Best Rabbi Scott Kahn Podcasts (2024)

1
The Day That Never Ended... And What We Can Learn From It, with Rav Chayim Soloveichik (223) 48:53

2d ago48:53

48:53

"Today marks one year since one of the worst days of all of our lives, October 7th. I actually was unsure of how to record an appropriate episode; what, exactly, could I add to the conversation? What is there to say that hasn’t yet been said? And how can I relate it to the season in which we find ourselves, right in between Rosh Hashanah and Yom Ki…

1
Gavriel Bloom z"l: A Hero in a Land of Heroes (222) 49:19

10d ago49:19

49:19

Later this week we will celebrate Rosh Hashanah, also known as the Day of Remembrance, Yom HaZikaron. According to Chazal, Hashem (so to speak) remembers us on this day for the good… and we, too, should look at those people who set sterling examples for us over the past year, and try to learn from their deeply meaningful lives. One of those people …

1
Reorganizing the Letters of Reality: A Mystical and Chassidic Approach to Prayer, with Rabbi Dovid'l Weinberg (221) 1:08:11

17d ago1:08:11

1:08:11

One of the beautiful aspects of Torah Judaism is its insistence on eilu v’eilu divrei Elokim chayim - that two different and even potentially contradictory approaches can both represent the words of the living God. Opening our minds to differing ways of seeing Torah - that, in the words of many ancient texts, there are seventy facets to the Torah, …

1
How Does Prayer Work? A Rationalist Approach to Tefilah, or What Larry David Got Wrong (220) 1:09:33

24d ago1:09:33

1:09:33

We stand in the middle of the month of Elul, and are moving quickly towards Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur - days largely spent in the synagogue in prayer. Throughout those days as well as the rest of the Ten Days of Repentance, we ask that God grant us a year of life, goodness, and peace. While we have so much to be thankful for, we may be forgiven …

1
(57) Hugging with a shinui: Halachic leniency in times of distress 1:05:21

30d ago1:05:21

1:05:21

According to Rav Yoni Rosensweig, founder of Maagalei Nefesh, an organization that confronts issues pertaining to mental health and halacha, “Jewish law is not meant to cause harm.” War, mental health concerns, and emotional and relational distress are factors that contribute to the need to seek leniencies in halachic practice in a way that reduces…

1
267: Powering Innovation: Jim Kalb's Journey with OptiFuse & the Future of Fuses!⚡ 1:25:19

30d ago1:25:19

1:25:19

Jim Kalb is currently the President of OptiFuse, an innovative high-growth manufacturer of power protection components distributed by high-quality select wholesalers throughout the world. OptiFuse has been listed on the Inc. 5000 for the last 5 years, as well as being named as one of Forbe's magazines "25 Best Small Companies" in 2017. This Episode…

1
"The Gamblification of Everything" - Gambling, Orthodox Jewish Adolescents, and the Big Problem That's Getting Worse (219) 51:04

1M ago51:04

51:04

Many people often talk about addiction and dependence; and in doing so, they may use those terms inexactly. When it comes to gambling, however, those words are, unfortunately, correct. Problem gambling is a growing problem in the United States - particularly online gambling, which has been growing exponentially since the Supreme Court decided, in 2…

1
Teaching Our Students to be Zionists Rather than "Pro-Israel": A Conversation with Dr. Noam Weissman (218) 1:02:47

1M ago1:02:47

1:02:47

Scott recorded this interview with Dr. Noam Weissman on Monday afternoon, the day after we learned about the terrible execution of six hostages soon before they were discovered by the IDF, presumably in order to make sure that they did not make it back home alive. And today, Hamas continued its psychological torture by saying that it will release v…

1
The Ongoing War, and a Potential Mental Health Crisis in Israel and the Diaspora (217) 1:18:09

1M ago1:18:09

1:18:09

This podcast is being released less than a day after the Israeli army preemptively struck thousands of Hezbollah rocket launchers in Lebanon, doing so just fifteen minutes before those launchers were supposed to fire hundreds of missiles into northern and central Israel. Thank God that as of now, Israel clearly won this exchange. We don’t know what…

