Jewish Ideas to Change the World

A virtual event presentation by Dr. Steven Windmueller The Event was co-sponsored by BMH-BJ. About The Event: The Gaza Conflict has no doubt changed the landscape of the Middle East, redefined Israeli society and culture, and impacted American Jewry. In this presentation, we will be examining these key transformative factors, evaluating the long-term implications of this moment on Zionism, Jewish history, and the Jewish people. About The Speaker Dr. Steven Windmueller is an Emeritus Professor of Jewish Communal Studies at the Jack H. Skirball Campus of Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion in Los Angeles. Before coming to HUC, Dr. Windmueller had served on the staff of the American Jewish Committee (1969-1972), directed the Albany (NY) Jewish Federation (1973-1985), and the JCRC (Jewish Community Relations Committee) of the Los Angeles Jewish Federation (1985-1995). During his tenure at the College, Dr. Windmueller served for ten years as the Director of its School of Jewish Nonprofit Management and, in 2005, was named to the deanship of the LA campus (2006-2010). In 2009, he was named to an endowed chair, and in 2014 was awarded an honorary doctorate by Hebrew Union College. The author of four books and numerous articles, Professor Windmueller holds a Ph.D. in International Relations from the University of Pennsylvania. His research has been primarily focused on Jewish communal trends, Anti-Semitism, and Jewish political behavior. His articles have appeared in several secular and Jewish publications. Currently, Dr. Windmueller is consulting with national agencies, federations, synagogues, and foundations in connection with his current studies on virtual and privatized Judaism, the impact of COVID, and the broader social, economic, and political trends reshaping American Jewish life. In 2014, he had to teach in China, offering lectures on American Jewry, Israel, and Zionism at various universities in the People's Republic. He recently served as guest editor for USC’s Casden Institute, producing The Impact of Donald Trump’s Presidency on American Jews and Israel (2021) and is now focused on producing a volume analyzing 21st Century American Judaism and continues to write on Jewish political behavior for the Times of Israel and other publications in advance of the November 2024 elections. Dr. Windmueller serves as a Fellow of the Jerusalem Institute of Public Affairs and as a Board Member of the Pat Brown Institute at Cal State, Los Angeles. For the past eight years, he has been on the faculty of the Memorial Foundation for Jewish Culture, teaching across the globe. ★ Support this podcast ★

A hybrid event (in-person and virtual) by Rabbi Jonah PesnerThe event was co-hosted by Temple Chai and the Jewish Community Relations Council of Greater Phoenix About The Event: Kol Kolot – Every Voice, Every Vote – Why the American Jewish Community and our society more broadly needs to work for an Inclusive Democracy, in which all voices are heard and every vote is counted – and what you can do to make it happen.About The Speaker: Rabbi Jonah Dov Pesner serves as the Director of the Religious Action Center of Reform Judaism and the Senior Vice President of the Union for Reform Judaism.  Named one of the most influential rabbis in America by Newsweek magazine, he is dedicated to building bridges to collectively confront anti-Semitism, racism, Islamophobia, and other forms of hate and bigotry.Rabbi Pesner organizes Jewish communities to reach across lines of race, class, and faith in campaigns for social justice. He has led efforts to expand healthcare access, restore voting rights, and for LGBTQ equality, among others.  Rabbi Pesner is widely published, including “Moral Resistance and Spiritual Authority: Our Jewish Obligation to Justice.” He teaches all over the world including at Harvard University where he has served as a visiting scholar. He sits on various boards including the NAACP, the Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights, the Faith-Based Security Advisory Council for the Department of Homeland Security, and the W. K. Kellogg Foundation Solidarity Council on Racial Equity, among others. ★ Support this podcast ★

