Is it rational to be religious? How much evidence do you need before deciding to act on a belief? If your religious beliefs are tightly bound up with your particular experiences and upbringing, doesn’t that undermine their reliability? In his new book, A Guide for the Jewish Undecided: A Philosopher Makes the Case for Orthodox Judaism, Samuel Lebens argues that Jewish faith and practice can be firmly grounded in philosophy, science and decision theory alongside tradition. In conversation with fellow rabbi and author Raphael Zarum.

Please note booking and registration for events closes 10 minutes prior to the advertised start time.

In Association with the Rabin Chair Forum of The George Washington University.

Samuel Lebens is associate Professor in the philosophy department at the University of Haifa, he is also an Orthodox Rabbi and Jewish educator. His first book was a study of Bertrand Russell’s evolving theories about the nature of meaning. His second book is a study in the analytic philosophy of Judaism.

Rabbi Dr Raphael Zarum is Dean of the London School of Jewish Studies (LSJS) and holds the Rabbi Sacks Chair of Modern Jewish Thought, established by the Zandan family.