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Welcome to What Matters Now, a weekly podcast exploring key issues currently shaping Israel and the Jewish World, with host Amanda Borschel-Dan speaking with senior analyst Haviv Rettig Gur. Dozens of Jewish extremists set fire to a security installation and rioted outside a West Bank base overnight Sunday-Monday, days after an officer in the Israel Defense Forces was assaulted by settlers, who threw rocks and attempted to harm other IDF soldiers. If there’s one institution that a majority of Israelis still get behind, it’s the IDF. So this attack, to many, was a wake-up call to the bubbling issue of settler extremists. In this week's What Matters Now, Rettig Gur describes the origins of the settler movement and how there were several visions that at times competed with each other -- and overlapped. He explains how the extremists who are repeatedly attacking neighboring Palestinian villages -- and now IDF soldiers -- are disenfranchised and largely shunned by the diverse settler communities. And we learn how politicians, some of whom serve as role models for these "hilltop youth" -- are finally also waking up to the problem. But while the leaders are changing their tunes, the youth are no longer listening. And so this week, we ask Haviv Rettig Gur, what matters now. What Matters Now podcasts are available for download on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube or wherever you get your podcasts. This episode was produced by the Pod-Waves and video edited by Thomas Girsch. IMAGE: Illustrative: Young Jewish protesters throw rocks as Israeli police forces arrive at the illegal outpost of Amona, on February 1, 2017, on the morning of the settlement's evacuation. (Hadas Parush/Flash90)See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Rawan Osman grew up in a Hezbollah-controlled area in Lebanon and was taught to hate Jews. After meeting Jews in France, she began questioning everything she was taught and started studying Hebrew and Jewish history. Today she works to build dialogue and understanding between Arabs and Jews and supports Israel publicly. Her activism has led to threats and family rejection, but she continues to speak out with courage.Email: Osman.rawan@gmail.comInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/rawanosman2024/TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@rawanosman2024✬ SPONSORS OF THE EPISODE ✬► Twillory: AirSuit is PerfectionSuits can be itchy, hot, heavy and honestly annoying. Get the cool AirSuit for a suit that actually breathes.INSPIRE20 for 20% OFF Your First Purchase!→ https://bit.ly/4eBHeKb► Woodmont College: A Bright Future Ahead If you're figuring out your next step, look into the online, frum-friendly BS in Computer Programming from Woodmont College. It's affordable, flexible, & teaches real skills like coding and cybersecurity, with strong income potential in a growing field. → https://bit.ly/4dovJVT ► BitBean: Smart Custom SoftwareReally great way to take your business to the next level.Contact Bitbean today for a FREE CONSULTATIONReach Out Here→ https://bitbean.link/MeEBlY► Wheels To Lease: #1 Car CompanyFor over 35 years, Wheels To Lease has offered stress-free car buying with upfront pricing, no hidden fees, and door-to-door delivery.Call today!→ CALL/TEXT: 718-871-8715→ EMAIL: inspire@wheelstolease.com→ WEB: https://bit.ly/41lnzYU→ WHATSAPP: https://wa.link/0w46ce✬ IN MEMORY OF ✬This episode is in memory of:• Shimon Dovid ben Yaakov Shloima• Miriam Sarah bas Yaakov Moshe✬ Donate and Inspire Millions (Tax-Deductible) ✬Your generous donation enables us at Living Lchaim to share uplifting messages globally, enrich lives, and foster positive change worldwide! Thank you!→  https://www.LivingLchaim.com/donateOur free call-in-to-listen feature is here:• USA: (605) 477-2100• UK: 0333-366-0154• ISRAEL: 079-579-5088Have a specific question? email us hi@livinglchaim.comWhatsApp us feedback and get first access to episodes: 914-222-5513Lchaim!#jewishpodcast #podcast #arab #muslim #convert #lebanon #israel #zionist #jew #unitednations

Read Online“No one patches an old cloak with a piece of unshrunken cloth, for its fullness pulls away from the cloak and the tear gets worse. People do not put new wine into old wineskins. Otherwise the skins burst, the wine spills out, and the skins are ruined. Rather, they pour new wine into fresh wineskins, and both are preserved.” Matthew 9:16–17The parable above teaches us that even if someone were to faithfully understand and live the authentic Law that was given through Moses and the prophets, Jesus' new teaching of grace, the New Law, was so different that it was not simply an improvement of the old, it completely replaced it. Furthermore, many of the customs taught by the Pharisees were unfaithful representations of the Law of Moses. They had deviated from the Law's meaning and replaced it with their own scrupulous and erroneous multiplication of external practices. Thus, Jesus' New Law needed to break away from these deviations completely.To use a modern example, if you were to have an old phone that had become obsolete or stopped working, you wouldn't buy a new phone so as to remove various parts from it to try to add those parts to the old phone to fix it. Instead, you use the new phone as a complete replacement for the old one.A central quality of the New Law of grace is that it is entirely new and transforming. Therefore, by embracing this New Law, we become entirely new creations in Christ. Grace doesn't simply patch that which is weak and sinful in us. It transforms us, elevating our human nature to an entirely new existence.This teaching is not only directed at the misguided teachings that the Pharisees had developed over the years, it was directed at human life itself. Not only were the Jewish customs to go through a transformation, humanity itself was to go through a transformation. Everything is made new in Christ. This teaching applies just as much to us today as it did to the Jewish people of old. Today, we not only receive the new life of grace in Baptism, but we also receive it anew and share in this ongoing transforming renewal every time we allow grace to touch us more deeply and transform us more fully into the people God wants us to be. The “new patch” and the “new wine” are always transforming, and we must look forward to this newness throughout our lives. Reflect, today, upon the joyful discovery that awaits you every day. Discovering the New Law of grace, accepting it into your life, and allowing it to transform you will set you on a path of discovery that will never get old. It is an ongoing discovery that is far greater than anything this world has to offer. Nothing can ever compare to the gift of God alive in our lives. It will never get old. It will always be transforming. And it will always be new. Ponder this gift God offers you today and say “Yes” to it with all your heart. My transforming Lord, You continuously offer to renew me, transform me and elevate me to the life of grace. I thank You for this Gift and desire to accept it with all my heart. May I always be ready and willing to say “Yes” to You and the transformation that awaits me as I discover this ever new treasure of Your Grace. Jesus, I trust in You.  Image: Titian, Public domain, via Wikimedia CommonsSource of content: catholic-daily-reflections.comCopyright © 2025 My Catholic Life! Inc. All rights reserved. Used with permission via RSS feed.

In Pirkei Avot, one can find the Hebrew teaching to “carry the burden with your friend.” In today's episode, Torah Studio leaders Lexi Kohanski and Liana Wertman join the Judaism Unbound podcast to discuss their latest offerings in keeping with this lesson, including a class on personal torah and stewardship called Trans Torah for Our Terrible Times. They also share ideas regarding what the significance of torah/Torah can mean for communal and creative learning, in a moment that demands a new level of spiritual grit and gentleness.------------------------------Access full shownotes for this episode via this link. If you're enjoying Judaism Unbound, please help us keep things going with a one-time or monthly tax-deductible donation -- support Judaism Unbound by clicking here!

Join us in Jerusalem for Ohr Samayach's 2nd Yarchei Kallah event from July 7th to 9th, 2025! Featuring HaRav Yitzchak Breitowitz shlit"a & HaRav Asher Weiss shlit"a and more Click here for more information.   Dont miss this one of a kind experience! ---------------------------------------------------- Dedication opportunities are available for episodes and series at  https://ohr.edu/donate/qa   Questions? Comments? podcasts@ohr.edu   Yeshivat Ohr Somayach located in the heart of Jerusalem, is an educational institution for young Jewish English-speaking men. We have a range of classes and programs designed for the intellectually curious and academically inclined - for those with no background in Jewish learning to those who are proficient in Gemara and other original source material. To find the perfect program for you, please visit our website https://ohr.edu/study_in_israel​whatsapp us at https://bit.ly/OSREGISTER or call our placement specialist at 1-254-981-0133 today! Subscribe to the Rabbi Breitowitz Q&A Podcast at https://plnk.to/rbq&a   Submit questions for the Q&A with Rabbi Breitowitz https://forms.gle/VCZSK3wQJJ4fSd3Q7   Subscribe to our YouTube Channel at https://www.youtube.com/c/OhrSomayach/videos     You can listen to this and many other Ohr Somayach programs by downloading our app, on Apple and Google Play, ohr.edu and all major podcast platforms. Visit us @ https://ohr.edu  PRODUCED BY: CEDAR MEDIA STUDIOS  

Alison and Amanda talk about a podcast that probes telepathic truths, remembering remarkable moments, getting on their Western glam and the differences in their camp visitor days. Sis & Tell, an award-winning weekly comedic podcast, is hosted by southern Jewish sisters the Emmy-nominated Alison Goldstein Lebovitz from PBS' The A List and Time Magazine's 2006 Person of the Year, Comedian Amanda Goldstein Marks.

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Revealing the secrets of the mysterious parah adumah.

In American Jewish life, few questions are as fraught — or as revealing — as this one: Is Donald Trump good for the Jews? For some, the answer lies in his record. As president, Trump moved the US embassy to Jerusalem, recognized Israeli sovereignty over the Golan Heights, brokered normalization deals between Israel and Arab states, and cast himself as an unflinching ally of the Jewish state. In recent months, he has demanded action on campus antisemitism and positioned himself as a defender of Jewish students. But others see a more cynical calculus: a president who invokes Jewish loyalty tests, traffics in antisemitic tropes, and redefines criticism of Israel as bigotry — thereby narrowing the space for dissent and civil discourse. They worry that his brand of politics is less about safeguarding Jewish life than about instrumentalizing it, often at the expense of liberal values many American Jews hold dear. In this launch of the SAPIR Debates, two prominent Jewish voices take opposing sides of this urgent and emotionally charged question: Jason Greenblatt, who served as Trump's Special Envoy to the Middle East and worked for him for 20 years, and Rahm Emanuel, former chief of staff to President Obama, Mayor of Chicago, and US Ambassador to Japan. Moderated by SAPIR Editor-in-Chief Bret Stephens, this is a timely, unsparing exchange on identity, power, politics — and what it means to stand with the Jews in America today.

