In today's episode of Dear Rabbi, I'm answering a profound question about God's role in our suffering, especially during these challenging post-COVID times. I explain why we can't fully grasp God's ways by sharing two powerful stories – one about a hypothetical cousin from the jungle seeing a gym for the first time, and another about my personal experience with my son Ozzy during his medical procedure. Through these examples, I illustrate how our limited perspective, like looking at a painting with our nose against the canvas, prevents us from seeing the complete picture.As Jews, we believe in reincarnation and that our souls return to fix things unknown to us. While we may not understand everything now, I emphasize that if something doesn't seem good, it's simply because we haven't reached the end of the story yet. Keep the questions coming! If you have a burning question about Judaism,Email us at Dearrabbi@Joidenver.com📧Tune in to Dear Rabbi and uncover the wisdom behind Jewish customs and laws. 🎙️🌟Follow us for more:Website - https://www.joidenver.comInstagram - https://www.instagram.com/joidenverFacebook - http://www.facebook.com/JOIdenverYouTube - https://www.youtube.com/c/JOIdenverPinterest - http://pinterest.com/jewishdiy
📖 Parshat Vayigash This Week: 'I am Yosef, your brother.' Imagine the shock. The brothers stand before Egypt's viceroy, and suddenly realize it's the brother they sold into slavery years ago, assumed dead. This is Yosef's moment to unleash years of justified anger, to make them grovel, to remind them of their betrayal. But he doesn't. Instead, he says: 'Don't feel bad. This was all part of God's plan.' The self-restraint. The perspective. The spiritual maturity to see divine orchestration in his deepest trauma. Yosef teaches us: we can't always control what happens to us, but we can always control our response. Sometimes the greatest power isn't revenge, it's reframing your pain as part of a bigger story. What would change if you saw purpose in your struggles? Shabbat Shalom. 🙏Follow us for more:Website - https://www.joidenver.comInstagram - https://www.instagram.com/joidenverFacebook - http://www.facebook.com/JOIdenverYouTube - https://www.youtube.com/c/JOIdenverPinterest - http://pinterest.com/jewishdiySubscribe to "JOI to the World" to access all our podcasts, including Yada Yada Yiddish, Kids Say the Deepest Things, Reconnect, and Dear Rabbi.Join us as we uncover the treasures in our backyard and explore what makes the Jewish people extraordinary! 🕎📚🎙️
🎧 Listen to this and other episodes at www.joidenver.com/podcastsIn this episode of Dear Rabbi, I tackle a fundamental question about prayer: What's the point if God already knows what I need? Are we trying to change God's mind? The answer reveals that worship is far more sophisticated than simply presenting God with an Amazon wish list.I explain that God already knows what we need, and if He's determined something isn't good for us, no amount of asking will change that - just like a parent won't give a three-year-old a knife no matter how much they beg, because it's dangerous. However, with a ten-year-old asking for a knife, the answer becomes "it depends" based on their intention and maturity.Through a humorous example about asking for a Lamborghini "to help old ladies," I demonstrate how prayer forces us to clarify what we truly want and why we want it. When we justify our requests, we often realize our real motivations - ego, status, selfish desires - versus genuine needs. This self-examination is one of prayer's primary purposes.Additionally, prayer reminds us that God is the only one who can truly provide what we need. Using a rabbi joke about asking for a burger at a library, I illustrate that asking someone for something implies believing they can give it to you. Prayer accomplishes two crucial things: clarifying what we want and why, and reminding ourselves that God is the ultimate source of everything we need.Keep the questions coming! If you have a burning question about Judaism,Please email us at Dearrabbi@Joidenver.com📧Tune in to Dear Rabbi and uncover the wisdom behind Jewish customs and laws. 🎙️🌟Follow us for more:Website - https://www.joidenver.comInstagram - https://www.instagram.com/joidenverFacebook - http://www.facebook.com/JOIdenverYouTube - https://www.youtube.com/c/JOIdenverPinterest - http://pinterest.com/jewishdiySubscribe to "JOI to the World" to access all our podcasts, including Yada Yada Yiddish, Kids Say the Deepest Things, Reconnect, and Dear Rabbi.Join us as we uncover the treasures in our backyard and explore what makes the Jewish people extraordinary! 🕎📚🎙️
