Dennis Prager - The Rational Torah

I now have the honor of introducing our distinguished yes mr. Dennis Prager mr. Prager hardly needs to be introduced before us tonight however his illustrious career and remarkable achievements are less known to the Israeli public so a few words of introduction on appropriate this past Shabbat we read the story of not in which the Torah describes not as a righteous man and bladeless in his ear northeast Siddiq to meet my other daughter but when God addresses now if i recomment assured him into the ark God mentioned only that he was righteous he what the car body in some deeply finite but there was it the tower concludes from this that only a bit of the praise that is coming to someone should be said depends but the whole of the baby said Bentley is back because that's your portion of it for now this is right here next to me I will have here to this ancient rabbinic construction and tell me just a bit of history dennis prager the best-selling author is popular radio talk-show host one of America's respected and most potent thinkers he appears regularly on Fox News and CNN a highly sought after speaker he has lectured all over the world we are indeed most fortunate to host him here today at bar-ilan University his best-selling books include pick a second time happiness is a serious problem still the best hope my American values must triumph and the Ten Commandments still the best moral code mr. Prager also writes a nationally syndicated weekly column that is published in newspapers across the United States and online his writings have also appeared in major national and publications including the commentary national review the weekly standard The Wall Street Journal's in 2011 mr. Prager co-founded a web-based initiative called Prager University with mr. Alan masters as president I'm pleased to acknowledge now for he is also here with us today [Applause] through a continuously growing series of sideways videos frankerz University articulates the judeo-christian values on which the United States of America was founded free speech free enterprise a loyal foreign policy and the rational case for God's existence with regard to our small but tempestuous corner of the world so much the Creighton University videos are dedicated presenting facts about the State of Israel before worldwide audience that often receives partial one-sided depictions and I'm being somewhat generous when I say that of current events regarding arab-israeli relations and the Jewish state from the hands of major world news media outlets here are a few titles of Prager University videos about Israel Israel is legal found in Israel the world's most moral army does Israel discriminate against Arabs wonder are there still Palestinian refugees is the UN fare to Israel and BDS the attempt to strangle Israel in addition of some pro-israel videos presented by Dennis Prager who sell more videos about Israel are presented by Alan Dershowitz and Colonel Richard Kent both of whom received honorary doctorates here at bar-ilan University and by other talented presenters the people of Israel's Prager University gravity for standing up for Israel against the campaign of vampires rainy propaganda that has swept over college campuses [Music] thank you for fighting the good fight and trying to provide the younger generation with facts and opinions that they may have otherwise never been exposed to in 2017 priority videos have already garnered about half a billion that's billion not the path of billions use 60% of the preview audience is under 34 years old many it is crucial demographic for America's future also tune in to dennis prager daily radio show which is syndicated throughout the US has over 2 million listeners and is also available on the Internet one has got to listening to the people who call into Dennis's radio show and understand the role he plays in their lives they do not address him merely as a talk show host but regarded with reverence and respect that was once reserved for teachers back in the day as school teachers were actually respected dennis prager is in effect a teacher par excellence with through modern technology and moral convictions as fashion of the dennis prager show into a daily three-hour class tradition the size of which the world may have never before which brings me to the south of the dip for Dennis fragrant has also delivered stimulating lessons of disciples of Moses for several decades these fascinating teachings which highlight the moral values embedded within the Torah have culminated in addition commentary on the tone the first volume of which is set to appear in print this coming spring the title of whisper flavors commentaries the rationale bible is alluded to in the title of today's lecture the rationale Torah why the Torah should be as important to you as it was to Moses we are on an instant later that how you speak on this topic you today at bar-ilan university before I forgot lead and the professor our season of the I am very very honored I hear that all the time do this a normal paper speaker to say but I didn't tell the truth I really happened this is a very big deal to me I got all wasted like at bar-ilan and to be invited to talk about the Torah to so many people who know more about the Torah that I do is a big deal let me tell you just one word about the big deal so I mean really think about any thoughts about these people of today I mean funny but they something physical but I always think in Hebrew very seriously and I began in coming here in my teens I came here for the first time a month after the six-day war and all I would do is I would buy his reading his paper and sit with almost Allah who read the paper and I would use the dictionary to learn why didn't know words I didn't know so I was reading to make an opinion piece in one of the papers and then the author was going to finally give his own reaction to this argument he didn't agree with it and the next sentence was bet new chemo darlin you're the mother of the Archaea I needed a you and I had no idea but if I did to go up that sense man I didn't know his opinion so I looked up everything I've done good love it and I get a steward out of the airplane he seemed right but I wouldn't go on and finally I sounded it out in every possible way and came out with big deal doctor doctor thank you that was very moving from a would to like to meet you family and all of you here I only