THANK YOU HASHEM FOR THE EMESDIKE TZADDIK!!

First, I would like to thank you for this show. I appreciate all its content and what it represents.

When listening to this podcast, I was deeply disappointed—both by what Rabbi Gladstein said and by the lack of pushback during his conversation with Rabbi Ephraim Goldberg (although I deeply admire R’ Goldberg). Two claims stood out: first, that feeling connected is not necessary to serve Hashem and that attending a two-hour farbrengen or singing uplifting niggunim may be a “waste of time”; second, that such engagement could constitute bittul Torah—even a “bad business decision” in one’s avodat Hashem.

Both claims deserve serious reconsideration.

Judaism is a brit—a covenantal relationship. In any real relationship, feelings are not the covenant itself, but they matter deeply. If I act only when I feel inspired, the relationship fails; yet if I never feel anything, something essential is missing. So too with Hashem: mitzvot bind us regardless of emotion, but the Torah repeatedly commands us to cultivate love, awe, gratitude, and closeness. “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart” (Deut. 6:5). “To love… and to serve Him with all your heart” (Deut. 11:13), which Chazal interpret as prayer. “To cleave to Him” (Deut. 11:22). “The nearness of God is my good” (Ps. 73:28). The covenant is framed relationally even before law is given: “I bore you on eagles’ wings and brought you to Me” (Ex. 19:4). Shir HaShirim is called Kodesh Kedashim because it expresses this relationship at its deepest level.

To say that feeling connected is irrelevant to avodat Hashem ignores the Torah’s own language.

As for bittul Torah: love and fear of Heaven are themselves mitzvot. The Sefer HaChinuch lists them among the constant commandments. Chazal state explicitly: “If one’s fear precedes his wisdom, his wisdom endures; if wisdom precedes fear, it does not” (Avot 3:9). “The beginning of wisdom is fear of the Lord” (Ps. 111:10). Yirat Shamayim is not a distraction from Torah—it is its foundation. (Cf. Ohr Sameach on Rambam Hilchot Talmud Torah s”k 2).

The Gemara in Berachot describes David HaMelech rising at night to sing to Hashem before issuing halachic rulings. The chassidim harishonim devoted extended time to preparing for prayer. Rambam describes how prophets would use seclusion and music to reach the proper state for divine connection. The closing chapters of Mesilat Yesharim describes how one can be on the same level of connection to Hashem if he is learning all day or בעל מלאכה פחותה”.

Yes, talmud Torah keneged kulam. But the Gemara in Kiddushin explains that Torah study outweighs other mitzvot because it leads to action and proper service—not because it replaces the inner work that makes Torah alive.

Strengthening one’s relationship with Hashem through song, inspiration, and communal elevation is not a “bad business decision.” It is part of the Torah’s own vision of avodat Hashem. When done properly, it deepens Torah rather than diminishes