Truths - Jewish Wisdom for Today
Hosted by Rabbi Dr. Levi Brackman, "Truths: Jewish Wisdom for Today" is an insightful podcast exploring the confluence of religion, science, and philosophy.
The podcast serves as a platform for curious minds who value nuance and pursue wisdom. It is not designed for individuals seeking absolute truths or those inclined towards unquestioning religious adherence, but instead for those who traverse our rapidly evolving world as seekers and explorers.
With the mission to impart valuable insights rooted in Jewish perspective that resonate with contemporary times, "Truths: Jewish Wisdom for Today" learns from distinguished guests, shares insights with listeners, and adapts with time and context. This podcast stands as a guiding light for those questing for wisdom and a nuanced understanding of spirituality amid the complexities of the modern world.
Truths - Jewish Wisdom for Today
The Great Arousal - The Divine Impetus for Creation in Lurianic Kabbalah
The episode continues a discussion about Lurianic Kabbalah and its teachings on how the world was created. It looks at the philosophical debate between Aristotle's view of an eternal universe versus the Jewish view that God created the universe ex nihilo (out of nothing).
According to Lurianic Kabbalah, before creation there was only the Or Ein Sof, the infinite divine light that is incomprehensible to humans. At some point, there was an "arousal" within the divine masculine aspect for the feminine, even though feminine did not yet exist. This led to the emanation of divine energy and a chain reaction that resulted in the physical world being created.
The episode grapples with philosophical questions around whether this implies some kind of dualism within the divine, and how we can conceive of a "moment in time" when discussing something beyond time. It also looks at the language around God's "simple will" to create the world, and what caused this will to come to fruition when it did.
The next episode will explore the Lurianic concept of "tzimtzum" or divine contraction, which was the mechanism God used to allow for the creation of the universe once the divine will arose. This episode provides important philosophical background and context to understand these mystical ideas within Lurianic Kabbalah.
Levi Brackman is a rabbi, Ph.D. in psychology, best-selling author of Jewish Wisdom for Business Success, and founder of Invown, a platform for real estate fundraising and investing.
