#270 – David Wolpe: Judaism

73 snips

Mar 16, 2022

David Wolpe, Rabbi of Sinai Temple in Los Angeles, shares profound insights on Judaism and interfaith dialogue. He discusses the importance of love and community in personal growth, and the role of traditions in preserving cultural identity. Wolpe examines the Jewish concepts of God, exploring humor and belief, and reflects on the emotional complexities of faith amidst societal challenges. He also navigates the tension between personal beliefs and community values, notably regarding LGBTQ+ acceptance, illustrating the richness and challenges within the contemporary Jewish narrative.

Ask episode

AI Snips

Chapters

Books

Transcript

Episode notes

INSIGHT

The Nature of God in Judaism

Judaism introduced monotheism, but doesn't offer a single God definition.
God is described as both intimately close and infinitely distant, a paradox.

ANECDOTE

Debating Hitchens

David Wolpe recalls debates with Christopher Hitchens, highlighting Hitchens' wit.
Hitchens argued God was a greater tyrant than North Korea due to afterlife's eternal nature.

INSIGHT

Atheism and Beauty

David Wolpe reflects on atheism in brilliant minds like Christopher Hitchens.
He suggests Hitchens' arguments stemmed from frustration with religion's earthly manifestations.

Get the Snipd Podcast app to discover more snips from this episode

Get the app

The Denial of Death

Ernest Becker

In 'The Denial of Death', Ernest Becker discusses the psychological and philosophical implications of how people and cultures react to the concept of death. He argues that human civilization is a defense mechanism against the knowledge of our mortality, and that this denial is a necessary component of functioning in the world. Becker's work challenges traditional Freudian thought by positing that the primary repression is not sexuality, but rather the awareness of death. He also explores how this fear of death leads to the creation of 'hero systems' and symbols that help individuals transcend their mortality, and how this can result in violence and conflict when different immortality projects clash[2][5][4].

Man's Search for Meaning

Viktor Frankl

The book is divided into two parts. The first part recounts Frankl's harrowing experiences as a prisoner in Nazi concentration camps, including Auschwitz, between 1942 and 1945. He describes the inhumane conditions and the psychological and emotional struggles of the prisoners. The second part introduces Frankl's theory of logotherapy, which posits that the primary human drive is the search for meaning, rather than pleasure. Frankl argues that meaning can be found through three main avenues: work (doing something significant), love (caring for another), and suffering (finding meaning in one's own suffering). The book emphasizes the importance of finding purpose and meaning in life, even in the most adverse conditions, as a key factor in survival and personal growth.

The Sabbath

Abraham Joshua Heschel

In this classic work, Heschel argues that Judaism is a religion of time rather than space, and that the Sabbath is central to this concept. He describes the Sabbath as an 'architecture of holiness' in time, a day that offers a taste of the Kingdom of God and a repudiation of the materialistic and frenetic aspects of modern life. Heschel emphasizes the importance of observing the Sabbath as a command rather than a license, highlighting its role in declaring allegiance to God and in fostering a sense of inner liberty and spiritual communion[2][3][4].

Hitch-22

a memoir

Christopher Hitchens

In *Hitch-22*, Christopher Hitchens recounts his life journey, from his childhood in England to his later years as a prominent figure in American intellectual circles. The memoir covers his early days at an English boarding school, his involvement in socialist movements, his career as a journalist, and his experiences traveling the world. It also includes personal anecdotes about his relationships with notable figures like Martin Amis and Salman Rushdie, as well as his reflections on his family and his own mortality, given his diagnosis with esophageal cancer shortly after starting the book.

Exodus

Leon Uris

The novel 'Exodus' by Leon Uris is a historical fiction account that explores the establishment of the state of Israel in 1948. It follows the stories of Jewish refugees, many of whom are Holocaust survivors, as they attempt to reach Palestine despite British opposition. The book delves into the back stories of its characters, the history of Jewish settlement in Palestine, and the broader political context of the time, including the struggle for independence and the conflicts between Jewish and Arab populations.

Middlemarch

George Eliot

Middlemarch, written by George Eliot, is a novel that delves into the complexities of provincial life in 19th-century England. The story revolves around the intersecting lives of its characters, particularly Dorothea Brooke and Dr. Tertius Lydgate, as they navigate marriage, vocation, and social class. Eliot critiques the conventional romance narratives of her time by portraying marriage as a complex and often problematic institution. The novel also explores themes of idealism, self-interest, hypocrisy, and the constraints on women's lives. Set in the fictional town of Middlemarch between 1829 and 1832, the novel incorporates historical events such as the Great Reform Act of 1832 and early developments in medicine. Eliot's realistic portrayal of ordinary human life, with its quiet tragedies and small triumphs, has made 'Middlemarch' a masterpiece of English literature.

The Brothers Karamazov

Larissa Volokhonsky

Fyodor Dostoevsky

Richard Pevear

Set in 19th-century Russia, 'The Brothers Karamazov' is a novel that delves into the lives of the Karamazov family, focusing on the three brothers—Dmitri, Ivan, and Alyosha—and their complex relationships with their father, Fyodor Pavlovich Karamazov. The novel is a murder mystery, a courtroom drama, and an exploration of erotic rivalry, faith, doubt, and reason. It examines the human psyche, moral dilemmas, and the search for meaning in a world fraught with suffering and uncertainty. The story revolves around the murder of Fyodor Pavlovich and the subsequent trial of Dmitri, accused of the crime, while exploring deeper themes of Russian life, social and spiritual striving, and the clash between faith and reason[2][5][4].

Why Faith Matters

null

Rabbi David Volpe

David, the Divided Heart

David Wolpe