Moshe Weinberger: ‘The Jewish People are God's shofar’

In order to study Kabbala, argues Rabbi Moshe Weinberger, one must approach it with humility, holding one’s hands out in the form of a cup as though they are ready to receive.
Rabbi Moshe Weinberger has served as mashpia at Yeshiva University since 2013, and he is the founding rabbi of Congregation Aish Kodesh in Woodmere, NY.
Today, he joins us to answer eighteen questions with Rabbi Dr. Benji Levy on Jewish mysticism including the smallness of man, prayer as dialogue, and his transformative introduction to the world of Kabbala.
Here are our questions:
What is Jewish mysticism?
How were you introduced to Jewish mysticism?
In an ideal world, would all Jews be mystics?
What do you think of when you think of God?
What is the purpose of the Jewish people?
How does prayer work?
What is the goal of Torah study?
Does Jewish mysticism view men and women the same?
Should Judaism be hard or easy?
Why did God create the world?
Can humans do something that is against God’s will?
What do you think of when you think about Moshiach?
Is the State of Israel part of the final redemption?
What is the greatest challenge facing the world today?
How has modernity changed Jewish mysticism?
What differentiates Jewish mysticism from the mysticism of other religions?
Does one need to be religious to study Jewish mysticism?
Can mysticism be dangerous?
How has Jewish mysticism affected your relationships with yourself and with others?
What is a Jewish teaching that you always take with you?