Shows
Unraveling Religion, Judaic Edition'It's Bitter Sweet,' What Does Judaism Say About Divorce?: A Talk With Rabbi Ezra Weinberg, Founder of Jews Get DivorceIn this episode, Rabbi Jess explores and delves into the topic of divorce with Rabbi Ezra Weinberg, examining 'why does divorce make some poeple so uncomfortable?'
divorce touches on the idea that there is nothing more painful than dashed hopes
people think of divorce as a synonym for 'a failed marriage'
Reb Ezra shares reframing divorce as 'marriage coming to completion'
is there a lack of communal support in our commmunity for divorce?
why is divorce sometimes so awkward to talk about?
what are some appropriate responses to divorce when people are experiencing it?
why are we a...2025-05-2529 min
Unraveling Religion, Judaic EditionRedemption and Transformation, An Examination Through The Lens Of Christian And Jewish Theology, Easter and Passover: Rabbi Jess Talks with Reverend Amanda BarkerRabbi Jess and Reverend Amanda Barker discuss the relationship of Redemption in Judaism and Christianity.
What is Redemption?
What is Redemption in Christianity?
In Judaism?
How do they overlap?
How do they differ?
Is redemption an active process?
What does redemption call us to?
What actions?
What obligations?
How does one become redeemed?
How is redemption a transformation?
What does redemption feel like?
Why at times do we not feel like redemption is real (in the face of the world's suffering)?
Is redemption figurative or literal?
What is the relationship of Jesus to redemption for christianity?
What is th...2025-04-1532 min
Unraveling Religion, Judaic EditionExplorations and Discussions of the Book 'Sacred Insignia: The Spiritual Significance of Brit Milah, Circumcision, and the Sacred Sexual Relationship Between Men and Women': A Talk with Rabbi Jessica Minnen and Rabbi Elihu Moshe GevirtzIn this initial conversation of Rabbi Jessica hosting, Rabbi Jess and Rabbi Elihu Moshe Gevirtz explore the mystical and practical reasons, and implications of circumcision from his book 'Sacred Insignia' and the seven years of research that went into the writing, research, thought, and reflection of the book.
Aspects of the discussions include:
why circumcision?
addressing argument against circumcision
the practical implications and the spiritual implication of circumcision
circumcision as a tribal marker of Israel and Jewish community
how to create a sacred environment for a Brit and why it is important
From a narrative a...2025-02-171h 04
Unraveling Religion, Judaic EditionIntroducing Rabbi Jessica Minnen, New Host of Unraveling Religion, Judaic EditionRabbi Jessica Minnen is the new Host of Unraveling Religion, Judaic Edition and sat down to talk with Joel as a way of introduction.
Rabbi Jessica and Joel explore Judaism and the origin and reason for the name Unraveling Religion, Rabbi Jessica's experiences growing into Judaism and becoming a Rabbi, the influence of Pardes Institute of Jewish Studies, explore Hevruta, what it is and why it is effective, as well as some upcoming topics and conversations for the coming year.
Biography
Rabbi Jessica Minnen is a writer, ritualist, and liturgist committed to...2025-02-0121 min
Unraveling Religion, Judaic EditionQuestions of Authenticity and Meaning in Work: Examination Through A Jewish Lens with Rabbi Jessica MinnenRabbi Jessica Minnen and Joel sit for a deep examination of work and the different forms work takes for us as human beings.
Rabbi Jessica and Joel start with discussing Torah and the teaching of G-d's Work (i.e., Six (6) Days of Creation) and G-d's Rest, and how that relates to Shabbas:
The conversations about the Shabbas Hebrew shoresh (i.e., root of the word) 'shin, bet, and taf' (i.e., Shabbas)
From the teaching of Shabbas, the thirty-nine (39) forms of Melachot (i.e., work) are discussed, and Melachot is outlined as work forbidden on Shabbas.
Th...2025-01-0148 min
Unraveling Religion, Judaic EditionUnraveling Religion, Judaic Edition TrailerIn this brief description of Unraveling Religion, Judaic Edition, Joel expresses a little of what these conversations might offer. 2024-10-2600 min
Unraveling Religion, Judaic EditionMobilizing Jewish Outreach, Bringing A Person Closer To Wisdom: A Roundtable Discussion Of Rabbis Exploring Strengthening Jewish CommitmentIn this panel discussion with four Rabbis from America's West Coast to Israel, Joel guides an exploration of mobilizing Jewish outreach (i.e., or 'inreach' or 'in reach') how to, why, and what Jewish tradition teaches and offers from a wide range of teachings including Rebbe Menachem Mendel Schneerson and the Baal Shem Tov.
