Rz Weekly

In the latest edition of RZWeekly we reflect on the religious, intellectual and cultural legacy of Harav Aharon Lichtenstein whose 6th yartzeit was recently commemorated. We discuss the ways in which Rav Lichtenstien impacted Israeli society.

We're back in time for Yom Ha'atzmaut! In this week's episode we explore the teaching and preaching of Religious Zionism and Aliyah in schools, shuls, Yeshivot and Seminaries. Is Aliyah preached in Yeshivot and Seminaries in Israel? Shoud it be? How is Religious Zionism taught in schools around the world?

In the latest edition of RZ Weekly R’ Reuven Spolter and R’ Johnny Solomon – unfortunately without Rabbanit Mali Brofsky – discuss the melting pot that is the Modern State of Israel. How did different communities with different customs find a way to live together in the early years of the State? Should varying customs be rejected for a universal Israeli custom? And how does this relate to the observance of Pesach in Israel especially in relation to kitniyot

In the latest episode of RZWeekly, we were joined by Rabbi David Brofsky – a teacher, author, Dayan and rabbinic liason for Giyur K’Halacha, and husband to Rabbanit Mali – to discuss the status of conversion in the Modern State of Israel, and the repercussions of the recent Supreme Court ruling acknowledging the Jewish status of Reform and Conservative conversations performed in Israel for the purpose of the law of return. This week's episode is brought to you by The Mishnah Project, which promotes the study of daily Mishnah via YouTube (www.mishnah.co), and by Rabbi Johnny Solomon's Virtual Learning Community. Find out more at http://www.rabbijohnnysolomon.com/join-the-vlc/

In response to the series of interviews with the amazing 81-year-old Effie Hertzke whose spirited responses on Israeli media have spread joy and garnered appreciation, we consider the experience of the oleh/olah in Israel, and the different ways in which olim struggle, and succeed, with speaking Hebrew, and the challenges of being identified and being celebrated as olim.

With Purim coming this weekend, we decided to share a vintage RZ edition during which we discussed prevailing halachic interpretations and approaches towards drinking on Purim. We considered a number of factors why there have been observable and recorded shifting attitudes with respect to drinking on Purim.

How should Orthodoxy respond to attempts to shift norms around the idea of the family? Should this be an issue we fight for in the public sphere? This week's episode is brought to you by Kitah for Schools - a new online Jewish learning tool for Middle School teachers and students. For more information see https://www.kitah.org, and by Rabbi Johnny Solomon's Virtual Learning Community. Find out more at http://www.rabbijohnnysolomon.com/join-the-vlc/

“In response to a recent article written by Rav Hershel Schachter about the relationship between our Derech Limud of Torah study and our religious practice, the latest edition of RZWeekly explores the ways in which Gemara in taughter and learned in the modern era. This week's episode is brought to you by Kitah for Schools - a new online Jewish learning tool for Middle School teachers and students. For more information see https://www.kitah.org, and by Rabbi Johnny Solomon's Virtual Learning Community. Find out more at http://www.rabbijohnnysolomon.com/join-the-vlc/

“I’m done!” – is how the latest episode of RZWeekly begins, with Rabbi Reuven Spolter expressing the hopeless feelings of many people who are struggling to see light at the end of what has been a very long and difficult Corona tunnel. In response, Rabbanit Mali Brofsky – while ‘wearing’ her clinical social work hat – explores the concept of hope and offers practical tips on how to navigate feelings such as hopelessness, and how to foster hope, while Rabbi Johnny Solomon presents three different ways in which we may wish to look upon our current situation, and suggests what we can learn from this challenging period. This week's episode is brought to you by Kitah for Schools - a new online Jewish learning tool for Middle School teachers and students. For more information see https://www.kitah.org, and by Rabbi Johnny Solomon's Virtual Learning Community. Find out more at http://www.rabbijohnnysolomon.com/join-the-vlc/

In response to the recent publication of a magazine for Jewish men that promotes the enjoyment of material pleasure as part of an Orthodox lifestyle, we discuss where the line needs to be drawn between enjoying material pleasure and being materialistic, and how to maintain a thriving Orthodox community that doesn’t lose sight of its spiritual aspirations. This week's episode is brought to you by Kitah for Schools - a new online Jewish learning tool for Middle School teachers and students. For more information see https://www.kitah.org, and by Rabbi Johnny Solomon's Virtual Learning Community. Find out more at rabbijohnnysolomon.com/join-the-vlc/

