Best Rabbi Scott Kahn Podcasts (2023)

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Orthodox Conundrum

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Crisis in Israel, Judicial Reform, and the Future of the Jewish State: Getting the Real Story, with Haviv Rettig Gur (154) 48:35

1h ago48:35

48:35

Israel is in crisis, and Israeli society is deeply torn over the government's proposed reforms to the judiciary. However, while many people talk about what the Likud-led government is trying to do, there is less information about what is actually happening and its ramifications. With the dramatic events of this past week, when Defense Minister Yoav…

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Orthodox Conundrum

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The Most Commonly Asked Questions About Hilchot Pesach, with Rav Chayim Soloveichik (153) 46:11

1h ago46:11

46:11

More than any other Jewish holiday, Pesach is associated with questions. That’s obviously true for the Seder, but it’s also true when it comes to the intense preparations that precede the chag. Jewish law regarding cleaning for Pesach is very extensive, and the misconceptions are often very prevalent. For that reason, we're proud to present a conve…

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Orthodox Conundrum

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The Anxieties of Being Orthodox... and Preventing Mental Health Crises Before They Happen, with Rabbi Dr. Eitan Eisen (152) 1:10:06

10d ago1:10:06

1:10:06

As Orthodox Jews, we usually find the experience of mitzvah observance and participation in the Orthodox community to be a source of great religious meaning, comfort, and fellowship; Torah Judaism is the way that Orthodox Jews interact with G-d, and that reality, alongside the communal and social aspects, has made Orthodoxy a source of pride and jo…

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Intimate Judaism: A Jewish Approach to Intimacy, Sexuality, and Relationships

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(49) Sexual Compatibility, Condom Use, Defining Jewish Sex, and More 56:28

3d ago56:28

56:28

In our annual Q&A episode, Talli and Scott answer many questions and discuss numerous issues dealing with Judaism and intimacy, including whether avoiding sex before marriage means a likelihood of being sexually incompatible with your spouse, how to proceed when you start off shomer negiah and then... you're not, finding porn on your husband's inte…

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Orthodox Conundrum

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"A Good Question is Better than a Not Good Answer": Finding Meaning After Staring Into the Abyss, with Ephraim Rimel (151) 43:43

7d ago43:43

43:43

Nietzsche said, “When you look long into an abyss, the abyss also looks into you.” Today's episode deals with a horrible situation where someone retained his sense of meaning, faith, and belief despite staring into the abyss. Ephraim Rimel experienced just about the worst thing that a person could experience, and somehow moved forward with his beli…

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Orthodox Conundrum

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Alcohol Abuse and the Orthodox Community: Do We Have a Problem? (Originally released in February, 2020) 32:07

5d ago32:07

32:07

In preparation for Purim, the Orthodox Conundrum is rereleasing an episode from 2020 with Dr. Zev Ganz, dealing with teenagers and alcohol abuse. Purim is, if not the most joyous holiday on the Jewish calendar, then certainly the most "fun." And therein lies the problem: are we teaching our children and students that having fun requires alcohol? Is…

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Orthodox Conundrum

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The Meaning of Amalek for Orthodox Jews Today, with Rabbi Aryeh Klapper (Originally released in March, 2022) 28:21

21d ago28:21

28:21

In preparation for Parashat Zachor, the Orthodox Conundrum is rereleasing an episode from last year with Rabbi Aryeh Klapper, dealing with questions surrounding Amalek. How should Orthodox Jews relate to the mitzvah of wiping out Amalek - a Torah law that might seem immoral? What are we remembering when we think of Amalek, and is there a message wi…

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Orthodox Conundrum

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OTD, Datlash, and the Religious Spectrum: When Orthodox Jews Leave Orthodoxy, with Rabbi Alex Israel (150) 1:21:02

11d ago1:21:02

1:21:02

There’s a phenomenon in the Orthodox world which is called by various names, though most commonly “Off the Derech” or OTD, and “Datlash,” short for “Dati Leshe’avar” - that is, formerly religious. For a community which prides itself on continuity and on passing the tradition from one generation to the next, the idea that people leave Orthodoxy is s…

