Episode 33: Rabbi Dr. Elie Feder "Gematria Refigured"

Gematria is one of the methods of Aggadic interpretation but unfortunately it has developed a bad reputation as something that can be easily manipulated to "prove" any idea. As a respected mathematician and a critical thinker, Rabbi Dr. Elie Feder initially did not find it to be compelling at all. That is until a particular gematria piqued his interest. In this episode, he discusses his journey from skeptic to believer. But what are we to make of Gematrias that are seemingly intellectually dishonest, which he refers to in his book 'Gematria Refigured' as "patchwork" or "almost the same" gematrias? The Rabbi presents us with the brilliance of Chazal and explains why they utilized a method of derash specifically focusing on quantity. His approach really blew us away, giving us a newfound appreciation for the Sages. --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/judaismdemystified/support

Om Podcasten

Do you have questions that the educational system didn't adequately address? Today, there are many who don't find Torah to be compelling or relevant as we are faced with unprecedented challenges such as the OTD phenomenon, suppression of ideas, cover-ups, assimilation, skepticism, biblical criticism, charlatanism, atheism, and a slew of other existential threats. As 2 lifelong Sepharadi friends, we decided to create the Torah content we couldn't find elsewhere: long-form discussions with thinkers from various areas of expertise, presenting unique insights that inspire a return to fundamentals. Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/judaismdemystified/support