Rabbi Dr. Shmuly Yanklowitz interviews Rabbi Jonah Pesner, Director of the Religious Action Center of Reform Judaism.Rabbi Jonah Dov Pesner serves as the Director of the Religious Action Center of Reform Judaism and the Senior Vice President of the Union for Reform Judaism.  Named one of the most influential rabbis in America by Newsweek magazine, he is dedicated to building bridges to collectively confront anti-Semitism, racism, Islamophobia, and other forms of hate and bigotry.Rabbi Pesner organizes Jewish communities to reach across lines of race, class, and faith in campaigns for social justice. He has led efforts to expand healthcare access, restore voting rights, and for LGBTQ equality, among others.  Rabbi Pesner is widely published, including “Moral Resistance and Spiritual Authority: Our Jewish Obligation to Justice.” He teaches all over the world, including at Harvard University, where he has served as a visiting scholar. He sits on various boards, including the NAACP, the Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights, the Faith-Based Security Advisory Council for the Department of Homeland Security, and the W. K. Kellogg Foundation Solidarity Council on Racial Equity, among others. ★ Support this podcast ★

Rabbi Dr. Shmuly Yanklowitz has a conversation with Rabbis Elie Feder and Aaron Zimmer, hosts of the "Physics to God" podcast. Elie Feder earned a PhD in mathematics from the CUNY Graduate Center and received Rabbinic ordination from his rebbe, Rabbi Yisrael Chait. Since 2004, Elie has been a mathematics professor at Kingsborough Community College and a maggid shiur at Yeshiva Bnei Torah. He has published many papers and delivered numerous talks on graph theory, his mathematical research field. As a teacher, Elie has a passion for simplifying complex topics for his students. Recently, he authored a book, “Gematria Refigured,” which presents a rational, nonmystical approach to gematria to uncover the significance of quantity and fine-tuning in the Torah, life, and the universe. Elie hosts the Gematria Refigured+ and the Physics to God podcasts. He resides in Far Rockaway, New York, with his wife and their four children. After earning a physics degree and receiving rabbinical ordination from his rebbe, Rabbi Yisrael Chait, Aaron Zimmer considered furthering his education through graduate school. However, his intellectual curiosity extended far beyond the realm of physics, encompassing a diverse array of fields, including philosophy, mathematics, and psychology. Capitalizing on his blend of analytical and philosophical skills, Aaron utilized his resources to venture into commodity futures trading. This endeavor involved oil, natural gas, cotton, sugar, and coffee. His strategic approach was deeply rooted in the conceptual frameworks of physics and the intricate Brisker Method for Talmudic analysis. After an eleven-year career marked by success in commodity trading, Aaron decided to retire. In his retirement, Aaron channels his intellectual energy into studying various branches of knowledge, including the Talmud, philosophy, and physics. He co-hosts the Physics to God podcast and resides in Lawrence, New York, along with his wife and their five children. Podcast: https://www.physicstogod.com/3-proofs-of-god-from-science; https://www.physicstogod.com/podcast-episodes Facebook: Physics to God X/Twitter: PhysicsToGod Instagram: physics_to_god ★ Support this podcast ★

A virtual event presentation by Rabbi Josh Feigelson, PhDThe event was co-sponsored by Temple Emanuel and BMH-BJAbout The Event: Even before the COVID-19 pandemic, Jewish spiritual practices like Jewish meditation, Jewish yoga, and contemplative Torah study were becoming increasingly mainstream. The pandemic only accelerated these trends, as record numbers of people sought meaningful Jewish spiritual practices to engage alongside others while remaining at home. What has driven this boom? How is it impacting the present and future of Jewish life?About The Speaker: Josh was appointed Executive Director of the Institute for Jewish Spirituality in January 2020 and became President & CEO in April 2022. He received ordination from Yeshivat Chovevei Torah Rabbinical School in 2005. He served for six years as the Hillel Rabbi at Northwestern University, where he also earned a PhD in Religious Studies. In 2011, Josh helped found and served as Executive Director of Ask Big Questions, an initiative of Hillel International, which won the inaugural Lippman-Kanfer Prize for Applied Jewish Wisdom. Josh has also been a consultant and Senior Fellow at The iCenter for Israel Education. Most recently he served as Dean of Students at the University of Chicago Divinity School. Josh is a Wexner Graduate Fellow and was the founding co-chair of the Wexner Fellowship Alumni Committee. Author of Eternal Questions: Reflections, Conversations, and Jewish Mindfulness Practices for the Weekly Torah Portion (Ben Yehuda Press, 2022). Josh lives with his wife Natalie and their three sons in Skokie, IL. ★ Support this podcast ★

