Iyun Podcast

We tend to assume that all chareidim sit on the political Right in Israel. This week’s interview with Pnina Pfeuffer interrogates that assumption. As a chareidi woman firmly stationed on the Israeli Left, Pnina Pfeuffer, founder of the “New Chareidim” organization, promotes the embrace of progressive values while maintaining fidelity to chareidi standards of observance and communal affiliations.

On Shmini Atzeret/Simchat Torah 5786/2025, the Jewish world lost a titanic leader, Rabbi Moshe Hauer, a man who modeled Jewish living and leadership in an extraordinary manner.Rabbi Hauer was the Executive Vice President of the Orthodox Union, as well as Rabbi Emeritus of Baltimore's Bnai Jacob Shaarei Zion.He spearheaded a wide variety of communal initiatives while occupying a rare "middle ground" - passionately committed to core Torah principles, but respectful of and connected to all precincts of the Orthodox community, and beyond.In tribute of this great figure, who exemplifies the ideals that Iyun promotes, we speak with Rabbi Yisroel Motzen, rabbi of the Ner Tamid synagogue in Baltimore, a longtime rabbinic student of the late Rabbi Hauer, as well as his associate at the OU.Rabbi Motzen helps us sketch the contours of Rabbi Hauer's unique personality and hashkafa, and shares principles of his that we might incorporate into our own lives.

Yitzik (pronounced "Itzkik") Crombie is a long-time tech entrepreneur who founded Mego, a training program aimed at integrating into the higher-level Israeli workforce. The work is supported through the Kemach Foundation.Yitzik also runs Bizmax, a co-working space geared for chareidim, among other ventures.Several years ago, he published a book, "When the Chareidim Will Be the Majority," (Hebrew) exploring the challenges and solutions relevant to this community, and beyond.

Iyun Institute founder and director Rabbi Yehoshua Pfefferrecently “put his body where his pen is,” enlisting in the IDF in its “Shlav Bet” program within the Homefront Command. Fresh off a month-long basic training, R’ Pfeffer shares his reflections and takeaways from the field.

Rabbi Dovid Eliezrie is a longtime Chabad Shaliach (emissary), co-director of the North County Chabad Center in Orange County, California. Author of the book Secret of Chabad, he has recently released a groundbreaking biography of the “Friediker Rebbe” - the Sixth Rebbe of the Chabad chassidic dynasty - called “Undaunted: How the Sixth Lubavitcher Rebbe Yosef Yitzchak Schneersohn Saved Russian Jewry, Reimagined American Judaism, Ignited a Global Jewish Renaissance.”In this episode, we review Rabbi Eliezrie’s own background and this most recent work, then springboard into an analysis of Chabad’s perspective on Zionism, secular nationalism, army enlistment and the modern state of Israel.

Dr. Yechiel Reit is an American-born emergency medicine doctor, an IDF reserve combat physician and the author of "Applied Monotheism: The Chareidi Response to Modernity."In our wide-ranging conversation, we discuss Dr. Reit's IDF experience and his analysis of "Charediism," as he argues for an ideological, not cultural, definition.

Sam Sokol, Knesset Affairs correspondent at the Times of Israel, shares his in-depth knowledge of Israeli politics and the charedi parties, such as United Torah Judaism and Shas. He discusses his journey from political aspirations to journalism, emphasizing the importance of accountability in reporting on religious issues. The podcast delves into the complexities of navigating Haredi politics, including the ongoing debate over military service for yeshiva students and its implications, revealing evolving attitudes within the community.

After a long hiatus, we return with a crossover episode - Yaakov Wolff, host of the Shtark Tank podcast, interviews Rabbi Yehoshua and Rebbetzin Tamar Pfeffer.More original episodes to come shortly!

Since inaugurating this podcast, and focusing a long series on charedim and army service, one episode has conspicuously been missing: a full treatment of the halachic parameters of the notion of milchemes mitzvah, as well as an analysis commonly advanced ideals such as "Torah magneh u'matzleh" ("Torah study protects"). In this episode we remedy that void and address these issues that are vital to any Torah-centered Jew.To do so, we speak with Rabbi Dr. Yitzchak Lifshitz, a noted rav and rosh Kollel based in Yerushalayim, who has written extensively on these topics in recent months. Rabbi Dr. Lifshiftz is also a professor of philosophy at Shalem College.

Dr. Moshe Koppel, a leading computer scientist and advocate for judicial reform in Israel, explores the Haredi community's complex relationship with governance and reform. He discusses the implications of Israel's lack of a written constitution and the challenges of current judicial practices. Koppel reflects on his unexpected journey into politics and the importance of dialogue in achieving a balanced approach. With a focus on the evolving political landscape, he shares insights on the future of governance and the role of younger generations in shaping unity.