In light of the recent split between Naftali Bennett and Bezalel Smotrich, the latest edition of RZ Weekly explores the priorities of Religious Zionists is Israel. Is religion their first priority? Or Land? Or is it the economy? And does the Religious Zionist community need its own political party? This week's episode is brought to you by Kitah for Schools - a new online Jewish learning tool for Middle School teachers and students. For more information see https://www.kitah.org, and by Rabbi Johnny Solomon's Virtual Learning Community. Find out more at rabbijohnnysolomon.com/join-the-vlc/

What will shul be like in the post-COVID era? Reflecting on articles published by Rabbi Efrem Goldberg, Rabbi Judah Kerbel and Rabbi Yechiel Shaffer, we consider the role of a shul as a place of prayer, gathering, learning and spirituality, and whether things will return back to how they previously were. This week's episode is brought to you by Kitah for Schools - a new online Jewish learning tool for Middle School teachers and students. For more information see kitah.org, and by Rabbi Johnny Solomon's Virtual Learning Community. Find out more at rabbijohnnysolomon.com/join-the-vlc/

What is the relationship between the Corona pandemic and civil marriage in Israel? Why shouldn’t an Israeli be able to marry online through an online service recently launched in Utah? Does the current status quo concerning civil marriage in Israel need to be changed? How should we feel about the fact that there are many citizens of Israel who cannot legally marry? All this, and so much more, are part of our most recent discussion at RZWeekly! This week's episode is brought to you by Kitah for Home Plus - a new online Jewish learning program for Middle School children. For more information see kitah.org/homeplus, and by Rabbi Johnny Solomon's Virtual Learning Community. Find out more at rabbijohnnysolomon.com/join-the-vlc/

In the latest episode of RZWeekly, we mourn the passing of Rav Yehuda Hertz Henkin zt’l and we celebrate his major contribution to the Modern Orthodox/Religious Zionist world. We highlight the huge impact of his rulings for Orthodox women, we reflect upon his unique approach to pesika, and we discuss the need for Modern Orthodox poskim today. This week's episode is brought to you by Kitah for Home Plus - a new online Jewish learning program for Middle School children. For more information see kitah.org/homeplus, and by Rabbi Johnny Solomon's Virtual Learning Community. Find out more at rabbijohnnysolomon.com/join-the-vlc/

While we take the week off for Chanukah, we've decided to share a "classic" RZ episode in which we discuss why women’s are issues so inflamatory in Jewish communities. How do we deal with social change? And what needs to be done to create healthy Jewish communities where there is room for difference and disagreement? These are the questions addressed by R’ Reuven Spolter, Rabbanit Mali Brofsky and R’ Johnny Solomon. This week's episode is brought to you by Kitah for Home Plus - a new online Jewish learning program for Middle School children. For more information see www.kitah.org/homeplus.

Mali and Reuven discuss whether giving presents on Chanukah is really in the spirit of the holiday, and the challenges that gift-giving presents. Then we raise some classic Chanukah conundrums for you to ponder. This week's episode is brought to you by Kitah for Home Plus - a new online Jewish learning program for Middle School children. For more information see www.kitah.org/homeplus.

The most recent edition of ‘Tradition’ - for which Mali Brofsky (of RZWeekly!) was guest editor – contained a symposium on ‘Jewish Thought in the Contemporary World: Educational Challenges and Goals’ where 11 contributors shared their thoughts on the definition, meaning and purpose of Jewish Thought. In the latest edition of RZWeekly, we discuss some of those contributions, why Jewish Thought is a valuable endeavour, and how this can and should be expressed in educational settings.

Should the Israeli government establish a bill that would require it to listen to Diaspora Jewry on key issues and check with them before making decisions that impact the Jewish world? In this conversation, we discuss the proposed bill submitted to the Knesset by Blue and White MK Tehila Friedman, what this bill actually represents, and what are our thoughts about the proposition.

Some weeks ago, a documentary was featured on the ‘Kan’ Israeli TV channel exploring the significant financial donations which Christian Evangelicals in America give to Israel, as well as the work of the International Fellowship of Christians and Jews (IFCJ) which hu those donations. In our discussion we address whether such donations are halachically acceptable, and we consider how we should relate to such donations given the complex theological differences and their potential implications. Plus, a new feature: three "hamlatzot" at the end.

In this week’s podcast, we reflect on the legacy of Rabbi Jonathan Sacks z”l. Rav Johnny Solomon shares his personal memories and reflections, and we discuss what made Rabbi Sacks so outstanding and unique, as a Talmid Chacham, educator, leader, and human being.