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
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IG: @badjewpod
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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
What Is The Psychology of Judaism? with Rabbi Daniel Sher
Bad Jew
33 minutes
9 months ago
What Is The Psychology of Judaism? with Rabbi Daniel Sher
Your brain is the most precious and unique part of your body. It is more than just a memory drive or a ball of grey matter. It essentially contains the essence of your soul. When scientists fully understood this truth, Jews had already figured this out thousands of years earlier. If you look at the laws and life guiding principles around Jewish communities, you'll see that it's geared to be a system of timeless mental health choices that can help make life better.
Rabbi Daniel Sher comes from a unique background that bridges the gap between psychology and Judaism. Many of his teachings in his shull are designed to offer sustainable mental health solutions that are Torah-approved and kosher habits. Chaz Volk, host of Bad Jew, eagerly takes on this unique subject matter to understand how the elevated literature that is Torah elevates us!
00:00 Introduction
03:54 Family, faith, kidney transplant
07:16 Torah as lifelong, psychologically relevant learning
10:22 Is Torah relevant, or are we?
13:35 Fortune teller stereotype
18:50 Joy coexists with brokenness
22:38 Human wholeness
24:53 Psychology, community, creativity, learning, sharing
29:17 Blending faith and wonder.
30:27 Find community
About Rabbi Daniel Sher:
Rabbi Daniel Sher is the newest member of our clergy team. He first joined us at KI as an intern, continued as Youth and Family Rabbinic Fellow, and now serves as our Associate Rabbi. He works to create vibrant and meaningful Jewish moments like his PJ Library Havdalah in the Park, Multigenerational Alternative High Holy Day Service, and soulful “Shabbat on the Rocks” Kabbalat Service for our Kehillat 20/30 community. He is a proud 18Doors Rukin Rabbinic Fellow, serving as a resource for interfaith families across all of Los Angeles. His enthusiasm for our tradition is matched only by his ability to translate it for our time.
Rabbi Sher grew up in Palos Verdes and now lives here in the Pacific Palisades with his wife Jen, their children Levi and Sami, and their two dogs Herzl and Golda. He graduated from the University of Arizona with a bachelors of Science in Psychology and a bachelors of arts in Religious Studies and was ordained from Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion here in Los Angeles.
Rabbi Sher loves taste-testing tacos, taking early morning bike rides, and getting coffee around town.
Connect with Rabbi Daniel Sher:
IG @rabbidanielsher
Ig @kehillatisrael
TikTok @rabbidanielsher
www.ourki.org
SPECIAL THANKS TO THE SPONSOR OF THIS EPISODE:
JEWISH BIG BROTHERS AND BIG SISTERS OF LOS ANGELES!
Become a big today! JBBBSLA.org/mentorship
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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
