Inward With Rabbi Joey Rosenfeld

S5:E5 On a new episode of Inward, Rabbi Joey describes the psychological mood that emerges from the doubtful nature of being and the questioning that is born there. For Izhbitz/Radzyn the fact that questions will ultimately always remain unanswerable is symptomatic of the nature of the soul. No matter how far along the rungs of spiritual development the subject moves, there will always be a gap that persists between the finite creation and Infinite Creator. This space - which remains relative to each individual according to their own particular situatedness - assures that the ultimate spiritual gesture remains faith as opposed to knowledge. This leads to the Izhbitz/Radzyn alignment with the negative theological impulse inherent in Jewish mysticism and philosophy which sees the possibility of truly grasping the essence of the Infinite as an impossibility. Instead of leading to hopelessness and despair, the ultimate truth that there will always be a distance between the finite and the infinite leads to the spa

S5:E4 Join Rabbi Joey as he continues developing the theme of his previous episode as he describes the natural consequences of living in a world of doubt. For Izhbitz/Radzyn the doubtful nature of subjectivity leads to the unique role questions play in the development of faith. Using Avraham as a paradigm for the particular shape of Jewish faith, we show how the ultimate role of questioning to allow oneself to be put in question. The concealment of the ultimate ground of being opens unto a world where doubt outweighs clarity just as questions outweigh answers. For Izhbitz/Radzyn the question becomes an ontological question that will remain in spite of the answer. Each person has within themselves an ultimate question that cannot be answered. Instead of being seen as a deficiency, the ontological question forces the individual into the space of faith beyond question and answer. ***** This podcast is supported in part from a grant from the Hadar Institute. Music is by Zusha. Help support them by purchasing thei

S5:E3 In this episode of Inward, Rabbi Joey attempts to describe the origin of this world’s difficulties. What is it that makes being human so intense? In order to answer this question, we descend into the world of Izhbitz/ Radzyn’s conception of the primordial transgression, the episode of the “tree of knowledge of good and evil”. For Izhbitz/Radzyn, this tree undergoes a name change where it becomes “the tree of doubt”. The typical conception of epistemological doubt which sees doubt as an unfortunate symptom that exits so long as the world is unredeemed is aligned against the novel conception of ontological doubt which sees doubt as a fundamental building block in the constitution of human subjectivity. Doubt becomes the propelling force behind authentic human subjecthood. It is specifically within a world of doubt that choice becomes a possibility. We also discussed the relative nature of doubt. One begins with doubt that stems from a lack of knowledge. Once knowledge is acquired the original doubt is era

S5:E2 Rabbi Joey continues his new series by examining the question of being human in the writings of Izhbitz/Radzyn. It is axiomatic that this world is difficult, and that to live in this world is to expose oneself to struggle. For Izhbitz/Radzyn, however, the difficulty and struggle of being human is specifically why this world is worthwhile. Interpreting the Rabbinic sentiment that “it would have been easier not to be born”, the world of Izhbitz/Radzyn uncovers what is missing in this statement, namely that it does not say it would have been better. Working off the assumption that it is still better to be human in spite of its difficulty; we discuss the deepening of experience that takes place- not in spite of difficulty- but precisely because of it. ***** This podcast is supported in part from a grant from the Hadar Institute. Music is by Zusha. Help support them by purchasing their music. Audio is by David Kwan. 

S5:E1 In this first episode of a new season, Rabbi Joey introduces the Hasidic school of Izhbitz/Radzyn. Beginning with R. Mordechai Yosef Leiner (1801-1854), moving through his son R. Yaakov Leiner (1818-1878) and culminating with his grandson R. Gershon Henoch Leiner of Radzyn (1839-1890); we discuss the origins of this particular strain of Hasidic thought and the significant insight it offers to the (post)modern subject. After reviewing a sample of the critical analysis done on this school of thought and the emphasis that has been placed on particular aspects of this school, Rabbi Joey attempts to delimit our focus on the questions of subjectivity, the human condition and the existential intensity of being human. ***** This podcast is supported in part from a grant from the Hadar Institute. Music is by Zusha. Help support them by purchasing their music. Audio is by David Kwan. 

S4:E12 The end  that is  the beginning.  ***** This podcast is supported in part from a grant from the Hadar Institute. Music is by Zusha. Help support them by purchasing their music. Audio is by David Kwan. 

S4:E11 The quest  for essentiality.  The ability to find  meaning within  the meaningless. 

S4:E10 In the descent away  from the unity of the self  rests the ability to relate  to the outside through unity. 

S4:E9 Compassion and  the revival of lost love. 

S4:E8 Limit setting,  self overcoming  and the laughter of Yitzchak.  Please help us share Rabbi Joey's teaching by taking a moment to fill out our listener survey so we can better understand who is learning along with him, and how we can improve. 

S4:E7 Saying yes to the world,  welcoming the other,  and choosing to see good.  Please help us share Rabbi Joey's teaching by taking a moment to fill out our listener survey so we can better understand who is learning along with him, and how we can improve.   

S4:E6 Without Daat you have nothing, with Daat you have everything.  For our purposes Daat will not be considered an active sefirah but rather an internalized force that animates all other Sefirot. This episode focuses on the role of Daat as the external disclosure of Keter’s interior; the mode of embodied thought associated with Daat; the dialectical sway between connection and separation as embodied in Daat and the different iterations of Daat in the twofold form of “Transcendent Daat” and “Immanent Daat”. While discussing Daat as a stand alone concept we must keep in mind that Daat is neither something nor nothing but rather the impossible combination of both something and nothing and it must therefore be read as a bracketed concept that separates and connects the three upper Sefirot and the lower seven.  Please help us share Rabbi Joey's teaching by taking a moment to fill out our listener survey so we can better understand who is learning along with him, and how we can improve.  

S4:E5 The descent into the particular,  the parts that build the whole, and most importantly the sweetening of harshness in its root. Please help us share Rabbi Joey's teaching by taking a moment to fill out our listener survey so we can better understand who is learning along with him, and how we can improve.

S4:E4  The infinite within the infinitesimal.  The whole within the part,  and most importantly the ability to be ok within the moment.

S4:E3  Having and Not-Having at once.   Waiting for that which is beyond expectation.   Faith in the unfathomable. 

S4:E2 Rabbi Joey continues his new season on the sefirot with a second introduction, regarding ten emanative powers and their psychological expression. 

S4:E1 In the first episode of this new season, Rabbi Joey gives a few introductions necessary for the entire season.  As we learn about ten sefirot try and understand these "powers", "strengths" or "potencies", we will approach them, not as an ontological reality, but as they relate to the human experience of Creation. 

In this special Pesach episode, Rabbi Joey shares a thoughts on the role of questions and answers, not only as the central aspects of leil ha-seder, but as the primary orientation for a living in a world where faith and doubt coexist.

Rabbi Joey continues his new series on the phenomenon of addiction through the lens of the inner teachings of Torah. For more information, visit InwardTorah.org

Rabbi Joey continues his new series on the phenomenon of addiction through the lens of the inner teachings of Torah. For more information, visit InwardTorah.org