RZ Weekly Mali Brofsky, Johnny Solomon and Reuven Spolter

According to a recently published article by noted educator and author Simi Peters on 18forty, notwithstanding the significant costs and alleged high standards of Jewish schools, there has been a sharp decline in recent years in the Torah skills of Jewish men and women with many being unable to access Torah in its original Hebrew. In this episode we interview Simi and ask her to tell us more about her perspective, while each of us – given our experience and involvement in Jewish education – offer our thoughts.

Not having visited the New York/New Jersey area, R’ Johnny’s recent speaking tour gave him the opportunity to learn more about many of the Jewish communities that he only knew from a distance. In this edition of RZWeekly, he shares ten different insights which, though not necessarily limited to these communities, were particularly visible to him during his visit. In response, R’ Reuven and Mali offered their reflections and, in so doing, considered some aspects of the modern American Jewish experience.

Rabbi Haim Drukman was a teacher and leader whose life achievements are nothing short of outstanding. This episode of RZWeekly begins with an interview with R’ Naftali Kandler who both studied from and worked alongside Rabbi Druckman for many years, and it continues with a discussion between Reuven, Mali and Johnny about Rav Druckman’s achievements. We also discuss decisions taken by Rabbi Druckman that were morally problematic, his mistakes, and his overall legacy.

This week’s episode of RZWeekly begins with Mali telling us what she thinks about the recent Netflix series about Harry and Megan. We then discuss the opportunities and limitations of Modern Orthodox Jews engaging in the wider world and especially in sports and where to draw the line in terms of professional success and Shabbat observance and how in general we should view the larger world of Modern Orthodoxy.

In recent months, Rabbi Yitzie Blau has started writing English summaries on his Facebook feed of important articles/discussions found in Mekor Rishon (which is the premier Religious Zionist newspaper in Israel). This has led us to consider why it is important for English speakers in the Diaspora to be aware of some of the conversations being had in Israel and why Israelis should be made aware of similar discussions happening in the Diaspora. We invited Rav Blau to join us to talk through some of these issues and related points (eg. the state of Ivrit education in the diaspora). Please listen and let us know your thoughts.

In commemoration of Rabbi Sacks’ 2nd yahrzeit, we dedicated this episode of RZWeekly to explore the legacy of Rabbi Sacks, why his teachings resonate with so many people, and how his books and teachings are now being learnt and engaged with within Israeli society.