18Forty Podcast24 Jun 2025

A Debate Between Yitzchak Blau & Itamar Rosensweig: Does Morality Exist Outside of Judaism?

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In this episode of the 18Forty Podcast, David Bashevkin moderates a debate between Rabbi Itamar Rosensweig and Rabbi Yitzchak Blau on whether morality exists independently of Judaism.

This is a recording of a live event hosted at Young Israel of Teaneck on May 4. In this episode we discuss:

What does it mean for God to be good, and who defines the “good” in the first place?
Do Torah Jews base their values on halacha, or something else?
Should we make any changes to halachic and moral education in the Jewish community?

Tune in to hear a conversation about how halacha and morality bring order and prioritization to our chaotic and confusing lives.

Debate begins at 10:57.

Rabbi Itamar Rosensweig is a professor of Jewish law and jurisprudence at Yeshiva University, a rabbinic judge and chaver beit din at the Beth Din of America, and the rav of the Shtiebel of Lower Merion. He holds a secondary appointment as an assistant professor of philosophy at Yeshiva College and serves as the chair of Jewish studies at the Sy Syms School of Business. He received his semikha, Yoreh Yoreh and Yadin Yadin, from RIETS, where he was a fellow of the Wexner Kollel Elyon and editor-in-chief of the Beit Yitzchak Journal of Talmudic and Halakhic Studies.

Rabbi Yitzchak Blau is the author of Fresh Fruit & Vintage Wine: Ethics and Wisdom of the Aggada and is Tradition's associate editor. He has taught at Yeshivat Hamivtar, Yeshivat Shvilei Hatorah, and the Yeshivah of Flatbush and currently also teaches at Midreshet Lindenbaum. Rabbi Blau has a BA in English Literature from YU, an MA in Medieval Jewish History from Revel, and semikha from RIETS. Rabbi Blau lives in Alon Shevut with his wife and four children.

References:

"Curb Your (Shul) Enthusiasm"

The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe by C. S. Lewis

Mere Christianity by C. S. Lewis

Fresh Fruit & Vintage Wine: Ethics and Wisdom of the Aggada by Yitzchak Blau

HaEmunot veHaDeot by Saadia Gaon

Religion And Morality by Avi Sagi and Daniel Statman

Plato's Euthyphro

Genesis 9

The Brothers Karamazov by Fyodor Dostoevsky

Eight Chapters by Maimonides

Halakhic Man by Rabbi Joseph B. Soloveitchik

A Theory of Justice by John Rawls

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