1
Is Israel a Light Unto the Nations... And Should It Even Bother Trying? A Conversation with Yossi Klein Halevi (216) 55:31

2M ago55:31

55:31

The October 7th massacre, and the subsequent war against Hamas, other Iranian proxies like Hezbollah and the Houthis, and Iran itself, have caused many people throughout the Jewish world to reconsider what Israel means to them, and what kind of society Israel should create. Many continually return to the idea that Israel should be a light unto the …

1
Tisha B'Av and Bad Theology: A New View of Megillat Eicha with Rabbi Dr. Joshua Berman (CLASSIC EPISODE) 1:10:39

2M ago1:10:39

1:10:39

“What does Eichah have in common with climate change deniers, anti-vaxxers, Holocaust deniers and those that claim that the 2020 presidential elections were stolen?” Rabbi Dr. Joshua Berman sent this to Scott, who was intrigued and immediately invited him back onto this podcast to discuss what he meant. More than anything else, we need a way to rel…

1
Ikar HaDin, Chumra, and Minhag: The Phenomenon of Greater Stringency in the Orthodox World, with Rabbi Shaya Karlinsky (215) 59:37

2M ago59:37

59:37

Sometimes it’s called a move to the right. Other times it is seen as a rejection of lax religiosity. Some people think of it as an admirable commitment to serving God as best as possible. Others decry it as representing an unacceptable change from traditional Jewish practice. All these and more are reactions to the unquestionably real phenomenon of…

1
Arrests and Mob Violence at Sdei Teiman: What Happened, What It Means, and Why It Matters (BONUS EPISODE) 40:08

2M ago40:08

40:08

This is a rush-release bonus episode of the Orthodox Conundrum, to help us all get to the bottom of what happened yesterday at the military detention center at Sdei Teiman. We will learn what the nine arrested soldiers were accused of, the manner that they were arrested, and the reason for the protests of numerous right-wing members of Knesset. Wha…

1
266: Wheels of Fortune: 🚲 Team USA's Path to Tour de France Victory (Anne Hed of HED Cycling) 1:08:07

2M ago1:08:07

1:08:07

Anne Hed is a lifetime resident of Minnesota. Her history as a business owner began back in the 1980’s, when she raced as a professional triathlete. She completed eight Ironman Triathlons in Hawaii, and met her late husband, Steve, through the sport. He became one of her first sponsors... This Episode is Sponsored By: Jon Ostenson, Founder of FranB…

1
Can the Glass Ceiling Be Broken? Women's Leadership and Its Limits, with Joanne Greenaway (214) 54:39

2M ago54:39

54:39

One of the most difficult issues facing Modern or Centrist Orthodox Jews today is the question of how to increase and encourage the participation of more women in leadership roles, while also working within the halachic parameters that set limits on how extensive those leadership roles are allowed to be. When we add two thousand years of socializat…

1
When Reverence Becomes Pseudo-Idolatry: The Phenomenon of Gadol Worship, with Rav Yitzchak Shurin (213) 1:03:41

3M ago1:03:41

1:03:41

For the past two thousand years, Torah observant Jews have acknowledged that our greatest scholars deserve respect, and have an extraordinarily deep and broad understanding of the vast sea of the Torah sheba’al peh, the Oral Law. In recent times, however, proper respect for talmidei chachamim has often morphed into a pseudo-idolatry of gedolim, whe…

1
Nepotism, Greed, Power, and Politics: The Tragic Self-Inflicted Fate of the Israeli Chief Rabbinate (212) 1:04:40

3M ago1:04:40

1:04:40

68 years ago, Rav Soloveitchik zt'l identified the timidity of Orthodox Jews as representing a failure to respond to the miracle of renewed Jewish sovereignty in the Land of Israel. Today, tragically, we seem to have the opposite problem. In 2024, Israel has a religious establishment which has completely lost its sense of shame, and is not only inv…

