216 episodes

The Orthodox Conundrum is a forum in which we look honestly at the Orthodox Jewish community, identifying what works well and what does not, so that, through an honest accounting, we can find solutions that will be successful. We will examine some of the major issues that affect the Orthodox world, without exaggeration, whitewashing, or pretending that they don’t exist. Our hope is that the Orthodox Conundrum will spark wider discussion that will enable Orthodox Judaism to continue moving forward in the areas at which it excels, and to rectify the areas that need improvement.

Orthodox Conundrum Scott Kahn

    • Religion & Spirituality
    • 4.7 • 159 Ratings

The Orthodox Conundrum is a forum in which we look honestly at the Orthodox Jewish community, identifying what works well and what does not, so that, through an honest accounting, we can find solutions that will be successful. We will examine some of the major issues that affect the Orthodox world, without exaggeration, whitewashing, or pretending that they don’t exist. Our hope is that the Orthodox Conundrum will spark wider discussion that will enable Orthodox Judaism to continue moving forward in the areas at which it excels, and to rectify the areas that need improvement.

    The Present and Future of Religious Zionism (Part Two): More on the Palestinian Future, Military Service, Culture Wars, Political Direction, and More (199)

    The Present and Future of Religious Zionism (Part Two): More on the Palestinian Future, Military Service, Culture Wars, Political Direction, and More (199)

    Last week’s episode of the Orthodox Conundrum was supposed to be a wide-ranging conversation about the present and future of Religious Zionism, including a discussion of our relationship with the Palestinian population in Yehuda v’Shomron and Gaza. As it turns out, Scott and his guests, Daniel Goldman and Rabbi Elie Mischel, ended up spending the entire podcast speaking about that one issue, so they came back this week to discuss many of the topics that they had not yet addressed.
    That episode generated an unusual amount of feedback, both positive and negative. In particular, Rabbi Elie Mischel’s ideas were the subject of numerous comments, both public and private. As a result of that feedback, Scott dedicated the first part of this episode to further clarifying Elie and Daniel’s opinions about some of the hot-button topics they talked about last week regarding the Palestinians. The majority of the podcast then addressed other subjects that are directly relevant to Religious Zionists, including questions regarding the culture wars, how we as a community should relate to non-Orthodox Jews, our attitudes towards the many ultra-Orthodox people who refuse to serve in the IDF, whether political Religious Zionism is going in a positive direction, if there should be a separation of Torah and State, and more.
    (Please note that Rabbi Mischel is joining the podcast in a personal capacity, and his views do not necessarily reflect those of the Mizrachi organization.)
    Please listen to and share this podcast, and let us know what you think on the Orthodox Conundrum Discussion Group on Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/groups/432020081498108).
    Check out the Orthodox Conundrum Commentary on Substack and get your free subscription by going to https://scottkahn.substack.com/.
    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. Also visit https://www.jchpodcasts.com/ to learn all about creating your own podcast.
    Music: "Happy Rock" by bensound.com

    • 1 hr 20 min
    The Present and Future of Religious Zionism (Part One): Settlements, a Palestinian State, Tanach as History or as Prophecy for Today, and More (198)

    The Present and Future of Religious Zionism (Part One): Settlements, a Palestinian State, Tanach as History or as Prophecy for Today, and More (198)

    In some recent episodes of this podcast, Scott and his guests have discussed numerous issues relevant to the Religious Zionist world, including some of the ways that Religious Zionism differs from Modern Orthodoxy. But Religious Zionism is not a monolith; there are many different paths within Religious Zionism, and the differences between these paths can sometimes be vast.
    For example, the Mafdal - that is, Mifleget Dati Leumi, the old Religious Zionist Party which dominated Religious Zionist politics for decades - was, during the Six Day War, perhaps the most dovish and anti-war of all the parties in the Labor-led government. Today, in contrast, the dominant ideology within Religious Zionism is associated with the philosophy of rabbis like Rav Zvi Yehuda Kook and others who founded the settlement movement. But even though modern political Religious Zionism is generally associated with the right or even the far right on the Israeli political spectrum, the other strains within Religious Zionism still exist, albeit less so in the political arena. 
    In order to discuss the future of Religious Zionism, Scott invited Daniel Goldman and Rabbi Elie Mischel to discuss it on the Orthodox Conundrum. But the issue of settlements and the question of a Palestinian State took up so much time that they decided to make this episode Part One, and deal with other pressing issues in Part Two. So this episode largely deals with different attitudes towards the maintenance and expansion of settlements in the West Bank, the issue of whether to create a permanent civilian Jewish presence in Gaza, the future of the Palestinians who live in the West Bank and Gaza and whether that future should include an independent Palestinian state, questions around the democratic character of Israel and whether Israel should be bound by international law, whether to relate to Tanach as history or as a practical guide, and much more.
    (Please note that Rabbi Mischel is joining the podcast in a personal capacity, and his views do not necessarily reflect those of the Mizrachi organization.)
    Please listen to and share this podcast, and let us know what you think on the Orthodox Conundrum Discussion Group on Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/groups/432020081498108).
    Check out the Orthodox Conundrum Commentary on Substack and get your free subscription by going to https://scottkahn.substack.com/.
    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. Also visit https://www.jchpodcasts.com/ to learn all about creating your own podcast.
    Music: "Happy Rock" by bensound.com