📖 Parshat Mikeitz This Week: Yosef names his sons in revealing order. First, Menashe 'nashani Elokim', God made me forget the troubles of my past. Second, Efraim 'ki hifrani', God made me fruitful in this land. The order matters: forget first, flourish second. Yosef had every reason to stay bitter, betrayed by brothers, falsely imprisoned, and forgotten for years. But he chose to release the past before building his future. You can't construct a tower on a shaky foundation of resentment, trauma, and unprocessed pain. Sometimes moving forward requires letting go, not denying what happened, but refusing to let it define what's next. What past are you holding onto that's preventing your future? Healing isn't forgetting, it's freedom. Shabbat Shalom. 🌱Follow us for more:Website - https://www.joidenver.comInstagram - https://www.instagram.com/joidenverFacebook - http://www.facebook.com/JOIdenverYouTube - https://www.youtube.com/c/JOIdenverPinterest - http://pinterest.com/jewishdiySubscribe to "JOI to the World" to access all our podcasts, including Yada Yada Yiddish, Kids Say the Deepest Things, Reconnect, and Dear Rabbi.Join us as we uncover the treasures in our backyard and explore what makes the Jewish people extraordinary! 🕎📚🎙️
In Part 1, we laid out questions: Why does the Midrash connect Greece to the "horn of an ox"? Why is Yosef described by Moshe using that imagery? Why does Yosef's rise to power in Egypt matter for understanding Chanukah?Now we return to put the pieces together.Chanukah always falls during the Torah portions that tell the story of Yosef, and that timing isn't coincidental. In this episode, we explore what Yosef's journey—his success in a foreign empire, his beauty, his ability to navigate power—teaches us about the Chanukah struggle with Greece. What does it mean to shine in a world that celebrates external achievement?And where does true power come from?This is where the questions from Part 1 find their answers.This is from the POV Parsha podcast. To subscribe to that visit joidenver.com/podcasts
Chanukah always falls during the Torah portions that tell the story of Yosef, but the connection is rarely explored directly. In this episode, I do something simple: I ask questions.Why does the Midrash connect Greece to the “horn of an ox”? Why is Yosef described by Moshe using that imagery? Why does Yosef’s rise to power in Egypt matter for understanding Chanukah? And what is Chanukah really teaching about success, leadership, and where power comes from?This episode is intentionally open-ended. It lays out the questions and the sources without rushing to conclusions. In Part 2, we’ll return to these questions and put the ideas together, offering a clearer picture of how Yosef’s story shapes the deeper meaning of Chanukah.This comes from our Parsha POV podcast. You can subscribe and learn more at joidenver.com/podcasts
🎧 Listen to this and other episodes at www.joidenver.com/podcastsIn this episode of Dear Rabbi, I answer a fascinating question about Jewish pronunciation: Why do some people say "Shabbos" while others say "Shabbat"? Is Shabbos actually Yiddish? The answer reveals a deeper story about Jewish history, migration, and the diversity within the Jewish people.I explain that both "Shabbos" and "Shabbat" are equally Hebrew - the difference comes from where Jews historically lived. Ashkenazi Jews (from Eastern European descent - the word literally means Germany) tend to say "Shabbos," while Sephardi Jews (from Spain, North Africa, the Middle East, and Southeast Europe) say "Shabbat." The Sephardi story includes the famous 1492 expulsion from Spain - the same year Columbus sailed - when Jews were kicked out and spread to North Africa and the Ottoman Empire.The pronunciation difference stems from how each community treats the Hebrew letter "tav." Ashkenazim differentiate between tav with a dot (pronounced like "T") and without a dot (pronounced like "S"), which is why they say "Shabbos." Sephardim pronounce tav as "T" regardless of the dot, resulting in "Shabbat." I explain why many Jews today use Sephardi pronunciation even if they're Ashkenazi: When Israel was established, and Hebrew became a spoken language again, most founders were Sephardi, so modern Hebrew adopted their pronunciation. It's also simpler with fewer rules to remember. Keep the questions coming! If you have a burning question about Judaism,Please email us at Dearrabbi@Joidenver.com📧Tune in to Dear Rabbi and uncover the wisdom behind Jewish customs and laws. 