Bad Jew

Mr. Thrive Media
Bad Jew Podcast

What is a bad jew? What does it take to not be one? Is it anti-Semitic to say? Or is it just a phrase that Jews use to cruelly judge one another? Chaz Volk, a newly observant Jew, shares that the greatest way to embrace your identity is to question everything. And we mean EVERYTHING! Chaz questions the Torah, law, politics, standards, communities and even G-d itself in this confrontational and edgy show. About Chaz: Chaz Volk grew up in Thousand Oaks, California where he began Torah studies until he was Bar Mitzva'ed at Temple Etz Chaim. From a young age, he was very aware of his uniqueness and how he was the token-Jew outside of Jewish settings. In middle school, Chaz experienced his first taste of antisemitism which brought him closer to his identity, despite his adversaries' wishes. Later, he'd attend San Francisco State University, where he'd get deeply involved at SF Hillel as a volunteer and intern. SFSU's social climate and its perspective on Jews and Zionism became clear from an early point. He'd later become the lead plaintiff in a lawsuit known today as Volk v. CSU Board of Trustees. In this class action case, Chaz Volk and his representation won. Since then, Chaz has proudly immersed himself in his identity and partaken in communities across southern California. Most recently, Chaz's emotional awakening occurred on an organized trip to Israel. There he adopted new practices that he instilled in his lifestyle to this day. Today, he's a volunteer and frequent of Aish HaTorah's programming and plans to use this show to promote their programs, events, and resources along with valuable Jewish teachings. Want to engage with our online WhatsApp community? Email: BadJewPod@gmail.com Brand partnership: BadJewPod@gmail.com IG: @badjewpod TikTok: @badjewpod

  1. 6 DAYS AGO

    Why Do Bad Things Happen To Good People? with Rabbi Asher Resnick

    Bad things keep on happening to good people. In what world is that acceptable and how could God let that happen? People who are suffering and undergo unsurmountable levels of pain struggle with this question all of the time. Many lose their belief in God over this question. For others, it strengthens their connection to God. Rabbi Asher Resnick has gone through a lot in his life, yet he's a great person. Rabbi Resnick is no stranger to pain. He has dealt with things that you wouldn't wish on your worst enemy. Drawing for Torah and Jewish teachings, Resnick shares his wisdom with Chaz Volk, host of Bad Jew, easing the minds of those who listen ensuring that there's something bigger happening.  Timeline: 00:00 Introduction 09:06 Dealing with suffering deepened my faith  13:03 Life distracts from feeling God's unconditional love 15:28 Focus on future 18:07 Using trauma to make the world better 22:44 Judaism emphasizes choice and finding life's meaning 24:45 Finding hope again 30:38 Success from trauma and resilience 32:12 Conclusion About Rabbi Asher Resnick: Rabbi Asher Resnick was born and raised in LA, and graduated from UCLA with a BA in Psychology. He received rabbinic ordination from Aish HaTorah and the Chief Rabbi of Jerusalem. He served as a senior lecturer at the Institute of Jewish Legal and Medical Ethics in San Francisco, and at the Aish HaTorah Branch in New York. Rabbi Resnick is currently one of the Educational Coordinators of Aish’s Executive Learning Center, and a senior training lecturer for Aish HaTorah’s Rabbinical Ordination program. As a close student of the late Rabbi Noach Weinberg zt”l, he developed a special expertise in addressing fundamental issues in Judaism, as well as in bringing classical texts to life. He established his JewishClarity.com website to make his wealth of material accessible to a far wider audience. Connect with Rabbi Asher Resnick: Buy "Pain is a Reality, Suffering is a Choice": https://www.amazon.com/Pain-Reality-S... Learn more about Rabbi Asher Resnick at https://yeshiva.aish.com/meet-our-staff/ Connect with Bad Jew:  BadJew.co https://linktr.ee/badjew BadJewPod@gmail.com Ig @BadJewPod TikTok @BadJewPod

