Judaism Unbound Episode 139: The Future of God
Dan Libenson and Lex Rofeberg close out their multi-episode series on God by asking what role God might play, and might not play, in the future of American Judaism. [1]
(0:01 - 13:19): To begin the episode, Dan presents his idea that something akin to a translation project is necessary in order to effectively re-map ancient Jewish concepts, built on or intimately connected to ideas of God, that may not resonate with today’s American Jews, into concepts and language that do resonate. Lex compares the ways in which God is addressed explicitly and implicitly in contemporary non-Orthodox Judaism; he also argues that God, and God-belief, are “tools” that can be leveraged by Jews — like many other elements of Jewish tradition. Dan and Lex also discuss whether God is taking up too much, or not enough, “bandwidth” in Jewish life. [2]
(13:20 - 30:05): Citing the example of the Book of Esther, Lex asserts that, even when God is not named as a core character in Jewish stories or narratives, many interpreters feel the need to find a way to center God anyway. Dan floats the idea that, from a historical perspective, many of the powers that human beings (Jews included) associated with God in the past are now in human hands, and thus perhaps “walking in God’s ways,” that is seeking to act as Jews of previous ages have begged God to act, might provide valuable guidance for human living in our time whether one believes in God or not. Lex then offers a distinction between human beings as “images of God” and human beings (and all matter) as part of God itself. Dan ties these ideas to the idea that God’s name, and perhaps identity, has changed time and again throughout Jewish history, and we read our contemporary version of God into the previous versions; it might be time to do so again. [3]
(30:06 - 42:32): As the episode arcs towards its close, Dan re-iterates the point that it is important to hold on to important Jewish ideas, even though many of them have been formulated in forms of God language that need to be re-formulated. As a final coda, Dan and Lex explore the ways that theology intersects with politics, [4] and they re-visit an important theme from Rachel Adler’s guest appearance — that the central role of metaphor in Judaism, especially with respect to God-language, is worthy of deep thought and analysis.
[1] To listen to any of the previous episodes in Judaism Unbound’s series on God, click any of the following links: Episode 131: Protesting God - Dov Weiss, Episode 132: The God Gap - Eliana Light, Episode 133: God is One - Art Green, Episode 134: God on a Desert Island - Andrew Hahn, Episode 135: Putting God Second - Donniel Hartman, Episode 136: God? Optional - Judith Seid, Episode 137: God of Love - Shai Held, Episode 138: God and Gender - Rachel Adler
[2] Dan cites Lab/Shul, a congregation in New York City known for framing its programming as “God-optional” (that frame traces its roots to Judith Seid’s book “God-Optional Judaism”). Learn more about Lab/Shul, and hear from its spiritual leader Amichai Lau-Lavie, by listening to Episode 29: Lab/Shul - Amichai Lau-Lavie.
[3] Learn more about the many names of God in Jewish tradition by clicking here. Check out a collection of relevant Jewish sources that Dan assembled on Sefaria by clicking here.
[4] Lex cites the Haftarah reading for Yom Kippur morning, as an example of a collision between theology and politics in Jewish text. Hear Dan and Lex’s perspective on that reading by listening to Bonus Episode: Yom Kippur Unbound - Morning Haftarah Reading.