Best Yosefa Podcasts (2026)

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Turning Criminals Into Heroes: Rabbi Jeremy Wieder on Rubashkin, Pollard, and Moral Clarity (275) 59:28

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33m ago59:28

59:28

Check out Orthodox Conundrum Commentary on Substack and get your free subscription by going to https://scottkahn.substack.com/ - and paid subscribers get this and other episodes of the Orthodox Conundrum Podcast ad-free and with additional bonus content! There's a recurring pattern in parts of the Orthodox world - one that has always troubled me, b…

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(37) Michele Weiss, Orthodox Mayor-Elect: Jewish Values in American Politics 43:45

6d ago43:45

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I'm thrilled to welcome Michele Weiss, the first Orthodox Jewish woman to be elected mayor of an American city. Michele already has over 15 years of service on City Council of University Heights, Ohio, including multiple terms as Vice Mayor. She also serves as the Chief Financial Officer of the Hebrew Academy of Cleveland, teaches as an adjunct pro…

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A Person is a Subject, not an Object: New Traditional Perspectives on Tzniut, with Bracha Poliakoff and Rabbi Anthony Manning (CLASSIC EPISODE) 1:25:27

7d ago1:25:27

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Enjoy this classic episode from May, 2023. We'll be back next week with a brand new episode. Tzniut is triggering. That became clear when the Orthodox Conundrum Podcast released episode 145 entitled, "The Challenges of Teaching Tzniut & the Challenges of Being Tzanua, with Shayna Goldberg." That episode, in which Scott asked Shayna to focus on issu…

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When Non-Jews Define Judaism for Jews: Alyza Lewin on Reclaiming Jewish Peoplehood in an Age of Intimidation (274) 1:10:20

13d ago1:10:20

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There is a fundamental mistake that many people still make about Jews: they see Judaism exclusively as a faith, so they assume Jewish needs are basically religious accommodations, kosher food, holiday absences, maybe a space to pray. But my guest today, attorney Alyza Lewin, argues that if that's your starting point, you completely misunderstand th…

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(36) Guiding young women through transitions, with Rabbanit Shayna Goldberg 52:06

20d ago52:06

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In this episode we meet Rabbanit Shayna Goldberg, mashgicha ruchanit and teacher to Israeli and American post-high school students in Migdal Oz, an affiliate of Yeshivat Har Etzion. Shayna is also a yoetzet halacha, a contributing editor for Deracheha: Womenandmitzvot.org, co-host of the podcast "Women Talking Mitzvot" and the author of the book: W…

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Jewish Particularism or Cultural Engagement: A Chanukah Debate, with Rabbi Yitzchok Adlerstein and Rabbi Dr. Raphael Zarum (273) 1:17:43

21d ago1:17:43

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To what degree should we assimilate non Jewish thought and culture into our intellectual, emotional, and spiritual lives? And to what degree does that question affect the way that we celebrate Chanukah? Rav Shimshon Raphael Hirsch expressed this tension directly when he wrote the following words: Chanukah represents the clash of two doctrines, two …

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A $10,000 Bottle of Scotch: Alcohol Abuse, Conspicuous Consumption, and Orthodox Life Today, with Rabbi Jonathan Muskat and Rachel Tuchman (272) 1:22:04

29d ago1:22:04

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A tragic drunk driving case in Lakewood has pushed an uncomfortable question to the surface. What happens when "Toameha," kiddush clubs and casual drinking culture quietly normalize alcohol misuse in our homes and shuls, especially for the teenagers who are watching us... and what happens when that same culture is surrounded by designer logos, luxu…

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(35) Danielle Chaimovitz: The well-travelled shlichim of Europe 44:02

23d ago44:02

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Seasoned shlucha Danielle Chaimovitz has nurtured communities in Estonia, Poland and Germany. A daughter of olim, she was always drawn to communal roles in Jewish life, and she and her husband have made it their specialty to help small communities thrive. Danielle and I discuss the role of a shlucha - what does success look like? How much should yo…

