Big Questions of Jewish Belief artwork

Judaism · Rabbi Dr. Raphael Zarum

Big Questions of Jewish Belief

by Rabbi Dr. Raphael Zarum

This is Big Questions of Jewish Belief, the podcast where we face up to the challenges of religious faith. We all have questions about our faith. Questions about the truth of the Torah, the morality of its laws and what it teaches about having a relationship with God. So each week during this miniseries I'll be inviting rigorous thinkers to challenge me with their questions on Belief. My name is Raphael Zarum - I'm the Dean of LSJS - the London School of Jewish Studies, where I hold the Rabbi Sacks Chair in Modern Jewish Thought, established by the Zandan family. I'm a rabbi and I have degrees in Physics, Mathematics and Education, and I'm fascinated by the relationship between general and Jewish thought and ideas. I explore these ideas further in a book called 'Questioning Belief' which is available on Amazon worldwide (UK link: lsjs.ac.uk/amazonbelief). I don't believe in quick responses that don't stand up to scrutiny. I think we should take questions seriously as they reflect a real desire to understand our practices and beliefs in a deeper way. So you won't get clever quips and cheap certainties from this podcast, what you'll get is an honest and open discussion about challenging questions based on traditional sources and modern interpretations.

Latest episodes

Showing 12 · updated from the feed

(11) A different relationship with God this Rosh Hashanah

What does it actually mean to have a relationship with God, especially when we're not even sure what we believe? In the season three premiere of Big Questions of Jewish

Sep 2
42 min

(10) How real is God? Freud & faith with Prof. Stephen Frosh

This week on Big Questions of Jewish Belief, Rabbi Raphael Zarum is joined by Stephen Frosh, Emeritus Professor of Psychology at Birkbeck and author of How to Be Real, fo

Mar 8
38 min

(9) Do human rights clash with God? Making a difference with Adam Wagner KC

Rabbi Zarum sits down with leading human rights barrister Adam Wagner KC to explore the foundations of morality, law, and Jewish identity. Adam has dedicated his career t

Feb 22
47 min

(8) What do unbelievers believe in? Practicing & arguing with Naomi Alderman

This podcast is powered by LSJS. Visit lsjs.ac.uk/connect to learn about our Jewish learning journeys & find something that suits you, or email bigquestions@lsjs.ac.uk w

Feb 15
42 min

(7) Can we speak to the dead? Unusual relationships with Anthony Julius

This podcast is powered by LSJS. Visit lsjs.ac.uk/connect to learn about our Jewish learning journeys & find something that suits you, or email bigquestions@lsjs.ac.uk w

Feb 8
41 min

(6) Can I be angry with God?

This podcast is powered by LSJS. Visit lsjs.ac.uk to learn about our Jewish learning journeys & find something that suits you. In this special episode Big Questions of

Sep 17 2025
1 h 10 min

(05) Does Prayer Work?

Visit lsjs.ac.uk to continue learning with Rabbi Zarum and other LSJS educators. Does God actually change reality in response to prayer - and if so, why does prayer so

Sep 30 2024
35 min

(04) The Chosen People

Visit lsjs.ac.uk to continue learning with Rabbi Zarum and other LSJS educators. Jews have long been proud to call themselves the Chosen People. But isn't that a little

Apr 9 2024
35 min

(03) Collective Punishment

Rafi takes Jonathan and Sophia along a fascinating route which takes in collective punishment in Sodom and Gomorrah, shooting Orcs in Star Wars, and the Israel Defence Fo

Apr 2 2024
31 min

(02) Does the Flood Story Hold Water?

We've known the story of Noah and the Ark since we were babies. Do we as Jews believe it really happened? And if it didn't, why is it in the Torah? Armed with studies in

Mar 26 2024
35 min

(01) What does it mean to believe in God?

Two rigorous thinkers, Jonathan Gibson - Politics and International Relations student at the London School of Economics, and Sophia Bor – Cambridge Theology graduate and

Mar 13 2024
40 min

(00) Welcome to Big Questions of Jewish Belief

This is Big Questions of Jewish Belief, the podcast where we face up to the challenges of religious faith. We all have questions about our faith. Questions about the trut

Mar 13 2024
2 min

More podcasts like Big Questions of Jewish Belief

Popular shows in Judaism, for your next listen.

Browse charts by category

Daily updated Apple Podcasts rankings for the United States.

About Big Questions of Jewish Belief on Reason.fm

Here you find the Apple Podcasts chart positions of Big Questions of Jewish Belief, its latest episodes to listen to directly, and reviews from listeners. Rankings are updated daily for the United States.

Contact

Questions or issues? Reach us at hello@reason.fm

0:000:00