wish I had many many hours and maybe that will happen I would want to come back if today goes over us assuming you walk behind well aware of that I think you need though it's very important for me to introduce me because it will help explain what my approach is so obviously because I'm not wearing a keep hot tub you sum up Orthodox but I'm really not worth of us with a capital o I have Orthodox with a small vote there aren't many of the in Jewish life I wish there were more not Orthodox Jews who believe that the Torah is divine that ultimately God is the author of the Torah which I do believe I believe that the Jews are the chosen people in fact I believe in the foundations of the Jewish baby bed Rambam second before but I'm not worth the cracks I don't practice for Qaddafi and this tends to whenever I describe myself I'm asked already I don't even know maybe five percent of mothers there's a not Jewish but I'm asked by Jews and non-jews why are you so I say I'm not worth at Oxford which is Judah which drives two types of Jews crazy Orthodox and no other than that everybody's at peace but I just give you one example I I am the floor is the essence for the LBL coming back to that obviously because that's the topic but let me just give you one example of but the seriousness with which I approach the Torah and Judaism despite not being fully Orthodox in practice I don't read a newspaper on Shabbat most worth about to Jews do read these papers on about the fact that he reserved there's newspaper reading for Shabbat that and that's fine but I don't I I assiduously avoid newspaper I don't watch television or listen to the radio on Shabbat and that is because that's my work I don't broadcast on Shabbat in fact it's somewhat of an ongoing joke of many many years and they broadcast after 34 years so for example I don't broadcast much mini-hats Erica the number of not worth about Jews little of non-jews who heard they're spitting up Sarah is shall we say small I'll never forget I mentioned to a dear friend of mine who used to follow me on the radio in los angeles like didn't have a national mission alive in LA so he's a piece of black male area he was a brilliant back at the national show of his own now so he would come in he was the next broadcaster so we would always do what we call a handoff I would say oh and here's Larry and so Larry what are you going to talk about so you said so I one day I will never forget this I said well Larry I won't be in tomorrow so we'll just wanted you to know and he said really why not except it's a Jewish holiday he said oh really what I said Schmidt again Sarah and the guy who then said into the microphone ladies and gentlemen Dennis Prager has a great day whenever he wants to take off he and Vince he is certain I can make up a committee necessarily so anyway I'm only telling you this I take this very seriously and and so I really have a religious Orthodox in terms of practice but many practices of course I practice including obviously keeping a show up without working going will drive tissue okay so I just wanted you to know where I'm coming from but the the most important is I have two approaches that I have no more approaches to the Torah that I'd like to share with you first I believe that is universally applicable the Torah is given to the Jews but it is for all people I have a very simple model and I realized it was accurate because first started teaching Florida 35 years ago all my students were Jewish because it was the Jewish school enough numbers an adult education school gradually through the course of the five books more than half my students were not Jewish and it made perfect sense because by attitude as except relation one Genesis one is that the notion that the Torah has only something to say the Jews is is literally for me preposterous it is a meaningless statement and I give a silly example but a very effective one it would be like saying vitamin C is only good for presbyterian that's a silly comment if vitamin C is good for Presbyterians it's good for everybody or it isn't good for Presbyterians if the Torah has something to say to Jews that it has something to say to everyone on earth or it has nothing to say to Jews you can't it's not it's not conceivable that the book has only something to say the Jews and the proof and there are like that I could give many groups that the Torah sees itself that way and that the tradition is seen itself why didn't your walking on the tradition why have God gave the Torah nothing is really why didn't God give it an Israel he gave it in the desert wine so that nobody could play that is just our Torah as it were it is not is up for one place it is for all over and for all people as it were but the biggest proof to my mind is it is the only national history of which I am aware in the world whether it is Asia or Middle East or or or ancient South America that does not to begin with its people it would be as if an American history book began as follows in the beginning God created heavens in the earth and in 1776 the United States of America was founded the subjects best-selling Ally you start with the creation of the world you should start with 1776 but the Jewish National History effects all of it begins with the creation of the world and not with the creation of Jews Adams not Jewish Eve is not Jewish no off is not Jewish etcetera etc it's the history of mankind one of the problems I had in the Orthodox world in Brooklyn New York in which I grew up and I have many beautiful things from it but my biggest problem was in celerity and in other words lead to believe the not interest as it were in the outer world and this was this was very troubling to me my wife who was here as heard me say so often I was always interested in everybody so I always hoped I would meet the mailman the man who delivered the mail because he wasn't Jewish and it gave me a chance to talk to a non Jew so I interview him was life like you have kids what sort of school do they go to do they drive on Shabbos and Excel that was a joke I knew his kids did not like I always I always had some wonderful or anything I just I just Judaism cares about the world there is no there was no ancient work that tells you to love the stranger and what is it in the fella that 52 times I mean it is a remarkably a bunch of beans like God keeps drilling it into our head to love the non Jew who lives among the amongst you so like my