Orthodox Conundrum

Our last episode featured the first half of Scott's interview with Rabbi Yonah Bookstein, the rabbi of the Pico Shul in Los Angeles and the founder of Shabbat Tent. In that podcast they talked about the difference between kiruv and outreach, and why that difference matters. Today Rav Yonah explains why music and film festivals have provided him with amazing opportunities for healthy Jewish outreach. He even compares the experience of music festivals with that of Matan Torah, and asserts that this comparison is actually crucial to understanding how to reach out to Jews, whoever and wherever they are. This also leads him to tell us what he thinks the future of outreach has to be - and along the way he tells some great stories, too. Please listen to and share the 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 check out https://www.jchpodcasts.com/ to learn all about creating your own podcast. Music: "Happy Rock" by bensound.com

The Orthodox world has often stressed the importance of kiruv - that is, working to help non-Orthodox Jews become Torah observant. But Rabbi Yonah Bookstein, the rabbi of the Pico Shul in Los Angeles, wants to make a distinction between kiruv and outreach; he personally stresses the latter in his important work with Jews across the spectrum of religiosity. What does that mean? How can we avoid being judgmental when we believe that Torah Judaism represents the proper way to actualize Judaism in our lives? What is defined as successful outreach - and are the terms "success" and "failure" even appropriate at all? Scott spoke with Yonah about these and other important topics regarding the future of outreach. (Make sure to check out part two of this interview, dropping later this week, where Rav Yonah talks about his experiences in reaching Jews through Shabbat Tent at music festivals across the country, how music festivals can be compared to the Jewish People in the desert as seen from Bil'am's viewpoint - yes, really - and what music festivals have in common with Matan Torah - yes, really, again.) Please listen to and share the 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. The site will also help you learn about creating your own podcast. Music: "Happy Rock" by bensound.com

Yael Braun is a to'enet halacha, someone who goes to the beit din (rabbinic court) in order to advocate on behalf of her clients. In fact, she says that she is the first and only to'enet halacha in the United States. What is the role of a to'enet, and has she had problems stepping into a job normally occupied only by men? But alongside telling stories and explaining the importance of her job, Yael presents a rather hopeful picture of a number of different issues. She has had a very positive experience in her interactions with Chassidish batei din; despite the common stereotype of batei din being misogynist, she has been warmly accepted and encouraged by the dayanim, or judges. Moreover, she also has seen progress on the issue of get refusal ever since the #FreeChava movement began - a movement in which she played a role. Join Scott and Yael Braun for an entertaining, enlightening, and encouraging discussion. (Listen to the whole episode: towards the beginning, Scott's ignorance about a to'enet's job will become blatantly apparent, and towards the end you'll hear Yael's very funny and appropriate rejoinder when a male to'en calls her a witch.) Please listen to and share the 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. The site will also help you learn about creating your own podcast. Music: "Happy Rock" by bensound.com

Last week Scott spoke with Rabbi Shalom Hammer about the changes that he feels we must make in order for Israeli society to better deal with mental illness in general, and suicidal ideation in particular. This week he spoke with Rabbi Hammer again, and they had a very difficult and emotional - but important - conversation. Rabbi Hammer's daughter Gila died by suicide almost two years ago; they will be commemorating her passing on chet kislev, which this year falls out on the twelfth of November. He offers his personal insights on dealing with grief, relating to the rest of the children after the death of a child, how it affected his faith in G-d, what has been helpful and hurtful, the process of moving forward, and more. If you would like to contribute - in Gila's memory - to help Rabbi Hammer break stigmas in mental health, please click on https://www.jgive.com/new/en/usd/donation-targets/58560. Please also visit the following sites to hear more from Rabbi Hammer and to reach out to him: https://www.rabbihammer.com/ https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCN5oWx1lIrrjkaNs9R8KtjA https://www.facebook.com/rabbihammer https://www.instagram.com/rabbihammer/ Please listen to and share the 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. The site will also help you learn about creating your own podcast. Music: "Happy Rock" by bensound.com

Less than two years ago, Gila Hammer died by suicide. Since that catastrophic tragedy, her father, Rabbi Shalom Hammer, has been working nonstop to advocate for important changes in the way that the Israeli establishment - medical and governmental - treats mental illness. Rabbi Hammer has also become an important advocate for mental health awareness and suicide prevention. He does this in Gila's memory, in order to do whatever is possible so that other families do not go through the horror that he, his wife, and children have experienced. In this episode, Scott speaks with Rabbi Hammer about the serious problems that exist, and what can be done to help fix them. If you would like to contribute - in Gila's memory - to help Rabbi Hammer break stigmas in mental health, please click on https://www.jgive.com/new/en/usd/donation-targets/58560. Please also visit the following sites to hear more from Rabbi Hammer and to reach out to him: https://www.rabbihammer.com/ https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCN5oWx1lIrrjkaNs9R8KtjA https://www.facebook.com/rabbihammer https://www.instagram.com/rabbihammer/ Please listen to and share the 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. The site will also help you learn about creating your own podcast. Music: "Happy Rock" by bensound.com