In this deep and soulful journey through Parshat Chukas, Rabbi Yisroel Bernath unpacks one of the most perplexing and powerful moments in the Torah: the copper snake on a pole.Why did G-d command Moses to use the very symbol of suffering, the snake, as a healing instrument? What does it mean that people had to look up at the snake to be cured?Through timeless Jewish wisdom, vulnerable personal insight, and psychological depth, Rabbi Bernath explores the mystery of pain, the challenge of resilience, and the spiritual art of transforming darkness into light. You'll walk away with a new perspective on your own struggles and perhaps, a new path to healing.Key Takeaways:Transformation, Not Avoidance: True healing doesn't come from avoiding our pain, but from facing it with courage and elevating it with meaning.The Snake Above vs. the Snake Below: The same experience can be seen from a higher or lower perspective. One brings despair; the other, depth.The Poison Is the Cure: Just like antivenom is made from venom, your healing may emerge from the very thing that once hurt you.Don't Run, Look Up: When we stop running from the “snakes” in our lives and look upward—to G-d, to our higher selves—we discover the blessing buried in the bite.Every Crisis Holds a Blessing: Like Jacob wrestling the angel, we can say to our struggle: “I will not let you go until you bless me.” That's Jewish resilience.You Are Sacred Even in Pain: Sometimes the deepest truth is not an answer to your question, but the awareness that your soul is Divine, loved, and never alone.#healing #Judaism #Jewish #coppersnake #healingthroughpain #TorahPortion #TorahLessons #Torah #torahpsychology #JewishResiliance #struggle #Redemption #divinepurpose #traumatotransformation #trauma #God #snake #parshatchukat #spritualgrowth Support US and Win BIG www.ndgraffle.comSupport the showGot your own question for Rabbi Bernath? He can be reached at rabbi@jewishndg.com or http://www.theloverabbi.comSingle? You can make a profile on www.JMontreal.com and Rabbi Bernath will help you find that special someone.Donate and support Rabbi Bernath's work http://www.jewishndg.com/donateFollow Rabbi Bernath's YouTube Channel https://www.youtube.com/user/ybernathAccess Rabbi Bernath's Articles on Relationships https://medium.com/@loverabbi

This week, America celebrates 249 years of independence. As the countdown begins to our 250th birthday, our semiquincentennial, it is natural to ask what citizenship means to us as Americans, and as American Jews. How do we fulfill our obligations not just to preserve what we've inherited, but to renew it for future generations? These aren't just political questions—they're moral ones, rooted in how we understand our responsibilities to one another and to the institutions that shape our common life.  To address those questions, this week's podcast is going to do something a little different. Rather than host a conversation, we bring you a speech by one of the great teachers of American civics: Yuval Levin, a senior fellow at the American Enterprise Institute and the editor of National Affairs. Speaking at the 2024 Jewish Leadership Conference, Levin offered a meditation on what we can learn from the biblical figure of Nehemiah—drawing on the story the rebuilding of Jerusalem's walls to understand how we must approach the renewal of American culture today. His central insight is striking: just as Nehemiah's workers rebuilt Jerusalem with “a trowel in one hand and a sword in the other,” we too must simultaneously rebuild and defend our institutions. This is a speech that bridges ancient biblical wisdom to the challenges of American society, showing how the Hebrew Bible speaks directly to our moment of cultural dissolution and the opportunity for renewal. If you're inspired by this kind of discussion—the intersection of Jewish ideas and public life—you might want to consider attending this year's Jewish Leadership Conference, featuring Herzl Prize laureates Ben Shapiro, Bari Weiss, and Dan Senor. You can find information about the 2025 conference at www.jewishleadershipconference.org.

For the first time in Mark's Gospel, Jesus crosses from Jewish territory into Gentile lands to confront the spiritual forces that have oppressed the nations. In this podcast episode, David walks through the longest exorcism account in Scripture, showing how Jesus fulfills God's promise to bless all nations by liberating a man possessed by a legion of demons and demonstrating his authority over every fallen spiritual power.

We've looked at how Hellenism impacted all facets of Jewish society, in this episode we will look specifically at how it impacted the Priesthood in Israel. https://longhollow.com/theforgottenjesuspodcastshownotes

From the Maccabean revolt (167 BC) to the destruction of the Temple in AD 70 by the Romans, other men rose up and claimed to be the Messiah, the long awaited savior of Israel. But something else happened long before this in Jewish history that was more significant. In today's episode we'll look at these events to see how they set the stage for John the Baptist to proclaim the true coming Messiah. https://longhollow.com/theforgottenjesuspodcastshownotes

How did the education system function for the Jewish community? Join us today as we look at High School, College and PhD level of learning in the 1st century and how Jesus broke the mold. https://longhollow.com/theforgottenjesuspodcastshownotes

Welcome to The Times of Israel's Daily Briefing, your 20-minute audio update on what's happening in Israel, the Middle East and the Jewish world. US bureau chief Jacob Magid joins host Jessica Steinberg for today's episode. As Israel is said to be hoping to finalize a comprehensive Gaza deal before Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu visits the White House next week, Magid discusses the details and complexities of the ongoing hostage negotiations, including a framework of a two-month truce in which 10 living hostages would be returned and the bodies of 18 deceased hostages. Magid reports on the political implications of Netanyahu's upcoming visit to the White House next week, and the possibility of the two leaders celebrating the successful military campaign against Iran. He also notes that while a ceasefire is being negotiated for Gaza, Netanyahu's rhetoric still suggests an ongoing military campaign. The humanitarian aid distribution in Gaza continues to be exacerbated by the conflict and Magid discusses the Ha'aretz report of excessive IDF fire at aid distribution sites, leading to an IDF investigation into potential war crimes. Check out The Times of Israel's ongoing liveblog for more updates. For further reading: Trump says Israel ‘agreed to necessary conditions to finalize’ 60-day Gaza ceasefire Trump says he will be ‘very firm’ with Netanyahu on ending Gaza war Netanyahu set to visit White House July 7 as US pushes for end to Gaza war IDF confirms probe into killings near Gaza aid site, denies troops ordered to shoot civilians Subscribe to The Times of Israel Daily Briefing on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube, or wherever you get your podcasts. This episode was produced by the Pod-Waves. IMAGE: Mothers protesting the war in Gaza call on IDF Chief of Staff Eyal Zamir to end the war, holding posters that read: 'How do you dare to send our children to die?', 'We don't have children for a political war', 'Zamir, the soldiers are dying in vain.' (Credit Danor Aharon/Pro-Democracy Protest Movement)See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Join Rabbi Joey Rosenfeld as he guides us through the world and major works of Kabbalah, Hasidic masters, and Jewish philosophy, shedding light on the inner life of the soul. To learn more, visit InwardTorah.org