first application my first perspective is that the Torah has something to say to everyone after all these years like the first volume of my throat commentary about 80,000 words and I thought I write precisely pretty bitter love is coming out and when I am writing this commentary on the Torah I do not have a Jew in mind I do not have a Christian in mind I have a Chinese person in mind I tried to pick someone from a different culture as white as possible who never heard of God necessarily and certainly never heard of cayenne I have a medieval that is who I have in mind it has it has to move a person in China or I have failed to make the Torah applicable it is the greatest work ever written there is no flow second and I love Shakespeare Shakespeare is great the Shakespeare does have the wisdom but there is nothing comparable to the top nothing and the more do you know about how but OA is the more it argues for a divine origin which brings me to my second appointment where I really have somewhat of an outlier in Jewish life not being Orthodox and believing that the Torah is the bus do I believe that God dictated to find books to Moshe I have no position on how the Torah came about no well this is what is important to be understood I have no position on it I find the documentary hypothesis fascinating but I have I may get to that a moment if not ask me about it later it doesn't matter to me how the Torah was written all that matters to me is who does it ultimately come from and if you don't believe it ultimately comes from God then everything becomes ultimately meaningless the Torah if God is not the ultimate source of day then the Torah is to the Jews what Homer is to the Greeks a revered author with revered books the Odyssey and the Iliad and we have revered books for example the the famous reformed rabbi may you rest in peace go through cloud described in Torah as the Jews I'm paraphrasing this is the Jews story of their yearning for God something to that effect and it's a beautiful statement well I wouldn't have spent my life studying it if that's what I thought it was I'm not interested in Jews as I thought as I am an adult I don't think that to be heretical obviously work very hard for the Jews Israel sent me to the Soviet Union when I was 20 years old because I knew Russian and Hebrew to work to help get Soviet Jews out than to smuggle to go down and mezuzahs into the Soviet Union I looked up a lot of my life to the Jews in Israel but the problem is the ultimate issue that these the Jews are a vehicle for God or should see themselves that way this is what has happened because I believe the toy is the body it makes me read the totem differently than a secular stomach and I'll give you a good example I believe it's divine therefore I have a problem I have a problem with all the morally difficult parts of the Torah given the Midianites and fill it up try to use events so that all that a rebellious son and slavery and a whole host of very morally difficult parts of the throne if you don't believe God is the opener to not issue men wrote it and they were men or humans and big beyond so there's no problem the secular person doesn't have a moral problem with the Torah because humans are flawed and flawed human throat ended issue but then when I study that's my point if flawed humans are the authors who cares I don't understand people who devote their lives to the study of I mean I guess it's in the same realm as the people who devote their lives to the study of Homer but but I don't read them to be honest I don't it's interesting but I don't read them if I have a second review of the Torah I wouldn't read it why would I read it I thought I'm not I'm not that ethnic that I'm dying to know about ancient Israel it doesn't Ruben's don't interested in I'm sorry so but it's not a ruin of the Torah it's living its community it's a living tree so I have to deal with these morally problematic issues because I believe it is divine I can't escape death so let me give you an example of what this forces me to do I have forced therefore to find an explanation for what otherwise I would only dismiss as men of their age writing it example Venice or that morning right you have a rebellious son and you take him to the to the elders and they then if they find him guilty they need a stone to them this is an example offered by people who hate the Bible among them many Jews and who want to show how morally primitive the Bible is as an example they your rebellious kids whooping you know illumination Israel they'd attempt you that's why I said look it up on the internet there are whole listings of why people find the Bible disgusting and that's all the Torah it's not the New Testament it's not the rest of the ten outfits always it's always four days but because I believe that God is the ultimate author of the Torah I have to come up I have to find a reason for this law because I God doesn't want rebellious children and Estela but it says that so I finally figured it out and if this is not intellectually honest that I won't write it that's why I mean come for three in that it has to be rational it has to be both divine and rational that's my challenge and so here is what I have come up with with the books or their more head it's very powerful it's a very powerful teaching and that eighties what it did was it took the right of parents to kill their child away from them for the first time only the court could put the child to death so what the Torah brilliantly did was it preserved the dignity of the parents you can't have a kid whose offense whatever more that but you can't touch them only other's hands now it's a debate whether or not in Jewish history the most I can tell always say we don't have a record of it ever happened in Jewish history so that's a pretty big deal in Rome parents killed their children if they wanted to kill their children that was as simple as that you're a hero Eric iterative too problematic I own you I owe you child but a Judaism in the Torah you go on your child so you can't kill your child the Greeks left the children that they thought were deformed on mountaintops exposed to die not Jews every child 1 to 2 would you have to live I could give you example after example of obviously I do I do that ideal obviously my first book is coming out is is is shamov is Exodus obviously there's a lot about slavery I deal with that and in general one can and one can make statements