Authors Posts by Steven Gotlib

Steven Gotlib

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Steven Gotlib is an avreikh at Beit Midrash Zichron Dov of Toronto and Assistant Rabbi at the Village Shul. He previously served as Rabbinic Intern at Congregation Beth Abraham-Jacob of Albany, Beit Midrash Coordinator at Congregation Shearith Israel: The Spanish and Portuguese Synagogue, and as Webmaster/Social Media Manager of the Lehrhaus. A graduate of Rutgers University, Rabbi Gotlib received rabbinic ordination from Yeshiva University's Rabbi Isaac Elchanan Theological Seminary, a Certificate in Mental Health Counseling from RIETS in partnership with the Ferkauf Graduate School of Psychology, and a Certificate in Spiritual Entrepreneurship from the Glean Network in partnership with Columbia Business School. He can be reached at sgotlib@torontotorah.com.

(How) Can we Know Orthodox Judaism is True?

In his latest for the Lehrhaus, Steven Gotlib reviews the recently published collection of essays, Strauss, Spinoza, and Sinai: Orthodox Judaism and Modern Questions of Faith, which tries to answer: is there a philosophical defense of Orthodoxy in the modern world?

Theologically Speaking: God, Language, and the Maggid of Mezritsh

Is God revealed through our speech? In his review of Ariel Evan Mayse’s Speaking Infinities, Steven Gotlib explores this question in the thought of the Maggid of Mezritch.

Rekindling the Holy Fire: Fighting over Faith in the Aish Kodesh

In his newest review, former Lehrhaus webmaster Steve Gotlib looks at Hasidim, Suffering and Renewal: The Prewar and Holocaust Legacy of Rabbi Kalonymus Kalman Shapira and examines scholars’ differing views on whether the Aish Kodesh experienced a crisis of faith due to the Holocaust.

Is Modern Orthodox Kiruv Possible?

Steven Gotlib explores Modern Orthodoxy’s strengths and weaknesses with regard to Kiruv.

What Can We Learn From Louis Jacobs?

Louis Jacobs, the controversial British rabbi and theologian, died 15 years ago. Steven Gotlib reviews Harry Freedman’s new book on Jacobs’ life, and considers how what happened to Jacobs should inform the way we draw the boundaries of Orthodoxy today.

Is Remix Judaism for Everyone?

Steven Gotlib reviews Roberta Rosenthal Kwall’s book Remix Judaism, which has an important message about navigating Jewish practice in the modern world for non-Orthodox and Orthodox Jews alike.

Theologies of Prayer: Dov Singer and Arthur Green in “Conversation”

Steven Gotlib explores similarities between Rabbis Dov Singer and Arthur Green in their models of prayer and how this model can make prayer meaningful even when experiencing doubts in one’s faith.