David Wolpe

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.

Rabbi David Wolpe, an influential figure, discusses Israel's security, Zionism, Palestine, Hamas, U.S. support for Israel, Iran, Shia and Sunni, rise of anti-Semitism, and the Two-State Solution. Topics include conflicts, challenges, and complexities in the Middle East, dehumanization, evil, tribalism, and the tragedy of Jewish history.

David Wolpe, a prominent rabbi at Sinai Temple and author, discusses how we can find meaning in suffering. He explores how spirituality can help us navigate modern crises, focusing on resilience and the dangers of despair. Wolpe emphasizes transforming loss into community action and engaging with injustices, viewing them not as puzzles to solve but as mysteries to understand. The conversation highlights the significance of faith, empathy, and meaningful dialogue in facing life's harsh realities while fostering hope and connection.

In this episode of the 18Forty Podcast, we talk to Harvard Divinity School visiting scholar Rabbi David Wolpe, MIT PhD student Talia Khan, and Harvard professor Steven Pinker about the new reality for Jews in higher education.Since Simchas Torah, the hostile discourse regarding Israel has become something that no Jewish student can ignore. Jewish families have been asking: Is it even worth it to send our sons and daughters to these colleges? In this episode we discuss:Is it better for Jews to change the system from within, or without?What has changed about the Jewish experience at American colleges since Oct. 7?What is the way forward regarding free speech and Jewish rights on campus?Tune in to hear a conversation about how we might work toward a reimagined and refocused higher education.Interview with David Wolpe begins at 4:27.Interview with Talia Khan begins at 29:30.Interview with Steven Pinker begins at 1:05:12.Named The Most Influential Rabbi in America by Newsweek and one of the 50 Most Influential Jews in the World by The Jerusalem Post, David Wolpe is a visiting scholar at Harvard Divinity School and the Max Webb Rabbi Emeritus of Sinai Temple, a Conservative shul in Los Angeles. Rabbi Wolpe previously taught at the Jewish Theological Seminary of America in New York, the American Jewish University in Los Angeles, Hunter College, and UCLA. He is the author of eight books, including the national bestseller Making Loss Matter: Creating Meaning in Difficult Times. His new book is titled David, the Divided Heart.Talia Khan is an MIT graduate student in mechanical engineering, the president of the MIT Israel Alliance, and a Fulbright Brazil alumna.Steven Pinker is the Johnstone Family Professor in the Department of Psychology at Harvard University. He conducts research on language, cognition, and social relations, writes for publications such as the New York Times, Time and The Atlantic, and is the author of twelve books, including The Language Instinct, How the Mind Works, The Blank Slate, The Stuff of Thought, The Better Angels of Our Nature, The Sense of Style, Enlightenment Now, and Rationality: What It Is, Why It Seems Scarce, Why It Matters.References:“On the Hatred of Jews” by David J. WolpeIsrael: An Echo of Eternity by Abraham Joshua Heschel O Jerusalem! by Larry Collins and Dominique Lapierre “When Calls for Jewish Genocide Can Cost a University Its Government Funding” by Michael A. Helfand“A five-point plan to save Harvard from itself” by Steven PinkerThe Coddling of the American Mind by Greg Lukianoff and Jonathan HaidtThe Canceling of the American Mind by Greg Lukianoff and Rikki Schlott The Constitution of Knowledge by Jonathan RauchBecome a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/18forty-podcast--4344730/support.

David Wolpe, a prominent rabbi at Sinai Temple in Los Angeles, shares profound insights on suffering and meaning in life. He discusses how to navigate grief and transform loss into personal growth, urging listeners to embrace discomfort while seeking meaning. Wolpe emphasizes the power of community and faith to bridge societal divides and combat despair. He also reflects on the essence of prayer, personal action, and the importance of turning anger into constructive efforts, inspiring hope amid challenges.