🎙️🌟Follow us for more:Website - https://www.joidenver.comInstagram - https://www.instagram.com/joidenverFacebook - http://www.facebook.com/JOIdenverYouTube - https://www.youtube.com/c/JOIdenverPinterest - http://pinterest.com/jewishdiySubscribe to "JOI to the World" to access all our podcasts, including Yada Yada Yiddish, Kids Say the Deepest Things, Reconnect, and Dear Rabbi.Join us as we uncover the treasures in our backyard and explore what makes the Jewish people extraordinary! 🕎📚🎙️
📖 Parshat Vayeishev This Week: Yosef's life is a rollercoaster, sold into slavery, rises in Potiphar's house, wrongly imprisoned, and becomes Egypt's viceroy. Through every high and low, one thing remains constant: success. What's his secret? The Torah repeatedly states, 'God was with Yosef,' but more importantly, Potiphar saw that God was with him. Yosef's success wasn't hidden faith; it was visible godliness. People encountered God through encountering Yosef. This is Kiddush Hashem, living so that others see the Divine radiating through you. It's not just what you believe privately; it's how your actions, integrity, and character reveal God's presence publicly. When people meet you, what do they see? That's the measure of true success. Shabbat Shalom. ✨Follow us for more:Website - https://www.joidenver.comInstagram - https://www.instagram.com/joidenverFacebook - http://www.facebook.com/JOIdenverYouTube - https://www.youtube.com/c/JOIdenverPinterest - http://pinterest.com/jewishdiySubscribe to "JOI to the World" to access all our podcasts, including Yada Yada Yiddish, Kids Say the Deepest Things, Reconnect, and Dear Rabbi.Join us as we uncover the treasures in our backyard and explore what makes the Jewish people extraordinary! 🕎📚🎙️
In this week's Parshat POV, we explore Parshat Vayeshev, one of the Torah's most dramatic narratives. Just as Jacob thinks he can finally settle down and find peace, his life takes the most challenging turn yet. The portion follows Joseph's descent from favored son to enslaved prisoner, sold by his jealous brothers, falsely accused by Potiphar's wife, and thrown into an Egyptian dungeon. Woven into this drama is the mysterious story of Judah and Tamar, which seems out of place but reveals profound lessons about leadership and accountability. Through the parallel narratives of Joseph and Judah, we discover a powerful message about second chances: the Hebrew word "hakir na" (identify please) appears in both Joseph's coat and Tamar's plea, connecting their stories and showing how mistakes don't define us forever. We learn that true leadership requires taking responsibility, and that even our greatest failures can become pathways to redemption. This engaging Torah study combines textual analysis with timeless lessons about resilience, moral courage, and the transformative power of owning our mistakes.Follow us for more:Website - https://www.joidenver.comInstagram - https://www.instagram.com/joidenverFacebook - http://www.facebook.com/JOIdenverYouTube - https://www.youtube.com/c/JOIdenverPinterest - http://pinterest.com/jewishdiySubscribe to "JOI to the World" to access all our podcasts, including Yada Yada Yiddish, Kids Say the Deepest Things, Reconnect, and Dear Rabbi.Join us as we uncover the treasures in our backyard and explore what makes the Jewish people extraordinary! 🕎📚🎙️
