In this episode, Rabbi Wolkenfeld welcomes back to the podcast Rabbi Zachary Truboff—the Director of Rabbinic Education for the International Beit Din—who shares his insights into how Jewish divorce works today. On the occasion of Rabbi Wolkenfeld’s last Straw Hat podcast and the end of his time at ASBI, they also discuss the challenges and joys of being a congregational rabbi. Music credit: “Three” from the album Proverbs, by Les Hayden, used under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 License. 

This week, Rabbi Wolkenfeld is joined by ASBI Member Joel Braunold, the managing director of the S. Daniel Abraham Center for Middle East Peace, who shares his perspective of the ongoing turmoil and protests happening in Israel. Music credit: “Three” from the album Proverbs, by Les Hayden, used under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 License. 

This week, Rabbi Wolkenfeld is joined by Rabbi Zachary Truboff, to discuss his recently published book, “Torah Goes Forth From Zion: Essays on the Thought of Rav Kook and Rav Shagar”. Learn about the book here. Music credit: “Three” from the album Proverbs, by Les Hayden, used under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 License.

This week, Rabbi Wolkenfeld is joined by Dr. Rachel Weinerman, a reproductive endocrinology and infertility physician in Cleveland, Ohio. She explains her work, including the ways that helping her patients grow their families is predicated on reproductive freedom and how her practice can be affected by public policy and the law. Music credit: “Three” from the album Proverbs, by Les Hayden, used under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 License. 

This week marks Rabbanit Goldie’s final episode of The Straw Hat as ASBI’s Director of Religious Engagement! She and Rabbi Wolkenfeld reflect on her time at ASBI – the unexpected joys and challenges, what she’s learned, and also what’s on the horizon for her.   Music credit: “Three” from the album Proverbs, by Les Hayden, used under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 License. 

This week we look forward to a wonderful opportunity to have Dr. Erica Brown visit ASBI! It will also be Rabbanit Goldie’s last drasha at ASBI and she and Rabbi Wolkenfeld discuss the pros and cons of sharing Torah in a drasha versus a shiur. They also dive into some of the issues that will affect our community post-Roe v. Wade with the potential for a radically changed legal regime, including assistive reproductive technologies, IUDs, and ectopic pregnancies. Finally, they share all of the reasons you should mark your calendars and spend Shavuot in Lakeview.Music credit: “Three” from the album Proverbs, by Les Hayden, used under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 License. 

This week, Rabbi Wolkenfeld and Rabbanit Goldie reflect on Passover and Rabbanit Goldie shares her experience attending a Mimouna. They detail all the reasons to join us at our Annual Soiree on May 23rd and also explore the history and consequences of the recent dynamic of the parashas read in Israel and the Diaspora becoming out of sync. Rabbi Wolkenfeld shares some of the recent learning in Daf Yomi – the Talmud’s treatment of the conversion to Judaism and the ways it differs from modern conversion (click here to see the source).Music credit: “Three” from the album Proverbs, by Les Hayden, used under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 License. 

This week, Rabbi Wolkenfeld and Rabbanit Goldie explain why everyone should join our second night Community Seder at shul and also share some of their own family seder traditions. They also offer some ways to approach the issues of the seder’s late start time – what to do if you are invited to a seder with an early start time and accommodating kids at the seder. Rabbi Wolkenfeld shares some of the compelling metaphors for faithfulness to halakhah being studied in his Shabbat afternoon shiur, and we reflect on the joyous Purim we just celebrated and the reasons to make coming to shul a part of your weekly routine.Music credit: “Three” from the album Proverbs, by Les Hayden, used under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 License. 

This week, in addition to the excitement of Purim, it’s also a time of anxiety and sadness as we listen to the news out of Ukraine. Rabbi Wolkenfeld and Rabbanit Goldie talk about the situation there and the work that people are doing to help—and also debate the appropriateness of rabbinic delegations to help with refugee resettlement. As is very timely and relevant to these current events, they share some of the insights from Rabbanit Goldie’s Shabbat Zachor shiur, exploring militarism as one facet of our understanding of Amalek. They also talk about Matanot leEvuneem—should your donations on Purim go to those in need in Ukraine or to your neighbors?   Music credit: “Three” from the album Proverbs, by Les Hayden, used under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 License. 

This week, we wish a hearty Mazal Tov to Rabbanit Goldie on her engagement and also share the bittersweet news that she will be leaving ASBI this summer. In light of a greater ability to gather together once again, Rabbi Wolkenfeld and Rabbanit Goldie look to some of what’s new at ASBI: Women’s Kabbalat Shabbat; professional development for our madrichim; our Purim Extravaganza, and our Advanced Halakhah Reading Group. Music credit: “Three” from the album Proverbs, by Les Hayden, used under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 License. 

