Rabbi Dr. Ezra Labaton A"h Lectures

  Deals with philosophy within every aspect of Judaism. Why we must understand Jewish and non-Jewish philosophy. And, the obligation for Rabbi’s to be educaed, sophisticated, aware, and knowledgable to answer difficult questions. People within the community ask their rabbis about non-jewish…Read more ›

(1 of 4) Exploring Sefer Bereshit/Genesis as the source of the ideas, ideals, and values which have shaped the modern world.

(2 of 4) Exploring Sefer Bereshit/Genesis as the source of the ideas, ideals, and values which have shaped the modern world.  

(3 of 4) Exploring Sefer Bereshit/Genesis as the source of the ideas, ideals, and values which have shaped the modern world.  

(4 of 4) Rabbi Labaton discuss’s how the themes within Sefer Bereshit/Book of Genesis contain the ideas, ideals, and values we should live by. It’s the source book of our lives.

“We’ve been studying about one of the foremost thinkers of the 20th century, Rav Joseph Soloveitchik. He has distinguished himself in two distinct areas, in halachic/law formulation, Analysis, and the way he approaches any sugya/passage in Talmud is one as…Read more ›

Class 2 of 2- Recorded on 5/18/04  Rabbi Labaton shares his personal reflections on his Rabbi and teacher, the Rav/Rabbi Soloveitchik (1903-1993). He received his smicha/Rabbinical Ordination from the Rav/Rabbi Soloveitchik at Yeshiva University REITS.  

Class 1 of 2 –Recorded 5/3/04 Here, Rabbi Labaton shares his personal reflections on his Rabbi and teacher, the Rav/Rabbi Soloveitchik (1903-1993). He received his smicha/Rabbinical Ordination from the Rav/Rabbi Soloveitchik at Yeshiva University REITS. He asks the following questions: “Why do we have…Read more ›

*“Our goal tonight is to try and rescue the Rambam/Maimonides (1135C.E.-1204CE) from the clutches of the Kabbalists/Mystics.” “Our task really is to try to explain what went wrong. How could it be that one of the great rationalists of all…Read more ›

Physical and/or Spiritual Resurrection? The Rambam/Maimonides (1135C.E.-1205C.E) was criticized for not believing in physical resurrection and not including it in his Mishneh Torah/Code of Jewish Law. The Ra’vaad/Rabbeinu Abraham ben David (1125C.E.-1198C.E.) who was mystically inclined who challenged much of…Read more ›

Part 1 of 8 on Inyaneh Teshuvah

Part 2 of 8 on Inyaneh Teshuvah. Focus of this class is how the Rambam/Maimonides deals with Teshuvah/Repentance. The below are some of the sources used in this class. These are not exact quotes with exact chapters and so on.…Read more ›

Part 3 of 8 on Inyaneh Teshuvah. The Rabbi uses King Shaul’s reign (1020BCE -1000BCE) as an example of where Repentance fails. Below are the texts Rabbi Labaton discusses in this class (JPS English translation). [Book of Samuel 1, Chapter 13:1- 13:7]…Read more ›

Part 4 of 8 on Inyaneh Teshuvah – Rabbi Labaton recalled a situation when he asked The Rav’s grandson in-law, who does the family think understood Rav Soloveitchik best? The answer he received was Rabbi Walter Wurzberger. When you listen to this class,…Read more ›

Part 5 of 8 on Inyaneh Teshuvah.

Part 6 of 8 on Inyaneh Teshuvah.

Part 7 of 8 on Inyaneh Teshuvah.

Part 8 of 8 on Inyaneh Teshuvah

(2 of 2) Rabbi Labaton discuss’s some of the most controversial parts of the book of Samuel, in Prophets. In addition, he discusses how sometimes the commentators will take a strange text and find ways to normalize it or unstrangize it.…Read more ›