Interviews

In this podcast, the host of the Jewish Philosophy Podcast talks to Rabbi Reuven Chaim Klein about whether Judaism is best understood as a monotheistic religion or, perhaps, as something else. 

Topics discussed include Biblical Criticism, theology, religous pluralism and the nature of angels. 

OpenBook with Etan and Itai: Idolatry then, Idolatry now?

Rabbi Reuven Chaim Klein's fascination lies with writing in English on potentially obscure areas of Jewish History and Halacha. This time, he's chosen to paint an exhaustive portrait of Jewish history with Idol Worship, using the Tanakh and Midrashim as his backdrop. We speak to Rabbi Klein, finding out what exactly constitutes idol worship, and if the yetzer hara for it ever really went away.

SeforimChatter (episode #238)

With R' Reuven Chaim Klein discussing the Tower of Babel, and his book on the history of the Hebrew Language - Lashon HaKodesh: History, Holiness, & Hebrew.

Reuven Chaim Klein on Beyond The Book Podcast

In this episode, Rabbi Klein talks about his inspiration for writing and how he chooses topics to write about.

Interview with Rabbi Reuven Chaim Klein

In this video, Rabbi Reuven Chaim Klein is interviewed by Rabbi Doron Kornbluth of Mosaica Press. They discussed his book God verus Gods: Judaism in the Age of Idolatry (Mosaica Press, 2018) and Lashon HaKodesh: History, Holiness, & Hebrew (Mosaica Press, 2014).

Interview with Rabbi Reuven Chaim Klein on Let's Talk Torah #92 (NRM) - by Rabbi Tzvi Jacobson

In this short clip from the  Let's Talk Torah radio show on New Radio Media, host Rabbi Tzvi Jacobson of Detroit interviews Rabbi Reuven Chaim Klein of Beitar Illit, author of God versus Gods: Judaism in the Age of Idolatry (Mosaica Press, 2018). They speak about Rabbi Klein's new book and touch on various topics about idolatry, including polytheism in Ancient Israel, Torah observance amongst ancient Jewish idol worshippers, the efficacy of Avodah Zarah in Jewish Thought, and the purpose of the Evil Inclination (Yetzer HaRa) for idol worship and how it affected the use of freewill. The book is available for purchase on Amazon. For the full episode, click here. 

How Old is Modern Hebrew? And Much More ;)

In this video, Rabbi Reuven Chaim Klein is interviewed by language expert Moshe Sherizen about his book Lashon HaKodesh: History, Holiness, & Hebrew (Mosaica Press, 2015).

ParshaTalk - Vayishlach 5781

In this conversation with Rabbi Avi Grossman of ParshaTalk, Rabb Klein discusses various traditions related to Esau's wives.

The Jewish Drinking Show: The Ammonite Wine MidrashIn the 75th episode of The Jewish Drinking Show, first-time guest Rabbi Reuven Chaim Klein and host Rabbi Drew Kaplan discuss a midrash involving Ammonite wine.

Holy Madness Podcast

Rabbi Reuven Chaim Klein joins us to talk about God vs. gods, his wonderful book about idolatry in the development of Torah. (Throughout the episode, we use the Hebrew term for idolatry, avodah zarah, literally, ‘foreign worship’ or ‘alien work’. If you didn’t know the term before, you definitely will by the end of the episode. Also now. I mean you already know it now.) Is Hinduism idolatry? Is Christianity? Are ideologies idolatries? … and why the religious and anti-religious might suggest they are and what they get wrong… We discuss the sensual draw of alien worship, worshiping the poop god (Baal Peor) and famous places of worship, including the Church of the Holy Sepulcher, the Sistine Chapel, the Western Wall, May poles, and Meron. Rabbi Reuven discusses how Molech might have survived into modernity, conjectures that living with morality demonstrates freedom from idolatry, and suggests that Christianity and Islam pave the path to ultimate redemption. Check out holymadness.org