A virtual event presentation by Rabbi Avidan FreedmanAbout The Event: The ideology espoused by the elected representatives of the party called “Religious Zionism” is, understandably, seen to represent Religious Zionist philosophy and the philosophy of the Religious Zionist community. But this is far from accurate, both from an ideological perspective and a historical sociological perspective. In this class, we will encounter texts from various Religious Zionist thinkers that are at odds with what is seen as the current mainstream philosophy, and discuss the nature and significance of the change, and what it means for Religious Zionism and Israeli society.About the Speaker: Rabbi Avidan Freedman completed a Masters Degree in Jewish Education at the Azrieli Graduate School, and received rabbinical ordination from Yeshivat Chovevei Torah and the Israeli Rabbinate. He is an educator at the Shalom Hartman Institute’s high school and post-high school program and an activist who founded Yanshoof, an organization dedicated to establishing moral limits for Israeli weapons exports. Learn more at www.yanshoof.org ★ Support this podcast ★

A virtual event presentation by Rabbi Dr. Ariel Evan MayseThe event was co-hosted by Temple SolelAbout The Event: Explore the full range of Jewish literature connected to environmental consciousness and action, from Tanakh, Talmud, and halakhah to mysticism, poetry, and philosophy. We aim to grapple with some of the pressing ecological, social, and theological issues facing us today. Please join us in diving deeply into Jewish sources while putting them in conversation with contemporary questions and the possibilities of communal response.About The Speaker: Ariel Evan Mayse is an Assistant Professor of Religious Studies at Stanford University, rabbi-in-residence at Atiq: Jewish Maker Institute, and the senior scholar-in-residence at the Institute for Jewish Spirituality and Society where he is the founder of Nahara: Beit Midrash for Environmental Renewal. He holds a Ph.D. in Jewish Studies from Harvard University and rabbinic ordination from Beit Midrash Har’el in Israel. His publications include Speaking Infinities: God and Language in the Teachings of Rabbi Dov Ber of Mezritsh (Philadelphia: University of Pennsylvania Press, 2020), the two-volume A New Hasidism: Roots and A New Hasidism: Branches, with Arthur Green (Philadelphia: Jewish Publication Society and University of Nebraska Press, 2019), and Laws of the Spirit: Ritual, Mysticism, and the Commandments in Early Hasidism (Stanford: Stanford University Press, 2024). He is currently working on a book about Jewish mysticism and environmental ethics, and another exploring how Jewish spirituality can help us rethink the purpose, aims, and practice of higher education. ★ Support this podcast ★