🎧 Listen to this and other episodes at www.joidenver.com/podcastsIn this episode of Dear Rabbi, I tackle a fundamental question about prayer: What's the point if God already knows what I need? Are we trying to change God's mind? The answer reveals that prayer is far more sophisticated than simply presenting God with an Amazon wish list.I explain that God already knows what we need, and if He's determined something isn't good for us, no amount of asking will change that - just like a parent won't give a three-year-old a knife no matter how much they beg, because it's dangerous. However, prayer works differently with a ten-year-old asking for a knife - the answer becomes "it depends" based on their intention and maturity.Through a humorous example about asking for a Lamborghini "to help old ladies," I demonstrate how prayer forces us to clarify what we truly want and why we want it. When we have to justify our requests, we often realize our real motivations - ego, status, or selfish desires - versus genuine needs. This self-examination is one of prayer's primary purposes.Additionally, prayer reminds us that God is the only one who can truly provide what we need. Using a rabbi joke about asking for a burger at a library, I illustrate that asking someone for something implies believing they can give it to you. Prayer accomplishes two crucial things: clarifying what we want and why, and reminding ourselves that God is the ultimate source of everything we need.Keep the questions coming! If you have a burning question about Judaism,Please email us at Dearrabbi@Joidenver.com📧Tune in to Dear Rabbi and uncover the wisdom behind Jewish customs and laws. 🎙️🌟Follow us for more:Website - https://www.joidenver.comInstagram - https://www.instagram.com/joidenverFacebook - http://www.facebook.com/JOIdenverYouTube - https://www.youtube.com/c/JOIdenverPinterest - http://pinterest.com/jewishdiySubscribe to "JOI to the World" to access all our podcasts, including Yada Yada Yiddish, Kids Say the Deepest Things, Reconnect, and Dear Rabbi.Join us as we uncover the treasures in our backyard and explore what makes the Jewish people extraordinary! 🕎📚🎙️
An engaging Torah study session exploring Parshat Vayishlach, where Jacob prepares to reunite with his brother Esau after years of separation. The discussion covers the concept of angels (malakhim) in Jewish tradition, Jacob's wrestling match with the angel and his resulting limp, the significance of name changes (Jacob to Israel), and the tragic story of Dinah. The session concludes with powerful lessons about Leah's selflessness and the principle that doing the right thing ultimately brings divine reward, even if not immediately. This interactive study combines textual analysis with practical life lessons, emphasizing themes of wholeness, identity, and moral courage. Perfect for anyone interested in Jewish learning, biblical interpretation, or exploring the deeper meanings within Torah narratives.Follow us for more:Website - https://www.joidenver.comInstagram - https://www.instagram.com/joidenverFacebook - http://www.facebook.com/JOIdenverYouTube - https://www.youtube.com/c/JOIdenverPinterest - http://pinterest.com/jewishdiySubscribe to "JOI to the World" to access all our podcasts, including Yada Yada Yiddish, Kids Say the Deepest Things, Reconnect, and Dear Rabbi.Join us as we uncover the treasures in our backyard and explore what makes the Jewish people extraordinary! 🕎📚🎙️
📖 Parshat Vayishlach This Week: Rabbi Lord Jonathan Sacks asked: Why don't we know why bad things happen to good people? His answer: Because if we knew, we'd accept it as God's will and stop fighting to make things better. This week, Yaakov wrestles with an angel and earns a new name: Yisrael' ki sarita im Elohim' because you have struggled with God and prevailed. That's who we are. To be Jewish means being okay with wrestling with the Divine, questioning, arguing, demanding answers, refusing to accept injustice just because 'that's how it is.' We don't passively accept suffering; we challenge it, fight it, and work to fix it. There's nothing more Jewish than standing up for what's right, even if it means wrestling with God Himself. Shabbat Shalom. 💪Follow us for more:Website - https://www.joidenver.comInstagram - https://www.instagram.com/joidenverFacebook - http://www.facebook.com/JOIdenverYouTube - https://www.youtube.com/c/JOIdenverPinterest - http://pinterest.com/jewishdiySubscribe to "JOI to the World" to access all our podcasts, including Yada Yada Yiddish, Kids Say the Deepest Things, Reconnect, and Dear Rabbi.Join us as we uncover the treasures in our backyard and explore what makes the Jewish people extraordinary! 🕎📚🎙️
