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by Mark Trencher
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- 6 days ago24 min
(57) A Surge in Conversions to Judaism … with Rabbi Dr. Kenneth Brander
In this episode we discuss the recent surge in Jewish conversions and the reasons for this surge, especially in Israel. Rabbi Dr. Kenneth Brander is the President and Rosh HaYeshiva of the Ohr Torah Stone network in Israel. It comprises 32 educational institutions, leadership development initiatives, outreach programs, women's empowerment initiatives across Israel and internationally. Rabbi Brander received his semicha ordination from Yeshiva University, where he taught rabbinic courses, served as Vice President for University and Community Life, and as Dean of the Center for the Jewish Future. He holds a Ph.D. in general philosophy and comparative literature. He was senior rabbi of the Boca Raton Synagogue, overseeing its growth from 60 to more than 600 families, and he also founded the Katz Yeshiva High School. He and his family live in Israel, but he often visits his son Rabbi Tuvia Brander and family in West Hartford, CT, and I know that because that is my shul. Here are links to: Ohr Torah Stone – Click HERE Our recent report on Challenges Facing American Orthodox Jews – Click HERE Click HERE to access all of the Nishma Orthodox community research If you have questions, issues you'd like to see discussed, etc., email mark@nishmaresearch.com
- 1 weeks ago33 min
(56) An Orthodox Jewish Woman Activist … Shoshanna Keats Jaskoll
Our guest is Shoshanna Keats Jaskoll, a well-known Orthodox Jewish writer and activist whose work focuses on women's rights in Orthodox Judaism and the visibility of women in religious life. Born and raised in Lakewood, New Jersey, she moved to Israel with her family, where she has become a prominent voice challenging religious extremism, the erasure of women from public and communal spaces, and broadly advocating for Orthodox Jewish women. In this episode we discuss a number of issues including the increasing erasure of images of women in Orthodox venues. the agunah problem (women who are unable to obtain a get – a Jewish legal divorce – and are chained to former spouses and unable to remarry), women's health issues, their growing roles in Jewish learning, and more. She is a co‑founder of Chochmat Nashim, an organization that creates change in the global Jewish society by challenging dangerous trends in Jewish communities around the world. Using new and traditional media the organization sheds light on societal norms that exclude women and feed extremism. She is also a founder of Rate My Deit Din, a resource and website that evaluates and improves Jewish divorce in the rabbinic court (beit din) system. Courts are rated via user and professional reviews and are offered ways to improve users' experiences. Finally, she is a founder of the Laura Ben David Jewish Life Photo Bank, a dedicated resource for authentic images of Jewish women, families, and communities, aiming to counter erasure.
- 2 weeks ago28 min
(55) Aliyah: Varnished and Unvarnished … with Shifra Gewurtz
In this episode we discuss aliyah with Shifra Gewurtz, reflecting realistically on the challenges, the realities, and the successes. We talk about her long-term goal of making aliyah, the decision-making process, the many logistics involved, family issues (lots of teenagers involved), housing, taxes and income, tuition and health costs, what surprised her, and more. Shifra is passionate and honest in our conversation. She previously had her own retail business in New York, currently works for the Orthodox Union, and is also a dating life and marriage coach. I will add that she is my niece and we view her as a "source of wisdom." Link to Jewish Learning & Gap Year Survey … Click HERE.
- Apr 14, 202626 min
(54) Splitting Hairs … with Rabbi Dr. Michael J. Broyde
In this episode we discuss with Rabbi Dr. Michael J. Broyde the evolution, especially in the past half century, of communal standards for tzniut in dress, particularly among women; whether laws of tzniut over the millennia have been objective and fixed, or subject within bounds to changing societal norms; possible U.S. societal changes that might affect tzniut in the Orthodox community; the positive benefits of increasing diversity in the Orthodox community, especially in the U.S.; Haredi shifting values relating to learning and working, Rabbi Broyde is a professor of law at Emory University School of Law and a leading scholar at the intersection of law, religion, and Jewish ethics. He is also Berman Projects Director and senior fellow at Emory's Center for the Study of Law and Religion, and teached Jewish Law at Columbia University. His most recent book, "Splitting Hairs," which we discuss in some detail, is a rigorously argued and refreshingly candid halakhic study of women's hair covering and tzniut more broadly. It is available at Amazon … click HERE. Ordained at Yeshiva University, he served for many years as a dayan on the Beth Din of America and was the founding rabbi of Young Israel of Toco Hills in Atlanta. He holds a JD from New York University School of Law and has authored hundreds of articles and numerous books on Jewish law, family law, bioethics, religious freedom, and comparative religious law. In recent years, he has written on such topics as religious arbitration, kidney transplants and vouchers, Jewish law and modesty, and a modern explication of the Book of Genesis. Rabbi Broyde can be reached at mbroyde@emory.edu, and he welcomes emails. A Times of Israel interview about his new book is available at this LINK.
