The Orthonomics Podcast

Harry Maryles is the author behind the blog Emes Ve-Emunah (which is now also released as a Substack publication). For many years he has written extensively and prolifically on issues of Halacha (Jewish law), hashkafa (Jewish philosophy), and contemporary matters affecting Orthodoxy. He does not shy away from sensitive or controversial issues, and his columns are just excellent. I've very much enjoyed reading his column and we have even interacted from time to time. He is a rabbi and holds a psychology degree, and also publishes essays and commentary for news-and-analysis outlets such as The Times of Israel. If you want to read his fascinating posts, here is a link to his BLOG, where he has been posting for many years, and here is a LINK to his new Substack, where you can subscribe to get his postings via email.

Elissa Felder is a: •  Renowned speaker • Author of the book "From One Life to the Next Life" • The Coordinator of Core's Communities of Practice Elissa also mentioned Chai Mitzvah and the excellent Sourcebook and Materials they have prepared for follow-up discussion of the topics she raises.

Esther Eisner is the founder of AfterForever.org, an online support community for Jewish divorcees. As a divorcee herself, Esther has experienced firsthand some of the challenges of rebuilding – both one's home and ones' self – post-divorce. She started After Forever to help others get back on their feet and to assist in navigating the path to starting over. This is the fourth and final episode of a series dealing wih divorce in the Orthodox Jewish community. See also episode 37 (an overview of the survey findings), episode 39 (conversation with Rabbi Weissmann, director of the Beth Din of America), and episode 40 (conversation with Attorney Deborah Chames, whose broad practice includes family law and divorce issues in the Orthodox community). Here are links to: The Survey of Orthodox Jewish Family Life, Marriage & Divorce. A Summary of the report. The AfterForever.org site offering support to divorcees. If you would like to receive our upcoming Health Survey, just send an email to mark@nishmaresearch.com. 

David Wolpaw reacts to the top health issues that Orthodox Jews recently told us are most important to them, including how their priorities compare with those of the general population. We also have a wide-ranging conversation covering such topics as attitudes toward vaccines, trust in medical authority and government, social media, Israel, and a little bit of politics.

Rocky Bochner is a data analyst and behavioral neuroscientist … and also both a certified personal trainer and a certified nutrition coach in the New York City Orthodox community. It is the latter – exercise and diet – that bring him to this program, in connection with our upcoming health survey. While his practice – RockFitnessNYC.com – provides personal training and classes for men, the issues we discuss apply to all adults in the Orthodox community. Additionally, he trains couples, prepares workouts for women, and can offers recommendations for female one-on-one trainers.

This episode continues our series on divorce, with our guest Deborah Chames, a highly respected partner at a Miami law firm. Deborah represents family law clients at Kluger, Kaplan, a Southeast Florida firm with clients nationwide. She handles high-net-worth divorces and high-conflict divorces. Guided by 42 years of experience, Chames crafts a strategy that advocates for clients while remaining sensitive. She is the first and only woman on the board of Yeshiva Toras Chaim, the largest Orthodox day school in the South. Her daughter, Melissa, also practices family law at Kluger, Kaplan. Chames works pro bono with the legal services committee of the Orthodox Union. In addition to providing solid advice to those contemplating or pursuing divorce, we discuss trends in Orthodox divorce, what she sees first-hand as the major causes, and she suggests some approaches that could reduce the problems and help young people transition into marriage. Links: Deborah's bio and contact information The Nishma Research 2025 divorce survey, some of which is discussed in this episode.

We did a recent divorce survey and discussed the findings in episode 37. This episode is the first of several follow-ups on that topic. The Beth Din of America serves as a national rabbinical court, affiliated with the Rabbinical Council of America and the Orthodox Union. It addresses a broad spectrum of issues and is likely the busiest beth din in the country. (This here are many in the US and experiences vary among them.) Rabbi Shlomo Weissmann is both a rabbi and a lawyer, having received rabbinic ordination from Yeshiva University and graduated from Columbia Law School. He oversees BDA operations and also serves as an arbitrator (dayan) and mediator in both civil and religious matters. He frequently write, speaks and teaches on how Jewish law intersects with contemporary secular law. Under his direction, the Beth Din has promoted the use and administration of the halakhic prenuptial agreement viewed as an effective solution to the agunah problem by preventing cases of divorce refusal. Links: •  The BDA and information about the halachic prenup. •  The Nishma Research 2023 Jewish Community Profile (See pages 36-38, which discuss the divorce process) •  Article "Beyond the Get: Why More Divorcing Couples Are Turning to the Beth Din of America," Jewish Link, July 24, 2025.

