Rz Weekly

Do we expect the impossible from our community Rabbis? We at RZWeekly were recently sent a job description that was posted by a community for a new rabbi, and as we read what they were looking for, we asked ourselves the simple question: ‘Is it possible that one person can do all these things? And even if it is, is it reasonable for a community to expect so much from their Rabbi?’. In the latest episode of RZWeekly we explore this question, while also making reference to the expectations placed on those who teach in Yeshivot and Midrashot. In addition to all this, we share some great ideas for our upcoming 100th episode and would love to hear your feedback.

In the latest edition of RZWeekly we begin with our mailbag, we introduce a new segment titled ‘The Soapbox’, - Reuven gets on the box this week - and then we discuss the complexities, challenges and opportunities of fruit and vegetable consumption during this Shemitta year as well as some of the pro’s and con’s of Otzar Beit Din and Heter Mechira.

An article in Motzash Magazine of Mekor Rishon (https://www.makorrishon.co.il/culture/402759/) describes a disturbing lack of psychological professionals in the Yeshivat Hesder framework, and the damage this can and does have on young men badly in need of help. In this episode, Reuven interviews Mali (Johnny is on leave) regarding this situation, a area she has extensive experience with in her work as a professional social worker. We discuss the severity of the problem, possible causes, and Mali suggests a path to improving this problematic situation.

“How do you feel about the fact that Prime Minister Naftali Bennet observes Shabbat and Kashrut and wears a kippah?” This was the question that we discussed in the most recent edition of RZWeekly, which led us to have a heated debate about: Whether the current Prime Minister is a representative of religious Jews, or happens to be religious? What we do, and should expect of a Prime Minister that identifies as religious? And whether it is ever truly possible to be a truly religious politician? Listen to our thoughts, and let us know yours too!

In the lastest episode of RZWeekly - and the last for 5781 - we ask: How does one get into the mode of teshuva? How should you apologise and how should you feel when doing so? What is the status of a generic apology? And many other fascinating teshuva conundrums. Wishing you all a Shana Tova U’Metuka!

In the latest episode if RZWeekly we discuss selichot. Do they still speak to us? What lessons can we learn from selichot? What are your favourite selichot tunes? And how are developments in Midrashot and Yeshivot in Israel shaping the modern selichot experience?

How has the traditional daily and Shabbat synagogue service become overstretched? And are there halachic solutions to shorten the synagogue service while increasing the personal experience of prayer? These and many other questions were the subject of our discussion in the latest edition of RZWeekly with our guest Rabbi Yehoshua Grunstein whose recently published ‘Musings of a Minyaner’ attempts to offer practical and halachically valid suggestions for improving and enhancing the synagogue service.

In response to a recent Israeli TV series titled ‘She’elah Teshuvah’ where two people, one who was ‘Chozer/et B’Teshuvah’ (i.e. adopted a religious lifestyle having lived a more secular life), and one who was ‘Chozer/et B’She’elah’ (i.e. adopted a more secular lifestyle having lived a more religious life) discuss their personal journeys and motivations which led them to significant personal change, we at RZWeekly decided to explore the themes arising in this fascinating series and especially the question of what prompts people to make religious changes. You can find many of the episodes here: https://www.youtube.com/hashtag/%D7%A9%D7%90%D7%9C%D7%94_%D7%AA%D7%A9%D7%95%D7%91%D7%94

While it is important to teach our children and students the value of self-care, it is also important to encourage them to strive and to coach them towards excellence. The question we discuss in the latest edition of RZWeekly is what is the right balance between these two, and how do we encourage striving in a healthy way.

In this week's podcast, we reflect on the music of Israeli singer and songwriter Hanan Ben Ari. We talk about what makes him unique, and discuss how his music both reflects and shapes Israeli society. We each pick a song (or three), and explain why its themes speak to us and serve as examples of Hanan Ben Ari’s perspective and talent.

