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What does a Rabbi know that Christians, Jews, Atheists, Agnostics, and anyone with curiosity, passion, and a sense of spirituality can learn? Welcome to Ask The Rabbi, I’m your host, Rabbi Leonid Feldman. My journey to Judaism is unique, as I grew up in a society where it was illegal to believe in God. I knew nothing of Passover or a Bar Mitzvah, never heard of Jesus or Christmas. I actually received an A in college in the course Scientific Atheism. Fast-forward to today, I am the only Conservative Rabbi from Russia. My curious route to my faith is what allows me to lecture, teach, and learn in a way that not only helps as a religious leader, but allows me to share in a way that helps me in being a better religious leader. So listen in as we explore Judaism from a totally different perspective, and discover how the Hebrew Bible remains extremely relevant to our lives and this time. The questions we will explore, and the answers we will provide - this is a podcast that will open minds, deepen faith, and provide lessons that are applicable to all of our struggles, challenges, and dilemmas. So join me on this journey to improve and even transform people’s lives, together. Follow the show now on Apple, Spotify, or wherever you enjoy your podcasts.

Rabbi Leonid Feldman


    • May 1, 2025 LATEST EPISODE
    • monthly NEW EPISODES
    • 35m AVG DURATION
    • 79 EPISODES


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    Latest episodes from Ask The Rabbi

    Ep. 78 - Men and Women in the Talmud #6 "The Tragic Story of the Most Extraordinary Couple in the Talmud"

    Play Episode Listen Later May 1, 2025 34:05


    Ep. 77 - Men and Women in the Talmud #5 "Lust, Greed and the Mitzvot of the Torah”

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 11, 2025 29:49


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

    Ep. 76 - Men and Women in the Talmud #4 "The Husband Returned Home Unexpectedly"

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 4, 2025 33:12


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

    Ep. 75 - Men and Women in the Talmud #3

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 4, 2025 32:49


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

    Ep. 74 - Men and Women in the Talmud #2

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 20, 2025 37:43


    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…

    Ep. 73 - Men And Women in the Talmud #1

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 5, 2024 31:18


    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. 

    Ep. 72 - After October 7th

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 10, 2024 32:43


    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.

    Ep. 71 - Will Israeli Society Survive This War? (REPEAT)

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 20, 2024 37:40


    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.

    Ep. 70 - Why Are Israelis So Happy?

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 30, 2024 36:27


    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?

    Ep. 69 - New Israeli Poetry Since October 7

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 9, 2024 38:26


    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.

    Ep. 68 - Happy Birthday to the Jewish People!

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 11, 2024 33:46


    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.

    Ep. 67 - Celebrating Passover After October 7th

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 18, 2024 30:31


    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.

    Ep. 66 - The Scandal of the Ultra-Orthodox

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 4, 2024 29:33


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

    Ep. 65 - Purim Is An X-Rated Holiday! (REPEAT)

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 17, 2024 38:15


    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.

    Ep. 64 - The Day After Hamas

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 27, 2024 34:59


    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.       

    Ep. 63 - The Two-State Delusion

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 12, 2024 35:24


    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…

    Ep. 62 - I Could Never Have Imagined This Happening

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 29, 2024 30:41


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

    Ep. 61 - An Eyewitness Report From The Home Front

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 20, 2023 34:11


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

    Ep. 60 - How Did We Get Here?

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 28, 2023 37:52


    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. 

    Ep. 59 - Rescuing The Hostages

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 6, 2023 37:58


    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?

    Ep. 58 - The Second Generation of the Jewish People #2

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 4, 2023 37:56


    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.

    Ep. 57 - The Second Generation of the Jewish People #1

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 18, 2023 40:27


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

    Ep. 56 - The First Jewish Family in History #2

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 29, 2023 40:24


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

    Ep. 55 - The First Jewish Family in History #1

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 15, 2023 41:22


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

    Ep. 54 - The First Jewish Family in History

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 1, 2023 39:56


    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?

    Ep. 53 - The Saddest Day in the Jewish Calendar

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 12, 2023 37:41


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

    Ep. 52 - Pirkei Avot VI

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 4, 2023 36:15


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

    Ep. 51 - Pirkei Avot V

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 20, 2023 34:58


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

    Ep. 50 - Pirkei Avot IV

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 13, 2023 31:52


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

    Ep. 49 - Pirkei Avot III

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 6, 2023 37:38


    The secret of wisdom and more...

    Ep. 48 - A Conversation With Rabbi Hanan Schlesinger

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 25, 2023 34:53


    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...

    Ep. 47 - Pirkei Avot II

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 19, 2023 31:52


    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.

    Ep. 46 - Pirkei Avot (Ethics of the Fathers)

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 11, 2023 31:30


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

    Ep. 45 - The “Occupied Territories”

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 4, 2023 43:02


    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.

    Ep. 44 - The Seder is NOT a Dinner! *re-release*

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 24, 2023 44:09


    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. 

    Ep. 43 - “When Bad Things Happen to Good People”

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 21, 2023 33:28


    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?"

    Ep. 42 - A Conversation With Rabbi Martin Levin

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 14, 2023 33:36


    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. 

    Ep. 41 - “Never Again!” - Part 2

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 7, 2023 34:06


    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. 

    Ep. 40 - “Never Again!” - Do We Mean It?

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 28, 2023 35:17


    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?  

    Ep. 39 - What Happens After We Die?

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 21, 2023 36:48


    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...

    Ep. 38 - Listeners' Responses and Challenges

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 7, 2023 33:20


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

    Ep. 37 - A Conversation With Rabbi Joseph Telushkin

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 31, 2023 41:07


    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. 

    Ep. 36 - A Conversation with International Super-Star Dudu Fisher

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 24, 2023 36:44


    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. 

    Ep. 35 - Madoff, Jews and Money

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 17, 2023 35:30


    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. 

    Ep. 34 - The Real Miracle of Hanukkah

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 10, 2023 34:47


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

    Ep. 33 - Why Do They Hate Us? Part 2

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 14, 2022 35:14


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

    Ep. 32 - “Why Do They Hate Us?” (Part 1)

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 6, 2022 34:10


    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. 

    Ep. 31 - Revolution in Israeli Politics?!

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 29, 2022 40:18


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

    Ep. 30 - Returning Home

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 22, 2022 35:24


    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.

    Ep. 29 - The Tenth Commandment

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 6, 2022 33:25


    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.

    Ep. 28 - A Conversation with Dennis Prager

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 23, 2022 41:47


    "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.”

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