The Wildescast

Rabbi Mark Wildes and his wife Jill co-founded Manhattan Jewish Experience, or MJE, more than 20 years ago. What started as a beginner’s Hebrew class with 18 attendees has blossomed into an organization that today draws in over 20,000 annual attendees to classes, events, Shabbos meals, and more. Rabbi Wildes was a lawyer and pulpit rabbi before ultimately finding his true purpose as an outreach rabbi. This is his story. Saturday to Shabbos is a Tachlis Media podcast. Learn more at tachlismedia.com

Mark Wildes was well on his way to joining his father, a renowned immigration attorney, when he found his life's calling: reaching out to unaffiliated young professional Jews in Manhattan, and innovating for decades in the outreach space. Unique as a proudly Modern Orthodox practitioner, Rabbi Wildes offers a different perspective, which we discuss and evaluate in this episode. We also speak about his new "40-day challenge" - the subject of his latest book - and his other writings, along with his rich family history and dreams for the future of outreach. Jews You Should Know introduces the broader community to interesting and inspiring Jewish men and women making a difference in our world. Some are already famous, some not yet so. But each is a Jew You Should Know. The host, Rabbi Ari Koretzky, is Executive Director of MEOR Maryland (www.meormd.org), a premier Jewish outreach and educational organization. MEOR operates nationally on twenty campuses and in Manhattan; visit the national website at www.meor.org. Please visit www.JewsYouShouldKnow.com, follow us on Twitter @JewsUShouldKnow or on Facebook. Have feedback for the show, or suggestions for future guests? E-mail us at JewsYouShouldKnow@gmail.com. Want to support this podcast? Visit Patreon.com/JewsYouShouldKnow. A small monthly contribution goes a long way!! A special thank you to Jacob Rupp of the Lift Your Legacy podcast for his invaluable production assistance.

Rabbi Wildes had the amazing opportunity to be interviewed on Two Chassids in a Pod which is a popular podcast hosted by two fascinating young men who grew up in the West and have moved to the holy city of Tzfat to spread the light of Torah and the Jewish Tradition. We went deep into the intricacies of Zionism, university campuses in the US, Jewish Outreach, the 40 Day Challenge, and more. You can follow the Two Chassids in a Pod podcast on IG @TwoChassidsinaPod

Gedale Fenster is one of the most sought-after speakers in the Jewish world, selling out venues of over 5000 people and with over tens of thousands of daily listeners to his motivational Torah-based podcasts. Gedale joins Rabbi Wildes for an exhilarating conversation about life's ups and downs and how the downs are merely a stepping stone to advance to heights previously unimaginable in every facet of life. More topics in timestamps below. Timestamps: 00:00:00 - Introducing Gedale Fenster 00:02:10 - Root Cause of Anxiety 00:08:00 - A Practical Belief in God 00:12:00 - Growth Through Pain 00:15:00 - Ideal Path to Teshuva 00:19:00 - Finding Your Soulmate 00:32:00 - Rabbi Nachman 00:40:00 - Torah vs. Logic 00:44:00 - Happiness Follow Gedale @Gedale Fenster on Youtube, Instagram, Spotify, and Gedale.com Subscribe to the Wildescast for more immersive and inspirational conversations. https://link.chtbl.com/wildes

This is a rebroadcast of Rabbi Wildes' appearance on "The Orthodox Conundrum" with Rabbi Scott Kahn; an amazing podcast from Jewish Coffee House which takes an honest look at the major issues affecting the Orthodox world, without exaggeration, whitewashing, or pretending that they don’t exist. 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, objectifying people who are not Orthodox, and not acting forthrightly towards people who are not Orthodox. Perhaps most concerning, though, is the suspicion that kiruv professionals act as though they have all the answers, that Orthodoxy is a perfect society, and that we need to reach out because everything within Orthodoxy is basically perfect. Many of us would argue that we need to get our own house in order before convincing other people to join the team. Rabbi Mark Wildes, though, is one of the rare Modern Orthodox Jews who is deeply involved in, and believes in, kiruv and outreach to unaffiliated and less-affiliated Jews. Scott asked him how he responds to these criticisms of kiruv professionals and organizations, how we should define the real goals of kiruv organizations, and why most kiruv professionals seem to have a Chareidi or Chassidic orientation. Perhaps even more important, however, was an intense discussion of the problems that Modern Orthodoxy needs to address. Their conversation included a discussion of spiritual anemia, problems that exist in synagogues, the longing – or lack thereof – for the Divine Presence, the differences between experience and intellect in the approach to G-d, how much we should emphasize dogma, and – above all – the need to bring G-d back into the center of our consciousness. This conversation – again, really two conversations – was fascinating, and should give you food for thought as we enter Elul and the days leading up to the Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur. Please listen to and share this podcast, and let us know what you think on the Orthodox Conundrum Discussion Group on Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/groups/432020081498108). Thanks to all of our Patreon subscribers, who have access to bonus JCH podcasts, merch, and more – we appreciate your help, and hope you really enjoy the extras! Visit the JCH Patreon site at https://www.patreon.com/jewishcoffeehouse. Visit https://www.jchpodcasts.com/ to learn all about creating your own podcast.