    • 1 hr 2 min
    "It Was Never 'Heal the World' at the Expense of Yourself": Antisemitism in AASECT - and Fighting Back - with Talli Rosenbaum, Dr. Logan Levkoff, and Dr. Shoshana Bulow (197)

    "It Was Never 'Heal the World' at the Expense of Yourself": Antisemitism in AASECT - and Fighting Back - with Talli Rosenbaum, Dr. Logan Levkoff, and Dr. Shoshana Bulow (197)

    After October 7th, Jews around the world have felt besieged by some erstwhile allies, as some have been silent in the face of rampant antisemitism, and others have openly supported Hamas and its genocidal goals. While there have been many who openly support Jews and Israel, the war in Gaza has also provided a moment of reckoning as we discovered some unhappy surprises about people we thought were our friends.
    A good example is the reaction to October 7th by the American Association of Sexuality Educators, Counselors and Therapists, or AASECT. As an organization dedicated to healthy sexuality, and one which has expressed opinions on hot button issues unrelated to its core mission, AASECT certainly should have issued a statement condemning the sexual violence against Israelis on October 7th. That, however, didn’t happen for a long time - and even when it did, the statement felt like a giant hedge.
    As a result, Scott's Intimate Judaism co-host Talli Rosenbaum, along with some colleagues, resigned from AASECT. In this episode, Scott spoke with Talli, psychotherapist Dr. Shoshana Bulow, and sexual educator Dr. Logan Levkoff about some of the ways that the AASECT debacle is, unfortunately, representative of trends that are emerging in the United States. They also discussed the trauma of October 7th and the war both in and out of Israel, as well as the binary thinking that has led to the demonization of Jews, the prevalence of antisemitism, agendas that are embedded in the system to the Jewish people’s detriment, the fight against anti-Israel activity across the diaspora, and more.
    To read the research article "War-Time Stress and Sexual Well-Being in Israel" by Talli Rosenbaum, Aryeh Lazar, and Ateret Gewirtz-Meydan, click here.
    To read Dr. Levkoff's "Open Letter to Sexuality Professionals and Organizations," click here.
    Please listen to and share this podcast, and let us know what you think on the Orthodox Conundrum Discussion Group on Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/groups/432020081498108).
    Check out the Orthodox Conundrum Commentary on Substack and get your free subscription by going to https://scottkahn.substack.com/.
    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. Also visit https://www.jchpodcasts.com/ to learn all about creating your own podcast.
    Music: "Happy Rock" by bensound.com

    • 1 hr 4 min
    Overcoming the Eisav Complex: Raising Orthodox ADHD Kids, with Dr. Simcha Chesner and Dr. Sara Markowitz (196)

    Overcoming the Eisav Complex: Raising Orthodox ADHD Kids, with Dr. Simcha Chesner and Dr. Sara Markowitz (196)

    35 years ago, Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) was essentially unknown among the general public; today, it is spoken about all the time. We’ve learned that some behaviors that were once considered signs that a child didn’t care about school or achievement, or simply lacked normal self control, are actually indicators of a difference in the way the mind works - and instead of criticizing the people whose minds work this way, we need to find ways to help them succeed. Indeed, when understood properly, ADHD can even be a superpower where some people think differently and more creatively than some others.
    Despite the advances in knowledge and societal understanding, there is still so much that people don’t know - and so many ways that people who have ADHD can fall through the cracks. For Orthodox kids with ADHD, who are supposed to sit quietly in shul, concentrate on Torah learning, avoid leaving the Shabbos table, and more, our religious commitments can end up feeling like a kind of torture.
    To address the unique needs of Orthodox people who have ADHD, Dr. Simcha Chesner and Dr. Sara Markowitz wrote a new book entitled Kosher ADHD, and Scott spoke with them about the challenges people with ADHD face, and some of the methods that they recommend in order to help them overcome these challenges.
    Please listen to and share this podcast, and let us know what you think on the Orthodox Conundrum Discussion Group on Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/groups/432020081498108).
    Check out the Orthodox Conundrum Commentary on Substack and get your free subscription by going to https://scottkahn.substack.com/.
    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. Also visit https://www.jchpodcasts.com/ to learn all about creating your own podcast.
    Music: "Happy Rock" by bensound.com

