Out of the Box Judaism Podcast

For me this story began in Jerusalem on December 11, 1917, but I didn't know it then. On that day, my grandmother Esther, who I'm named for, was one of the flower girls who welcomed General Allenby to the city of Jerusalem, which the British had just won from the Turks.  My grandmother was born in Rishon L'Tzion - a little town whose name literally means First to Zion. It was established by Jews from Lithuania who came to what was then Turkish Palestine. A few years later she was one of the flower girls welcoming Allenby. And not long after that, she was on a ship to New York with her younger brother and sister. In New York, Esther met her husband who had also been born in Turkish Palestine and as a teenager wanted to join the British army but was only allowed to be a drummer boy. Eventually he made his way to New York - even after being denied entry the first time. They had two kids and took them on the long voyage back to Palestine to meet the relatives - grandparents, aunts, uncles, and cousins. Years later a third child was born, my father, who missed this trip. And many, many years after that, I became the first person in my immediate family to go to Israel when I spent my junior year of college living in Jerusalem. Wow did I love Jerusalem. I mean, really love Jerusalem - and all of Israel.  And I miss it every day. Which is why, when I got the opportunity to read  the new memoir Jerusalem, Drawn and Quartered, I really identified with the first line of the book: "This is a love story." The author, Sarah Tuttle Singer, and I talked about the complexities and the layers of Jerusalem, and about her experience living in four quarters of the Old City last year.  I highly recommend getting a copy of her book, which is available in stores and on Amazon at http://bit.ly/JerusalemDrawnQuartered If you're not yet subscribed to the Out-of-the-Box Judaism podcast, I encourage you to do so now so you don't miss an episode.  To join us for the next Omer adventure, go to www.OutoftheBoxJudaism.com/Omer. And to get a story each week in your inbox, sign up at http://bit.ly/nevermissagoodstory. The music on this episode is thanks to Rabbi Cantor Robbi Sherwin and comes from the album: Aish Hakodesh, available at OySongs.com For more information about Out-of-the-Box Judaism or to get in touch, visit me at www.OutoftheBoxJudaism.com or connect on Facebook.

I had a fun conversation with running and holistic health coach Kathy Pugh. We talked about everything from the Boston Marathon to the Golden Calf and quite a few things in between. To run with Kathy or reach out to her for coaching, you can find her at www.KathyPughRunning.com. To join us for the Omer, go to www.OutoftheBoxJudaism.com/Omer. And to get a story each week in your inbox, sign up at http://bit.ly/nevermissagoodstory. The music on this episode is thanks to Rabbi Cantor Robbi Sherwin and comes from the album: Aish Hakodesh, available at OySongs.com For more information about Out-of-the-Box Judaism or to get in touch, visit me at www.OutoftheBoxJudaism.com or connect on Facebook.

Every religious tradition has mourning rituals, and of course, so does Judaism. Today, in memory of my friend Kate Bartolotta, I talk about Jewish mourning rituals and some ways people are grieving together on social media. Kate was a mother, a writer, an entrepreneur, an advocate for, and teacher of, self-care, a coach, and a beautiful human who recently passed away at a young age. You can get her book, Choose Joy, from Amazon: http://bit.ly/ChooseJoybyKateBartolotta To learn more about the journey of counting the Omer, read the details, and sign up at www.OutoftheBoxJudaism.com/Omer The music on this episode comes from the song Adon Olam by Rabbi Cantor Robbi Sherwin, from the album: Aish Hakodesh, available where all awesome Jewish music is sold: OySongs.com For more information or to get in touch, visit me at www.OutoftheBoxJudaism.com or connect on Facebook.

Do you have questions about Passover? So do I. Listen to the podcast for some good questions. Listen to yourself for some good answers. Happy Passover to all who are celebrating!

