Amalek- Part 1

Welcome back to the Back of the Beis! Click here to listen and download this week's episode. Or click the Youtube link at the bottom.

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This week, just in time for Purim, we bring you part 1 of our in-depth discussion about Amalek. If you've ever wondered what the big deal was about the nation of Amalek and why we are commanded to completely stamp them out, this podcast is for you!

We begin with some talk about the olympics, then dive right into our Amalek discussion with an overview of the mitzvah to destroy Amalek (4:30), explain exactly what 'zachor' and 'timche' mean (8:30), explain what Amalek actually did (20), what they were trying to do (31), why we have to physically kill them (34), what our mindset should be (37), and why we must eradicate their memory (52).
Stay tuned for Part 2 next week! Contact us at backofthebeis@gmail.com with any questions, comments, or to sponsor an episode. In the meantime, have a wonderful Purim!

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Revelation and the Written Torah Part 2

We are back with part 2 of our discussion on Revelation. Click here to download and listen to this week's episode. Or click the YouTube link below.
For Part 1 click here. 

We begin by continuing our discussion as to why revelation was necessary, then continue by discussing the difference between Moshe and all other prophets (9 minutes). how to reach a high spiritual level and what that means (13 minutes), how do we know spirituality exists (15 minutes), and end with a discussion of where is God? (21 minutes), you know, the simple things in life. As a P.S., Jude discusses his experiences with "floating" (45 minutes).

This was actually the first conversation we ever recorded, so you can tell we are still figuring things out, but we were having so much fun at the same time.

Don't forget to email us your comments and questions at backofthebeis@gmail.com, find us on Facebook, Twitter (@kumzitzguy), and visit the blog itself at backofthebeis.blogspot.com. 
Until next time, Prophets!

Revelation & the Written Torah Part 1

Welcome again to the Back of the Beis! Click here to listen and download to this week's episode. Or click the video link at the bottom of the post.

This week we are discussing the validity of the Written Torah and the revelation at Har Sinai. We hit on how we know the stories in the Torah are true, the avos as real human beings (17 minutes), medrash and more stories not found in the Torah (28 minutes), revelation  (30 minutes), and how revelation might not even be necessary to prove the truth of the Torah (42 minutes).

And this is only part 1! Stay tuned next week for part 2. Don't forget to stay tuned to this site, check out our YouTube page, find us on Facebook, and on twitter (@kumzitzguy). It's only going to get crazier here in the Back of the Beis!

Oral Torah- The Vladity of and How it Applies to All Eras- Part 2

We are back with Part 2 of our discussion of the Oral Torah! Click here to download and listen to this week's episode.

This week, we continue our discussion of the accurate transmission of the Oral Torah, explain how arguments are still possible even with an accurate transmission (5 minutes), understand how complex the Oral Torah really is (9 minutes), explain why it was important for it to remain oral (20 minutes), and finish off by explaining the true meaning and best way of understanding the Oral Torah (29 minutes).
Please email us at backofthebeis@gmail.com with any questions, comments, or suggestions. And stay tuned to this page for more updates!

The Oral Torah- Proving Its Validity & How It Works Part 1

Welcome to BOTB! Click here to listen to and download this week's episode.

This week we bring you Part 1 of a discussion about the Oral Torah. We begin by discussing the name, "Back of the Beis". Then we begin by explaining exactly how the Oral Torah was given over (2:30), the concept of a 'living Torah (7 minutes), the structure of the Oral Torah (13 minutes), exactly what it means when we say it was "oral" (24 minutes), the concept of a 'halacha l'moshe m'sinai' (34 minutes), references within the Written Torah (39 minutes), proofs to the validity of the Oral Torah (44 minutes), the reality of the criminal justice system in classical Judaism (48 minutes), and how we can be assured of an accurate transmission (58 minutes).
If it sounds like a lot, it is! With even more coming next week in Part 2! In the meantime, email us at backofthebeis@gmail.com with any questions, comments, or topic suggestions.