Orthodox Conundrum

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 the Kotel or about women reading the Torah on the women’s side of the Wall. Let’s be up front about the halachic facts: men have an obligation to pray in a minyan, a quorum, while women do not. For this reason, it’s not unreasonable to expect more men to come to shul than women - and that is often what happens. Moreover, assuming that the Kotel has the status of a synagogue, it’s reasonable to expect more men to come to the Kotel - and, if it’s true that more men visit the Kotel than women, the men’s section should be larger than the women’s. (Of course, we can't ignore the fact that if the ezrat nashim were larger, perhaps more women would come in the first place.) But based on anecdotal experience, the women’s section is frequently - usually? - significantly more crowded than the men’s section. Are we really OK with women having to squeeze in to touch the Kotel while the men have no problem doing so? At the same time, the problem with space at the Kotel is emblematic of a problem with space in general. While as Orthodox Jews, we believe that communal prayer should not involved mixed-gender space, and that synagogues halachially require a mechitza, is there a reason that this has started to extend to places where it’s not required halachically - and that the women’s sections that exist are often treated with such disrespect? To discuss this Scott invited the hosts of the Chochmat Nashim podcast, Anne Gordon and Shoshanna Keats-Jaskoll, to talk about the Kotel and the larger problem of disrespecting women in Orthodox spaces, in ways that have nothing to do with halacha. 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. Check out https://jewishcoffeehouse.com/ for the Orthodox Conundrum and other great podcasts, and remember to subscribe to them on your favorite podcast provider. Also visit https://www.jchpodcasts.com/ to learn all about creating your own podcast. Music: "Happy Rock" by bensound.com

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 manifestations of anorexia, the issue of eating disorders frankly concerns Orthodox Jews primarily because we are no more immune to them than any other population. Indeed, some Orthodoxy communities may have additional challenges in their desire to cover it up, to pretend that it’s not a problem. Quite apart from our religious background, we need to confront the reality of eating disorders because, as Judy says at the end of the podcast, they affect so many people. We need to talk about eating disorders in order to eliminate the stigma associated with them. They are illnesses, and they are illnesses that involve tremendous pain, suffering, and sometimes death. We treat them as something other than illnesses at our own peril. Judy Krasna is the Executive Director of F.E.A.S.T.(Families Empowered and Supporting Treatment for Eating Disorders - https://www.feast-ed.org/). She is a writer and an eating disorders advocate, both in Israel and globally. Judy is an active “expert by experience” volunteer in the Academy for Eating Disorders and has been offering peer support to families of people with eating disorders for over a decade. Judy is deeply committed to educating the public about eating disorders and promoting awareness about their danger and consequences, especially after her daughter Gavriella took her own life after a prolonged battle with anorexia nervosa. Judy may be reached at judy@feast-ed.org. 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. Check out https://jewishcoffeehouse.com/ for the Orthodox Conundrum and other great podcasts, and remember to subscribe to them on your favorite podcast provider. Also visit https://www.jchpodcasts.com/ to learn all about creating your own podcast. Music: "Happy Rock" by bensound.com

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 other than causing additional hatred - this time, perhaps not baseless hatred - in the weeks leading up to our commemoration of the Destruction of the Beit HaMikdash. It’s sickening and represents the opposite of how the Torah expects us to behave, regardless of our opinions about the halachic validity of egalitarian prayer. This unfortunate event offers an opportunity to discuss the ways that Orthodox Jews - who likely would not pray in an egalitarian davening - should relate to the new egalitarian section of the Kotel. In this week’s episode, Scott first speaks to Laura Ben-David, who was the photographer at one of the bar mitzvahs, to find out exactly what happened that day at the Kotel. Following that conversation, he talks to Rabbi Kenneth Brander and then Rabbi Yitzchok Adlerstein to find out their attitudes and feelings regarding the presence of an egalitarian section at the Kotel. Following the three interviews, Scott offers his own thoughts about the issue. 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. Check out https://jewishcoffeehouse.com/ for the Orthodox Conundrum and other great podcasts, and remember to subscribe to them on your favorite podcast provider. Also visit https://www.jchpodcasts.com/ to learn all about creating your own podcast. Photo: Laura Ben-David Music: "Happy Rock" by bensound.com

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 Goldschmidt has a unique perspective that comes from starting a new shul in Manhattan, and trying to cater to a population that may be looking for new forms of Jewish engagement. But the real focus of the conversation was less the challenges Rabbi Goldschmidt faces as a shul rabbi, and more the possibility of reinventing the very idea of the synagogue, and even the idea of community, in the Orthodox world. So many people feel disenfranchised from our existing institutions, and Rabbi Goldschmidt himself knows what it means for a venerable, existing synagogue to feel threatened by you. In this interview he explains how he is using his unusual opportunity to create a new shul in order to do things differently, to bring more people in who might normally look elsewhere for their spiritual nourishment. To read the New York Times article about what happened at the Park East Synagogue, go to https://www.nytimes.com/2021/12/03/nyregion/park-east-synagogue-rabbi.html. 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. Check out https://jewishcoffeehouse.com/ for the Orthodox Conundrum and other great podcasts, and remember to subscribe to them on your favorite podcast provider. Also visit https://www.jchpodcasts.com/ to learn all about creating your own podcast. Music: "Happy Rock" by bensound.com

