Ask The Rabbi

The First Woman Rabbi Had a Tragic Life

This Episode deals with the power of the rituals to change people's lives.

This episode deals with the topic of Adultery, but from unusual angles.

In this episode we explore ancient stories involving divorce which also include kindness and empathy. 

This episode continues the topic we dealt with last time: what happens when a husband leaves his wife for extended periods of time in order to study Torah? While the story of Rabbi Akiva and Rachel is seen by many writers and commentators as beautiful and romantic, and even a model of commitment and loyalty of the spouses to each other, many other stories do not have happy ends…

The Jewish people all over the world are still deeply traumatized, and Israel is still fighting a brutal war on several different fronts. Nobody knows when and how it will end. This Episode makes a dramatic shift in the topics discussed on this Podcast. All of us need a break from the news, and learning holy texts has been found to be healing. I also hope that listeners will gain an insight into a facet of Talmud most people do not expect. 

October 7, 2023 was the the worst year in the history of the State of Israel. More Jews were brutally murdered on that day than at any time since the Holocaust. A full year has passed since then, and Israel right now is fighting several wars simultaneously against its enemies who openly declare their goal of destroying the only Jewish state. This episode summarizes this very dark year and provides a perspective which, hopefully, helps seeing the light at the end of darkness.

Jews around the world have just observed the 9th of Av - the saddest day in the Jewish calendar. Fasting, and thinking about the destruction of both of our Holy Temples in Jerusalem, felt especially poignant this year. Numerous rabbis, articles and TV commentators reminded all of us that Rome was able to destroy our country because we hated each other. While the Jews were involved in a brutal civil war, it was easy for the Romans to conquer us and exile us from our land…After what happened on October 7th, the Israeli society became more cohesive and united than almost ever before. Unfortunately, there has been a dramatic change since then, and right now, we are experiencing a destructive, even existential schism that frightens many of us. This is why I decided to repeat Episode 53 which deals with this painful and dangerous phenomenon that is threatening the survival of the State of Israel.

According to the 2024 United Nations World Happiness Report, Israel is the 5th happiest country in the world, and in 2023 it was #4. Surrounded by enemies who want to destroy the only Jewish state, with the ever-present threat of terrorism, life in Israel is not easy or simple. And yet, the State of Israel is the only developed country with growing population, and it is the youngest of all the rich democracies. There are many other criteria in which Israel is an outlier. This episode answers the obvious question - why is Israel so different from most other countries in the world?

Poetry very often is the best way to express our emotions. Since the massacre of October 7th, extremely rich and deep new poetry has emerged on social media in Israel. This episode includes several poems in translation, together with additional explanations and commentary by Rabbi Feldman.

The festival of Shavuot is the least observed one of the major Jewish holidays. Many people don't know what it is and what it celebrates. This is sad because Shavuot celebrates the birthday of the Jewish People. The reason that God liberated us from slavery in Egypt was for us to become His partners in changing the world by accepting the Torah.

I think that the Seders this year will be more meaningful and relevant to most Jews around the world. This episode provides some insights into this wildly observed Jewish celebration.

This Episode discusses the most contentious and emotional crisis in Israel-the refusal of the Ultra-Orthodox Jews to serve in the army.

In this episode Rabbi Feldman explains the deep and profound ideas that are somewhat hidden in the crazy, carnival-like celebration of Purim and between the lines of the extremely unconventional Biblical book of Esther.

While there IS a solution to the Arab-Israeli conflict, numerous profound changes must happen FIRST within the Palestinian society. This episode clarifies what these changes are.       

The sudden push for the “Two-State Solution” is extremely dangerous and is, in fact, a formula for never-ending bloodshed. It is time for everyone to stop being delusional about it…

Rabbi Feldman claims in this episode that this is not the same America he came to as an immigrant. Do you agree?

The latest on what's happening on the ground in Israel  - examining the questions, finding some solutions, and keeping the faith.

What is Hamas? What is the Israel-Gaza conflict about? What is Zionism? What is meant by “The Two States Solution?” What is the West Bank? Why are there millions of Palestinian refugees and refugee camps?, and so on.    This Episode is the basic introduction to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. 

In the middle of all-out war against a Nazi-like Jihadist terror group Hamas, Israel has an almost impossible challenge of rescuing over 240 hostages hidden in the tunnels underneath of Gaza. Can Judaism provide some helpful guidance in dealing with this complex problem?

Despite the total lack of communication between the spouses, Rebekah is able to change Isaac's priorities and to secure the Jewish continuity into the next generation.

Having finished the study of the first Jewish family in history,  we begin the story of the Second Generation - Isaac, Rebecca and their children.

This is the conclusion of the story of the founders of Judaism and the Jewish People.

This episode continues the study of the complex relationships in this foundational family which established Judaism and the Jewish people. 

Abraham and Sarah are the founders of Judaism and the Jewish People.  What was their marriage like? Sarah was married to a guy who spoke with God (at least he thought he did!) Did she share his dreams and goals? What can we learn from that relationship for our marriages today?

The real reason why Jewish People became homeless for almost 2,000 years.