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Intimate Judaism: A Jewish Approach to Intimacy, Sexuality, and Relationships

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(48) Is There a Modern Orthodox Shidduch Crisis? 50:06

28d ago50:06

50:06

The shidduch crisis refers to the phenomenon in the Orthodox Jewish community whereby eligible single persons, especially women, have difficulty finding a suitable spouse. While there are definite differences between the way dating for marriage is approached and conducted in the Hasidic, Yeshivish and Modern Orthodox worlds, there are also some sim…

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Orthodox Conundrum

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"Keep It, Reformulate It, or Discard It": Losing and Regaining Faith, with Rabbi Pesach Sommer (149) 58:09

1M ago58:09

58:09

By Scott Kahn

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Orthodox Conundrum

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A Vision of Separating Halacha & State, not Religion & State: A Conversation with Rabbi Aaron Leibowitz (148) 57:41

1M ago57:41

57:41

In our previous episode, Scott talked with Shoshanna Keats-Jaskoll about the challenge to faith that takes place when some rabbis betray their calling by not acting as they should. When leaders fail us, they leave wreckage in their wake - the wreckage of failed expectations, of disappointment, of crisis, and of course the practical issues like, as …

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Orthodox Conundrum

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Disappointment, Disillusionment, and Dejection: When Rabbis Let Us Down, with Shoshanna Keats-Jaskoll (147) 1:10:27

2M ago1:10:27

1:10:27

One of the saddest and most poignant emotions is disappointment - that is, when your illusions are shattered, when you anticipated something great, or magical, and it doesn’t happen. Disappointment often means that a piece of innocence is irretrievably lost. What do we do when people we believe in, people we look up to as paragons of virtue, disapp…

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Orthodox Conundrum

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Rav Moshe Kahn ZT"L and the Future of Women's Torah Study (146) 1:17:47

1M ago1:17:47

1:17:47

On January 18th, Rabbi Moshe Kahn passed away at the age of 71. The tributes to him as an ideal teacher, talmid chacham, and rebbe immediately started pouring in across social media. As one of today’s guests asserted, if a woman wanted to engage in serious Talmud study in New York for the past four decades, Rav Kahn was the address. The obvious lov…

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Orthodox Conundrum

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The Challenges of Teaching Tzniut & the Challenges of Being Tzanua, with Shayna Goldberg (145) 1:36:10

2M ago1:36:10

1:36:10

Tzniut, or modesty, is one of the most controversial issues in the Orthodox world today. Indeed, different people see the issue of modesty through different lenses. Some wonder about how to teach students and children about tzniut so that they’ll be more inclined to follow the halachot and established Orthodox customs; others ask questions from the…

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Orthodox Conundrum

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LGBTQ+, Jewish Law, and Compassion, with Rav Yoni Rosensweig (144) 55:27

2M ago55:27

55:27

One of the most difficult issues confronting the Orthodox world today is the question of how to welcome people who identify as LGBTQ+, while simultaneously affirming the Biblical injunction that forbids sex between two men, and the Rabbinic prohibition that forbids sex between two women. This initial question opens up a host of additional challenge…

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Intimate Judaism: A Jewish Approach to Intimacy, Sexuality, and Relationships

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(47) Unmarried and Dating in Midlife: Navigating Intimacy and Sexuality 47:08

2M ago47:08

47:08

Whether divorced, widowed or never married, seeking a new relationship is complex. While each individual has his or her own unique experiences and perspectives, being unpartnered in midlife usually represents mourning for having loved and lost, or not yet having experienced the joy of partnered intimacy. Added to this for Orthodox Jews, are conflic…

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Orthodox Conundrum

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Jewish-Muslim Dialogue: Serious Challenges and Unique Opportunities, With Rabbi Dr. Yakov Nagen (143) 55:54

3M ago55:54

55:54

Just over a month ago, the Orthodox Conundrum released an episode of this podcast entitled, Confrontation 2022: Jewish-Christian Dialogue and Its Questions, with Rabbi Pesach Wolicki. Pesach discussed why he believes that his work has value, what kind of pushback he’s received, whether he’s providing an opening for missionary activity, how he justi…

