Orthodox Conundrum

In the last Orthodox Conundrum (episode 66), Scott talked with Amanda Bradley about the crazy case of Michael Elkohen, a Christian missionary who was masquerading as a Chareidi rabbi, sofer, mohel, Kabbalist, and even kohen. In fact, he wasn't even Jewish at all, and neither was his wife; his actual last name was Elk, not Elkohen. The question still remains about what damage Michael Elk actually did. After all, Orthodox Jews might be a prime target of missionaries, but Orthodox Jews are far less likely to convert to Christianity than other sectors of the Jewish population. So are Michael Elk and the other imposters like him - yes, he's far from the only missionary pretending to be a rabbi - actually dangerous? To find out the answer to this and other related questions, Scott had an extensive conversation with Rabbi Tovia Singer of Outreach Judaism. 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

Towards the end of April, the Jewish world was rocked by the revelation that a supposed chareidi rabbi, mohel, and sofer living in Jerusalem, Michael Elkohen, was actually not Jewish at all, and was an undercover Christian missionary named Michael Elk. He had long claimed that he was a baal teshuva from the United States, but it became clear that he had no Jewish ancestry, that he was a believing Christian, and that the so-called yeshiva he had opened, Yarim HaAm, was actually a seminary which was designed to train other Messianic rabbis who would pose as Orthodox Jews while secretly working to transmit a belief in Jesus. Making the story even more complicated - and, frankly, crazier - is the fact that Michael's wife, Amanda, died from cancer several months ago in Jerusalem. And, it now turns out, Amanda was also an imposter, pretending with her husband to be a baalat teshuva when, in fact, she is a gentile from Washington State without any Jewish ancestry whatsoever. Amanda Bradley lives in Ramat Beit Shemesh, and was a close friend of Amanda Elk's. In fact, she stayed with her in the hospital the Shabbat before Amanda Elk died. She knows the story of the Elks as well as probably anyone, and is determined to work to make sure that Michael doesn't try to infiltrate another Orthodox community - which, actually - might be what he's trying to do. Join Scott as he asks Amanda about the Elks' story, how she found out the truth, and why this situation is so dangerous. Stay tuned next week for Part Two, where Scott interviews Rabbi Tovia Singer of Outreach Judaism to gain further insight into the ongoing threat of undercover missionaries in Israel. 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

Shira Lankin Sheps, the creator and publisher of The Layers Project Magazine, has been conveying the challenges and triumphs of Jewish women for years, and is passionate about creating spaces for stories that need to be told and changing the dialogue around stigmatized topics. Her new book, Layers, accomplishes this in new and exciting ways. Join Scott Kahn as he interviews Shira about the book's goals, what she wouldn't include and why, the reason there isn't a Layers Project for men, and much more. To purchase Layers, go to https://korenpub.com/products/the-layers-project. Use code LAYERS10 to get 10% off. 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

Members of the large evangelical Christian population in the United States have very often been vocal supporters of the Jewish State. But is that true for the younger generation? Can Israel count upon the support of millennial evangelicals? In the face of rising antisemitism, this question is extremely important. Join Scott as he speaks with Pastor Doug Reed and Rabbi Pesach Wolicki about whether this problem does, indeed, exist, what can be done to counter it, the need for greater and more effective social media activism, the beauty of Shabbat, and more. 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

Hamas rockets fired into Israel are instruments of terror, and have forced millions of innocent civilians into bomb shelters; seven people have been killed in these attacks, and scores injured. But for many people who love Israel, the Arab-Jewish riots taking place in mixed Arab-Jewish cities have even longer term consequences, with serious implications about the future of Israeli society. Join Scott as he asks Daniel Goldman to explain how we got here, what's actually going on, and what needs to be done to allow Israeli society to progress in a healthy and positive direction. 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 several recent episodes of this podcast, we've discussed issues related to what might be called ehrlichkeit as opposed to frumkeit: that is, the fact that ethics and honesty are often ignored at the expense of increased stringency in ritual. To continue that discussion, Scott was honored to speak with Rabbi Joseph Dweck, the Senior Rabbi of the S&P Sephardi Community of the United Kingdom. In this interview they talked about the move towards stringency and its consequences, whether there is a de-emphasis on studying ethics, how Orthodox Jews should interact with the non-Orthodox Jewish community without compromising halachic standards, the proper response to what occurred in Meron, and more. Please listen to and share the podcast, and let us know what you think on the Orthodox Conundrum Discussion Group on Facebook (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

