This is Big Questions of Jewish Belief, the podcast where we face up to the challenges of religious faith. We all have questions about our faith. Questions about the truth of the Torah, the morality of its laws and what it teaches about having a relationship with God.
So each week during this miniseries I'll be inviting rigorous thinkers to challenge me with their questions on Belief.
My name is Raphael Zarum - I'm the Dean of LSJS - the London School of Jewish Studies, where I hold the Rabbi Sacks Chair in Modern Jewish Thought, established by the Zandan family.
I'm a rabbi and I have degrees in Physics, Mathematics and Education, and I'm fascinated by the relationship between general and Jewish thought and ideas.
I explore these ideas further in a book called 'Questioning Belief' which is available on Amazon worldwide (UK link: lsjs.ac.uk/amazonbelief).
I don't believe in quick responses that don't stand up to scrutiny. I think we should take questions seriously as they reflect a real desire to understand our practices and beliefs in a deeper way. So you won't get clever quips and cheap certainties from this podcast, what you'll get is an honest and open discussion about challenging questions based on traditional sources and modern interpretations.
This podcast is powered by LSJS. Visit lsjs.ac.uk/connect to hear about our Jewish learning events, courses and immersive tours online and in person.
Questions for Rabbi Zarum? Email bigquestions@lsjs.ac.uk and we'll be in touch.
Looking to go deeper on Creation? Watch Rabbi Zarum's introductory class of The Genesis Course: Creation as you've never read it before, free on YouTube at https://youtu.be/3qDFM3Ho7tg.
Does modern science contradict the Torah's account of creation? If the universe is billions of years old, life developed through evolution, and dinosaurs walked the earth long before human beings appeared, what are we supposed to make of the opening chapters of Genesis?
Rabbi Dr. Raphael Zarum argues that these questions begin with a mistaken assumption: that the Torah is trying to give us a scientific chronology in the first place. In conversation with Sara Kalmus, he explores the Big Bang, evolution, fossils, the six days of creation, and the striking parallels between Genesis and three of science's deepest unanswered questions: What is matter? What is life? And what is consciousness?
But the discussion ultimately leads somewhere deeper. Why does the Torah begin with creation at all? Why did God create a universe, and what does our ability to understand it demand of us? This episode of Big Questions of Jewish Belief asks what Genesis is really trying to teach us about science, faith, and our place in the world.
24 Sept 2026
(13) What is a Sukkah? (Hovering Between Heaven and Earth)
SPECIAL EDITION: What exactly is a sukkah? A temporary hut, a reminder of the Clouds of Glory, or something more? In this special Sukkot episode, Rabbi Dr. Raphael Zarum traces the sukkah from the Exodus to the Mishkan, uncovering the surprising ideas behind its laws and dimensions. Along the way, he reveals the sukkah as a unique space where the physical and spiritual meet, inviting us to spend seven days hovering between heaven and earth.
For this Sukkot episode we've teamed up with one of LSJS's most popular Lifelong Learning programmes - Covenant & Continuity, in memory of David Gallick.
Coventant & Continuity asks one simple question: What does the Torah have to say about NOW? This was Rabbi Sacks' question as he wrote each week on the Parasha, the weekly Torah portion - and it's now ours, as leading teachers from around the world - all students of Rabbi Sacks - share relevant, engaging and meaningful Jewish ideas that speak to the world we live in today.
Find more Covenant & Continuity at lsjs.ac.uk/covenant.
14 Sept 2026
(12) How does teshuva work? Making Yom Kippur Real
What are we actually trying to accomplish on Yom Kippur? And how does saying the same prayers, confessing the same sins, and fasting for 25 hours help us genuinely change?
Sara Kalmus once again turns the tables on Big Questions of Jewish Belief host Rabbi Dr. Raphael Zarum, this time asking him to explain what teshuva and forgiveness really mean, and how we can make Yom Kippur feel real rather than simply going through the motions.
Their conversation explores why the Vidui is poetry rather than a checklist, what to do when the prayers don't speak to us, why community matters, how fasting can actually help us focus, and what forgiveness means in the first place. Rabbi Zarum offers a striking understanding of God "carrying" our sins: allowing us to put down the weight of what we have done so that our mistakes no longer define who we are, and giving us the freedom to change.
From Jonah's journey into the depths to the closing gates of Ne'ilah, this is a conversation about taking Yom Kippur seriously without getting trapped by its words and rituals. How can we move beyond simply saying the prayers and instead use them to become more honest about who we are, who we want to be, and what we need to change?
How does teshuva work? Perhaps the first step is making Yom Kippur real.
2 Sept 2026
(11) A different relationship with God this Rosh Hashanah
What does it actually mean to have a relationship with God, especially when we're not even sure what we believe?
In the season three premiere of Big Questions of Jewish Belief, the tables are turned as Sara Kalmus interviews regular host Rabbi Dr. Raphael Zarum about his own understanding of God, faith, prayer, and the meaning of Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur.
