Martini Judaism

Religion News Service
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  • JUDAISM
  • UPDATED BIWEEKLY
Martini Judaism

For those who want to be shaken and stirred. Join one of American Judaism’s most prolific thought leaders and his special guests as they talk about the current state of Judaism, American culture, politics, religion, and spirituality. 

  1. Remembering David Ellenson

    DEC 19

    Remembering David Ellenson

    Last week, we observed the first yahrzeit (anniversary of a death) of Dr. David Ellenson -- past president of Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion, past provost of that institution, a professor at that institution for a generation – a teacher, a theologian, a historian of Jewish ideas, a world class thinker. Someone said that “David was always the smartest person in the room, and he never let you remember that.” If you could look up the word mensch in a dictionary, you would see David's photograph. You could meet him and never know he possessed one of the greatest Jewish minds of this generation. Simple, unpretentious, a man who made everyone feel that he was a member of their family. A man who passionately loved his own family, especially his wife, Rabbi Jacqueline Koch Ellenson, and their children, several of whom have followed David and Jackie into the rabbinate. David and I were friendly for more than fifty years; our kids are friends; our grandchildren are friends. Three generations of friendship in one family. It does not get any better than that. Please check out the podcast that we recorded in his memory. It features: Professor Arnold Eisen – former president of Jewish Theological Seminary. Rabbi Michael Marmur – associate professor of Jewish theology at HUC-JIR, Jerusalem, who had served as the Jack, Joseph and Morton Mandel Provost at HUC-JIR, having previously been Dean of the Jerusalem campus. Elisheva Urbas – editorial director, Hadar -- an editor, writer, translator, coach, and teacher. We took a deep dive into David's life -- beginning with his formative years in the Orthodox community in Newport News, Virginia. We discussed how David's Southern Orthodox Jewish boyhood shaped him -- making him sensitive to what it means to be a cultural stranger, and imbuing within him an infectious love for clal Yisrael -- the entirety of the Jewish people.

    55 min
  2. Are Jews God-phobic? With Arnold Eisen

    DEC 11

    Are Jews God-phobic? With Arnold Eisen

    If you encounter someone who wants to talk about God, odds are that person isn't Jewish. Why? I am talking to a friend of mine about his experience on various dating sites. He tells me that from time to time, he will come across a profile that seems promising. And then, right there in the first paragraph, the woman will write: “Must love God.” As he scrolls down a little further, he sees that she is a Christian – and that she inevitably describes her politics as “conservative.” “I don’t get it,” he says to me. “Why is it that anyone who writes ‘must love God’ is always Christian? I’m Jewish. I love God. Do these people think that only Christians love God? And since when does ‘must love God’ mean ‘must be a Christian – and of a particular kind and political persuasion?’” That was the question that led me into a conversation with Professor Arnold Eisen, one of American Judaism’s most esteemed thinkers and personalities. From 2006 to 2020, he served as the chancellor of the Jewish Theological Seminary of America – the flagship academic institution of Conservative Judaism – where he was only the second non-rabbi to serve in that post. He is an author of many books, and a cherished teacher and public intellectual.

    56 min
  3. The Election and the Jews

    NOV 20

    The Election and the Jews

    Rabbi Jeff Salkin sits down with Rabbi Jonah Pesner, one of American Judaism's most prominent voices and the director of the Religious Action Center of Reform Judaism. Together, they dive into the deeply rooted relationship between Judaism, politics, and social justice, exploring why so many Jews align with liberal causes while maintaining a vibrant spectrum of political thought within the community. From the historical and spiritual foundations of Jewish values to modern-day challenges in maintaining empathy amidst polarization, Rabbi Pesner offers insights that are both grounded in tradition and urgently relevant. The conversation spans critical topics, including: The intersection of Jewish peoplehood and universalism in shaping political priorities. The impact of October 7 and the ongoing war in Israel on Jewish voting patterns and political alliances. Rising concerns about anti-Semitism across the political spectrum and its influence on communal discourse. The role of religious institutions in fostering thoughtful, inclusive spaces for dialogue amidst deep societal divisions. As always, Rabbi Salkin keeps the conversation shaken and stirred with humor, insight, and a dash of martini wisdom. Whether you lean left, right, or somewhere in the middle, this episode will challenge you to think critically about what it means to live into the Jewish covenant in today’s world. Episode Highlights Roots of Jewish Liberalism: Rabbi Pesner reframes the stereotype, asserting that Jewish political values stem not from liberalism or conservatism but from Torah’s call to protect the widow, orphan, and stranger. Navigating Polarization: A nuanced discussion on how synagogues can become havens for respectful debate and sacred disagreement. Facing the Challenges of Anti-Semitism: Addressing the rise of anti-Semitism from both extremes and the Jewish community’s response. If you’re inspired by this episode, let’s continue the conversation: Follow Rabbi Salkin’s Martini Judaism column on Religion News Service. Rate and review the podcast on your favorite platform to amplify its reach. Share this episode with your community to spark discussions about Jewish values, politics, and the power of hope.