Dr. Berel Leib (Zachary) Epstein lives in Baltimore with his wife and children. He learns at Yeshivas Ner Yisroel. He also is a theoretical physicist and a Senior Staff Scientist at the Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory, where he engages in advanced research aimed at supporting the United States' technological edge in defense applications. He came to my attention when I received an email from Mosaica Press about his new book "Emunah and Physics: A Jewish Resolve." Mosaica Press writes: "The age of the earth. Archaeological evidence. The nature of miracles. These questions have often been either sidestepped or answered in ways that satisfy neither the scientific mind nor the believing soul. 'Emunah and Physics' does something rare: it takes these questions seriously, without flinching—and without losing the integrity of either science or Torah. "Dr. Epstein explores the blurred and often misunderstood boundaries between what we know, what we believe, and what we are still discovering. This book is not about proving Torah with science, nor is it about bending Torah to fit scientific models. It's about thinking clearly, with humility and depth, and seeing how the two worlds can not only coexist but deeply illuminate each other." Here is a LINK to information about this book.

In this episode, we interview Esther Eisner and David Sheril, two of the members of our Community Advisory Group that helped to develop this study. We discuss a wide range of findings among Modern Orthodox and Haredi Jews, including the causes of divorce and the factors that help to create a lasting marriage. The full report  ("A Survey of Orthodox Jewish Family Life, Marriage & Divorce") may be found HERE. Esther's Divorce Support Group – AfterForever.org – may be found HERE. Finally, our next study will cover Orthodox Jews and health. At this time, we would love to give you, our listening audience, an opportunity to chime in on issues related to health. So click HERE for a brief, two-minute mini-survey, where you will be able to suggest questions for us to ask in our survey of Orthodox Jews and health. Thank you so much for your participation. 

Rabbi Dov Fischer was ordained at Yeshiva University, has held leadership roles in numerous Jewish organizations, and is the founding rabbi of Young Israel of Orange County, California. He is also an accomplished trial attorney, writer, and prominent leader in advocacy relating to Orthodox Jewish issues. A UCLA Law school graduate, he has worked at major law firms, and has been an adjunct law professor for over 15 years. He is a public commentator, has written for The American Spectator, Israel National News, Forward, the Jewish Press, the Times of Israel, Arutz Sheva, and others, and has a series of YouTube videos containing Torah classes and other discussions, He is a prominent leader of the CJV (Coalition for Jewish Values), where he expresses thoughtful view and policy advocacy on issues related to Jewish Orthodoxy … from the political and religious right (hence the title of this episode). In this episode, Rav Fischer describes his fascinating background, and we discuss advocacy in the Orthodox community, Israel, polling, recent events in New York City, and more. Links and Contact Information: Coalition for Jewish Values - https://coalitionforjewishvalues.org Cross-Currents (At the Intersection of Torah and Current Events) – https://cross-currents.com Subscribe to Rav Fischer's YouTube channel at bit.ly/3REFTbk  and follow him on X (Twitter) at @DovFischerRabbi to find his latest classes, interviews, speeches, and observations.   To attend any of his three weekly Zoom classes — Sundays on the past week's events impacting Israel and world Jewry, and Tuesdays and Thursdays on the Tanakh (Bible) and Jewish law — send a request to rabbi@yioc.org.  

Ruthie Braffman Shulman is passionate about the importance of women's roles in Torah Leadership positions, and she currently serves as the Director of Women's Torah Leadership at Micah Philanthropies, where she develops and supports women in Torah leadership positions at shuls. Simultaneously, she is the Yoetzet Halacha and community scholar at Young Israel of West Hartford CT.   Ruthie studied at Sha'alvim for Women and Yeshiva University's Stern College and earned an M.A. in Talmud at Yeshiva University's Graduate Program for Advanced Talmudic Studies for Women (GPATS). She is also trained and certified as a Yoetzet Halacha.   Ruthie has nearly twenty years of experience in community leadership and Torah education, having worked at institutions such as United Orthodox Synagogues of Houston, Manhattan Jewish Experience, OU-JLIC at University of Pennsylvania and Drexel University.   She resides in Philadelphia with her husband and four children.   Here is the link to our Survey of Orthodox Jewish Family Life, Marriage & Divorce, available online through June 18, 2025: http://bit.ly/marriage-divorce-2025. 