first of all there were so many in be Klaus would regard to slaves in the Torah just just to give you one example I can give you any number off the top of my head but just to give you one is he has to rest on Shabbat know nobody remembers that the Ten Commandments obliges you to take care of a slave and no one about no one merely no one thinks that animals got into the Ten Commandments but they did your animal has to rest on Shabbat who had that law no one the idea that we have moral obligations to an animal given by the God of that civilization is utterly weak to the Torah almost all of it is unique to the Torah so I have to ultimately conclude either Jews were supermen they were normally superior beings which I don't for a minute because I lived with Jews the other the other only other possibility is God is the author that's my choice because it is self it is a super book so either super men or supernatural dog relative and I don't believe Jews are supermen and by the way that is one of my chief arguments they might I'm gonna get a hot argument of why standing on one leg argument of why I believe that the Torah is true is it is the only religious book in world history that portrays its own group negatively in the Torah as a rule non-jews are terrific and Jews state that is the general rule in the toilet there are a handful of wonderful Jews they're pretty rare whose it Sonny Noah Noah come back to the office is a very important lesson to be learned in the whole level stories the whole flood story of Noah but isn't it amazing why would why would the Torah make up a detail that the door of the of the team that wishes to exterminate the Jews or at least the Jewish males is the hero of the story is it that you don't instead it makes me cry almost and so powerful motion is saved by the daughter of Hitler that's put it in modern terms who would make up a story that the door of Hitler saved the Jew who saved the Jews Jews have been saved instead of kind of Holocaust who would make that up nobody makes that up pull us the portrayed the Egyptians is having any heroes and a fourth shift Ron cool our Egyptian it tries to be crazy that there's even a debate all day Jews are not Jews they very factor Tina honey I'll go back panel him ha Elohim the God not other nine they hate they feared God and talks to them and they to them out of its way the biggest influence on this is amazing stuff God wants to destroy the Jews nothing like that where do you have that in a religious book that the god of that room wants to destroy his group Chris they're not good because they they departed from his moral directors there's nothing like it there is nothing like it Jews don't realize it non-jews don't realize well maybe some non-jews a lot of as I always say to choose if you believe in the Torah like Christians did the Michigan first then it's universal second it's Diwali and third is rational there were things that I was blowing his shoe but that drove him crazy it was what it was just the Arash now I don't have a problem with big proselyte only have a problem with believe things that Midrash is literally true okay I don't think it's not necessary it's not meant that way there are there are a few mid Russia might tend to really love like God calls now Sinai over the heads of the Jews and threat to drop it on their making anything the Ten Commandments or the Torah that makes sense to me because between an orgy and the Ten Commandments I know what like were to be using I speak to be happy to be what I did before so obviously I have no problem with the notion that that God coerce to choose to accept his laws like the famous that the rich bill that is full motion comes down the second time he makes the announcements Israelites I have good news and bad news the good news I comment down to ten the bad news adultery stage muskies a very serious issue and more my fun things but I call Christian so the third is that it's rational the Tormentor national temple being a family day mommy was by far my favorite lines in the door this is supposed to be your reason and understanding in the eyes of the world but it's not taught that way I'll give you one example where I differ with this is an example where I'm doing a traditional future the traditional teaching is that the word folk statute if you will you know if you English but people here don't that big enclose the New Castle here but you all know that and God teaches law pot is from this book to judge judgments if you will be no doubt but Baja vehicle between man and his fellow man hope doesn't mean a warning can't understand the rabbi's make down the tour never replies that you can't understand a thought it's completely made up in the tumbler and I love the rabbi's in to tell them they were giants but but they were human the tour is divine the rabbi's are human it's an important which we don't and I don't buy it for a second that folk means the law you can't understand why would God give laws we can't understand if we're supposed to be family not family they haunt me if we don't understand what we're doing how the hell are the done who's gonna understand what we're doing it's like when I was a kid I was called all when non-jew see me don't drive on Shabbos they will have great respect for us I have never met a non Jew who respected us for not trying to gunshot they tolerated they cook the Amish don't try anything where were respected for if we have a quality of life and so on a Mormons are probably the most admired troupe in the United States if people want I've done this test unlike radio show if you do a business deal you have to do business dealer and you mean nothing else people would generally say if I know he's a committed Mormon I want them to be my business partner but people don't to respect the fact that they don't drink coffee that doesn't make sense to non-mormons I respect that Mormons believe it's important and I love Mormons and that's fine but it's it's not pretty it's not what makes Morgan's desirable or respected that they don't drink coffee or tea or other caffeinated drinks but we are supposed to be able to explain what we're doing otherwise how can we possibly be talked about that we not family that we don't know why we're doing it but you should respect us for our wisdom doesn't make sense why does a folk folk would seem to me in 99% of the instances the tourist word for bein a dumb nama coal those are the walls miss patty