    34 min
  2. 12 SEPT

    Does Free Will Exist? with Rabbi M.Z. Dubov

    Free Will doesn't exist... or does it? Afterall, all of our decisions are impacted by the decisions right before... right? Philosophy may not be your strong suit but surely we simply come into existence and act on our needs and what's around us. It's nice to feel like we make decisions but surely we're just animals like the rest of the living organisms on this Earth, thus we have no free will.... right? Rabbi M.Z. Dubov has much more to say on this! Free will does exist even with G-d in the picture! Dubov highlights the part conscience and a freed mindset play in the understanding of our place in the universe. Chaz Volk, host of Bad Jew and someone who once believed there was no free will, takes a deep dive into Jewish philosophy. 00:00 Introduction 06:19 Paradigm shift 08:36 Discovering Jewish tradition 12:06 Realized free will concerns 13:54 Free will exists if a higher consciousness exists 18:28 Debate over free will among believers and atheists 23:46 Determinism vs. free will in Jewish philosophy 27:28 Einstein theory 29:00 Decisions result from inputs. 34:23 Universe is not synonymous with God. 36:58 Humans are thoughts in God's infinite consciousness 40:14 Deterministic existence nullifies genuine human experience 42:34 Universal love, independence, image of God 46:49 Realize you are a soul, not a body 49:39 Survival vs. Lifestyle 52:15 Conclusion About Rabbi M.Z. Dubov:  Born in Minsk, Belarus, MZ grew up in Brooklyn in an immigrant family which fled the USSR due to antisemitism. He attended public school until enrolling in the Boston College Carroll School of Management, from which he graduated with a B.S. in Operations & Business Consulting. During his time at BC, he became heavily involved in Israeli Advocacy, co-founding “Eagles for Israel.” While running diplomatic and cultural events, MZ met Rabbi Chananel Weiner, a student of Rabbi Noach Weinberg zt”l (the founder of Aish). Rabbi Weiner opened MZ’s eyes to the depth and beauty of his Jewish roots. After graduation and before jumping into the corporate world, MZ came to Aish to learn more and decided to stay, having found his calling in life. With seven years of Torah study under his belt, MZ received Rabbinical ordination from Rabbi Nachum Barowski and Rabbi Avigdor Nebenzahl. He acts as the Director of the FoundAISHons program, in which he teaches daily and serves as a mentor to students past and present. Rabbi MZ enjoys playing basketball, hiking, taking joyrides, listening to music, and teaching his kids about this wonderful world in which we live. He and his wife often host for Shabbat in their home in French Hill, Jerusalem. Connect with M.Z. Dubov: Aish.com FeadYourHead.blog Plus.Aish.com OlamiTogether.org Souled.Olami.org Connect with Bad Jew:  BadJew.co https://linktr.ee/badjew BadJewPod@gmail.com Ig @BadJewPod TikTok @BadJewPod

    56 min
  3. 4 SEPT

    Is Jewish Identity At Risk? with Shoshanna Stein

    What's happening with the Jewish people right now? Can we agree on anything? Is it even worth debating anymore? Up is down and down is up. Explanations fall on deaf ears and those who we once thought were Jewish are raising children in a completely different faith. Our identity seems to be in perils... or is it? Shoshanna Stein, known for being a Jewish teacher and content creator, gives a humbling and realistic take on what is happening to our identity and culture. While Jews are constantly at odds with each other on how to live as a Jew, Chaz Volk, host of Bad Jew, enters with an open mind to investigate the implications, statistics, and practices that Jews hold so dear (such as Shabbat). 00:00 Introduction 05:53 The Jewish identity is much more meaningful 07:30 Mindfulness in daily life leads to gratitude 11:27 The beauty of unexpected prayers. 14:56 The power of shabbos 19:21 Connecting humanity to Godliness 22:23 Antisemitism in the diaspora 24:07 Strive for unity to uphold Jewish values 29:19 Conclusion About Shoshanna Stein: Born into a Chabad family, Shoshanna Stein hails from a highly orthodox background. At 18, she relocated to Israel, she pursued studies in fashion in Tel Aviv where she got her degree. Shoshanna is a mother of three and is passionate about art, using her experiences to create meaningful and spiritual pieces. Her profound connection to Judaism is evident in her vibrant Jewish life, which combines Chabad and Sephardic influences. A particular focus is the Ki Tov Project, which conveys the belief that everything is essentially good. Now involved in the Hebrew Academy, she aims to bring the Ki Tov Project to schools in Miami and beyond. Connect with Shoshanna Stein: https://linktr.ee/mysocalledjewishlife Connect with Bad Jew:  BadJew.co https://linktr.ee/badjew BadJewPod@gmail.com Ig @BadJewPod TikTok @BadJewPod