This collection of dedicated and diverse Jewish voices guide the contemporary question 'how do we strengthen the spiritual health of our Jewish community?'
Discussion includes Passover and meditation, The Tanya, and Pirkei Avot (i.e., Ethics of Our Fathers).
2024-10-2546 min
Unraveling Religion, Judaic EditionA Jewish Means To Vanquish Darkness, Lighting Shabbas Candles: A Conversation With Torah Scholar Rabbi Heschel Greenberg
From The Lubavitcher Rebbe, Menachem Mendel Schneerson, to the Ba'al Shem Tov, to Maimonides and Moses this discussion includes topics of the security of the Jewish people and the Land of Israel and how the Jewish people can fortify their existence and safety. Rabbi Greenberg and Joel examine the best Jewish responses to the terror attack October 7th, 2023. The journey of this conversation addresses Jewish Unity, and the exiles and returns to Israel of the Jewish people, Family Purity (i.e., Niddah), Shabbas, and Kashrut (law of keeping Kosher), Gematria, examining the teaching of G-d's name and...2024-10-2541 min
Unraveling Religion, Judaic EditionPart 2 Rabbis and Prophecy, Meditation, Judaism, and Mental Health: A Conversation With Reb Brian Yosef from Torah of AwakeningIn Part 2 of this talk, Rabbi Brian Yosef and Joel talk about the second and third Portals of Awareness, as taught by Reb Brian. Feeling the breath, the relation of the many meanings of the Hebrew word 'Ruach:' spirit, wind, breath, and soul. The practical instructions of mystical teachings, awareness, and consciousness, meditation. 'I am this awareness, the open field.' Encouraging the realization of Self. Aryeh Kaplan writings, the spiritual and mystical teachings from 'Jacob's Ladder.' Creation of postive and negative angels, Jacob's awakening stating 'the Divine is in this place and I did not know...2024-10-2527 min
Unraveling Religion, Judaic EditionPart 1 Rabbis and Prophecy, Meditation, Judaism, and Mental Health: A Conversation With Reb Brian Yosef from Torah of AwakeningPart 1 of this talk, Rabbi Brian Yosef and Joel share thoughts and perspectives on Divine Providence, dreams, spiritual awakening, meditation, and the importance of how to integrate awakening experiences into our daily lives, in an enduring way. Also, seeing beyond our human conditioning into our deeper self, our Soul, and the intellect as a tool for spirituality. Buddhism and Judaism are compared and contrasted, things like 'Mu-shin,' or 'no-mind,' the mystical aspect of life seeing into emptiness or Reality. What is Kabbalah: what does it mean? who is it for? what does it offer? Kabbalah, Chasidism, The...2024-10-2530 min
Unraveling Religion, Judaic Edition'Where Do I Fit In?' An Examination of The People's Talmud, Judaism, Love and Hate, Antisemitism, and Human Unity: A Conversation with Rabbi Gedaliah Gurfein from JerusalemRabbi Gedaliah Gurfein and Joel discuss a vast terrain of time and topics in Judaism, Judaism's relation to the World, and a Jew's responsibility and obligation to their community.
Curiosity delving deeply into the Talmud and Rabbi Gedaliah Gurfein's website 'The People's Talmud' (which is all in English).
The People’s Talmud is not a translation of Talmud, but a narration of the Talmud.
Addressed in this episode is the influence of The People's Talmud, its reach has a following in West Africa and China.
Also discussed is that every single aspec...2024-10-2550 min
Unraveling Religion, Judaic EditionTransforming The Human Heart: A Talk With Rabbi Micha OdenheimerDuring 2015 Joel spent two months in Nepal and spoke with the NGO Tevel B'Tzedek's Founder Micha Odenheimer about Judaism, globalization, poverty, and the Prophets of the Bible. Tevel's mission is to form education and bonds in rural communities of developing nations, to enrich communities through sharing and knowlege education and resources. This talk centers on Judaism's rich tradition of supporting 'the widow orphan and stranger' and the validities of the worlds other religous traditions, working together to improve the quality of life for all people.
About Rabbi Micha Odenheimer: 'Born in 1958 in Berkeley California, Micha Odenheimer has be...2024-10-2546 min