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Chosen Vs. Unchosen Vs. Rejected: The Idea of a Chosen People in an Antisemitic World, with Rabbanit Yael Leibowitz (271) 1:23:37

1M ago1:23:37

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In the past two years many Jews have felt as if the world they thought they knew simply disappeared. Western democracies, universities, and social justice spaces that once seemed welcoming - or at least somewhat neutral - have turned openly hostile toward Israel and the Jewish people. At the center of much of this hatred is a familiar accusation: t…

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Painful Questions and Unconditional Love: Orthodox Parents and Their LGBTQ Children, Part Two - with Rabbi Menachem Penner and Rabbi Yakov Horowitz (270) 1:44:26

1M ago1:44:26

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Back in August, I released a conversation with Rabbi Yakov Horowitz about Orthodox parents whose children come out as LGBTQ. The feedback to that episode was intense. Some listeners wrote that they finally felt seen. Others said that they were deeply uncomfortable. Quite a few parents asked what they should actually do when their son or daughter co…

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(34) Holding a community - with Rebbetzen Yael Roodyn 45:56

1M ago45:56

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This podcast is powered by LSJS. Visit lsjs.ac.uk to learn about our Jewish learning journeys & find something that suits you. Who do you look after when you can't look after everyone? How does a leader react when she's the one in need of help? What do you do if you feel pidgeonholed by your education or career choices? Rebbetzen Yael Roodyn, much …

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Hostility, Confusion, and Ideological Pressure: Outreach in a Changing World, with Rabbi Mark Wildes (269) 1:09:06

2M ago1:09:06

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Zohran Mamdani - a politician who openly rejects Israel's right to exist as a Jewish state, yet insists that this has nothing to do with antisemitism - is now the mayor-elect of New York City. He points to a small number of Jewish supporters as evidence, while promoting a worldview in which Israel is framed as a genocidal, apartheid project. New Yo…

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Mamdani, Fuentes, Tucker, and Mainstreaming Antisemitism: Jonathan Greenblatt on the Growing Threat from the Left and the Right (268) 1:13:45

2M ago1:13:45

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In recent weeks we have watched something many of us hoped we would not see in the United States: openly anti-Zionist and even openly antisemitic voices moving from the margins into the mainstream. Zohran Mamdani's victory in New York raises the chilling possibility that hostility to Israel is now an electoral asset. At the same time, parts of the …

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(33) Uncovering Halacha for Women Today, with Rabbanit Nechama Goldman Barash 57:05

2M ago57:05

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This podcast is powered by LSJS. Visit lsjs.ac.uk to learn about our Jewish learning journeys & find something that suits you. I'm delighted to be joined by Rabbanit Nechama Goldman Barash, one of the most refreshing and challenging voices in contemporary Jewish learning. Based in Jerusalem, Nechama teaches Talmud and halachah at the Pardes Institu…

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Charedi, Dati Leumi, Modern Orthodox, Traditional, Secular: Is Jewish Unity Even Possible? A Conversation with Rav Yosef Zvi Rimon (267) 1:07:09

2M ago1:07:09

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Is Jewish unity even possible? In this urgent episode Rav Yosef Zvi Rimon faces the hardest questions raised by the draft crisis and by the widening gaps between Charedi, Dati Leumi, Modern Orthodox, Traditional, and Secular Jews. He explains why unity is not a slogan but a practical necessity and religious obligation with real consequences for sec…

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The World is a Beautiful Place... and We Need to Earn It: Talking About The Morning After with Dr. Erica Brown (266) 1:03:07

2M ago1:03:07

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What does the morning after really look like... when the dawn reveals not only light, but rubble and work? In this deeply personal conversation, Scott and Dr. Erica Brown ask how we craft a vision of where we're going when optimism feels naïve, unity is fragile, and joy and grief insist on sharing the same space. Drawing on Rabbi Sacks's distinctio…

