Torah as Art and Adele's Ode to Abraham's Failure - A Conversation with Rabbi Eliyahu Fink
Manage episode 372400840 series 2990790
In the thought-provoking episode of "Truths - Jewish Wisdom for Today" entitled "Torah as Art and Adele's Oda to Abraham's Failure," host Rabbi Dr Levi Brackman engages guest Rabbi Eliyahu Fink in a spirited discussion on viewing religion as an art form and exploring the depths of personal truth in religious interpretation.
Rabbi Fink, a rabbi turned businessperson, traces his extraordinary journey from yeshiva student to synagogue rabbi and finally to his current venture in the business world. The focus is on his time as a rabbi at the Synagogue on the Beach in Venice, Los Angeles, his role as a writer for the Jewish Journal of Los Angeles, and his experiences as a social media consultant. Rabbi Fink's aim has always been to bridge Jewish values and popular culture, creating a connection between religion and everyday life.
The crux of the conversation centers around Rabbi Fink's intriguing interpretations of biblical events and his novel approach to religion as an art form. Of particular interest is his take on the Akedah, wherein he posits that Abraham failed God's test by accepting the command to sacrifice Isaac out of fear, rather than questioning it out of love. This fascinating perspective forms the core of the episode, tying together the broader themes of love, fear, and personal growth in the religious context.
Throughout the discussion, Rabbi Fink emphasizes the role of kindness in religious observance and individual interpretation in understanding and approaching religion. He proposes viewing religion not as a singular truth but a personal truth influenced by individual interpretation, encouraging personal growth and understanding over prescribed beliefs and behaviors.
The episode concludes with Rabbi Dr Levi Brackman commending Rabbi Fink's contributions, affirming how they perfectly encapsulate the podcast's mission: to explore the nuances between understanding one's individual truth and The Truth.
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.
109 episodes