What if the creation story in Genesis isn’t meant to be taken literally—or even as history at all?
In this thought-provoking episode of "In Such A Time: Conversations on Jewish Life, Leadership, and Meaning," Rabbis Leora Londy and Jonathan Jaffe dig deep into the cyclical return to the Torah’s origin stories and uncover how myth, memory, and meaning shape our Jewish identities.
Together, they unravel the two versions of creation in Genesis, exploring why these ancient stories still captivate and challenge the Jewish imagination year after year. Is the point of rereading the Torah about discovering new facts, or about remembering deeper truths that have been with us all along? The conversation dives into Jewish tradition’s interplay between myth and reality: Why does Torah remain central even in a world of modern science, evolution, and alternative creation narratives?
Rabbis Londy and Jaffe deftly bridge the gap between ancient mythologies and today’s spiritual quests, touching on the power of words, the importance of creating order from chaos, and the humbling notion that we are curators—not conquerors—of the world. You’ll also hear fascinating insights comparing the Jewish story of Eden with its Christian counterpart, and how the banishment from Eden might actually be a blessing.
Their discussion gets personal with stories from Israel and rabbinical school, and wraps with hopes for renewal—not just in the Torah cycle, but in our lives and even in the future of Israel itself.
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Don’t miss this rich, heartfelt exploration of how the Torah’s oldest stories continue to challenge, renew, and connect us, no matter where—and when—we read them.