In the latest edition of RZWeekly, Reuven, Mali and Johnny each discuss a book that they are currently reading which leads us to discuss impactful teaching, making discriminating choices, and the value of children reading fantasy novels. We reintroduce our ‘Hebrew word of the week’. And we wrap up by offering our ‘Hamlatzot’.

One of the questions submitted to us as part of our recently conducted RZWeekly survey (you can still give us feedback here - https://forms.gle/cXPC3ku8TyPvFzJ66) concerned making aliyah with older children – which is particularly relevant since many families are soon going to be arriving in Israel to start a new and exciting chapter in their lives. Given this, our latest edition of RZWeekly spoke about the opportunities and challenges of families making Aliyah with older children, and what their parents need to know to understand their needs.

In the latest edition of RZWeekly we discuss Jewish peoplehood, and raise the important but delicate question of how to relate to those who identify with neither their Jewish fate or their Jewish faith.

Two weeks ago we had the chance to meet Rabbanit Shira Mirvis where she spoke about inclusion, access and opportunities for women in her synagogue. In this edition of RZWeekly we took a moment to revisit this topic while considering the challenges many women continue to face in Orthodox synagogues and what needs to be done to make sure that both female and male members of a Kehillah feel welcome.

After a pandemic that has lasted 18 months, and an intense couple of weeks of war, how should parents support their kids and teenagers? How should we support them in terms of their schooling? To what extent has a lack of socialization impacted our youth? If rules in the home have needed to change over the past 18 months (eg. screen time), should we try and restore these rules? How should parents foster spirituality during times of challenge? And what life skills have we, and our kids, learnt over this period?

One month ago, Rabbanit Shira Marili Mirvis made headlines as the first woman to be appointed as the sole spiritual leader of an Orthodox community in Israel. Since then, Rabbanit Shira has been interviewed by various journalists and podcasters, but almost all her interviews have been in Hebrew. In the latest edition of RZWeekly, we had a chance to meet and talk to Rabbanit Shira where she speaks openly about her values, her family, the Shirat Hatamar community in Efrat which she leads, what is and isn’t done in her community, and her vision for the future.

As Israelis continue to suffer from the vicious Hamas rocket attacks, the latest episode of RZWeekly is dedicated to exploring our coping mechanisms. Specifically, what is our happy and calm place during these tense and difficult times? And what brings us joy even as we are aggravated and agitated? Beyond this, how should we respond to the torrent of toxic negativity directed towards Israel on social media? And how should we respond to Jewish organisations in the US who seem to overlook the plight of their Israeli brothers and sisters?

Throughout Yom Yerushalayim, and the events that led to the haslama (escalation) of violence in Israel including the hundreds of rocket attacks targeting innocent civilians in Israel, the RZWeekly team noticed that when some Diaspora Jews took to social media (before the rockets started flying) to acknowledge these events, many of them were seemingly morally neutral. Alternatively, where the authors of such posts spoke of morality, it was generally in criticism rather than in defense of Israel. While we recognize that Israel is by no means perfect, we were troubled by the implication that there is anything complex about a democratic country celebrating its capital city or wishing to defend its citizens from a torrent of attacks. Given this, our latest edition of RZWeekly attempts to explore why this is the case, and why so many leading Diaspora Jews seem profoundly reluctant to express unconditional outrage at unprovoked acts of violence against Israeli citizens, or acknowledge the legitimacy of Israeli natio

The latest edition of RZWeekly begins with Reuven, Johnny and Mali sharing their thoughts in response to the Meron tragedy. We then segue to discuss the 100 year anniversary of the establishment of the Chief Rabbinate of Israel. Specifically, we consider the benefits of having a centralized rabbinate ‘with teeth’, what the Chief Rabbinate has achieved over the past 100 years, and who seems to be missing from the Chief Rabbinate today.

Our latest edition of RZWeekly explores the insights and agenda of the new Israeli TV mini-series called ‘Hayehudi HaChadash’ (literally, ‘The New Jew’) where the Israeli comedian Guri Alfi meets with a variety of American Jews and reflects on what it means to be Jewish in America in the 21st century.