Shai Held: Why Judaism is Actually About Love (Not Law)
Apr 23, 2024
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Rabbi Shai Held discusses how Judaism is about love, challenging the misconception of it being solely about law. They explore love in Judaism, forgiveness in Christianity/Judaism, love as an existential posture, and the biblical story of Hagar. Additionally, they touch on interfaith dialogue and Jewish-Christian relations.
Judaism is not solely about law, but also emphasizes love and compassion.
Both Judaism and Christianity share profound insights on love and ethics.
Interfaith dialogue is enriched by curiosity, humility, and openness towards diverse traditions.
Deep dives
Overview of the Podcast Episode
The podcast episode discusses various topics related to love, faith, and spirituality in the context of Christian and Jewish traditions. The speakers engage in conversations about the complexities of developing a resilient faith, the importance of love in both traditions, and the nuances of religious theology and ethics, emphasizing the significance of compassion, forgiveness, and understanding in spiritual practices.
Exploring Love in Judaism and Christianity
The conversation delves into the concept of love within Judaism and Christianity, challenging common misconceptions that Judaism is focused solely on works and law, while Christianity is seen as grace-based. The podcast highlights how both traditions share deep insights on love, ethics, and the complexities of human relationships, urging listeners to explore the nuanced understanding of love beyond superficial clichés.
Lessons on Interfaith Dialogue and Understanding
The episode provides valuable insights on the dynamics of interfaith dialogue and understanding, encouraging mutual learning and respect between Christian and Jewish perspectives. It underscores the importance of genuine curiosity, humility, and openness in engaging with diverse religious traditions, fostering deeper connections and shared meanings across different faith communities.
Challenging Religious Assumptions and Stereotypes
The speakers challenge religious assumptions and stereotypes, particularly addressing anti-Semitic tropes and biases that have influenced perceptions of Judaism in Western society. By showcasing the richness and depth of Jewish tradition, the podcast aims to broaden Christian perspectives, fostering a more inclusive and respectful approach towards interfaith dialogue and theological exploration.
Promoting Compassion and Understanding in Religious Discourse
The engaging discussion promotes compassion, empathy, and understanding in religious discourse, emphasizing the need for humility, deep listening, and receptivity in theological conversations. By recognizing complexity and diversity in religious experiences, the speakers advocate for a more reflective, compassionate, and nuanced approach to spiritual dialogue and theological exploration.
A dramatic misinterpretation of the Jewish tradition has shaped the history of the West: Christianity is the religion of love, and Judaism the religion of law. In the face of centuries of this widespread misrepresentation, Rabbi Shai Held, in his book Judaism Is about Love: Recovering the Heart of Jewish Life, recovers the heart of the Jewish tradition, offering the radical and moving argument that love belongs as much to Judaism as it does to Christianity.
Rabbi Shai Held--philosopher, theologian, and Bible scholar--is President and Dean at the Hadar Institute. He received the prestigious Covenant Award for Excellence in Jewish Education, and has been named multiple times by Newsweek as one of the fifty most influential rabbis in America and by the Jewish Daily Forward as one of the fifty most prominent Jews in the world. Rabbi Held is the author of several books, and is the host of Hadar's newest podcast, Answers WithHeld.