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(32) Transforming the halachic landscape, with Nishmat founder Rabbanit Chana Henkin 43:00

2M ago43:00

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This podcast is powered by LSJS. Visit lsjs.ac.uk to learn about our Jewish learning journeys & find something that suits you. NEW! Talk to us at [email protected] and tell us about amazing women who you'd like to hear interviewed. Joanne Greenaway is joined by Rabbanit Chana Henkin, founder of Nishmat: The Jeanie Schottenstein Center for Ad…

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Seven Facets of Healing: Rabbi Leo Dee's Blueprint for Jewish Resilience (265) 1:13:00

3M ago1:13:00

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This episode is dedicated to the complete recovery of יהונתן איתן בן בת שבע ברכה. How do we move from private anguish to collective strength? In this deeply personal and wide-ranging conversation, Rabbi Leo Dee shares the story of the day his wife and two daughters were murdered, and the seven-facet framework he built to keep living with faith and …

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(31) Truth Lived, Not Just Truth Learned: The Enduring Legacy of Rabbi Jonathan Sacks zt"l, with Joanna Benarroch 55:02

3M ago55:02

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This podcast is powered by LSJS. Visit lsjs.ac.uk to learn about our Jewish learning journeys & find something that suits you. NEW! Talk to us at [email protected] and tell us about amazing women who you'd like to hear interviewed. Joanna Benarroch joined Rabbi Sacks' Office of the Chief Rabbi in 1997 and worked for Rabbi Sacks for the next …

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Eulogies and Boundaries: Orthodox Jews and the Legacy of Charlie Kirk (264) 1:05:38

3M ago1:05:38

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Charlie Kirk's assassination is a shocking, tragic act of violence. Murder is a desecration of the image of God, full stop. We condemn it unequivocally, and we pray for comfort for his family and for all who were harmed. At the same time, Charlie Kirk was a complicated public figure. He was outspokenly pro-Israel and often advocated for Jewish safe…

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(30) Realistic teshuva with Dr. Yosefa Fogel Wruble 53:38

4M ago53:38

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This podcast is powered by LSJS. Visit lsjs.ac.uk to learn about our Jewish learning journeys & find something that suits you. NEW! Talk to us at [email protected] and tell us about amazing women who you'd like to hear interviewed. This week, I'm thrilled to welcome Dr. Yosefa Fogel Wruble to the podcast—turning the tables a bit, since Yosef…

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God's Loyal Opposition: Anger, Faith, and Divine Confrontation, with Rabbi Dr. Raphael Zarum (263) 1:15:41

4M ago1:15:41

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Is it possible—maybe even Jewish—to be angry at God? From Abraham's challenge at Sodom to Job's cries of despair, Tanach is filled with voices that confront the Divine. But what does that mean for us today, when we struggle with personal tragedy, global antisemitism, and the ongoing pain of the seemingly endless war against Hamas? In this wide-rang…

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Suppressed, Rediscovered, Essential: Rav Kook's Lost Guide for Modern Faith (262) 1:12:21

4M ago1:12:21

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This episode is partially a detective story, partially an analysis of daring ideas, and partially an invitation to discover new methodolgies of confronting challenges to Orthodox Judaism. Rav Kook drafted L'Nevuchei HaDor over a century ago—then the manuscript largely disappeared from view, resurfaced piecemeal, and sparked debates about redaction …

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(29) Innovation with patience: Jo Grose, CEO of the United Synagogue 44:58

4M ago44:58

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This podcast is powered by LSJS. Visit lsjs.ac.uk to learn about our Jewish learning journeys & find something that suits you. I'm delighted to be joined by Jo Grose, the first ever female CEO of the United Synagogue. Jo stepped into the position in 2023, after many years of senior leadership within the organisation, as well as leadership roles at …

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Learning Tanach Daily Through 929: Opportunities, Challenges, and Dangers, with Rabbi Benny Lau (261) 58:13