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Orthodox Conundrum

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Does Modern Orthodoxy's Attitude Toward LGBTQ+ Represent A Moral Failure? Responding to Ben Shapiro (142) 55:23

2M ago55:23

55:23

On December 12th, well-known political commentator Ben Shapiro published an article in the Jewish Press entitled "Modern Orthodoxy’s Moral Failure." Its opening paragraph reads, “Modern Orthodoxy is in a state of crisis. It is in a state of crisis because its leadership has, in large measure, abandoned its central principles in favor of political e…

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Orthodox Conundrum

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Different Roles, Different Relationships, & Different Skills: Rabbinic Counseling and Psychotherapy with Rabbi Larry Rothwachs (141) 1:00:27

3M ago1:00:27

1:00:27

This podcast has frequently alluded to the problems that arise when rabbis mistakenly don’t stay in their own lane, and end up advising people in areas that require more than the pastoral counseling they might have learned when studying for semicha. Indeed, there is reason to be concerned about the intersection between rabbinic counseling and psych…

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Orthodox Conundrum

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The REAL History of Chanukah... And Why It Matters Today, with Dr. Malka Simkovich (140) 1:03:59

3M ago1:03:59

1:03:59

Something about Chanukah speaks to almost all of us... which highlights the fact that the message of Chanukah retains enough ambiguity that different groups can understand it in different and even contradictory ways. This ambiguity goes back to the very earliest days of the holiday’s celebration while the Second Temple still stood; it’s reflected i…

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Intimate Judaism: A Jewish Approach to Intimacy, Sexuality, and Relationships

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(46) Want, Will, Should or Must: Is the Sex You Are Having Really Consensual? 53:03

3M ago53:03

53:03

Numerous sources in our tradition demonstrate that sex in marriage must be mutual and consensual, and at no time can sex be forced or coerced. However, If a woman has been taught that she must do what her husband wants and she is responsible for protecting him from sin, she will fear the consequences of saying no. In this episode, Talli Rosenbaum a…

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Orthodox Conundrum

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Rabbi Jonathan Sacks ZT"L (Part 2): His Thought and Philosophy (139) 1:08:58

3M ago1:08:58

1:08:58

On November 14th, the Orthodox Conundrum released a panel discussion dealing with Rav Jonathan Sacks zt’l’s life, leadership, and legacy. Today we offer a sequel to that episode, as Scott speaks with Dr. Tanya White and Rabbi Dr. Samuel Lebens about the thought and philosophy of Rabbi Sacks. They address many important issues, including Rabbi Sacks…

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Orthodox Conundrum

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Confrontation 2022: Jewish-Christian Dialogue and Its Questions, with Rabbi Pesach Wolicki (138) 1:28:13

3M ago1:28:13

1:28:13

Scott and his close friend Rabbi Pesach Wolicki founded a yeshiva, Yesodei HaTorah, over 18 years ago. Yesodei HaTorah was dedicated to skill building in reading Jewish texts, and helping each student develop an independent Torah philosophy. And in 2015, the yeshiva closed down when it didn’t recruit enough students to keep it going. At that point,…

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Orthodox Conundrum

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The Chaim Walder Case, One Year Later: What Has Changed... and What Hasn't, with Shana Aaronson (137) 1:09:19

4M ago1:09:19

1:09:19

On November 12, 2021, Haaretz first reported that several women alleged that popular author Chaim Walder had sexually assaulted them for years, in some cases starting when they were children. Soon after, many more people came forward with similar accusations. And on December 27, 2021 Walder was found dead from a self-inflicted gunshot wound, lying …

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Orthodox Conundrum

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Is the Orthodox World Moving Away From Kindness? A Conversation with Rabbi Todd Berman (136) 57:54

4M ago57:54

57:54

Torah Judaism offers a vision that is kind, loving, just, and G-d-centric. Some Orthodox Jews, however, feel that the community has begun to lose its way, as too many people emphasize peripheral elements at the expense of the Torah's core values. Rabbi Todd Berman wrote about this in a well received Times of Israel blog post entitled, Choosing a Ki…

