Best Rabbi Ari Koretzky Podcasts (2025)

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Episode 25 - "My Month in Basic Training" with Rabbi Yehoshua Pfeffer 43:23

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12d ago43:23

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Iyun Institute founder and director Rabbi Yehoshua Pfefferrecently “put his body where his pen is,” enlisting in the IDF in its “Shlav Bet” program within the Homefront Command. Fresh off a month-long basic training, R’ Pfeffer shares his reflections and takeaways from the field.

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Episode 24 - "Chabad on Zionism" With Rabbi Dovid Eliezrie 1:05:22

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Rabbi Dovid Eliezrie is a longtime Chabad Shaliach (emissary), co-director of the North County Chabad Center in Orange County, California. Author of the book Secret of Chabad, he has recently released a groundbreaking biography of the “Friediker Rebbe” - the Sixth Rebbe of the Chabad chassidic dynasty - called “Undaunted: How the Sixth Lubavitcher …

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Episode 23 - What is Charedi Ideology? With Combat Physician and Author Dr. Yechiel Reit 1:31:18

3M ago1:31:18

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Dr. Yechiel Reit is an American-born emergency medicine doctor, an IDF reserve combat physician and the author of "Applied Monotheism: The Chareidi Response to Modernity." In our wide-ranging conversation, we discuss Dr. Reit's IDF experience and his analysis of "Charediism," as he argues for an ideological, not cultural, definition.…

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Episode 22 - The Charedi Parties, with The Times of Israel's Sam Sokol 1:03:27

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Sam Sokol is a veteran journalist, currently the Knesset Affairs correspondent at the Times of Israel. In this episode, we explore his journalistic background, and his unique perspective on the charedi parties in the landscape of Israeli politics.By Rabbi Ari Koretzky

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Episode 21 - CROSSOVER - Yaakov Wolff (Shtark Tank podcast) Interviews Rabbi Yehoshua and Tamar Pfeffer 44:17

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After a long hiatus, we return with a crossover episode - Yaakov Wolff, host of the Shtark Tank podcast, interviews Rabbi Yehoshua and Rebbetzin Tamar Pfeffer. More original episodes to come shortly!By Rabbi Ari Koretzky

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Episode 20 - Chareidim and the Army (Pt. 14): Does the Torah Protect? 1:01:58

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Since inaugurating this podcast, and focusing a long series on charedim and army service, one episode has conspicuously been missing: a full treatment of the halachic parameters of the notion of milchemes mitzvah, as well as an analysis commonly advanced ideals such as "Torah magneh u'matzleh" ("Torah study protects"). In this episode we remedy tha…

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Episode 19 - Chareidim and Judicial Reform w/Dr. Moshe Koppel 1:09:19

9M ago1:09:19

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Dr. Moshe Koppel is a leading computer scientist in Israel, with a specific expertise in AI. But over past twenty years he has led an intellectual movement promoting judicial reform within Israel. Through his Kohelet Policy Forum, Dr. Koppel researches alternatives to the entrenched judicial dynamics, and advocates for what he considers a more bala…

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Episode 18 - Bridging the Divide: Shabbos with Hostage Families and NOVA Survivors 1:04:52

9M ago1:04:52

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Tzili Schneider has created one of the most remarkable bridge-building educational operations in Israel, Kesher Yehudi. Ari Koretzky has previously interviewed Tzili on his other show, Jews You Should Know. Relevant to the Iyun Podcast, however, we focus in this episode on Tzili’s recent efforts with hostage families and NOVA survivors; she has eng…

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Episode 17 - Facts on the Ground: Hasbara to American Chareidim 51:50

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The charedi communities of the United State and Israel are separated physically by an ocean, but culturally and psychologically by a great deal as well. Many Americans lack basic awareness of current developments on the ground in Israel, the actual attitudes towards army service and general integration being promulgated there. The resulting gap lea…

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Episode 16 - "A Year in Mea Shearim" with Tuvia Tenenbom 1:00:41

11M ago1:00:41

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Tuvia Tenenbom is quite a colorful character. An author, playwright, mathematician, computer scientist, and all-around polymath, Tuvia was raised in a chareidi Israeli home, in the lap of the Chazon Ish, Rav Shach and other great luminaries. His own life veered on a different course, but he recently returned to those ideological precincts, spending…

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Episode 15 - The Purpose of Life 1:19:41

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Why are we here? What’s it all about? Obviously, Judaism has quite a bit to say about this topic. In fact, it may be its entire animating essence! Still, as expressed in contemporary living, even those who identify as strictly Torah-observant may respond divergently to this most-important question. On this episode, Tzvi Goldstein will argue that th…

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Episode 14 - The Role of Chareidi Media, with Jonathan Rosenblum 1:00:09

1y ago1:00:09

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Jonathan Rosenblum is a long-time columnist, pundit and observer of the Orthodox/chareidi communities in Israel and worldwide. He joins us on this episode to explore the unique role and purpose of chareidi media. His wonderful new volume, “Ordinary Greatness,” a compilation of many columns, and more, is available for purchase wherever great Jewish …

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Episode 13 - Chareidim and the Army (Pt. 12): The "Dati/Torani" Perspective 1:00:52

1y ago1:00:52

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Rabbi Moshe Taragin is a long-time Ram at Yeshivat Har Etzion (“The Gush”), as well as a popular speaker and author on a wide variety of Torah topics. A student of Rav Aharon Lichsteinstein, zt”l and Rav Yehuda Amital, zt”l, R’ Taragin absorbed their weltanschauung over many years. In this episode, we ask him to sketch out, for the uninitiated, the…

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Episode 12 - Charedim and the Army (Pt. 11): Do Chareidim See Themselves as Israeli? 1:03:48

1+ y ago1:03:48

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In his role as founding director of the Haredi Institute of Public Affairs (HIPA), Eli Paley is well positioned to evaluate the chareidi relationship to Israeli society. As Iyun founder Rabbi Yehoshua Pfeffer has written, the most vital factor in the entire chareidi conscription conundrum may just be whether, or to what degree, chareidim see themse…

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Episode 11 - Chareidim and the Army (Pt. 10): Halacha and the Chain of Command 58:46

1+ y ago58:46

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One of the under-appreciated concerns - sometimes articulated, often unconscious - held by Chareidim with respect to army service, is the concept of “chain of command.” For a young man whose guiding force in life is G-d, the Torah and rabbinnic authority, submission to faceless officers high up the IDF’s ladder can seem sacrilegious. This is compou…

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Episode 10: Chareidim and the Army (Pt. 9): What Does Daas Torah Say? 1:07:07

1+ y ago1:07:07

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“Daas Torah.” These two words are among the most loaded in modern hashkafic - and political - discourse. But what, in fact, does it mean, and how might it apply to the current crisis over chareidi conscription, whatever one’s view of the matter? It would be presumptuous to attempt to treat the topic of Daas Torah comprehensively on one episode of a…

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Episode 9 - Chareidim and the Army (Pt. 8): Live Symposium - The Role of Israel's Supreme Court 1:33:36

1+ y ago1:33:36

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On May 26th, 2024, the Iyun Institute co-presented a special symposium with The Israel Law and Liberty Forum, titled "Chareidim, the Draft & the Law: Where Do We Go Now?" The panel, moderated by ILLF Executive Director Mrs. Aylana Meisel-Diament, also featured Iyun's own Rabbi Yehoshua Pfeffer, as well as Prof. Ron Shapira (Bar Ilan University) and…

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Episode 8 - Chareidim and the Army (Pt. 7): Life After Netzach? 1:16:40

1+ y ago1:16:40

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Rabbi Eliyahu Chait, the youngest child of famed rabbi, author and singer-songwriter Rabbi Baruch Chait, is making a mark of his own. An IDF alumnus of Netzach, R' Eliyahu recognized a need for a post-army framework servicing young men from chareidi backgrounds with serious Torah learning and options for "re-entry" into civilian life. Kochot, his n…

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Episode 7 - Chareidim and the Army (Pt. 6): "Just Two Yungermen" - An "Oxford-Style" Debate 1:13:05

1+ y ago1:13:05

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On this episode, two wonderful, "regular" yungermen - each a talmid chochom of stature who has thought and written considerably about this subject - join us for an "Oxford-Style Debate" (sans the audience). Today's proposition: "The time has arrived for many more chareidim to begin to draft to the army." R' Chaim Goldberg is an educator, clinical p…

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Episode 6 - Chareidim and the Army (Pt. 5): From the Field - Religion in the Army with a Rav Tz'vai 1:18:10

