Best Judaism Unbound Podcasts (2024)

1
Episode 445: Intermarried Rabbis No Longer Banned - Dan, Miriam, and Lex 58:07

4h ago58:07

58:07

On June 20th, 2024, Hebrew Union College - Jewish Institute of Religion eliminated its ban on interfaith relationships for rabbinical students. This landmark decision comes on the heels of decades of many years of organizing and advocacy, and Judaism Unbound is thrilled to celebrate it! In this episode, Dan, Miriam, and Lex speak about what this sh…

1
Bonus Episode: Lilith - The Dybbukast: Season 4, Episode 7 39:27

13h ago39:27

39:27

This bonus episode of Judaism Unbound is presented in partnership with Theatre Dybbuk. We are proud to feature their fourth season's fourth episode as a bonus episode here on Judaism Unbound's feed. In each episode, they bring poems, plays, and other creative texts from throughout history to life, all while revealing their relationships to issues s…

1
Episode 444: Tales of the Unbound III - We go HAM 46:29

6d ago46:29

46:29

This week, we’re bringing you an episode of our newest podcast, Tales of the Unbound! In its inaugural season Tales of the Unbound follows the Jewish journey of two incarcerated individuals, their chaplain, and the community they co-created in the most unlikely of places. Tales of the Unbound: Episode 3 — We go HAM follows Josh’s spiritual journey …

1
Episode 443: Maimonides -- Judaism for the Perplexed - Lenn Goodman 46:09

4d ago46:09

46:09

Perplexed? About Judaism, and God, and life generally? Us too. Maimonides (also known as Rambam) wrote a book specifically for us called The Guide to the Perplexed, a bit more than 800 years ago, and it still has much to teach us today! Lenn E. Goodman, co-author of The Guide to the Perplexed: A New Translation (with Phillip I. Lieberman) joins Dan…

1
Episode 442: Pushcart Judaica - Ollie Schwartz 56:14

11d ago56:14

56:14

Ollie Schwartz is the founder of Pushcart Judaica, which offers accessible Jewish ritual objects, books, zines, and art that reflect liberatory values, handcrafted beauty, and queer brilliance. Schwartz joins Dan and Lex for a conversation about the power of Jewish objects, reflections on why “people of the pushcart” might be as good a moniker as “…

1
David Biale Z"L: A Re-Release of Episode 411 - Jewish Counter-History 50:38

25d ago50:38

50:38

Just a few days ago, one of the leading luminaries of Jewish Studies scholarship, David Biale, died at the age of 75. He was a 3-time winner of the National Jewish Book Award, and a committed scholar-activist who devoted his life not only to intellectual pursuits – but also to justice. His work had a profound influence on the ways we understand Jud…

1
Episode 441: Judaism is People! - Dan and Lex 46:34

21d ago46:34

46:34

Dan and Lex conclude their series of episodes on disability and Judaism. They discuss the wisdom from these episodes, including strategies for imagining accessible Jewish futures, how to navigate a tradition that contains both harm and insight, and how we make choices about editorializing our tradition in order to speak to who Jews are in the prese…

1
Episode 440: Tales of the Unbound 2 - Yes Way! 40:57

25d ago40:57

40:57

Tales of the Unbound is a new addition to the Judaism Unbound family of podcasts! Its first season follows the stories of Ari and Josh, two men pursuing Jewish conversion while incarcerated. Despite facing obstacles and judgments, they find belonging and community within Judaism. “Tales of the Unbound: Episode 2 – “Yes Way” explores the role of pri…

1
Episode 7: Happily Ever After? 27:00

1M ago27:00

27:00

[1] We reference a definition of chevrutah as listed in Berakhot 63b:12, “Make many groups and study Torah, For the Torah is only acquired through study in a group.” You can find the full text here. [2] Malcolm Gladwell socialized the Tipping Point theory in his book “The Tipping Point”. [3] We sing “Veshamru,” a Jewish liturgical prayer that celeb…