1
"Our Faith is in the Question": Teaching Emunah to Our Children, Our Students, and Ourselves, with Rabbi David Aaron (211) 1:13:46

3M ago1:13:46

1:13:46

This podcast is dedicated לעילוי נשמת אלעזר בן ישראל, a man who accepted the vicissitudes of life with a simple and pure faith. What does it mean to believe in God? This question is absolutely fundamental to Jewish life and living - yet many people feel uncomfortable discussing God at all. In our educational institutions, we often have a broad curr…

1
"The Vast Unconscious of the Jewish People": Learning How (and Why) to Learn Midrash with Simi Peters (210) 1:09:32

3M ago1:09:32

1:09:32

When you learn Torah, do you consider yourself to be in dialogue with Chazal? According to Scott's guest, Simi Peters, a key element of learning midrash aggadah is being able to become participants in a conversation that began thousands of years ago and continues today. But in order to do so, we need to become students of midrash: learning how to a…

1
Hareidi Messaging in Modern Orthodox Institutions: Are You Aware of What Your Children Are Being Taught? With Rabbi Yitzchak Blau (209) 1:22:10

4M ago1:22:10

1:22:10

Schools which identify with the Modern Orthodox world and espouse a Centrist Orthodox hashkafa, nevertheless will sometimes hire teachers who profess a Hareidi worldview. In some ways, this is a welcome development; breaking down the barriers that separate our various communities is generally a good thing, and we should be pleased when we discern a…

1
"A Theology of Distraction": Exploring the Conundrums of Kohelet with Dr. Erica Brown (Originally released on September 26, 2023) 1:07:26

4M ago1:07:26

1:07:26

(This episode was originally released on Septetmber 26th, 2023, but its message is perhaps even more relevant now, after October 7th and its aftermath, than before. Scott will be back with a new episode next week.) Megilat Kohelet is one of the most difficult books in Tanach: it jumps back and forth between conflicting assumptions, it lacks any obv…

1
265: Building a Sparkling Soda Fireworks Store?!? | 🎉 Mark Lazarchic of Serenity Ventures 1:15:20

4M ago1:15:20

1:15:20

Mark Lazarchic is the CEO of Serenity Venture Group. He describes himself as a serial entrepreneur with eyes always open. Mark is the owner of multiple successful startup businesses in very competitive markets. Mark has spent the last 10 years being amazed at the level of mediocrity accepted by the public in business. At all levels... This Episode …

1
The Revolution in Women's Torah Learning: What We've Achieved, What Still Needs to Happen (208) 51:33

4M ago51:33

51:33

We’re approaching the holiday of Shavuot, when we celebrate and commemorate the giving of the Torah at Mount Sinai. The Rambam explains that our belief in Torah and in Moshe is predicated upon the fact that all of us were present at Sinai, where we together heard God talking to Moshe. And we have a longstanding tradition as well that God did not st…

1
Does the IDF Care Enough About the Safety of Its Soldiers? (207) 55:05

4M ago55:05

55:05

Is the Israeli army taking care of its soldiers? That’s a question with a potentially painful answer. Daniel Mael has helped donate over 13,000 helmets to IDF soldiers, along with thousands of vests and other equipment - and he argues that the army’s behavior in procuring equipment has been nothing less than scandalous. In fact, he claims, the Isra…

1
(56) Inviting Single Religious Women to the Sexuality Conversation 1:09:00

4M ago1:09:00

1:09:00

The discourse on marital intimacy and sexuality in Judaism has become a normative topic of conversation. Rabbanit Shayna Goldberg, an educator and spiritual advisor at Migdal Oz, a Midrasha of higher learning for young women in Gush Etzion, believes that conversations about desire, sex and sexuality are relevant for unmarried women as well, and not…

