From horror films to Rabbinical school, Rabbi Nolan's journey to finding purpose

Rabbi Nolan Lebovitz thought he knew what his life was supposed to look like. After film school at USC, he pursued a career in Hollywood, made a movie, sold television projects and was living the dream he had imagined for himself. But after becoming a father, one question wouldn't go away: “Was I put on earth to pitch horror films for the rest of my life?” That question sent him on an unexpected journey—from Hollywood back to Jewish tradition, from Los Angeles to rabbinical school and eventually to the pulpit of Valley Beth Shalom in Southern California – one of America’s largest conservative Synagogues. In this episode of Bigger Than Belief, Rabbi Lebovitz talks about the search for something deeper than professional success, why sacred texts can help us realize we're not alone in asking life's biggest questions, and what happens when faith and community become essential in a rapidly changing world. He also reflects on the profound impact of October 7, the rise of antisemitism, the loss of innocence among young Jewish people, the importance of interfaith allyship, and where he finds hope in a moment of profound division. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices