One of the most progressive facts about Judaism is that the Torah and the religious texts around our holy scripture encourage sex. That makes Judaism one of the few sex-positive religions in the world! In some religions, sex is purely for procreation. In Judaism, you're commanded to have sex for pleasure on certain occasions AND are required to feel attraction. We're required to have sex and pleasure our partners a certain number of times per month depending on our jobs. We're even required to u...
Jun 21, 2023•33 min
Have you ever tried to pray and been discouraged? Have you ever clasped your hands together in hopes of a miracle, only to be met by crickets? Have you ever felt isolated in your journey because you feel like a beginner in a sea full of veteran Jews? We have too. Reena Friedman Watts, host of Better Call Daddy, founder of Mega Watts Productions, and Jewish mother, has taken it upon herself to journey deeper into her Judaism with her family. On Bad Jew, host Chaz Volk uncovers the trials and trib...
Jun 14, 2023•38 min
The intersection between business and Judaism raises intriguing questions about the compatibility of religious values with profit-driven endeavors. Explore how Judaism's emphasis on social justice, ethical conduct, and communal responsibility can guide entrepreneurs and business leaders in navigating ethical challenges and cultivating integrity in the competitive world of capitalism. Discover the potential harmony or tension that arises when business and Judaism converge. Chaz Volk, the charisma...
Jun 07, 2023•37 min
How does it feel when someone who is not from your background partakes in your customs? In some instances, it can feel like a compliment. For others, you may wonder what the alternative motives are. Jews are faced with this dilemma on a regular basis. While our culture seems to face criticism in the public eye that flirts with antisemitism, there is also a portion of people who take an interest in Jewish wisdom. One specific group is the wide spectrum of Christians who practice the Torah with go...
May 31, 2023•40 min
How difficult is it to be somewhere on the LGBTQ spectrum? Now ask yourself if it's difficult to be Jewish. Put those two challenges together and you have yourself one of the most difficult identities to embrace. The intersection of sexual identity, gender identity, and Jewish identity can sometimes harmoniously fall into place. For the most part, it's a challenging and often scrutinized route to follow. Comedian and writer Raye Schiller jumps onto Bad Jew to discuss their identity, their sexual...
May 24, 2023•32 min
Is there such a thing as love at first site? Are the butterflies in your stomach real or are they just chemical reactions from your nervous system? Is there truly someone out there to complete you? Aleeza Ben Shalom draws from the Torah to prove that soulmates are 100% real and not just a concept on reality TV. In this relevant interview with Aleeza Ben Shalom, a globally recognized dating coach and marriage strategist, featured on Netflix's Jewish Matchmaking series, Chaz Volk of Bad Jew challe...
May 17, 2023•31 min
According to the Torah, there's a lot more to being a mother than just giving birth. It turns out you also have to be a role model, support your family's efforts, and tell your story. Dr. Logan Levkoff tells her story and fights her fight every day in the virtual space and in real life. Specializing in uncomfortable conversations, she reveals what her day-to-day is like from fighting trolls on TikTok to raising tomorrow's generation of Jewish Leadership. On this Mother's Day special, Dr. Logan L...
May 10, 2023•30 min
There are archaic rituals that stump us when attempting to embrace the full picture of Judaism. When it comes to women's rights forward-thinking beliefs of the modern-day world can get in the way of our relationship with G-d. Is it contradicting to be Jewish and feminist? Is Judaism actually a sexist religion? Kayla Haber-Goldstein, author of Questioning the Answers, has pursued clarity on this troublesome thought since experiencing motherhood. Chaz Volk, host of Bad Jew, challenges Kayla to pro...
May 03, 2023•45 min
Traditionally, the Shema is that prayer you do when you rise up in the morning and when you lie down at night. There are many prayers that fluctuate throughout the day, but this one remains a constant no matter what time of day it is. Surely it must be important. Jason Ciment of Get Visible joins Chaz Volk on Bad Jew to discuss the nuances of this pillar of Judaism. Jason reveals that the Shema is more than just a 'mission statement'. It turns out that the Shema lays out the foundation for how o...
