This series is sponsored by Mira and Daniel Stokar.

In this episode of the 18Forty Podcast, we speak with Rabbi DovBer Pinson—a scholar, author, teacher, and spiritual mentor—about how we can rethink teshuva in light of the challenges we face today. In this episode we discuss:

What is the difference between “lower” and “higher” teshuva?
How should the Jewish world recalibrate in the face of the recent rise in antisemitism?
How can we learn to be better at loving the Jewish People, including the Jews with whom we have severe disagreements?

Tune in to hear a conversation about what it means to return to our eternality in a rapidly changing world.

Interview begins at 8:40.

Rav DovBer Pinson is a world-renowned rabbi, scholar, author, teacher, and spiritual mentor. Through his books, lectures, and seminars he has touched and inspired the lives of thousands the world over. Rav Pinson is the Rosh Kolel of the IYYUN Yeshiva/Kolel, Marah D'asra of 84 Viola, and heads The IYYUN/CHABAD Center in Brownstone Brooklyn, New York.

Topics (Produced by Sofer.AI):
Podcast introduction and theme — 0:14
Meeting Rav DovBer Pinson and his impact — 3:51
Life as a text: looking for confluence — 7:00
Introducing the discussion on teshuva — 8:42
Lower vs. higher levels of teshuva — 10:27
Diaspora, Israel connection, and shifting Jewish identity — 12:34
Specific focus of teshuva for the Orthodox Jew — 16:00
Modern identity collapse and reclaiming self — 17:29
Agency and free choice in Judaism — 19:20
Five dimensions of reality in Sefer Yetzirah — 20:23
Orthodox world lagging by fifty years — 22:25
Time vs. space: Mishnah acronym insight — 23:57
Worries about Orthodox commitment and packaging — 26:05
Yeshiva world as a train without an engine — 28:59
Subconscious communication across Jewish communities — 30:29
Peripheral origins vs. established Hasidic families — 31:49
Understanding the relationship with the Land of Israel — 32:51
Israel as a nation vs. a people — 34:05
Collective awareness of shared destiny — 36:16
Yeshiva League analogy and need for new language — 37:31
Taking personal responsibility for all Israel — 41:36
Tension between love for Jews and love for humanity — 43:03
Unity of Torah, God, and Israel — 45:48
Yeshiva learning without a structured curriculum — 47:37
Rebbe’s vision: every Jew as a shaliach — 49:43
Mission of Judaism beyond meritocracy — 54:22
Hope expressed in the daily prayer — 57:17
Jewish calendar holds a Guinness record — 59:08
Personal struggle with criticism over gay Jews — 60:13
Pain from establishment and public backlash — 61:21
Seeking trusted guidance to navigate criticism — 65:53
Personal teshuva: reconciling with critics — 68:53
Humility as source of creative innovation — 71:06
Current crisis as catalyst for collective change — 73:11
The Torah of the moment: Messiah and presence — 74:50
Books that pose good questions — 75:51
Future vision: every day becomes a holiday — 77:48
Great-grandfather lineage in Chabad scholarship — 80:00
Balancing Talmudic study with Chassidic heart — 81:43
Fascination with French Jewry of the 12th century — 82:54
Personal sleep schedule post-COVID — 84:16
Facing personal criticism and baggage — 90:11
Uniting through the Jewish community — 92:27

References:

18Forty Podcast: “Haym Soloveitchik: How Modernity Changed Our Relationship to God”

18Forty Podcast: “Zohar Atkins: Between Philosophy and Torah”

Zohar

Tanya Chapter 32

Aleinu

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Dov Ber Pinson: The Jewish People's Path of Teshuva [Teshuva 2/5]

18Forty Podcast