The Orthonomics Podcast

Michael Feldstein is a keen observer and commentator on all aspects of the Orthodox Jewish community, and his weekly columns in the Jewish Link newspaper draws an enthusiastic readership. His upcoming (January 2024) book, "Meet Me in the Middle," is a collection of 75 of his essays and, in this episode, we discuss five of them:

• Prayer, Politics and the Pulpit

• The Changing Geographic Face of Orthodoxy in America

• The Culture of Fear in Orthodoxy

• Time for a Jewish Vocational School

• Seven Things I Would Change about Jewish Weddings

In our "What Do You Want to Know?” segment, we expand on our brief conversation about living in a smaller Orthodox community. Here is a LINK to our study of the cost of Orthodoxy, and check out page 46, where get into the smaller town cost data.

We want to hear from you, so you can contact us at this link to offer comments and questions about the Jewish community: http://bit.ly/areas-of-interest

Thanks to Leora Trencher for designing our logo, and to Elana Trencher and Aliza Levy for their audio support. Orthonomics is produced by Scott Kahn of JCH Podcast Productions (http://jchpodcasts.com).

This episode is an exploration of a pioneering study of people who have left the Orthodox community, as we examing  journeys, practices, beliefs, identity, community and relationships, across Chasidic, Yeshivish and Modern Orthodox segments of the population.

In this episode, we review many highlights of this study, including:

1. Why People Leave Orthodoxy

2. How Do They Now Identify Jewishly? What Have They Held Onto?

3. What About “Double-Lifers”?

4. How Are Their Family Relationships? What are their Levels of Acceptance?

5. How Widespread Is This Phenomenon?

6. Final Thoughts and Reflections … In Their Own Words:

– a) Many people don’t well understand those who have left, or may leave, their Orthodox community of origin. What do you want to tell people about this group?

– b) Looking back at your experiences, what if anything would you have done differently?

– c) In conclusion, what advice would you give to others who are considering leaving their Orthodox community, for a more modern lifestyle?

The full report and many of its contents are available at http://nishmaresearch.com/social-research.html. Scroll down to the bottom of the page to the section of files dealing with “Survey of Those Who Have Left Orthodoxy.”

In this episode, we speak with Keshet Starr about the agunah (“chained wife”) problem and what is being done to resolve it. Hot off the press (from a large-scale survey that had not yet been released as we recorded this episode), we have new data on the agunah situation and some fascinating verbatim comments from women and men about their divorce difficulties, which we will read and discuss.

Link to ORA to find out more, at http://getora.org.

In our "What Do You Want to Know?” segment, we answer a question we are often asked … why do we do research? Why do we even get into “these issues”?

Many of the Orthodox community research studies we reference in this podcast are available and downloadable free at http://nishmaresearch.com/social-research.html. The document we referred to (things people most love, and those that cause unhappiness, relating to Orthodoxy) is located at this LINK. The infamous and often debated quote alluded to, by Rebbitzen Blu Greenberg, is: “Where there's a rabbinic will, there's a halachic way.”

Thanks to Leora Trencher for designing our logo, and to Elana Trencher and Aliza Levy for their audio support. Orthonomics is produced by Scott Kahn of JCH Podcast Productions (http://jchpodcasts.com).

Elana Silber is CEO of Sharsheret (https://sharsheret.org), a national non-profit organization that improves the lives of Jewish women and families living with or at increased genetic risk for breast or ovarian cancer, through personalized support and educational outreach. We address such issues as: which Orthodox groups are at higher risk, what advances are being made, and how can people be helped in facing health, emotional, financial and family impacts? The Sharsheret website has much valuable information and informative links.

In our "What Do You Want to Know?” segment, we examine the cost of an Orthodox life in New York City as compared to the Midwest … and is there a difference in how Orthodox households perceive their overall financial situation? The report "Finances of Orthodox Jewish Life (December 2021)” is downloadable at http://nishmaresearch.com/social-research.html.

Thanks to Leora Trencher for designing our logo, and to Elana Trencher and Aliza Levy for their audio support.

Orthonomics is produced by Scott Kahn of JCH Podcast Productions (http://jchpodcasts.com).

Music: “Rumble” by bensound.com.

In this episode, we speak with Prof. David Myers, co-author (with his wife) of the fascinating book "American Shtetl: The Making of Kiryas Joel, a Hasidic Village in Upstate New York,” and founder of the new Haredi Research Group, a multi-disciplinary group that is aiming to help us all better understand the American Haredi (Chasidic and Yeshivish) community. Information on this fascinating book is at https://press.princeton.edu/books/hardcover/9780691199771/american-shtetl.