Rabbi Weinberg is a distinguished Jewish educator, relationship coach, and speaker, renowned for his expertise in fostering healthy relationships and guiding personal development. He received his rabbinical ordination from Yeshiva University, he holds a master's degrees in marriage and family therapy, secondary education, and school administration; and a doctorate in education with a focus on adolescent religious development. He has over 25 years of experience as a teacher and school administrator, including serving as the principal at North Shore Hebrew Academy High School in Great Neck, New York. He currently lives in Israel, and conducts seminars, webinars, and speaking engagements focused on enhancing relationships between couples, parents and children, teachers and students, and more. Check out his website at https://www.rabbidrnoamweinberg.com/  

 In this episode, our wide-ranging discussion covers the size of the Orthodox and Modern Orthodox community, how and why the Orthodox have become a minority, the cost and standards of living of Orthodoxy, some under-valued benefits, and even some sport trivia! Our guest, Rabbi Zev Eleff received his Ph.D. from Brandeis University and M.A. from Teachers College, Columbia University. At Yeshiva University, Eleff graduated from Yeshiva College and received ordination from the Rabbi Isaac Elchanan Theological Seminary. He is a past Wexner Graduate Fellow/Davidson Scholar, a prestigious program for Jewish leaders and professionals. Zev Eleff is the president of Gratz College. One of the youngest presidents in American higher education, Eleff, at 35 years-old, was elected by the College's Board of Governors in 2021. He was previously chief academic officer of Hebrew Theological College and vice provost of Touro College Illinois. A prolific scholar, Eleff holds an international reputation for academic rigor and sophistication. He is the author or editor of 14 books and more than 120 articles in the fields of Jewish Studies and American Religion. Eleff's research in American Jewish history has received numerous awards, including the American Jewish Historical Society's Wasserman Prize and the Rockower Award for Excellence by the American Jewish Press Association. He is also a two-time finalist for the National Jewish Book Award, a member of the Academic Council of the American Jewish Historical Society, and one of the youngest faculty members promoted to full professor in Touro College's history. Eleff resides in Merion Station, Pennsylvania, with his wife, Melissa, and their three children. In this episode, we mention community feedback on a very wide range of Jewish topics that people want to learn. Here is a LINK to the community feedback on this topic.   

Frieda Vizel was raised in the Satmar Hasidic community. At age 25, she left that community and pursued higher education, culminating in a master's degree at Sarah Lawrence College. Since 2013, she has been offering walking tours of Hasidic Williamsburg. Her tours provide insights into the community's traditions and daily life, and are noted for their educational, respectful and balanced approach. And they are lots of fun. Her work offers a unique perspective, bridging her deep-rooted background in the Hasidic community with her academic pursuits and personal journey. She continues to foster understanding and dialogue about Hasidic life through her tours, writings, and her YouTube channel. Website: https://friedavizel.com YouTube Videos: https://www.youtube.com/@FriedaVizelBrooklyn   If you want to chime in on our upcoming survey dealing with divorce, check out this link: http://bit.ly/orthodox-divorce-2025  

Betzalel Rothstein is a Certified Divorce Coach and Mediator who is highly regarded and has been involved in hundreds of divorce cases over the past 10 years either as Mediator, Coach, Parenting Coordinator or Consultant. He has extensive experience in dealing with difficult topics such as parental alienation, blended families, relocation, and what to do when parents differ about hashkafah. Betzalel has personal experience with many of these topics and he has learned from many of the leading experts in high-conflict divorces. Betzalel's Contact Information: Website: www.shalomfamilymediation.com Email: Betzalel@shalomfamilymediation.com Phone: 646.493.9783 As noted in this episode, we plan to soon do a broad communal survey on the topic of divorce. We are giving all of our listeners the opportunity to chime in on issues they would like us to explore, as well as to sign up to get the survey form as soon as it is released. Just go to this link to participate: http://bit.ly/orthodox-divorce-2025

In this episode, we have a wide-ranging discussion, touching on such topics as: •  Significant differences between US and Canadian Jewry/Orthodoxy • Interactions and public conversations across among various denominations • The evolving role of women in Modern Orthodoxy  • Has politics become a "Jewish issue" (and/or divisive), including attitudes toward Israel and Zionism • Struggles with faith and rationality  • What factors lead to Orthodox couples getting divorced Steven Gotlib is Associate Rabbi at Mekor Habracha/Center City Synagogue in Philadelphia.  A graduate of Rutgers University, he received ordination from the Rabbi Isaac Elchanan Theological Seminary at Yeshiva University (RIETS), a certificate in mental health counseling from the Ferkauf School of Psychology in partnership with RIETS, and a START Certificate in Spiritual Entrepreneurship from the Glean Network in partnership with Columbia Business School. He also manages the marketing at RIETS, A popular guest speaker throughout the US and Canada, Rabbi Gotlib has written for various websites and publications.  He strongly believes in making Jewish theology, philosophy, and law as accessible as possible to all who seek guidance and comfort within our tradition. He can be reached at rabbisgotlib@mekorhabracha.org.  

