Ethics and Jewish Law Part III

The Bruchim Podcast

In the third part of this series, Eli and Max are joined by the moral philosopher Jeff Helmreich. After Jeff gets up to speed on the conversation, he complicates matters by introducing a fifth option for the relationship between ethics and Jewish law. The group digs into the "Oven of Akhnai," a famous story from the Babylonian Talmud. Jeff then talks about the process he went through when deciding to circumcise his son and articulates his position, followed by discussion of how his position relates to the other options discussed.
Show Notes:
Eli’s film, Cut:
https://www.cutthefilm.com
Sam Lebens book The Principles of Judaism:
https://a.co/d/7HCrWzx
Jeff’s Review of the Lebens book:
https://www.cambridge.org/core/journals/religious-studies/article/abs/samuel-lebens-the-principles-of-judaism-oxford-oxford-university-press-2020-pp-xviii-352-750010000-hbk-isbn-9780198843252/80958BDE0851BCC4A63E7EE50E9E3693?utm_campaign=shareaholic&utm_medium=copy_link&utm_source=bookmark

Rabbi Aharon Lichtenstein’s Essay:
https://www.etzion.org.il/en/philosophy/great-thinkers/harav-aharon-lichtenstein/does-jewish-tradition-recognize-ethic

The Oven of Akhnai Story:
https://www.sefaria.org/Bava_Metzia.59b.1?lang=bi&with=all&lang2=en