Why Do Jews Do That?

Rabbi Meir Soloveichik opens the series with an overview of Moritz Daniel Oppenheim's life and work. Oppenheim’s vivid depictions of Jewish life affirmed the dignity of Jewish tradition, rebutted anti-Semitic caricatures, and showed how German Jews sought to be both true to their faith and full members of German society. Drawing on stories from Lionel de Rothschild, Benjamin Disraeli, Heinrich Heine, and even Senator Orrin Hatch, Rabbi Soloveichik also illustrates the tension between Jewish faith and public life that played out in Enlightenment Germany, to which Oppenheim’s paintings were a response.

Through Oppenheim's paintings of a Bar Mitzvah celebration and the lighting of Shabbat candles, Rabbi Soloveichik explores how Judaism treats time as a sacred responsibility. A grandfather's watch, a flickering candle—these symbols point to a tradition that measures life not by length, but by meaning. Drawing on insights from Rabbi Joseph B. Soloveitchik, Shakespeare’s Macbeth, and a young Zionist hero, Rabbi Soloveichik contrasts despair over life's brevity with Judaism's insistence on sanctifying every moment. Time is life—and what we do with it is everything.

Rabbi Soloveichik explores the Jewish tradition of blessing children through the lens of Rembrandt's "Jacob Blessing the Sons of Joseph" together with Oppenheim's "The Rabbi's Blessing." He explains why Ephraim and Manasseh became the models for Jewish children, and how Oppenheim's painting, inspired by Rembrandt, celebrated Jewish loyalty in the face of assimilation. Rabbi Soloveichik also reflects on why Jacob became the archetypal Jewish elder.

In this episode, Rabbi Soloveichik examines the meaning of rest on the Sabbath through Moritz Daniel Oppenheim's paintings "Sabbath Afternoon" and "Sabbath Rest on the Street." Connecting Oppenheim's work with the ideas of Rabbi Norman Lamm, Maria Poggi Johnson, and Senator Joseph Lieberman, Rabbi Soloveichik reveals the true meaning of Sabbath rest: not just refraining from work, but also awakening the soul. Oppenheim's paintings capture this idea aptly. Rabbi Soloveichik also connects this point to modern life, highlighting how the Jewish Sabbath offers a timeless antidote to the distractions of the digital age.​

Rabbi Soloveichik examines the Jewish symbolism of fire through Moritz Daniel Oppenheim's painting "The Conclusion of the Sabbath." He contrasts the Jewish view of fire—as a divine gift bestowed upon humanity—with the pagan myth of Prometheus, in which fire is stolen in defiance of the gods. Rabbi Soloveichik also demonstrates how Jews use fire to spread holiness out from Jerusalem, whereas the Olympic torch relay was originally conceived as a symbol of power and domination.

Rabbi Soloveichik compares Herman Wouk's return to Jewish observance during World War II alongside Moritz Daniel Oppenheim's choice to paint scenes of Jewish religious life at the height of his artistic acclaim. Focusing on Oppenheim's Sukkot painting, "Feast of Tabernacles," he explains how the painting symbolizes a hopeful balance between faith and modernity. Oppeneheim's country would ultimately betray that hope, but the eventual execution of some Nazi leaders on Sukkot suggests a deeper divine message.