Judaism Unbound

Institute for the Next Jewish Future
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Judaism Unbound

Listen in as Dan Libenson and Lex Rofeberg analyze pressing issues for 21st century American Judaism. Mixing their own analysis with interviews of leading thinkers, practitioners, and even "regular Jews," Dan and Lex look to push past the bounds of what it means to be Jewish in the 21st century. You can support Judaism Unbound at www.JudaismUnbound.com/donate.

  1. 5D AGO

    Episode 476: Survival Guide for a Spiritual Wilderness I - Spiritual Chutzpah (with "Gemara")

    We are proud to introduce the 3rd podcast in the Judaism Unbound family of podcasts: Survival Guide for a Spiritual Wilderness, hosted by Jericho Vincent. "We are the ancestors of the future." This new podcast offers a spiritual home for listeners seeking to connect Jewish ancestral, feminist wisdom with their own svara: moral intuition. Each episode of this limited series delves into a different story of our ancestor Miriam, illuminating her mystical teachings and offering practical tools for navigating and flourishing in personal or political spiritual wildernesses. Survival Guide for a Spiritual Wilderness charts a radical, fresh Jewish path for its listeners and the world. We're thrilled to periodically feature episodes of Survival Guide for a Spiritual Wilderness here on our feed. But we don't only feature those episodes alone. Lex Rofeberg and Rena Yehuda Newman, two members of Judaism Unbound's team, supplement each episode with some gemara (commentary) as well. We hope that our ideas will help spur you to form your own gemara, and channel your unique teachings -- about this podcast and beyond -- into the world. Episode 1: Spiritual Chutzpah introduces the spiritual guide Morah Miriam as an ancestor of boldness and audacity and defines spiritual chutzpah as essential living Torah from Miriam that empower us to act courageously. Jericho talks about the power of a Sufi sermon, the narrow place, Spiritual Chutzpah, razzle dazzle slave economics, time travel, moishiachtzeit, and a practice for bringing Miriam’s living Torah into our own lives. Subscribe to Survival Guide for a Spiritual Wilderness anywhere that podcasts are found!

    59 min

  2. MAR 21

    Episode 475: 'Zionism' and 'Anti-Zionism' -- What do they Mean? - Matthew Boxer, Janet Krasner Aronson

    Matthew Boxer and Janet Krasner Aronson are both sociologists whose work focuses on American-Jewish life. They join Dan Libenson and Lex Rofeberg for a conversation about two studies that they've been working on, that explore the wide range of meanings that the terms "Zionism" and "Anti-Zionism" hold for American Jews. This episode is the 8th episode in an ongoing mini-series, discussing American-Jewish discourse about Israel-Palestine.

    1 hr

  3. MAR 14

    Episode 474: Israel/Palestine - Jewish Diasporism - Alissa Wise, Andrue Kahn

    Alissa Wise is the founder and lead organizer of Rabbis for Ceasefire. Andrue Kahn is the executive director of The American Council for Judaism. They join Dan Libenson and Lex Rofeberg for a conversation about the role of rabbis in this heightened political moment, the work of their two organizations, and the growing movement of Jews creating communities grounded in Jewish diasporism. Together, they are co-teaching a class in Judaism Unbound's UnYeshiva entitled Jewish Diasporism(s): Approaches to Nation, Home, and Responsibility, which begins just a few days after this episode is released. Financial aid is available! Check out their class, and other classes you can take in the UnYeshiva, via JudaismUnbound.com/classes!

    1h 1m

  4. MAR 7

    Episode 473: Lost Jewish Books - Eva Mroczek

    People sometimes call Jews "people of the book." And when they say that, they tend to be referring to the Bible, or the Torah (first five books of the Bible). But Eva Mroczek, the Simon and Riva Spatz Chair in Jewish Studies at Dalhousie University, thinks that Jews may actually have a relationship to far more books than we've realized -- including many "lost books," and even many "imagined books" that likely never existed. She joins Dan Libenson and Lex Rofeberg for a conversation about lost Jewish books, and about her upcoming class in the UnYeshiva entitled Lost Books, Fake Apocrypha: The Hidden History of Jewish Books. Learn more about Eva Mroczek's upcoming course in the UnYeshiva (and register for it!) via www.judaismunbound.com/classes -- financial aid is available for anyone who needs it.

    1 hr

  5. FEB 28

    Episode 472: Israel-Palestine -- "What You're Against" and "What You're For" - Danya Ruttenberg, Ilana Sumka

    Danya Ruttenberg is an award-winning author, activist, and rabbi, whose most recent book -- On Repentance and Repair: Making Amends in an Unapologetic World -- won a National Jewish Book Award. Ilana Sumka is a nonprofit leader, experiential educator and community organizer with over 20 years of experience, who recently founded Shleimut: Jewish Paths to Wholeness and Peace. The two of them join Dan Libenson and Lex Rofeberg for the 6th episode in an ongoing mini-series, exploring North American-Jewish discourse about Israel-Palestine. New courses are now open for registration, in Judaism Unbound's UnYeshiva -- our digital center for Jewish learning and unlearning. Learn more about our online classes by heading to www.judaismunbound.com/classes -- financial aid is available for all courses in the UnYeshiva.

