Wondering Jews with Mijal and Noam Rabbi David Wolpe on How to Keep Jewish Unity Alive (Re-release)
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Aug 13, 2025 In a year of division, the conversation focuses on the challenges of maintaining Jewish unity. Rabbi David Wolpe reflects on the significance of the Seder and the importance of community in shaping Jewish identity. The dialogue also navigates the complexities of political disagreements at the dinner table. Themes of remembrance and empathy are discussed, linking historical suffering to contemporary conflicts. Ultimately, the talk emphasizes storytelling as a tool for fostering solidarity and connection within the Jewish community.
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Changing Kitniyot As A Vegetarian
- Wolpe recounts deciding to eat kitniyot as a vegetarian after a teshuva allowed it and facing a congregant's joke that he was 'still eating treif.'
- The story highlights embedded Ashkenazi–Sephardi Passover food customs and communal pushback to change.
Childhood Seder Memories
- David Wolpe remembers Bidikat Chametz with his father planting bread to find, enjoying the candlelit mystery of the ritual.
- He also recalls synagogue seders and childhood table moments like the four questions and opening the door for Elijah.
Pesach Is A Family Ritual
- Wolpe argues Pesach is primarily a family holiday that binds generations through shared ritual and presence around the table.
- He says its sociological power, more than any single theme, explains why Pesach remains the most observed Jewish ritual.