Orthodox Conundrum

Sexual abuse is a terrible problem in all communities, and unfortunately, the Orthodox world is no exception. Is the Orthodox community better or worse than others? Have things improved over the past few years as awareness has increased - or have things gotten even worse? And is there reason to hope for the future? Join Scott Kahn as he interviews Shana Aaronson, the COO of Jewish Community Watch...

In our last episode, we asked if the ends justify the means in Torah Judaism; the answer, we stated, must be a resounding NO. Nevertheless, in the realm of politics in Israel, religious political parties often act as though any means - including the violation of Halacha - is acceptable in the service of reaching the parties' goals. In this episode of the Orthodox Conundrum, Scott Kahn looks at rel...

In this bonus mini-episode for Yom Kippur, the Orthodox Conundrum offers a reminder about something we all know, but so often forget: the message we're sending our children, spouse, and friends when we look at our phones while sitting at the table. Please take five minutes to listen, and share the message that starting today, #NoScreensAtTheTable.

Do the ends justify the means? This old question has been debated endlessly, but within Torah Judaism, the answer must be a resounding NO. Nevertheless, too often in the Torah community, the ends are treated as so important that violations of some of the most serious prohibitions in the Torah are countenanced in the context of achieving a seemingly noble goal. In this episode of the Orthodox Conun...

The Israeli Chief Rabbinate has become a lightning rod for criticism - and in many cases, quite deservedly so. The institution is broken; should we try to fix it, or junk it altogether? Rabbi Seth Farber, the founder of ITIM, believes that it can be a force for good - but only if it changes its narrow and, in his opinion, incorrect understanding of Halacha and its place in the State of Israel. In...

Too often, we ignore the crucial directives implied by the concept of Pikuach Nefesh - saving a life - and allow ourselves to be reckless on the roads through speeding, texting while driving, not using seat belts, and more. When will we realize that safe driving is not only smart, but also an absolute halachic requirement? Join Scott Kahn for a short but powerful episode of the Orthodox Conundrum,...

We in the Orthodox community are justifiably proud of our emphasis on community. Like all good things, however, this, too, has a dark side: the possibility of people feeling excluded from what often presents itself, or at least sometimes appears, as a community that is insulated from many problems. In this episode of the Orthodox Conundrum, Scott Kahn talks to Shira Lankin Sheps, who is giving voi...

Is much of the Orthodox community racist? What are the reasons that some members of our community express racist attitudes, use racist language, and demonstrate a lack of respect for people outside the Jewish community who are not white? Join Scott Kahn as he interviews journalist Avital Chizhik-Goldschmidt to discuss how prevalent this problem is, how we got here, and what can be done to change t...

What should you do when you have a unique educational approach that isn't fully appreciated by normal institutions? If you're Rabbi Akiva Weisinger - creator of the 19,000-member strong Facebook group God Save Us From Your Opinion - you simply create a new institution for you and other like-minded individuals. Join Scott Kahn for a discussion with Akiva about why Akiva dismisses lables, how far he...

The Trump administration's policy (thankfully reversed by executive order) of separating parents and children at the US-Mexico border was cruel and inhumane, and violated basic Torah values. The Orthodox Union and, to an even greater degree, Agudath Israel of America, did the right thing by condemning this policy in clear and unambiguous terms. But what about the Orthodox Jews who support the poli...

Do Orthodox Jews respect women? That question from our last episode engendered a lot of discussion, and Scott Kahn continues the conversation by answering and discussing some of the many responses and criticisms he received in response to the podcast. Join the conversation - you won't want to miss it. Please subscribe, rate, and review on iTunes! Just go to itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/ortho…rum/id...

It is often claimed that despite their being relegated to the other side of the mechitza, women are shown tremendous respect within Orthodox Judaism. That may be true, but do Orthodox JEWS show this same respect that they claim is warranted by Jewish law? Join Scott Kahn for an honest talk about women on the other side of the mechitza, and the way that - too often - they are made to feel like seco...

THIS PODCAST CONTAINS EXPLICIT MATERIAL. LISTENER DISCRETION IS ADVISED. Halachic sources state that male masturbation is unequivocally prohibited under Jewish law. This prohibition, however, often creates serious conflict and guilt in the religious and private lives of young Orthodox men, with consequences ranging from experiencing feelings of hypocrisy, to dropping out of Orthodoxy altogether, t...

Rabbi Nathan Lopes Cardozo is at the cutting edge of Orthodox Jewish thought. He does not shy away from diagnosing problems, breaking barriers, and offering novel - and perhaps disturbing - ways of looking at the tradition, while insisting upon genuine fealty to Jewish law and practice. What is lacking in the Orthodox community's religious practice? How does he suggest addresing these issues? When...

Rabbi Nathan Lopes Cardozo is at the cutting edge of Orthodox Jewish thought. He does not shy away from diagnosing problems, breaking barriers, and offering novel - and perhaps disturbing - ways of looking at the tradition, while insisting upon genuine fealty to Jewish law and practice. What is lacking in the Orthodox community's religious practice? How does he suggest addresing these issues? When...

One of the worst-kept secrets of the right-wing Orthodox world is that texts are sometimes censored to make sure that they adhere with the worldview espoused within that culture. This includes removing the words of some of the greatest rabbinic figures of all time, such as Rashi and the Rashbam, as well as literally forging the statements of important rabbis. Is this practice limited to publishers...

THIS PODCAST CONTAINS EXPLICIT MATERIAL. LISTENER DISCRETION IS ADVISED. Rabbi Yosef Karo's halachic opinion on non-vaginal intercourse, as expressed in the Shulchan Aruch, is often seen as standard and normative. The reality, however, is much more complex. In this episode of the Orthodox Conundrum podcast, Scott Kahn talks with Rabbi Yaakov Shapiro, author of Halachic Positions: What Judaism Real...

THIS PODCAST CONTAINS EXPLICIT MATERIAL. LISTENER DISCRETION IS ADVISED. Although most religious Jews assume that anal and oral intercourse are halachically forbidden, there is significant discussion and disagreement about this issue in the Talmud and the Rishonim. In this episode of the Orthodox Conundrum podcast, Scott Kahn talks with Rabbi Yaakov Shapiro, author of Halachic Positions: What Juda...

THIS PODCAST CONTAINS EXPLICIT MATERIAL. LISTENER DISCRETION IS ADVISED. In Masechet Nedarim 20a, Rabbi Yochanan ben Dehavai states that certain birth defects are caused by particular actions performed by the husband and wife during sexual intercourse; accordingly, he seems to put severe restraints on what a couple may do while having sex. On the other hand, the Sages say that a husband and wife m...

THIS PODCAST CONTAINS EXPLICIT MATERIAL. LISTENER DISCRETION IS ADVISED. While many people know that Judaism has a positive orientation toward marriage and sex, people often assume that, even within marriage, there are severe restrictions on what is allowed and what is forbidden. In this episode of the Orthodox Conundrum, Scott Kahn speaks with Rabbi Yaakov Shapiro, author of Halachic Positions: W...

Rabbi Asher Lopatin is the president of Yeshivat Chovevei Torah in New York. Chovevei Torah has long been associated with "Open Orthodoxy," but Rabbi Lopatin recently decided to retire that moniker, and wants his yeshiva to be seen as an integral part of the Modern Orthodox world. Many Orthodox Jews, however, view Chovevei Torah as standing outside of Orthodoxy. Join Scott Kahn as he and Rabbi Lop...