Rabbi Zarum challenges the familiar picture of God as a distant Being who rewards, punishes, and intervenes from "out there." Instead, he proposes a radically different way of thinking about God: through relationship, consciousness, and our connection with the people and world around us. That perspective transforms the way he understands some of the most powerful ideas of the High Holy Days, from Unetaneh Tokef and divine judgment to teshuva, prayer, the shofar, and even the simple act of breathing.
What happens when we stop treating Rosh Hashanah as a test of whether we've been good or bad, and instead see it as an opportunity to wake up to who we are, who we could become, and where we are heading?
A thoughtful, challenging, and deeply personal conversation that may change the way you approach God, prayer, and the High Holy Days this year.
8 Mar 2026
(10) How real is God? Freud & faith with Prof. Stephen Frosh
This week on Big Questions of Jewish Belief, Rabbi Raphael Zarum is joined by Stephen Frosh, Emeritus Professor of Psychology at Birkbeck and author of How to Be Real, for a searching conversation about prayer, psychoanalysis, and the limits of certainty.
Stephen explores what it means for the intellectual chatter to fall silent — and whether that silence opens a space for faith.
Is religion an illusion? A creative act? A dangerous certainty? Or a humble recognition of our limits?
A rich, nuanced discussion about faith, doubt, memory, and the fragile space between imagination and transcendence.
How to Be Real can be purchased from Amazon UK or from Amazon in the US.
22 Feb 2026
(9) Do human rights clash with God? Making a difference with Adam Wagner KC
Rabbi Zarum sits down with leading human rights barrister Adam Wagner KC to explore the foundations of morality, law, and Jewish identity. Adam has dedicated his career to defending human rights and is an active and dedicated member of the Jewish community, yet personally wrestles with belief, skepticism, and the role of God in his life.
They discuss his Orthodox upbringing in Manchester, his journey back into Jewish learning as an adult, and why community, tradition, and responsibility still matter profoundly to him—even without certainty of faith. We also explore the fascinating relationship between Jewish law and modern human rights: are universal rights grounded in God, human reason, or something else entirely?
This conversation raises one of the biggest questions of all: do we need God to be good—or is our shared humanity enough?
As always, Rabbi Zarum's aim is not to persuade, but to understand how thoughtful people make sense of belief, doubt, and what it means to live a meaningful Jewish life today.
This podcast is powered by LSJS. Visit lsjs.ac.uk/connect (http://lsjs.ac.uk/connect) to learn about our Jewish learning journeys & find something that suits you, or email bigquestions@lsjs.ac.uk with comments or questions.
15 Feb 2026
(8) What do unbelievers believe in? Practicing & arguing with Naomi Alderman
This podcast is powered by LSJS. Visit lsjs.ac.uk/connect to learn about our Jewish
learning journeys & find something that suits you, or email bigquestions@lsjs.ac.uk (mailto:bigquestions@lsjs.ac.uk) with
comments or questions.
Naomi Alderman is an English novelist, game writer, and television executive producer. She is
best known for her speculative science fiction novel The Power, which won the Women's Prize
for Fiction in 2017 and has been adapted into a television series for Amazon Studios. Her first
novel, Disobedience, explores faith, identity, and forbidden love within a strict Orthodox Jewish
community. It was published in ten languages and has recently been adapted into a
feature-length film.
Naomi and I enjoy discussing our relationships with a God Who we can argue with, as well as
the pitfalls of arguing with people as a way of taking them seriously. We question whether it's possible to be religious without actually thinking about God very much, as well as the God-like aspect of being the 'Creator' of novels and the insight this can give authors into the love God has for us, in spite of having to put us through hard things.
It was a fascinating, fun conversation which I hope you'll enjoy.
8 Feb 2026
(7) Can we speak to the dead? Unusual relationships with Anthony Julius
This podcast is powered by LSJS. Visit lsjs.ac.uk/connect to learn about our Jewish
learning journeys & find something that suits you, or email bigquestions@lsjs.ac.uk (mailto:bigquestions@lsjs.ac.uk) with
comments or questions.
Anthony Julius is a highly-regarded litigation lawyer. Best-known for being Diana, Princess of
Wales' divorce lawyer and for his successful defence of Penguin Books and historian Deborah
Lipstadt in the libel case brought by David Irving, Anthony continues to be a consultant and
senior solicitor-advocate at the London law firm Mishcon de Reya. He is chairman of the London
Consortium, and vice-president of the Diana, Princess of Wales Memorial Fund, and has
published a number of books including the recent Abraham: The First Jew.
We discuss atypical relationships - those we have with people no longer alive, or those we never met, and compare them to the relationships we can have with God. We speak about prayer as intergenerational conversation, as a communal shared activity, and as a spiritual, personal experience, and we consider the balance of time spent praying and studying in a relationship with God.
You can order Abraham: The First Jew here.
17 Sept 2025
(6) Can I be angry with God?
This podcast is powered by LSJS. Visit lsjs.ac.uk (http://lsjs.ac.uk/) to learn about our Jewish learning journeys & find something that suits you.
