Bechukotai 5784: Between Philosophy and Spirituality

Can we approach the Torah as a rational guide for living wisely while allowing space for genuine emotional and spiritual experiences?

In this week’s episode, Rabbi Dr. Elisha Ancselovits and Rabbi Zvi Hirschfield delve into the concept of reward and punishment. Elisha offers an intriguing interpretation – rather than God actively intervening, the Torah provides wisdom about how our behaviors yield consequences in the natural order of things.

They’ll take us on an exploration of the balance between the rational understanding of cause-and-effect with the emotional yearning for divine involvement and control.

Credits:
Rabbi Dr. Elisha Ancselovits – Pardes Faculty
Rabbi Zvi Hirschfield – Pardes Faculty and Host of Pardes from Jerusalem

Zvi Hirschfield

Rabbi Zvi Hirschfield teaches Talmud, Halakha and Jewish Thought at Pardes. He is also deeply involved in Pardes’s programs for Jewish educators, with a focus on tefilah in educational settings, modern Jewish thought, and Israel education. Zvi holds a B.A. in History from Columbia University, pursued graduate studies at Harvard University in Medieval and Modern Jewish Thought, studied at Yeshivat Har Etzion, and received rabbinic ordination from the Chief Rabbinate of Israel.

Before joining Pardes, Zvi served as Director of Judaica at the JCC of Cleveland and taught at the Cleveland College of Jewish Studies. He also works as a curriculum writer and staff trainer for the Nesiya Institute. Zvi lives in Israel with his wife, Dina, and their four children.

Learn more from this author

Categories:

Learn

Community

About

Support

Resources

Connect