mabini that was how they roll and the key are our laws made on them no microphone between man and God that is overwhelmingly what does the team are and people should spend their time trying to find the reasons for them look but but reason has had lost out in Jewish history I'm sorry to say what why chicken became me is not rational the whole point of separating meat and milk which is brilliant is meat represents death and milk represents light and you don't mix life and then the tour is against mixtures the Torah believes in order life and death ought to be separated so mammals produce milk you can't eat a mammal with with milk because the dead mammal represents death and milk represents life because mammal is produced milk fish don't produce milk therefore you can keep fish in milk and in the old days like an obviously I believe that you pension chicken with milk but the rabbi's decided you might confuse chicken with meat so we'll declare chicken meat that's not rational in my opinion not only not rational it completely defeated the meaning 99% of the sheepish students could not give you an explanation of why we separate bill believed they would say both of us lady no which is just the pathology because they're not explaining what happens with their this the irrationality that has pervaded Judaism in two thousand years is a catastrophe because the Torah is so passionate and that's that's the third pillar upon which my approach there they have something to say to everyone is from God and it is rational and that's that's that has been powerful to a lot of people who have decided well maybe the Bible isn't silly this is that this rational approach this guy here whether the person is not Jewish or Jewish it's the first time for many of them that they got such an approach and I obviously did you can tell from my passionate I believe what I'm saying I may be wrong but I believe and I have pretty good arguments this is this is the most remarkable book in human history for good reason when you see what time it is because I woke up I still have a few minutes because I want open up to questions thank you for the opportunity teachings that I offer to to non-jews as well they're a lovely stream that changes their lives that it's not me it's the Torah comedia wwf/e men honor your father a moment from the Ten Commandments it's a very powerful unbelievably powerful commandment and the first insight that I bring to people is that the Torah interestingly commands us to like God to love our neighbor and to love the stranger but we are not tremendous full of our parents what a brilliant insight of control and you know what I tell this to people I can see I read faces I've been doing this for years and I see people believe your parents nuts do you like but they they are their relief it's information not to all their parents but he didn't give their position about to honor their parents which leads me to teaching that has permeated everything I say in speeches writings and I'm Arabia the Torah doesn't give a damn how you feel it only gives a damn how to behave it is one of the greatest Jewish teachings that we should bring to the world which is now feeling his best everything is how do you feel morality is how you feel everything is how you feel you know who cares how you feel your psychiatrist and perhaps your spouse that's it that's a big deal is it great for teaching as later about any other law said this is the greatest when I essentially I essentially have I spent my life but the company finally said teaching am i really teaching Judaism to Allah Allah to millions of people who are injured that's the Jews do that's what I do auntie I'm teaching Judaism and I by the way I say it all the time with people x-rays you get these ideas I say from jr. Michael did it that was good for credit because it gets the credit but this is one of the great teachings of Judaism how do you feel is not important sorry it doesn't matter it is how many backed and how many that change your feelings much more than your fee should be allowed to shave your ass so you honor your parents even if you know Muslim as the bishop in the United States I don't know if this is I'm sure I'm sure this is not nearly as common a problem with Israel do you have your own problems are well aware but but this is I think this is a much more than a verification there is an epidemic that's what I would call it in the United States of adult children who do not speak to parents who have chosen to act as if they're dead to deprive their parents have even seen their grandchildren I asked American audiences raise your hand if you know a family where the adult does not speak to a parent most of the hands go up yeah you say Wow cause you're as ready most of humans so it's probably prettier but it's I don't know it's common in Western Europe telling you in the United States it's an epidemic men and women can call my show and cry on the radio because their daughter or son doesn't speak to them and why they're angry at their parents it's very rare that the reason is well yeah but my father raped me when I was six okay whatever I've asked on the radio water compartments never been there it's that all my mother is too controlling or whatever it might be or I'm just angry at her because I don't like I'm uncomfortable around her or whatever might be and here comes the ten commandments that says you'll honor your parents period and by the ways the only beings were folk honor we're not even fold on our government honor is restricted compared it's astonishing how important parasol and every totalitarian regime America doesn't wake the child Arab connection the Hitler Youth come some more they were all you you are you owe your obligation to the state not to your parents so that's just one example obviously I have thousands that's why the movie so long don't thing you know cannot live other is a great one God makes a demand says it's not good for man to be alone first of all how come Adam didn't include that why would it take God to tell us it's not good to be alone because he was an idiot that's the reason don't I mean why didn't he think about it by the way he did so much cuz he looked for a companion among the animals by the way some men do find them but I'm talking about these I'm talking about his body with the dog and so on and by the way some women do that three German shepherds God says it's not good for man to be alone and this one I