Aliza Bulow is an author, educator and mentor to Jewish women around the world, who founded CORE, an organization that empowers and connects Orthdox Jewish women.  Core connects, develops and sustains women who engage in klal (the collective community) work. Core supports women in three main ways: 1) MMC (Mashpia-Mentor-Counselor) Program: Core offers 2.5 years of training to develop women who are pillars of spiritual support within our communities 2) Communities of Practice: Core connects women who share a field of Jewish service and offers continuing inspiration and education 3) Core Circles: Core supports women who facilitate Core Circles, small groups that strengthen relationships in local communities, and networks those Circles both regionally and internationally For more information, see http://coretorah.org. ---------- Before founding Core she directed Ner LeElef's North American Women's Program for 11 years where she coached rebbetzins and provided strategic development for outreach organizations in Canada, the US and Mexico.  Her love of Jewish texts and philosophy was developed at Michlelet Bruria, Hebrew University and Hunter College where she graduated with honors in Hebrew and Jewish Studies. In her early career, she worked for Partners in Torah and The Jewish Experience. Even before entering college, Aliza's passion for strengthening Jews and the Jewish community led her to campaign on behalf of Soviet Jewry and build settlements in Israel while serving in Nachal. That early passion has only grown with time. Over the past four decades, Aliza has worked with hundreds of women in over 50 cities and 5 continents, strengthening the social fabric of Klal Yisroel.   A few of the terms used in this episode: Mekarvot - Women involved in Jewish outreach Ratzon - Will; and Bitachon – Faith Kallah – Bride Hashkafah - Overall religious guiding philosophy / worldview Taharat Ha'Mishpacha – Jewish Halachic laws relating to marital relations  Kedushah - Holiness; and Tahara – Spiritual clanliness Chevra Kadisha - Jewish Burial Society Kavanah - Religious understanding and purpose

In this episode we present some surprising facts about Modern Orthodoxy and the Orthodox community as a whole, based upon Nishma Research surveys between 2016 and 2024. We explore the size and growth of the community, religious beliefs and practices, political views, the finances of living an Orthodox Jewish life, the role of women in Modern Orthodoxy, and the levels of optimism vs. pessimism among several denominations across the American Jewish community.        Did any of this surprise you? Do you have questions or suggestions for future research or podcast episodes? Would you like a follow-up episode sharing additional factoids? Contact us at orthonomics@nishmaresearch.com. All of the research cited may be found at this LINK.

Dina Goldman is at the frontier of researching and understanding the Chasidish and Yeshivish communities. She has spent over a decade working in marketing and advertising within the Orthodox Jewish community. Seeing how many businesses really lack solid information that they need, she founded Mispar – The Jewish Community, a Story of Numbers, a company focused on providing rich, timely data to help businesses and non-profits make informed decisions. Dina and her team conduct all kinds of studies, and she often uses creative methods to reach the Orthodox community … and that can be challenging. Mispar has also Orthodox Jewish research panel, giving researchers and businesses access to authentic voices within this community. In this episode we discuss how Orthodox and Charedi businesses and non-profit organizations can better understand their customers and the public, to develop and sell products, and meet their need. We also discuss some of the really fascinating issues she has explored, such as Orthodox finances, the businesses that Orthodox people are involved in and the related challenges, Shidduchim, and lots more. Raised in a Chasidish family, Dina now lives in Monsey with her husband and their happily blended family of four. In the episode closing we discuss some of our political research, which can be found in our 2023 Study and 2024 Study.  

Middot (and we're talking mainly about interpersonal behaviors) are so important, especially in these stressful days. So we are pleased to present this as a dual-platform episode, being released on both Orthonomics and The Franciska Show … both covering important issues in the Orthodox Jewish world, and both available at all podcast platforms. Much of this episode deals with findings from the recent survey: The Middot "Report Card": How We See Our Community and How We See Ourselves Across 19 Middot "Bein Adam L'chavero."   This episode is being co-hosted by Mark Trencher of Orthonomics, and David Sheril, a member of the Franciska Show Discussion Group. (Thanks to Franciska for recommending David to participate.)    David Sheril grew up in Chigwell, a suburb of London. His family became baalei teshuvah when he was nine years old.  When David was eleven, his family moved to the Bayit Vagan in Jerusalem. He moved to the U.S. at age 22, in 2005. David's yeshivah education includes Mir Yerushalayim and Ner Yisroel. He served as a rebbe at a Russian-American Jewish high school in Brooklyn for several years before going to law school. He is currently General Counsel for a privately-held real estate transactional, management, and lending company. David resides in Clifton, New Jersey, with his wife Miriam (formerly an officer at the Federal Reserve Bank and now Head of Product at an international fintech startup) and their three children.