Orthodox Conundrum

(In anticipation of Purim, the Orthodox Conundrum is rereleasing this classic episode from last year. The issues raised, unfortunately, apply just as much this year as last.) Purim is, if not the most joyous holiday on the Jewish calendar, then certainly the most "fun." And therein lies the problem: are we teaching our children and students that having fun requires alcohol? Is teenage alcohol abuse a real danger, or is it healthy to let loose given that it's only one day a year? Is worrying about Purim drinking and the effects of kiddush clubs alarmist, or necessary? What should be done if you suspect that your kid has a problem, and how is "problem" even defined? Join Scott Kahn as he interviews Dr. Zev Ganz in this important and timely episode. 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 our Patreon site for bonus episodes, merch, and more at https://www.patreon.com/jewishcoffeehouse. Music: "Happy Rock" by bensound.com

The response to coronavirus protocols in Israeli ultra-Orthodox society has been disheartening. Of course, blaming the entire ultra-Orthodox world for the actions of a subset is absurd and unfair. And claiming that the Chareidi world somehow bears unique blame when the Tel Aviv beaches are often full, and protests against the government continue often without any concern for protocols, seems equally problematic. But we simply can't ignore the verifiable fact that a significantly greater percentage of Chareidi Jews have contracted the coronavirus than the Israeli national average; and this is at least partially the result of an overly relaxed attitude towards guidelines implemented by the government and recommended by the medical establishment. In order to discuss this problem, Scott spoke with Rabbi Nathan Lopes Cardozo, the Founder and Dean of the David Cardozo Academy and the Bet Midrash of Avraham Avinu in Jerusalem. The reason he reached out to him was because Rav Cardozo released an open letter to HaRav Chaim Kanievsky, shlita, who is widely regarded as the spiritual leader of much of the Israeli Chareidi world. The letter was a frank and pained request that he and other Chareidi rabbis do more to address the unacceptable ignoring of protocols among some members of ultra-Orthodox society. You can read the letter here: https://www.cardozoacademy.org/an-open-letter-to-rav-chaim-kanievsky-shlita/ Please listen to and share the 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. Check out https://jewishcoffeehouse.com/ for the Orthodox Conundrum and other great podcasts, and remember to subscribe to them on your favorite podcast provider. The site will also help you learn about creating your own podcast. Music: "Happy Rock" by bensound.com

In a world in which civil discourse is eroding, and where political or religious opponents are cast as enemies, the Orthodox community must step up and set an example... and we are failing miserably. Orly Wahba, the founder of Life Vest Inside, is actually doing something about it. Her film "Kindness Boomerang" was viewed by 100 million people, and she also created and launched Dance for Kindness, the largest annual worldwide FlashMob which has grown to be a phenomenal leadership training program in over 50 countries. Most recently, in 2019, Orly created and launched a mobile app in memory of her grandfather. The app, Abraham's Legacy: A Social Network for Prayer connects people across the globe through the power of collective prayer. Join Scott as he speaks with Orly about her projects, and how she knows from personal experience that a change in perspective can be transformative. 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. The site will also help you learn about creating your own podcast. Music: "Happy Rock" by bensound.com

Mister Rogers has become a symbol of kindness, empathy, and understanding. Tim Madigan, who wrote I'm Proud of You: Life Lessons from My Friend Fred Rogers, says that the person on the TV screen was indeed the real Mister Rogers; and when he spoke to adults, Fred's spirituality, depth, intellect, and almost superhuman ability to be attentive and honest was readily apparent. In a world where polite discourse has too often devolved into shouting, and where those with whom we disagree are considered enemies, the messages offered by Fred Rogers are more important than ever. With that in mind, Scott spoke with Tim Madigan about his own experiences with Mister Rogers, and what we can all learn from him and from his example. If you would like to purchase Tim's book, click here: https://www.amazon.com/Im-Proud-You-Friendship-Rogers/dp/1470155117/ref=sr_1_1?dchild=1&keywords=I%27m+proud+of+you&qid=1612773792&sr=8-1 Thanks to all of our new Patreon subscribers, who now 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. Music: "Happy Rock" by bensound.com