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Orthodox Conundrum

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Rabbi Jonathan Sacks ZT"L Panel Discussion (Part 1): His Life, Leadership, and Legacy (135) 1:22:44

4M ago1:22:44

1:22:44

Today, the 20th of Cheshvan, is the second yahrzeit of Lord Chief Rabbi Jonathan Sacks zt"l. His impact was enormous; in so many ways, his life represented a sanctification of the Divine name. While many of us are familiar with his important writings and divrei Torah, fewer know about who he was as an individual. To that end, Scott was honored to h…

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Intimate Judaism: A Jewish Approach to Intimacy, Sexuality, and Relationships

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(45) Navigating Relational and Sexual Intimacy During Pregnancy, Childbirth and the Postpartum Period 50:11

4M ago50:11

50:11

Pregnancy and childbirth are profound events in the life of a couple. The physical, psychological and hormonal changes that occur to women during pregnancy and in the postpartum period can impact both partners and affect emotional and sexual intimacy. Couples must learn to adjust to a changed family system and a new identity as parents. Observant J…

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Orthodox Conundrum

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The Future of Religious Zionism... Or A Dangerous Distortion? A Conversation Over Coffee About the Past and Future of Religious Zionism (134) 1:08:07

4M ago1:08:07

1:08:07

The Religious Zionist Party in Israel, headed by Betzalel Smotrich, has been vilified as mainstreaming racist, misogynistic, and homophobic attitudes. Yet last week, that party - or, more appropriately, the three parties that ran together under the Religious Zionist banner - won 14 seats in the Knesset. That means that the Religious Zionist Party r…

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Orthodox Conundrum

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Building a Non-Orthodox Orthodoxy: Discovering Rav Shagar zt'l with Rabbis Zachary Truboff and Yehoshua Engelman (133) 1:35:36

4M ago1:35:36

1:35:36

Increasingly, members of the Religious Zionist community in Israel have discovered the thinking and writings of Rabbi Shimon Gershon Rosenberg, better known by his initials, Rav Shagar. The more they read the many books that have been released after his early passing in 2007 at the age of 57, the more they are challenged, excited, and inspired by…

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Orthodox Conundrum

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The New World of Social Media, and What It Means for Orthodox Jews, with Dina Rabhan (132) 1:26:14

5M ago1:26:14

1:26:14

“The medium is the message” said philosopher Marshall McLuhan, and the idea that the way we receive information is likely more important and influential than the information itself, is now truer than ever. Because of social media, our world has changed far more than we realize. For Orthodox Jews, who have lived behind literal and symbolic walls for…

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Orthodox Conundrum

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Jewish-Catholic Dialogue: Potential Rewards and Possible Dangers, with Dr. Malka Z. Simkovich (131) 1:02:02

5M ago1:02:02

1:02:02

On October 28th, 1965, as part of the Second Vatican Council, Pope Paul VI promulgated Nostra Aetate, the Declaration on the Relation of the Church with Non-Christian Religions. That event cleared the way for a potentially better relationship between Roman Catholics and Jews. Crucially, the Catholic Church also has officially rejected attempts at c…

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Intimate Judaism: A Jewish Approach to Intimacy, Sexuality, and Relationships

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(44) Infertility and Relationships 46:14

5M ago46:14

46:14

Infertility and pregnancy loss affects relationships: with self, God, partner, family, friends and community. In part 2 of this two part series, Rabbi Scott Kahn and Talli Rosenbaum discuss the general implications of infertility and pregnancy loss on these relationships and on marital intimacy and sexuality. Listen to Talli and Rabbi Scott discuss…

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Orthodox Conundrum

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The Thirteen Attributes of Mercy (Bonus Episode) 20:51

5M ago20:51

20:51

During the Selichot that we have been reciting for the past two weeks, we repeat G-d’s Thirteen Attributes of Mercy over and over again. Many shuls have the minhag to say them three times when we open the Aron before the Torah reading on Rosh Hashanah morning, and in some synagogues they’re recited every time we open the ark during the ten days of …