1+ y ago1:18:10

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Rabbi Aviad Goldwicht is a business professional and Torah teacher who also serves as a rabbinic chaplain in the Israel Defense Forces. Since October 7th he has been servicing soldiers and engaging in extremely taxing and holy work.By Rabbi Ari Koretzky

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Special Announcement: JYSK Moving Forward & the Iyun Podcast 2:53

1+ y ago2:53

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SPECIAL ANNOUNCEMENT I am thrilled to announce the launch of my new podcast, in concert with The Iyun Institute (formerly Tikvah Israel): "The Iyun Podcast: On Chareidim, Israel and the Jewish People." Iyun will explore the many dynamics of chareidim in relation to the broader context of Israeli society and beyond. Episodes are now available on App…

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Episode 5 - Chareidim & the Army (Pt. 4): “Chareidi Hesder” - An Oxymoron? 50:44

1+ y ago50:44

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Rabbi Karmi Gross, son of legendary Miami day school founder Rabbi Alexander (Sender) Gross, is a pioneering educator and Jewish leader. A founding rebbe at Yeshivat Maarava, then a principal at day schools in Vancouver, Detroit, and Los Angeles, he finally returned to Israel to found the first Chareidi Hesder yeshiva: Derech Chaim. On Episode 5 of…

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Episode 205 - The Comics Author and Film Producer: A Conversation with Arnon Shorr 55:20

1+ y ago55:20

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Arnon Shorr is a comic book author and graphic novelist, as well as a screenwriter, director and producer of remarkable films, often with meaningful Jewish messaging. Arnon's website: https://www.arnonshorr.com/ Arnon on IMDB: https://www.imdb.com/name/nm2601747/ Wayfarers on Kindle Vella: https://www.amazon.com/kindle-vella/episode/B0C758RNCN JEWC…

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Episode 4 - Chareidim & the Army (Pt. 3): What is Nachal Chareidi/Netzach? 50:59

1+ y ago50:59

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Chareidim & the Army (Pt. 3): What is Nachal Chareidi/Netzach? In Episode 4 of the Iyun Podcast - and Pt. 3 of our mini-series on Chareidim and Army Service - we begin exploring various frameworks that currently exist to absorb those chareidim seeking to draft into military service. We begin with what is known as Nachal Chareidi, or Netzach Yehuda …

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Episode 3 - Chareidim & the Army (Pt. 2): Shall Your Brothers Go to War?... 1:04:49

1+ y ago1:04:49

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In Episode 3 of the Iyun Podcast - and Pt. 2 of our mini-series on Chareidim and Army Service - we interrogate the "moral claim" leveled by Israeli society, broadly writ, against those Jewish brothers who elect not to serve in the IDF. With Moshe's rhetorical repudiation of, "Shall your brothers go to war and you will stay back?" (Bamidbar 32:6) as…

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{TBT REBROADCAST} Episode 7 - The Sabbath-Observant Senator: A Conversation with Joe Lieberman, z"l 36:08

1+ y ago36:08

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We are saddened to hear of the passing of Joseph Lieberman, z'l, a great American patriot, and even greater member of the Jewish People. We interviewed Senator Lieberman in 2017, in one of our first episodes ever in this podcast. In tribute to his extraordinary life, we present this #TBT rebroadcast from the archives. May his memory be for a blessi…

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Episode 2 - Chareidim and the Army (Pt. 1): Common Objections, with R' Yehoshua Pfeffer and R' Yosef Chaim Simchon 1:02:22

1+ y ago1:02:22

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EPISODE SUMMARY This episode of the Iyun Podcast begins our discussion of the complex relationship between Chareidi society and the Israel Defense Forces (IDF). Featuring insights from Iyun Institute founder Rabbi Yehoshua Pfeffer and guest Rabbi Yosef Chaim Simchon, the conversation explores the historical, moral, and societal aspects of Charedi p…

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Episode 1 - Chareidi Responsibility in a Changing World, with R' Yehoshua Pfeffer 1:14:06

1+ y ago1:14:06

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EPISODE SUMMARY On this pilot episode of the Iyun Podcast, we begin our in-depth exploration into Chareidi society, focusing on its integration into modern Israeli society and the implications for the Jewish community at large. Featuring Iyun Institute founder and director Rabbi Yehoshua Pfeffer, we delve into the various factions within Chareidi s…