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 theoretically back on the table. Scott spoke with three women, each of whom had an abortion for a different reason, each at a different point in her pregnancy. The point of sharing their stories is not so much to advocate for more liberal abortion laws as to help people internalize the real-life consequences of making abortion more difficult or impossible. The goal was to let each guest simply tell her story so that you, the listener, can decide how that impacts your thinking. Some Orthodox scholars who support the overturning of Roe v. Wade suggest that while many states are banning abortion, this will have little practical effect on the vast majority of Orthodox Jews. First of all, all halachic authorites agree that abortion is not allowed in all circumstances, and there are accordingly many abortions that violate Jewish law, even according to the more lenient viewpoints. Moreover, because of certain exceptions that have been written into the laws, as well as because of the relative ease of interstate travel, women who do have halachic sanction for abortion will have little trouble obtaining one, either in their current state or by traveling to states that have liberal abortion regimes. To address this, Scott asked Dr. Rivka Press Schwartz, who teaches history at SAR high school and is the associate principal of General studies there, whether this is accurate, and what the real-world consequences of the Dobbs decision are. 3:23 - An anonymous story of an abortion at 32 weeks 29:45 - Abbie's story of her pregnancy reduction 42:42 - Leah's story of an abortion after suffering from postpartum depression 1:11:45 - Dr. Schwartz on the legal consequences of Roe v. Wade for Orthodox women 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. Check out https://jewishcoffeehouse.com/ for the Orthodox Conundrum and other great podcasts, and remember to subscribe to them on your favorite podcast provider. Also visit https://www.jchpodcasts.com/ to learn all about creating your own podcast. Music: "Happy Rock" by bensound.com

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 the work that is being done to combat it. Because this article has generated a fair bit of discussion, Scott invited Rachel Schwartzberg and three veteran educators - Rabbi Moshe Simkovich, Olivia Friedman, and Rabbi Pesach Sommer - to discuss the issue of teacher retention, the reasons that teachers leave, the reasons young people are reluctant to become teachers, and what we as a community can do to change this. Because if we truly believe that chinuch is the essence of our community’s uniqueness, and the source of its strength, we dare not let the problem linger or even get worse. The problem is serious and must be addressed. To read "The Great Teacher Shortage" go to https://jewishaction.com/religion/education/the-great-teacher-shortage/. To see the Predictive Index referenced on the podcast, go to https://www.predictiveindex.com/?creative=544500752127&keyword=predictive%20index&matchtype=b&network=g&device=m&utm_source=google&utm_medium=ppc&utm_content=bofu-brand-general&utm_term=predictive%20index&gclid=EAIaIQobChMI9efx3-3N-AIVBuXICh1T9AFiEAAYASAAEgLI9fD_BwE&fbclid=IwAR35tBPoJEAgP7L3ZrAg2tjv1cB5pFrNxcIBVuAdYGRiBbrDZXqK3LMkfs4. 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. Check out https://jewishcoffeehouse.com/ for the Orthodox Conundrum and other great podcasts, and remember to subscribe to them on your favorite podcast provider. Also visit https://www.jchpodcasts.com/ to learn all about creating your own podcast. Music: "Happy Rock" by bensound.com

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 problems with congregants, being a rabbi involves other challenges, as well. The rabbi has to perform many functions and fill many roles for which he may or may not be prepared; there’s a good chance that he’s wildly underpaid; his wife is often expected to work for the synagogue for free. Frankly, the halachic training that is necessary to become a rabbi may end up being the easy part of the job. It’s everything that comes along with it that can make the position of rabbi exceptionally demanding. Rabbi David Fine acknowledges the difficulties, but nonetheless loves being a rabbi and can’t imagine doing anything else. He cofounded an organization, Barkai, which trains rabbis in Israel in the practical rabbinic knowledge that they likely never learned in yeshiva. And while he doesn’t shy away from acknowledging the challenges that rabbis and rabbinic couples face, he has a very optimistic view of what the life of a rabbi can be. 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. Check out https://jewishcoffeehouse.com/ for the Orthodox Conundrum and other great podcasts, and remember to subscribe to them on your favorite podcast provider. Also visit https://www.jchpodcasts.com/ to learn all about creating your own podcast. Music: "Happy Rock" by bensound.com

