In the 49th episode of the "Jewish Wisdom for Business and Life" podcast, host Levi Brackman discusses his personal journey with Judaism, timed to coincide with the festival of Shavuot, which marks the giving of the Torah.
Brackman explores his evolution from rabbi to business person, highlighting how his faith has changed over time. He shares his experiences growing up in a Hasidic household, where religious texts were paramount, and recalls the impact of Rabbi Schneerson's death on his beliefs.
During his journey, Brackman spent around five to seven years refining his understanding of Judaism, reaching a point where he doesn't view religion and the Torah as the ultimate "truth", but rather as a collection of meaningful "truths" that provide moral guidance. He uses the concept of kindness and the idea of a non-physical reality as examples of these truths, and mentions the challenges in discerning the ultimate truth, which he suggests science might bring us closer to, but doesn't own.
Brackman interprets the Bible's teaching to distance oneself from falsehoods as an argument against viewing it as absolute truth, and suggests that seeing its stories as conveying truths can mitigate many faith-related conflicts.
He concludes by sharing his current perspective on the Torah as a source of wisdom and cultural heritage, cautioning against presenting it as absolute truth due to potential conflicts with scientific facts. He ends with a teaser for the next episode, the final one of the current season, promising a review of Masechet Sotah and hinting at a fresh approach for the upcoming season.
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.