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Orthodox Conundrum

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The Discipline of Consciousness: Rabbi Aryeh Kaplan, Meditation, and Experiencing G-d (Orthodox Conundrum Special) 1:36:55

6M ago1:36:55

1:36:55

As we enter the period of the Yamim Nora’im followed by Sukkot, we are embarking on what might be the most intense spiritual season of the Jewish calendar. Some people find the davening on Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur deeply meaningful; others find it interminably long and drawn out. One method that gives some people spiritual meaning - both in the…

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Orthodox Conundrum

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Remembering Havi Lev (130) 48:03

6M ago48:03

48:03

Today’s episode isn’t about Rosh Hashanah in an overt way; but Myra Sack’s story represents one of the most powerful Rosh Hashanah stories imaginable. Myra and her husband Matt had a beautiful little girl named Havi Lev; and, in her words, We lost our first-born daughter, Havi Lev Goldstein, on January 20th, 2021, at 9:04am. She died peacefully in …

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Intimate Judaism: A Jewish Approach to Intimacy, Sexuality, and Relationships

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(43) Infertility and Pregnancy Loss (Part One): A Conversation with Dr. Aimee Baron 41:12

6M ago41:12

41:12

The liturgy we recite on Rosh Hashana includes references to fertility and childbirth. God remembers Sarah, Rachel and Chana by answerIng their prayers for a child. The poem “Hayom harat olam,” the ‘birth day’ of the world, evokes images of pregnancy. For individuals and couples struggling with infertility or pregnancy loss, this can be triggering,…

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Orthodox Conundrum

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Neo-Chassidut and Experiencing G-d: A Conversation with Rabbi Dr. Shlomo Zuckier (129) 53:07

6M ago53:07

53:07

There is a tremendous amount of Torah learning taking place today, and Orthodox Jews should be excited that such study occupies a central place in so many Jewish lives. Daf Yomi has encouraged and inspired people who never before considered learning Talmud to try to learn all of Shas over 7 and a half years. Alongside classes in Talmud, there are s…

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Orthodox Conundrum

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Does Belief in Torah Judaism Require a Leap of Faith? (128) 1:19:24

7M ago1:19:24

1:19:24

Is belief in Judaism self-evident? Are our principles of faith wholly rational and perhaps even obvious to any thinking person? Or is faith in G-d and Torah more complicated and suffused with questions than many would like to assume? Do we have faith? Do we possess authentic trust in G-d? Deep down, what do we really think about the tenets of Torah…

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Orthodox Conundrum

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Rediscovering Passionate Judaism - for Orthodox and non-Orthodox Jews - with Rabbi Mark Wildes (127) 1:04:36

7M ago1:04:36

1:04:36

This episode is, in some ways, two distinct podcasts in one: one about outreach, and one about some major spiritual challenges that exist in the Modern Orthodox world. Many in the Centrist or Modern Orthodox world are uncomfortable with kiruv and outreach; it’s often associated with acting with condescension towards people who are not Orthodox, obj…

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Orthodox Conundrum

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18 Years and Still Waiting for a Get... and Doing Something About it: Lonna Ralbag's Story (126) 1:06:57

7M ago1:06:57

1:06:57

Lonna Ralbag has been demanding a get from Meir Kin for 18 years and still hasn’t received it. According to Jewish law, this means that she cannot remarry, and is effectively trapped as a type of aguna - a chained woman. Meanwhile, her estranged husband, despite public pressure, seems to revel in having become the king of the get-refusers. He has a…

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Orthodox Conundrum

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Preventing Sexual Abuse in Schools, and Addressing Accusations Properly and Effectively (125) 58:33

7M ago58:33

58:33

We all know that there have been numerous high profile scandals involving sexual abuse on the part of teachers and authority figures in the Orthodox world. We also know that as light is shed on these cases, public awareness grows, and the likelihood of coverups is hopefully lessened. At the same time, we need to explore how to put protocols in plac…

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Orthodox Conundrum

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More Issues in Jewish Education - with Out-Of-The-Box Solutions (124) 1:02:52

