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The Podcast of Jewish Ideas · Nov 13, 2025 · 1 hr 11 min

78. Medieval Attitudes | Dr. Menachem Kellner (Universalism & Particularism #3)

J.J. and Dr. Menachem Kellner pitch Maimonides against Judah HaLevi and explore the extremes of Jewish universalism and particularism in the middle ages. Thank you to Kestenbaum and Co. for sponsoring today's episode! Click here to see the auction catalogue and place your bids on rare Judaica and Hebraica. This is the third episode in our miniseries about universalism and particularism in Judaism. Over the course of the series we will explore and complicate Jewish attitudes to these categories across the centuries. Follow us on Bluesky @jewishideaspod.bsky.social for updates and insights! Please rate and review the the show in the podcast app of your choice. We welcome all complaints and compliments at podcasts@torahinmotion.org For more information visit torahinmotion.org/podcasts Menachem Kellner is Wolfson Professor Emeritus of Jewish Thought at the University of Haifa and was founding chair of the Department of Jewish Philosophy and Thought at Shalem College, Jerusalem. His most recent book is We Are Not Alone: A Maimonidean Theology of the Other (Academic Studies Press, 2021). In connection with the discussion with JJ, his most relevant book is Maimonides the Universalist: The Ethical Horizons of the Mishneh Torah (Littman Library of Jewish Civilization, 2020), co-authored with David Gillis. If you or your business are interested in sponsoring an episode or mini-series, please reach out at podcasts@torahinmotion.org Follow us on Bluesky @jewishideaspod.bsky.social for updates and insights! Please rate and review the the show in the podcast app of your choice. We welcome all complaints and compliments at podcasts@torahinmotion.org For more information visit torahinmotion.org/podcasts

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show notes

J.J. and Dr. Menachem Kellner pitch Maimonides against Judah HaLevi and explore the extremes of Jewish universalism and particularism in the middle ages. 

Thank you to Kestenbaum and Co. for sponsoring today's episode!
Click here to see the auction catalogue and place your bids on rare Judaica and Hebraica. 

This is the third episode in our miniseries about universalism and particularism in Judaism. Over the course of the series we will explore and complicate Jewish attitudes to these categories across the centuries. 

Follow us on Bluesky @jewishideaspod.bsky.social for updates and insights!

Please rate and review the the show in the podcast app of your choice.

We welcome all complaints and compliments at podcasts@torahinmotion.org 

For more information visit torahinmotion.org/podcasts

Menachem Kellner is Wolfson Professor Emeritus of Jewish Thought at the University of Haifa and was founding chair of the Department of Jewish Philosophy and Thought at Shalem College, Jerusalem. His most recent book is We Are Not Alone: A Maimonidean Theology of the Other (Academic Studies Press, 2021). In connection with the discussion with JJ, his most relevant book is Maimonides the Universalist: The Ethical Horizons of the Mishneh Torah (Littman Library of Jewish Civilization, 2020), co-authored with David Gillis.

If you or your business are interested in sponsoring an episode or mini-series, please reach out at  podcasts@torahinmotion.org 

Follow us on Bluesky @jewishideaspod.bsky.social for updates and insights!

Please rate and review the the show in the podcast app of your choice.

We welcome all complaints and compliments at podcasts@torahinmotion.org 

For more information visit torahinmotion.org/podcasts
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