Today’s guest is Mark D. Friedman, an independent scholar working in the field of political theory and ethics. His latest book, Come Now, Let us Reason Together: Uncovering the Torah’s Liberal Values, discusses what he describes as the fundamental misconception about Judaism, that because the ultra-Orthodox follow ancient traditions and strictly adhere to halakhah, that the rigid practices that characterize their communities represent authentic Judaism. In this episode, Mark and Alon dive into this discussion on understanding Judaism, and discuss how this relates to current events and policies in Israel, and perceptions of Judaism in the here and now. Full bio After retiring from the successful practice of corporate law, Mark D. Friedman returned to his first love, the study of philosophy. He is currently an independent scholar working in the field of political theory and ethics. He has written three books: Nozick’s Libertarian Project: An Elaboration and Defense (2011), Libertarian Philosophy in the Real World: The Politics of Natural Rights (2014), and his most recent book, Come Now, Let us Reason Together: Uncovering the Torah’s Liberal Values (2024). Friedman received a J.D. from Georgetown Law School, USA, with honors, and holds an MBA from Columbia University, USA. He lives in a small town outside of Seattle, with his family of four, and is very active in his local synagogue. His interests include attending his children’s activities and family travel.