📖 Parshat Vayeitzei This Week: Yaakov works 7 years of slave labor for Lavan just to marry Rachel. The Torah says those years felt 'k'yamim achadim', like a few days, because he loved her so much. Wait, shouldn't love make time drag? Every day should feel like eternity when you're waiting for what you want most. But here's the brilliance: 'yamim achadim' can also mean 'individual days.' Yaakov didn't stare at the mountain of 7 years thinking, 'I can't do this.' He broke it down: just get through today. Then tomorrow. Then the next day. When we face overwhelming challenges, we paralyze ourselves by looking at the whole mountain. Break it into steps. One day. One moment. Suddenly, the impossible becomes achievable. What mountain do you need to break into in days? Shabbat Shalom. 🏔️Follow us for more:Website - https://www.joidenver.comInstagram - https://www.instagram.com/joidenverFacebook - http://www.facebook.com/JOIdenverYouTube - https://www.youtube.com/c/JOIdenverPinterest - http://pinterest.com/jewishdiySubscribe to "JOI to the World" to access all our podcasts, including Yada Yada Yiddish, Kids Say the Deepest Things, Reconnect, and Dear Rabbi.Join us as we uncover the treasures in our backyard and explore what makes the Jewish people extraordinary! 🕎📚🎙️
🎧 Listen to this and other episodes at www.joidenver.com/podcastsIn this episode of Dear Rabbi, I explore whether Judaism believes in the concept of soulmates and explain the fascinating Jewish teaching of "bashert", the idea of a predestined partner. If you've ever wondered whether there's one perfect person out there for you, or how Jewish tradition views romantic destiny, this episode will provide profound insights that challenge modern assumptions about finding "the one."I explain that in Judaism, there is indeed a concept known as bashert, which means "predestined" or "meant to be." According to Jewish tradition, we're taught that before a child is even born - right after conception - a heavenly voice announces that this person is meant to be with that person. This suggests a divine plan for partnership that exists from the very beginning of our existence.But here's where Jewish wisdom adds a crucial twist to the popular soulmate narrative: Does the existence of a bashert mean you'll automatically find that soulmate? Not necessarily. And more importantly, Judaism places far more emphasis not on finding the soulmate, but on being the soulmate. This is a profound shift in perspective that transforms the entire approach to relationships and marriage.What does it mean to "be the soulmate" rather than just "find the soulmate"? It means we spend more effort on becoming the right partner and becoming the right person, instead of passively searching for the right person. This isn't a passive act of waiting for destiny to deliver your perfect match. It requires active self-improvement, character development, and preparation for partnership.Keep the questions coming! If you have a burning question about Judaism,Please email us at Dearrabbi@Joidenver.com📧Tune in to Dear Rabbi and uncover the wisdom behind Jewish customs and laws. 🎙️🌟Follow us for more:Website - https://www.joidenver.comInstagram - https://www.instagram.com/joidenverFacebook - http://www.facebook.com/JOIdenverYouTube - https://www.youtube.com/c/JOIdenverPinterest - http://pinterest.com/jewishdiySubscribe to "JOI to the World" to access all our podcasts, including Yada Yada Yiddish, Kids Say the Deepest Things, Reconnect, and Dear Rabbi.Join us as we uncover the treasures in our backyard and explore what makes the Jewish people extraordinary! 🕎📚🎙️
🎧 Listen to this and other episodes at www.joidenver.com/podcasts.Welcome to Zero Percent, the podcast that explores the outsized impact of the Jewish people! 🌟Join us as David Jacques Farahi, a former hospitality and gaming executive turned investor and philanthropist, shares his inspiring journey from corporate America to a life dedicated to meaningful giving. Discover how David's Iranian-Jewish parents modeled philanthropy even before financial success, teaching him that "we have a responsibility," a mantra that shaped his entire worldview.Hear David's powerful story about his work with Derech Eretz, a pre-military program transforming the lives of Israeli youth from underserved communities, and learn how finding the right cause changed his life as much as his giving changed others. From helping Russian Jews escape communism to supporting