A virtual event presentation by Dr. Elias SacksThe event was co-sponsored by BMH-BJAbout The Event: For centuries, it has been common for Jews to tell the following story about ancient Jewish and Christian history: while Jesus was a Jew who never intended to break from Judaism, one of his followers, the apostle Paul, was born Jewish but had a conversion experience, abandoned Judaism, and created a new religion known as Christianity. However, in recent decades, a wide range of Jewish thinkers, Christian theologians, and academic historians have challenged this narrative, insisting that Paul was a profoundly Jewish figure who never meant to leave Judaism—and one who offered a vision of Jewish life that is strikingly relevant to contemporary conversations about religion, ethics, and politics. In this session, we will explore these issues, wrestling with questions such as: What did Paul think about Judaism? How did Paul fit into the ancient Jewish world? And what—if anything—do his writings offer twenty-first-century Jews?*Source Sheet: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1Z1uI0ZRwbYJXQ8uZsVMHSYOeP0G36jDc/viewAbout The Speaker: Elias Sacks is an Associate Professor of Religious Studies and Jewish Studies at the University of Colorado Boulder, where he studies Jewish thought, philosophy of religion, Jewish-Christian relations, religious ethics, and religion and politics. He is the author of Moses Mendelssohn’s Living Script: Philosophy, Practice, History, Judaism (2017), as well as articles on medieval and modern thinkers including Mendelssohn, Moses Maimonides, Baruch Spinoza, Nachman Krochmal, Hermann Cohen, Franz Rosenzweig, and Jacob Taubes. Previously, Sacks served as Director of The Jewish Publication Society. ★ Support this podcast ★

Rabbi Dr. Shmuly Yanklowitz interviews Rabbi Dov Linzer & his Co-Author Abigail Pogrebin about their new book together "It Takes Two to Torah" published by Fig Tree Books. Their book discusses 52 weekly readings of the Torah in this adaptation of their Parsha in Progress podcast. Rabbi Linzer studied for many years at Yeshivat Har Etzion, was a member of Yeshiva University’s Gruss Kollel Elyon, and received his ordination from the Israeli Rabbinate. He is a recipient of the Javits Graduate fellowship and a doctoral candidate in Religion at Columbia University. Rabbi Linzer headed the Boca Raton Kollel for the first two-and-a-half years of its existence, giving classes to the rabbis of the Kollel, and lecturing throughout the South Florida communities. He has published Halakha and machshava articles in Torah journals and lectures widely at synagogues and conferences on topics relating to Halakha, Orthodoxy, and modernity. Rabbi Linzer spearheaded the development of the YCT Rabbinical School curriculum into an innovative four-year semikha program. In addition to overseeing the Yeshiva’s Torah curriculum, he teaches advanced Halakha in a broad range of areas across all four sections of the Shulchan Aruch. Rabbi Linzer teaches advanced classes in Talmud and a year-long class in Contemporary Challenges of Modern Orthodoxy. *Jewish Learning Center of New York *Abigail Pogrebin is the author of My Jewish Year: 18 Holidays; One Wondering Jew, which was a finalist for the 2018 National Jewish Book Award. She is also the author of Stars of David: Prominent Jews Talk about Being Jewish, for which Abigail interviewed 62 famous American Jews — from Ruth Bader Ginsburg to Steven Spielberg — about their religious identity. Her book, One and the Same delved into every aspect of growing up as a twin — of which Abby is one. (The identical kind.) Her bestselling Kindle Single, Showstopper, chronicled her teenage adventures on Broadway in a rare Sondheim flop. She was an Emmy-nominated producer for Mike Wallace at 60 Minutes, and before that produced for Bill Moyers on PBS. She has moderated conversations at The Streicker Center, The JCC in Manhattan, the UJA Federation, and the Shalom Hartman Institute. Tablet Magazine’s podcast, “Parsha in Progress” features a regular Torah discussion with Abigail and Rabbi Dov Linzer (President of Yeshivat Chovevei Torah). Abby received the “Impact Award” from the JCC in Manhattan, and the “Community Leader Award” from The Jewish Week in 2017. She served as President of Central Synagogue from 2015-18 and was Director of Jewish Outreach for Michael Bloomberg’s 2020 presidential campaign.*Abigail Pogrebin website* ★ Support this podcast ★