- Mar 25, 202625 min
(53) Caring for Your Health – Halachically … with Dr. Sharon Galper Grossman
In this episode, we continue our discussion of health, including some references to our recent survey of the community, with Dr. Sharon Galper Grossman. Dr. Grossman is a Harvard-trained physician (MD) with a Master of Public Health degree (MPH), a radiation oncologist, public-health scholar, and a Jewish law (halacha) scholar and educator, known for bridging modern medicine and Jewish ethics and halacha, especially on issues related to women's health and preventive measures. She previously served on the faculty at Harvard Medical School. Dr. Grossman is deeply involved in advanced Jewish legal scholarship. She completed the Morot L'Halakha program at Matan Women's Institute for Torah Studies, and she provides the observant Jewish community with expert medical knowledge uniquely melded with deep halachic knowledge and appreciation. She has written widely on these topics in such publications as Tradition, Rambam Maimonides Medical Journal, and The Times of Israel. Click HERE to see Dr. Grossman's article in the OU Jewish Action Pesach Newsletter: "The Ozempic Seder: Navigating Weight-Loss Medicine on Pesach." For our recent report, "The Nishma Research / JOWMA Orthodox Jewish Community Health Needs Assessment Survey" – click HERE. For a related article in The Jewish Press, "How Healthy are Orthodox Jews?" – click HERE. Many articles by Dr. Grossman are available at The Times of Israel – click HERE. If you have any suggestions for our upcoming survey on "Gap Year Experiences and Impacts" please email them to us – click HERE.
- Mar 12, 202627 min
(52) The Health and Related Concerns of Orthodox Jews … with Dr. Jennie Berkovich
In this episode, we discuss with Dr. Jennie Berkovich the results of our recent survey of over 1,100 Orthodox Jews, relating to their health concerns and issues. Dr. Berkovich is a board-certified pediatrician focused on improving access to care for children, while also educating communities about pediatric health. She is also the Director of Education of JOWMA – The Jewish Orthodox Women's Medical Association – the organization that collaborated with us on this study, and she authored substantial sections of the report, providing her medical reactions and advice on the health issues raised. Links: For the full report, "The Nishma Research / JOWMA Orthodox Jewish Community Health Needs Assessment Survey" – click HERE. For a related article in The Jewish Press, "How Healthy are Orthodox Jews?" – click HERE. To access the JOWMA website, click HERE. Note that the website has information on many resources available to healthcare providers and to the public. There are many pages in the report labeled as "Medical Observations & Recommendations – Prepared by JOWMA," and these were all prepared by Dr. Berkovich in connection with the most frequently mentioned health concerns. In our conversation, Dr. Berkovich mentioned the "Plant-Forward Diet," and this is explained in a bit of detail on pages 28-29 of the report. Dr. Berkovich mentioned JOWMA's forthcoming book, "The Jewish Woman's Health Handbook" (summer of 2026). If you want to be informed when the book is released, just send an email to mark@nishmaresearch.com, with "JOWMA Book" as the subject, and we'll send you an email when the book is released.
- Feb 3, 202619 min
(51) Jewish Preparedness and Self-Defense … With Harry Weller
Harry Weller is extremely knowledgeable on the topic of how we as Jews can defend ourselves, be prepared for and able to respond to threats. In this episode we discuss the need for, and resources available for Jews to learn self-defense, preparedness, how to deal with potential threats, and even the topic of gun ownership. Harry Weller is a long-time Connecticut attorney who served for decades as a Senior Assistant State's Attorney in the Connecticut Division of Criminal Justice. He is known for his work as a prosecutor and appellate litigator, handling a wide range of criminal appeals on behalf of the state. He argued numerous cases in the Connecticut Appellate and Supreme Courts, including high-profile criminal matters. He was a recipient of awards such as Prosecutor of the Year and the University of Connecticut School of Law's Public Service Award for his contributions to criminal justice. In addition, he has served as an Adjunct Professor at UConn Law School. Here is a LINK to the Legion Program, which Harry describes in this episode.
- Jan 29, 202627 min
(50) Rethinking, While Also Caring … with Rabbi Steven Greenberg
Rabbi Steven Greenberg is an Orthodox rabbi and author. Ordained at Yeshiva University, he has spent years teaching, writing, and speaking across the Jewish world about tradition, ethics, and religious change. Specifically, as co-founder of the group Eshel, he was one of the earliest voices calling for inclusion of LGBTQ individuals – gay people – within Orthodox Judaism. How do we do that? On the one hand, we must think deeply about how Torah speaks to this reality. At the same time, we must care for people living this reality right now. Rabbi Greenberg joins us to explore where Orthodoxy has been – and where it may be heading – on some of its most challenging and important questions. Here is a LINK to Eshel for more information. Or enter into your web browser: https://www.eshelonline.org/ If you have any comments on this episode, suggestions for future episodes, or just want to chat about research in the Jewish world, please email mark@nishmaresearch.com.
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About The Orthonomics Podcast
The Orthonomics Podcast explores issues of importance to the Orthodox Jewish community, through the dual lenses of data – drawn from a wide range of sources – and informed conversations with knowledgeable and often opinionated experts. Each episode also includes a segment titled "What do you want to know about the Orthodox community?" In which our guest, as well as our listeners, get to pose their questions on issues that intrigue them, and we answer your questions.
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