How has the media distorted Israel's response to the October 7 Hamas attacks? In this powerful conversation from AJC Global Forum 2025, award-winning journalist and former AP correspondent Matti Friedman breaks down the media bias, misinformation, and double standards shaping global coverage of Israel. Moderated by AJC Chief Communications and Strategy Officer Belle Etra Yoeli, this episode explores how skewed narratives have taken hold in the media, in a climate of activist journalism. A must-listen for anyone concerned with truth in journalism, Israel advocacy, and combating disinformation in today's media landscape. Take Action: Take 15 seconds and urge your elected leaders to send a clear, united message: We stand with Israel. Take action now. Resources: Global Forum 2025 session with Matti Friedman:: Watch the full video. Listen – AJC Podcasts: The Forgotten Exodus: Untold stories of Jews who left or were driven from Arab nations and Iran People of the Pod:  Latest Episodes:  John Spencer's Key Takeaways After the 12-Day War: Air Supremacy, Intelligence, and Deterrence Iran's Secret Nuclear Program and What Comes Next in the Iranian Regime vs. Israel War Why Israel Had No Choice: Inside the Defensive Strike That Shook Iran's Nuclear Program Follow People of the Pod on your favorite podcast app, and learn more at AJC.org/PeopleofthePod You can reach us at: peopleofthepod@ajc.org If you've appreciated this episode, please be sure to tell your friends, and rate and review us on Apple Podcasts or Spotify. Transcript of the Interview: Manya Brachear Pashman: I've had the privilege of interviewing journalism colleague Matti Friedman: twice on this podcast. In 2022, Matti took listeners behind the scenes of Jerusalem's AP bureau where he had worked between 2006 and 2011 and shared some insight on what happens when news outlets try to oversimplify the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Then in 2023, I got to sit down with Matti in Jerusalem to talk about his latest book on Leonard Cohen and how the 1973 Yom Kippur War was a turning point both for the singer and for Israel.  Earlier this year, Matti came to New York for AJC Global Forum 2025, and sat down with Belle Yoeli, AJC Chief Strategy and Communications Officer. They rehashed some of what we discussed before, but against an entirely different backdrop: post-October 7. For this week's episode, we bring you a portion of that conversation.  Belle Yoeli:   Hi, everyone. Great to see all of you. Thank you so much for being here. Matti, thank you for being here.  Matti Friedman:   Thanks for having me.  Belle Yoeli:   As you can tell by zero empty seats in this room, you have a lot of fans, and unless you want to open with anything, I'm going to jump right in. Okay, great.  So for those of you who don't know, in September 2024 Matti wrote a piece in The Free Press that is a really great foundation for today's discussion. In When We Started to Lie, Matti, you reflect on two pieces that you had written in 2015 about issues of media coverage of Israel during Operation Protective Edge in 2014. And this piece basically talked about the conclusions you drew and how they've evolved since October 7. We're gonna get to those conclusions, but first, I'm hoping you can describe for everyone what were the issues of media coverage of Israel that you first identified based on the experience in 2014? Matti Friedman:   First of all, thanks so much for having me here, and thanks for all of the amazing work that you guys are doing. So it's a real honor for me. I was a reporter for the AP, between 2006 and the very end of 2011, in Jerusalem. I was a reporter and editor. The AP, of course, as you know, is the American news agency. It's the world's largest news organization, according to the AP, according to Reuters, it's Reuters. One of them is probably right, but it's a big deal in the news world.  And I had an inside view inside one of the biggest AP bureaus. In fact, the AP's biggest International Bureau, which was in Jerusalem. So I can try to sketch the problems that I saw as a reporter there. It would take me seven or eight hours, and apparently we only have four or five hours for this lunch, so I have to keep it short. But I would say there are two main problems. We often get very involved. When we talk about problems with coverage of Israel. We get involved with very micro issues like, you call it a settlement. I call it a neighborhood. Rockets, you know, the Nakba, issues of terminology. But in fact, there are two major problems that are much bigger, and because they're bigger, they're often harder to see. One of the things that I noticed at the Bureau was the scale of coverage of Israel. So at the time that I was at the AP, again, between 2006 and the very end of 2011 we had about 40 full time staffers covering Israel. That's print reporters like me, stills photographers, TV crews. Israel, as most of you probably know, is a very small country. As a percentage of the world's surface, Israel is 1/100 of 1% of the surface of the world, and as a percentage of the land mass of the Arab world, Israel is 1/5 of 1%. 0.2%.  And we had 40 people covering it.  And just as a point of comparison, that was dramatically more people than we had at the time covering China. There are about 10 million people today in Israel proper, in China, there are 1.3 billion. We had more people in Israel than we had in China. We had more people in Israel than we had in India, which is another country of about 1.3 billion people. We had more people in Israel than we had in all of the countries of Sub-Saharan Africa. That's 50 something countries. So we had more people in Israel than we had in all of those countries combined. And sometimes I say that to Jews, I say we covered Israel more than we covered China, and people just stare at me blankly, because it's Israel. So of course, that makes perfect sense.  I happen to think Israel is the most important country in the world because I live there. But if the news is meant to be a rational analysis of events on planet Earth, you cannot cover Israel more than you cover the continent of Africa. It just doesn't make any sense. So one of the things that first jumped out at me– actually, that's making me sound smarter than I am. It didn't jump out at me at first. It took a couple of years. And I just started realizing that it was very strange that the world's largest organization had its largest international bureau in the State of Israel, which is a very small country, very small conflict in numeric terms. And yet there was this intense global focus on it that made people think that it was the most important story in the world. And it definitely occupies a place in the American political imagination that is not comparable to any other international conflict.  So that's one part of the problem. That was the scope, the other part was the context. And it took me a while to figure this out, but the coverage of Israel is framed as an Israeli-Palestinian conflict. The conflict is defined in those terms, the Israeli Palestinian conflict, and everyone in this room has heard it discussed in those terms. Sometimes we discuss it in those terms, and that is because the news folks have framed the conflict in those terms. So at the AP bureau in Jerusalem, every single day, we had to write a story that was called, in the jargon of the Bureau, Is-Pals, Israelis, Palestinians. And it was the daily wrap of the Israeli Palestinian conflict. So what Netanyahu said, what Abbas said, rockets, settlers, Hamas, you know, whatever, the problem is that there isn't an Israeli=Palestinian conflict. And I know that sounds crazy, because everyone thinks there is.  And of course, we're seeing conflicts play out in the most tragic way right now in Gaza. But most of Israel's wars have not been fought against Palestinians. Israel has unfortunately fought wars against Egyptians and Jordanians and Lebanese and Iraqis. And Israel's most important enemy at the moment, is Iran, right? The Iranians are not Palestinian. The Iranians are not Arab. They're Muslim, but they're not Arab. So clearly, there is a broader regional conflict that's going on that is not an Israeli Palestinian conflict, and we've seen it in the past year. If we had a satellite in space looking down and just following the paths of ballistic missiles and rockets fired at Israel. Like a photograph of these red trails of rockets fired at Israel. You'd see rockets being fired from Iraq and from Yemen and from Lebanon and from Gaza and from Iran. You'd see the contours of a regional conflict.  And if you understand it's a regional conflict, then you understand the way Israelis see it. There are in the Arab world, 300 million people, almost all of them Muslim. And in one corner of that world, there are 7 million Jews, who are Israelis. And if we zoom out even farther to the level of the Islamic world, we'll see that there are 2 billion people in the Islamic world. There's some argument about the numbers, but it's roughly a quarter of the world's population. And in one corner of that world there, there are 7 million Israeli Jews. The entire Jewish population on planet Earth is a lot smaller than the population of Cairo.  So the idea that this is an Israeli-Palestinian conflict, where Israelis are the stronger side, where Israelis are the dominant actor, and where Israelis are, let's face it, the bad guy in the story, that's a fictional presentation of a story that actually works in a completely different way. So if you take a small story and make it seem big. If you take a complicated regional story and you make it seem like a very small local story involving only Israelis and Palestinians, then you get the highly simplified but very emotive narrative that everyone is being subjected to now. And you get this portrayal of a villainous country called Israel that really looms in the liberal imagination of the West as an embodiment of the worst possible qualities of the age. Belle Yoeli:   Wow. So already you were seeing these issues when you were reporter, earlier on. But like this, some of this was before and since, since productive edge. This is over 10 years ago, and here we are. So October 7 happens. You already know these issues exist. You've identified them. How would you describe because obviously we have a lot of feelings about this, but like, strictly as a journalist, how would you describe the coverage that you've seen since during October 7, in its aftermath? Is it just these issues? Have they? Have they expanded? Are there new issues in play? What's your analysis? Matti Friedman:   The coverage has been great. I really have very I have no criticism of it. I think it's very accurate. I think that I, in a way, I was lucky to have been through what I went through 10 or 15 years ago, and I wasn't blindsided on October 7, as many people were, many people, quite naturally, don't pay close attention to this. And even people who are sympathetic to Israel, I think, were not necessarily convinced that my argument about the press was right. And I think many people thought it was overstated.  And you can read those articles from 2014 one was in tablet and one was in the Atlantic, but it's basically the two chapters of the same argument. And unfortunately, I think that those the essays, they stand up. In fact, if you don't really look at the date of the essays, they kind of seem that they could have been written in the past year and a half. And I'm not happy about that. I think that's and I certainly wrote them in hopes that they would somehow make things better. But the issues that I saw in the press 15 years ago have only been exacerbated since then. And October seven didn't invent the wheel. The issues were pre existing, but it took everything that I saw and kind of supercharged it.  So if I talked about ideological conformity in the bureaus that has been that has become much more extreme. A guy like me, I was hired in 2006 at the AP. I'm an Israeli of center left political leanings. Hiring me was not a problem in 22,006 by the time I left the AP, at the end of 2011 I'm pretty sure someone like me would not have been hired because my views, which are again, very centrist Israeli views, were really beyond the pale by the time that I left the AP, and certainly, and certainly today, the thing has really moved what I saw happening at the AP. And I hate picking on the AP because they were just unfortunate enough to hire me. That was their only error, but what I'm saying about them is true of a whole new. Was heard. It's true of the Times and CNN and the BBC, the news industry really works kind of as a it has a herd mentality. What happened was that news decisions were increasingly being made by people who are not interested in explanatory journalism. They were activists. Activists had moved into the key positions in the Bureau, and they had a very different idea of what press coverage was supposed to do. I would say, and I tried to explain it in that article for the free press, when I approach a news story, when I approach the profession of journalism, the question that I'm asking is, what's going on? That's the question I think you're supposed to ask, what's going on? How can I explain it in a way that's as accurate as as possible? The question that was increasingly being asked was not what's going on. The question was, who does this serve? That's an activist question. So when you look at a story, you don't ask, is it true, or is it not true? You ask, who's it going to help? Is it going to help the good guys, or is it going to help the bad guys?  So if Israel in the story is the villain, then a story that makes Israel seem reasonable, reasonable or rational or sympathetic needs to be played down to the extent possible or made to disappear. And I can give you an example from my own experience.  At the very end of 2008 two reporters in my bureau, people who I know, learned of a very dramatic peace offer that Prime Minister Ehud Olmert had made to the Palestinians. So Olmert, who was the prime minister at the time, had made a very far reaching offer that was supposed to see a Palestinian state in all of Gaza, most of the West Bank, with land swaps for territory that Israel was going to retain, and a very far reaching international consortium agreement to run the Old City of Jerusalem. Was a very dramatic. It was so far reaching, I think that Israelis probably wouldn't have supported it. But it was offered to the Palestinian side, and the Palestinians rejected it as insufficient. And two of our reporters knew about this, and they'd seen a map of the offer. And this was obviously a pretty big story for a bureau that had as the thrust of its coverage the peace process.  The two reporters who had the story were ordered to drop it, they were not allowed to cover the story. And there were different explanations. And they didn't, by the way, AP did not publish the story at the time, even though we were the first to have it. Eventually, it kind of came out and in other ways, through other news organizations. But we knew at first. Why were we not allowed to cover it? Because it would have made the Israelis who we were trying to villainize and demonize, it would have made Israel seem like it was trying to solve the conflict on kind of reasonable lines, which, of course, was true at that time. So that story would have upended the thrust of our news coverage. So it had to be made to go away, even though it was true, it would have helped the wrong people. And that question of who does this serve has destroyed, I want to say all, but much, of what used to be mainstream news coverage, and it's not just where Israel is concerned.  You can look at a story like the mental health of President Biden, right. Something's going on with Biden at the end of his term. It's a huge global news story, and the press, by and large, won't touch it, because why? I mean, it's true, right? We're all seeing that it's true, but why can't you touch it? Because it would help the wrong people. It would help the Republicans who in the press are the people who you are not supposed to help.  The origins of COVID, right? We heard one story about that. The true story seems to be a different story. And there are many other examples of stories that are reported because they help the right people, or not reported because they would help the wrong people. And I saw this thinking really come into action in Israel 10 or 15 years ago, and unfortunately, it's really spread to include the whole mainstream press scene and really kill it.  I mean, essentially, anyone interested in trying to get a solid sense of what's going on, we have very few options. There's not a lot, there's not a lot out there. So that's the broader conclusion that I drew from what I thought at the time was just a very small malfunction involving Israel coverage. But Israel coverage ends up being a symptom of something much bigger, as Jews often are the symptom of something much bigger that's going on.  So my problems in the AP bureau 15 years ago were really a kind of maybe a canary in the coal mine, or a whiff of something much bigger that we were all going to see happen, which is the transformation of the important liberal institutions of the west into kind of activist arms of a very radical ideology that has as its goal the transformation of the west into something else. And that's true of the press, and it's true of NGO world, places like Human Rights Watch and Amnesty International, which were one thing 30 years ago and are something very different today. And it's also true of big parts of the academy. It's true of places like Columbia and places like Harvard, they still have the logo, they still have the name, but they serve a different purpose, and I just happen to be on the ground floor of it as a reporter. Belle Yoeli:   So obviously, this concept of who does this serve, and this activist journalism is deeply concerning, and you actually mentioned a couple other areas, academia, obviously we're in that a lot right now in terms of what's going on campus. So I guess a couple of questions on that. First of all, think about this very practically, tachlis, in the day to day.  I'm a journalist, and I go to write about what's happening in Gaza. What would you say is, if you had to throw out a percentage, are all of them aware of this activist journalist tendency? Or you think it's like, like intentional for many of them, or it's sort of they've been educated that way, and it's their worldview in such a way that they don't even know that they're not reporting the news in a very biased way. Does that make sense? Matti Friedman:   Totally. I think that many people in the journalism world today view their job as not as explaining a complicated situation, but as swaying people toward the correct political conclusion. Journalism is power, and the power has to be wielded in support of justice. Now, justice is very slippery, and, you know, choosing who's in the right is very, very slippery, and that's how journalism gets into a lot of trouble. Instead of just trying to explain what's going on and then leave, you're supposed to leave the politics and the activism to other people. Politics and activism are very important.  But unless everyone can agree on what is going on, it's impossible to choose the kind of act, the kind of activism that would be useful. So when the journalists become activists, then no one can understand what's what's going on, because the story itself is fake, and there are many, many examples of it. But you know, returning to what you asked about, about October 7, and reporting post October 7, you can really see it happen. The massacres of October 7 were very problematic for the ideological strain that now controls a lot of the press, because it's counterintuitive. You're not supposed to sympathize with Israelis.  And yet, there were a few weeks after October 7 when they were forced to because the nature of the atrocities were so heinous that they could not be ignored. So you had the press covering what happened on October 7, but you could feel it. As someone who knows that scene, you could feel there was a lot of discomfort. There was a lot of discomfort. It wasn't their comfort zone, and you knew that within a few weeks, maybe a month, it was gonna snap back at the first opportunity.  When did it snap back? In the story of the Al Ahli hospital strike. If you remember that a few weeks in, there's a massive global story that Israel has rocketed Hospital in Gaza and killed about 500 people and and then you can see the kind of the comfort the comfort zone return, because the story that the press is primed to cover is a story about villainous Israelis victimizing innocent Palestinians, and now, now we're back. Okay. Now Israel's rocketing hospital. The problem was that it hadn't happened, and it was that a lot of stories don't happen, and they're allowed to stand.  But this story was so far from the truth that even the people involved couldn't make it work, and it had to be retracted, but it was basically too late. And then as soon as the Israeli ground offensive got into swing in Gaza, then the story really becomes the same old story, which is a story of Israel victimizing Palestinians for no reason. And you'll never see Hamas militants in uniform in Gaza. You just see dead civilians, and you'll see the aftermath of a rocket strike when the, you know, when an Israeli F16 takes out the launcher, but you will never see the strike. Which is the way it's worked in Gaza since the very end of 2008 which is when the first really bad round of violence in Gaza happens, which is when I'm at the AP.  As far as I know, I was the first staffer to erase information from the story, because we were threatened by Hamas, which happened at the very end of 2008. We had a great reporter in Gaza, a Palestinian who had always been really an excellent reporter. We had a detail in a story. The detail was a crucial one. It was that Hamas fighters were dressed as civilians and were being counted as civilians in the death toll, an important thing to know, that went out in an AP story. The reporter called me a few hours later. It was clear that someone had spoken to him, and he told me, I was on the desk in Jerusalem, so I was kind of writing the story from the main bureau in Jerusalem. And he said, Matti, you have to take that detail out of the story. And it was clear that someone had threatened him. I took the detail out of the story. I suggested to our editors that we note in an Editor's Note that we were now complying with Hamas censorship. I was overruled, and from that point in time, the AP, like all of its sister organizations, collaborates with Hamas censorship in Gaza.  What does that mean? You'll see a lot of dead civilians, and you won't see dead militants. You won't have a clear idea of what the Hamas military strategy is. And this is the kicker, the center of the coverage will be a number, a casualty number, that is provided to the press by something called the Gaza health ministry, which is Hamas. And we've been doing that since 2008, and it's a way of basically settling the story before you get into any other information. Because when you put, you know, when you say 50 Palestinians were killed, and one Israeli on a given day, it doesn't matter what else you say. The numbers kind of tell their own story, and it's a way of settling the story with something that sounds like a concrete statistic. And the statistic is being, you know, given to us by one of the combatant sides. But because the reporters sympathize with that side, they're happy to play along. So since 2008, certainly since 2014 when we had another serious war in Gaza, the press has not been covering Gaza, the press has been essentially an amplifier for one of the most poisonous ideologies on Earth. Hamas has figured out how to make the press amplify its messaging rather than covering Hamas. There are no Western reporters in Gaza. All of the reporters in Gaza are Palestinians, and those people fall into three categories. Some of them identify with Hamas. Some of them are intimidated by Hamas and won't cross Hamas, which makes a lot of sense. I wouldn't want to cross Hamas either. So either. And the third category is people who actually belong to Hamas. That's where the information from Gaza is coming from. And if you're credulous, then of course, you're going to get a story that makes Israel look pretty bad. Belle Yoeli:   So this is very depressing. That's okay. It's very helpful, very depressing. But on that note, I would ask you so whether, because you spoke about this problem in terms, of, of course, the coverage of Israel, but that it's it's also more widespread you talk, you spoke about President Biden in your article, you name other examples of how this sort of activist journalism is affecting everything we read. So what should everyone in this room be reading, truly, from your opinion. This is Matti's opinion. But if you want to you want to get information from our news and not activist journalism, obviously The Free Press, perhaps. But are there other sites or outlets that you think are getting this more down the line, or at least better than some, some better than others?  Matti Friedman:   No, it's just The Free Press. No. I mean, it's a question that I also wrestle with. I haven't given up on everyone, and even in publications that have, I think, largely lost the plot, you'll still find good stuff on occasion. So I try to keep my eye on certain reporters whose name I know. I often ask not just on Israel, but on anything, does this reporter speak the language of the country that they're covering? You'd be shocked at how rare that is for Americans. A lot of the people covering Ukraine have no idea what language they speak in Ukraine, and just as someone who covers Israel, I'm aware of the low level of knowledge that many of the Western reporters have. You'll find really good stuff still in the Atlantic. The Atlantic has managed, against steep odds, to maintain its equilibrium amid all this. The New Yorker, unfortunately, less so, but you'll still see, on occasion, things that are good. And there are certain reporters who are, you know, you can trust. Isabel Kirchner, who writes for The New York Times, is an old colleague of mine from the Jerusalem report. She's excellent, and they're just people who are doing their job. But by and large, you have to be very, very suspicious of absolutely everything that you read and see. And I'm not saying that as someone who I'm not happy to say that, and I certainly don't identify with, you know, the term fake news, as it has been pushed by President Trump.  I think that fake news is, you know, for those guys, is an attempt to avoid scrutiny. They're trying to, you know, neuter the watchdog so that they can get away with whatever they want. I don't think that crowd is interested in good press coverage. Unfortunately, the term fake news sticks because it's true. That's why it has worked. And the press, instead of helping people navigate the blizzard of disinformation that we're all in, they've joined it. People who are confused about what's going on, should be able to open up the New York Times or go to the AP and figure out what's going on, but because, and I saw it happen, instead of covering the circus, the reporters became dancing bears in the circus. So no one can make heads or tails of anything. So we need to be very careful.  Most headlines that are out there are out there to generate outrage, because that's the most predictable generator of clicks, which is the, we're in a click economy. So I actually think that the less time you spend following headlines and daily news, the better off you'll be. Because you can follow the daily news for a year, and by the end of the year, you'll just be deranged. You'll just be crazy and very angry.  If you take that time and use it to read books about, you know, bitten by people who are knowledgeable, or read longer form essays that are, you know, that are obviously less likely to be very simplistic, although not, you know, it's not completely impossible that they will be. I think that's time, that's time better spent. Unfortunately, much of the industry is kind of gone. And we're in an interesting kind of interim moment where it's clear that the old news industry is basically dead and that something new has to happen. And those new things are happening. I mean, The Free Press is part of a new thing that's happening. It's not big enough to really move the needle in a dramatic way yet, but it might be, and I think we all have to hope that new institutions emerge to fill the vacuum.  The old institutions, and I say this with sorrow, and I think that this also might be true of a lot of the academic institutions. They can't be saved. They can't be saved. So if people think that writing an editor, a letter to the editor of the New York Times is going to help. It's not going to help. Sometimes people say, Why don't we just get the top people in the news industry and bring them to Israel and show them the truth? Doesn't help. It's not about knowing or not knowing. They define the profession differently.  So it's not about a lack of information. The institutions have changed, and it's kind of irrevocable at this point, and we need new institutions, and one of them is The Free Press, and it's a great model of what to do when faced with fading institutions. By the way, the greatest model of all time in that regard is Zionism. That's what Zionism is. There's a guy in Vienna in 1890 something, and his moment is incredibly contemporary. There's an amazing biography of Herzl called Herzl by Amos Elon. It's an amazing book. If you haven't read it, you should read it, because his moment in cosmopolitan Vienna sounds exactly like now. It's shockingly current. He's in this friendly city. He's a reporter for the New York Times, basically of the Austro Hungarian empire, and he's assimilated, and he's got a Christmas tree in his house, and his son isn't circumcised, and he thinks everything is basically great. And then the light changes.  He notices that something has changed in Vienna, and the discourse about Jews changes, and like in a Hollywood movie, the light changes. And he doesn't try to he doesn't start a campaign against antisemitism. He doesn't get on social media and kind of rail against unfair coverage. He sits down in a hotel room in Paris and he writes this pamphlet called the Jewish state, and I literally flew from that state yesterday. So there's a Zionist model where you look at a failing world and you think about radical solutions that involve creation. And I think we're there. And I think Herzl's model is a good one at a dark time you need real creativity. Belle Yoeli:   Thank God you found the inspiration there, because I was really, I was really starting to worry. No, in all seriousness, Matti, the saying that these institutions can't be saved. I mean the consequences of this, not just for us as pro-Israel, pro-Jewish advocates, but for our country, for the world, the countries that we come from are tremendous.  And the way we've been dealing with this issue and thinking about how, how can you change hearts and minds of individuals about Israel, about the Jewish people, if everything that they're reading is so damaging and most of what they're reading is so damaging and basically saying there's very little that we can do about that. So I am going to push you to dream big with us. We're an advocacy organization. AJC is an advocacy organization. So if you had unlimited resources, right, if you really wanted to make change in this area, to me, it sounds like you're saying we basically need 15 Free Presses or the new institutions to really take on this way. What would you do? What would you do to try to make it so that news media were more like the old days? Matti Friedman:   Anyone who wants unlimited resources should not go into journalism. I have found that my resources remain limited. I'll give you an answer that is probably not what you're expecting or not what you want here. I think that the fight can't be won. I think that antisemitism can't be defeated. And I think that resources that are poured into it are resources wasted. And of course, I think that people need legal protection, and they need, you know, lawyers who can protect people from discrimination and from defamation. That's very important. But I know that when people are presented with a problem like antisemitism, which is so disturbing and it's really rocking the world of everyone in this room, and certainly, you know, children and grandchildren, you have a problem and you want to address it, right? You have a really bad rash on your arm. You want the rash to go away, and you're willing to do almost anything to make it go away. This has always been with us. It's always been with us.  And you know, we recently celebrated the Seder, and we read in the Seder, in the Haggadah, l'chol dor vador, omdim aleinu l'chaloteinu. Which is, in every generation, they come at us to destroy us. And it's an incredibly depressing worldview. Okay, it's not the way I wanted to see the world when I grew up in Toronto in the 1990s. But in our tradition, we have this idea that this is always gonna be around. And the question is, what do you do? Do you let other people define you? Do you make your identity the fight against the people who hate you? And I think that's a dead end.  This crisis is hitting the Jewish people at a moment when many of us don't know who we are, and I think that's why it's hitting so hard. For my grandfather, who was a standard New York Jew, garment industry, Lower East Side, poor union guy. This would not have shaken him, because he just assumed that this was the world like this. The term Jewish identity was not one he ever heard, because it wasn't an issue or something that had to be taught. So if I had unlimited resources, what I would do is I would make sure that young Jewish people have access to the riches of Jewish civilization, I would, you know, institute a program that would allow any young Jewish person to be fluent in Hebrew by the time they finish college. Why is that so important? Why is that such an amazing key?  Because if you're fluent in Hebrew, you can open a Tanakh, or you can open a prayer book if you want. Or you can watch Fauda or you can get on a plane to Israel and hit on Israeli guys. Hebrew is the key to Jewish life, and if you have it, a whole world will open up. And it's not one that antisemites can interfere with. It does not depend on the goodwill of our neighbors. It's all about us and what we're doing with ourselves. And I think that if you're rooted in Jewish tradition, and I'm not saying becoming religious, I'm just saying, diving into the riches of Jewish tradition, whether it's history or gemara or Israel, or whatever, if you're if you're deep in there enough, then the other stuff doesn't go away, but it becomes less important.  It won't be solved because it can't be solved, but it will fade into the background. And if we make the center of identity the fight against antisemitism, they've won. Why should they be the center of our identity? For a young person who's looking for some way of living or some deep kind of guide to life, the fight against antisemitism is not going to do it, and philanthropy is not going to do it. We come from the wisest and one of the oldest civilizations in the world, and many of us don't know how to open the door to that civilization, and that's in our hands. And if we're not doing it, it's not the fault of the antisemites. It's our own fault. So if I had unlimited resources, which, again, it's not, it's not going to happen unless I make a career change, that's where I would be putting my effort. Internally and not externally.  Belle Yoeli:   You did find the inspiration, though, again, by pushing Jewish identity, and we appreciate that. It's come up a lot in this conversation, this question about how we fight antisemitism, investing in Jewish identity and who we are, and at the same time, what do we do about it? And I think all of you heard Ted in a different context last night, say, we can hold two things, two thoughts at the same time, right? Two things can be true at the same time. And I think for me, what I took out of this, in addition to your excellent insights, is that that's exactly what we have to be doing.  At AJC, we have to be engaging in this advocacy to stand up for the Jewish people and the State of Israel. But that's not the only piece of the puzzle. Of course, we have to be investing in Jewish identity. That's why we bring so many young people to this conference. Of course, we need to be investing in Jewish education. That's not necessarily what AJC is doing, the bulk of our work, but it's a lot of what the Jewish community is doing, and these pieces have to go together. And I want to thank you for raising that up for us, and again, for everything that you said. Thank you all so much for being here. Thank you. Manya Brachear Pashman: If you missed last week's episode, be sure to tune in as John Spencer, Chair of Urban Warfare Studies at West Point, breaks down Israel's high-stakes strike on Iran's nuclear infrastructure and the U.S. decision to enter the fight. 

Consider DONATING to help us continue and expand our media efforts. If you cannot at this time, please share this video with someone who might benefit from it. We thank you for your support! https://tinyurl.com/HereIAmWithShaiDavidai NEW ORDER MERCH!! https://here-i-am.printify.me/?fbclid=PAZXh0bgNhZW0CMTEAAadyxrG4LjvtjdxST9OlPhLrlkc98L0bnOwVevbq-B4YRP33yIQgwimjqE5bYw_aem_HDn3ScZcGWRnbD_8A36Zlg NEW SUPPORT ME ON PATREON! https://www.patreon.com/ShaiDavidai --------- Guest: Sheikh Musa Drammeh Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/sheikhmusadrammeh/ IG: https://www.instagram.com/halalfinder_com/ In this episode of "Here I Am," host Shai Davidai sits down with Sheikh Musa Drammeh, President of Muslims Israel Dialogue and Imam of the Co-op City Mosque. Sheikh Musa shares his inspiring journey from his childhood in West Africa to becoming a leading voice for peaceful coexistence and activism. He discusses his lifelong fight against misogyny, his efforts to promote equality and justice within the Muslim world, and his unique perspective on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Sheikh Musa boldly advocates for the rights of both Jews and Palestinians to live in peace and security, challenging cultural and religious norms along the way. This thought-provoking conversation explores faith, activism, and the pursuit of harmony among all people.

