Judaism Unbound - podcast cover

Judaism Unbound

Institute for the Next Jewish Futurewww.judaismunbound.com
Listen in as Dan Libenson and Lex Rofeberg analyze pressing issues for 21st century American Judaism. Mixing their own analysis with interviews of leading thinkers, practitioners, and even "regular Jews," Dan and Lex 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.

Episodes

Bonus Episode: Elul #6 - Take a Breath

Lex Rofeberg and Wendie Lash talk about the “holi-month” known as Elul, directly preceding the Jewish New Year. It is observed through a journey of introspection and personal growth. This “mini-episode” is the 2nd of four that will be released as part of Elul Unbound 2019 . To listen to any or all of the four episodes that were part of Elul Unbound 2018, click here . Experience the journey of Elul Unbound, through a piece of Elul content arriving daily in your inbox, by signing up at this link ....

Sep 08, 201915 min

Episode 186: Re-Imagining Jewish Education - Miriam Heller Stern

Miriam Heller Stern , National Director of the Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion School of Education, joins Dan Libenson and Lex Rofeberg to kick off a unit of episodes looking at shifting dynamics in contemporary Jewish education. 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 full shownotes for this episode, click here ....

Sep 06, 201947 min

Bonus Episode: Elul #5 - No Suitcase Required

Lex Rofeberg and Wendie Lash talk about the “holi-month” known as Elul, directly preceding the Jewish New Year and observed through a journey of introspection and personal growth. This “mini-episode” is the 1st of four that will be released as part of Elul Unbound 2019 . To listen to any or all of the 4 that preceded it, as part of Elul Unbound 2018 , click here . Experience the journey Elul Unbound, through daily emails from Judaism Unbound, by signing up at this link ! Sign up for our first fa...

Sep 01, 201917 min

Episode 185: An Army of Translators - Sarah Hurwitz

Sarah Hurwitz , former speechwriter for Michelle and Barack Obama, and author of Here All Along: Finding Meaning, Spirituality, and a Deeper Connection to Life--in Judaism (After Finally Choosing to Look There) , joins Dan Libenson and Lex Rofeberg to discuss a sometimes-overlooked question: Why bother with 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 full sho...

Aug 30, 201948 min

Episode 184: Disorganized Religion - Dan and Lex

Dan Libenson and Lex Rofeberg call for future forms of Judaism that will be less institutional and more disorganized. 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 full shownotes for this episode, click here ....

Aug 23, 201944 min

Episode 183: Intentional Community - Sara Levy Linden, Shira Rutman

Sara Levy Linden and Shira Rutman , two members of San Francisco’s Urban Kibbutz, join Dan and Lex for a conversation about what constitutes an intentional community. 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 full shownotes for this episode, click here ....

Aug 16, 201946 min

Episode 182: Judaism On Our Own Terms - Tal Frieden, August Kahn

Tal Frieden and August Kahn , two leaders of Judaism On Our Own Terms (a new national network of student-led Jewish communities) join Dan and Lex for a conversation about how Jewish campus life today can help us build the Judaisms of tomorrow. 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 full shownotes for this episode, click here ....

Aug 09, 201951 min

Episode 181: The New Synagogue Project - Joseph Berman, Lauren Spokane

Joseph Berman, founding rabbi of The New Synagogue Project (NSP), and Lauren Spokane, NSP’s “lead instigator,” join Dan Libenson and Lex Rofeberg for a conversation about how their intentional community is looking to help build a better, more just world. 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 full shownotes for this episode, click here ....

Aug 02, 201949 min

Episode 180: The Ritual Design Lab - Margaret Hagan, Kursat Ozenc

Margaret Hagan and Kursat Ozenc , co-creators of the Ritual Design Lab, based at Stanford University’s Institute of Design (the “d.school”), and co-authors of the book Rituals for Work, join Dan Libenson and Lex Rofeberg to investigate what rituals are, why they matter, and how they work. 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 full shownotes for this episode, cli...

Jul 26, 201951 min

Episode 179: The Jewish Polymath - David Zvi Kalman

David Zvi Kalman founded and owns Print-O-Craft (an independent publisher of Jewish books), co-founded Jewish Public Media (a podcasting platform), and recently completed his PhD — in Jewish technology and Islamic jurisprudence — at the University of Pennsylvania. He joins Dan Libenson and Lex Rofeberg for a conversation about what it’s like to wear many Jewish hats, all at once. If you're enjoying Judaism Unbound , please help us keep things going with a one-time or monthly tax-deductible donat...