The tragic events on Lag BaOmer have cut all of us deeply, and for those who lost family members the pain is indescribable. We cannot let this moment pass and assimilate it into our memories without making sure that we learn the lessons that are staring us in the face, and point fingers at those who should be held accountable. Join Scott and Shoshanna Keats-Jaskoll for a difficult but necessary discussion about what happened in Meron last Thursday. 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

Over the past couple of months, the issue of freeing "chained women" - that is, women whose husbands refuse to give them a get as Jewish law requires - has gained new momentum, thanks to a major campaign that began on Instagram. Yet the problem of get refusal remains one of the most pressing issues in the Orthodox world today. What motivates some men to withhold the get, and why do certain batei din and communities openly support their efforts? Are there cases of reverse blackmail, where the wife refuses to accept the get while threatening to expose her husband as a get refuser? How can the Halachic prenup solve some of these problems, and does it have any serious limitations? Is it possible that the Orthodox world needs to find a replacement for classic "kiddushin" marriage altogether? To discuss these and other relevant questions, Scott spoke with Keshet Starr, the Executive Director of the Organization for the Resolution of Agunot (ORA), the only nonprofit organization addressing the agunah (Jewish divorce refusal) crisis on a case-by-case basis worldwide. To reach the ORA helpline, call 1-844-673-5463. 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

David Schimmel z'l passed away last week. You probably never heard of David Schimmel; but that's about to change. The lessons we can learn from his life and death are lessons that need to inform our lives as religious Jews. לעילוי נשמת דוד בן שלמה ז"ל Uri Pransky may be reached in Israel at 972-52-763-8269. 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.

Orthodox Judaism is demanding. We often need to balance competing values - including the fact that our religious inclinations sometimes lead us into questionable moral territory. Too often, we seem make the wrong decisions. Whether with regard to ignoring Netanyahu's corruption trial, celebrating the merger of Israel's Religious Zionist party with racist and misogynistic factions, supporting obvious falsehoods, or speaking with vitriol against political opponents, we sometimes appear to be losing our moral compass. To discuss these and other issues, Scott Kahn spoke with Rabbi Yosef Blau, the Senior Mashgiach Ruchani at Yeshiva University. At the very least, it's time for Orthodox Jews to take a stand for ethics and morality. 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

The Orthodox Conundrum normally deals with weighty issues in Orthodox society; but in preparation for Pesach, I really enjoyed this interview with Meir Simcha Panzer and Nachliel Selavan about the history and themes of the Haggadah. Together we discussed some of the surprising ideas that underlie the Pesach Seder, as well as the importance of surprising ourselves and our families every time we read the Haggadah. Meir Simcha and Nachliel, who cohost the Artifact Podcast, never fail to find interesting concepts and themes that you might not have noticed before. As you get ready for Pesach, make sure you listen to make your Seder even more meaningful! 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

Jewish law requires that both the husband and wife consent to marriage or the marriage is not valid. In practice, however, certain Chassidic communities effectively force a couple to get married - a process which, while conforming to the technical details of halacha, does not truly give either spouse much choice in the matter. To discuss this difficult topic and the issues of consent that arise from it, Scott Kahn and Talli Rosenbaum spoke with Eve Sacks and Yehudis Fletcher, co-founders of Nahamu, about the markers of forced marriage, how the shidduch system might lead to forced marriage, and what can be done so that both husband and wife can enter a marriage willingly and with their full informed consent. (Also listen to the discussion that Scott and Talli have on Intimate Judaism, which extends the discussion to questions that affect Orthodox Jews outside of the Chassidic world. The episode is entitled "(31) Consent and Coercion: Does Judaism Promote Forced Marriage and Sex?" and can be found here: https://intimatejudaism.libsyn.com/) Please listen to and share the podcast, and let us know what you think on the Orthodox Conundrum Discussion Group on Facebook (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

The recent news reports about Yehuda Meshi-Zahav, the founder of ZAKA, have been extremely jarring: Meshi-Zahav, a hero to many throughout Israel, stands accused of many counts of sexual abuse. How can we use this as a teachable moment for our children? How should we deal with the prospect of another presumptive role model being revealed as something very different? And how do we balance teaching our children to be careful without frightening them? Rabbi Yakov Horowitz responds to these issues, and also explains the four basic rules of child safety that every parent and child needs to know. Please listen and share this widely, the message is as important as ever. 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

