of the Bible Series – Introduction to Neviim (Prophets) This course provides a historical/conceptual overview of the Bible, explaining its Ancient Near Eastern context and the philosophical and religious ideas that emerged from that context. Each book…Read more ›
Philosophy of the Bible Series (4 of 11) Recorded 3/10/03 The Selective Process in Jewish History– Not only does every person not impact the world, but some never even succeed in understanding the ideas, ideals, and values of Judaism. Some choose to…Read more ›
Philosophy of the Bible Series (2 of 11) 2/24/03 Justice and Righteousness Ideas, Ideals, and Values of the Bible How have we impacted the world? Rabbi Labaton’s 3-fold model of impacting the world: 1) Hypothetical Model, 2) Concentric Circle Theory…Read more ›
Lecture give 6/19/03 Modern Writers on the Jewish Nation Series In this course, we read from the writings of famous American authors who wrote about the Jews such as Mark Twain, James Michner, and Paul Johnson. This literature covers questions…Read more ›