4M ago58:13

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As one 929 cycle ends and the next begins, Scott talks with Rabbi Benny Lau—founder of 929—about why the project started, what it hopes to change in Jewish life, and what a shared, chapter-a-day cadence can build across communities. They also tackle the harder questions: the risks of using Tanach as a direct guidebook without the mediating lens of …

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Orthodox Parents and Their LGBTQ Children, with Rabbi Yakov Horowitz (260) 1:06:58

4M ago1:06:58

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When a child shares something deeply personal about his or her sexual orientation, Orthodox parents can feel love, concern, and uncertainty all at once. In this conversation, Rabbi Yakov Horowitz reflects on what he's learned working with families and communal leaders: how to approach the first conversations, which words can prevent hurt, and where…

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(28) Following Your North Star, with Joanne Greenaway and Dr. Erica Brown 44:56

5M ago44:56

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***1st Anniversary Edition!*** It's our birthday! For this special anniversary edition the tables have been turned on me! Joanne Greenaway is Chief Executive of LSJS. Experienced International Arbitration lawyer and formerly Director of Get cases for the London Beth Din, she is part of Ohr Torah Stone's International Halakha Scholars Program and a …

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When Mitzvot Lose Their Meaning: Rabbi David Stav on Reconnecting Orthodox Youth to Jewish Law (259) 1:04:23

5M ago1:04:23

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Why do so many young Modern Orthodox and National Religious Jews embrace the community but drift from halacha? In this episode of Orthodox Conundrum, Rabbi David Stav, head of Tzohar, joins Scott to confront the growing gap between identity and observance. Together they tackle the hard questions: Are we teaching halacha in ways that feel lifeless a…

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The Bible, the Beasts, and the Big Lies About Israel, with Rabbi Dr. Natan Slifkin (258) 57:10

5M ago57:10

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From biblical lions to the bizarre "Zionist crocodile plot," Israel's wildlife tells a story that shatters modern anti-Israel myths. In his new book Lions of Zion, Rabbi Dr. Natan Slifkin reveals how the animals of the Land of Israel — past and present — reflect the Jewish people's deep, indigenous connection to their homeland. Scott and Rabbi Slif…

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(27) A voice for the hostages with Dr. Haya Langerman 47:53

5M ago47:53

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This podcast is powered by LSJS. Visit lsjs.ac.uk to learn about our Jewish learning journeys & find something that suits you. This week I am delighted to be joined by Dr. Haya Langerman. Haya is a medical advisor with a doctorate in diabetes who has worked in the pharmaceutical industry for 30 years. For the last 21 months she has been on the fron…

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Disagreeing Like Moses: A Torah Blueprint for Conflict Resolution (257) 1:08:29

5M ago1:08:29

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As we approach Tisha B'Av — a day that mourns the devastating consequences of internal strife and baseless hatred — we must ask: is there a Torah model for constructive conflict resolution? Rabbi Alex Israel joins Scott to explore a striking example in Bamidbar chapter 32, where Moses engages the tribes of Reuben and Gad in what Rabbi Jonathan Sack…

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(26) Exposing and destigmatising sexual abuse, with Shana Aaronson of Magen 52:11

6M ago52:11

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This podcast is powered by LSJS. Visit lsjs.ac.uk to learn about our Jewish learning journeys & find something that suits you. This week I am delighted to be joined by Shana Aaronson, Executive Director of Magen, where she first began as Social Services Coordinator, supporting families where children had been physically and sexually abused. Magen i…

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Must Every Jew Be Shomer Shabbat? A Fresh Perspective on Kiruv, with Rabbi Simi Lerner (256) 1:08:52

5M ago1:08:52

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What is kiruv really about—and what should it be about? In this thought-provoking conversation, Scott speaks with Rabbi Simi Lerner, a kiruv professional who challenges conventional assumptions about Orthodox Jewish outreach. They explore the core goals of kiruv, the philosophical and ethical pitfalls it can fall into, and how to ensure it respects…

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Overeating, Obesity, Ozempic, and Orthodox Jews, with Dr. Sharon Grossman (255) 1:01:53

