What is a bad jew? What does it take to not be one? Is it anti-Semitic to say? Or is it just a phrase that Jews use to cruelly judge one another? Chaz Volk, a newly observant Jew, shares that the greatest way to embrace your identity is to question everything. And we mean EVERYTHING! Chaz questions the Torah, law, politics, standards, communities and even G-d itself in this confrontational and edgy show.
About Chaz:
Chaz Volk grew up in Thousand Oaks, California where he began Torah studies until he was Bar Mitzva'ed at Temple Etz Chaim. From a young age, he was very aware of his uniqueness and how he was the token-Jew outside of Jewish settings. In middle school, Chaz experienced his first taste of antisemitism which brought him closer to his identity, despite his adversaries' wishes. Later, he'd attend San Francisco State University, where he'd get deeply involved at SF Hillel as a volunteer and intern. SFSU's social climate and its perspective on Jews and Zionism became clear from an early point. He'd later become the lead plaintiff in a lawsuit known today as Volk v. CSU Board of Trustees. In this class action case, Chaz Volk and his representation won. Since then, Chaz has proudly immersed himself in his identity and partaken in communities across southern California. Most recently, Chaz's emotional awakening occurred on an organized trip to Israel. There he adopted new practices that he instilled in his lifestyle to this day. Today, he's a volunteer and frequent of Aish HaTorah's programming and plans to use this show to promote their programs, events, and resources along with valuable Jewish teachings.
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What is a bad jew? What does it take to not be one? Is it anti-Semitic to say? Or is it just a phrase that Jews use to cruelly judge one another? Chaz Volk, a newly observant Jew, shares that the greatest way to embrace your identity is to question everything. And we mean EVERYTHING! Chaz questions the Torah, law, politics, standards, communities and even G-d itself in this confrontational and edgy show.
About Chaz:
Chaz Volk grew up in Thousand Oaks, California where he began Torah studies until he was Bar Mitzva'ed at Temple Etz Chaim. From a young age, he was very aware of his uniqueness and how he was the token-Jew outside of Jewish settings. In middle school, Chaz experienced his first taste of antisemitism which brought him closer to his identity, despite his adversaries' wishes. Later, he'd attend San Francisco State University, where he'd get deeply involved at SF Hillel as a volunteer and intern. SFSU's social climate and its perspective on Jews and Zionism became clear from an early point. He'd later become the lead plaintiff in a lawsuit known today as Volk v. CSU Board of Trustees. In this class action case, Chaz Volk and his representation won. Since then, Chaz has proudly immersed himself in his identity and partaken in communities across southern California. Most recently, Chaz's emotional awakening occurred on an organized trip to Israel. There he adopted new practices that he instilled in his lifestyle to this day. Today, he's a volunteer and frequent of Aish HaTorah's programming and plans to use this show to promote their programs, events, and resources along with valuable Jewish teachings.
Want to engage with our online WhatsApp community?
Email: BadJewPod@gmail.com
Brand partnership: BadJewPod@gmail.com
IG: @badjewpod
TikTok: @badjewpod
Have Young Jews Forgotten Who They Are? with Alissa Bernstein and David Hazony
Bad Jew
41 minutes
11 months ago
Have Young Jews Forgotten Who They Are? with Alissa Bernstein and David Hazony
What's the matter with kids today? Jewish youth is either the most connected or disconnected demographic of the Jewish population. If you're ages 18 - 35, you're a part of an inconsistent international community that can't decide on a lot of things. Most of all, you may be confused about your past and how relevant your upbringings are to today.
David Hazony and Alissa Bernstein are from Z3, a zionist thinktank rethinking the future of the American-Israeli relationship. Bernstein and Hazony work together to engage with Jewish youth across America. They help Chaz Volk, host of Bad Jew, understand the young Jewish professional landscape along with the implications and impacts of the recent US election.