1
Episode 439: Interfaith Weddings - Ari Saks 1:05:28

1M ago1:05:28

1:05:28

Ari Saks recently completed an 11-year career as a full-time pulpit rabbi, and is currently focused on reaching out to interfaith families, primarily through his podcast called Interfaithing. He joins Dan and Lex for a conversation about co-officiating interfaith weddings, how he thinks about presiding over meaningful marriage rituals, and the impo…

1
Episode 6: You Do Not Have To Do This Alone 27:08

1M ago27:08

27:08

[1] “There are no words” is a poem Miriam wrote on January 6, 2021. [2] “You are Not Alone” by Ric Hordinski; you can watch this gorgeous rendition here. [3] Psalm 23, we used the same translation here as we did in Ari’s episode, which is the poetic and non-gendered translation by Rabbi Richard Levy. But, Miriam was reading from the JPS translation…

1
Episode 438: Certifiably Unbound - Rena Yehuda Newman 48:38

2M ago48:38

48:38

Rena Yehuda Newman (They/Them) is a Jewish, transgender writer, educator, independent publisher, and illustrator living and working in Brooklyn, NY. Rena Yehuda is also the new Director of the UnYeshiva Certificate Program. They join Lex on the podcast for a conversation about the UnYeshiva Certificate Program and how creative, collaborative learni…

1
Episode 5: Open the Gates! 37:35

2M ago37:35

37:35

Love the opening song? Check out Pitchu Li by Jacob Spike Kraus. [1] Miriam talks about what a Mikvah looks like in traditional communal spaces. If you haven’t yet checked out Mayyim Hayyim, we’re so excited for you to discover it. There’s a video-guided tour with details on how to prepare and where to find local places to immerse near you. You mig…

1
Episode 437: Amen - Sharon Brous 1:01:08

2M ago1:01:08

1:01:08

Sharon Brous is the senior and founding rabbi of IKAR. Her book, The Amen Effect: Ancient Wisdom to Heal Our Hearts and Mend Our Broken World, is a national bestseller, and her 2016 TED talk, “Reclaiming Religion,” has been viewed by more than 1.5 million people. Brous was named #1 on the Newsweek/The Daily Beast list of most influential Rabbis in …

1
Episode 4: Do Good Time 31:42

2M ago31:42

31:42

In "Tales of the Unbound: Season 1, Episode 4: Do Good Time," the podcast explores the concept of "Good Time" within the context of Jewish conversion in a prison setting. Ari, the central figure in this episode, reflects on his journey from initial moral failings to embracing opportunities for self-improvement through education, religion and commun…

1
Episode 436: My Body's Keeper - Sharoni Sibony 54:37

2M ago54:37

54:37

Sharoni Sibony is a multi-talented Jewish educator, and the artist behind an exhibition entitled My Body’s Keeper: Provocations and Possibilities. Sibony joins Dan and Lex for a conversation about Jewish ritual technologies, art, disability Torah, and more. This episode is the 7th in an ongoing series of Judaism Unbound episodes exploring Disabilit…

1
Episode 3: We Go HAM 44:59

2M ago44:59

44:59

Tales of the Unbound: Episode 3- “We Go HAM” follows Josh’s spiritual journey of claiming Jewish identity, finding healing through reconciliation, and what it means to lead from a place of faith. His joy in the face of adversity is captivating as he carries his own stories and the stories of others as part of his personal evolution. This episode wi…

1
Episode 435: Tales of the Unbound 1 - Jewish Enough 29:45

2M ago29:45

29:45

Tales of the Unbound is a new addition to the Judaism Unbound family of podcasts! This new series follows the spiritual journeys of folks who leave one way of being for another, claiming agency as they embrace revolutionary Jewish innovation. They build circles of belonging and imagine new ways to engage with their emergent communities. With every …

1
Episode 2: Yes Way! 39:22

2M ago39:22

39:22

Tales of the Unbound: Episode 2 – Yes Way! explores the role of prison chaplaincy in cultivating a sense of belonging and Jewish connection among incarcerated people. This episode specifically follows Amy, the Jewish sponsor and chaplain at Monroe Correctional. We talk about what it felt like to first enter the space, how she cultivated a thoughtfu…

