The Jewish Experience

Rabbi Wildes shares how a minute difference between ethics and etiquette informs how we can know we are doing what is right and not what is easy and convenient. For more thought-provoking and inspirational Torah content from Rabbi Mark Wildes, subscribe to the Youtube page at: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC0oWrlgD3gZX9-8ZyNbpd-g Follow Rabbi Wildes on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/RabbiMarkWildesMJE/ Follow Rabbi Wildes on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/rabbiwildes/ Website: jewishexperience.org  Facebook: facebook.com/ManhattanJewishExperience/  Instagram: instagram.com/M_J_experience/

The advice of "listen to your heart" to find your answer to a pressing life issue is a common one in pop culture. But is it one the Torah agrees with? For more thought-provoking and inspirational Torah content from Rabbi Mark Wildes, subscribe to the Youtube page at: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC0oWrlgD3gZX9-8ZyNbpd-g Follow Rabbi Wildes on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/RabbiMarkWildesMJE/ Follow Rabbi Wildes on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/rabbiwildes/ Website: jewishexperience.org  Facebook: facebook.com/ManhattanJewishExperience/  Instagram: instagram.com/M_J_experience/

Rabbi Mark Wildes moderates a fascinating discussion with Rabbi Pinny Rosenthal (The Rationalist) and Rabbi Daniel Bortz (The Mystic) on many of the intense disagreements between the Maimodean school of Jewish thought and the Kabbalistic approach. This podcast was recorded in front of a live audience at the Manhattan Jewish Experience on Monday, October 24th, 2022. 00:00:00 - Introduction 00:08:40 - Is God Within Us? 00:20:45 - Is Kabbalah Dangerous? 00:25:15 - The Opening Verse of the Torah 00:36:00 - Panentheism 00:39:00 - Should We Teach Kabbalah? 00:44:30 - Rationalism = Spiritual Numbness? 00:51:00 - Are Mitzvot Supernatural? 01:09:20 - Q&A 01:09:35 - The Point of Prayer 01:13:50 - Diversity in Judaism 01:18:00 - Cloud of Glory + 13 Attributes of Mercy 01:20:30 - Mindfulness 01:26:58 - Paradox Website: jewishexperience.org  Facebook: facebook.com/ManhattanJewishExperience/  Instagram: instagram.com/M_J_experience/

Rabbi Mark Wildes was ordained from Yeshiva University, but before becoming a rabbi, he received a JD from the Cardozo School of Law and a Masters in International Affairs from Columbia University. Since founding MJE 20 years ago, Rabbi Wildes has become one of America’s most inspirational and dynamic Jewish educators. He lives with his wife Jill and their children Yosef, Ezra, Judah and Avigayil on the Upper West Side where they maintain a warm and welcoming home for all. He is a hard core Beatles and John Lennon fan, and enjoys rocking out on the drums whenever possible. Website: jewishexperience.org  Facebook: facebook.com/ManhattanJewishExperience/  Instagram: instagram.com/M_J_experience/

Rabbi Mark Wildes and his wife Jill co-founded Manhattan Jewish Experience, or MJE, more than 20 years ago. What started as a beginner’s Hebrew class with 18 attendees has blossomed into an organization that today draws in over 20,000 annual attendees to classes, events, Shabbos meals, and more. Rabbi Wildes was a lawyer and pulpit rabbi before ultimately finding his true purpose as an outreach rabbi. This is his story. Saturday to Shabbos is a Tachlis Media podcast. Learn more at tachlismedia.com Website: jewishexperience.org  Facebook: facebook.com/ManhattanJewishExperience/  Instagram: instagram.com/M_J_experience/

Mark Wildes was well on his way to joining his father, a renowned immigration attorney, when he found his life's calling: reaching out to unaffiliated young professional Jews in Manhattan, and innovating for decades in the outreach space. Unique as a proudly Modern Orthodox practitioner, Rabbi Wildes offers a different perspective, which we discuss and evaluate in this episode. We also speak about his new "40-day challenge" - the subject of his latest book - and his other writings, along with his rich family history and dreams for the future of outreach. Jews You Should Know introduces the broader community to interesting and inspiring Jewish men and women making a difference in our world. Some are already famous, some not yet so. But each is a Jew You Should Know. The host, Rabbi Ari Koretzky, is Executive Director of MEOR Maryland (www.meormd.org), a premier Jewish outreach and educational organization. MEOR operates nationally on twenty campuses and in Manhattan; visit the national website at www.meor.org. Please visit www.JewsYouShouldKnow.com, follow us on Twitter @JewsUShouldKnow or on Facebook. Have feedback for the show, or suggestions for future guests? E-mail us at JewsYouShouldKnow@gmail.com. Want to support this podcast? Visit Patreon.com/JewsYouShouldKnow. A small monthly contribution goes a long way!! A special thank you to Jacob Rupp of the Lift Your Legacy podcast for his invaluable production assistance. Website: jewishexperience.org  Facebook: facebook.com/ManhattanJewishExperience/  Instagram: instagram.com/M_J_experience/

