Episode 116: Rabbi David Wolpe "Responding to Doubt, Division and Tragedy"

In this episode, Rabbi David Wolpe joins us for a thought-provoking conversation about the challenges and opportunities facing the Jewish people today. In the wake of October 7th, intra-faith dialogue is as critical as interfaith dialogue. The Jewish community must find ways to foster understanding, break down barriers, and build unity among diverse perspectives. Rabbi Wolpe reflects on the enduring influence of Maimonides, whose teachings continue to resonate across Jewish movements and explores how his philosophy shapes modern Jewish thought. We discuss the evolution of New Atheism, from Christopher Hitchens to Alex O’Connor, and what this shift means for conversations about faith within the Jewish context. The conversation also delves into culturally religious figures like Dennis Prager and Jordan Peterson, examining whether a meaningful religious message can be upheld without traditional observance. Rabbi Wolpe addresses the hardest questions raised by atheists—about evil, belief, and God’s hiddenness—and shares his vision for making faith relevant and compelling in a skeptical world. This episode challenges us to think deeply about faith, unity, and the future of Judaism. Don’t miss this essential conversation.

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• Bio: Named The Most Influential Rabbi in America by Newsweek and one of the 50 Most Influential Jews in the World  by The Jerusalem Post, and twice named one of the 500 Most Influential People in Los Angeles by the Los Angeles Business Journal, David Wolpe is the Max Webb Emeritus Rabbi of Sinai Temple. He serves as the ADL’s inaugural rabbinic fellow and a scholar in residence at the Maimonides Fund. Rabbi Wolpe has taught at Harvard, the Jewish Theological Seminary, the American Jewish University, Hunter College, and UCLA. Rabbi Wolpe has published widely, including in The New York Times, Los Angeles Times, Washington Post, Time, Newsweek and The Atlantic. He has been featured on The Today Show, Face the Nation, ABC This Morning, and CBS This Morning as well as series on PBS, A&E, History Channel, and Discovery Channel, and has engaged in widely watched public debates with Christopher Hitchens, Sam Harris, Richard Dawkins, Steven Pinker and many others about religion and its place in the world. Rabbi Wolpe is the author of eight books, including the national bestseller Making Loss Matter: Creating Meaning in Difficult Times (Riverhead). His latest is titled David, the Divided Heart (Yale U Press). It was a finalist for the National Jewish Book Awards, and has been optioned for a movie by Warner Bros.

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