It's been acknowledged on this podcast many times - It's not been an easy year for Jews. Yet, you have to acknowledge the fact that this also isn't the hardest year for Jews either. Is that the only thing that gives us hope? That we've endured so much worse than a post-October 7th world? Or is it the fact that we have Israel so at least we have that going for us?

Hope comes from so much more. Rabbi Yoshi Zweiback from Stephen Wise Temple illustrate the radically colorful history of hope that Jews have. Unique to other cultures and religions, the Jewish approach to hope continues to be the key to our survival and guides us to a state of thriving time and time again. Chaz Volk, host of Bad Jew, levels with Rabbi Zweiback to be realistic and face the truths of the Jewish future together.

00:00 Introduction

05:54 Meeting Goldberg-Polin

09:39 Hope is fundamental to the human condition

10:43 Willpower

16:10 Disagreements on the source of hope

19:29 Mashiach

20:55 Imperfect leaders emphasize human responsibility

23:52 Generational hope

27:12 Inclusion within Zionism

31:35 The Holocaust

34:41 Every day is new

36:12 Conclusion

About Rabbi Yoshi Zweiback:

Rabbi Yoshi Zweiback was born in Colorado Springs, Colo., and raised in Omaha, Neb. He graduated from Princeton University in 1991 and was ordained as a rabbi by the Hebrew Union College Jewish Institute of Religion in 1998. He trained as a Jewish educator at HUC’s Los Angeles campus, where he received a M.A. in Jewish Education.

He served Congregation Beth Am in Los Altos Hills, Calif., as a rabbi and educator for 11 years, until moving to Israel with his family in 2009 to become the director of HUC’s Year-in-Israel program. In addition to overall management of the graduate level program, he served as an instructor in Jewish Liturgy.

Rabbi Yoshi came to Wise in 2012 as the Head of School at Wise School and was named the third Senior Rabbi of Stephen Wise Temple in 2015.

Rabbi Yoshi is a lecturer at Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion in Los Angeles, and a Senior Rabbinic Fellow of the Shalom Hartman Institute in Jerusalem. He is also the volunteer Executive Director and Founder of Kavod, a non-profit tzedakah collective which is dedicated to protecting human dignity.

Rabbi Yoshi is also an author, musician and composer. His publications include the teacher’s guide to Shalom Ivrit II; Day of Days; and Days of Wonder, Nights of Peace: Family Prayers in Song for Morning and Bedtime. As part of Mah Tovu, he has released three albums, published two books, and performed across the United States.

He is married to Jacqueline Hantgan and, together, they are the proud parents of three daughters.

Connect with Rabbi Yoshi Zweiback:

www.WiseLA.org

IG @rabbiyoshi

IG @stephenwisetemple

Podcast: The Search for Meaning with Rabbi Yoshi: https://wisela.org/searchformeaning/

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