Judaism in the 21st Century: Disruption, Spirituality, and Finding Meaning with Rabbi Michael Strassfeld
We recently had the pleasure of speaking with Rabbi Michael Strassfeld about his new book, Judaism Disrupted: A Spiritual Manifesto for the 21st Century. In our enlightening conversation, we explored his journey to becoming a rabbi and how the core principles of Judaism can be applied to our modern lives. Rabbi Strassfeld shared the best advice he ever received: being present and listening to people rather than trying to provide answers. He also opened up about his unusual hobby of collecting signs from old synagogues and Jewish institutions, uncovering the story they tell about the American Jewish experience.
Our discussion took a deeper turn as we delved into Rabbi Strassfeld's path from Orthodoxy to more liberal forms of Judaism and his thoughts on the uncertain future of Judaism in light of the challenges of modernity. We also discussed the Jewish Counterculture of the 1960s and 70s, which encouraged people to become more active and engaged with their Judaism. Rabbi Strassfeld shared how spirituality and meditation have influenced his Judaism and his decision to become a rabbi at the age of 41.
Lastly, we tackled the disconnect between Jewish rituals and practices and how they are perceived by people in the 21st century. Rabbi Strassfeld shared his thoughts on the concept of justice and how it relates to anti-Semitism and racism, as well as the importance of compromise and the idea of Mishpat Shalom, or justice of peace. Our conversation concluded with his encouragement for people to create their own version of a spiritual life and find ways to reconnect with it. This episode is bound to leave you with valuable insights and a fresh perspective on Judaism in the 21st century.
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