The Z3 Conference (FREE) Sign up here - https://www.eventbrite.com/e/z3-conference-2024-tickets-945746562427
Alissa's essay can be found in the book Young Zionist Voices available on Amazon - https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0DMSZ4WSQ/ref=sr_1_1?dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.MZP0EzFzNCxNo628m9fzW2t7IwTZ9jRsDL3wjFkSVdfEDPdowIzFtpyH4XUsU1Be6kwY74UFMmwn27r2ehs3FQ.by1MiXXgJL1CayaH45haZs1WjcqcqQXZZxbtBVOaACc&dib_tag=se&keywords=young+zionist+voices&qid=1731453054&sr=8-1
00:00 Introduction - Alissa Bernstein
03:19 Introduction - David Hazony
06:39 Jewish assimilation
10:25 Religious journeys
15:06 Young people resist rising antisemitism
20:37 Anti-Zionism: Organized, influential, and societal impact
21:50 coexistence is essential.
27:21 Outspoken Zionists on college campuses
28:20 The rolls of internet trolls
32:32 Modern Maccabees
38:18 Refocus energy on educating disconnected communities
40:08 Young Jewish professional identity amidst turbulence
About Alissa Bernstein:
Alissa Bernstein is the Assistant Director of AJC Los Angeles, where she manages the region's political outreach and legislative advocacy and interfaith and intergroup coalition building. In her role, she is responsible for deepening and expanding the office's political relationships on a local, State and Federal level, testifying in front of local offices to support ordinances which protect and empower the Jewish community, meeting with State officials to support legislation that enhances Holocaust and Genocide education and improves hate crimes reporting systems across the state, and building relationships with members of Congress to support legislation that safeguards the Jewish community and Israel's security. Alissa is dedicated to reaching outside of the Jewish community to build bridges with other cultural and religious groups in the region, including the Black, Latino, AAPI, LGBTQ+, Indian, and many other communities. Alissa is also a contributing author to the Z3 Project’s upcoming book, Young Zionist Voices, and was a 2024 nominee for the Z3 Bridge Builder Award. Alissa graduated Cum Laude from Occidental College with a bachelor’s degree in psychology and a minor in Spanish. She is passionate about fighting antisemitism at home and abroad through education, policy, and long-term relationship building.
About David Hazony:
David Hazony is the Director and Steinhardt Senior Fellow of the Z3 Institute for Jewish Priorities. He edited the book Jewish Priorities: Sixty-Five Proposals for the Future of Our People (Wicked Son, 2023), and, more recently, Young Zionist Voices: A New Generation Speaks Out (Wicked Son, 2024). He lives in Jerusalem. Learn more at jewishpriorities.com and z3project.org.
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Bad Jew
What is a bad jew? What does it take to not be one? Is it anti-Semitic to say? Or is it just a phrase that Jews use to cruelly judge one another? Chaz Volk, a newly observant Jew, shares that the greatest way to embrace your identity is to question everything. And we mean EVERYTHING! Chaz questions the Torah, law, politics, standards, communities and even G-d itself in this confrontational and edgy show.
About Chaz:
Chaz Volk grew up in Thousand Oaks, California where he began Torah studies until he was Bar Mitzva'ed at Temple Etz Chaim. From a young age, he was very aware of his uniqueness and how he was the token-Jew outside of Jewish settings. In middle school, Chaz experienced his first taste of antisemitism which brought him closer to his identity, despite his adversaries' wishes. Later, he'd attend San Francisco State University, where he'd get deeply involved at SF Hillel as a volunteer and intern. SFSU's social climate and its perspective on Jews and Zionism became clear from an early point. He'd later become the lead plaintiff in a lawsuit known today as Volk v. CSU Board of Trustees. In this class action case, Chaz Volk and his representation won. Since then, Chaz has proudly immersed himself in his identity and partaken in communities across southern California. Most recently, Chaz's emotional awakening occurred on an organized trip to Israel. There he adopted new practices that he instilled in his lifestyle to this day. Today, he's a volunteer and frequent of Aish HaTorah's programming and plans to use this show to promote their programs, events, and resources along with valuable Jewish teachings.
Want to engage with our online WhatsApp community?
Email: BadJewPod@gmail.com
Brand partnership: BadJewPod@gmail.com
IG: @badjewpod
TikTok: @badjewpod