1
Episode 434: Shavuot 2024 - Dan, Miriam, and Lex 48:34

3M ago48:34

48:34

It’s almost time… for Shavuot! Dan, Lex, and Miriam come together for a conversation about what Shavuot will look like this year at Judaism Unbound. They explore the connections between Shavuot and conversion, renewing our commitment to Judaism through ritual, and how we can meaningfully experience Shavuot in new and ancient ways. Click HERE to reg…

1
Episode 1: Jewish Enough 27:38

3M ago27:38

27:38

Episode 1 - "Jewish Enough" follows the stories of Ari and Josh, two men pursuing Jewish conversion while incarcerated. Despite facing obstacles and judgments, they find belonging and community within Judaism. The episode explores themes of identity, conversion, and belonging, shedding light on the challenges and joys of practicing Judaism behind b…

1
Episode 433: Judaism is About Love - Shai Held 1:01:14

3M ago1:01:14

1:01:14

Shai Held, one of the most influential Jewish thinkers and leaders in America, is president and dean of the Hadar Institute in New York City. Held received the prestigious Covenant Award for excellence in Jewish education, and has been named multiple times to Newsweek’s list of the most influential rabbis in America and to the Forward's list of the…

1
Episode 432: Radical Spiritual Care - Elliot Kukla 49:04

3M ago49:04

49:04

Elliot Kukla (he/they) is a rabbi, author, and activist. Elliot has worked at the intersection of justice and spiritual care to those who are ill, dying and bereaved since 2007. They are currently on the faculty of SVARA, where they also direct the Collective Loss Adaptation Project (CLAP). Elliot joins Lex Rofeberg and Dan Libenson for a conversat…

1
Bonus Episode: The Dybbukast, Season 4 Episode 4 - At Newport 33:27

3M ago33:27

33:27

This bonus episode of Judaism Unbound is presented in partnership with Theatre Dybbuk. We are proud to feature their fourth season's fourth episode as a bonus episode here on Judaism Unbound's feed. In each episode, they bring poems, plays, and other creative texts from throughout history to life, all while revealing their relationships to issues s…

1
Episode 431: Disability Justice Torah Circle 51:42

3M ago51:42

51:42

Jess Belasco is the founder and director of The Disability Justice Torah Circle, a space in which Jews with disabilities can build community around Torah, engage Jewish text through a disability justice lens, and nurture and amplify their voices to impact the broader Jewish community. They join Lex Rofeberg and Dan Libenson for a conversation about…

1
Episode 430: Zines are Torah - Chava Shapiro 57:51

3M ago57:51

57:51

Chava Shapiro is the founder of the Jewish Zine Archive, an archival collection of Jewish zines and a digital Jewish cultural space. They join Lex Rofeberg and Dan Libenson for a conversation related to their upcoming UnYeshiva mini-course, Unraveling Jewish Zines: From Rashi to the Haggadah to Instagram, which will explore the intersection of Jewi…

1
Trailer 5:07

4M ago5:07

5:07

In its inaugural season, Tales of the Unbound follows the Jewish journey of two incarcerated individuals, their chaplain, and the community they co-created in the most unlikely of places. It happens to be within a prison context and about Jewish conversion. Yet, it is also a case study for all of us, regardless of where we are in our lives, about h…

1
Episode 429: The Jewish Calendar - Dalia Marx 53:04

4M ago53:04

53:04

Dalia Marx, an author, teacher, and activist who promotes liberal Judaism in Israel, is the Rabbi Aaron D. Panken Professor of Liturgy and Midrash at Hebrew Union College in Jerusalem. Her book, From Time to Time: Journeys in the Jewish Calendar, uses a progressive approach to explore each Hebrew month and its holidays alongside art and literature.…

1
Episode 428: Reading with Our Hands and Ears - Livia Thompson 51:10

4M ago51:10

51:10

Livia Thompson serves as the Executive Director of JBI (formerly Jewish Braille Institute): an organization enabling access to Jewish life through audio, braille, and large-print texts. She joins Dan and Lex for a conversation about JBI and its powerful work. This episode is the 4th in an ongoing series of Judaism Unbound episodes exploring Disabil…

Podcasts Worth a Listen

Judaism Unbound Podcasts

Podcasts Worth a Listen

Quick Reference Guide