Rav Judah Mischel is one of those rare people who are permeated with insight, who possess a unique way of looking at the world, which provides those who meet them with encouragement and, frankly, joy. As we approach Pesach, Scott asked him to share his insights into faith, trusting in G-d, educating our kids, inculcating passionate Judaism, asking and addressing questions, the importance of stories, the place of Chassidut, and more. This was a deep and fun conversation; you definitely do not want to miss it. (And who knew that Rav Judah also considers Mister Rogers to be one of his teachers?) 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 anticipation of Purim, the Orthodox Conundrum is rereleasing this classic episode from last year. The issues raised, unfortunately, apply just as much this year as last.) Purim is, if not the most joyous holiday on the Jewish calendar, then certainly the most "fun." And therein lies the problem: are we teaching our children and students that having fun requires alcohol? Is teenage alcohol abuse a real danger, or is it healthy to let loose given that it's only one day a year? Is worrying about Purim drinking and the effects of kiddush clubs alarmist, or necessary? What should be done if you suspect that your kid has a problem, and how is "problem" even defined? Join Scott Kahn as he interviews Dr. Zev Ganz in this important and timely episode. 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 our Patreon site for bonus episodes, merch, and more at https://www.patreon.com/jewishcoffeehouse. Music: "Happy Rock" by bensound.com

The response to coronavirus protocols in Israeli ultra-Orthodox society has been disheartening. Of course, blaming the entire ultra-Orthodox world for the actions of a subset is absurd and unfair. And claiming that the Chareidi world somehow bears unique blame when the Tel Aviv beaches are often full, and protests against the government continue often without any concern for protocols, seems equally problematic. But we simply can't ignore the verifiable fact that a significantly greater percentage of Chareidi Jews have contracted the coronavirus than the Israeli national average; and this is at least partially the result of an overly relaxed attitude towards guidelines implemented by the government and recommended by the medical establishment. In order to discuss this problem, Scott spoke with Rabbi Nathan Lopes Cardozo, the Founder and Dean of the David Cardozo Academy and the Bet Midrash of Avraham Avinu in Jerusalem. The reason he reached out to him was because Rav Cardozo released an open letter to HaRav Chaim Kanievsky, shlita, who is widely regarded as the spiritual leader of much of the Israeli Chareidi world. The letter was a frank and pained request that he and other Chareidi rabbis do more to address the unacceptable ignoring of protocols among some members of ultra-Orthodox society. You can read the letter here: https://www.cardozoacademy.org/an-open-letter-to-rav-chaim-kanievsky-shlita/ 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 a world in which civil discourse is eroding, and where political or religious opponents are cast as enemies, the Orthodox community must step up and set an example... and we are failing miserably. Orly Wahba, the founder of Life Vest Inside, is actually doing something about it. Her film "Kindness Boomerang" was viewed by 100 million people, and she also created and launched Dance for Kindness, the largest annual worldwide FlashMob which has grown to be a phenomenal leadership training program in over 50 countries. Most recently, in 2019, Orly created and launched a mobile app in memory of her grandfather. The app, Abraham's Legacy: A Social Network for Prayer connects people across the globe through the power of collective prayer. Join Scott as he speaks with Orly about her projects, and how she knows from personal experience that a change in perspective can be transformative. 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

Mister Rogers has become a symbol of kindness, empathy, and understanding. Tim Madigan, who wrote I'm Proud of You: Life Lessons from My Friend Fred Rogers, says that the person on the TV screen was indeed the real Mister Rogers; and when he spoke to adults, Fred's spirituality, depth, intellect, and almost superhuman ability to be attentive and honest was readily apparent. In a world where polite discourse has too often devolved into shouting, and where those with whom we disagree are considered enemies, the messages offered by Fred Rogers are more important than ever. With that in mind, Scott spoke with Tim Madigan about his own experiences with Mister Rogers, and what we can all learn from him and from his example. If you would like to purchase Tim's book, click here: https://www.amazon.com/Im-Proud-You-Friendship-Rogers/dp/1470155117/ref=sr_1_1?dchild=1&keywords=I%27m+proud+of+you&qid=1612773792&sr=8-1 Thanks to all of our new Patreon subscribers, who now 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. Music: "Happy Rock" by bensound.com

The Orthodox world prides itself on its family values; nowhere is this more apparent than in the Orthodox emphasis on marriage and children. Getting there, however, can sometimes be fraught with all sorts of problems - what has come to be called the shidduch crisis. According to Anna Sherman, a Registered Psychotherapist, Maternal Mental Health Practitioner, and Clinical Supervisor, it's not just a problem of getting married; it's a problem of the wrong messages being sent, creating a divorce crisis even more than a shidduch crisis. Scott and Anna discuss the problems with the shidduch system, the consequences of these problems, and what kind of solutions are available to help Orthodoxy create a healthier way for couples to meet. Thanks to all of our new Patreon subscribers, who now have access to bonus JCH podcasts, merch, and more - we appreciate your help, and hope you really enjoy everything that you get! 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. Music: "Happy Rock" by bensound.com