1
Kids Going "Off the Derech": Reasons, Reactions, and Responses, with Rabbi Y.Y. Jacobson (206) 1:21:18

5M ago1:21:18

1:21:18

Just as many young people who are not religious become Orthodox, so do many young Orthodox Jews leave Orthodox practice behind. Colloquially, this is often called being “off the derech” - that is, off “the” way of traditional Torah practice. The phenomenon of Orthodox Jews becoming less classically religious is real, and it’s important to think abo…

1
Tzniut, Integrity, and Leadership: Reframing the Concept of Tzniut, with Rabbi Moshe Simkovich (205) 1:01:33

5M ago1:01:33

1:01:33

Any discussion surrounding tzniut (loosely - and, perhaps incorrectly - translated as “modesty") is inevitably fraught with challenges and difficulty. Indeed, there are few topics in Orthodoxy that are as triggering to so many people. Rabbi Moshe Simkovich offers a traditional yet unique approach to tzniut, and he attempts to redefine the concept a…

1
Shattering a Religious Monopoly Versus Ideological Conformity: The Challenges Facing Religious Zionism Today (204) 1:05:25

5M ago1:05:25

1:05:25

In his classic work Kol Dodi Dofek, Rav Soloveitchik asserts that God’s gift of the State of Israel demands a response. God wants a dialogue where we answer his generosity by using His gifts to make Him present in the world. The major challenge for Religious Zionism, then, is to decide, as best as we can, what that response should be. Does it mean …

1
264: From Clothing Manufacturer, to Franchise Owner, to Starting the Tint World Franchise | Ex-CEO of Meineke, Charles Bonfiglio, shares his Journey 🚗… 1:21:14

5M ago1:21:14

1:21:14

Charles J. Bonfiglio is the Franchise Founder & Chief Executive Officer of Tint World. The company is a privately owned franchise chain of independent retail window tinting, mobile electronics, auto accessories and appearance centers. As the lead executive of Tint World, Charles is responsible for all functions related to the development and leader…

1
Remembering My Dad (203) 36:50

5M ago36:50

36:50

It’s the little things that hit hardest. The big moments when I expect to be emotional have generally felt unremarkable; I seem to have experienced them with relative ease. The surprises come when I’m taking a walk, talking about a silly childhood memory, or seeing an old friend. Above all, I’ve learned that my emotions are often hidden - from myse…

1
The Dangers of a Living Prophetic Judaism: Rabbi Yosef Blau Responds to Rabbi Alex Israel (BONUS EPISODE) 46:38

5M ago46:38

46:38

In episode 201, Rabbi Alex Israel, citing Rav Kook, asked whether nowadays we need to add a greater prophetic element to Judaism, alongside our continued commitment to halacha. Perhaps today we need a new infusion of prophecy - both in terms of its spiritual content, as well as through a renewed emphasis on Torah values that may sometimes be lost i…

1
How Much of the Exodus Story is Historical - and Does It Actually Matter? A Conversation with Rabbi Dr. Raphael Zarum (202) 1:01:06

6M ago1:01:06

1:01:06

Did the Exodus from Egypt happen exactly as the Torah describes? How should we contend with archeological evidence that seems to indicate that certain aspects of the Torah's narrative don't make sense? And, for that matter, how can we contend with similar questions that surround other historical Biblical narratives? Rabbi Dr. Raphael Zarum, Dean of…

1
(55) Loving Again After Loss: Dating and Remarriage After Widowhood 59:18

6M ago59:18

59:18

Losing one’s spouse is one of life’s most difficult and painful experiences. The process of grieving includes feelings of loneliness, abandonment, and isolation. While grieving the loss of a spouse, one also mourns the loss of identity as a member of an intimate partnership and acceptance of a new identity as a widow/er. Well-intentioned friends an…

1
Creating a Living Prophetic Judaism for the 21st Century, with Rabbi Alex Israel (201) 1:08:33

6M ago1:08:33

1:08:33

For over two millennia, the Jewish People has lived in a world largely defined by Jewish law, or halacha. While the Tanach is filled with what might be called prophetic Judaism - a Judaism, that is, which is dominated by those who spoke in the name of God - the Judaism that emerged during the era of the Second Temple and thereafter placed a greater…

