(62) An Orthodox Rabbi Changing the World … with Rabbi Shmuly Yanklowitz

Rabbi Dr. Shmuly Yanklowitz is a prominent Orthodox rabbi, educator, and social justice activist, best known for founding multiple justice-oriented Jewish organizations and for his prolific writing on ethics and spirituality. Raised in an interfaith family, he chose Judaism as his religious path at a young age and eventually pursued rabbinic training and advanced academic study in ethics and moral development. He holds master's degree from Harvard and from Yeshiva University, a Ph.D. from Columbia, and rabbinic ordination from Yeshivat Chovevei Torah. In this episode, we discuss why he sees a need for improved social justice in the world and the role that Orthodox Jewry and his organization can play to effect change, the origins of his efforts to infuse kashrut standards with ethical consideration, how to combat antisemitism by living our mission in the world, treatment of immigrants and the homeless, igniting Jewish passion among the young through social actions, why we cannot align Torah values with political partisanship, how Jews should be strategic in partnering with potential supporters when it comes to Israel advocacy, reminding us of the many great partners that we have in the U.S., the need for spiritual advocacy in the Orthodox community, and the need to strengthen Jewish-Christian relations. Finally, he tells us about his forthcoming book: "Psalms Between Us: A Rabbi and His Christian Mother on Faith, Love, and Loss." Links: LINK to the Uri L'Tzedek Orthodox Social Justice LINK to his book: Psalms Between Us: A Rabbi and His Christian Mother on Faith, Love, and Loss."