    31 min
  4. 28 AUG

    How Do You Ask G-d For Things? with Jesse Orenshein

    How many times have you clasped your hands together, looked up at the sky, and BEGGED G-d for something only to get crickets in return. Praying to G-d can be a disheartening and even intimidating task for some. This is an incredibly valid and real experience and anyone who believes in G-d would be lying if they said that was never their experience. But what if there was a better way to ask for things? Jesse Orenshein, known for his valiant and impressive efforts on the famous TV show American Ninja Warrior, tells his story about the eye-opening epiphany that changed the course of his Jewish journey. Chaz Volk, host of Bad Jew, who recently learned how to pray and daven from his most recent trip to Israel, refines his understanding thanks to Jesse and his tried and true experiences.  00:00 Introduction 03:09 Asking G-d for Things 07:16 American Ninja Warrior experience 09:22 Out of Body experience 13:14 Difficulties of competing while religious 18:27 Grace and sacrifice 22:00 Miraculous changes 24:40 Impacts of Israel 26:48 You can't always get what you want 30:06 Persistence and luck 33:58 Custom prayer can follow Rambam's format 35:42 Conclusion About Jesse Orenshein: Jesse Orenshein is a children's book author, screenwriter, and 4-time competitor on NBC's hit show, American Ninja Warrior. His recent appearance on Season 16 gained mass Jewish recognition, after Jesse iconically put on a back-up yarmulke when his first one fell in the water. Jesse competes on ANW to inspire Jews around the world, especially the four loves of his life - his wife and three beautiful daughters. Buy Jesse Orenshein's books at: www.GrandpaHerbiesStories.com Connect with Bad Jew: BadJew.co https://linktr.ee/badjew BadJewPod@gmail.com Ig @BadJewPod

    37 min
  5. 21 AUG

    Is The IDF The Most Moral Army In The World? with Sam Fried

    You turn on your TV or go on your phone and the first video that pops up is insurmountable destruction of Gaza. A once complete society is now in rubble, leaving bloodied bodies and children behind. And who's responsible? Israel. Surely this is a genocide, right? Well, it's true that Gaza is in ruins but characterizing what's going on in Gaza as a genocide is tone deaf. Sam Fried, a former paratrooper and two-time veteran of the Israeli Defense Forces, has continued his fight by speaking on behalf of Israel and the IDF. Chaz Volk, host of Bad Jew, takes common misconceptions and narratives seen from his @badjewpod tiktok account and tests Fried on his responses to dig deeper and find the truth. 00:00 Introduction 03:51 Speaking for peace 06:56 Genocide? 11:22 Echo chambers on social media 16:09 The IDF's draft 18:45 Displacement of Palestinians 20:05 The heinous nature of war 25:40 The principals of the IDF 27:17 Not playing fairly 31:37 Reflections on October 7th 34:43 Dialogue, peace, and disagreement are necessary 36:30 Conclusion About Sam Fried: Sam Fried is 27, from New York, works in finance at an international bank, and served in the IDF Paratroopers from 2020-2022. On October 7th, Sam knew he had to take action to protect Jews and eradicate the inhumanity that Hamas brought to the world. Sam is a First-Sergeant Paratrooper reservist in the IDF who recently returned from fighting in Gaza. He served as a commander of a squadron and as a sharpshooter in the middle and south of Gaza for approximately 50 days on the front lines fighting Hamas, as well as several high-priority missions in the West Bank. Since returning home, Sam has been committed to Hasbarah (Israel advocacy), speaking to Jewish and non-Jewish communities around the country whether at universities, churches, mosques, on panels, debates, synagogues, schools, etc. to promote his thee foundational pillars: 1) Empowering Jews and allies to be proud in today’s environment, 2) Peace through dialogue, and 3) Humanizing the IDF. Connect with Sam Fried: IG @samfried26 Connect with Bad Jew: BadJew.co https://linktr.ee/badjew BadJewPod@gmail.com Ig @BadJewPod

