In the darkest place imaginable, four men discovered that gratitude can keep you alive.

This episode of Madlik Disruptive Torah begins not in ancient text, but underground—inside the testimony of former hostage Eli Sharabi, who describes a ritual he and three others created in captivity: every night, they forced themselves to name one good thing that happened that day. Not because it felt true—but because without gratitude, hope would die.

1. Gratitude isn't a feeling—it's a practice
2. Jethro's greatest gift wasn't law—it was blessing
3. Saying it out loud is how we stay human

[00:00] Introduction: The Power of Gratitude
[02:04] Elie Sarabi's Story of Survival
[03:05] The Ritual of Thanksgiving
[06:24] Jethro's Blessing and Its Significance
[09:45] The Concept of Blessings in Judaism
[13:24] Voice Gift Play: A New Way to Share Stories
[14:27] The Importance of Verbalizing Gratitude
[27:31] Finding the 'Why' in Survival
[30:52] Conclusion: The Secret to Survival

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Transcript here: https://madlik.substack.com/

How a Story of Liberation Was Used to Exclude

What if the Exodus wasn't just a story of freedom… but also a story of exclusion?

1. Redemption stories are rarely neutral—they are often weapons.
2. The charge of being "left behind" usually says more about the accuser than the accused.
3. A story about leaving becomes an excuse for not moving at all.

[00:00] Moses' Uncompromising Message to Pharaoh

[00:24] The Irony of the 'Left Behind' Story

[01:48] Introduction to Madlik and This Week's Topic

[02:42] Exploring the Tradition of Those Left Behind

[04:00] The Ambiguous Word in Exodus 13:18

[05:24] Rashi's Interpretation and the Fifth Child

[11:08] Ezekiel's Rewriting of the Exodus Narrative

[13:25] The Polemic Against Those Who Stayed Behind

[25:05] The Tradition of Jewish Names, Language, and Dress

[29:56] Conclusion and Final Thoughts

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The Exodus isn't just a freedom story — it's the Torah's first argument about gatekeeping.

Pharaoh asks a simple question: "Who exactly is going?" — mi va-mi ha-holchim. Moses answers with a revolution: Everyone.

1. Who's going?" really means "Who counts?
2. Inclusion isn't modern — it's Torah.
3. Presence matters more than status.

[00:00] Pharaoh's Question: Who's Going?

[01:26] Introduction to Madlik and This Week's Topic

[01:58] The Essence of Hasidism and Inclusion

[05:03] Exploring the Exodus Story

[07:14] Moses' Radical Answer to Pharaoh

[17:08] Modern Interpretations and Commentary

[20:45] The Inclusive Revolution in Judaism

[27:35] Concluding Thoughts and Reflections

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