In this special episode Big Questions of Jewish Belief, I collaborated with Rabbi Scott Kahn of the Orthodox Conundrum Podcast to produce a conversation that's great for both of our podcasts at this time. Scott quizzes me on whether we can, and should, be angry with God. Can we argue with Him, and is there any point, if He's 'all knowing'?
Recorded in the leadup to Rosh Hashana and Yom Kippur, and at a very difficult time for the State of Israel and the Jewish people, we crack open the issue of how to relate to a God with whom we may feel many reasons to be upset, annoyed or angry.
You can listen to the Orthodox Conundrum Podcast here or read the Orthodox Conundrum Substack here (https://scottkahn.substack.com/).
30 Sept 2024
(05) Does Prayer Work?
Visit lsjs.ac.uk (http://www.lsjs.ac.uk/) to continue learning with Rabbi Zarum and other LSJS educators.
Does God actually change reality in response to prayer - and if so, why does prayer so frequently seem to fail? What does it mean for God to answer our prayers? In what ways does prayer help us? Why is it meaningful to pray for others? These are questions which people of faith have confronted for millenia, and continue to struggle with today. Join Rafi and his good friend Adrian Weller as they dive deeply into this essential and powerful issue.
For further study, Rafi's book Questioning Belief is now available on Amazon.
9 Apr 2024
(04) The Chosen People
Jews have long been proud to call themselves the Chosen People. But isn’t that a little bit racist? Rabbi Zarum is joined by Jonathan and Sophia who bring their own experiences and knowledge to the journey of discovering what exactly ‘chosen’ means and what exactly we’ve been chosen for.
For further study, Rafi’s book Questioning Belief is now available on Amazon.
Visit lsjs.ac.uk (http://www.lsjs.ac.uk/) to continue learning with Rabbi Zarum and other LSJS educators.
2 Apr 2024
(03) Collective Punishment
Rafi takes Jonathan and Sophia along a fascinating route which takes in collective punishment in Sodom and Gomorrah, shooting Orcs in Star Wars, and the Israel Defence Force’s policy on terrorists.
If that’s not enough for you, you’ll find a whole chapter on Collective Punishment and whether it’s fair, in the book Questioning Belief by Rabbi Dr Raphael Zarum, available on Amazon.
Visit lsjs.ac.uk (http://www.lsjs.ac.uk/) to continue learning with Rabbi Zarum and other LSJS educators.
26 Mar 2024
(02) Does the Flood Story Hold Water?
We’ve known the story of Noah and the Ark since we were babies. Do we as Jews believe it really happened? And if it didn’t, why is it in the Torah? Armed with studies in classics and science, Jonathan and Sophia join Rafi to challenge the veracity of the flood and discover a surprising message for today’s #climatecrisis era.
For further study, Rafi’s book Questioning Belief contains a chapter dedicated to the story of the flood, as well as more chapters exploring the veracity of other Torah stories. It’s available on Amazon by Rabbi Dr Raphael Zarum.
Visit lsjs.ac.uk (http://www.lsjs.ac.uk/) to continue learning with Rabbi Zarum and other LSJS educators.
13 Mar 2024
(01) What does it mean to believe in God?
Two rigorous thinkers, Jonathan Gibson - Politics and International Relations student at the London School of Economics, and Sophia Bor – Cambridge Theology graduate and law student, challenge Rabbi Zarum in this episode on belief in God. Does Judaism require belief in God? Is God the same for everyone? Can we ‘prove’ He exists, and how?
Both practising modern orthodox Jews, Sophia is unconvinced and Jonathan is still searching. Exploring nature, philosophy and modern and ancient Jewish literature, Rafi leads them and us through a fascinating tapestry of God theories in our own and other religions. For anyone who isn’t sure what they believe or wants to educate themselves in how to talk intelligently about Jewish belief in God.
The content of this podcast is inspired by Rabbi Dr Raphael Zarum’s book, Questioning Belief, available on Amazon.
Visit lsjs.ac.uk (http://www.lsjs.ac.uk) to continue learning with Rabbi Zarum and other LSJS educators.
13 Mar 2024
(00) Welcome to Big Questions of Jewish Belief
This is Big Questions of Jewish Belief, the podcast where we face up to the challenges of religious faith. We all have questions about our faith. Questions about the truth of the Torah, the morality of its laws and what it teaches about having a relationship with God,
So each week I’ll be inviting rigorous thinkers to challenge me with their questions on Belief.
My name is Raphael Zarum - I’m the Dean of LSJS - the London School of Jewish Studies, where I hold the Rabbi Sacks Chair in Modern Jewish Thought, established by the Zandan family.
I’m a rabbi and I have degrees in Physics, Mathematics and Education, and I’m fascinated by the relationship between general and Jewish thought and ideas.
I explore these ideas further in a book called ‘Questioning Belief’ which is available on Amazon worldwide (Click here for the UK link).
I don’t believe in quick responses that don’t stand up to scrutiny. I think we should take questions seriously as they reflect a real desire to understand our practices and beliefs in a deeper way. So you won’t get clever quips and cheap certainties from this podcast, what you’ll get is an honest and open discussion about challenging questions based on traditional sources and modern interpretations.
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