"We Change Enough to Remain the Same": On the Anatomy of Daas Torah, Orthodox Judaism's Indeliberate Theology, and Wisdom That Reshapes How You See — with Prof. Benjamin Brown

Prof. Benjamin Brown is a Professor in the Department of Jewish Thought at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem and one of the world's leading academic experts on Orthodox Judaism, its ideology, and Halacha. He is the author of many books, among them a towering intellectual biography of the Chazon Ish, and his warmth through a screen and across an ocean was as palpable as his brilliance. We trace the evolution of Daas Torah, the idea that Torah speaks to every facet of life, even beyond the strictly halachic. We explore the revolution of Chassidus and how revolutions mature and stabilize over time. And we arrive at a perspective on change within Yiddishkeit that I found profound: that we evolve precisely in order to remain the same. I found this conversation deeply enjoyable and illuminating, and I hope you do as well.This episode is dedicated in honor of the birthday of my dear Bubby, whose birthday was on Yud Aleph Tammuz. May she have a beautiful and blessed year, full of health and happiness — physically and spiritually — and filled with nachas from her loving family. Bubby, all my love.