Israeli startups, David reveals the ripple effects of Jewish philanthropy and why agency, taking action rather than waiting, is central to Jewish values.Whether you're just starting your philanthropic journey or looking to deepen your impact, David's wisdom about time, talent, and treasure will inspire you to recognize that everyone can be a philanthropist. Discover why giving isn't just about writing checks, why hosting a Shabbat dinner can change someone's life, and how the Jewish concept of responsibility leads to ability.This episode challenges the notion that philanthropy is only for the wealthy, offering practical advice on finding causes that align with your passions, creating meaningful impact, and ensuring that the next generation inherits the same freedoms we enjoy today.🔗 CONNECT WITH DAVID JACQUES FARAHI: https://www.linkedin.com/in/david-jacques-farahi-b542a8208?utm_source=share&utm_campaign=share_via&utm_content=profile&utm_medium=ios_appSUPPORT DERECH ERETZ: https://derecheretz.org.il/en/CONNECT WITH US:🎧 Listen to all our podcasts: [www.joidenver.com/podcasts]Follow us for more: Website - https://www.joidenver.comInstagram - https://www.instagram.com/joidenverFacebook - http://www.facebook.com/JOIdenver YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/c/JOIdenverPinterest - http://pinterest.com/jewishdiySubscribe to "JOI to the World" to access all our podcasts, including Yada Yada Yiddish, Kids Say the Deepest Things, Reconnect, and Dear Rabbi.Join us as we uncover the treasures in our backyard and explore what makes the Jewish people extraordinary! 🕎📚🎙️
📖 Parshat Toldot This Week: When famine strikes, Yitzchak's instinct is to flee to Egypt like his father did. But God tells him, 'Stay put.' Fight it out right where you are. That year, despite the famine, his crops yielded 100 times what he had expected. Our knee-jerk reaction in challenging dynamics, difficult relationships, struggling businesses, and hard seasons is often to bail, to hit the eject button. And sometimes that's necessary. But sometimes success isn't in escaping; it's in staying present, fighting it out, not giving up when things get hard. The Torah doesn't promise we'll always see material abundance like Yitzchak did, but it reminds us that breakthroughs often come to those who stay in the fight. What would happen if you didn't run? What growth awaits on the other side of staying? Shabbat Shalom. 💪Follow us for more:Website - https://www.joidenver.comInstagram - https://www.instagram.com/joidenverFacebook - http://www.facebook.com/JOIdenverYouTube - https://www.youtube.com/c/JOIdenverPinterest - http://pinterest.com/jewishdiySubscribe to "JOI to the World" to access all our podcasts, including Yada Yada Yiddish, Kids Say the Deepest Things, Reconnect, and Dear Rabbi.Join us as we uncover the treasures in our backyard and explore what makes the Jewish people extraordinary! 🕎📚🎙️
🎧 Listen to this and other episodes at www.joidenver.com/podcasts.In this episode of Dear Rabbi, I continue from last week's discussion about free will and divine knowledge. Last week, I explained that just because God knows what you're going to choose doesn't stop you from making that choice - much like knowing someone's past actions doesn't negate the fact that they made those choices freely. But this week, I tackle the Rambam's (Maimonides') question, which sounds identical but is actually profoundly different and much deeper.The Rambam's answer is both humble and profound: "Know that the answer to this question is longer than the earth and broader than the sea." In other words, we cannot fully comprehend the answer to this question. But to understand why this question is so much deeper than last week's, I explain a critical point the Rambam makes elsewhere in the same chapter.This episode covers the Rambam's formulation of the free will paradox, the fundamental difference between divine and human knowledge, why God's knowledge becoming part of His essence creates a deeper problem, the concept of divine unity and simplicity, why this question is "longer than the earth and broader than the sea," and what it means to hold seemingly contradictory truths in Judaism.Keep the questions coming! If you have a burning question about Judaism,Please email us at Dearrabbi@Joidenver.com📧Tune in to Dear Rabbi and uncover the wisdom behind Jewish customs and laws. 🎙️🌟Follow us for more:Website - https://www.joidenver.comInstagram - https://www.instagram.com/joidenverFacebook - http://www.facebook.com/JOIdenverYouTube - https://www.youtube.com/c/JOIdenverPinterest - http://pinterest.com/jewishdiySubscribe to "JOI to the World" to access all our podcasts, including Yada Yada Yiddish, Kids Say the Deepest Things, Reconnect, and Dear Rabbi.Join us as we uncover the treasures in our backyard and explore what makes the Jewish people extraordinary! 🕎📚🎙️
