In this episode, we sat down with philosopher, thinker, and educator Rabbi Friedman to hear his journey from a traditional background to becoming an observant Jew.

- What does it mean to believe in a God?

- Where are the main proofs of a God and Torah? 

- Can a rational person believe in a Creator? 

Tune in to hear Rabbi Friedman discuss his views on God and Torah. 

For Rav Moshe YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCIa4P4kp7toFDgAdlUSYcNw

For the Aish UK Channel: https://www.youtube.com/user/AishUk

Rabbi Jack Cohen is the North American Director of Education at Olami as well as the co-author of "nurture their nature"

Today we live in a more populated and more connected world it's easy to get lost. People are looking for their place in a world of 7 billion people. 

We discuss how to learn about ourselves and maintain individuality when often conformity is encouraged. 

See this article written by Rabbi Cohen: https://www.theexpressionoflife.com/p/the-whole-world-for-you

Did you ever wonder why doesn't the Torah mention the philosophical journey of Avrohom Avinu? Isn't it important to learn how he found Hashem in a polytheistic world? 

Rav Berkovits explains the connection between the chessed of Avrohom and finding Hashem. 

In this episode we hear from Shira. Who has been working and volunteering at GIFT.

After taking her gap year in 2003-4 to study at Michlala Seminary in Jerusalem, Shira returned to the UK to attend Central School of Speech and Drama. Her love of volunteering caused her to spend all her free time (and some of the time she should have been in lectures) supporting every charity under the sun 

Shira is a passionate, heartfelt, and effective educator, having previously been a leader for Aish UK, and other organizations. She combined her easy-going and warm personality with her love of educating and in 2006 took up the post of ‘Informal Educator’ in Hasmonean High School.

Tune in and hear all about the life of someone working at GIFT and the gift of living life as a giver. 

The origins of the Jewish nation starts with Avrohom Avinu. Yet his beginning we read in the Torah are full of challenges. Wouldn't it be nicer if the stories we read worked out better for Avrohom? 

Rav Berkovits would say, "This is what we are here for. We have one purpose in this world, which is to earn eternity. To bring ourselves to be closer and closer to Hashem. Everything in this world is nothing other than a test. They are the things that give us the ability to jump higher". 

Good Shabbos 

Zvi 

In this mid-week series, we ask our guests - what do they feel is most critical to a thinking Jew? 

Rabbi Goldwater shares insights and concepts that he learnt or came across when he was older but would have liked to have known more about and had more access to when he was younger. 

For more info and suggestions: [email protected]

Have a wonderful week and enjoy the "Thinking Jewish podcast"  

If you were to ask yourself, "who am I"?  - Where do you point towards? 

Rabbi Moshe Friedman explores this foundational Jewish idea of how the human mind works, and acts. 

Rabbi Moshe Friedman grew up in Manhattan, New York, and received his B.A. in Politics, Philosophy, and Economics at the University of Pennsylvania. He studied Jewish Thought and Talmudic Law for ten years in Israel, including several years at the Mir Yeshiva, and has passed rabbinic ordination examinations from the Israeli Rabbinate. Rabbi Friedman has been a regular lecturer at Machon Yaakov Yeshiva in Jerusalem and on numerous learning-based Israel trips.

In 2017, he moved to London with his wife and children to take up the role of FJL UK Liaison, a role that includes regular campus visits and London-based educational programs. Known also by his stage name "Rav Mo", Moshe is a rapper and spoken word artist and has produced music videos with international acclaim. 

Links to Rav Mo Youtube channel https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCIa4P4kp7toFDgAdlUSYcNw

How does one connect to the Simcha of Sukkos? 

A great story of the Baal Shem Tov and Chaikel the water carrier (it's always a water carrier!) 

Yom Kippur can be and should be a serious yet happy and beautiful day. A day of closeness and love. How can we experience that?

Listen to the episode and hear how you can connect in a very real way to Yom Kippur. 

There are certain stringencies that Jews take on between Rosh Hashana and Yom Kippur. If we aren't going to take them on long term isn't that a show? Who are we fooling?