Speaker · Author · Cambridge University Press
Rabbi Moshe
Zeldman
Former Atheist. Philosopher. Orthodox Rabbi.
Bringing Torah into the conversations that define our age.
Former Atheist. Philosopher. Orthodox Rabbi.
Bringing Torah into the conversations that define our age.
New ideas on God, meaning, and the questions that matter — in your inbox.
I grew up in Toronto, studied Artificial Intelligence, Mathematics, and Philosophy at the University of Toronto, and by then I was a committed atheist. Then I encountered rational arguments, wrestled with them for years, and everything changed.
For over 35 years I've been teaching Torah and Jewish philosophy to thousands of students across more than 25 countries — from beginners asking their first questions to advanced scholars. I left organized formal education to teach independently, because I believe the most important conversations happen outside institutional walls.
I am the author of Why Listen to the Rabbis? and a contributor to THINK, published by Cambridge University Press, where I offer a philosophical analysis of the New Atheism and its critics. I live in Jerusalem with my family.
My conviction is simple: Torah has the most rigorous and compelling answers to the questions that define our age — on morality, meaning, consciousness, free will, and the future of humanity. My job is to make that case, clearly and without apology, to anyone willing to engage.
Short-form responses to atheist philosophers, scientists, and cultural critics. The fastest way to see the arguments in action.
Follow →Long-form conversations on Torah, philosophy, Jewish identity, and the questions modernity can't answer.
Watch →Written depth in two streams: The Jewish Hypothesis (philosophy) and Parsha and Torah Thoughts (weekly Torah).
Read →Join the conversation — questions, reactions, and discussion from the community around the podcast and essays.
Join →Audio editions of the long-form conversations. Available on all major podcast platforms.
Listen →Rabbi Zeldman has spoken at Harvard, Oxford, the United Nations Israeli Mission, and Jewish communities, campuses, and conferences across 25 countries. He is available for keynote addresses, Shabbaton programs, community scholar-in-residence weekends, and conference presentations.
Is belief in God a philosophical embarrassment — or the most rational position available? A rigorous examination of the arguments, from Aristotle and Maimonides to the New Atheism, that takes the objections seriously and answers them.
If we are biological machines shaped by genetics and environment, what becomes of moral responsibility, human dignity, and the very idea of a self? One of modernity's most urgent questions — and Torah's answer.
Where does morality come from in a universe without God? A direct challenge to the secular assumption that ethics can survive without a foundation — and the case that it cannot.
What does it mean to be Jewish in a post-October 7 world? A philosophical and historical exploration of Jewish identity, mission, and why the Jewish people's survival is not a coincidence.
The question that never gets old — and the Torah's answer that cuts deeper than comfort.
The historical and philosophical case for the most audacious claim in human history. Harder to dismiss than you think.
The supposed war between science and Torah is largely a misunderstanding — but the real questions it raises are profound. A clear-eyed engagement with what science can and cannot tell us.
You've heard of the controversy. Now examine the scientific evidence and fascinating examples of findings from modern-day events — a rigorous look at what the data actually shows.
"Just focus on the good!" doesn't really work — and everyone knows it. Torah teaches a genuine secret to happiness: a 3-word principle and a 60-day challenge that actually changes how you live.
For those seeking sustained, serious engagement with Torah philosophy — whether exploring for the first time or deepening an existing practice — Rabbi Zeldman offers ongoing online classes via Zoom and periodic in-person intensives.
These are not introductory seminars. They are substantive engagements with the ideas — on God, morality, meaning, Jewish identity, and the philosophical foundations of Torah — for people who want to go beyond the surface.
Hard Questions Deserve Honest Answers — a 10-part course for committed Jews who take their Yiddishkeit seriously and want to go deeper. Women's program: Elul 2026. Men's program: November 2026.
See Course Details →Periodic in-person learning sessions for groups in Jerusalem and on international visits. Ideal for communities, campus groups, or private gatherings seeking deep, focused engagement.
Thirty years of teaching across 25 countries has taught me one thing above all: the big questions don't stay abstract. They land in people's lives — in moments of doubt, loss, identity, transition, and searching.
I work privately with a small number of individuals, bringing the depth of Torah wisdom and philosophical rigour to the questions that matter most in their lives. This is not generic life coaching. It is one-on-one engagement with a teacher who has spent decades thinking hard about the things that matter — and who has helped hundreds of people navigate them.
If you are at one of those moments, I am available.
For speaking inquiries, please include the date, location, expected audience size, and event type. I respond to all serious inquiries within 48 hours.