In this conversation with Cantor Debbi Ballard, we talk about personalizing Jewish events and rituals. Listen for Debbi's response to the question about how she incorporates ritual into her family and her life. Notice her first answer... and her second. To get in touch with Debbi, go to www.mypersonalcantor.com To join the group of "travelers" metaphorically going to Mt. Sinai, or to find out more about this adventure that you can have from home, visit www.outoftheboxjudaism.com/omer and sign up. Are you planning a bar or bat mitzvah or know someone who is? Download the bestselling book The Out-of-the-Box Bat Mitzvah: A Guide to Creating a Meaningful Milestone for free from www.outoftheboxjudaism.com, or buy it from Amazon at http://bit.ly/Out-of-the-BoxBatMitzvah The music on this episode comes from the song Adon Olam by Rabbi Cantor Robbi Sherwin, from the album: Aish Hakodesh, available where all awesome Jewish music is sold: OySongs.com For more information or to get in touch, visit me at www.OutoftheBoxJudaism.com or connect on Facebook.

In this conversation with Naomi Malka, Director of Immersive Experiences at Adas Israel Congregation in Washington, DC, we talk about the origin of mikvahs, ancient and modern rituals for their use, and even our own personal mikvah experiences. The story about intention referenced in the interview is "Was Aaron Doing Reiki?" and can be found here: http://bit.ly/OOTBJvayikra. To get all the Torah and holiday stories delivered to your inbox, as well as updated information about Naomi's book release, subscribe here: http://bit.ly/nevermissagoodstory

Does it really matter what you wear? And how do you choose what to wear? If you were an ancient Israelite priest, that choice was made for you. When performing rituals, they wore some of the most ornate, fancy, and noticeable clothing ever seen, the details of which are spelled out very specifically in the Torah. But if you're a 21st century American, your clothing choices will be different and you have more leeway in your wardrobe choices. Rachel Nachmias of www.BessedDressed.us helps people navigate those choices and feel amazing in their clothes. She and I talked about curating outfits for different occasions and having clothes and a closet that make you feel good and look good as well as communicate to others who you are. Are you planning a bar or bat mitzvah or know someone who is? Download the bestselling book The Out-of-the-Box Bat Mitzvah: A Guide to Creating a Meaningful Milestone for free from www.outoftheboxjudaism.com. If you’d like to hear more about the joining the adult bat mitzvah experience, contact me at Esther@OutoftheBoxJudaism.com and we’ll schedule a time to talk on the phone. The music on this episode comes from the song Adon Olam by Rabbi Cantor Robbi Sherwin, from the album: Aish Hakodesh, available where all awesome Jewish music is sold: OySongs.com For more information or to get in touch, visit me at www.OutoftheBoxJudaism.com or connect on Facebook.

It's Purim! What's Purim? Maybe you've heard the story of Queen Esther and heroic party planning that saved all the Jews from India to Ethiopia. But a good story is always worth repeating, and there might just be a few things in there that surprise you. This episode mentions the story from #astoryeveryweek that will be published this Friday. In order to get that story delivered right to your inbox, simply visit http://bit.ly/nevermissagoodstory and sign up. Are you planning a bar or bat mitzvah or know someone who is? Download the bestselling book The Out-of-the-Box Bat Mitzvah: A Guide to Creating a Meaningful Milestone for free: http://bit.ly/FreeOOTBBMebook The music on this episode comes from the song Adon Olam by Rabbi Cantor Robbi Sherwin, from the album: Aish Hakodesh, available where all awesome Jewish music is sold: OySongs.com For more information or to get in touch, visit me at www.OutoftheBoxJudaism.com or connect on Facebook.

What is it like when there is a stranger in your midst? What about when that stranger needs your help? Rabbi Susan Silverman and I talked about the status of the African refugees seeking asylum in Israel. She spoke about the laws and the processes that aren’t happening, as well as what is happening in the attempt to deport these men who are seeking a safe place to live. As there are no more refugees entering the country now, it is just a question of how to help those who are already there. Susan offered many practical ideas, and also cofounded Miklat Israel (https://www.facebook.com/MiklatIsrael/) in the event that these refugees need safe places to stay instead of jail or deportation ultimatum that it seems the government is planning to impose. To reach Miklat Israel with offers of housing, email MiklatIsrael@gmail.com. If you want to help financially, you can make a contribution to www.HIAS.org or The Hotline for Refugees and Migrants, http://bit.ly/IHelpRefugees. The two stories associated with the refugee topic are “10? 4? 1? 7? What’s your number?” and “Been there, done that.” Subscribe to receive a story every week about how Jewish history and heritage may be meaningful in your modern life. http://bit.ly/nevermissagoodstory Are you planning a bar or bat mitzvah or know someone who is? Download the bestselling book The Out-of-the-Box Bat Mitzvah: A Guide to Creating a Meaningful Milestone for free from www.OutoftheBoxjudaism.com If you’d like to hear more about the joining the adult bat mitzvah experience, contact me at Esther@OutoftheBoxJudaism.com and we’ll schedule a time to talk on the phone. The music on this episode comes from the song Adon Olam by Rabbi Cantor Robbi Sherwin, from the album: Aish Hakodesh, available where all awesome Jewish music is sold: OySongs.com For more information or to get in touch, visit me at www.OutoftheBoxJudaism.com or connect on Facebook.

