{"version":1,"type":"rich","provider_name":"Libsyn","provider_url":"https:\/\/www.libsyn.com","height":90,"width":600,"title":"Brotherly Love in Lisbon","description":"For centuries, we\u2019ve used the word "scapegoat" to mean blaming someone else\u2014but what if the Torah meant the exact opposite? What does the scapegoat really mean on Yom Kippur? In Parashat Acharei Mot, two identical goats stand at the center of the ritual\u2014one for God, one sent into the wilderness. Most read this as ancient ritual. Isaac Abarbanel reads it as something far more radical. Key Takeaways The Scapegoat Isn\u2019t About \u201cThem\u201d\u2014It\u2019s About Us Abarbanel reframes the ritual: the two goats are not Israel vs. its enemies, but two possible versions of Israel itself\u2014closeness or distance, covenant or exile. 2. In the Face of Persecution, He Chooses Hope Over Revenge Writing in the shadow of expulsion, Abarbanel could have turned the scapegoat into a symbol of blame. Instead, he offers introspection and resilience\u2014a theology of survival, not vengeance. 3. Exile Is Not the End\u2014It\u2019s Part of Redemption The goat sent away does not die. It survives. For Abarbanel, exile becomes a stage in a larger story\u2014one that ultimately bends toward return and renewal. Timestamps [00:00] Twin Goats Opening [01:01] Show Intro Lisbon Setup [01:45] Why Study Abarbanel [03:04] Don Isaac Biography [08:24] His Commentary Method [11:43] Two Goats Text [13:18] Abarbanel Long Preface [14:49] Sponsor Break [15:56] Twenty One Questions [19:58] Jacob Esau Reading [26:36] Israel In Exile Reading [30:26] Hopeful Takeaways [31:39] Closing Shabbat Shalom Links & Learnings Sign up for free and get more from our weekly newsletter https:\/\/madlik.com\/ Sefaria Source Sheet: https:\/\/voices.sefaria.org\/sheets\/720530 Transcript here: https:\/\/madlik.substack.com\/ ","author_name":"Madlik Podcast \u2013 Disruptive Torah Thoughts on Judaism","author_url":"https:\/\/madlik.com\/","html":"