Ancient Jewish texts offer surprising insights into contemporary debates on judicial activism, restraint and independence
Join us as we delve into a fascinating exploration of Moses' farewell address in Parashat Devarim. This episode uncovers striking parallels between ancient concerns about judicial integrity and modern debates over judicial reform in Israel.
Key Takeaways
- Moses' emphasis on judicial reform highlights its critical importance to societal stability
- The tradition of leadership farewell addresses often includes moral warnings for the future
- Ancient Jewish texts offer surprising insights into contemporary debates on judicial activism and restraint
Timestamps
- [00:00:00] – Opening: Moses’ Final Warning is About Justice
- [00:02:27] – Farewell Speeches as a Genre
- [00:05:12] – Eisenhower’s Farewell and Military-Industrial Complex
- [00:09:00] – Urian’s Speech and Jewish Exceptionalism
- [00:12:00] – Moses’ First and Final Acts: Appointing Judges
- [00:14:45] – Deuteronomy 1:12–18 – The Core Torah Passage
- [00:17:00] – Eicha (How?!) – Midrash and Lamentation Connection
- [00:21:32] – Ramban: Justice Means More than Judges
- [00:26:00] – Judicial Activism vs. Restraint in Rashi
- [00:28:00] – Maimonides (Rambam) on Appointing Unfit Judges
Links & Learnings
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Transcript here: https://madlik.substack.com/
