After shedding light on the history of the Chilazon and the Murex respectively, we know turn our attention to the descriptions given in the gemara and rishonim, starting with the most important question: What species was the Chilazon? After establishing the species, the aesthetic of the Chilazon must be compared to our foundering candidate. What does a fish look like? What color is the sea? Think those are easy questions? Think again. Join us in part two of the fascinating topic sweeping across Judaism: The Great Techeiles Debate!

Jewish Thoughtflow

Cracking the Murex Shell - Matching the Gemara's description of the Chilazon to the Murex

With the rediscovery of the Murex's dying capabilities came a reborn interest in finding the Chilazon, the source of the 'Biblical Blue' Techeiles. From Reb Herzog's thesis, to Prof. Elsner's discovery, and finally Rabbi Eliyahu Tavger co-founding the ptil-tekhelet institute, the Murex has a rich history, and has convinced many that we have finally found the elusive chilazon. However, many remain unconvinced. Despite the fact that we have found mounds and mounds of Murex shells in obvious dying industries in the exact locations the Talmud tells us the chilazon was found, despite the fact that many rishonim identified the chilazon as a certain snail, despite the fact that the word chilazon MEANS SNAIL, despite the fact that the ancient decrees against Murex use explains its gradual disappearance from Jewish life, many in the ultra orthodox world won't wear Murex Techelis Tzitzis. Why not? Join Jewish Thoughtflow in the most comprehensive review of the Murex as the chilazon that can be found, and learn a new, yet unexplored angle that may change the way you view the topic of Murex Techeiles, and perhaps academia at large, forever.

Trapping the Murex - Exploring the viability of Hexaplex Trunculus as the Chilazon

Eilu V'Eilu Divrei Elokim Chaim

The Un-mysterious Origins of Lag B'Omer

The Aguna Problem

Why Lady Justice Should Have Been a Man

נשים דעתן קלות - Roughly translated as "Women's intellect is light/weak", this phrase has, by many, been slotted into the "ancient misogynistic attitudes" category. For, as is well known, women are just as capable as men at intellectual capabilities. Differences between men and women are caused by social stigma, and have been rapidly decreasing as our societies become more egalitarian. Just look at average SAT math scores, which had men outperforming women at rates of 10:1 in the 80's, and just 2.5:1 in the 90's as the women's rights movement gained in popularity. So why would the Talmud make such a claim about women? Join Jewish Thoughtflow in their long awaited episode exploring the intellect of the man and the women, as well as the implications for our every day life.

Nashim Da'aton Kalos - Understanding the Women's Intellect

Was the Akeida Evil? - Part 3: The Solution

In part 1 we examined a few different methods of having morality without religion, ranging from an innate sense of morality, to a strictly logical (slightly robotic) version aimed at creating the perfect society ("perfect" again being subject to numerous theories). In Part two we begin to question these theories. Is it truly possible, without a God, to come up with rules which will actually lead to a Perfect society? If the only reason I'm listening to God is because this will lead to the best society, or best personal perfection, can that really be called service of God? Is it heretical to propose that God is limited to being Moral? And lastly, but most importantly, why should we follow this emotion called "morality" more than any other? Join us for part 2 of the Morality trilogy, as we take conversations to paths rarely treaded, and thoughts to conceptual planes most minds flee from, all in the hopes of spreading the beauty of Judaism, God, and the Torah.

Was the Akeida Evil - Part 2: The Problems

A podcast aimed at exploring the depths of Jewish thought from a Torah-authentic viewpoint.

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Jewish Thoughtflow

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