A virtual event presentation by Rabba Shani GrossThe event was co-sponsored by Temple Emanuel About the Event: In this class, we will explore what, if anything, Jewish tradition has to say about why we gather. What is the unique potential that can take place in Jewish communal gatherings, and what might be the dangers or pitfalls? Together we will explore the relationship and tensions that surround Jewish expression as individuals and in community with others.*Source Sheet: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1LxBpasLuv9kSzSV0RTHOYc3l08A1qAQXVewlDpa77rg/edit?usp=sharingAbout the Speaker: Rabba Shani believes that Jewish texts can serve as a shared language to connect Jews to their tradition and each other. This passion is what drives her work as the Senior Director of Education at the Pardes Institute of Jewish Studies. Before joining Pardes, Shani was the Founding Director of the Silicon Valley Beit Midrash. She earned a rabbinic ordination from Yeshiva Maharat and her Bachelor's Degree from Yeshiva University. Shani is a Wexner Graduate Fellow/Davidson Scholar, a Hillel International Fellow for Rabbinic Entrepreneurship, and a fellow of Va’tichtov: a fellowship aimed at elevating Jewish women’s scholarship. Shani has studied at several Batei Midrash including Migdal Oz, the Drisha Institute of Jewish Education, and of course the Pardes Institute of Jewish Studies. Shani particularly loves teaching Tanakh, Talmud, and Midrash. She lives in Berkeley, California with her husband Chaim, and their three sons, Elan, Navon, and Shalom. ★ Support this podcast ★

Community member and attorney Judy Schaffert talks about judicial integrity, its appearance on this year's ballot, what’s at stake, and what it entails.Judy Schaffert, a longtime member of Temple Solel in Paradise Valley, studied as a member of the Wexner Foundation Heritage Program, mentors with the Women’s Leadership Institute, and has taught at Arizona Limmud and the Arizona Bar Foundation. A retired career civil servant, she served most recently as chief staff attorney of the Arizona Supreme Court. Before that, practiced law as an assistant Arizona Attorney General and clerked for Arizona Supreme Court Chief Justice William A. Holohan. A native of New Jersey, she earned a B.A. from Yale in English, and her JD from the UCLA School of Law. Judy is also a past president of the National Association of Appellate Court Attorneys, the Jess Schwartz Jewish Community High School, the Jewish Tuition Organization, and Temple Solel. She and her husband Mike have two adult sons. ★ Support this podcast ★

A virtual event presentation by Dr. Sarah Bunin BenorThe event was co-sponsored by Congregation Or TzionAbout the Event: Over the past two centuries, migrations and other historical events have led to major changes in the linguistic profile of Jewish communities around the world. Yiddish is thriving in Hasidic communities, even as its use is diminishing elsewhere. Several longstanding Jewish language varieties have become endangered, as they are spoken primarily by older people, including Ladino, Judeo-Arabic, Jewish Neo-Aramaic (Iraq-Iran), and Jewish Malayalam (Southern India). At the same time, Jews are engaging with these languages in postvernacular ways, such as through song and food, and new Jewish language varieties are developing, including Jewish English, Jewish Latin American Spanish, and Jewish Russian. This talk explains these developments and makes the case for the urgent need for documentation and reclamation.About the Speaker: Sarah Bunin Benor is Vice Provost and Professor of Contemporary Jewish Studies at Hebrew Union College – Jewish Institute of Religion (Los Angeles campus) and Adjunct Professor at the University of Southern California Linguistics Department. She received her Ph.D. from Stanford University in Linguistics in 2004. She has published and lectured widely about Jewish languages and names, sociolinguistics, Yiddish, and American Jews. Her books include Becoming Frum: How Newcomers Learn the Language and Culture of Orthodox Judaism (Rutgers, 2012) and Hebrew Infusion: Language and Community at American Jewish Summer Camps (Rutgers, 2020). Dr. Benor co-edits the Journal of Jewish Languages (Brill) and directs the HUC-JIR Jewish Language Project, which features the Jewish Language Website and the Jewish English Lexicon. ★ Support this podcast ★