When protestors attacked the United States Capitol based on the president's words, both Jewish law and Jewish values were torn to shreds. Many Orthodox Jews, while not supporting violence, refuse to recognize what has happened as a result of the Trump presidency. With two weeks left before Trump leaves office, Scott Kahn looks at what too many Orthodox Jews have lost as a direct consequence of Trump idolatry. Thanks to all of our new Patreon subscribers, who now have access to bonus JCH podcasts, merch, and more - we appreciate your help, and hope you really enjoy everything that you get! 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. Music: "Happy Rock" by bensound.com

As 2020 comes to a close, Scott takes a brief look back at the past year for Jewish Coffee House, and looks forward to even more in 2021 - and explains how you can help. Listen to the podcast, then go to https://www.patreon.com/jewishcoffeehouse (and do it fast to get a cup of coffee on us!).

How do we teach faith and belief to our students and children, when so much of society is dismissive of faith and belief? Should intellectual acquiescence or intimate experience be our primary goal? What are the questions that bother kids the most, and what should parents and teachers do when they don't have satisfactory answers to these questions? To address these and other issues, Scott spoke to Rabbi Pesach Sommer, who has over twenty years of experience teaching in Jewish days schools. He is also involved with Project Makom, an organization for charedim who are looking to find a more comfortable way of expressing their religiosity, where he speaks and offers guidance. Pesach is a popular writer, blogger, and accomplished speaker, and a noted thinker in the area of hashkafa and Jewish thought. 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 our Patreon site for bonus episodes, merch, and more at https://www.patreon.com/jewishcoffeehouse. Music: "Happy Rock" by bensound.com

It seems that a vaccine to prevent COVID-19 will be available as soon as next month. Yet many people are nervous about the vaccine, and suggested that they might not be interested in having it administered to them - at least not right away. There are concerns about the speed at which it was developed, the possibility of short and long term side effects that might not yet have been discovered, and more. And these questions persist within the Orthodox community, as much as anywhere else. To discuss the vaccine, both from a public health standpoint and from the perspective of Halacha, Scott Kahn interviewed Dr. Sharon Galper Grossman. Dr. Grossman is a radiation oncologist and former faculty member of Harvard Medical School, where she also obtained a Masters in Public Health. She is a graduate of the Morot L'Halakha program for women's advanced halakha learning at Matan Hasharon. She writes and lectures on women's health and halakha and teaches for Matan, Machon Puah and the Eden Center where she is the director of community health programming. 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 our Patreon site for bonus episodes, merch, and more at https://www.patreon.com/jewishcoffeehouse. Music: "Happy Rock" by bensound.com

It's difficult to deny that the Trump administration was far more pro-Israel than its predecessor; for that reason, many Israelis and others who support Israel are very nervous about what to expect from a Biden administration. Will the gains of the past four years be reversed? Will Biden reenter the Iran deal? Will Israel receive a warm embrace from Washington, or the cold shoulder? To answer these questions, Scott Kahn spoke to Ambassador Michael Oren. Michael Oren served as the Israeli ambassador to the United States from 2009 to 2013, and is a former Member of Knesset and deputy minister in charge of public diplomacy. As both an historian and someone who knows President Obama and Vice President Biden well, Ambassador Oren is uniquely equipped to provide insight into this pressing issue. 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 our Patreon site for bonus episodes, merch, and more at www.patreon.com/jewishcoffeehouse. Music: "Happy Rock" by bensound.com

Should rabbis express their opinion regarding the candidate they think is better? Should they articulate "the Torah's viewpoint" when it comes to elections? What dangers could potentially result from doing so? Join Scott Kahn for a special editorial episode of the Orthodox Conundrum, where he tells you whom he voted for (surprise, not Trump), and why he respects those who voted differently... with one specific exception. 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 our Patreon site for bonus episodes, merch, and more at https://www.patreon.com/jewishcoffeehouse. Music: "Happy Rock" by bensound.com