Rosh Chodesh Elul is upon us and so is The 40 Day Challenge 2.0! Rabbi Mark Wildes is interviewed by the great Nachum Segal on his popular radio program "JM in the AM" to discuss how we can learn from Tom Brady, Abraham Lincoln, and other iconic figures how to use this special time to make a positive and impactful change in the world, become the very best version of ourselves, and how to connect to God at a time when He is closest. Join the 40 Day Challenge at JewishExperience.org/40Day Listen to JM in the AM on the Nachum Sega lNetwork and follow @nachumsegalnetwork on Instagram

MMA star Haim Gozali doesn't just fight for Israel inside of the Octagon but is a staunch supporter outside of it. in this explosive conversation, Haim details how he is fighting the stereotype that Jews are weak and won't fight back, the time he was stabbed six times outside of a bar, his obsession with Batman, why he connects with putting on Tefillin, and more. Timestamps: 00:00:00 - Introducing Haim Gozali 00:03:05 - Are Jews Weak? 00:07:00 - Peace in Israel 00:14:30 - Being Stabbed Six Times 00:20:00 - Israeli Batman 00:25:00 - Supporting Israel 00:31:00 - Connection to Judaism 00:36:00 - Fight Prep Sign up for the 40-Day Challenge at: JewishExperience.Org/40Day

There is a perception that Judaism promotes a lifestyle in which women are subordinate to men. Rabbi Wildes speaks with longtime Torah educator and host of the Drink It In Podcast Jordana Baruchov for an unfiltered conversation about some of the hottest issues surrounding Torah and Women. Does Torah promote equality between the sexes? Why are men the ones who lead services? What does it mean to be attractive in a Torah sense? You can follow Jordana on Instagram @Drinkitin_Jordana and listen to her podcast Drink It In. Timestamps: Equality (3:00) Are Women More Spiritual? (10:00) Why Women Have Less Mitzvot (14:00) Giving vs. Receiving (20:00) Work/Life balance (23:00) Gender Roles (28:00) Relationship Advice (33:00) Attraction (38:00) Covering hair (49:00)

Moshe Reuven was recently named to Forbes' 30 Under 30 list, highlighting the world's brightest young entrepreneurs, leaders, and stars. In addition to owning his own startup WeDu, Moshe has also made a splash in the hip-hop world with millions of listeners on Spotify including his new song "Say" with Julian Marley, son of the legendary Bob Marley. Moshe joins Rabbi Wildes to discuss how after living a life of non-observance, finding Hashem has been the key to his incredible success at such a young age. Moshe also discusses the extraordinary story of how the accidental release of his first single led to his rise in the music scene, how he stays humble in the face of all the temptations success inevitably brings, and more. Timestamps: Moshe’s Spiritual Journey (4:00) Entrepreneurial Success (21:00) Politics & Division (33:00) Music & Gamzu L’Tovah (38:00) Importance of Preparation (44:00) Staying Humble (54:00)

Sarah Guigue, better known as HassidicHipsterGirl on Instagram is an amazing content creator and Torah educator who uses her influence on social media to educate her large following on Torah and Jewish Identity. Rabbi Wildes and Sarah cover many important topics ranging from the practical to the mystical. How we can use the potential of social media for the good? What is the best way to combat Antisemitism? Why does God seem so hidden in this world of ours? All that and more in this captivating conversation. Timestamps: 3:30 Relearning Judaism 17:00 Why God Hides 27:00 Rudy Rochman's controversial post on AntiSemitism 38:00 Can Social Media be used for good? 46:30 Favorite Torah Teaching You can follow Rabbi Wildes and Sarah on Instagram @RabbiWildes and @HassidicHipsterGirl