Today's daf is sponsored by Judy Schwartz "in memory of my very special mother Shirley K. Tydor (Sara Raizel bat Mordechai Yitzchak and Freidasima) on my birthday. A birthday is a time to make the world a better place: do a cheshbon nefesh (soul searching), give tzedaka, and thank one's mother for what she went through. And so I do, with love." Today's daf is sponsored by Batsheva & Daniel Pava on the second yahrzeit of Batsheva's father, Reb Shlomo ben Yehuda Aryeh Vegh, z"l. "My father was an orphaned child survivor of Auschwitz. He lived to see 3 generations of descendants, including grandchildren and great grandchildren serving in Tzahal and Sherut Leumi.  Every morning, my father would get up at 5 am and learn gemara. He would also complete the entire Sefer Tehillim each week. My Dad is, and will forever be, my hero."   Today's daf is sponsored by the Shuster family in memory of Dr. Sandra Shimoff, the mother of Randi Shuster. "Her devotion to the study of Torah and Shas will always be remembered by her family and all those who knew her."   Today's daf is sponsored by Rabbi Art Gould in gratitude to HaShem on the occasion of my engagement to Laini Millar Melnick. "I never thought I would be this happy again in my lifetime. I stood under the chuppa once and it worked out pretty well; I can't wait to stand under the chuppa again."   Today's daf is sponsored by Debbie Pershan for the 17th yahrzeit of her mother, Tziril bat Moshe Pinchus. Why is it forbidden to sell large cattle to a non-Jew? After deliberations, they conclude that this is a decree lest the Jew rent it out or lend it, or concern of a "test ride" that may be done as Shabbat begins. Rav Ada permitted selling through a broker because these concerns don't apply in that case. Rav Huna sold a cow to a non-Jew and claimed that perhaps he bought it for slaughter. Rav Chisda challenged him - why don't we worry about the matters mentioned previously? After deliberation, Rav Ashi defines in what situations it is permitted/forbidden. Rabba sold a donkey to a Jew who was suspected of selling to non-Jews. Abaye challenged him and convinced Rabba that he had made a mistake. Within Abaye's challenge, he quoted a baraita that forbids a Jew from selling weapons to a non-Jew. Rav Dimi expanded this prohibition to selling weapons to Jewish bandits/robbers. Can one sell defensive items to non-Jews? This is a subject of debate. 

When the nation needed water, they found it in a most unexpected place: Moshe struck a rock and it began to spew forth enough water for the entire nation. Why was there water inside the rock? Why when Jacob needed water, he removed the rock blockading it? Why didn't he find water inside the rock too? Water and rocks are often connected, but sometimes the water is found beyond the rock and other times the water is embedded inside the flinty stone. This distinction reveals the two different ways to contend with adversity. When we examine the opening subject of our Parsha, the strange protocol of the red heifer, we see a pattern of the multiple methods of transformation.– – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – –DONATE: Please consider supporting the podcasts by making a donation to help fund our Jewish outreach and educational efforts at https://www.torchweb.org/support.php. Thank you!– – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – –Email me with questions, comments, and feedback: rabbiwolbe@gmail.com– – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – –SUBSCRIBE to my Newsletterrabbiwolbe.com/newsletter– – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – –SUBSCRIBE to Rabbi Yaakov Wolbe's PodcastsThe Parsha PodcastThe Jewish History PodcastThe Mitzvah Podcast This Jewish LifeThe Ethics PodcastTORAH 101 ★ Support this podcast ★