Today is Tu B'shvat. What is that? To see the poem read on today's episode, visit www.outoftheboxjudaism.com If you enjoy this podcast, please consider leaving a review on iTunes and telling a friend.

Listen by clicking above, on iTunes, SoundCloud, Stitcher, or your preferred app. What rules do you live by? Did you create them, or did someone else? Julie Neale of Mother's Quest has made her own EPIC guideposts and she checks in with them often, to see if she's traveling on a course true to herself and her values. We talked about those pillars she uses in her life and how we can all create our own - if we want. To find out more about Julie and what she does, her EPIC life, and her podcast, go to www.MothersQuest.com.  To order a copy of my first book, Hypatia Academy, which we talked about on the show, you can get a paperback or ebook version, go to http://bit.ly/HypatiaAcademy. Are you planning a bar or bat mitzvah or know someone who is? Download the bestselling book The Out-of-the-Box Bat Mitzvah: A Guide to Creating a Meaningful Milestone for free from www.OutoftheboxJudaism.com. If you’d like to hear more about the joining the adult bat mitzvah experience, contact me at Esther@OutoftheBoxJudaism.com and we’ll schedule a time to talk on the phone. The music on this episode comes from the song Adon Olam by Rabbi Cantor Robbi Sherwin, from the album: Aish Hakodesh, available where all awesome Jewish music is sold: OySongs.com For more information or to get in touch, visit me at www.OutoftheBoxJudaism.com or connect on Facebook.

Remember how things were before everything changed? Whether that means a new king ruling Egypt, the unexpected death of a young husband, or the change you experience in your life, sometimes there’s no going back to the way things were. Sarah Nannen and I talked about change and grief and living a full life. If you are a widow or dealing with grief and loss, you can reach out to Sarah at www.griefunveiled.com, where you can also get her book. Are you planning a bar or bat mitzvah or know someone who is? Download the bestselling book The Out-of-the-Box Bat Mitzvah: A Guide to Creating a Meaningful Milestone for free at www.outoftheboxjudaism.com. If you’d like to hear more about the joining the adult bat mitzvah experience, contact me at Esther@OutoftheBoxJudaism.com and we’ll schedule a time to talk on the phone. The music on this episode comes from the song Adon Olam by Rabbi Cantor Robbi Sherwin, from the album: Aish Hakodesh, available where all awesome Jewish music is sold: OySongs.com For more information or to get in touch, visit me at www.OutoftheBoxJudaism.com or connect on Facebook.

Jacob and Joseph died. It is the end of the beginning of the Torah, the end of 2017, and the beginning of a new year. When you reflect back on 2017, what will you take with you in your new beginning? To start 2018 dedicated to achieving your goals, and having support in doing so, go to www.OutoftheBoxJudaism.com/rededicate To hear more from Yonina, go to http://bit.ly/yoninasingshamalachagoel Are you planning a bar or bat mitzvah or know someone who is? Download the bestselling book The Out-of-the-Box Bat Mitzvah: A Guide to Creating a Meaningful Milestone for free. If you’d like to hear more about the joining the adult bat mitzvah experience, contact me at Esther@OutoftheBoxJudaism.com and we’ll schedule a time to talk on the phone. The music on this episode comes from the song Adon Olam by Rabbi Cantor Robbi Sherwin, from the album: Aish Hakodesh, available where all awesome Jewish music is sold: OySongs.com For more information or to get in touch, visit me at www.OutoftheBoxJudaism.com or connect on Facebook.