learned from a Christian pastor I don't know his name or I would say his name on which I did brilliant listen to what listen to this inside God says it's not good for man to be alone and this pastor made a brilliant thought but he wasn't alone Adam and Eve gone would you think knowing God being spoken to by the widest ways your holiness but so the brilliant teaching of this pastor is even God is not enough God is necessary but not sufficient he's a life-changing understanding that's that's that's what it's about it's all life changing understanding and sometimes they're very difficult politically Taurus is a man can marry woman's pulling in a women can't wear one of man wears the Torah is a big believer in distinctions I told him life from death I can give you so many examples they're like oh hey very other differences between between human and animal by the way which is being destroyed today to where the animals and humans are regard is equally valuable just say Little People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals the largest animal rights organization in the United States as a program started by a secular Jew called the Holocaust on your plate you can look it up everything I say you could look up and you know the programming is that the murder well that the cremating of the Jews in the Holocaust is the moral equivalent of the barbecuing of chickens in America good the secular thought by the way out there is no secular argument against them none the only argument to save the human before your dog that you love the only argument is religious argument we are created because image animals are not period and division there is no secular argument to say a human that you don't know before the dawn you know and most Americans will say they're gone I have done this for 40 years ask audiences which would you say first including Jewish kids in Jewish day schools who would also all say their dog first because we live in the age of feelings and because we don't teach Judaism as relevant this is irrelevant there was a distinction between human and animal there was a station between man and God there was distinct distinction between over the alignment that and between male and female which is being destroyed in the United States and Western Europe the notion that there is male and female is being destroyed I am NOT talking about having sympathy and empathy for an individual who identifies with the other sex that their biological that has nothing to do with what I'm saying I'm talking about the obliterating of distinctions look it up sign up on Facebook and see why it says under gender the last night what you were offered 56 choices not even 356 and you know why I'll tell you why what I learned when I was in graduate school at Columbia University being taught nonsense by my professors sheer nonsense like men and women are basically the same like the Soviet Union and the United States were equally responsible for the Cold War I was at the School of International Affairs I was my field and I couldn't believe how many brilliant people would teach me nonsense which men is much worse today it's much worse today the Western University obviously very low is different obviously one of the reasons to treasure this institution but in general the secular institutions of the Western world are moral and intellectual wasteland that's why they hate is real the chief said there were Israel hatred of the West of the world is the University okay just so you'll know that in case you have any respect for Oxford watch my debate in Oxford two to two-and-a-half years ago is Israel or Hamas more responsible for the lack of pieces of buildings valuator to peace Israel voted more responsible than come ups the first time in history as I pointed out that the Free State is regarded as culpable as responsible for war and the end of the police state is the innocent state there's never been such a moment that these three of the world and I realized one day I give you my word I wrote it you can look it up Praeger how I found God Columbia I wrote it as an article many years ago this happened to me it was unbelievable was it was an epiphany I was walking around Columbia and I I was a fish out of water by night I had nothing in common with what was going on there and I wanted walk one of the tougher said why am i learning now says and then so help me God into my brain came when I was saying from first grade in yeshiva great she thought my gosh in oh my god I got the answer wisdom begins with fear of God there's no God of Columbia there's no wisdom in Columbia that's it godless is wisdom Liz there are many intelligent people for God but there was no godless philosophy that is why it doesn't exist it can't exist because if you are thoughtless you have to you have to be intellectually honest I understand there is no point to life but if there is no point to life what reason can you derive from pointlessness there is no wisdom to derive but the religious don't make this argument instead I get a very hit book each year on wall everything that because gradation what we're preoccupied the comments you don't have any damn thing to beat the world it's as simple as that it is as simple as that so I'm in a no man's land in effect the comics crowd and the godless crowd but there's that then there's you that's my hope you're my hope this institution is really humble because you want to bring these insights into the world and if I could have given you just a little piece of to understand the greatness in his Torah then the visit was worked okay so should I just pull on people is that right okay so you'll have to say very loud all of their microphones and they'd be passed around Oh baby could wind up okay okay hi mr. Baker for like an absolute utter nasty question about that I just had a one asking for some quick I some relatively recently married and about raising kids I just want to know specifically about boys I always might not be something you can answer quickly like of a good answer but how do you balance between raising oral board that respects women and is you know whatever has values that you know you talk about things like that and having to be also very strong individual because sometimes I find that you know the nice guys like could be read like a pushover and it happens unfortunately often so yeah me yes oh boy what happening all right the only hard part is good to be brief but I a lot a lot of