    • 1 hr 6 min
    "Where Does a Jew Belong? Where Do the Jewish People Belong?" Post-October 7th Conversations About Israel, with Rabbi Yehoshua Fass (195)

    "Where Does a Jew Belong? Where Do the Jewish People Belong?" Post-October 7th Conversations About Israel, with Rabbi Yehoshua Fass (195)

    What does Israel mean to you?
    For years, this was a theoretical question for many people who live in the diaspora. Given Israel's war against Hamas and its army of terror, however, the question has gained additional resonance and, in some ways, can no longer be put off; it demands an answer. With Israel under military attack, and the Jewish people experiencing verbal attacks unlike any seen since World War II, Jews outside of Israel have been forced to consider what kind of relationship they have and want to have with the Jewish state. 
    Scott was honored to host Rabbi Yehoshua Fass, the cofounder and executive director of Nefesh B’Nefesh, in order to ask him some of these questions, and to learn about what has changed, and what hasn’t - since October 7th. They talked about the reasons that a person should and should not make aliya, questions about the independent integrity of diaspora Jewry, the relationship that exists and should exist between Jews in and outside of Israel, if there has been greater interest in aliya over the past four months, and more.
    Please listen to and share this podcast, and let us know what you think on the Orthodox Conundrum Discussion Group on Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/groups/432020081498108).
    Check out the Orthodox Conundrum Commentary on Substack and get your free subscription by going to https://scottkahn.substack.com/.
    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. Also visit https://www.jchpodcasts.com/ to learn all about creating your own podcast.
    Music: "Happy Rock" by bensound.com

    • 1 hr 7 min
    Ultra-Orthodox Integration, Military Service, and More: Understanding the Chareidi Point of View, with Rabbi Yitzchak Breitowitz (194)

    Ultra-Orthodox Integration, Military Service, and More: Understanding the Chareidi Point of View, with Rabbi Yitzchak Breitowitz (194)

    In Episode 184, Scott spoke with Michael Eisenberg and Rabbi Yehoshua Hershberg about their conviction that the time has come for the ultra-Orthodox community in Israel - often referred to as the Chareidim - to participate more fully in Israeli society, specifically by ending what has effectively become a blanket exemption from military service, and by their becoming integrated into Israel's economic life.
    What was lacking, however, was an explanation of the Chareidi point of view on these matters. So in the interest of expanding and deepening the conversation, Scott was honored to welcome Rabbi Yitzchak Breitowitz to articulate the arguments that are commonly used by those who identify as ultra-Orthodox. Rabbi Breitowitz is one of the Orthodox world’s most brilliant scholars; in addition to being an outstanding talmid chacham, he also is a graduate of Harvard Law School and was an associate professor at the University of Maryland School of Law before moving to Israel. Rabbi Breitowitz and Scott engaged in a fascinating conversation about Chareidi integration into the military, the economy, and more, and no topic was off limits.
    Rabbi Breitowitz was asked to explain the Chareidi position as best as he understands it, but that doesn’t necessarily mean that he identifies with every argument he presents. Nevertheless, there are few individuals who are able to explain Torah ideas and ideals, truly backed by real knowledge and scholarship, as well as Rabbi Breitowitz. His explanations of the thinking behind the policies of the ultra-Orthodox world need to be analyzed and taken seriously in order for Israeli society to progress in a manner that will be beneficial for all Jews - secular, national religious, and ultra-Orthodox alike.
    Please listen to and share this podcast, and let us know what you think on the Orthodox Conundrum Discussion Group on Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/groups/432020081498108).
    Check out the Orthodox Conundrum Commentary on Substack and get your free subscription by going to https://scottkahn.substack.com/.
    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. Also visit https://www.jchpodcasts.com/ to learn all about creating your own podcast.
    Music: "Happy Rock" by bensound.com

    • 1 hr 5 min

Customer Reviews

4.7 out of 5
159 Ratings

159 Ratings

hudaz123 ,

Very interesting: discusses very important topics in a clear way

All view are welcome and analyzed. This podcast must be heard by some of the more close-minded people.
Love the show, thanks!!

ANicki ,

Podcast with Avital

Insightful podcast about current antisemitism in colleges in US and in general.

dennis.karpf ,

Dennis Karpf

Excellent Torah/Talmud perspectives on crucial issues. Superb guests with articulate interviews by Rabbi Kahn. Highest standards well done. Yesher koach.

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