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Episode 204 - The Yiddish Scholar, Political Observer and Consummate Professor: A Conversation with Ruth Wisse 1:15:15

2y ago1:15:15

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ABOUT THIS EPISODE Ruth Wisse is one of the great modern scholars of Yiddish literature. A distinguished career at McGill and Harvard Universities has now led to her current engagement with Tikvah, a Jewish-conservative think tank and educational outfit. Professor Wisse has authored many books, and written widely on political affairs in addition to…

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Episode 203 - The Faces of Orthodoxy and DMC Podcast Host: A Conversation with Alexandra Fleksher 1:10:42

2y ago1:10:42

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ABOUT THIS EPISODE Alexandra ("Alex") Fleksher is a multi-talented content creator and Jewish "influencer" in contemporary culture. She is the founder and creative director of the "Faces of Orthodoxy" Instagram (and other social media) presense: Along with co-host Rivki Silver, Alex also hosts the Deep Meaningful Conversations (DMC) podcast, coveri…

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Episode 202 - The Journaler: A Conversation with Merle Saferstein 1:03:33

2y ago1:03:33

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Merle Saferstein is a longtime educator with an expertise in Holocaust studies. In her early thirties, she discovered the cathartic pleasure of journaling, and in nearly 50 years since, has filled over 380 notebooks (!) with her chronciles and musings. Already a published author, Merle eventually decided to excerpt many of these journals and presen…

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#TBT (Ep. 62 Re-Release): The Salad Trail (Bordering Gaza) Founder - A Conversation With Uri Alon 1:05:29

2y ago1:05:29

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Uri Alon is a pioneering farmer and lover of the land of Israel. Like so many in the South, on 10/7/23 he suffered many personal losses. He also is unable currently to welcome guests to The Salad Trail, an oasis of beauty and Israeli ingenuity in the depths of the desert. The farm requires support - both financial and physical - during this difficu…

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#TBT (Ep. 145 Re-release): The Renewal (Kidney Donation) Founder - A Conversation with Mendy Reiner 49:56

2y ago49:56

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In honor of host Ari Koretzky's recent kidney donation, we are re-releasing this "blast from the past" episode, #145, from February of 2021, featuring Renewal founder Mendy Reiner. Renewal is a premier facilitator of live donor kidney transplants within the North American Jewish community, supporting both prospective donor and recipient along this …

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Episode 201 - Sharon Koifman: The Israel Activists Founder 1:02:08

2y ago1:02:08

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Sharon Koifman is a business owner - founder of Distant Job - and expert on remote hiring. He is also an extremely passionate advocate for Israel, integrating cutting edge AI tools and the science of persuasion to craft a new model of making the case for the Jewish Homeland. Sharon's venture, Israel Activists, is poised to reshape the way young Jew…

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CROSSOVER EPISODE: The State of College Campuses - Ari Koretzky with Avreml Kivelevitz on the "On Principle" Podcast 39:25

2y ago39:25

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Enjoy this special bonus CROSSOVER episode - Ari Koretzky's appearance on the "On Principle" podcast, part of the IDT podcast network.By Ari Koretzky

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Episode 200 (!!) - THE HOST - 200th Episode Special: Dovid Bashevkin interviews Ari Koretzky About JYSK and the State of Jewish Podcasting 1:06:08

2y ago1:06:08

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Welcome to a special 200th episode of Jews You Should Know. After a long summer hiatus, host Ari Koretzky returns, but in a different role, as the guest, interviewed by 18Forty podcaster extraordinaire Rabbi Dr. Dovid Bashevkin. We cover a variety of topics, including the interview process and goals for the podcast. But most vitally, we take a crit…

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Summer 2023 Update 1:07

2+ y ago1:07

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Summer 2023 UpdateBy Ari Koretzky

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Episode 199 - The Yeshiva University President: A Conversation with Ari Berman 1:12:18

2+ y ago1:12:18

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ABOUT THIS EPISODE Rabbi Dr. Ari Berman has been a longtime scholar, pulpit rabbi and Jewish communal leader. In his latest role, as President of Yeshiva University, he is guiding this flagship bastion of higher learning into a bold and dynamic future, by building on the values and personalities of our illustrious past. -------------------- ABOUT T…