Episode 505 - 20 Nissan (Regular Year) - What's Wrong with Identity Politics?

In this episode of the It Is Taught Tanya Podcast, host Sarit Switzer explores the spiritual dangers of modern identity politics through the lens of Rabbi Schneur Zalman of Liadi's Tanya. She critiques the hyper-individualism that dominates contemporary culture—where identity is fragmented into intersecting categories like race, gender, and sexuality—arguing that this obsession with personal identity ultimately obscures the deeper truth of collective unity. Drawing from Kabbalistic teachings, Switzer explains that the true self is not found in isolation or self-definition, but in connection to the shared soul-source of all Jews, known as the Shekhinah. She emphasizes that Judaism is fundamentally communal, with mitzvahs and prayer requiring community, and that spiritual service should aim not at self-expression but at uniting all souls with God’s divine presence. The episode concludes with a preview of the next day’s discussion on whether such lofty spiritual goals are attainable for those still struggling with ego and disconnection.