Apr 26, 2023•38 min
Beyond watching Hassidim dance in synchronized steps, do Jews dance? Turns out, we embrace a relatively new and lively tradition of choreography through Israeli folk dancing. Dancing happens to also be mentioned in the Torah. One could say it's our duty to dance. Tune in with Chaz Volk, host of Bad Jew, as he interviews Orly Star, teacher and choreographer, on the rich topic of the Jewish heritage of dance! About Orly Star: Orly Star Setareh started dancing at the age of 5. With over 24 years of...
Apr 19, 2023•36 min
We know Judaism really cares about rituals and commandments. But is there any focus on personal well-being? Mental health? Self-care? In this interview with actor, Eli Sandhaus, we explore Judaism's view on mental health. Sandhaus explains that the tale of anxiety, depression, OCD, and schizophrenia is a tale as old as time... or at least the Torah. These sicknesses can be a common experience within Jewish communities. Eli also shares his personal battles with mental health and discusses its rel...
Apr 12, 2023•32 min
Many of the Jewish holidays we cherish today, like Passover, are inspired by our survival story against antisemitism. While the holidays themselves are delightful, the backstory and relevant reality of racism, violence, and intolerance toward Jews are discouraging and disheartening. Roz Rothstein faces antisemitism for a living. In this episode, Roz speaks with Chaz Volk to highlight the passionate work that Stand With Us carries out. From journalism to advocacy to representation and even commun...
Apr 05, 2023•34 min
For those who don't know, some Jews simply hate Israel. Anti-Zionists come in all shapes and sizes. Even in the Jewish context. Some Jews strongly dislike Israel, if not hate Israel, for a variety of reasons. Some jump on the bandwagon rhetoric that it's an apartheid state. Some get caught up in the long bloody history of the Israel-Palestine conflict. Some go as far as to call the Knesset fascist. Eyal Shay, host of the Deep Dive Podcast, takes a deep dive with Chaz Volk, to highlight the nuanc...
Mar 29, 2023•43 min
Yeah, we've heard the melodies from prayers in shull. But does our sense of tune go beyond that? Is the melody really just there to make the prayers more interesting? Or do Jews, both religious and secular, embrace a deeper and more meaningful heritage of music? Jonathan Maimon, producer, and director of I Hear You, jumps onto Bad Jew with Chaz Volk to shed light on the Torah's perspective on music. They learn its importance to Judaism, how modern trends in music and dance were introduced, and t...
Mar 22, 2023•30 min
Well? Can we? After all, at first glance, one might look at the number of times Jews have been persecuted and assume that we are a weak, submissive, opportune people to conquer. Chanan Smith, a veteran of the IDF, Krav Maga trainer, and authority in the world of security, speaks on the history of Jewish combat and how we, as a nation, learned to fight for our existence. The IDF might be our current embodiment of defense, but it certainly wasn't the first. Dating even further back than the invent...
Mar 15, 2023•33 min
We hear about these various labels of Judaism all of the time; Reform, Conservative, Orthodox, Ashkenazi, Sephardic, Mizrahi, Hassidic, Talmudic, Kabbalistic. The list goes on and on and on. So how many types of Jews are there? Who better to answer that question than Rabbi Moshe Bryski of Conejo Chabad. Rabbi Bryski is a religious and community leader who shares the message that, truly, there is only one type of Jew despite the labels we get caught up in. Chaz Volk, host of Bad Jew, has personal...
Mar 08, 2023•43 min
Remember that thing we do on Fridays called The Sabbath? Remember that nice little dinner at the end of the week that feels a little more warm and fuzzy than the others? That's called Shabbat. But why does it matter? What's the origins of this festive night? Is there a way to do it right? And why does every Jew have a different opinion on it? Aliza Kline, the founder of OneTable, tells us about her journey and what it has meant for her and her family. Shabbat always played an integral role in he...