    38 min
  6. 15 AUG

    What is the REAL story of Tisha B’Av? With Rabbi Yom Tov Glaser

    We have to fast? Again? Yep. For another 25 hours, Jews are told to fast for what is considered the saddest day in the Jewish calendar. Tisha B’Av is a holiday some know very fondly while others have never heard of. It commemorates the destruction of the 1st and 2nd Temples along with other exceptionally tragic moments in Jewish history. What is the meaning of this? What did we do to deserve this? Why does this keep happening? Rabbi Yom Tov Glaser, known for his comedic and unique style of speaking, jumps onto Bad Jew to explore the deeper ideas behind this portion of our history. Chaz Volk, host of Bad Jew, gets a crash course to the Jewish diaspora, the tragedy that have struck our generations, and explores what we can do to change the outcome of the future (Moshiach!) Special thanks to Yosef Behar of Oshpiza (Oshpiza.com) for making this interview possible.  About Rabbi Yom Tov Glaser: Rabbi Yom Tov Glaser received a Bachelors Degree in Humanities from the University of California at Santa Barbara. For 12 years he surfed internationally on a professional level. He is also an accomplished mountain biker and professional musician. He received rabbinic ordination from Aish HaTorah and the Chief Rabbi of Jerusalem. His areas of expertise are Kabbala, Spirituality and Psychotherapy. Connect with Rabbi Yom Tov Glaser: YouTube - @RabbiYomTov   IG - @rabbiyomtov  Connect with Bad Jew: BadJew.co https://linktr.ee/badjew BadJewPod@gmail.com Ig @BadJewPod

    36 min
  7. 7 AUG

    Why Does G-d Need Me To Pray? with Rabbi Ephy Greene

    Hashem is this infinite being, for lack of better term. He's all-encompassing and created us out of nothing, indicating his sheer power. Yet, it's a mitzvah to pray and is a commandment to pray during certain times. So then... does he need anything or not? And of all things, why prayer? Prayer is an area of specialty for Rabbi Ephy Greene of Aish HaTorah's Yeshiva in Jerusalem, Israel. During a 'swearing in' ceremony by the IDF, Ephy goes into detail on why Hashem wants us to daven and seek spirituality within ourselves. Chaz Volk, host of Bad Jew, learns why it's a necessity to get closer to Hashem. 00:00 Introduction 04:33 Life-changing moments 07:08 Questioning purpose  10:09 Our relationship with God depends on us 16:07 The search for meaning 18:06 Informal prayer expresses vulnerability 20:57 Structure is essential 25:31 Torah is God's communication and vision 27:10 Living a moral life through heartfelt prayer 30:54 Conclusion About Ephy Greene: Rabbi Ephy Greene has been teaching in the US & Israel for over 20 years. Growing up the son of a Conservative rabbi, but attending Orthodox schools, Ephy experienced Jews and Judaism in a variety of contexts, from USY retreats to studying with Chassidim in the Mir. Rabbi Greene has been teaching in Aish HaTorah in Jerusalem for the past decade. He is also a Jewish singer/songwriter, inspirational speaker, and loving, but slightly embarrassing dad! Connect with Rabbi Ephy Greene: www.AishYeshiva.com Listen to music by Ephy Greene on Spotify Connect with Bad Jew: BadJew.co https://linktr.ee/badjew BadJewPod@gmail.com Ig @BadJewPod

    34 min

About

What is a bad jew? What does it take to not be one? Is it anti-Semitic to say? Or is it just a phrase that Jews use to cruelly judge one another? Chaz Volk, a newly observant Jew, shares that the greatest way to embrace your identity is to question everything. And we mean EVERYTHING! Chaz questions the Torah, law, politics, standards, communities and even G-d itself in this confrontational and edgy show. About Chaz: Chaz Volk grew up in Thousand Oaks, California where he began Torah studies until he was Bar Mitzva'ed at Temple Etz Chaim. From a young age, he was very aware of his uniqueness and how he was the token-Jew outside of Jewish settings. In middle school, Chaz experienced his first taste of antisemitism which brought him closer to his identity, despite his adversaries' wishes. Later, he'd attend San Francisco State University, where he'd get deeply involved at SF Hillel as a volunteer and intern. SFSU's social climate and its perspective on Jews and Zionism became clear from an early point. He'd later become the lead plaintiff in a lawsuit known today as Volk v. CSU Board of Trustees. In this class action case, Chaz Volk and his representation won. Since then, Chaz has proudly immersed himself in his identity and partaken in communities across southern California. Most recently, Chaz's emotional awakening occurred on an organized trip to Israel. There he adopted new practices that he instilled in his lifestyle to this day. Today, he's a volunteer and frequent of Aish HaTorah's programming and plans to use this show to promote their programs, events, and resources along with valuable Jewish teachings. Want to engage with our online WhatsApp community? Email: BadJewPod@gmail.com Brand partnership: BadJewPod@gmail.com IG: @badjewpod TikTok: @badjewpod

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