Unperplexed: Parsha Lessons from Maimonides's Guide of the Perplexed cover art

Unperplexed: Parsha Lessons from Maimonides's Guide of the Perplexed

Unperplexed: Parsha Lessons from Maimonides's Guide of the Perplexed

By: Yitzchak Sprung
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About this listen

Each week, Rabbi Sprung uncovers a hidden layer of the Parsha through the lens of the Maimonides's Guide of the Perplexed — where reason meets revelation, and ancient words illuminate timeless questions. Listen to Unperplexed on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you get your podcasts.

Yitzchak Sprung 2022 Judaism Philosophy Social Sciences Spirituality
Episodes
  • Beshalach: Don't Try to Change People

    Beshalach: Don't Try to Change People
    Jan 29 2026

    God doesn’t change people. And we shouldn’t try to.

    In this week's episode, we see just how central this principle is to Torah. And then we think about how important it ought to be to us.

    Sources: Ex. 13:17, Guide 3:32, Avot 2:4
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    5 mins
  • Bo: Slaughtering Ideas

    Bo: Slaughtering Ideas
    Jan 22 2026

    How do we overcome false ideas and ideals? We slaughter them publicly. This is the purpose of the Paschal lamb and a great lesson for our time.

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    5 mins
  • Vaera: No Freedom to Choose

    Vaera: No Freedom to Choose
    Jan 15 2026

    What happened to Pharaoh's free will when God hardened his heart? And isn’t it unfair for God to punish Pharaoh for something he really didn’t have a choice in?

    These are great questions. And there are several ways we might think about the Rambam’s answer.

    Take a few minutes to explore what the Rambam thought and what it means for us.

    Sources: Eight Chapters, chapter 8, with commentary by Rabbi Yitzchak Sheilat (pp. 318-322), Guide 2:24, 48 with commentary from Goodman and Lieberman, Rabbi Sacks Free Will: Use it or Lose it.

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    9 mins
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