In this episode of the Jewish Inspiration Podcast, Rabbi Aryeh Wolbe continues his study of Orchos Tzadikim (Ways of the Righteous), concluding the chapter on laziness. Drawing from King Solomon's wisdom in Proverbs, Rabbi Wolbe highlights the pitfalls of laziness, particularly in failing to seek or maintain friendships with wise and God-fearing individuals, which he deems the epitome of laziness. He uses the metaphor of the ant, which tirelessly gathers over a thousand kernels of food it doesn't need, to contrast with the lazy person's endless excuses, such as fearing "lions in the streets" to avoid Torah study or good deeds. Rabbi Wolbe emphasizes the need for balance, noting that while excessive laziness is detrimental, strategic laziness—such as avoiding evil pursuits or working on Shabbos—can be virtuous. He encourages listeners to be eager in pursuing Torah, mitzvot, and positive influences, while being "lazy" about negative actions like slander, envy, or frequenting inappropriate places. Rabbi Wolbe shares a personal strategy inspired by his grandfather, who used his love for Mussar study to motivate Talmud study, illustrating how one can leverage enthusiasm for enjoyable tasks to accomplish less appealing ones. He recounts a story of agreeing to pick up a friend at 1:30 a.m., viewing it as a divine test of willingness to act, even when the task was ultimately unnecessary. The episode concludes with a call to overcome laziness by proactively pursuing good deeds and Torah study, using modern tools like YouTube and podcasts to access Torah effortlessly, and strategically applying laziness to avoid harmful influences, thereby aligning with God's will.Recorded at TORCH Centre in the Levin Family Studios (B) to a live audience on March 3, 2025, in Houston, Texas.Released as Podcast on July 3, 2025_____________This series on Orchos Tzadikim/Ways of the Righteous is produced in partnership with Hachzek.Join the revolution of daily Mussar study at hachzek.com.We are using the Treasure of Life edition of the Orchos Tzadikkim (Published by Feldheim)_____________Listen, Subscribe & Share: Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/jewish-inspiration-podcast-rabbi-aryeh-wolbe/id1476610783Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4r0KfjMzmCNQbiNaZBCSU7) to stay inspired! Share your questions at aw@torchweb.org or visit torchweb.org for more Torah content.  _____________About the Host:Rabbi Aryeh Wolbe, Director of TORCH in Houston, brings decades of Torah scholarship to guide listeners in applying Jewish wisdom to daily life.  To directly send your questions, comments, and feedback, please email: awolbe@torchweb.org_____________Support Our Mission:Our Mission is Connecting Jews & Judaism. Help us spread Judaism globally by sponsoring an episode at torchweb.org. Your support makes a HUGE difference!_____________Listen MoreOther podcasts by Rabbi Aryeh Wolbe: NEW!! Prayer Podcast: https://prayerpodcast.transistor.fm/episodesJewish Inspiration Podcast: https://inspiration.transistor.fm/episodesParsha Review Podcast: https://parsha.transistor.fm/episodesLiving Jewishly Podcast: https://jewishly.transistor.fm/episodesThinking Talmudist Podcast: https://talmud.transistor.fm/episodesUnboxing Judaism Podcast: https://unboxing.transistor.fm/episodesRabbi Aryeh Wolbe Podcast Collection: https://collection.transistor.fm/episodesFor a full listing of podcasts available by TORCH at http://podcast.torchweb.org_____________Keywords:#Laziness, #Torah, #Productivity, #Neglect, #Excuses, #Growth, #Balance, #Alacrity, #Diligence ★ Support this podcast ★

In the second episode of this three-part series, Conversations with a Rabbi, R.A. Martinez and Rabbi David continue their discussion on understanding the concept of the Law. Join them as they explore the New Testament, unpack how Jesus fulfilled the Law, and consider what it means for us today—both from Gentile and Jewish perspectives. Register for AG25: www.mapsglobal.org/ag25

This episode provides a basic overview of how the Jewish people are indigenous to the land of Israel.  - This Episode Brought To You By…  Shop For Everybody  Use code SFE10 for 10% OFF

Today we're continuing in Luke 22:54-62. In verse 54 it says,"Having arrested Him, they led Him, Jesus, and brought Him into thehigh priest's house, but Peter followed at a distance." So, we'regoing to look at this passage of Scripture over the next several days and talkabout how Peter fell into the temptation of denying the Lord at a time whenJesus crucially needed him to stand up for Him. And we're going to find out whywe, you and I, so often with all the determination of our heart to stand up forJesus, to love Him, to live for Him, yet we still fail. And we're going to seethese steps that led to Peter's failure as we look at this passage ofScripture.  Firstan overview of the next events. Jesus has been arrested in the garden. AfterHis arrest over the next several hours, Jesus actually endured six differenttrials before He was condemned to be crucified: three before the Jews and threebefore the Roman authorities. First, He was taken to Annas, the former highpriest who was an influential man in the nation and who still retained hisformer title (John 18:12-13). Then Annas sent Him to Caiaphas, who was hisson-in-law and the official high priest (Matthew 26:57). Finally, at daybreakon Friday morning, He was tried before the Sanhedrin and found guilty (Luke22:66-71).  TheJews didn't have the right for capital punishment (John 18:31-32). So they thentook Jesus to the Roman authorities to get Him crucified. First, they took Himto Pilate (Luke 23:1-4), who tried to avoid a decision by sending Him to Herod(Luke 23:6-12). Herod sent Him back to Pilate (Luke 23:13-25). When Pilate sawthat he could not escape making a decision, he gave the Sanhedrin what theyasked for and condemned Jesus to die on a Roman cross. Now,it was during the second Jewish trial, the one before Caiaphas, that Peter inthe courtyard denied the Lord three times. So how did it happen? Where did itbegin? How did Peter come to a place where after he had boastfully said,"I will die with You. Though everyone else fails, I won't fail. I'llfollow You even to death. I will not stumble"? (Matthew 26:33). First, letme just tell you, the first step for you and me to go in the wrong directionwith the Lord is to get a heart of pride. Can you imagine Peter amongst the elevenother disciples at this time, making the statement that though all these otherguys around here forsake You and leave You and stumble, I will not stumble?  Myfriend, the first step to falling into temptation and to following the worldand leaving the Lord is pride. The Bible says, "Let a man take heed whenhe thinks he stands, lest he fall" (1 Corinthians 10:12). Pride enters ourheart. We think we're stronger than we are. We think we can do it ourselves,and we then we start comparing ourselves to others and think we're better thanthem. That is a terrible condition to get in. It all started with pride. So, wesee Peter's first step of pride.  Secondly,Peter didn't take the word of Jesus seriously when He said, "Watch andpray." Peter failed to pray. He failed to watch. The hour oftemptation would come and Jesus had warned him that, "The spirit iswilling, but the flesh is weak." The spirit will say, "Oh, I'llnever leave church. I'll never quit reading my Bible. I'll always be the bestChristian ever. I know all these other people, they're not disciplined like Iam. They don't have the commitment and surrender I have to Jesus."  Whenwe have this attitude, we are headed for big failure. Jesus says, "Watchand pray." But instead of watching and praying, we find in theScripture here that Peter was sleeping. Three times the Lord came and woke himup. Yet He continued to sleep. We tend to sometimes forget we can't make itwithout the Lord helping us.  Tomorrowwe will continue to look at the other steps that led to Peter's stumbling anddenying Jesus. May the Lord help us to keep our eyes focused on Jesus all thetime.

Oliver Anisfeld debates Jason Whitlock on his stance on Jewish people and the holy land of Israel. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This summer marks 80 years since the end of World War II when Allied forces liberated Nazi-occupied Europe, and also began to discover the horrific scale of the Holocaust. An estimated six million Jews were systematically murdered by the Nazi regime.With the passage of time, there are fewer and fewer survivors who can tell the stories of what they witnessed and endured. Once fringe ideas of Holocaust denial are spreading. Multiple members of President Donald Trump's administration have expressed support for Nazi sympathizers and people who promote antisemitism.The stories of those who lived through the Holocaust are in danger of being forgotten. And there's a race against time to record as many as possible.In this episode, the story of a Jewish man who survived Buchenwald and an American soldier, who helped liberate the concentration camp.For sponsor-free episodes of Consider This, sign up for Consider This+ via Apple Podcasts or at plus.npr.org. Email us at considerthis@npr.org.Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

Subscribe to Theology in the Raw on Patreon to instantly unlock this full Bonus Q&A on women in leadership! You'll also have access to a huge archive of bonus episodes, Extra Innings, and free video content from the Exiles in Babylon archives.  Here's the questions you'll find when you unlock the full episode!* Are Egalitarian arguments similar to arguments from pro LGBTQ theologians? * 1 Corinthians 12 gives a list of spiritual gifts for church leadership and specifically doesn't mention sex distinction. Are these roles specific to men only? * Which is a bigger risk - being wrongly complementarian or being wrongly egalitarian? What price do we pay in each case?* How do complementarians rationalize listening to female academics (such as those on your podcast) when they say Biblically women can't teach men?* “1 Tim 2:11: ‘A woman should learn in quietness and full submission.' Once culturally liberating, now often restrictive—how do you handle that tension?”* In Eph 5, ppl teach about men & women like it transcends culture over time, but the bit on slaves is taught differently. How can we know how to differentiate?* How should the fact that Jesus chose 12 male Jewish apostles inform this question?* What is the complementarian rationale for keeping male/female distinctions while no longer keeping slave/free and Jew/Greek distinctions in Gal. 3:28?* Paul says, “ I do not permit a women to teach” he didn't Say “God does not allow a women to teach” do you make anything about this being a “Paul” command Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this episode of Hebrew Voices #219 - Halakhic Purist Rabbi: Part 1, Nehemia brings on “Halakhic purist” Rabbi Asher Meza to discuss the distinction between Jewish law and traditional folklore and how true Rabbinic ordination ended in the Mishnaic … Continue reading → The post Hebrew Voices #219 – Halakhic Purist Rabbi: Part 1 appeared first on Nehemia's Wall.

Unleashed: The Political News Hour with Nate Cain – Explore the alarming surge of anti-Jewish and anti-Israel rhetoric in U.S. politics, with focus on the NYC mayoral front-runner's history. Hear SFC (Ret.) Todd McKinley discuss veteran suicide's root causes and solutions. Delve into the intensifying Israel-Iran conflict with military veteran Jericho Green, unpacking its global stakes and potential consequences. Join us for urgent insights...

