Jonnie Schnytzer: 'The world caught up with kabbalists'

For Dr. Jonnie Schnytzer, Jewish mysticism teaches us to recognize that nothing in this world is the way it appears to be. Kabbalistic study is a process in deconstructing something we think we understand and rebuilding it.

Dr. Jonnie Schnytzer has a PhD in Jewish Philosophy and currently teaches at Bar-Ilan University. Previously, Jonnie has served as advisor to the CEO of Taglit-Birthright Israel, led Israel advocacy delegations with StandWithUs, and directed the strategic partnerships of the Israel-Asia Center.

Now, he joins us to answer eighteen questions on Jewish mysticism with Rabbi Dr. Benji Levy including how teshuva [repentance] begins with knowing you were born perfect, the question of Jewish governance, and how Torah study is the pathway to personal growth.

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?

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Episoder(82)

Dina Etigson: 'The point is not to transcend this world but to bring God here into it'

For Dina Etigson, encountering Jewish Mysticism has been a transformative experience. Beyond the academic and textual Judaism she already knew and loved, she describes the experience as entering “a di...

1 Jun 24min

Biti Roi: 'Every generation brings mysticism to a different stage'

For Dr. Biti Roi, the texts of Jewish mysticism aren’t just ideas to study – they are a life force. A renowned scholar of Zohar, Kabbala, and Chasidut [Hasidism], these texts are the animating energy ...

25 Mai 1h 7min

Zvi Leshem: 'Modernity in general was a movement that was anti-mystical'

As director of the Gershom Scholem Collection for Kabbalah and Hasidism at the National Library of Israel, Rabbi Dr. Zvi Leshem dedicates much of his time to the study of Jewish mysticism. He believes...

18 Mai 35min

Devori Nussbaum: 'I see God as this one coherent frequency of truth'

For Devori Nussbaum, Jewish mysticism is the study of the soul behind the psyche, a transformative framework that integrates the profound spiritual truths of Chasidut [Hasidism] with insights of psych...

11 Mai 36min

Simon Jacobson: 'The music of Judaism is what I’m looking for, not just the mechanics'

Rabbi Simon Jacobson describes his childhood years as being shaped by his nature of being a “skeptic and a seeker.” As he grew older, he began to study other traditions, eventually returning to a deep...

4 Mai 46min

Jeremy Tibbetts: 'Being a spiritual seeker is not in vogue'

For Rabbi Jeremy Tibbetts, Jewish mysticism is all about turning inwards: both individually and religiously. While he did not grow up Orthodox, Rabbi Jeremy was exposed to Hasidic teachings for the fi...

20 Apr 37min

Yehudis Golshevsky: 'The root of all prophecy is spiritual imagination'

For Rebbetzin Yehudis Golshevsky, Jewish mysticism is a living tradition, one that influences daily life and decision-making. She emphasizes the importance of loving-kindness and Jewish mysticism’s pr...

13 Apr 51min