Another episode about COVID-19? Yes - because we need to address the fact that Am Yisrael, which should be a light unto the nations, which should be at the forefront of caring about science and expert opinion, which should be loudly proclaiming to the world that pikuach nefesh - the saving of life - takes precedence over almost anything and everything, has not collectively risen to the challenge. Twenty months into the spread of the coronavirus, we still have large groups of openly Orthodox Jewish people who simply don't care. Or deny. Or -worst of all - try to convince other people to deny reality as well. This is NOT to take away from the many religious Jews - including roshei yeshiva and Chassidic rebbes and others - who are demanding that their communities vaccinate and be careful. And it's also not to say that many vaccine and COVID deniers don't honestly believe what they say, and have honorable and good intentions. But Jewish thought emphasizes behavior, not unrealized motivations. G-d may well judge them favorably, but our job is to be honest: and people who convince others to avoid the vaccine are involved in a type of manslaughter. Dr. Blima Marcus is at the forefront - both in the field and on social media - of fighting against their propaganda. In this episode, Scott speaks to her about her experiences in the ultra-Orthodox community, and why vaccine denial is so anti-scientific and insidious. Please listen to and share the 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. The site will also help you learn about creating your own podcast. Music: "Happy Rock" by bensound.com

One of the most painful challenges for religious Jews is when a child leaves Orthodoxy - in the colloquial phrase, goes off the derech. This event can elicit many different emotional reactions, from anger, to guilt, to sadness, to feelings of rejection, to fears about their other children, to concerns about what the neighbors will say, and much more. Rabbi Menachem Bombach of Beitar Illit in Israel and the director of the Netzach Hareidi Educational Network, has done a tremendous service by publicly discussing his own experience of parenting a child who is no longer part of the Orthodox community. He wrote a blog post in the Times of Israel entitled Thou Shalt Love Your Child Who Leaves Religion and describes forthrightly the challenges and opportunities for parents who face this difficult situation. Please listen to and share the 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. The site will also help you learn about creating your own podcast. Music: "Happy Rock" by bensound.com

Some of the most serious challenges to traditional Orthodox faith come from academic approaches to the Bible, including what is generally termed Biblical criticism. The Rambam formulated thirteen principles of faith; his eighth principle is succinctly (though inexactly) summarized in the well known Ani Maamin, which says: I believe with perfect faith that the entire Torah found currently in our possession is that which was given to Moshe our teacher. And while this is far from a perfect summary of the actual words of the Rambam, it's close enough to give anyone who has familiarity with both lower and higher Biblical criticism pause. How should a religious Jew relate to academic study of theTorah and the challenges it presents? Are we forced to live with the questions, or are there compelling approaches which defend the traditional view while also being acceptable in the academy? Should a person stay away from these questions, or is the search for truth paramount, even as it may be dangerous? To answer these and other questions, Scott spoke with Rabbi Dr. Joshua Berman, Professor of Tanach at Bar Ilan University. Rabbi Berman's latest book, and the focus of this weeks episode of Orthodox Conundrum, is Ani Maamin: Biblical Criticism, Historical Accuracy and the Thirteen Principles of Faith. It may be purchased at https://www.amazon.com/Ani-Maamin-Criticism-Historical-Principles/dp/1592645380. This coming January Rabbi Berman will be leading a tour to Egypt, "In the Footsteps of the Exodus" in conjunction with Kesher Tours. The tour will be the first ever kosher tour of the great sites of Egypt through the eyes of the Tanakh. https://keshertours.com/tours/egypt/ Please listen to and share the 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. The site will also help you learn about creating your own podcast. Music: "Happy Rock" by bensound.com

In preparation for Yom Kippur, the Orthodox Conundrum presents a conversation between Scott and Rabbi Judah Mischel, the author of the fine new book Baderech: Along the Path of Teshuva. Together they explore the fundamentals of repentance, in order to enable every individual to live a life of meaning and closeness to G-d. To order Baderech, go to https://www.amazon.com/Baderech-Teshuvah-Rabbi-Judah-Mischel/dp/1952370523/ref=sr_1_1?dchild=1&keywords=baderech&qid=1631473503&sr=8-1 Please listen to and share the 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. The site will also help you learn about creating your own podcast. Music: "Happy Rock" by bensound.com

On Rosh Hashanah, we ask G-d to "remember us with a good remembrance." If G-d remembers everything - which we acknowledge in that same blessing - what, exactly, are we asking Him to do? Scott invokes the broken toilet pump in his basement to provide an answer. We wish everyone listening, along with all Israel and the world, a ketiva v'chatima tova and a sweet new year! Please listen to and share the 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. The site will also help you learn about creating your own podcast.