Jewish Thinkers: Rav Tzadok and Rav Hutner

THIS IS A WEBYESHIVA.ORG MACHSHAVA MASTERY PROGRAM COURSE. FOR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THE MACHSHAVA MASTERY PROGRAM OR TO APPLY PLEASE CLICK HERE.

This course with Rabbi Yitzchak Blau will explore the thought of Rav Tzadok Hakohen from Lublin (1833-1900) and Rav Yitzchak Hutner (1906-1980). The former was a Chasidic rebbe for his last thirteen years whereas the latter was the long-time Rosh Yeshiva at Yeshivas Chaim Berlin. R. Tzadok believed in the doctrine of “omnisignificance” which means searching for the maximum religious meaning in both halakhic details and in textual placement. In addition to that theme, we will explore R. Tzadok’s approach to the Oral Law, history, attitude to gentiles, and determinism.

R. Hutner chose to express his Jewish philosophy via commentary on the Jewish holidays. One exception, a volume of letters and essays, includes great profundity on matters of education and leadership. Among other topics, we shall analyze Rav Hutner’s ideas about devar reshut (the non-obligatory parts of religious life), emulating the Sinaitic revelation in our daily learning, and the unique nature of the Purim holiday.

Some have claimed to see R. Tzadok’s influence in R. Hutner’s thought. In our final shiur, we will test the cogency of this claim.

                                            
                                            Next Class
                                        November 12, 2026
3
Days
14
Hours
43
Mins

                                                Timezone
                                            
                                            Time of Class
                                        
                                                        Sun, Thu                                                    

                                                        5:00 pm, 6:00 pm

Classes

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October 15, 2026 5:00 pm - 6:00 pm
Jewish Thinkers: Rav Tzadok and Rav Hutner: Rav Tzadok and Omnisignificance

Class description

This opening shiur will briefly introduce Rav TZadok and then explore a major theme in his writing. Omnisignificance means deriving a maximum of meaning from a religious text. One eschews technical or pragmatic explanations in favor of those with spiritual import. WE shall see how this idea animates R. Tzadok in his approach to aggadic placement and halakhic detail.

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October 25, 2026 6:00 pm - 7:00 pm
Jewish Thinkers: Rav Tzadok and Rav Hutner: Rav Tzadok as an Aggadic Commentator

Class description

Last week, we saw R. Tzadok’s approach to the placement of aggadot and we will now see his insights as a commentator on aggadot. His attentive reading and psychological acuity lead to excellent results.

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October 29, 2026 6:00 pm - 7:00 pm
Jewish Thinkers: Rav Tzadok and Rav Hutner: Sin, Providence, and Repentance in the Thought of R. Tzadok

Class description

R. Tzadok had a very intense conception of divine providence. How does this impact on his notion of sin and on his ideas about repentance?

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November 5, 2026 6:00 pm - 7:00 pm
Jewish Thinkers: Rav Tzadok and Rav Hutner: Rav Tzadok and Talmud Torah

Class description

What impact does Torah study have on the religious personality and what factors enhance its transformative power?

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November 12, 2026 6:00 pm - 7:00 pm
Jewish Thinkers: Rav Tzadok and Rav Hutner: Rav Tzadok and Rav Hutner

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November 19, 2026 6:00 pm - 7:00 pm
Jewish Thinkers: Rav Tzadok and Rav Hutner: Rav Tzadok and Rav Hutner

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November 26, 2026 6:00 pm - 7:00 pm
Jewish Thinkers: Rav Tzadok and Rav Hutner: Rav Tzadok and Rav Hutner

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December 3, 2026 6:00 pm - 7:00 pm
Jewish Thinkers: Rav Tzadok and Rav Hutner: Rav Tzadok and Rav Hutner

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December 10, 2026 6:00 pm - 7:00 pm
Jewish Thinkers: Rav Tzadok and Rav Hutner: Rav Tzadok and Rav Hutner

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December 17, 2026 6:00 pm - 7:00 pm
Jewish Thinkers: Rav Tzadok and Rav Hutner: Rav Tzadok and Rav Hutner

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December 24, 2026 6:00 pm - 7:00 pm
Jewish Thinkers: Rav Tzadok and Rav Hutner: Rav Tzadok and Rav Hutner

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December 31, 2026 6:00 pm - 7:00 pm
Jewish Thinkers: Rav Tzadok and Rav Hutner: Jewish Thinkers: Rav Tzadok and Rav Hutner

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Rabbi Yitzchak Blau

Yitzchak Blau is Rosh Yeshiva at Yeshivat Orayta and also teaches at Midreshet Lindenbaum. He is the author of Fresh Fruit and Vintage Wine: The Ethics of the Aggada as well as many articles on Jewish thought. Rabbi Blau serves as an associate editor of Tradition journal.