Joseph reveals himself to his brothers and the whole family escapes famine by moving to Egypt. Today's interview is with Mark Kurbalenko, someone who knows first hand what it's like to have to move from his home country to a safer place. You can hear more of Mark's story at http://bit.ly/MarkKurbalenkoTEDx Are you planning a bar or bat mitzvah or know someone who is? Download the bestselling book The Out-of-the-Box Bat Mitzvah: A Guide to Creating a Meaningful Milestone for free from www.OutoftheBoxJudaism.com. Mark talked about celebrating his bar mitzvah as an adult. If you’d like to hear more about the joining the adult bat mitzvah experience, contact me at Esther@OutoftheBoxJudaism.com and we’ll schedule a time to talk on the phone. Are you ready to rededicate yourself to your priorities and start 2018 in a deliberate way? I can help you achieve your goals. Find out more at www.OutoftheBoxJudaism.com/rededicate. Enrollment closes January 1, 2018. The music on this episode comes from the song Adon Olam by Rabbi Cantor Robbi Sherwin, from the album: Aish Hakodesh, available where all awesome Jewish music is sold: OySongs.com For more information or to get in touch, visit me at www.OutoftheBoxJudaism.com or connect on Facebook.

Happy Hanukkah! Hanukkah is a celebration of rededication. It is time to rededicate ourselves to our priorities. Find out more at www.OutoftheBoxJudaism.com/rededicate

Joseph was let out of jail to interpret Pharaoh's dreams. He saved the land from famine and was appointed the second in command as a reward. Not long after, his brothers came to Egypt in search of food. Today’s interview is with Michelle Stuffman of Mazon, A Jewish Response to Hunger. More information about Mazon, and ways to help, can be found at www.mazon.org. The story from astoryeveryweek associated with this week’s Torah portion is The Horse. You can find that at www.outoftheboxjudaism.com Are you planning a bar or bat mitzvah or know someone who is? Download the bestselling book The Out-of-the-Box Bat Mitzvah: A Guide to Creating a Meaningful Milestone for free from www.outoftheboxjudaism.com. If you have a child approaching their bar or bat mitzvah, connect with me at Esther@OutoftheBoxJudaism.com If you’d like to hear more about the joining the adult bat mitzvah experience, contact me at Esther@OutoftheBoxJudaism.com and we’ll schedule a time to talk on the phone. The music on this episode comes from the song Adon Olam by Rabbi Cantor Robbi Sherwin, from the album: Aish Hakodesh, available where all awesome Jewish music is sold: OySongs.com For more information or to get in touch, visit me at www.OutoftheBoxJudaism.com or connect on Facebook.

When Joseph was seventeen, his father gave him a special coat, showing everyone that he was the favorite son. From there it all went downhill - or, down into a pit. Joseph spent time in at least two pits, all because of the clothes he was wearing. Today’s interview is with Rebecca Melsky, co-founder of Princess Awesome, a clothing line that makes dresses with pictures of fire trucks and dinosaurs, and other things that had been previously only found on boys clothing. We talk about the impact tht clothing makes on people's impressions of themselves and others. You can find the fun dresses, and now leggings and shirts, at: www.princess-awesome.com.  The story from astoryeveryweek associated with this week’s Torah portion is The Hole was Empty, but There Were Birds in There. If you’ve ever had the desire to compare a Torah portion with an episode of The Brady Bunch, this should fulfill that wish. Are you planning a bar or bat mitzvah or know someone who is? Download the bestselling book The Out-of-the-Box Bat Mitzvah: A Guide to Creating a Meaningful Milestone for free. If you'd like to hear more about the joining the adult bat mitzvah experience, contact me at Esther@OutoftheBoxJudaism.com and we'll schedule a time to talk on the phone. The music on this episode comes from the song Adon Olam by Rabbi Cantor Robbi Sherwin, from the album: Aish Hakodesh, available where all awesome Jewish music is sold: OySongs.com For more information or to get in touch, visit me at www.OutoftheBoxJudaism.com or connect on Facebook.

