In this episode of "Truths: Jewish Wisdom for Today," Rabbi Dr. Levi Brackman explores the Torah portion of Ki Teitzei, focusing on its complex laws regarding marriage and divorce. He examines how these ancient texts can be interpreted to align with modern ethical standards. Brackman discusses a case where a man falsely accuses his wife of not being a virgin, leading to intricate legal and moral questions. He highlights the role of the Talmud and rabbinic interpretations in ensuring fairness, particularly for women, through the concept of "ethical corrective." This approach allows for a more equitable application of the law. The episode also delves into the debate between literal and rabbinic readings of the Torah, illustrating how interpretations can vary. Brackman emphasizes the adaptability of Jewish law and its focus on peace, inviting listeners to reflect on the balance between tradition and modernity.

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Levi Brackman is a rabbi, Ph.D. in psychology, best-selling author of Jewish Wisdom for Business Success, and founder of Invown, a platform for real estate fundraising and investing.

In this episode of Truths: Jewish Wisdom for Today, Levi Brackman delves into the topic of false prophets as presented in two Torah portions, Re'eh and Shoftim, from Deuteronomy. He begins by exploring why the Torah addresses false prophets in two separate sections (Chapters 13 and 18) rather than consolidating them into one. Through his analysis, Levi concludes that these two sections represent different contexts that justify their separation.

Chapter 13 emphasizes that the Torah is immutable, meaning no prophet can add to or take away from it. Any prophet who attempts to introduce new laws or encourage following other gods is a false prophet, and the Torah is clear that it remains unchangeable for all time.

Chapter 18, on the other hand, warns against practices like sorcery and divination, which were common among non-Israelite nations. Instead, God communicated through a prophet from among the Israelites. This prophet would guide in areas not explicitly covered by the Torah, such as whether to go to war, and his legitimacy would be confirmed if his predictions came true.

Levi further discusses the role of a true prophet as both a spiritual leader and a guide for the nation in uncertain times. He also addresses the implications of these teachings for modern-day beliefs, particularly how they negate the possibility of new prophets altering the Torah and challenging certain Christian beliefs that involve adding to the Torah.

In conclusion, Levi ties together the lessons from both chapters, emphasizing that the Torah remains unchanged, and any prophet attempting to modify it is false. The role of the prophet, he suggests, is to guide people in following the existing Torah and offer direction in ambiguous matters, providing a sense of guidance and support in uncertain times.

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Levi Brackman is a rabbi, Ph.D. in psychology, best-selling author of Jewish Wisdom for Business Success, and founder of Invown, a platform for real estate fundraising and investing.

In this episode of Truths: Jewish Wisdom for Today, Rabbi Dr. Levi Brackman reflects on a recent debate between Candace Owens, a right-wing political commentator, and Rabbi Shmuley Boteach. The core focus of Brackman's discussion is Candace Owens' opening remarks during the debate, particularly her references to Judaism, Jewish teachings, and the nature of Rabbi Menachem Mendel Schneerson's views.

Brackman agrees with Owens' general point about the existence of radical fringe elements in most religions, including Judaism. However, he strongly criticizes her for equating Jewish religious beliefs with white supremacy. He calls her out for falsely accusing the late Lubavitcher Rebbe, Rabbi Menachem Schneerson, of harboring hatred toward non-Jews as well as her misleading lack of context and nuance surrounding his teachings, which Owens quoted indirectly through Israel Shahak, a known critic of the Orthodox Jewish community.

Brackman stresses that while specific Jewish texts may speak of Jewish exceptionalism, they are not grounded in hatred of others. He contextualizes the Jewish concept of being "chosen" or exceptional as a religious belief, not a supremacist ideology like white supremacy. He points out that Owens misrepresents the teachings of Judaism by ignoring fundamental laws that emphasize kindness to non-Jews, particularly the obligation to treat "the stranger" with respect.

Furthermore, Brackman rebuts Owens' use of Israel Shahak as a source, citing Shahak's false claims in 1965 about Orthodox Jews' refusal to help save non-Jews on the Sabbath. He demonstrates that Shahak's story is a fabrication and defends Jewish law, which mandates the saving of all lives, Jewish or non-Jewish.

Brackman finds Owens' arguments misleading and based on historical distortions. He concludes that her remarks reflect deep-rooted prejudice, not a genuine critique, and expresses disappointment that Rabbi Shmuley Boteach did not adequately challenge her statements during the debate.

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Levi Brackman is a rabbi, Ph.D. in psychology, best-selling author of Jewish Wisdom for Business Success, and founder of Invown, a platform for real estate fundraising and investing.