A virtual event presentation by Rabbi Dr. Yitz GreenbergThe event was co-sponsored by Arizona State University Jewish Studies About the Event: Rabbi Dr. Shmuly Yanklowitz, President & Dean of Valley Beit Midrash, will interview Rabbi Dr. Yitz Greenberg about his latest book, The Triumph of Life: A Narrative Theology of Judaism.The Triumph of Life is Rabbi Greenberg’s magnum opus—a narrative of the relationship between God and humanity as expressed in the Jewish journey through modernity, the Holocaust, the creation of Israel, and the birth of Judaism’s next era.About the Speaker: In the words of Professor Steven T Katz, chair of the Elie Wiesel Center for Judaic Studies at Boston University, “No Jewish thinker has had a greater impact on the American Jewish community in the last two decades than Rabbi Yitz Greenberg.”Rabbi Dr. Irving Greenberg (known affectionately as “Rav Yitz”) is perhaps our time's leading Jewish scholar and theologian. An author of many influential books on Jewish thought, ethics, and philosophy, Rav Yitz is the Past President of CLAL: The National Jewish Center for Learning and Leadership and Past President of Jewish Life Network/Steinhardt Foundation. Before these positions, he served as Rabbi of the Riverdale Jewish Center, was an Associate Professor of History at Yeshiva University, and was the founder, chairman, and Professor in the Department of Jewish Studies of City College of the City University of New York. He received his Ph.D. from Harvard and received ordination from Yeshiva Beis Yosef.Rabbi Greenberg is a singular leader of contemporary American Judaism, having shown leadership on many vital Jewish communal initiatives from the 1960s to the present. He served as Chairman of the United States Holocaust Memorial Council and has written extensively on the complexity of post-Holocaust theology as well as Jewish pluralism about the theology of Jewish-Christian relations and beyond. ★ Support this podcast ★

A virtual event presentation by Rabbi Yisroel JuskowiczThe event was co-hosted By Beth El PhoenixAbout the Event: In this class, we will focus on exploring each person’s unique potential, and learn some inspiring Torah ideas about potential.About the Speaker: Rabbi Yisroel Juskowitz is a noted artist, musician, author, and speaker. He has performed for Jews across the country from all walks of life and ages and is best known for his warm engaging style, and inspirational messages. He has produced three CDs of his soulful music, has drawn commissioned artwork, and has three bestselling books on Jewish topics, which drew widespread critical praise. Yisroel received a Bachelor's in Talmudic Law from Ner Israel, and later a Semichat Chaver Degree from RIETS at Yeshiva University. Yisroel is also a licensed Physical Therapist and a Certified Life Coach and focuses on people overcome their obstacles and reach their potential. He received Semicha (Rabbinic Ordination) through Machon Semicha, a Chabad-based program. He has two beautiful children who are the pride and joy of his life. Yisroel lives with his wife and family in Baltimore, MD. ★ Support this podcast ★

A virtual event presentation by Rabbi Micah StreifferThe event was co-hosted by Temple Chai About the Event: The solemn fast of Tisha B’Av (the Ninth of Av) commemorates the destruction of the ancient Temple. In this session, we will explore its meaning for modern Jews. What are the lessons to be learned from this ancient Jewish tragedy? How does it relate to our Jewish lives today – especially if we don’t mourn the loss of Temple-based Judaism? What does Tisha B’Av mean in 2024?About the Speaker: Micah Streiffer is a rabbi, teacher, writer, and lifelong student who is known for his engaging style in the classroom and his ability to make Jewish texts and ideas come to life. Micah is the founder of LAASOK  a virtual Beit Midrash (“House of Study”) that empowers liberal Jewish learners to deepen their connection with Judaism through study. He also serves Kol Ami, a Reform congregation in the Toronto area, and hosts the popular Seven Minute Torah podcast. Ordained a rabbi at the Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion (Cincinnati 2007), Micah has served as a congregational rabbi for 16 years. He is pursuing a Ph.D. in Jewish thought at McMaster University in Hamilton, Ontario. ★ Support this podcast ★