JLI Courses

Most people, even the most devout, struggle with issues about God. We sit in the synagogue during the High Holidays and affirm the essentials of Judaism in theory, but when it comes to trusting God with our daily lives, we share a secret, painful fear that God isn't really looking out for us.

Many have been brought up under the assumption that mainstream science is incompatible with genuine Jewish faith—so when they see compelling evidence for biological evolution, for example, they feel forced to choose between science and their faith.

Wrestling with Faith was created for tackling questions like these, the “big issues” that keep people from intimate faith with God. In Wrestling with Faith, we acknowledge the often unspoken doubts and questions that all people share—as we share their invitation for us to dig deeper for the answers.

In Wrestling with Faith, JLI offers a steady and inspiring voice to help us reaffirm and understand our faith in a world where nothing seems solid or permanent. Drawing upon 3,000 years of Jewish knowledge, as well as a storehouse of literary, psychological, and theological insights, the course examines the fears and doubts that challenge us. It is in these struggles to find meaning that the course lays out a path for belief in a world struggling to find faith; but perhaps more important, it helps us find our own rhythm within which to walk that path.

 Join us for Six Tuesdays or Wednesdays 

I Have Trouble Believing in G‑d

There are many things about G‑d that bother me—for starters, what is G‑d? Besides, I can live perfectly well without Him: Why do I need Him in my life?

Does G‑d really care?

Many Jewish observances seem petty and burdensome, and they interfere with the way we choose to run our lives. Why can’t G‑d just leave me alone?

Jewish Beliefs Seem Primitive

G‑d seems to espouse outdated beliefs such as the notions of a “chosen nation” and designated gender roles. Plus, He interferes with our choice of lifestyle.

A Good G‑d Who Does Bad Stuff

How can we understand and relate to G‑d’s intimate and caring presence in our lives amid the experience of suffering and tragedy?

Are Religion and Science at Odds?

How might a scientific person embrace beliefs that cannot be proven in a lab, or reconcile compelling evidence for the theory of evolution and the age of the universe with a literal reading of the Bible?

How Can I Relate to a G‑d I Cannot See?

Can a finite human have an intimate relationship with an infinite G‑d? If it is indeed possible, where do I start?