Welcome to The Times of Israel's Daily Briefing, your 20-minute audio update on what's happening in Israel, the Middle East and the Jewish world. New York reporter Luke Tress joins host Jessica Steinberg for today's episode. US President Donald Trump threatens to arrest New York City mayoral candidate Zohran Mamdani should he win the mayoral elections in November, and Tress discusses the president's repeated comments about the anti-Zionist candidate and Mamdani's proposed plan to oppose Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) activities in New York City. Tress offers an overall look at the trajectory of Mamdani's political ascent and his surprise upset of former New York governor Andrew Cuomo during last week's New York City Democratic party mayoral primary. He discusses the likelihood of Mamdani winning the November general election in the mostly Democratic city, and how Mamdani's anti-Israel activism, a facet of his political life since his college days, will challenge New York City's Jewish dwellers, who comprise the world's largest Jewish population outside of Israel. Tress examines Mamdani's opponents, including former governor Cuomo, who leaned into the Jewish vote, and current New York City mayor Eric Adams, who kicked off his independent candidacy after Mamdani won the primary. He discusses the pro-Jewish initiatives rolled out by Adams during his mayorship and in recent months, and that Cuomo and Adams share a similar voter base in New York, an overwhelmingly Democratic city. Check out The Times of Israel's ongoing liveblog for more updates. For further reading: Trump threatens to arrest anti-Israel New York City mayoral candidate Mamdani Jewish political organizers grapple with fallout from Mamdani’s NYC primary victory Do Zohran Mamdani’s opponents have a path to defeating him in NYC mayoral election? After NYC primary upset, anti-Israel activist Mamdani vows not to ‘abandon my beliefs’ Subscribe to The Times of Israel Daily Briefing on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube, or wherever you get your podcasts. This episode was produced by the Pod-Waves. IMAGE: Democratic mayoral candidate Zohran Mamdani takes selfies with supporters after speaking at his primary election party, Wednesday, June 25, 2025, in New York. (AP Photo/Heather Khalifa)See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Dr. Zohar Raviv of Taglit Birthright Israel joins Adrienne to challenge the lens of Jewish victimhood and reclaim a deeper story , one of joy, resilience, and purpose. From Zionism's roots to identity in the modern world, this powerful conversation offers a fresh take on Jewish continuity.

Bible Study: Genesis 21:5, 8-20a Is the bible true if some of it is not literal? Matthew 8:28-34 Why do the gospels not perfectly align? Break 1 Letters: Father shares how to answer the question of what we are Catholic. What do we consume when receiving communion? Father answers these and other questions, send him a letter at simon@relevantradio.com Break 2 Word of the Day Abram Phones: Philip - I am considering converting to Catholicism. I am reading a book that suggests that Joseph was a lifelong virgin. I not sure how that lines up with some of the scriptures I read. Nathan - How does 'praying in Jesus’ name' work when you’re asking for Mary’s intercession? Denise - My niece is getting married to a Jewish man by a rabbi. Should I go?

Join Rabbi Joey Rosenfeld as he guides us through the world and major works of Kabbalah, Hasidic masters, and Jewish philosophy, shedding light on the inner life of the soul. To learn more, visit InwardTorah.org

The importance of having a mission statement and why "shema" is the Jewish one.

A powerful appeal for Bible-believing Christians to uphold and pray for the Jewish people and their Holy City (Psalm 122:6). To support this ministry financially, visit: https://www.oneplace.com/donate/1094/29

Send us a textToday on the show we go back to the day when Brad, Greg, and Bryan sat down with Michelle Van Loon, to talk about what Faith and Discipleship look like in the second half of life.Since coming to faith in Christ at the tail end of the Jesus Movement, Michelle Van Loon's Jewish heritage, spiritual hunger, and storyteller's sensibilities have shaped her faith journey and informed her writing. She is the author of seven books and has been published in a variety of outlets including ChristianityToday, Next Avenue, In Touch ministries, and Fathom magazine. She's the co-founder of ThePerennialGen.com, a website for midlife women and men. She's married to Bill, and is mother of three and grandmother of two. Check out her site at www.michellevanloon.com

In this episode of The Adam Carolla Show, financier and former White House Communications Director Anthony Scaramucci joins Adam to talk politics, culture, and the shifting landscape of American cities. They kick things off by examining how Zohran Mamdani mobilized young voters in New York and why the Left's embrace of socialism continues to resonate with younger generations. Adam and Anthony unpack cultural responses to political change, explore why Jewish voters often lean progressive, and dive into the tribal roots of antisemitism. Scaramucci also weighs in on California's transformation from a red state to a blue one, and Adam reacts to the viral clip of the San Francisco mayor being booed out of a Pride parade.Later on in the show, Elisha Krauss joins Adam to reflect on the six-month mark since the California wildfires, revisiting a tense podcast recorded right after Adam was forced to evacuate. They talk about the slow pace of rebuilding and the lack of leadership in the aftermath. Then, they break down AOC's comments about her high school yearbook photo, and the continued scrutiny over her Bronx vs. Westchester upbringing. Finally, they react to Charlize Theron's jab at Jeff Bezos and Lauren Sánchez, after the couple's over-the-top $50 million wedding bash.Get it on.FOR MORE WITH ANTHONY SCARAMUCCI:BOOK: The Little Book of Bitcoin (Nov 2024)PODCAST: The Rest is Politics USPODCAST: Open BookINSTAGRAM & TWITTER: @scaramucciFOR MORE WITH ELISHA KRAUSS: INSTAGRAM: @elishakraussWEBSITE: elishakrauss.com JOURNAL: https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/author/elisha-krauss/Thank you for supporting our sponsors:BetOnlineHomes.comoreillyauto.com/ADAMPluto.tvSIMPLISAFE.COM/ADAMOpenPhone.com/adamLIVE SHOWS: July 10 - Irvine, CA (Live Podcast)July 11-12 - Covina, CA (4 Shows)July 16 - Rosemont, ILJuly 17 - Plymouth, WISee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

The jury begins deliberating in the Sean “Diddy” Combs racketeering trial, and a bizarre jury note raises questions about one specific juror. Bryan Kohberger takes a plea deal to avoid the death penalty. The Trump Administration declares Harvard in violation of federal civil rights law for failing to protect Jewish and Israeli students. A sweeping new EU law takes effect today, potentially allowing European regulators to pressure American tech companies to censor content globally. Riverbend Ranch: Visit https://riverbendranch.com/ | Use promo code MEGYN for $20 off your first order. Beam: Visit https://shopbeam.com/MEGYN and use code MEGYN to get an exclusive discount of up to 40% off.

Journalist and Free Press founder Bari Weiss joins Jillian to unpack the geopolitical firestorm surrounding Israel—from the war in Gaza to the 12 day war with Iran, and how America's foreign policy is shifting in real time. We dig into why antisemitism is exploding globally—from college campuses to international institutions—and what it reveals about the new moral order shaping the West. Bari breaks down the double standards in media coverage, the erasure of Israeli trauma, and the ideological forces driving a growing hostility toward the Jewish state.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

In this episode of The PDB Afternoon Bulletin:  First—a Danish national of Afghan origin has been arrested on suspicion of spying on behalf of the Iranian regime, collecting information on Jewish sites and prominent individuals in Germany in preparation for potential terror attacks. Later in the show—despite Moscow's largely stalled summer offensive, a Kremlin-backed official is claiming that Russian forces have now seized complete control of Ukraine's eastern Luhansk region, which would mark Russia's first complete regional occupation since the full-scale invasion began more than three years ago. To listen to the show ad-free, become a premium member of The President's Daily Brief by visiting PDBPremium.com. Please remember to subscribe if you enjoyed this episode of The President's Daily Brief. YouTube: youtube.com/@presidentsdailybrief TriTails Premium Beef: Celebrate with steak worth standing for. Get a free ribeye with the Freedom Box at https://Trybeef.com/PDB. Birch Gold: Text PDB to 989898 and get your free info kit on gold Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Send us a textGood morning! Thank you for taking a few minutes to listen. If you are interested in the Daily Bible Devotional, you can find it at the links below:Amazon - (paperback, hardcover, and Kindle)Spiritbuilding.com - (premium quality paperback)Youtube Video Introducing the ContentFeel free to reach out with any questions: emersonk78@me.comRomans 10 Many Jewish people possess zeal for God but lack knowledge. Unaware of His righteousness, they attempt to establish their own. Justification through law will always fail to render one righteous, “for Christ is the end of the law for righteousness for everyone who believes.” This righteousness is found in the word of faith that has been proclaimed: that those who confess Jesus as Lord and believe that God raised Him from the dead will be saved. God requires a believing heart and open lips to profess the name of Jesus. Regardless of their background, whoever calls on the name of the Lord will be saved. This salvation necessitates hearing the gospel of Christ and responding in faith. Unfortunately, prophecy foretold that many in Israel would not listen to the truth. Christians should desire and pray for everyone's salvation. If we know individuals who are zealous for God but lack understanding of the gospel, we should be prepared to share the truth of Jesus with them. Salvation comes through faith and requires hearts that believe and mouths that confess. Be attentive to the opportunities God provides to confess Jesus by helping someone in your life grasp the truth about Him. Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved. However, the gospel reveals that such a call requires belief, confession of Jesus, repentance from sins, and submission to Christ through baptism. Many are not yet ready to obey, but we must continue to share God's gracious plan. Righteous Lord, thank You for making salvation accessible through faith in Jesus Christ. Thank You for the promise that everyone who calls on His name will be saved. Strengthen us to boldly confess Jesus as Lord and fully trust in His resurrection. Give us hearts for those who have not yet responded to the gospel and a passion to share Your word with them. Help us be faithful messengers, knowing that the faith within us and others comes from “the word of Christ.” Purge from within us any disobedience or obstinance that may prevent us from experiencing salvation in Your Son. Thought Questions: -       What does “confess with your mouth Jesus as Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead” mean in your life? -       If “faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of Christ,” how does that direct how you grow closer to Christ and share Him with others? -       “Whoever will call on the name of the Lord will be saved.” Does this include elements like repentance and baptism? How do you know?