Many Jews have ambivalent feelings about Christian support for Israel. On the one hand, we're thrilled to have friends and supporters; but on the other hand, at what cost? Is Christian Zionism a ploy to support Israel and, in the process, convert unsuspecting Jews to Christianity? Is the missionizing impulse a key aspect of Christian Zionism? What, exactly, do Christian Zionists really want? To answer these questions, Scott Kahn spoke with John Enarson, a Christian who comes from an Evangelical background, and who is the Christian Relations Director at Cry For Zion. Also joining the conversation is Rabbi Pesach Wolicki, a leading media voice in the field of Jewish Christian relations, and an educator and consultant for the Outreach Department of the International Fellowship of Christians and Jews. 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 our Patreon site for bonus episodes, merch, and more at https://www.patreon.com/jewishcoffeehouse. Music: "Happy Rock" by bensound.com

How can it be that wide swaths of the religious Jewish world have become enamored with conspiracy theories, do-it-yourself research in matters of life and death, and even violence, when they don't like a government's policies? This is becoming the public perception of Orthodoxy, both within and without the Jewish world - and the sad reality is that this perception is not baseless. What can we do? How can we reset everything that has gone wrong? Join Scott Kahn for a presentation of the problem. We may not have the answers; but allowing these weeds to grow in Orthodoxy's garden is no longer an option. 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 our Patreon site for bonus episodes, merch, and more at https://www.patreon.com/jewishcoffeehouse. Music: "Happy Rock" by bensound.com

THIS PODCAST CONTAINS EXPLICIT MATERIAL. LISTENER DISCRETION IS ADVISED. Intimacy and sexual experiences are so closely connected with a person's sense of identity, and so seldom discussed in many religious communities, that they often are the source of tremendous feelings of guilt. When are these feelings misplaced and when do they serve a constructive purpose? How should a religious individual manage his experience of guilt? Is there a way to reframe the experience of shame or guilt in order to create a sense of empowerment? Join Talli Rosenbaum and Rabbi Scott Kahn as they tackle these and other timely questions. (This episode also appears on the Intimate Judaism website - go to https://www.intimatejudaism.com/ for show notes and more.)

Rabbi Yakov Horowitz, Founding Dean of Yeshiva Darchei Noam of Monsey, is finding solutions to enable students to learn Gemara, and to enjoy it. His talk with Scott Kahn included insights into solutions for helping students enjoy Gemara learning, effective testing and evaluation methodologies, thoughts about when students should begin learning Talmud, whether strong students also require skill building, how Rabbi Horowitz got into teaching, and much more. If you would like to order a copy of Rabbi Scott Kahn's "The Laws of Tekiat Shofar" for just $3.00, write to [email protected]. 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 our Patreon site for bonus episodes, merch, and more at https://www.patreon.com/jewishcoffeehouse. Music: "Happy Rock" by bensound.com

"Everybody moved up. It was transformational for every single kid. Every single kid." Orthodox education emphasizes Talmud. And too often, the main thing that students learn in Talmud class is how much they don't enjoy it. It gets worse: often, they spend years studying and still haven't a clue about what it means, or how to learn it properly. Rabbi Yakov Horowitz, Founding Dean of Yeshiva Darchei Noam of Monsey, recognizes the problem and has set out to rectify it with a new book that attempts to change the way students look at Gemara. In Part One of his conversation with Scott Kahn, he explains what we're doing wrong, and how we can make it right. Plus - all about the Scarlet Letter A, the connection between Gemara, skiing, golf, and guitar, and much more. Don't miss our live Facebook and Zoom discussion about teaching Gemara skills on Thursday, September 3 at 1 PM EDT on the Jewish Coffee House Facebook page. https://www.facebook.com/JewishCoffeeH/ 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 our Patreon site for bonus episodes, merch, and more at www.patreon.com/jewishcoffeehouse. Music: "Happy Rock" by bensound.com

"The answer is no and continues to be no." Jodi Samuels says that people used to say, "When we grow up, we want to be like the Samuels"; until 2008, everything about her life seemed perfect. But in February of that year, when her daughter Caila was born with Down Syndrome, her life changed dramatically, and she and her husband almost immediately became activists. And when the local Orthodox school refused to allow Caila to enroll, Jodi's activism made news around the world. Join Scott Kahn as he interviews Jodi Samuels about her fight for inclusion, the successes and difficulties she has faced along the way, and her new book, Chutzpah, Wisdom and Wine: The Journey of an Unstoppable Woman. Visit Jodi's website at https://www.jodisvoice.com/. 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 our Patreon site for bonus episodes, merch, and more at https://www.patreon.com/jewishcoffeehouse. Music: "Happy Rock" by bensound.com