Jul 19, 201950 min

Episode 178: I-Wish-I-Had-This-Itis - Shira Stutman Part 2

Shira Stutman , who serves as Senior Rabbi at Sixth & I Historic Synagogue in Washington D.C, joins Dan Libenson and Lex Rofeberg for the second half of a 2-part conversation. [1] Together they ask some big questions about the ecosystem of 21st century Judaism, working to combat a disease (not physical!) they term “Wish-I-Had-This-Itis” in the process. If you're enjoying Judaism Unbound , please help us keep things going with a one-time or monthly tax-deductible donation. Support Judaism Unb...

Jul 12, 201945 min

Episode 177: Spreading the Good (Jewish) News - Shira Stutman Part 1

Shira Stutman , who serves as Senior Rabbi at Sixth & I Historic Synagogue in Washington D.C, thinks that Judaism has a ton to offer the world. In the first half of a 2-part conversation with Dan Libenson and Lex Rofeberg, she has the chutzpah to argue that active Jewish outreach, and even forms of Jewish “evangelizing,” might be a pretty worthwhile idea! If you're enjoying Judaism Unbound , please help us keep things going with a one-time or monthly tax-deductible donation. Support Judaism ...

Jul 05, 201942 min

Episode 176: Wilderness Torah - Zelig Golden

Zelig Golden , the Founding Director of Wilderness Torah , joins Dan and Lex for a conversation about nature, roots, education, and the Jewish future. 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 full shownotes for this episode, click here ....

Jun 28, 201951 min

Episode 175: Becoming a Rabbi, on the Web - Sandy Zisser, Patrick Beaulier

Sandy Zisser and Patrick Beaulier , of the Pluralistic Rabbinical Seminary , join Dan and Lex for a conversation about digital rabbinic ordination. 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 full shownotes for this episode, click here ....

Jun 21, 201942 min

Episode 174: Tidying Up Judaism - Dan and Lex

Marie Kondo isn’t Jewish. But Dan and Lex think her ideas are relevant to the Jewish future. In this conversation, they tell you why! 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 full shownotes for this episode, click here ....

Jun 14, 201952 min

Bonus Episode: Humanistic Judaism at 50

Dan Libenson joins the Society for Humanistic Judaism at its movement-wide celebration and summit, to mark 50 years since its founding in 1969. He moderates a panel featuring five humanistic Jewish leaders ( Adam Chalom , Jeffrey Falick , Denise Handlarski , Jeremy Kridel , and Tzemah Yoreh ), who together explore the past, present, and future of humanistic Judaism. If you're enjoying Judaism Unbound , please help us keep things going with a one-time or monthly tax-deductible donation. Support J...

Jun 11, 20191 hr 3 min

Episode 173: Fragments of The Brooklyn Talmud - Andrew Ramer

Andrew Ramer , an ordained Maggid (storyteller) and author of Fragments of the Brooklyn Talmud , among other works, joins Dan and Lex for a conversation about ecological crisis, the blurry line between future and past, and Judaism in the 22nd and 23rd century. So nothing major, really. 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 full shownotes for this episode, click ...

Jun 07, 201944 min

Bonus Episode: Jewish Communal Singing -- David Fainsilber, Jessica Kate Meyer (Recorded Live at Hebrew College)

Lex enters into conversation with David Fainsilber and Jessica Kate Meyer , in a podcast recorded live at Hebrew College , in Newton, Massachusetts. This panel was part of a Hebrew College conference entitled “The Past and Future of Synagogues.” David Fainsilber serves as rabbi of The Jewish Community of Greater Stowe , in Vermont, and Jessica Kate Meyer serves as rabbi and chazan of The Kitchen , an emergent Jewish community in San Francisco. If you're enjoying Judaism Unbound , please help us ...

