Eli Rubin’s Kabbalah and the Rupture of Modernity (Stanford University Press) presents a groundbreaking study of Chabad Hasidism. Through close readings of primary texts, historical analysis, and engagement with modern philosophy, Rubin, a scholar and Chabad insider, traces the historical evolution of the movement’s theology. The result is an indispensable work for anyone wanting to better understand Chabad’s intellectual and historical trajectory.

Todd Berman, author of a recent TRADITION review of Rubin’s book, conducted an in-depth interview with the author at Yeshivat Eretz HaTzvi. The discussion examined Rubin’s argument that modernity, viewed through the Kabbalistic lens of tzimtzum and cosmic “rupture,” profoundly reshaped modern thought in addition to the inner intellectual life of Chabad-Lubavitch and its spiritual vision. A key focus of the conversation was how Rubin’s ideas speak to the challenges faced by young Modern Orthodox students and how mystical and existential thought can enrich their search for meaning, faith, and identity in the modern world.

Rabbi Eli Rubin is a contributing editor at Chabad.org. He received his Ph.D from University College London. 

Rabbi Todd Berman is the Director of Institutional Advancement at Yeshivat Eretz HaTzvi where he teaches Jewish Thought and Halakha.

The conversation was recorded live at Jerusalem’s Yeshivat Eretz HaTzvi on December 4, 2025, and contains questions from students in the audience.

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