6M ago1:01:53

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Obesity is now responsible for more deaths in the United States than smoking—yet the Orthodox Jewish community rarely addresses it as either a public health emergency or a halachic concern. In this eye-opening episode, Scott speaks with Dr. Sharon Grossman to explore the medical, hashkafic, and halachic dimensions of obesity, overeating, and eating…

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(25) Scaling the heights of halachic scholarship, with Rabbanit Chamutal Shoval 49:52

6M ago49:52

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This podcast is powered by LSJS. Visit lsjs.ac.uk/connect to learn about our Jewish learning journeys & find something that suits you. I'm delighted to welcome Rabbanit Chamutal Shoval, Director of the Susi Bradfield Women's Institute of Halachic Leadership at Midreshet Lindenbaum, and a graduate of its rigorous five‑year program as a Morat Hora'a …

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Will Charedi Society Face Reality? Dayan Yehoshua Pfeffer on Work, Faith, and the Future of the Torah Community (254) 1:06:50

6M ago1:06:50

1:06:50

Is the Charedi community prepared to confront the demands of real life—economic, civic, and national—or has it built a worldview that prizes withdrawal over responsibility? In this provocative and thoughtful episode, Dayan Yehoshua Pfeffer joins Scott to explore what happens when religious ideology collides with practical reality. Drawing on his in…

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Faith, Prayer, and the Impossible: Rabbi Shlomo Brody on Emunah, Miracles, Reality, and the Power of Tefillah (253) 59:39

6M ago59:39

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In the wake of Israel's stunning victory over Iran—an event many have called miraculous—Jews around the world are reflecting on the nature of divine intervention and the power of prayer. Can we, and should we, pray for miracles? In this deeply thoughtful episode, Rabbi Shlomo Brody joins Scott to explore the halachic and emotional dimensions of tef…

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(24) Fighting breast cancer through humour, with Gila Pfeffer 46:24

7M ago46:24

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This podcast is powered by LSJS. Visit lsjs.ac.uk/connect to learn about our Jewish learning journeys & find something that suits you. Gila Pfeffer is an award winning author, breast cancer prevention advocate and mum of four. Her recent book, Nearly Departed: Adventures in Loss, Cancer, and Other Inconveniences, was the 2024 winner of the Gilda Wo…

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Emergency Episode: The U.S. Attacks Iran — What It Means for Israel, Hamas, and the Future of the War (252) 39:04

7M ago39:04

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When the United States bombed Iran's nuclear sites this week, the Middle East—and the world—entered a new phase of conflict. In this urgent episode, Scott speaks once again with Yaakov Katz, former editor of The Jerusalem Post, about what these strikes mean for Israel's war effort, the potential consequences of regime change in Iran, the risks of e…

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The New Face of American Antisemitism: Violence, Politics, and Denial (BONUS EPISODE) 1:00:20

6M ago1:00:20

1:00:20

Two Israeli embassy staffers shot in Washington. Jewish activists burned in Boulder. A mayoral candidate in New York who refused to condemn the Holocaust gaining momentum. Antisemitism in the United States is no longer hiding in the shadows — it's on the march, in broad daylight. In this urgent bonus episode of Orthodox Conundrum, Scott Kahn speaks…

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Unscripted Reflections: Israel, Iran, and the Challenge of Faith in Wartime (251) 35:30

6M ago35:30

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In this spontaneous and unfiltered episode of Orthodox Conundrum, Scott shares heartfelt reflections on Israel's war against Iran—not from a political or military perspective, but through personal experience and the lens of faith. What does it mean to believe in Divine providence during a time of fear and uncertainty? How should we grapple with the…

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(23) Finding common ground through feminine traits, with Sharon Rosen 48:07

7M ago48:07

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This podcast is powered by LSJS. Visit lsjs.ac.uk/connect to learn about our Jewish learning journeys & find something that suits you. Today I'm honoured to welcome Sharon Rosen, a leader in interfaith peace building in Israel and around the world. Sharon served as Search for Common Ground's Global Director of Religious Engagement from 2017 until r…