Two weeks ago, on Yom Yerushalayim, many marchers walked into the Old City of Jerusalem, and honorably and admirably celebrated the reunification of Jerusalem 55 years ago. Many thousands of people said prayers of thanksgiving to Hashem Who gave us the merit to live in a time of Jewish sovereignty over a united Jerusalem - a merit that not long ago would have been utterly unfathomable. On that same day, there were some marchers who shouted at and taunted Arab residents of Jerusalem, used racist language against them, chanted “Death to the Arabs” and more. And while this was far from the majority - it certainly was nowhere near the majority - the numbers were significant enough to be upsetting and concerning. And yes, it happened; the video evidence is incontrovertible. Perhaps there are loud voices coming from the Religious Zionist leadership condemning the actions of these individuals; but they haven’t been loud enough for many of us to hear them. This is not the religious Zionism of ten or twenty or thirty years ago. It’s certainly not the religious Zionism that was dominant fifty years ago. Something has changed, moderating voices seem to be drowned out, and that should concern all of us. And make no mistake: these issues are not political issues; they go to the heart of what it means to be a religious Jew who is also a supporter of the State of Israel Is it inappropriate to point this out, as if mentioning these elements is thereby painting all religious Zionists with the same castigating brush? Are these taunts an inappropriate but understandable response to constant Palestinian rejectionism? How else should religious Zionists act and believe, given the deep seated traditional belief that all of Yehuda v’Shomron belongs to Israel? Is refusing to march with flags through the Damascus Gate a sign of moderation, or a form of timidity which will be exploited by our enemies? How can a proud religious Zionist balance valid and deep-seated belief in a unified Jerusalem with respect for its non-Jewish inhabitants? And finally, is ascending the Temple Mount - the focal point of Jewish longing for 2000 years - an act of religious courage, or a dangerous game that gambles with Jewish lives? To discuss this and much more, Scott spoke with Yossi Klein Halevi, the author of Letters to My Palestinian Neighbor and other books. 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. Check out https://jewishcoffeehouse.com/ for the Orthodox Conundrum and other great podcasts, and remember to subscribe to them on your favorite podcast provider. Also visit https://www.jchpodcasts.com/ to learn all about creating your own podcast. Music: "Happy Rock" by bensound.com Photograph by Ethan Roberts

The phenomenon of the individual who grew up in an extreme Chassidish community, then rejects it entirely while physically escaping from it, has become part of everyday discourse regarding Orthodoxy thanks to books and Netflix series such as Unorthodox. It has almost become a type of stereotype, and we might assume that most who leave hold on to bitterness, and feel extreme animosity. Yet Leah Forster does not fit this stereotype at all. She grew up in a Chassidic community in Boro Park, and after she broke some of the norms of the community, she was instructed by her mother not to attend her eventual funeral; that was their final communication. But Leah defends her community, expresses love for her family, and demonstrates genuine faith. Scott and Leah talked about the community she came from, when she realized that she was attracted to women, what was the last straw that drove her family to reject her, how crucial it is to address mental health issues, whether she actually left Orthodoxy at all, and much more. But the purpose of this interview transcends Leah’s story. It can teach us about the trouble with labels; it identifies the danger of caring primarily about what people will think, rather than what is best for our children; it points out that life is far from black and white, and that we can choose to love and defend even the people who hurt us the most. These are lessons that apply to all of us, and we need to take them to heart to ensure that we and our various communities live up to the values that matter most, rather than the values that we want other people to believe that we possess. 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. Check out https://jewishcoffeehouse.com/ for the Orthodox Conundrum and other great podcasts, and remember to subscribe to them on your favorite podcast provider. Also visit https://www.jchpodcasts.com/ to learn all about creating your own podcast. Music: "Happy Rock" by bensound.com

On Yom Yerushalayim, we thank G-d for the miraculous gift of a united Jerusalem - and, lest we forget, the miracle of winning the Six Day War which, many had originally feared, would destroy the State of Israel and precipitate a second Holocaust. While some celebrate, many others suggest that Israel doesn’t belong to us at all. In fact, they say, the entire State of Israel is an illegitimate enterprise, born in sin and destined to be transformed into a binational state without a Jewish character. It seems to many that those voices are growing louder and louder. Last month, the Harvard Crimson published an editorial entitled In Support of Boycott, Divest, Sanctions and a Free Palestine (https://www.thecrimson.com/article/2022/4/29/editorial-bds/?utm_medium=Social&utm_source=Twitter#Echobox=1651260876-1). Are voices like the Crimson's getting louder? Is Israel losing the battle for world public opinion? Should Yom Yerushalayim be a day of celebration, or a day of dread? Rabbi Uri Pilichowski does not accept this doomsday narrative. He argues that Israel is better off than it has ever been before, including in the area of public relations. Listen to this fascinating and hopeful interview to find out why. 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. Check out https://jewishcoffeehouse.com/ for the Orthodox Conundrum and other great podcasts, and remember to subscribe to them on your favorite podcast provider. Also visit https://www.jchpodcasts.com/ to learn all about creating your own podcast. Music: "Happy Rock" by bensound.com