things many things possible of thee I was raised that to be a man the definition of being a man as opposed to a boy is to take care of a white controller is to take care of it so taking care of a woman and I will feminists will find that to just insulting when the Vice President of the United States is hang out that he does not have does not dying does not have a meal with a woman unless there is another person president the feminism so on the one hand you have all of these these predator males with all of what they do like to Hollywood does that just obviously the most recent example and so they correctly discussed feminists they discussed be as a man but they're even disgusted by men and do everything possible not to be put in a position to have sexual contact with the woman that they're not marry with you so even that's contemptible to that so it's like the hurricane hurricanes used to all be made under female nails if you know that that's the way we're and there's a hurricane Ana be hurricane Beatrice see Hurricane Charley in its own right then they got angry at all this is a way of saying that oh boy should be raised to be a man well it's funny because the issue that I raised our feed there are things in Israel that are that are very powerful that really would help America for example Universal stories the idea that everybody has to serve their country at least in some way it's a very big fun in this reality you know it better than I do we don't have that anymore and that that that breeds a lot of narcissism and disunity and it doesn't have to be necessarily military silver statement it could be over for service but still universe service your family life here is very strong that they're still here there's really still here is a belief that it's nice to have children in America having a shoulder if you have more than two children you're become a Mormon a religious Catholic and evangelical protestant or an Orthodox Jew okay I don't know I wonder if there are 50 secular families in the last 25 years have more than six children in the United States of America so this decision the children orientation of the society is a very healthy thing and America there look I love America I really do I'm worried sick about its future I think it's being brought down and surfing up than what we've multi-day aphoristic a lot of jews and christians our problem with the term Christian is a perfectly legitimate sir if nobody talks about judeo-christian theology we talk about their Christian families there is no judeo-christian theology obviously we have the same theology we won't be in the same religion well thank you but we do have different we do have the same values 99% of the time my life but my biggest group of kindred spirits are Christians it's just as I said there were far more Christians who believe in the Torah that juice the way it is they believe in the tour I believe in the Torah that they had on the New Testament it's not a problem to me at all it's not an issue we both believe in the Torah that's a big deal so the unites the United States has a great deal to teach a lot of people take a look at my book about the values of a god-centered society on every American coin is the American Trinity that's what I call a floor visit from anyone which you do well for many members though pretty well here and in god we trust' and liberty and those that that stuff is very deep in America it needs to be deep everywhere thank you yes thank you mr. Perron for coming well first I was curious if you are familiar with and have any thoughts on your doctor Jordan Peterson and his work with regard to the psychological significance of the Bible and then I may also you think more broadly whether meant higher education in the West can it be not only redeemed but perhaps even resurrected in summer but all right tell me I know his views of the transgender issue water his views off as a nutshell follow you through the Tal ecology well he killed he certain Simenson were thinking the number of lectures public lectures on the psychological significance of early works of genesis and if you do by over 2 million people races well he's going to be doing two videos for Prager University so that gives you an idea that we think very highly of it so the the second question was one again do you think the hierarchy no like West Iranian technique in any way if only beyond being if but they take God seriously and I don't see that happen the consequences of godlessness vested let's watch room Jews should be should be marching in the streets doing it this is what has chosen this about see this all this don't be crazy what is the point that right all choose us obviously it's to do just to do something you cheatin said the countries you because you were impressive you pretty unimpressive well so why would we chosen to bring to bring golf in the world but but the Rambam said the people the essentially the people who took the tours of the world of Christians and he was no Christianity Fayette but it's just a fact we don't do our job Jews don't do their job we're hiring for a certain job we don't do it then you're gonna smell that great poem thank you for your for saying that yes please I just knew he existed about half a year ago and I started watching her videos and thank you very much for them lecture is triggering you everything thank you and me to is Noah and how everything in that has to be some explanation to understand soon and connect us humans as people and assure you as before but you haven't heard the answer yes so I'm gonna ask anyway everything can be rationalized and everything must be rationalized understood by us what are we serving I'm still serving God serving or like if ourselves will eat like little text Alexis how he's been there for community to one of these tenants of the reformed community is that it's something as personal significantly if they propose new games then you could follow it it doesn't to you then you should follow away so how did I just went even before and just desperation what what happens to face when your faith is depended on what mean Wireless to make sense oh and just another part cute dance another you what do you feel their time obligation to follow its vote that we don't or can't understand but I would love that's something that needs to be addressed at great length in a nutshell nostril I don't believe that there are anything slow in the Torah that we cannot understand