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What Comes Next? Yaakov Katz on Israel's War, Netanyahu's Calculations, and the Search for an Endgame (250) 1:13:20

7M ago1:13:20

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Twenty months into the war with Hamas, many Israelis and supporters abroad are asking the same urgent question: how will this end? In this in-depth episode of Orthodox Conundrum, Scott Kahn is joined by Yaakov Katz, one of Israel's most respected journalists and author of While Israel Slept, to examine whether Israel's military goals are still real…

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(22) Can women do that? Nicole Duke, Kashrut Supervisor & Burial Advisor 42:24

7M ago42:24

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This podcast is powered by LSJS. Visit lsjs.ac.uk/connect to learn about our Jewish learning journeys & find something that suits you. Rabbanit Nicole Duke is not an obvious leader, but her guidance behind the scenes at crucial times and life cycle events helps countless people through both difficult and wonderful times. First she is a shomeret, a …

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From Beit Lechem to the Royal Ball: Comparing and Contrasting the Book of Ruth and Cinderella, with Rabbi Dr. Joshua Berman (249) 48:48

7M ago48:48

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Megilat Rut — the Book of Ruth — is one of the most beloved and widely read books in the Hebrew Bible. Because we read it annually on Shavuot, many people are familiar with its basic storyline. But its very familiarity can sometimes obscure its most powerful messages. In this episode, I'm joined by Rabbi Dr. Joshua Berman of Bar Ilan University, wh…

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Can Physics Demonstrate God's Existence? (248) 1:14:33

7M ago1:14:33

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Can science be a vehicle to get closer to God? The Rambam famously answered in the affirmative. In the second of the 1000 chapters of his Mishneh Torah, Hilchot Yesodei HaTorah chapter 2, the Rambam writes, "What is the method towards loving and fearing God? At the moment that a person investigates His wondrous and massive actions and creations, an…

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Having "The Talk": How Should Jewish Parents Talk to Kids About Sex? (Co-produced with Intimate Judaism) 1:04:18

8M ago1:04:18

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Please note that this episode discusses sensitive topics and uses explicit language. Listener discretion is advised. Today, the Orthodox Conundrum is releasing a new episode of Intimate Judaism that my Intimate Judaism co-host, Talli Rosenbaum, and I recorded with Yonina Rubinstein, where we explore how parents can approach conversations about sexu…

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(21) Sara Wolkenfeld @ Sefaria: Opening up access to Torah in the digital age 41:27

8M ago41:27

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This podcast is powered by LSJS. Visit lsjs.ac.uk/connect to learn about our Jewish learning journeys & find something that suits you. I learn every day with my chavruta in Israel using Sefaria sources. So I'm delighted to be interviewing Rabbanit Sara Tillinger Wolkenfeld, Chief Learning Officer at Sefaria, the online database and interface for Je…

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The Pope, the Jews, and Israel: What to Anticipate From Pope Leo XIV, with Dr. Malka Simkovich (BONUS EPISODE) 21:54

8M ago21:54

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Last Thursday, Cardinal Robert Prevost of Chicago became Pope Leo XIV. While Jews may believe that this shouldn't matter to us at all, this is most likely false. The pope commands the allegiance of well over a billion Roman Catholics worldwide, and his ability to help shape their opinions about the Jewish people and Israel should not be underestima…

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"You Can't Suppress the Light": The Radical Messages of Rav Kook for Orthodox Jews Today, with Professor Marc Shapiro (247) 1:20:16

8M ago1:20:16

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The thought of Rav Avraham Yitzchak HaKohen Kook, who died in 1935, remains extremely influential today in religious Zionist circles. Rav Kook's ideology, particularly as interpreted by his son, Rav Tzvi Yehuda Kook, in books like Orot, has helped to set the agenda for much of the dati leumi world. Over the past couple of decades, however, addition…