Zvi Leshem: 'Modernity in general was a movement that was anti-mystical'
About this episode
Rabbi Dr. Zvi Leshem discusses the impact of Jewish mysticism on relationships and spirituality in a modern context.
As director of the Gershom Scholem Collection for Kabbalah and Hasidism at the National Library of Israel, Rabbi Dr. Zvi Leshem dedicates much of his time to the study of Jewish mysticism. He believes Jewish mysticism teaches us to listen, uplift, and shape our world as part of our path towards redemption. Rabbi Dr. Leshem received his PhD in Jewish Philosophy from Bar-Ilan University and is the author of Redemptions: Contemporary Chassidic Essays on the Parsha and the Festivals . He has previously served as the associate dean and director of overseas programs at Nishmat. Now, he joins us to answer eighteen questions with Rabbi Dr. Benji Levy on Jewish mysticism including how it transforms relationships, connecting to God through Torah study, and how the world’s greatest challenges persist over generations. Here are our questions: What is Jewish mysticism? How were you introduced to Jewish mysticism? In an ideal world, would all Jews be mystics? What do you think of when you think of God? What is the purpose of the Jewish people? How does prayer work? What is the goal of Torah study? Does Jewish mysticism view men and women the same? Should Judaism be hard or easy? Why did God…
People in this episode
Host: Rabbi Dr. Benji Levy
Guest: Rabbi Dr. Zvi Leshem
Topics covered
- Jewish mysticism
- relationships
- Torah study
- redemption
- modernity
- prayer
Mentioned in this episode
Organizations: National Library of Israel, Bar-Ilan University, Nishmat
Books & works: Redemptions: Contemporary Chassidic Essays on the Parsha and the Festivals
More episodes of 18 Questions, 40 Mystics
- Jonnie Schnytzer: 'The world caught up with kabbalists'
- Dina Etigson: 'The point is not to transcend this world but to bring God here into it'
- Biti Roi: 'Every generation brings mysticism to a different stage'
- Devori Nussbaum: 'I see God as this one coherent frequency of truth'
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