5779 — Shoftim: The Parameters of Rabbinic Authority

Introduction

Parsha Shoftim discusses the four institutions of communal leadership: judge, king, priest and prophet. In this podcast, Rabbi Schweiger examines the first and uses it as a springboard to discuss the question of Rabbinic authority. What powers does the Sanhedrin (High Court) have and why? Rabbi Schweiger explores a variety of sources, ranging from early rabbinic through medieval commentaries, and see how they struggled with the questions of blind obedience, commitment to truth and communal unity.

This podcast has been sponsored by Rabbi Hayim Herring and Terri Krivosha in honor of our parents: Jack and Roberta Herring, and Judge Norman and Helene Krivosha.

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Credits
Rabbi Meir Schweiger – Faculty Host
Larry Kluger – Creative Consultant
Arlene Harel – Production Coordinator
Adam Titcher – Executive Producer

Meir Schweiger

Rabbi Meir Schweiger taught at Pardes for more than four decades before retiring in 2020. Originally from the Bronx, New York, he made aliyah in 1972. He studied at Yeshiva University, Yeshivat Kerem B’Yavneh and Yeshivat Har Etzion, received rabbinic ordination in Jerusalem, and later earned an M.Ed. in Teaching Bible from Herzog College.

At Pardes, Meir taught a wide range of subjects including Chumash, Talmud, Halakha and Siddur. He served as Mashgiach Ruhani, guiding the school’s spiritual life through coordinating and supervising tefillot, tiyulim, shabbatonim, and pre-holiday yemei iyun. For more than 10 years, Meir was also the Director of the Pardes Fellows’ Program for returning 2nd year students and the Educational Director of the Pardes Learning Seminar.