About this episode

Rabbi Simi Lerner discusses the complexities of faith and emunah in modern life.

Check out Orthodox Conundrum Commentary on Substack and get your free subscription by going to https://scottkahn.substack.com/ - and paid subscribers get this and other episodes of the Orthodox Conundrum Podcast ad-free and with early access and additional bonus content! When people talk about emunah, faith, it is often framed as a simple question. Do you believe in God, or don't you? But what if that question misses the point? In this episode, Rabbi Simi Lerner argues that emunah is not a binary yes or no. It is not something a person simply has or lacks. It is something that develops over time, shaped by experience, thought, and personal struggle. Together, we explore why so many thoughtful people find themselves wrestling with faith, even when they genuinely want to believe. We discuss the difference between a more rational, philosophical approach to Judaism and an approach predicated upon a more Kabbalistic worldview, and whether those approaches are in tension or can work together. We also examine how the way emunah is often taught may be part of the problem, especially when it is presented in overly simplistic terms that do not reflect the complexity of real life. This is…

People in this episode

Host: Scott Kahn

Guest: Rav Simi Lerner

Topics covered

• faith
• emunah
• Judaism
• philosophy
• Kabbalistic worldview
• personal struggle

Keywords

• faith
• emunah
• Judaism
• Kabbalah
• belief
• philosophy
• spiritual struggle

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: Orthodox Conundrum, Substack

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