Jun 05, 201940 min

Episode 172: Judaism with Purpose(s) - Ayalon Eliach

Ayalon Eliach , Director of Learning and Strategic Communications at the Lippman Kanfer Foundation for Living Torah , joins Dan and Lex for a conversation that re-imagines forms of halachah (traditionally defined as “Jewish law”) that could look different than many might expect, and imbue lives with a deep sense of purpose and meaning. 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 31, 201948 min

Episode 171: Digesting Judaism - Rachel B. Gross

Rachel Gross , the John & Marcia Goldman Professor of American Jewish Studies at San Francisco State University, thinks that food is “the world’s most important subject.” She joins Dan and Lex to tell them (and you!) why that is, and why that fact matters when we seek to understand the Jewish past, present, and future. 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 f...

May 24, 201950 min

Episode 170: Queering the Jewish Bookshelf - Noam Sienna

Noam Sienna , author of the book A Rainbow Thread: An Anthology of Queer Jewish Texts from the First Century to 1969 , joins Lex and Dan for a conversation about expanding our understanding of the Jewish past. 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 full shownotes for this episode, click here ....

May 17, 201949 min

Episode 169: Jewish Language - Sarah Bunin Benor

Sarah Bunin Benor , Professor of Contemporary Jewish Studies at Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion , and author of the award winning book Becoming Frum: How Newcomers Learn the Language of Orthodox Judaism , joins Dan and Lex for a conversation about Jewish languages, and the deeper discourses revealed through dialect. 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 10, 201953 min

Episode 168: American Mussar - Greg Marcus

Greg Marcus , founder of American Mussar and author of The Spiritual Practice of Good Actions: Finding Balance through the Soul Traits of Mussar , joins Dan and Lex to look at what Mussar is, and how people can practice it effectively in an American context.

May 03, 201954 min

Episode 167: The Meaning of Mussar - David Jaffe

David Jaffe , author of the National Jewish Book Award-winning book Changing the World from the Inside Out , joins Dan and Lex for a conversation about Mussar -- both what it is, and the transformative potential that it possesses for individuals and the world. 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 full shownotes for this episode, click here ....

Apr 25, 201949 min

Episode 166: The Freedom Seder - Arthur Waskow

Arthur Waskow , noted activist, author, and rabbi, joins Dan and Lex for a conversation about 1969’s Freedom Seder . They look at the process that led to Waskow’s invention of that Passover observance, and the impact it has had on both Judaism and the world over the 50 years since its creation. 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 full shownotes for this episod...

Apr 19, 201956 min

Episode 165: SecularSynagogue.com - Denise Handlarski

Denise Handlarski , rabbi and founder of SecularSynagogue.com , joins Dan and Lex for a wide-ranging conversation, looking at digital Judaism, interfaith relationships, colonialism, among other topics. 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 full shownotes for this episode, click here ....

Apr 12, 201955 min

Episode 164: Going, Jewishly - Leon Wiener Dow

Leon Wiener Dow of the Shalom Hartman Institute and BINA Secular Yeshiva joins Dan Libenson and Lex Rofeberg in conversation about his new book, The Going . They discuss Jewish law — a system which both bounds and binds — probing the tensions between individual Jewish practice and an ongoing communal endeavor. 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 full shownotes...

Apr 05, 201950 min

Episode 163: Collective Effervescence - Lizzi Heydemann

Lizzi Heydemann , the rabbi and founder of Mishkan Chicago , joins Dan Libenson and Lex Rofeberg in conversation about creating a 21st Century Jewish spiritual community. In their discussion, she calls for embodied experiences of Judaism that are “primal,” “spiritual,” “bold,” “visceral,” and “powerful.” 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 full shownotes for t...

Mar 29, 201949 min

Episode 162: 100% Black, 100% Jewish - MaNishtana

MaNishtana joins Lex Rofeberg and Dan Libenson for a conversation about race and intersectionality in contemporary Jewish life. As a jumping off point, they discuss these issues through the lens of the protagonist in MaNishtana’s new novel, Ariel Samson: Freelance Rabbi , a Black Orthodox rabbi. 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 full shownotes for this episo...

Mar 22, 201945 min

Episode 161: The Zohar - Daniel Matt

Daniel Matt is a scholar of Kabbalah who translated and annotated the Zohar — a central text of Jewish mysticism — into English. He joins Dan Libenson and Lex Rofeberg for a conversation about the Zohar’s origins, his work that yielded The Zohar: Pritzker Edition (his landmark translation), and questions that the text opens up about the duality of old and new. If you're enjoying Judaism Unbound , please help us keep things going with a one-time or monthly tax-deductible donation. Support Judaism...

Mar 15, 201958 min