Jewish Philosophy with Rabbi Dr. Dovid Gottlieb Jews and Non Jews
Jul 4, 2025
Dive into a captivating discussion on the nuances of Jewish philosophy. Explore whether Judaism creates an in-group hierarchy and learn about Ramchal's stages to unify humanity. Rabbi Gottlieb highlights Abraham’s unique role and God's offering of the Torah to other nations. He tackles the question of moral merit among Jews and non-Jews, asserting that choices define morality. Conversions are presented as paths to unity, while special obligations to family are analyzed against broader ethical theories. Intriguing insights await!
AI Snips
Chapters
Books
Transcript
Episode notes
Two Tiers Result From Human Free Will
- Rabbi Dr. Dovid Gottlieb argues Judaism does not endorse a fixed two-tiered humanity because God repeatedly tried to create a homogeneous humanity.
- Human free will, not divine design, produced the split between Jews and non-Jews according to Ramchal's stages.
Abraham's Singular Ascent Created A People
- Ramchal taught that everyone could have collectively achieved Abraham's spiritual level and become one humanity.
- Rabbi Dr. Dovid Gottlieb recounts that only Abraham did so, creating the Jewish people while others formed separate nations.
Take The Higher Role If You Want It
- If someone objects to a two-tier system, Rabbi Dr. Dovid Gottlieb suggests taking the higher role is open to everyone.
- He recommends embracing available obligations rather than portraying the system as oppressive.