Several weeks ago, the Orthdox Conundrum released a podcast where two men discussed the Israeli Chief Rabbinate's refusal to allow women to take the exams for rabbinic ordination. The fact that no women were involved in this conversation, as well as the content of the podcast, generated a brand new controversy. Is it offensive for men to discuss women's roles in Judaism without having a woman present? Join Scott Kahn as he interviews Anne Gordon, Rachel Stomel, and Shoshanna Keats-Jaskoll - the leaders of Chochmat Nashim - about this important issue, as well as about semicha, women in leadership roles, the future of Halachic Judaism, and much more. 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 our Patreon site for bonus episodes, merch, and more at https://www.patreon.com/jewishcoffeehouse. Music: "Happy Rock" by bensound.com

Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu has had a plan to annex up to 30% of the West Bank... but what that plan is, and whether it will happen altogether, is open to question. What's going on? Is annexation in Israel's best interests? What could go right and what could go wrong? And how might it affect American Jewish support for Israel? Join Scott Kahn as he discusses these and other questions with Dr. Sara Yael Hirschhorn of Northwestern University in Chicago. 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 our Patreon site for bonus episodes, merch, and more at https://www.patreon.com/jewishcoffeehouse. Music: "Happy Rock" by bensound.com

Israel's Attorney General recently declared that women should be allowed to sit for the same rabbinical exams as men, albeit not in order to acquire the title "Rabbi." The Chief Rabbinate, however, threatened to stop all examinations if this plan were implemented. Is the Chief Rabbinate justified? Is there a problem with women being rabbis in Orthodoxy? If so, is there an equivalent position or title which would be acceptable? And are the current steps leading down a slippery slope where traditional gender roles will be undermined? To answer these questions, Scott Kahn spoke with Rabbi Dr. Kenneth Brander, the President and Rosh HaYeshiva of Ohr Torah Stone. They had a frank discussion about his views regarding the role of women in Modern Orthodoxy, and the roles that women can - and should - play in communal spiritual leadership. Here are links Rabbi Brander mentioned in the podcast: https://www.yutorah.org/sidebar/lecture.cfm/848712/rabbi-dr-kenneth-brander/is-there-a-glass-ceiling-for-the-roles-of-women-in-orthodoxy-/ https://ots.org.il/marching-on-the-glass-floor/ 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 our Patreon site for bonus episodes, merch, and more at https://www.patreon.com/jewishcoffeehouse. Music: "Happy Rock" by bensound.com

Orthodox Judaism often has a fraught relationship with the arts, characterized by both tension and fascination. Some Torah sources emphasize the great spiritual potential in music and the visual arts, while others consider art a waste of time - or worse. In this live episode of the Orthodox Conundrum, Scott Kahn is joined by Franciska Goldschmidt Kosman and a panel of experts - Abie Rotenberg, Simcha Leiner, Moshe Braun, and Chaim Aizenshtat - to discuss Judaism and the arts. They address the way to relate to creative endeavors, how an artist can remain true to both Halacha and his artistic calling, issues surrounding kol isha, including art in school curricula, and much more. 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 our Patreon site for bonus episodes, merch, and more at https://www.patreon.com/jewishcoffeehouse. Music: "Happy Rock" by bensound.com

Shaina Be Hirsch was visiting the Temple Mount and videoing it on Facebook Live, when she was accosted by a security guard who demanded that she retract her factual claim that there was a Temple on the site before there was a mosque there. When she refused, and continued to insist on factual accuracy, she was literally arrested by the Waqf. Join Scott Kahn for a disturbing interview with Shaina as she recounts her story, and discusses what has been done and what further needs to be done to ensure that history itself is no longer denied. You can read Shaina's account and watch her FB video here: https://blogs.timesofisrael.com/in-the-waqfs-custody/ Check out jewishcoffeehouse.com/ for the Orthodox Conundrum and other great podcasts, and remember to subscribe to them on your favorite podcast provider. Also visit our Patreon site for bonus episodes, merch, and more at https://www.patreon.com/jewishcoffeehouse. Music: "Happy Rock" by bensound.com

Professionals expect to be paid, and rightly so. Why, then, are so many educators and rabbis in the Jewish world expected to teach, lecture, and officiate for free - and are often viewed as hypocrites when they ask for payment? In this episode of the Orthodox Conundrum, Scott Kahn speaks with veteran educator Sarah Rudolph, a teacher living in Cleveland whose frustration about this very issue inspired her to write a well-received article in The Forward, "The Injustice of Asking Jewish Educators to Do Unpaid Work." Check out jewishcoffeehouse.com/ for the Orthodox Conundrum and other great podcasts, and remember to subscribe to them on your favorite podcast provider. Also visit our Patreon site for bonus episodes, merch, and more at www.patreon.com/jewishcoffeehouse. Music: "Happy Rock" by bensound.com