The Orthodox world prides itself on its family values; nowhere is this more apparent than in the Orthodox emphasis on marriage and children. Getting there, however, can sometimes be fraught with all sorts of problems - what has come to be called the shidduch crisis. According to Anna Sherman, a Registered Psychotherapist, Maternal Mental Health Practitioner, and Clinical Supervisor, it's not just a problem of getting married; it's a problem of the wrong messages being sent, creating a divorce crisis even more than a shidduch crisis. Scott and Anna discuss the problems with the shidduch system, the consequences of these problems, and what kind of solutions are available to help Orthodoxy create a healthier way for couples to meet. Thanks to all of our new Patreon subscribers, who now have access to bonus JCH podcasts, merch, and more - we appreciate your help, and hope you really enjoy everything that you get! 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. Music: "Happy Rock" by bensound.com

When protestors attacked the United States Capitol based on the president's words, both Jewish law and Jewish values were torn to shreds. Many Orthodox Jews, while not supporting violence, refuse to recognize what has happened as a result of the Trump presidency. With two weeks left before Trump leaves office, Scott Kahn looks at what too many Orthodox Jews have lost as a direct consequence of Trump idolatry. Thanks to all of our new Patreon subscribers, who now have access to bonus JCH podcasts, merch, and more - we appreciate your help, and hope you really enjoy everything that you get! 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. Music: "Happy Rock" by bensound.com

As 2020 comes to a close, Scott takes a brief look back at the past year for Jewish Coffee House, and looks forward to even more in 2021 - and explains how you can help. Listen to the podcast, then go to https://www.patreon.com/jewishcoffeehouse (and do it fast to get a cup of coffee on us!).

How do we teach faith and belief to our students and children, when so much of society is dismissive of faith and belief? Should intellectual acquiescence or intimate experience be our primary goal? What are the questions that bother kids the most, and what should parents and teachers do when they don't have satisfactory answers to these questions? To address these and other issues, Scott spoke to Rabbi Pesach Sommer, who has over twenty years of experience teaching in Jewish days schools. He is also involved with Project Makom, an organization for charedim who are looking to find a more comfortable way of expressing their religiosity, where he speaks and offers guidance. Pesach is a popular writer, blogger, and accomplished speaker, and a noted thinker in the area of hashkafa and Jewish thought. 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 our Patreon site for bonus episodes, merch, and more at https://www.patreon.com/jewishcoffeehouse. Music: "Happy Rock" by bensound.com

It seems that a vaccine to prevent COVID-19 will be available as soon as next month. Yet many people are nervous about the vaccine, and suggested that they might not be interested in having it administered to them - at least not right away. There are concerns about the speed at which it was developed, the possibility of short and long term side effects that might not yet have been discovered, and more. And these questions persist within the Orthodox community, as much as anywhere else. To discuss the vaccine, both from a public health standpoint and from the perspective of Halacha, Scott Kahn interviewed Dr. Sharon Galper Grossman. Dr. Grossman is a radiation oncologist and former faculty member of Harvard Medical School, where she also obtained a Masters in Public Health. She is a graduate of the Morot L'Halakha program for women's advanced halakha learning at Matan Hasharon. She writes and lectures on women's health and halakha and teaches for Matan, Machon Puah and the Eden Center where she is the director of community health programming. 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 our Patreon site for bonus episodes, merch, and more at https://www.patreon.com/jewishcoffeehouse. Music: "Happy Rock" by bensound.com

It's difficult to deny that the Trump administration was far more pro-Israel than its predecessor; for that reason, many Israelis and others who support Israel are very nervous about what to expect from a Biden administration. Will the gains of the past four years be reversed? Will Biden reenter the Iran deal? Will Israel receive a warm embrace from Washington, or the cold shoulder? To answer these questions, Scott Kahn spoke to Ambassador Michael Oren. Michael Oren served as the Israeli ambassador to the United States from 2009 to 2013, and is a former Member of Knesset and deputy minister in charge of public diplomacy. As both an historian and someone who knows President Obama and Vice President Biden well, Ambassador Oren is uniquely equipped to provide insight into this pressing issue. 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 our Patreon site for bonus episodes, merch, and more at www.patreon.com/jewishcoffeehouse. Music: "Happy Rock" by bensound.com