Shai Held — On Love, and Judaism
Summary
Krista Tippett interviews Rabbi Shai Held about his book *Judaism is About Love*, exploring how love functions as an existential posture rather than just an emotion. Held discusses his journey from a secular upbringing to reclaiming Jewish theology, emphasizing the need to hold complex truths like partiality and universal obligation. He argues that religion must be mindfully inherited to amplify love while taming its potential for harm, integrating ancient wisdom with modern understanding of trauma.
Topics discussed
Introduction: Rabbi Shai Held and his book on love
Personal history: Cognitive dissonance and loss of father
Judaism's complicated history with the concept of love
Defining love: Hebrew words and disposition vs emotion
Abiding love, possibilism, and holding complexity
Loving the stranger and the role of redemptive memory
Trauma, lament, and the reality of human suffering
The nature of God: Love, anger, and divine attributes
Love of enemies: Jewish tradition and practical application
Political rage, empathy, and the future of Israel
Conclusion: Hope, Torah, and the gap between theology and life
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