    1 hr

  6. FEB 26 · BONUS

    Bonus Episode: Dan & Lex on BYU Radio's In Good Faith Podcast

    In October 2024, Dan and Lex participated in Elevate -- a summit for podcasters hosting shows in the realm of faith and spirituality -- to connect and collaborate with one another. The gathering took place at BYU – Brigham Young University in Provo, Utah – and was hosted by In Good Faith, a podcast produced by BYUradio. After an amazing few days at the summit, In Good Faith invited Dan and I to be guests on their podcast – to speak a bit about Judaism Unbound, but also for the two of us to reflect on our own relationships to religion and spirituality. The episode was recently released on their feed, and we’re excited to release it on ours as well, as a bonus episode. You can subscribe to In Good Faith on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or anywhere else that podcasts are found. Episode Description, from In Good Faith: Lex Rofeberg and Dan Libenson talk to Steve Kapp Perry about their organization Judaism Unbound. Lex Rofeberg is Senior Jewish educator for Judaism Unbound -- a digital, Jewish non-profit organization -- and oversees Judaism Unbound's UnYeshiva (a digital center for Jewish learning and unlearning). He produces and co-hosts Judaism Unbound's weekly podcast, and facilitates regular forms of communal gathering, via Zoom, for Jews and Jewish-adjacent non-Jews. Dan Libenson is President of Lippman Kanfer Foundation for Living Torah, which is dedicated to helping Jews and fellow travelers apply Jewish wisdom to thrive and shape a better world. He is also the co-host of the Judaism Unbound podcast, as well as The Oral Talmud, a streaming video show soon to be released in podcast form. Dan teaches classes on Judaism and Jewish wisdom at the Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion’s Zelikow School of Nonprofit Management. Dan is the translator of The Orchard, a novel about the early days of Rabbinic Judaism, by renowned Israeli novelist Yochi Brandes.

    28 min

  7. FEB 21

    Episode 471: Israel-Palestine Echo Chambers - Jay Michaelson

    Jay Michaelson, an award-winning journalist, professor, rabbi, and author, joins Dan Libenson and Lex Rofeberg for a conversation exploring centrism and radicalism, misinformation that circulates far and wide on the topic of Israel-Palestine, and how we might strive for a better Jewish collective relationship to this important issue. This episode is the 5th in an ongoing mini-series exploring North American-Jewish discourse about Israel-Palestine. Announcement: New courses are now open for registration, in Judaism Unbound's UnYeshiva -- our digital center for Jewish learning and unlearning. Learn more about our classes by heading to www.judaismunbound.com/classes -- financial aid is available for all courses in the UnYeshiva.

    59 min

  8. FEB 14

    Episode 470: Tales of the Unbound VII - Happily Ever After?

    This week, we’re bringing you an episode of another podcast in the Judaism Unbound family of podcasts -- Tales of the Unbound! In its inaugural season Tales of the Unbound follows the Jewish journey of two incarcerated individuals, their chaplain, and the community they co-created in the most unlikely of places. In Tales of the Unbound, Episode 7: Happily Ever After?, the narrative explores the challenges and transformations within the Jewish community at Monroe Correctional. The story takes a twist, testing the community's cohesion and purpose. Despite these conflicts, Ari and Josh strive to uphold a sense of community and identity amidst uncertainty. The episode concludes with a reflection on the evolving nature of Judaism and the power of communal learning in navigating change and maintaining hope for a better future. For information on how to reach out to connect with Jewish agencies who support folks who are incarcerated and their families, connect with a Jewish penpal, donate to help bring kosher meals and access to Jewish supplies, or give straight to Ari and Josh’s Jewish minyan in Monroe, connect with us at: www.judaismunbound.com/tales. You can subscribe to Tales of the Unbound in Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or anywhere else podcasts are found!

    28 min
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    4.6
    out of 5
    411 Ratings

    About

    Listen in as Dan Libenson and Lex Rofeberg analyze pressing issues for 21st century American Judaism. Mixing their own analysis with interviews of leading thinkers, practitioners, and even "regular Jews," Dan and Lex look to push past the bounds of what it means to be Jewish in the 21st century. You can support Judaism Unbound at www.JudaismUnbound.com/donate.

    Information

    • Creator
      Institute for the Next Jewish Future
    • Years Active
      2016 - 2025
    • Episodes
      600
    • Rating
      Clean
    • Show Website
      Judaism Unbound

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