I never I do them because God said so but God wants me to understand why he said so and if I can't benefits in the Torah that I am still obligated to I might of course that I agree with that but I I think it's our task to understand why do they even culture there are very profound reasons I believe in the separation of few of the fins and scales and the end of the interview look it is not prejudiced that all the land animals that are kosher of a vegetarian and all the all the the there's gotta be content be a coincidence it's give a life that separation which should mean something but we now have so many other things added like I said about chicken being Colby that people no longer look to eating you know it's I once asked that of a teammate an Orthodox Jew that I think I deeply respected I said if he who was eating my beer eating together I said if I told you that the meat that you were eating now wasn't kosher what would you do and the woman said she would throw up and I didn't understand that why would you throw up it's that it's an emotional thing that I don't I don't relate to but but I do want to add this there we look I believe that God gave the Ten Commandments inside I believe God split the sea is that fully rational of course not not all of my beliefs are fully rational but none of them go against reason and that's why I said it one perform did the problem with reform was they wanted reason it was that they truck God as the author reason without God is useless useless and God without reason is largely useless I don't need to make religion but they're all religions any within our religion people who are very god centered who are not so we okay I want you to know you'll find this adventurous thing the Israelis near that was Raley's I told non-jews that they shouldn't send their kids throwing up I salute the colors but send them to Israel for six months between because I explained why I'm a big believer reason I explain why they will go to Israel they will see what you are really like they will see what is rate is real is really like what is living to life and then when they go to college and learn is real is a durable place is evil it loves to conquer mourn over others they so said I thought you said who is real for as long as you can you asked me whether I was going to university as you big portion of speech was problems with modern University right I said no I wouldn't use really army so yesterday I just finished my course my first courses in these the question is on the topic of rebellious sons children and how society as a whole and the government kind of restricts parents from harming the children in any way and however nowadays model of disclosure and especially American can't Canada the government really wants to take away the parents parents privilege especially in regards to way the child feels like it wants to become a transgendered person what's the difference well there's a big difference between parental authority and parental ownership you can't kill your child I'm sorry yeah that's what that's what that war came to teach you can't kill your child but nevertheless parental authority the the warm up parental authority in Canada is actually more advanced and in the United States I read about that British Columbia couple that was actually it I think deprived their children for a little while because they let them go on on a public bus what four kids went on a public bus together of the parents who were considered to be to be terrible parents endangering their children that these are new and these are new and terrible but the government stuff that are happening the transgender issue which by my seven-year-old says that he is a girl and I so I decide this persists I'd like to take my child to a therapist and see if like some can work out of being at peace with his biological identity you can't beat that now that is that is that that right has been taken away from the parents eighty-five percent of young people who ever have gender dysphoria whoever identified with the other sex that is not their biologic make peace and thrive in their biological sex a tiny percentage ultimately really do transition and among them there is a truth among them is a very high percentage of suicides it is a tragedy to think that you are the other sex than your biology parents understandably have to be loving but they also have to say love this is probably going to pass let's try to work this out but I am NOT going to be supplying you with dresses for for the foreseeable future and that that should be allowed yes I are less well or is the time okay so really thank you very much for being here I'm incredibly excited to see you here in person I have so much I watched on your podcast night watch all the previous videos I'm crediting pack everything need to say night I'm holding your book in my hand I'm hopefully if you would happily so I would love that I just finished my first week here at the University I'm undergrads playing musicians and besides here I want to say after all all the news and everything that I've watched I only watched the Sun you see people like my wife watch all my friends I need to ask all my friends sorry but seeing from you I can I can say I'm not sure this is true I feel that if you are what I will tell you why that's important God can only judge whether these writer and I but I this is what I do want to say I think this often because this was the way I grew up in a world where most adult men wanted to be male models divorce this was part of what meant to be a name that you'd strive to be a model to young boys to young men and I took that seriously so when you and your dad say that that's great not as on great but because I took seriously this man did that no longer exists because boys aren't maintaining men and girls are made to be women for that matter girls state girls and boys things almost indefinitely and ending our an immature culture but this is a beautiful thing for a boy to aspire to be a man and part of being a man was for young men to look at you and say I'd like to be like that that's the nicest thing you can say aside from that I'm turning up I'm taking over and now children and hopefully visiting teachers

Channel: Bar-Ilan University - אוניברסיטת בר-אילן

Views: 39,715

Keywords: Dennis Prager, Torah, bible, israel, biu, bar ilan, jewish studies

Id: 3C6RLaY2dJU

Length: 73min 51sec (4431 seconds)

Published: Wed Nov 01 2017