1
Hollywood, Antisemitic Tropes, and Anti-Orthodox Messaging: A Conversation with Allison Josephs (200) 54:36

6M ago54:36

54:36

Jews control Hollywood - or so everyone seems to believe, for better and very often for worse. And it’s true that there are many Jewish people who work in the entertainment industry. But this fact is quite distinct from the question of how Jews are typically portrayed in movies and TV shows - and in that realm, there are serious problems, both rega…

1
263: Using Real Human Connections to Achieve Exceptional Success... Doug Brown of CEO Sales Strategies 1:59:52

7M ago1:59:52

1:59:52

Doug C. Brown is the CEO of CEO Sales Strategies and a Sales Revenue and Profit Growth Expert. He has led client award-winning and high-performance teams as well as pioneered profitable development programs for companies. He has advised companies such as Intuit, CBS Television, Procter & Gamble, Enterprise Rent-A-Car, Nationwide, Embassy Suites, In…

1
The Present and Future of Religious Zionism (Part Two): More on the Palestinian Future, Military Service, Culture Wars, Political Direction, and More (199) 1:20:18

7M ago1:20:18

1:20:18

Last week’s episode of the Orthodox Conundrum was supposed to be a wide-ranging conversation about the present and future of Religious Zionism, including a discussion of our relationship with the Palestinian population in Yehuda v’Shomron and Gaza. As it turns out, Scott and his guests, Daniel Goldman and Rabbi Elie Mischel, ended up spending the e…

1
The Sex Strike Controversy: An Intimate Judaism Live Conversation 41:03

7M ago41:03

41:03

The infamous “Sex Strike” was recently spearheaded by influencer Adina Miles, AKA “Flatbush Girl,” in order to apply communal pressure to men and their rabbis to free Malky Berkowitz, who has been refused a get for four years. This initiative has created a great deal of outrage in Jewish Orthodox communities, and the “responsa” on social media plat…

1
The Present and Future of Religious Zionism (Part One): Settlements, a Palestinian State, Tanach as History or as Prophecy for Today, and More (198) 1:02:21

7M ago1:02:21

1:02:21

In some recent episodes of this podcast, Scott and his guests have discussed numerous issues relevant to the Religious Zionist world, including some of the ways that Religious Zionism differs from Modern Orthodoxy. But Religious Zionism is not a monolith; there are many different paths within Religious Zionism, and the differences between these pat…

1
The Failure of Sexual Health Organizations to Condemn Sexual Violence (crossover episode with Orthodox Conundrum) 1:06:01

7M ago1:06:01

1:06:01

After October 7th, Jews around the world have felt besieged by some erstwhile allies, as some have been silent in the face of rampant antisemitism, and others have openly supported Hamas and its genocidal goals. While there have been many who openly support Jews and Israel, the war in Gaza has also provided a moment of reckoning as we discovered so…

1
"It Was Never 'Heal the World' at the Expense of Yourself": Antisemitism in AASECT - and Fighting Back - with Talli Rosenbaum, Dr. Logan Levkoff, and Dr. Shoshana Bulow (197) 1:04:25

7M ago1:04:25

1:04:25

After October 7th, Jews around the world have felt besieged by some erstwhile allies, as some have been silent in the face of rampant antisemitism, and others have openly supported Hamas and its genocidal goals. While there have been many who openly support Jews and Israel, the war in Gaza has also provided a moment of reckoning as we discovered so…

1
Overcoming the Eisav Complex: Raising Orthodox ADHD Kids, with Dr. Simcha Chesner and Dr. Sara Markowitz (196) 1:06:41

8M ago1:06:41

1:06:41

35 years ago, Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) was essentially unknown among the general public; today, it is spoken about all the time. We’ve learned that some behaviors that were once considered signs that a child didn’t care about school or achievement, or simply lacked normal self control, are actually indicators of a difference …

1
"Where Does a Jew Belong? Where Do the Jewish People Belong?" Post-October 7th Conversations About Israel, with Rabbi Yehoshua Fass (195) 1:07:29

