Rabbi Dr. Levi Brackman sits down with Prof. Moshe Koppel—mathematician, long-time Israeli resident, and author of Judaism Straight Up—to explore what it means to “speak” Judaism naturally instead of consulting a rule book at every turn.

Highlights include:

• Shimen vs. Heidi: two real people who illustrate organic tribal Judaism and cosmopolitan universalism
• Why thick social norms help communities last, and how thin “fairness-only” ethics can fall short
• The role of instinct, family memory, and everyday practice in shaping halakhic decision-making
• How concrete beliefs and abstract theology each serve different emotional and intellectual needs
• A brief look at DICTA, Koppel’s project that applies language-tech tools to classic Jewish texts

If you’re curious about living tradition, social cohesion, and the balance between rules and fluency, this conversation lays out the ideas clearly.

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Levi Brackman is a rabbi, Ph.D. in psychology, best-selling author of Jewish Wisdom for Business Success, and founder of Invown, a platform for real estate fundraising and investing.

Welcome to Truths—"Seeking Ecstasy" season, Rabbi Dr. Levi Brackman’s first solo deep dive in the new series.

After opening with a heartfelt prayer for Israel amid the current Iran conflict, Rabbi Levi tackles the heated debate sparked by Rabbi Manis Friedman’s bold claim that “God needs our mitzvot.”

► What do classic sources—Maimonides, Nachmanides, Ramak, the Arizal, and Chassidic masters like R. Aaron of Staroselye—actually say?
► How do Kabbalah and Chassidut reconcile an all-perfect, utterly simple Divine Essence with a universe that seems to matter?
► Is “God needs” even the right phrase, or is “for the needs of God” a crucial nuance?
► Why quick sound-bites fall short, and how personal mystical experience informs this paradox.

If you’re ready to trade headlines for primary texts, paradox, and mindful contemplation, this episode is for you. Like, subscribe, and share your thoughts below—let’s keep the conversation rigorous and respectful.

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Levi Brackman is a rabbi, Ph.D. in psychology, best-selling author of Jewish Wisdom for Business Success, and founder of Invown, a platform for real estate fundraising and investing.

“In His Image: Why Maimonides Alone Isn’t Enough & Psychedelics Have Their Place — A Conversation with Rabbi Yuval Cherlow”

In this episode of Truths: Jewish Wisdom for Today, Rabbi Dr. Levi Brackman sits down with the esteemed Rabbi Yuval Cherlow to ask: Can a purely intellectual theology—à la Maimonides—ever deliver the full depth of Jewish transcendence? And might there be a role, however careful and halakhically framed, for psychedelics in our modern quest for ecstasy?

Episode Highlights
1. Beyond Maimonides: The Limits of Pure Reason
Why the Rambam’s philosophic approach, while indispensable, must be complemented by embodied practices if we’re to move from head-knowledge to heart-awakening.

2. Divine Image & Moral Freedom
What “b’tzelem Elokim” really entails—our autonomy, accountability, and even our right to wrestle with God.

3. Sacred Experiments: Psychedelics & Ecstasy
Under what conditions, if any, might psychedelics serve as catalysts for genuine awe—and how do we weigh their dangers against their potential to unlock the soul?

4. Consciousness & the Soul
How our capacity to recognize another’s inner life—and to engage in honest dialogue with the Divine—marks us as God’s image-bearers.

5. From Theory to Practice
Why Jewish wisdom must first shape our everyday ethical choices before it can lift us into mystical heights—and how simple rituals (even a bit of wine) can open the door to ecstasy.

About Rabbi Yuval Cherlow
Rosh Yeshiva, Yeshivat Hesder Amit Orot Shaul, Tel Aviv

Director, Tzohar Center for Jewish Ethics; ethical advisor to Israel’s Ministry of Health

Co-founder, Tzohar (1995) — building bridges between religious and secular Israelis

Former IDF reserve company commander; alumnus of Yeshivat Har Etzion

Author of BeTzalmo (In His Image) and numerous responsa volumes on freedom, responsibility, and our divine spark

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Levi Brackman is a rabbi, Ph.D. in psychology, best-selling author of Jewish Wisdom for Business Success, and founder of Invown, a platform for real estate fundraising and investing.