Can our relationship with God be measured solely by our attendance at the synagogue? Or is it the daily nurturing of that bond that truly matters? This episode seeks to answer these questions and more, as we ponder the profound connection between us and the divine. Highlighting my grandfather's spiritual journey in Sweden, we explore how even without a congregation, a meaningful relationship with God can still be fostered. We also delve into the role of social media in creating a false sense of validation and how it impacts our understanding of our connection with the divine. We all know that blessings are abundant - health, eyesight, clothing, and more. But how often do we pause to truly appreciate them? In this episode, we look at how Yom Kippur and Rosh Hashanah offer us an opportunity to express gratitude and reinforce our relationship with God. We challenge the common misconception that success is solely defined by wealth, arguing that true success is rooted in our relationships with others. Finally, we take a closer look at righteousness and wickedness, exploring how these concepts impact our relationship with God. Our choices and actions, especially those made on Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur, play a significant role in this relationship. As we approach Yom Kippur, we reflect on the importance of creating a sacred space that allows us to feel closer to God. This episode is a journey of spiritual exploration and we wish you all a meaningful and spiritually uplifting Yom Kippur. Tune in and join us in this exploration of faith, connection, and spirituality. ***** The Thinking Talmudist Podcast shares select teachings of Talmud in a fresh, insightful and meaningful way. Many claim that they cannot learn Talmud because it is in ancient Aramaic or the concepts are too difficult. Well, no more excuses. In this podcast you will experience the refreshing and eye-opening teachings while gaining an amazing appreciation for the divine wisdom of the Torah and the depths of the Talmud. This episode of the Thinking Talmudist Podcast (Ep. 34) is dedicated in honor of our friend, Aaron & Adina Rosenzweig! To listen to other podcasts by Rabbi Aryeh Wolbe: https://linktr.ee/ariwol Jewish Inspiration Podcast: https://inspiration.transistor.fm/episodes Parsha Review Podcast: https://parsha.transistor.fm/episodes Living Jewishly Podcast: https://jewishly.transistor.fm/episodes Thinking Talmudist Podcast: https://talmud.transistor.fm/episodes Unboxing Judaism Podcast: https://unboxing.transistor.fm/episodes Rabbi Aryeh Wolbe Podcast Collection: https://collection.transistor.fm/episodes Please send your questions, comments and even your stories to [email protected] Please visit www.torchweb.org to see a full listing of our Jewish outreach and educational resources available in the Greater Houston area and please consider sponsoring a podcast by making a donation to help support our global outreach at https://www.torchweb.org/donate. Thank you! For a full listing of podcasts available by TORCH at https://www.TORCHpodcasts.com Recorded in the TORCH Centre - Studio B to a live audience on September 22, 2023, in Houston, Texas.Released as Podcast on September 23, 2023 ★ Support this podcast ★