    53 min
  4. Remembering the late Alex Dancyg, a hostage from Warsaw

    OCT 14

    Remembering the late Alex Dancyg, a hostage from Warsaw

    On Tuesday, July 16, I and a group of rabbis traveled south from Jerusalem — to the Gaza envelope. There, we visited the places that Hamas had ravaged on Oct. 7, 2023. We visited the site of the Nova music festival, where we said kaddish for the young victims. We visited Kibbutz Nir Oz. We walked through the rubble of the burnt houses, the burnt kitchen, the places where people died, and the places where people were taken hostage. One-quarter of the residents of Nir Oz were killed or taken hostage. I have experienced many moments of pain in my Jewish life, even as I have experienced many moments of joy and exaltation. But never in my life have I encountered the memories of such sheer evil as I did at Nir Oz. I had not known at that time that I was walking in the footsteps, walking the same ground, as Alex Dancyg, of blessed memory — a proud son of Warsaw. And so it was in Warsaw on Yom Kippur that I dedicated the memorial service to his memory. Adapted from my Yizkor sermon, given on Yom Kippur, Beit Warshawa, Warsaw, Poland.

    10 min
  5. A Reform Jewish woman and an Orthodox rabbi talk Torah: Abigail Pogrebin & Rabbi Dov Linzer

    SEP 23

    A Reform Jewish woman and an Orthodox rabbi talk Torah: Abigail Pogrebin & Rabbi Dov Linzer

    Two of my favorite people — Abigail Pogrebin and Rabbi Dov Linzer — who have just written a new book, "It Takes Two To Torah: An Orthodox Rabbi and Reform Journalist Discuss and Debate Their Way Through the Five Books of Moses," with a foreword by Mayim Bialik. This is a book about each Torah portion, as read through their lenses, and is a series of conversations and intellectual wrestling matches.

    53 min
  6. It's More Than L'chaim: Judaism Is a Celebration of Life. With Rabbi Irving Greenberg

    SEP 6

    It's More Than L'chaim: Judaism Is a Celebration of Life. With Rabbi Irving Greenberg

    First, this modern Orthodox rabbi was one of the first rabbis to really touch my life and to engage me in what my Protestant colleagues would call “formation.” Rabbi Yitz Greenberg was a congregational rabbi in Riverdale, NY; the founder of the Jewish studies program at City College of New York; the creator of CLAL, the Center for Learning and Leadership – which is a think tank for Jewish pluralism and intra-Jewish conversation. I first met Rabbi Greenberg and his wife, Blu, the major Jewish feminist leader, when he engaged me to work with a bunch of modern Orthodox teenagers on a CLAL retreat. That encounter with Rabbi Greenberg, whom I would come to know as Yitz or Rabbi Yitz, changed my perception of Orthodox Jews and Orthodox Judaism. It made me more open to seeing the Jews as a unified people, and not just a discrete collection of ideologies. Yes: this Orthodox rabbi helped shape the world view of this Reform rabbi. His vision of an observant Judaism that was open to the world and freely encountered the world moved me – so much so, that decades later, I would become a regular participant in the Shalom Hartman Institute in Jerusalem, founded by Rabbi Greenberg’s colleague, the late Rabbi David Hartman – also an Orthodox rabbi, and like Yitz, also a rebel. The second way in which Rav Yitz is my oldest friend in the rabbinate: he is 91 years old, and he has just published his magnum opus, his master work, the culmination of everything that he has taught for so long -- "The Triumph of Life: A Narrative Theology of Judaism." This is the book that Yitz's students -- and frankly, the Jewish world -- has been waiting for for more than a half century.

    53 min
  7. When the reverend became a rabbi

    AUG 16

    When the reverend became a rabbi

    We need to take the spiritual journey of Ana Levy-Lyons with the gravity it deserves. Truth be told: There is a shortage of rabbinical students. Jews need rabbis. Levy-Lyons obviously has the human, intellectual and spiritual skills for it. I look forward to welcoming her as a Jew, and certainly as a colleague. But there is far more to this story than is readily apparent. This is not only a story about how someone has entered Judaism. It is also a story about how someone left the Unitarian Universalists. The reason for that departure is fascinating, compelling and instructive.

    12 min
  8. A new Jewish denomination: Josh Shapiro-ism

    AUG 9

    A new Jewish denomination: Josh Shapiro-ism

    Jews have been living on an emotional roller coaster. In recent weeks, we experienced a welcome "high." Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro was under serious consideration for vice president on the Democratic ticket. Then, in recent days, for many Jews, a "low" when Josh Shapiro was passed over in favor of Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz. Jews have a right to be disappointed. But along with that disappointment, let us realize the Shapiro possibility contains two serious lessons for American Jews. First, the purpose of an election is not to make Jews (or any other ethnic group) proud. The purpose of an election is to win.

    11 min
See All (45)

4.9
out of 5
15 Ratings

About

For those who want to be shaken and stirred. Join one of American Judaism’s most prolific thought leaders and his special guests as they talk about the current state of Judaism, American culture, politics, religion, and spirituality. 

Information

  • Creator
    Religion News Service
  • Years Active
    2023 - 2024
  • Episodes
    45
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2023
  • Show Website
    Martini Judaism

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