Rabbi Naama Dafni: When Faith is Tested - On War, Trauma, and Finding Purpose

In this insightful episode, host Bill is joined by Rabbi Naama Dafni who shares her remarkable journey to becoming a rabbi and discusses her experiences during Israel's current conflict. From her childhood in the diverse city of Haifa to her spiritual awakening and eventual embrace of her rabbinical calling, Rabbi Dafni offers profound reflections on Jewish identity, community resilience, and faith in challenging times.

Key Discussion Points

• Rabbi Dafni's upbringing in Haifa, a multicultural city with diverse Jewish and Arab populations
• Her family history, including grandparents who were members of the Stern Gang.
• The transformative experience during her father's sabbatical in Cambridge, England, where she first consciously recognized her Jewish identity as something distinctive rather than assumed
• Her reluctant path to becoming a rabbi: initially performing rabbinical duties without wanting the formal title, and her eventual decision to embrace the role for the benefit of the Jewish community
• The critical importance of community life in Israel and why it forms the foundation of Israeli society
• Her community's efforts since the outbreak of war to support soldiers by providing a compassionate listening presence and helping them process trauma
• Observable shifts in community engagement before and after the war began
• The crisis of faith many are experiencing—both in God and in humanity's inherent goodness—as a result of the ongoing conflict
• Lessons learned from the post-Holocaust generation who chose to rebuild their lives despite unimaginable suffering

Send us your thoughts at bill@honeyfoundationforisrael.org

Join the Honey Foundation's work in improving Israeli society today.

This episode was produced and edited by thepodwaves.com.