🎙 Episode 2: I Chose a Religious Life. What Do I Do With My Past?

🔹 Episode Summary

In this deeply personal episode of Rebbi, I Have a Question, Rabbi Yitzchak Shurin explores an issue faced by almost everyone who made the choice to take on a more observant lifestyle:

I Chose a Religious Life. What Do I Do With My Past?

“How should I relate to the version of myself that existed before I was religious? Can I bring parts of her with me, or do I have to leave her behind?”

Rabbi Shurin addresses the emotional and spiritual questions that arise when we look back on who we used to be: What do we do with shame? With old interests and hobbies? With relationships and memories that don’t seem to fit our current lives? And how do we know when holding on is healthy, and when it’s not?

❓ Questions Discussed

• Should I distance myself from who I was before becoming religious or try to integrate her?

• Is teshuva meant to erase the past, or transform it?

• Can I keep old interests like music, travel, or books that were part of my former lifestyle?

• What about friendships or relationships from before—are they still okay?

• How can I tell when the past is enriching me versus pulling me backward?

🧠 About the Podcast

Rebbi, I Have a Question is a podcast from Shapell’s and Midreshet Rachel v’Chaya, where host Dana Margolis brings your questions about real-life challenges to Rabbi Yitzchak Shurin. Drawing from deep Torah wisdom and decades of experience, Rabbi Shurin offers thoughtful, grounded responses to questions from students and alumni navigating life, relationships, and Jewish growth.

📩 Send Us a Question

Have a question you'd like Rabbi Shurin to answer on the show? Email us at [email protected]

🌐 Learn More

To learn more about Shapell’s or Midreshet Rachel v’Chaya, visit us online at www.darchenoam.org.

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