Episode 4: “Shortcut Empathy” + Rabbi David Wolpe
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In this thought-provoking episode of "Being Jewish," Jonah Platt dives deep with Rabbi David Wolpe to explore what being Jewish means to one of Judaism’s most renowned faith leaders. From rabbinical wisdom to addressing anti-Jewish bigotry on college campuses, to October 7th, no topic goes untouched. Rabbi Wolpe weighs in on his controversial time at Harvard, his storied career as a rabbi, and his own sense of Jewish identity. Join us for an in-depth and reflective conversation just in time for the Days of Awe and Yom Kippur.
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Host & Production Team
Host: Jonah Platt; Produced by Rainbow Creative (Executive Producer: Matthew Jones; Story Producer: Sean Leviashvili; Editor: Patrick Edwards);, Social Media Manager: Yuval Yosha; Designer Noah Bell Research Associate: Samantha Greenwald, and Consulting Producers: Shield Communications (Ariella Noveck & Bethany Mandel).
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00:00 Introduction to Yom Kippur and Self-Reflection
00:23 Psychological Biases and Self-Awareness
01:06 Shortcut Empathy: A Modern Fallacy
02:36 The Importance of True Empathy
03:36 Personal Experience on Middle Ground
04:47 A Disheartening Encounter
06:10 The Need for Genuine Empathy
06:30 Introduction to Rabbi David Wolpe
07:41 Growing Up as a Rabbi's Child
11:07 Journey to Becoming a Rabbi
15:16 Challenges and Achievements at Sinai Temple
23:47 Reflections on Jewish Identity and Heroes
26:38 Experiences at Harvard Divinity School
30:01 The Resignation Letter
30:50 Congressional Hearings and Disillusionment
34:38 DEI and Systemic Inequality
37:44 Advice for Jewish Students
39:21 Cultivating a Relationship with the Divine
44:18 Jewish Identity and Modern Challenges
51:27 Audience Questions and Reflections