Jacob leaves his uncle's home and heads back to the land that would later be known as Israel. Along the way, he himself gets the name Israel. Jacob reunites with his twin, Esau, and they part again. A prince falls in love with Jacob's daughter Dinah and it doesn't end well for anyone. Today’s interview is with Tamara Arnold, author of My Kid is Driving Me Crazy and The Magical Business Method. We talk about challenging family relationships and finding our tribes. Her books can be found on Amazon, and she can be found at: www.theenchantedfairy.ca. The story from astoryeveryweek associated with this week’s Torah portion is Life on the Other Side of the Masking Tape. Are you planning a bar or bat mitzvah or know someone who is? Download the bestselling book The Out-of-the-Box Bat Mitzvah: A Guide to Creating a Meaningful Milestone for free. The music on this episode comes from the song Adon Olam by Rabbi Cantor Robbi Sherwin, from the album: Aish Hakodesh, available where all awesome Jewish music is sold: OySongs.com For more information or to get in touch, visit me at www.OutoftheBoxJudaism.com or connect on Facebook.

Jacob starts this Torah portion at a rock and ends it by a hard place. That rock is where he had a vision of angels going up and down a ladder. The Torah portion ends with Jacob at a hard place, specifically a pillar he made to separate himself from his uncle's ways - and a place where he saw angels again. Tune in to hear about Jacob's adventure between this rock and hard place. There's some shepherding, some oaths, some deception, some weddings, and lots of other drama. Today’s interview is with Ruth Becker Mergi. She is a fine artist who specializes in making ketubas. Ruth and I talked about why people have ketubas and some of the endless options available when personalizing them. More pictures of her beautiful artwork can be found at www.ruthmergi.com. The story from #astoryeveryweek associated with this week’s Torah portion is Between a Rock and a Hard Place. Are you planning a bar or bat mitzvah or know someone who is? Download the bestselling book The Out-of-the-Box Bat Mitzvah: A Guide to Creating a Meaningful Milestone for free. The music on this episode comes from the song Adon Olam by Rabbi Cantor Robbi Sherwin, from the album: Aish Hakodesh, available where all awesome Jewish music is sold: OySongs.com For more information or to get in touch, visit me at www.OutoftheBoxJudaism.com or connect on Facebook.

This is the story of Isaac and Rebecca and their twins, Esau and Jacob. A birthright is bought and sold and delivered, food is made, and lives are threatened. And there's also an assumption made about someone that is false and hurtful. Do you sometimes accidentally have preconceived notions about a person, or group of people, before meeting? Today's guest is Matt Adler, a new immigrant living in Tel Aviv. He meets people in Israel from all walks of life, and shares some of the stories from these meetings. The story from astoryeveryweek associated with this week's Torah portion is Unexpected Gifts. Are you planning a bar or bat mitzvah or know someone who is? Download the bestselling book The Out-of-the-Box Bat Mitzvah: A Guide to Creating a Meaningful Milestone for free. The music on this episode comes from the song Adon Olam by Rabbi Cantor Robbi Sherwin, from the album: Aish Hakodesh, available where all awesome Jewish music is sold: OySongs.com For more information or to get in touch, visit me at www.OutoftheBoxJudaism.com or connect on Facebook.

Every beginning comes from an ending. In this case, the beginning of Abraham settling in The Land was Sarah's death. Abraham bought a burial cave for her - and later for himself. Tune in to hear about how this purchase was made and what happened in Isaac's life between the death of Sarah and the death of Abraham. Today's interview is with Elana Polin Glassman, a cemetarian. She brings important information to discuss with family about burial arrangements. If you want a helping hand in doing this with your family, you can reach out to Elana at 301- The story from #astoryeveryweek associated with this week's Torah portion is We are Family. Are you planning a bar or bat mitzvah or know someone who is? Download the bestselling book The Out-of-the-Box Bat Mitzvah: A Guide to Creating a Meaningful Milestone for free. The music on this episode comes from the song Adon Olam by Rabbi Cantor Robbi Sherwin, from the album: Aish Hakodesh, available where all awesome Jewish music is sold: OySongs.com For more information or to get in touch, visit me at www.OutoftheBoxJudaism.com or connect on Facebook.