 

"The Haredi Moment Has Arrived” by Eli Spitzer – https://mosaicmagazine.com/essay/jewish-world/2022/01/the-haredi-moment-has-arrived/

 

Link to the newly created Haredi Research Group.

 

In our "What Do You Want to Know?” segment, we hear back from a Haredi attorney who tells us that our research is flawed due to an inability to properly reach his community. So we offer an explanation and it seemed that he was reasonably satisfied. You be the judge!

 

Many of the Orthodox community research studies we reference in this podcast are available and downloadable free at http://nishmaresearch.com/social-research.html.

 

Thanks to Leora Trencher for designing our logo, and to Elana Trencher and Aliza Levy for their audio support.

 

Orthonomics is produced by Scott Kahn of JCH Podcast Productions (http://jchpodcasts.com).

In this episode, we speak with Rabbi Shimmy Trencher, MSW, who has been an Orthodox Jewish high school dean of students and principal for the past 15 years, has had leadership positions at NCSY, and is the founder of a Jewish high school student self-development program that has positively affected the lives of hundreds of teens.

Many of the Orthodox community research studies we reference in this podcast are available and downloadable free, at http://nishmaresearch.com/social-research.html. We cited some of this research in this episode: click on “REPORT - The Successes, Challenges, and Future of American Modern Orthodoxy (2019)” (page 24) and “REPORT - 2017 Nishma Research Profile of American Modern Orthodox Jews” (pages 56-57) for more information on how the community sees its day schools.

Thanks to Leora Trencher for designing our logo, and to Elana Trencher and Aliza Levy for their audio support.

Orthonomics is produced by Scott Kahn of JCH Podcast Productions (http://jchpodcasts.com).

Music: “Rumble” by bensound.com

In this episode, we speak with shul rabbi, former shul president, outreach leader and generally super-engaged Orthodox Jew, Rabbi Elly Krimsky. Our conversation touches on many issues, including the “comings and goings” of today’s Orthodox community.

What do you want to know about the Orthodox community? Each episode includes listener questions and answers. Email us at orthonomics@nishmaresearch.com to let us know what areas of the Orthodox community you’d like us to explore. You ask the questions … we’ll try to come up with answers.

Many of the Orthodox community research studies we reference in this podcast are available and downloadable free, at http://nishmaresearch.com/social-research.html.

Thanks to Leora Trencher for designing our logo, and to Elana Trencher and Aliza Levy for their audio support.

Orthonomics is produced by Scott Kahn of JCH Podcast Productions (http://jchpodcasts.com).

Music: “Rumble” by bensound.com.

In this episode, we speak with the Honorable Rabbi Dr. Dov Zakheim, a former very high level government official, involved in many key government programs as well as the CFO for the largest budget in the country, consultant, author and rabbi. In a wide-ranging conversation, we will discuss the state of Modern Orthodoxy and how well we are melding our religious observance with participation in secular society.

What do you want to know about the Orthodox community? Each episode includes listener questions and answers. Email us at orthonomics@nishmaresearch.com to let us know what areas of the Orthodox community you’d like us to explore. You ask the questions … we’ll try to come up with answers.

Many of the Orthodox community research studies we reference in this podcast are available and downloadable free, at http://nishmaresearch.com/social-research.html.

Thanks to Leora Trencher for designing our logo, and to Elana Trencher and Aliza Levy for their audio support.

Orthonomics is produced by Scott Kahn of JCH Podcast Productions (http://jchpodcasts.com).

Music: “Rumble” by bensound.com.

In this introductory episode, we speak with Jewish Orthodox world podcasting host and producer Scott Kahn about his experiences as an Orthodox world podcaster. Scott is a native of Massachusetts, and has lived in Israel for 26 years. We look at a few interesting differences between U.S. Modern Orthodox and Israeli Dati Le’Um in a few areas of Orthodox observance (shul attendance, learning) and the issues each group sees as the most significant challenges facing them. We touched the surface of this issue, which deserves and will get deeper coverage in a future episode.

What do you want to know about the Orthodox community? Each episode includes listener questions and answers. Email us at orthonomics@nishmaresearch.com to let us know what areas of the Orthodox community you’d like us to explore. You ask the questions … we’ll try to come up with answers.

Many of the Orthodox community research studies we reference in this podcast are available and downloadable free, at http://nishmaresearch.com/social-research.html.

Thanks to Leora Trencher for designing our logo, and to Elana Trencher and Aliza Levy for their audio support.

Orthonomics is produced by Scott Kahn of JCH Podcast Productions (http://jchpodcasts.com).

Music: “Rumble” by bensound.com.

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.