During this time when many of us are effectively isolated in our homes, many religious questions arise. What should be done about minyan? Should weddings be delayed? Should yeshivot stay open despite the determination of government authorities? What special tefilot should we say? How can we use this time effectively? How should we explain this situation to our children? In this episode of the Orthodox Conundrum, Scott speaks with Rav Chayim Soloveichik shlit"a, the rabbi of Ohr Shalom in Ramat Beit Shemesh, who provides his unique insights into these and other questions. [NOTE: After the release of this podcast, and after additional restrictions were imposed in Israel, Rav Chayim Soloveichik has decided to close the shul until further notice.] Check out jewishcoffeehouse.com/ for the Orthodox Conundrum and other great podcasts, and remember to subscribe to them on your favorite podcast provider. Also visit our Patreon site for bonus episodes, merch, and more at www.patreon.com/jewishcoffeehouse. Music: "Happy Rock" by bensound.com

"Until then, I only thought I was Jewish." Elisheva Rishon was born in Brooklyn to Orthodox parents, and as a young child, loved everything about being Jewish. Sadly, the response of too many Orthodox Jews to her skin color made her feel excluded from the Orthodox community, and taught her the unfortunate lesson that she would always be treated differently from others. In this episode of the Orthodox Conundrum, Scott interviews Elisheva about her experiences, her perspective as a Black Jewish woman on racism in the Orthodox world, and what concrete steps we all need to take to eliminate this scourge from our community. Elisheva created the empowerment-based brand, Eli7 Designs, to help people heal and learn to love themselves through fashion. Visit her website at https://eli7designs.com/. 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 our Patreon site for bonus episodes, merch, and more at https://www.patreon.com/jewishcoffeehouse. Music: "Happy Rock" by bensound.com

Purim is, if not the most joyous holiday on the Jewish calendar, then certainly the most "fun." And therein lies the problem: are we teaching our children and students that having fun requires alcohol? Is teenage alcohol abuse a real danger, or is it healthy to let loose given that it's only one day a year? Is worrying about Purim drinking and the effects of kiddush clubs alarmist, or necessary? What should be done if you suspect that your kid has a problem, and how is "problem" even defined? Join Scott Kahn as he interviews Dr. Zev Ganz in this important and timely episode. 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 our Patreon site for bonus episodes, merch, and more at https://www.patreon.com/jewishcoffeehouse. Music: "Happy Rock" by bensound.com

In our previous episode, we discussed the problem of racism within the Religious Zionist community. Left unanswered, however, was the question of why some Religious Zionist communities tend to move in that direction. What is it about Religious Zionist philosophy which can engender racist attitudes? Is it as big a problem as it appears? And what can be done to fight it? Join Scott Kahn and his special guest, Daniel Goldman, for a frank discussion about these and other issues. Join our team, support this podcast, and get great extra stuff! Go to www.patreon.com/jewishcoffeehouse to learn more. Music: "Happy Rock" by bensound.com

We are rightly proud when religious Jews act in a manner that is a kiddush Hashem. And recently, we have heard of a number of such examples. On the other hand, when there is a chilul Hashem, too often we write it off, attribute it to some bad apples, or perhaps to someone who doesn't represent our community. For people in the Orthodox world in general, and in the Dati Leumi community in particular, it's time to acknowledge something rotten that has made its way into our world - and we barely even acknowledge it. Join our team, support this podcast, and get great extra stuff! Go to https://www.patreon.com/jewishcoffeehouse to learn more. Music: "Happy Rock" by bensound.com

Antisemitism is a growing problem... and 25,000 people marched in New York as a protest against it. Are we just trying to make ourselves feel better? What are its causes. and can anything be done to reduce it? How is the rise of antisemitism related to Israel, and is it forcing supporters of Israel to go underground? Are Chassidic communities, which have largely been victimized more than other segments of the Jewish world, being adequately supported by other Jews? Join me and Shira Hanau of the New York Jewish Week, and the New York Press Association's 2018 Rookie of the Year, for a discussion which is - perhaps surprisingly - simultaneously somewhat depressing and somewhat hopeful. Go to https://jewishcoffeehouse.com/ to check out our updated site, with new podcasts, a blog, and more! Join our team, support this podcast, and get great extra stuff! Go to https://www.patreon.com/jewishcoffeehouse to learn more. Music: "Happy Rock" by bensound.com