Mar 01, 2023•41 min
Yiscah Smith is a religious leader based in Jerusalem, Israel. After living in such a pivotal time, studying Judaism changes and personal pathways became her calling. Yiscah jumps onto the Bad Jew podcast to remind you that you are not a bad Jew for independently discovering yourself while doing what makes sense for you Jewishly. Don't just do Jewish. BE Jewish. BIO: Yiscah is a spiritual activist, educator, mentor, and meditation guide, who addresses the spiritual practice of encountering the D...
Feb 22, 2023•36 min
Why is it important to be Jewish if you are Jewish? And do some just "do" Jewish? How do you add meaning and intention to your identity? Simpsons writer, "Street Rabbi", and time traveler David Sacks joins Chaz Volk to discuss the act of being Jewish, how to do it, and what it means to add a certain level of depth to your identity. About David Sacks Born and raised in New York City, David Sacks attended Harvard College, graduating with a degree in Government. While there he began his comedy writ...
Feb 15, 2023•35 min
Fun fact: Men aren't the only ones missing their shot. Shira Melul of AishLIT has a few things to say about that. As we near Valentines day, why not go into the world dating with the proper mindset? In the 2nd of this 2-part series on dating, Shira Melul talks about the strengths that women have while also highlighting the repeated mistakes and commonly heard grievances from the women's perspective. About Shira Melul: Born in Jerusalem, Israel and raised in a home focused on education, Shira’s l...
Feb 08, 2023•38 min
As we get closer to valentines day, one has to ask, what does it take to be good at dating? From the Jewish perspective, that question differs depending on whether you're a man or woman. Rabbi Jack Melul of AishLIT steps onto the podcast with his wife, Shira Melul, to point out the mistakes he has noticed amongst men in the dating world. As we near the peak of cuffing season, you should go into your first date with the self awareness and the insight to find your soulmate! About: Born in Manchest...
Feb 01, 2023•32 min
You may have heard the stereotype of Jews running Hollywood. You'd have to be living under a rock to think that Jews never had anything to do with Hollywood. This concept is taken to an extreme that feeds anti-Semitism. We hear such rhetoric from non-Jewish figures Dave Chappelle and even from Jewish figures like Larry David. Why is that? Saul Blinkoff jumps onto Bad Jew to demystify these buzzwords and key phrases designed to hurt our community. In this episode, we discuss the history of these ...
Jan 25, 2023•46 min
Is Torah relevant as we go into the new year (not the Jewish new year, just the regular new year)? Afterall, this text was written over 3,000 years ago! How can something so literally ancient be applied to a world with social media, vaccines, gender studies, technology, and more? Rabbi Benzion Klatzko explains the world that we face today from the Jewish perspective. This fascinating dialogue brings about many questions and probably warrants for a 2-part episode. About Rabbi Klatzko: Rabbi Klatz...
Jan 18, 2023•31 min
Rami Matan Even-Esh aka Kosha Dillz just put Kanye West down a peg with his diss track Death Con 3. In this 2 minute comeback of a response, Kosha Dillz references the hate Jews face, American politics and the lack of action our representatives take, along with our relationships with other races. That begs the question, should we all make rap songs every time an anti-Semitic attack is hurled at us? Kosha Dillz explains to Chaz Volk the nuances of the political and social battle that is anti-Semi...
Jan 11, 2023•28 min
What is a Bad Jew? Hi, I'm Chaz Volk and time and time again, I've been called a 'Bad Jew'. But why? There's a few potential reasons that we uncover in this episode. My Jewish journey has been lifelong however my emotional breakthroughs started in July of 2022. During an organized trip in Israel, it became very clear what was missing in my life. I started practicing the entry level teachings of the Torah and even adopted a few lifestyle changes. While I'm not comfortable with everything, I learn...
Jan 11, 2023•12 min
What is a bad jew? What does it take to not be one? Is it anti-Semitic to say? Or is it just a phrase that Jews use to cruelly judge one another? Chaz Volk, a newly observant Jew, shares that the greatest way to embrace your identity is to question everything. And we mean EVERYTHING! Chaz questions the Torah, law, politics, standards, communities and even G-d itself in this confrontational and edgy show. Want to connect? IG: @BadJewPod TikTok: @BadJewPod Want to connect with our online WhatsApp ...
Jan 05, 2023•3 min
