

Judaism Unbound
Institute for the Next Jewish Future
Listen in as Lex Rofeberg and Rena Yehuda Newman analyze pressing issues for 21st century American Judaism. Mixing their own analysis with interviews of leading thinkers, practitioners, and even "regular Jews," Lex and Rena Yehuda look to push past the bounds of what it means to be Jewish in the 21st century.
You can support Judaism Unbound at www.JudaismUnbound.com/donate.
You can support Judaism Unbound at www.JudaismUnbound.com/donate.
Episodes
Mentioned books

Jul 3, 2020 • 52min
Episode 229: Primary Experience - Dan and Lex
Dan Libenson and Lex Rofeberg reflect on recent episodes of Judaism Unbound, touching on topics ranging from Jewish t-shirts, to psychedelics, to intersectionality, along with asking questions about what the terms “rabbi” and “antisemitism” should and should not connote moving forward.If you're enjoying Judaism Unbound, please help us keep things going with a one-time or monthly tax-deductible donation. Support Judaism Unbound by clicking here!To access shownotes for this episode, click here.

Jun 26, 2020 • 49min
Episode 228: The Cannabis Rabbi - James Kahn
James Kahn, an ordained rabbi who works as the National Outreach Director for Holistic Industries (one of the largest privately-held cannabis operators in the United States) joins Dan Libenson and Lex Rofeberg to talk about the relationship between cannabis and Judaism.If you're enjoying Judaism Unbound, please help us keep things going with a one-time or monthly tax-deductible donation. Support Judaism Unbound by clicking here!To access shownotes for this episode, click here.

Jun 19, 2020 • 56min
Episode 227: The Power of Ritual - Casper ter Kuile
Casper ter Kuile, co-founder of Sacred Design Lab and author of the book The Power of Ritual (coming out June 23rd -- pre-order here), joins Dan and Lex to talk about what rituals are, even, and why they can potentially be powerful in our lives.If you're enjoying Judaism Unbound, please help us keep things going with a one-time or monthly tax-deductible donation. Support Judaism Unbound by clicking here!To access shownotes for this episode, click here.

Jun 12, 2020 • 47min
Episode 226: Resting the Land - Nati Passow
Nati Passow, an Assistant Professor of sustainable food systems at Temple University and past executive director of the Jewish Farm School (of blessed memory), joins Dan and Lex for a conversation about biblical frameworks of sabbatical and jubilee. Together they explore what these ideas might have to teach us in the 21st century about how Judaism and food justice intertwine.If you're enjoying Judaism Unbound, please help us keep things going with a one-time or monthly tax-deductible donation. Support Judaism Unbound by clicking here!To access shownotes for this episode, click here.

Jun 5, 2020 • 1h 3min
Episode 225: Jewish Psychedelics - Zac Kamenetz
Zac Kamenetz, an educator, rabbi, and aspiring healer who enrolled in a clinical study to give clergy members high doses of psilocybin (a psychedelic compound), joins Dan and Lex for a conversation about mysticism, entheogens (psychedelic substances), and the future of Judaism. If you're enjoying Judaism Unbound, please help us keep things going with a one-time or monthly tax-deductible donation. Support Judaism Unbound by clicking here!To access shownotes for this episode, click here.

May 28, 2020 • 49min
Episode 224: A New Sinai - Dan and Lex
Dan and Lex, in a conversation released one day early as prep for the festival of Shavuot, use that holiday as a jumping-off point into an exploration of how we might go about building new Judaism(s) in 2020 and beyond.Check out a wide variety of digital Shavuot opportunities, including ShavuotLIVE (from our jewishLIVE initiaitve), at jewishlive.org/shavuot.If you're enjoying Judaism Unbound, please help us keep things going with a one-time or monthly tax-deductible donation. Support Judaism Unbound by clicking here!To access shownotes for this episode, click here.

May 25, 2020 • 42min
Bonus Episode: Whose Judaism? - Becca Lubow
Beccs Lubow, the 2020 Judaism Unbound and New Voices fellow, opens up a conversation that connects a variety of seemingly distant topics: mutual aid networks, synagogue accessibility, and an unusual Kaddish prayer. At the heart of this episode is a unifying question: Who does Judaism belong to?To access shownotes for this episode, click here.If you're enjoying Judaism Unbound, please help us keep things going with a one-time or monthly tax-deductible donation. Support Judaism Unbound by clicking here!

May 22, 2020 • 46min
Episode 223: Our Common Destiny - Sandy Cardin, Rachel Sabath Beit-Halachmi
Sandy Cardin and Rachel Sabath Beit-Halachmi, of the Our Common Destiny initiative, join Dan Libenson and Lex Rofeberg for a conversation exploring the topic of Jewish unity.If you're enjoying Judaism Unbound, please help us keep things going with a one-time or monthly tax-deductible donation. Support Judaism Unbound by clicking here!To access shownotes for this episode, click here.

May 15, 2020 • 46min
Episode 222: Emerging - Joshua Lesser
Joshua Lesser, who serves as rabbi of Congregation Bet Haverim in Atlanta, Georgia, joins Dan and Lex for a conversation about Jewish life through the lens of caterpillars, butterflies, and the chrysalis transitioning the former into the latter. If you're enjoying Judaism Unbound, please help us keep things going with a one-time or monthly tax-deductible donation. Support Judaism Unbound by clicking here!To access shownotes for this episode, click here.

May 13, 2020 • 45min
Bonus Episode: Becoming Unorthodox - Michal Birnbaum, Tova Birnbaum
Sisters Michal Birnbaum, a cast member from the hit Netflix series Unorthodox, and Tova Birnbaum, Director of Jewish Content at the Oshman Family JCC in Palo Alto, join Dan Libenson and Lex Rofeberg for a conversation reflecting on what Unorthodox can teach us. Topics include what it was like for the Birnbaums to grow up in an Ultra-Orthodox community, their journeys to other forms of Jewish community, and their migrations to the United States.Watch Unorthodox on Netflix by clicking here. And tweet your thoughts about the show via the hashtag #UnorthodoxNetflix.If you would like to learn more about jewishLIVE, head to jewishLIVE.org -- and stay in the loop by giving our Facebook page a like. If you're enjoying Judaism Unbound, please help us keep things going with a one-time or monthly tax-deductible donation. Support Judaism Unbound by clicking here!