Sexual abuse is horrific, and can ruin a person's life. When the abusers are community leaders - and the community has a vested interest in making sure that they remain leaders in good standing - there's a double betrayal. Scott Kahn asks Genendy to relate her own story of sexual abuse, along with her message of healing. Genendy was one of subjects of Dalit Kimor's documentary, Unkept Secrets, and is the author of a memoir, The Price of Truth. Music: "Happy Rock" by bensound.com

Sexual abuse continues to be a scourge in the Orthodox Jewish world; and the lack of awareness applies to all sectors of the population, whether Modern, Dati Leumi, or Chareidi. We can and must take action to address this and prevent it. What can we do? Join me as I speak with Rabbi Yakov Horowitz, Director of the Center for Jewish Family Life and Project Y.E.S., and one of the world's leading experts on sexual abuse in the Orthodox community, in a wide ranging, sometimes disturbing, but ultimately hopeful interview. Music: "Happy Rock" by bensound.com

Among many Orthodox Jews, there seems to be a crisis of faith - and the issue is even more acute among our children and students. Can we teach belief? Are there strategies to help inculcate emunah? Rabbi Shmuel Feld, founding director of the Jewish Education Innovation Challenge, joins me today to discuss some of the problems, and to offer practical techniques that can guide teachers and parents in their quest to develop genuine faith. Music: "Happy Rock" by Bensound.com

Orthodox Judaism prides itself on its emphasis on strong family life; but does that emphasis come at the expense of unmarried individuals in our communities? What sorts of challenges do singles experience, and is there more that we can do to create more a more inclusive Orthodoxy? Join Scott Kahn as he interviews Rabbi Josh Yuter about this important and pressing issue. (This episode continues a discussion which began on the Intimate Judaism podcast; check it out at https://www.intimatejudaism.com/singles-sex-and-orthodoxy-episode-14/) Music: "Happy Rock" by Bensound.com

"President Trump is the most benevolent leader the Jewish people have ever known in their 2,000 years in their Diaspora, believe me." So said Rabbi Yechezkel Moskowitz, chairman of the recent National Council of Young Israel dinner. Should an Orthodox synagogue organization so openly genuflect before President Trump? Does this express proper gratitude for what the president has done for Israel, or does it celebrate a person whose character represents the antithesis of Torah values? Should the Young Israel involve itself in controversial political decisions in Israel, which it did when it supported Netanyahu's brokering of a merger of the Bayit Yehudi and Otzmah Yehudit parties, the latter of which is run by supporters of Meir Kahane? And why did Rabbi Moskowitz claim that an anti-Trump Facebook group bears some responsibility for the Pittsburgh shooting last October? Join Scott Kahn for a contentious yet respectful discussion with Rabbi Moskowitz about these and other serious issues regarding Orthodoxy, Trump, Israel, and the American Jewish community. Please subscribe, rate, and review on iTunes - just go to itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/ortho…rum/id1289716034, click on "View in iTunes," and you're ready to go. Music: Happy Rock by bensound.com

Talmud is the lifeblood of Jewish education; it is the centerpiece, the central pillar - and with good reason. But with so many students not enjoying or understanding Talmud, is it possible that we're doing something wrong? Is it possible that our educational system is predicated upon a wrong assumption? How can we inspire more students, without losing that which makes Jewish education unique? Join Scott Kahn as he begins the process of evaluating our educational system, on this episode of the Orthodox Conundrum. Please give to the Gift of Life's new campaign to save lives! Go to https://www.causematch.com/en/projects/gift-of-life-2019/ to help people suffering from blood cancers literally get a second chance at life. Please subscribe, rate, and review on iTunes - just go to itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/ortho…rum/id1289716034, click on "View in iTunes," and you're ready to go. Music: Happy Rock by bensound.com

The Orthodox Conundrum has been on unintentional hiatus for a couple of months... but Scott Kahn has a good excuse. He explains everything through a story about a soccer ball hitting his son in his left eye, and the heady events - physical and spiritual - that proceeded as a result of a simple schoolyard game of monkey in the middle. Plus: a dvar Torah about Naaseh v'Nishma, and the unity of Israel. Please subscribe, rate, and review on iTunes - just go to itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/ortho…rum/id1289716034, click on "View in iTunes," and you're ready to go. Music: Happy Rock by bensound.com