8M ago1:07:29

1:07:29

What does Israel mean to you? For years, this was a theoretical question for many people who live in the diaspora. Given Israel's war against Hamas and its army of terror, however, the question has gained additional resonance and, in some ways, can no longer be put off; it demands an answer. With Israel under military attack, and the Jewish people …

1
(54) Sex Positive Premarital Kallah Instruction 56:29

8M ago56:29

56:29

In many Orthodox communities, premarital sex education taught by Kallah teachers is limited to ensuring wedding night “success” and encouraging strict observance of Nidah laws in order to "guarantee" sexual satisfaction. Join Rabbi Scott Kahn and Talli Rosenbaum as they interview two Kallah instructors, Dr. Hadassah Fromson and Dr. Yosefa Wruble, w…

1
262: From Single Mom Flipping Burgers to a Powerhouse in Venture Capital | Olga Maslikhova of The J Curve 1:18:39

8M ago1:18:39

1:18:39

Olga Maslikhova is the founder and host of The J Curve, the podcast about Latin America tech ecosystem builders. Olga is also a successful tech investor. She aims to share insights and stories from the region's most influential entrepreneurs, investors, and experts. She also leverages her network and knowledge as a member of a global community of w…

1
Ultra-Orthodox Integration, Military Service, and More: Understanding the Chareidi Point of View, with Rabbi Yitzchak Breitowitz (194) 1:05:42

8M ago1:05:42

1:05:42

In Episode 184, Scott spoke with Michael Eisenberg and Rabbi Yehoshua Hershberg about their conviction that the time has come for the ultra-Orthodox community in Israel - often referred to as the Chareidim - to participate more fully in Israeli society, specifically by ending what has effectively become a blanket exemption from military service, an…

1
Giving a Voice to Diaspora Jews: What Should Israelis Expect After October 7th? (193) 1:12:20

8M ago1:12:20

1:12:20

A week or two ago, on the Orthodox Conundrum Discussion Group on Facebook, Scott posted a question about the propriety of Jews living outside of Israel going on fancy vacations while the Israeli population is experiencing a world where there are kidnapped Jews trapped in Gaza, where we continue to mourn the loss of 1200 victims of October 7th plus …

1
“Sometimes I Wonder Why We Have to Be So Afraid”: Women, Gender, and Jewish Law, with Rabbanit Nechama Goldman Barash (192) 1:28:24

9M ago1:28:24

1:28:24

In episode 190, Scott and Dr. Mijal Bitton talked about the idea of creating synagogues that follow Orthodox halacha while embracing an egalitarian aesthetic. One of the ideas that they discussed was the balance between using our Torah texts to determine normative Jewish law, versus what Rabbi Dr. Haym Soloveitchik famously described in his seminal…

1
Diaspora Modern Orthodoxy and Israeli Religious Zionism: Similarities, Differences, Opportunities, and Challenges, with Shayna Goldberg (191) 1:26:35

9M ago1:26:35

1:26:35

The war in Israel, which is now well over one hundred days old, has in some ways highlighted the commonalities between all Jews across the world, no matter where they live, and in other ways demonstrated the gaps that continue to exist between an Israeli public that is dealing with the reality of war on their doorsteps, and a non-Israel Jewish worl…

1
Orthodox Halacha, Covenantal-Traditional Community, Egalitarian Aesthetic: Orthodoxy Moves Into the Future, with Dr. Mijal Bitton (190) 1:05:01

9M ago1:05:01

1:05:01

This podcast is called “The Orthodox Conundrum” and many of us self-identify as Orthodox, pray in Orthodox synagogues, affiliate with Orthodox institutions, and consider ourselves part of the wider Orthodox world. But is that term “Orthodox” - and perhaps the concept of denominations in general - a help or a hindrance? Do denominations lead to the …

Podcasts Worth a Listen

Rabbi Scott Kahn Podcasts

Podcasts Worth a Listen

Quick Reference Guide