Former Atheist. Philosopher. Orthodox Rabbi.
Bringing Torah into the conversations that define our age.
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: Faith and Reason (philosophy) and Parsha and Practice (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 →In-depth shiurim for the observant community. Browse the full library of recorded classes.
Learn →
Sometimes what you need isn't a teacher, a therapist, or another self-help book. Sometimes you need someone who will sit with you, really listen, and help you find your own path - into yourself, into Torah, into what you actually believe and how you want to live.
That's what I do. For years, I've worked with people navigating questions about God, purpose, relationships, personal growth, and Jewish identity. Some are exploring Judaism for the first time. Some are wrestling with difficult questions. Some are going through major life transitions. Others simply want a deeper, more thoughtful conversation than they're finding elsewhere.
I work privately, one-on-one, with people wherever they are - geographically and spiritually. Some are asking questions they've never had the space to ask. Some want their Judaism to stop feeling like a checklist and start feeling like a living relationship with God. Some just want to learn - deeply, personally, at their own pace.
It starts with a free 30-minute conversation. No agenda, no pressure - just a chance to talk, and see if this is right for you.
He's become my mentor, Rabbi, friend, learning partner - really a great combo of all of them.
I've never had a "spiritual coach" before. What an adventure! Personal, inspiring and practical all at the same time.
Rabbi Zeldman is uniquely gifted in taking timeless deep Torah wisdom and bringing it to life. And bringing it powerfully into MY life.
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.
Real Questions That Deserve Real 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 →Available for booking in Jerusalem and internationally. Bring Rabbi Zeldman to your community, campus, or Shabbaton for a focused, high-engagement learning experience - keynote sessions, multi-session intensives, or a full scholar-in-residence weekend.
See Topics & Book →For speaking inquiries, please include the date, location, expected audience size, and event type. I respond to all serious inquiries within 48 hours.