8M ago1:02:52

1:02:52

Six weeks ago, the Orthodox Conundrum released a panel discussion with Rabbi Moshe Simkovich, Mrs. Rachel Schwartzberg, Mrs. Olivia Friedman, and Rabbi Pesach Sommer entitled The Crisis of Orthodox Teacher Retention. That episode received a fair bit of comment, and at the same time raised as many questions as it solved. For that reason, it was clea…

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Orthodox Conundrum

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The Kinot of Tisha B'Av: Explanations and Commentary (Bonus Episode Rerelease) 1:45:03

8M ago1:45:03

1:45:03

Join Scott Kahn in this rereleased bonus episode for commentaries on 25 of the 40 kinot (lamentations) that Jews recite on the morning of Tisha B'Av. (The time signatures for each commentary are listed below.) Along with all of the Jewish people, we pray that this be the final Tisha B’Av on which we mourn. May the upcoming year be one of gladness, …

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Orthodox Conundrum

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Women At The Wall. Not Of. Not For. Just At. (123) 54:14

8M ago54:14

54:14

This is not an episode about Women of the Wall. It is not an episode about Women for the Wall. It is not an episode about the egalitarian space at Robinson’s Arch. Instead, this is an episode about fairness and respect and dignity - issues that should concern everyone who cares about Judaism, regardless of how you feel about non-Orthodox prayer at …

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Orthodox Conundrum

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Ending the Stigma Surrounding Anorexia: A Conversation with Judy Krasna (122) 1:01:39

8M ago1:01:39

1:01:39

Today’s episode deals with the very difficult topic of eating disorders from the perspective of a parent, as Judy Krasna tells the personal story of her child’s battle with anorexia nervosa. Some may wonder how this topic is relevant to a podcast that deals with issues within Orthodoxy. While Scott and Judy also discuss specifically Orthodox manife…

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Orthodox Conundrum

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Egalitarian Prayer at the Kotel: How Should Orthodox Jews Respond? (121) 56:52

8M ago56:52

56:52

About two weeks ago, two bar mitzvahs and a bat mitzvah took place at the Robinson’s Arch section of the Kotel, which has been designated for egalitarian prayer services. Very sadly, a relatively large number of religious zealots attempted to interrupt and disrupt them in various ways, causing a massive Chilul HaShem and doing nothing productive ot…

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Orthodox Conundrum

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Reimagining the Shul for the 21st Century: Rabbi Benjamin Goldschmidt and the Altneu Synagogue (120) 52:31

9M ago52:31

52:31

In this episode - a quasi-sequel to Episode 117 - Scott speaks with Rabbi Benjamin Goldschmidt of the Altneu Shul in Manhattan. Rabbi Goldschmidt spent ten years at the Park East Synagogue after which, in a story that was widely reported in the press, the senior rabbi there effectively pushed him out. From his experiences since that event, Rabbi Go…

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Orthodox Conundrum

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Abortion Not in the Abstract: Orthodox Women Share Their Stories (119) 1:43:30

9M ago1:43:30

1:43:30

The overturning of Roe v. Wade, which takes away the Constitutional protection of abortion rights, means that every state will decide for itself whether abortion should be permitted - and, where prohibited, what exceptions to the law will be honored. In principle, it also means that a nationwide ban on abortion, legislated by Congress, is theoretic…

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Orthodox Conundrum

1
The Crisis of Orthodox Teacher Retention: A Panel Discussion (118) 1:14:00

9M ago1:14:00

1:14:00

In the most recent issue of Jewish Action, Rachel Schwartzberg wrote an important article entitled, "The Great Teacher Shortage." She outlined the fundamental problem of day school teachers leaving the profession, without an equal influx of new teachers starting out. She explained some of the reasons why this problem has become acute, and some of t…

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Orthodox Conundrum

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The Most Respected Man in Shul (Whom Everyone Disrespects): Challenges of a Rabbi (117) 40:34

9M ago40:34

40:34

The position of rabbi is perhaps the most important and central role in Jewish communal life… and no one gets as much grief from the people around him, either. The rabbi is honored and respected, unless he’s completely disrespected and disliked. It's not easy being completely honest and forthright to the people who pay your salary. Beyond the probl…

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