📖 Parshat Chayei Sarah This Week: The real star of this parsha? The camel, mentioned 18 times! In a portion all about kindness (Rivkah watering Eliezer's camels), why focus on camels? Because they teach us something profound: camels can travel vast distances and help others cross deserts, but only after they fill themselves with water first. The Hebrew word 'gamal' (גמל) means both 'camel' AND 'to bestow/give to others.' True kindness doesn't mean becoming a shmata, a rag, letting people walk over you, or depleting yourself completely. You can't pour from an empty cup. Fill yourself first, physically, emotionally, spiritually, and then you'll have the capacity to help others truly. Self-care isn't selfish; it's preparation for sustainable kindness. Shabbat Shalom. 🐪Follow us for more:Website - https://www.joidenver.comInstagram - https://www.instagram.com/joidenverFacebook - http://www.facebook.com/JOIdenverYouTube - https://www.youtube.com/c/JOIdenverPinterest - http://pinterest.com/jewishdiySubscribe to "JOI to the World" to access all our podcasts, including Yada Yada Yiddish, Kids Say the Deepest Things, Reconnect, and Dear Rabbi.Join us as we uncover the treasures in our backyard and explore what makes the Jewish people extraordinary! 🕎📚🎙️
🎧 Listen to this and other episodes at www.joidenver.com/podcasts.In this episode of Dear Rabbi, I tackle one of the most profound philosophical questions in Judaism and theology: If God knows everything, including what choices I'm going to make, do I really have free will? After all, if God already knows what I'm going to choose, isn't my choice predetermined? This question has puzzled philosophers and theologians for centuries, but the answer may be simpler than you think.I start by explaining that just because God knows what you're going to choose doesn't stop you from making a free will choice. The key to understanding this lies in how God relates to time. From God's perspective, there is no time - God exists above time and beyond space. What was, what is, and what will be are all essentially the same to God, with no distinction between past, present, and future.To make this even clearer, I propose a thought experiment involving a time machine. Imagine you eat breakfast, and then I get into a time machine and go back ten minutes to watch you make your breakfast choices. I observe everything but don't interfere - I just watch. The fact that I know you chose Wheaties with a banana and orange juice doesn't mean you didn't have free will to make that decision. I just happen to know what you chose because in my timeline, it already happened. You're still making those choices yourself; I'm just observing from a different temporal perspective.Keep the questions coming! If you have a burning question about Judaism,Please email us at Dearrabbi@Joidenver.com📧Tune in to Dear Rabbi and uncover the wisdom behind Jewish customs and laws. 🎙️🌟Follow us for more:Website - https://www.joidenver.comInstagram - https://www.instagram.com/joidenverFacebook - http://www.facebook.com/JOIdenverYouTube - https://www.youtube.com/c/JOIdenverPinterest - http://pinterest.com/jewishdiySubscribe to "JOI to the World" to access all our podcasts, including Yada Yada Yiddish, Kids Say the Deepest Things, Reconnect, and Dear Rabbi.Join us as we uncover the treasures in our backyard and explore what makes the Jewish people extraordinary! 🕎📚🎙️
Abraham literally put God on hold to welcome strangers. In Parshat Vayera, our forefather invents the original “call waiting” – pausing his conversation with the Divine to run and serve three travelers. The lesson? Imitating God’s kindness (chesed) matters more than even speaking with God. Being like God > being with God. #shabbatshalom #shabbatshalom #parsha #spirituality #judaism