Rabbi Peretz Mochkin takes on a riveting topic here in discussing what the soul is, where does it go after death and how long does it take to get to its final destination? Oh, and what is that final destination, anyway?
Yes, body and soul, two separate things, one the house for the other. He defines the soul so engagingly that you might wonder whatever seemed so complicated on first glance. Why does he feel that we are living in the best possible time? Having a hard time finding your soul mate? Even though he is a self-defined “religious guy,” why does he feel that discussion of the soul is best outside the realm of religion? How does the soul get out of the body? Is he a YOLO, one of the “you only live once so have a good time” proponents? Lots of questions and lots of answers. How is time our partner and how to use it for maximizing our potential? What did Steve Jobs teach us about this? What is Rabbi Mochkin’s mission in life? Ours? Who judges us on judgment day?
So refreshing to hear the candid viewpoint of a religious leader who, by the way, says it is more important to him to be a good dad and a good husband than a great Rabbi. The love letter? He talks about his own grandparents in Sweden, how they got there, an unsolved murder and a letter about the lasting survival of the soul. He puts joy into every insight,and it all moves fast, so best to listen to it in his words and his voice.