Envy, Lust, Glory, and “Do Not Trust the Government!” these are the topics discussed in this episode. 

This episode first summaries the previous four episodes devoted to Pirkei Avot, and then deals with two complex topics: LOVE and ARGUMENTS.

This episode deals with two topics: How to deal with ANGER and How to be more GENEROUS.    

The secret of wisdom and more...

This is an interview with a very unusual and fascinating person. He is an Orthodox Rabbi who lives in one of the  “settlements” on the West Bank and who strongly believes that this land belongs to the Jewish people.  However, he also believes that this land belongs to the Palestinians. A passionate Zionist who is accepts their claim to our land...

In this episode Rabbi Feldman continues teaching the best-known text in Rabbinic Literature - a tractate of the Mishna called "Ethics of the Sages.” This paragraph deals with the elements of life which form the totality of human existence: what a person does with his mind, with his body, with his possessions, and how the individual interacts with society at large. What a person does with his mind, with his body, with his possessions, and how the individual interacts with society at large.

In this episode Rabbi Feldman teaches one of the most famous and beloved texts in Rabbinic Literature which is part of the Talmud. 

The Israeli-Palestinian conflict is one of the world's most enduring and seemingly insoluble problems. The terms “occupied territories” and “occupation” are used in almost every article and speech dealing with this complex issue. In this episode Rabbi Feldman provides an overview of the history of this conflict and points out the blatant disregard of the true facts in most discussions by the “experts” and commentators.

In this episode, Rabbi Feldman challenges the way most Jews celebrate Judaism's most observed ritual of Judaism - the Passover Seder. He explains that the real purpose of the 15 steps in the Haggadah is for our spiritual growth and emotional healing. He also illustrates why this unique "intellectual banquet" has the potential to lead us to healthier and happier lives. 

In this Episode, Rabbi Feldman deals with the most serious challenge to anyone who believes in God. A whole field of philosophy is devoted to it called Theodicy. It asks, “If God is good and all-powerful, why does He allow bad things happen to good people?"

This is an interview with a Brooklyn-born Orthodox boy who became a Conservative Rabbi, and who later moved to the Reconstructionist movement. Finally, today, he considers himself a Humanistic Rabbi.  Rabbi Levin served as a Chaplain during Vietnam War, and he shares some of his experiences during that painful time in American history. 

In this Episode Rabbi Feldman shares several additional lessons that humanity MUST learn from the Holocaust if we want to prevent future Genocides and Holocausts. 

In this Episode Rabbi Feldman touches upon one of the most sensitive topics for all human beings.  Has humanity learned anything from the worst crime in history - the Holocaust?  Will Genocides, Ethnic Cleansings, Mass Murders and other atrocities be ever stopped? What can and should be done to achieve this result?  

In this Episode Rabbi Feldman clarifies some of the most complex and mystical issues connected to death.  Does Judaism believe in Afterlife?  What about Heaven and Hell? Resurrection? Reincarnation? Does the soul survive? These topics and the answers to these questions may be the hardest to deal with...

In this episode Rabbi Feldman shares some fascinating responses to his questions and alternative theories on the connection between Jews and money. 

In this episode Rabbi Feldman speaks with one of the most important Jewish authors of this generation. Rabbi Telushkin is the best-selling author of 18 fiction and non-fiction books, a movie maker and a playwright. His book “Jewish Literacy” is the most popular book used by Rabbis all over the world in their conversion courses. 

In this episode Rabbi Feldman explores the implausible journey of an Orthodox Yeshiva boy to becoming a major star on Broadway and London's West End, as well as one of the best-known entertainers in Israel. 

In this episode Rabbi Feldman examines a sensitive topic, which received attention as a reaction to the recent Netflix documentary “Madoff: The Monster of Wall Street.” He also discusses the well-documented phenomenon of disproportionate number of Jews who get involved in major financial crimes. 

In this episode Rabbi Feldman concludes his explanation of anti-Semitism and then provides a deeper understanding of the Festival of Hanukkah.

In this episode, Rabbi Feldman offers the theory on anti-Semitism which he believes is more appropriate than the ones popularly offered.

As the issue of anti-Semitism has recently taken center stage all over the world, Rabbi Feldman deals in the this episode with the question of WHY? He dismisses the popular explanations of "the longest hatred in history” before getting to the answer which makes the most sense to him. 

In this episode, Rabbi Feldman provides the background to and analyzes the unprecedented political situation created as a result of the latest elections.

This is the first episode recorded by Rabbi Feldman in Tel Aviv, Israel - his new home.  He explains the reasons (emotional as well as rational) for this major change in his life. He also clarifies the main misunderstanding in the minds of many people of what Israel is.

In this episode, Rabbi Feldman makes it clear that the unusual verb “COVET” does NOT mean “envy” or “desire.” It is a much more ominous and threatening emotion, and very often it leads a person to breaking the rest of the commandments on the second Tablet.

"In this episode Rabbi Feldman interviews his close friend and teacher - radio personality, writer and prominent public intellectual – Dennis Prager. The focus of this interview is on Prager as a person, not a political commentator.”