Does Free Will Exist? with Rabbi M.Z. Dubov

Bad Jew

Free Will doesn't exist... or does it? Afterall, all of our decisions are impacted by the decisions right before... right? Philosophy may not be your strong suit but surely we simply come into existence and act on our needs and what's around us. It's nice to feel like we make decisions but surely we're just animals like the rest of the living organisms on this Earth, thus we have no free will.... right?

Rabbi M.Z. Dubov has much more to say on this! Free will does exist even with G-d in the picture! Dubov highlights the part conscience and a freed mindset play in the understanding of our place in the universe. Chaz Volk, host of Bad Jew and someone who once believed there was no free will, takes a deep dive into Jewish philosophy.

00:00 Introduction

06:19 Paradigm shift

08:36 Discovering Jewish tradition

12:06 Realized free will concerns

13:54 Free will exists if a higher consciousness exists

18:28 Debate over free will among believers and atheists

23:46 Determinism vs. free will in Jewish philosophy

27:28 Einstein theory

29:00 Decisions result from inputs.

34:23 Universe is not synonymous with God.

36:58 Humans are thoughts in God's infinite consciousness

40:14 Deterministic existence nullifies genuine human experience

42:34 Universal love, independence, image of God

46:49 Realize you are a soul, not a body

49:39 Survival vs. Lifestyle

52:15 Conclusion

About Rabbi M.Z. Dubov:

Born in Minsk, Belarus, MZ grew up in Brooklyn in an immigrant family which fled the USSR due to antisemitism. He attended public school until enrolling in the Boston College Carroll School of Management, from which he graduated with a B.S. in Operations & Business Consulting. During his time at BC, he became heavily involved in Israeli Advocacy, co-founding “Eagles for Israel.” While running diplomatic and cultural events, MZ met Rabbi Chananel Weiner, a student of Rabbi Noach Weinberg zt”l (the founder of Aish). Rabbi Weiner opened MZ’s eyes to the depth and beauty of his Jewish roots. After graduation and before jumping into the corporate world, MZ came to Aish to learn more and decided to stay, having found his calling in life. With seven years of Torah study under his belt, MZ received Rabbinical ordination from Rabbi Nachum Barowski and Rabbi Avigdor Nebenzahl. He acts as the Director of the FoundAISHons program, in which he teaches daily and serves as a mentor to students past and present. Rabbi MZ enjoys playing basketball, hiking, taking joyrides, listening to music, and teaching his kids about this wonderful world in which we live. He and his wife often host for Shabbat in their home in French Hill, Jerusalem.

Connect with M.Z. Dubov:

Aish.com

FeadYourHead.blog

Plus.Aish.com

OlamiTogether.org

Souled.Olami.org

Connect with Bad Jew:

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