How are the nation's most elite universities navigating the Trump administration? Harvard was recently been informed by the Trump administration that the school has violated federal civil rights law over how it treats Jewish and Israeli students. Allegations of civil rights violations are just the latest troubles for the Ivy Leagues, as Columbia University received a formal warning for their conduct back in May. President Emeritus of Purdue University and former Indiana Governor Mitch Daniels joins to explain navigating Trump administration criticism, legal action, and frozen federal grants. The Supreme Court has finished its term, and the final rulings were all wins for the Trump administration on a variety of issues, such as abortion funding, parental rights in schools, and limiting the power of federal judges. Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson criticized these outcomes, arguing that the 6-3 conservative majority holds too much power. Former federal prosecutor Jim Trusty joins to discuss the latest Supreme Court decisions. Plus, commentary from FOX News contributor and host of The Jason In The House podcast, Jason Chaffetz. Photo Credit: AP Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Host Noam Weissman sits down with acclaimed Iranian-American writer Roya Hakakian to trace the complex and often misunderstood history of Persian Jewry. Roya shares her personal story growing up Jewish in Iran before and after the 1979 Islamic Revolution, explores why the country shifted from relative tolerance to theocratic repression, and reflects on why millions of Iranians today remain deeply secular despite their fundamentalist regime. Noam and Roya discuss why Iranian society feels poised for change—and why history teaches us that no regime lasts forever. Here is a link to Roya Hakakian's homepage, bio and work. Here is a link to Roya Hakakian's memoir, Journey from the Land of No: A Girlhood Caught in Revolutionary Iran. Please get in touch at noam@unpacked.media. This podcast was brought to you by Unpacked, a division of OpenDor Media. ------------------- For other podcasts from Unpacked, check out: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Jewish History Nerds⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Soulful Jewish Living⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Stars of David with Elon Gold ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Wondering Jews⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

In this episode of the 18Forty Podcast, we talk to Ayala Fader—an anthropologist who studies American Haredi communities and their “hidden heretics”—about the personal, familial, and communal factors that pull us toward and push us away from different Jewish communities. In this episode we discuss: How should we respond to the discomfort we experience when the communities we live in don't measure up to the communities we desire?How has the internet changed Hasidic and yeshivish cultures over the past three decades? How has the surge of antisemitism and anti-Zionism affected the views of Hasidic Jews? Tune in to hear a conversation about the ways we seek out and build communities that nourish us. Interview begins at 12:48.Ayala Fader is a professor of anthropology at Fordham University. Her research investigates contemporary North American Jewish identities and languages and engages key issues at the intersection of religion, Jewish Studies, gender, and linguistic anthropology, including language and media. She is also the founding director of the Demystifying Language Project, a partnership between academia and public high schools, housed in the New York Center for Public Anthropology at Fordham. Fader is the author of Mitzvah Girls: Bringing Up the Next Generation of Hasidic Jews in Brooklyn and Hidden Heretics: Jewish Doubt in the Digital Age. References:“Failure Goes to Yeshivah” by David BashevkinMitzvah Girls: Bringing Up the Next Generation of Hasidic Jews in Brooklyn by Ayala FaderHidden Heretics: Jewish Doubt in the Digital Age by Ayala FaderNaftuli Moster with Frieda Vizel: "Why I left Hasidic education activism"When Prophecy Fails by Leon Festinger, Henry W. Riecken, and Stanley Schachter Jew Vs Jew by Samuel G. Freedman18Forty Podcast: “Rav Moshe Weinberger: Can Mysticism Become a Community?”For more 18Forty:NEWSLETTER: 18forty.org/joinCALL: (212) 582-1840EMAIL: info@18forty.orgWEBSITE: 18forty.orgIG: @18fortyX: @18_fortyWhatsApp: join hereBecome a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/18forty-podcast--4344730/support.

Read OnlineThe swineherds ran away, and when they came to the town they reported everything, including what had happened to the demoniacs. Thereupon the whole town came out to meet Jesus, and when they saw him they begged him to leave their district. Matthew 8:33–34Why would “the whole town” beg Jesus to leave their district as a result of Jesus delivering two of their fellow townsmen from demons? This event took place on the northeast edge of the Sea of Galilee near a town of the Gadarenes who were not of Jewish background, which accounts for the fact that there was such a large herd of swine (the Jewish people did not eat pork). Two of the Gadarenes were possessed by demons, and Scripture reports that “They were so savage that no one could travel by that road.” And when Jesus delivers them from this awful plight, instead of rejoicing in gratitude, the townspeople begged Jesus to leave.Saint Jerome says that it is possible that the people were actually acting in humility, in that they did not consider themselves worthy to be in the presence of someone as great as Jesus. Like Saint Peter who fell at the feet of Jesus and cried out, “Depart from me, for I am a sinful man, O Lord” (Luke 5:8), these townspeople may have been in such awe at what Jesus did for them that they did not see themselves as being worthy of His presence. However, other Church Fathers point out that it is more likely that these townspeople signify those who are stuck in their life of sin and do not want to come face-to-face with the Gospel or with the Person of Jesus. They prefer to close their ears to the truth and to remain in their life of ignorance and sin.It's also helpful to reflect upon the relationship between the townspeople and these two demoniacs. Ideally, when the townspeople saw these two men completely freed of the demons who tormented them, they would have rejoiced in a way similar to the way the father of the Prodigal Son rejoiced when his son returned to him. Sadly, in this case, there seems to be a tremendous lack of excitement by their fellow townsmen over the freedom these two demoniacs experienced. This shows a clear lack of love for these two men within the town. Perhaps many of the townspeople took a twisted form of pleasure in their mockery of these two men over the years, and they enjoyed telling stories about how crazy they were. Now, they were faced with these two men who were completely changed, and they may have found it difficult to speak well of them because of their pride.This negative example set by these townspeople gives us an opportunity to reflect upon how we think about and treat those who have changed their ways and have turned from evil to good. Perhaps you have a family member who has sincerely tried to change. Or perhaps someone at work, a neighbor or some other acquaintance has gone from a life of sin to a life seeking virtue. The real question to ponder is whether you rejoice over the goodness of others, over their ongoing conversion and pursuit of holiness, or whether you struggle with truly expressing joy as you see people you know change for the good. It's often very easy to criticize but much more difficult to rejoice in the holy transformation of another.Reflect, today, upon those in your life, those close to you and those with whom you are mere acquaintances, who have been set free by our Lord in some way and have moved from a life of sin toward a life of virtue. How do you react to them? Are you able to sincerely rejoice in the goodness of others? Or do you find yourself struggling with jealousy, anger, envy and the like? As you do see the goodness of God at work in others, try to put on the mentality suggested by Saint Jerome above. Allow yourself to be in awe of God's action in their lives. As you do, humble yourself before the transforming power of God, admitting that you are not worthy to witness His transforming power but rejoice in gratitude nonetheless. My all-powerful Lord, You overcame the power of the evil one and cast demons from these two men who suffered through this oppression for many years. Give me the eyes I need to see You at work in our world and to joyfully bear witness to Your transforming action in the lives of others. May I always humble myself before Your saving actions and learn to express true gratitude for all that You do. Jesus, I trust in You.James Tissot, Public domain, via Wikimedia CommonsSource of content: catholic-daily-reflections.comCopyright © 2025 My Catholic Life! Inc. All rights reserved. Used with permission via RSS feed.

Welcome to The Times of Israel's Daily Briefing, your 20-minute audio update on what's happening in Israel, the Middle East and the Jewish world. Diplomatic correspondent Lazar Berman joins host Amanda Borschel-Dan for today's episode. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu will embark on his third trip to to Washington early next week to meet with US President Donald Trump. This comes alongside increased pressure to end the war in Gaza and perhaps the potential of a domino-type deal between Israel and regional players. Berman speaks about reports that Israel and Syria are holding “advanced talks” on a bilateral agreement halting hostilities between the countries. Could this lead to Syria joining the Abraham Accords? And what position does this put Turkey in, even as its neighbor, Iran, just suffered a defeat at the hands of the US and Israel. Israel’s military chief has advised cabinet ministers against ordering the Israel Defense Forces to expand operations in the Gaza Strip, over fears that doing so could significantly endanger the lives of hostages still held in the Palestinian enclave, according to Hebrew media accounts Monday. Berman speaks about the terrible decision that has faced Israel's political echelons for almost 21 months -- hostages or defeating Hamas -- and how Israeli soldiers in Gaza will likely increasingly be on Hamas's radar as long as no decision is taken. At least 11 people in Gaza were killed yesterday in the area of a Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF) aid distribution center, according to local Palestinian media outlets. Also Monday, the military admitted in a statement that it has killed several civilians near aid sites in recent weeks and said it has learned lessons that will avoid similar incidents in the future. Berman recently spoke with the head of GHF, Reverend Johnnie Moore Jr. He brings us highlights from their conversation. Check out The Times of Israel's ongoing liveblog for more updates. For further reading: Netanyahu set to visit White House July 7 as US pushes for end to Gaza war Israel in ‘advanced talks’ for deal to end hostilities with Syria, says senior official Israel says Hezbollah must disarm before any Lebanon peace talks can advance Dozens said killed in Gaza; IDF admits it has killed several civilians near aid sites Subscribe to The Times of Israel Daily Briefing on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube, or wherever you get your podcasts. This episode was produced by the Pod-Waves. IMAGE: President Donald Trump, right, shakes hands with Syria's interim President Ahmad al-Sharaa, in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, May 14, 2025. (Bandar Aljaloud/Saudi Royal Palace via AP)See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Mazel morons! This week, we welcome the one and only Catfish legend Nev Schulman. Things get Jewish real fast—Ben shares his Yeshiva past, Nev talks South Williamsburg Shabbat sirens, and Josh becomes the honorary rabbi of Brentwood. The dads go deep on fatherhood, night nurses, and the secret jealousy no one tells you about. Then: Catfish confessions. Nev opens up about the origins of the show, the wildest stories that never made it to air, and how AI might just ruin online love forever. Plus, we weigh in on Caitlin Clark vs. the WNBA, butt-scrunch legging TikToks, and Josh's most embarrassing airport pickup moment. Shabbat shalom indeed, otherwise what are ya nuts?!Leave us a voicemail here!Follow us on Instagram and TikTok! Sponsors:Learn more at Discover.com/creditcardHead to Dentek.com to find your local retailer and shop all of Dentek's products, sold at Target, Walgreens, Amazon and Walmart.Go to www.vivrelle.com and apply for a membership today using code GOODGUYS for 30% off 1 month of membership - the code will also allow you to skip the vivrelle waitlist.Get results you can run your fingers through! For a limited time, Nutrafol is offering our listeners $10 off your first month's subscription and free shipping when you go to Nutrafol.com and enter the promo code GOODGUYS10 If you're ready to build your own business - whether it's merch, products, or the next best idea - get on Shopify.com/goodguys and make it happen!Please note that this episode may contain paid endorsements and advertisements for products and services. Individuals on the show may have a direct or indirect financial interest in products or services referred to in this episode.Produced by Dear Media.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.