Rabbi Wildes had the amazing opportunity to be interviewed on Two Chassids in a Pod which is a popular podcast hosted by two fascinating young men who grew up in the West and have moved to the holy city of Tzfat to spread the light of Torah and the Jewish Tradition. We went deep into the intricacies of Zionism, university campuses in the US, Jewish Outreach, the 40 Day Challenge, and more. You can follow the Two Chassids in a Pod podcast on IG @TwoChassidsinaPod Website: jewishexperience.org  Facebook: facebook.com/ManhattanJewishExperience/  Instagram: instagram.com/M_J_experience/

Gedale Fenster is one of the most sought-after speakers in the Jewish world, selling out venues of over 5000 people and with over tens of thousands of daily listeners to his motivational Torah-based podcasts. Gedale joins Rabbi Wildes for an exhilarating conversation about life's ups and downs and how the downs are merely a stepping stone to advance to heights previously unimaginable in every facet of life. More topics in timestamps below. Timestamps: 00:00:00 - Introducing Gedale Fenster 00:02:10 - Root Cause of Anxiety 00:08:00 - A Practical Belief in God 00:12:00 - Growth Through Pain 00:15:00 - Ideal Path to Teshuva 00:19:00 - Finding Your Soulmate 00:32:00 - Rabbi Nachman 00:40:00 - Torah vs. Logic 00:44:00 - Happiness Follow Gedale @Gedale Fenster on Youtube, Instagram, Spotify, and Gedale.com Subscribe to the Wildescast for more immersive and inspirational conversations. https://link.chtbl.com/wildes Website: jewishexperience.org  Facebook: facebook.com/ManhattanJewishExperience/  Instagram: instagram.com/M_J_experience/

This is a rebroadcast of Rabbi Wildes' appearance on "The Orthodox Conundrum" with Rabbi Scott Kahn; an amazing podcast from Jewish Coffee House which takes an honest look at the major issues affecting the Orthodox world, without exaggeration, whitewashing, or pretending that they don’t exist. This episode is, in some ways, two distinct podcasts in one: one about outreach, and one about some major spiritual challenges that exist in the Modern Orthodox world. Many in the Centrist or Modern Orthodox world are uncomfortable with kiruv and outreach; it’s often associated with acting with condescension towards people who are not Orthodox, objectifying people who are not Orthodox, and not acting forthrightly towards people who are not Orthodox. Perhaps most concerning, though, is the suspicion that kiruv professionals act as though they have all the answers, that Orthodoxy is a perfect society, and that we need to reach out because everything within Orthodoxy is basically perfect. Many of us would argue that we need to get our own house in order before convincing other people to join the team. Rabbi Mark Wildes, though, is one of the rare Modern Orthodox Jews who is deeply involved in, and believes in, kiruv and outreach to unaffiliated and less-affiliated Jews. Scott asked him how he responds to these criticisms of kiruv professionals and organizations, how we should define the real goals of kiruv organizations, and why most kiruv professionals seem to have a Chareidi or Chassidic orientation. Perhaps even more important, however, was an intense discussion of the problems that Modern Orthodoxy needs to address. Their conversation included a discussion of spiritual anemia, problems that exist in synagogues, the longing – or lack thereof – for the Divine Presence, the differences between experience and intellect in the approach to G-d, how much we should emphasize dogma, and – above all – the need to bring G-d back into the center of our consciousness. This conversation – again, really two conversations – was fascinating, and should give you food for thought as we enter Elul and the days leading up to the Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur. 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). 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. Visit https://www.jchpodcasts.com/ to learn all about creating your own podcast. Website: jewishexperience.org  Facebook: facebook.com/ManhattanJewishExperience/  Instagram: instagram.com/M_J_experience/

Rosh Chodesh Elul is upon us and so is The 40 Day Challenge 2.0! Rabbi Mark Wildes is interviewed by the great Nachum Segal on his popular radio program "JM in the AM" to discuss how we can learn from Tom Brady, Abraham Lincoln, and other iconic figures how to use this special time to make a positive and impactful change in the world, become the very best version of ourselves, and how to connect to God at a time when He is closest. Join the 40 Day Challenge at JewishExperience.org/40Day Listen to JM in the AM on the Nachum Sega lNetwork and follow @nachumsegalnetwork on Instagram Website: jewishexperience.org  Facebook: facebook.com/ManhattanJewishExperience/  Instagram: instagram.com/M_J_experience/