This week, Rabbi Wolkenfeld and Rabbanit Goldie reflect on Pastor Donovan Price’s visit to ASBI last Shabbat and the power of this show of solidarity as well how we, as an urban orthodox congregation, have a duty to support our neighbors. They also delve deeper into many of the learning that has been happening at the shul and what’s ahead on our calendar: the halacha of a Bar Mitzvah boy with dyslexia who can’t read from the Torah but who can leyn from memory; Rabbanit Goldie’s series on the teachings of Rabbi Nachman and his practice of finding a quiet space to speak to God; from Daf Yomi, the mitzvah of kriah and the ways that Jewish tradition provides a path for mourning in a psychologically astute way; and the upcoming observance of Purim Katan. Music credit: “Three” from the album Proverbs, by Les Hayden, used under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 License. 

This week, Rabbi Wolkenfeld and Rabbanit Goldie talk about our Mishnah Club program and share some of the Torah they have been learning—plus interview Mishnah Club participant and ASBI Member Shira Berkowitz! They also talk about Parshat Mishpatim, give an introduction to our Scholar-in-Residence this Shabbat, Rabbi Dr. Shlomo Zuckier, and mourn the loss of Rabbi Simcha Krauss, reflecting on his impact on American Modern Orthodoxy. Music credit: “Three” from the album Proverbs, by Les Hayden, used under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 License. 

Looking to this week’s Torah portion and Haftorah, Rabbi Wolkenfeld and Rabbanit Goldie talk about Devorah both as a person and as an example in halakhic literature. Rabbanit Goldie also gives a preview of her upcoming shiurim on forgiveness in the Talmud and the reason these classes are particularly timely in our socially distant age. They also share some wisdom from recent learning at shul on when the restrictions of shabbat come into conflict with pikuach nefesh and the reasons to join in the next Daf Yomi tractate. Music credit: “Three” from the album Proverbs, by Les Hayden, used under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 License. 

In this episode, Rabbi Wolkenfeld and Rabbanit Goldie talk about some of the practical halachot covered in Masechet Megillah, which just began in Daf Yomi (and in particular, how it can be applied to our shul). Rabbi Wolkenfeld also gives a preview of his upcoming “Judaism & Peacemaking” shiur and Rabbanit Goldie gives some thoughts on Parshat Vayechi and the practice of creating ethical wills.Music credit: “Three” from the album Proverbs, by Les Hayden, used under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 License. 

This week, Rabbi Wolkenfeld and Rabbanit Goldie reflect on Masechet Rosh Hashanah, which was recently completed in Daf Yomi, and the many relevant topics it covers, including the laws and practices of tefillah. They also celebrate the return of inviting kids up onto the bima Shabbat morning and the joys of this bit of return to normalcy. Lastly, Rabbanit Goldie shares an interpretation of this week’s parsha, Parshat Vayishlach.   Music credit: “Three” from the album Proverbs, by Les Hayden, used under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 License. 

The clocks are about to change and Rabbi Wolkenfeld and Rabbanit Goldie explore some of the opportunities to engage in mitzvot in ways that are uniquely available during this time of year. In particular, they present some ways to engage kids Jewishly and orient them to shul life beyond Shabbat morning. They also give an overview and a bit of a taste of what will be explored in our upcoming Middle School Mishnah Club and our ASBI Global Day of Jewish Learning, which will launch Rabbanit Goldie’s new Talmud Shiur.Music credit: “Three” from the album Proverbs, by Les Hayden, used under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 License. 

This week, Rabbi Wolkenfeld and Rabbanit Goldie discuss some of the themes and interpretations of Parshat Vayera. They also talk about an idea that has come up in Daf Yomi of adding some of the holy to the mundane. Finally, they share some of the pedagogy they explored in this week’s Parent-Child learning session about rooting ourselves in the text. Music credit: “Three” from the album Proverbs, by Les Hayden, used under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 License. 

In this episode, Rabbi Wolkenfeld and Rabbanit Goldie discuss the unique perspective of Sefer Devarim, which begins this week. Rabbi Wolkenfeld also shares some of the insights from his Shabbat afternoon shiur on Gesher Hachaim by Rabbi Tucazinsky, and Rabbanit Goldie relates her experience doing chaplaincy work in a hospital and how that has affected her. Music credit: “Three” from the album Proverbs, by Les Hayden, used under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 License. 

This week, Rabbi Wolkenfeld and Rabbanit Goldie discuss the Three Weeks and explore how the messages of unity and coming together during this time can be at odds with the way we’ve been living during the pandemic. They discuss how a generosity of spirit can help get us back into the habit of communal life and help us work through the pain and baggage we all bring with us. Rabbanit Goldie also shares some of her recent research as part of the Jewish Women Scholars’ Writing Fellowship and its relevance to our own ASBI Community Standards.Music credit: “Three” from the album Proverbs, by Les Hayden, used under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 License. 

This week, Rabbi Wolkenfeld and Rabbanit Goldie discuss Parshat Korach and explore the question of if every Jew is inherently holy or if holiness is the product of Mitzvot. They also discuss the art of drasha writing and share an update on some of the exciting ways that things are re-opening at the shul. Music credit: “Three” from the album Proverbs, by Les Hayden, used under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 License.