Answers WithHeld What is Obligation?
Jul 30, 2025
In this engaging dialogue, Rabbi Tali Adler, a faculty member at Hadar and former colleague of Shai Held, delves into the fascinating concept of obligation within faith. They examine the intense rabbinic narrative of God threatening the Israelites at Sinai, raising questions about choice and consent in religious life. The discussion covers how personal relationships and ancestral ties shape Jewish identity and the delicate balance between obligation and autonomy. Ultimately, they explore how genuine love can redefine commitment in both divine and personal contexts.
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Sinai's Overwhelming Divine Power
- The Sinai mountain held over the Israelites represents a moment where choice is nullified by overwhelming divine power.
- However, such absolute clarity of God is fleeting, meaning human agency returns once the experience fades.
Faith Needs Epistemic Distance
- Genuine faith requires some degree of epistemic distance where God's presence is veiled, allowing meaningful choice.
- God desires to be loved with authentic agency, not through coercion or overwhelming presence.
Marriage as Irrelevant Choice
- Rabbi Tali Adler shares her marriage experience where choice felt irrelevant due to being deeply in love.
- In such moments, the natural draw may override traditional notions of autonomous choice.