Do you host family for the holidays? How do you treat people who come to your home? How are you treated as a guest? Tune in to hear about how Abraham and Sarah, treat their guests, and how Lot treats his. Today's guest is Huppit Bartov Miller, cook and food blogger at Afooda.com. Visit her website for the recipes she mentions on the show. The story from #astoryeveryweek associated with this week's Torah portion is What if There's a Monster in the Elevator? Are you planning a bar or bat mitzvah or know someone who is? Download the bestselling book The Out-of-the-Box Bat Mitzvah: A Guide to Creating a Meaningful Milestone for free. The music on this episode comes from the song Adon Olam by Rabbi Cantor Robbi Sherwin, from the album: Aish Hakodesh, available where all awesome Jewish music is sold: OySongs.com For more information or to get in touch, visit me at www.OutoftheBoxJudaism.com or connect on Facebook.

Get up and go! Leave everything behind and go! GO! Can you imagine leaving everything you know to go someplace unnamed? Tune in to the episode to hear what happened when God told Abram to GO! to a land that God would show him. Keri-anne Livingstone is a fun and funny coach and speaker who is daring to suck on her journey in life, and finding that it is bringing her - and others - great authenticity. You can connect with her at KerianneLivingstone.com and DaringtoSuck.ca. The story from #astoryeveryweek associated with this week's Torah portion is The Blessing of a Peanut Butter and Pickle Sandwich. Are you planning a bar or bat mitzvah or know someone who is? Download the bestselling book The Out-of-the-Box Bat Mitzvah: A Guide to Creating a Meaningful Milestone for free. The music on this episode comes from the song Adon Olam by Rabbi Cantor Robbi Sherwin, from the album: Aish Hakodesh, available where all awesome Jewish music is sold: OySongs.com For more information or to get in touch, visit me at www.OutoftheBoxJudaism.com or connect on Facebook.

You may have learned the story of Noah and the Ark as a child. Maybe you even remember a few lines from the song, "The animals they came on, they came on by two-sies, two-sies." Tune in to take a look at the story from a more adult perspective. Today's interview is with Emily Wanderer Cohen, author of From Generation to Generation: Healing Intergenerational Trauma Through Storytelling. Her book can be found on Amazon, or downloaded for free from her website: www.fromgentogenbook.com. The story from #astoryeveryweek associated with this week's Torah portion is How Long Can You Wait to Become Great? Are you planning a bar or bat mitzvah or know someone who is? Download the bestselling book The Out-of-the-Box Bat Mitzvah: A Guide to Creating a Meaningful Milestone for free. The music on this episode comes from the song Adon Olam by Rabbi Cantor Robbi Sherwin, from the album: Aish Hakodesh, available where all awesome Jewish music is sold: OySongs.com For more information or to get in touch, visit me at www.OutoftheBoxJudaism.com or connect on Facebook.

Let's start at the very beginning. What is this podcast all about? What is this story all about? Listen. Learn. Enjoy. This podcast is for people who are interested in Out-of-the-Box Judaism -- whether Jewish or not. What does out of the box mean? Out-of-the-Box can mean… thinking outside the box. Many people have an impression or idea of what it means to be Jewish or what you have to do to be Jewish or what you have to believe to be Jewish. Out-of-the-Box can mean thinking outside the box of preconceived notions and creating the Jewish experience that is right for you. Out-of-the-Box can mean… being outside of the synagogue. Many people feel that joining or going to a synagogue doesn’t fulfill their desire for a deeper connection. Out-of-the-Box can mean finding and creating meaningful spiritual experiences on your own, with your family, or with a community that is not based in a synagogue. Out-of-the-Box can mean… unpacking your heritage. If you or someone in your family is Jewish, you have a box of hand-me-downs and treasures waiting to be unpacked. Out-of-the-Box can mean examining those contents, understanding them, and choosing which ones you want to keep, and which ones you don’t. The two stories from #astoryeveryweek associated with this week's Torah portion are I Don't Get It and Bashers! What's Your Legacy? Are you planning a bar or bat mitzvah or know someone who is? Download the bestselling book The Out-of-the-Box Bat Mitzvah: A Guide to Creating a Meaningful Milestone for free. The music on this episode comes from the song Adon Olam by Rabbi Cantor Robbi Sherwin, from the album: Aish Hakodesh, available where all awesome Jewish music is sold: OySongs.com For more information or to get in touch, visit me at www.OutoftheBoxJudaism.com or connect on Facebook.