Listening to Understand

Binyamin Airley, OB"M, was an IDF soldier who devoted his life to protect Israel and the citizen of Israel.

You can join his parent's efforts in continuing his legacy by helping to support a healing home for those suffered trauma and loss and for those who need healing after October 7th by clicking here: https://causematch.com/BeitBinyamin

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Itunes: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/listening-to-understand/id1729038630

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Shabbos Kestenbaum is a graduate student at Harvard University, researching the intersections between between public policy and contemporary Jewish life in the United States. Shabbos is the lead plaintiff against Harvard University alleging pervasive and systemic antisemitism. Shabbos appears regularly on CNN, Fox News, and The New York Times, and has testified in front of the United States Congress, among other forums, to advocate for the American Jewish community. 

Currently, Shabbos is working with Congress to pass major pieces of legislation to combat antisemitism and discusses some of the battles being fought on behalf of Jewish students attending Harvard University.

Connect with Shabbos:

Instagram: @ShabbosKest

Twitter: @ShabbosK

Facebook: Shabbos Kestenbaum

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Click the link below to join the Listening to Understand WhatsApp community, where we share exclusive information about episodes and topics discussed on the show. Join the conversation that ONLY happens here⬇️

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Listen to us:

Spotify:https://open.spotify.com/episode/5Ux5OupXGRTNLgJVttpcF1?si=lIL8nhOFTsuxiGP-QGy_TA

Itunes: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/listening-to-understand/id1729038630

Comments or Suggestions?

We’d love to hear from you:

[email protected]

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Get your custom printed & promotional logo Tees, hoodies, hats, swag, and other gear, great for Bar & Bat Mitzvas, business& corporate, family gatherings & events, all printed with your logo or message.

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Maxifyz.com

Maxifyz.com provides doctor formulated, lab certified, USA grown high quality CBD oils, tinctures and 100% legal Hemp products to reduce anxiety and stress, provide muscle relaxation and help to get a better night’s sleep.

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Arky Staiman is a solider in the IDF, tour guide in Israel, husband, father and an independent social media voice of optimism from the battlefield. His talent lay in the healing power of storytelling and connection with the land of Israel and discusses his role in the army, where he works in a specially trained unit, to retrieve soldiers fallen behind enemy lines.

His message is clear and powerful and he has personally and independently undertaken to promote empathy, spiritual growth, understanding and permission to celebrate what is working during challenging times while holding space through personal narratives and what he believes our mission as jews should be. 

Arky shares personal events that transpired on October 7th that impacted him and what is next for him and his family.

Connect with Arky:

Email: [email protected]

Website: https://israelwitharky.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/israelwitharky/

Join us on Whatsapp:

Click the link below to join the Listening to Understand WhatsApp community, where we share exclusive information about episodes and topics discussed on the show. Join the conversation that ONLY happens here⬇️

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Listen to us:

Spotify:https://open.spotify.com/episode/5Ux5OupXGRTNLgJVttpcF1?si=lIL8nhOFTsuxiGP-QGy_TA

Itunes: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/listening-to-understand/id1729038630

Comments or Suggestions?

We’d love to hear from you:

[email protected]

Sponsored by:

SwagMyGear.com

Get your custom printed & promotional logo Tees, hoodies, hats, swag, and other gear, great for Bar & Bat Mitzvas, business& corporate, family gatherings & events, all printed with your logo or message.

Get $55.00 off your order today with coupon code MATANA

Maxifyz.com

Maxifyz.com provides doctor formulated, lab certified, USA grown high quality CBD oils, tinctures and 100% legal Hemp products to reduce anxiety and stress, provide muscle relaxation and help to get a better night’s sleep.

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Avigail Staiman is a warrior, whose journey is intricately woven with the unwavering support and love of her husband, Arky. Arky's impactful video gained viral attention during the intense conflict in Gaza and garnered support and concern from individuals spanning decades of connections, including long-lost friends and acquaintances. This unexpected surge of outreach served as a testament to the power of Arky's message and the resonance it had with people from all walks of life. The video not only showcased Arky's courage and resilience but it clearly resonated with people from all walks of life. Despite the past and future challenges for them both, Avigail shares their combined resilience and unity and shares her message of hope and perseverance to others facing challenges.

Connect with Avigail:

Email: [email protected]

Join us on Whatsapp:

Click the link below to join the Listening to Understand WhatsApp community, where we share exclusive information about episodes and topics discussed on the show. Join the conversation that ONLY happens here⬇️

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Listen to us:

Spotify:https://open.spotify.com/episode/5Ux5OupXGRTNLgJVttpcF1?si=lIL8nhOFTsuxiGP-QGy_TA

Itunes: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/listening-to-understand/id1729038630

Comments or Suggestions?

We’d love to hear from you:

[email protected]

Sponsored by:

SwagMyGear.com

Get your custom printed & promotional logo Tees, hoodies, hats, swag, and other gear, great for Bar & Bat Mitzvas, business& corporate, family gatherings & events, all printed with your logo or message.

Get $55.00 off your order today with coupon code MATANA

Maxifyz.com

Maxifyz.com provides doctor formulated, lab certified, USA grown high quality CBD oils, tinctures and 100% legal Hemp products to reduce anxiety and stress, provide muscle relaxation and help to get a better night’s sleep.

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JJ Kimche, a PhD candidate at Harvard University, has been involved in studying and teaching Jewish ideas and has taught Western and Jewish ideas at Harvard, Brandeis, MIT, Gratz College and other institutions.

His writings and articles have been published in the Wall Street Journal, First Things, and City Journal and other publications and is the editor of his first academic book, Letters on Kabbalah, due to soon be published. He is the host of, and may be found conversing with other scholars, on, the Podcast of Jewish Ideas.

JJ delves into the sensitive topic of Charedim joining or being exempt from Tzahal Military service and explores the perspective from the Charedi viewpoint and sheds light on untold stories of Charedi soldiers. The tensions between tradition and modernity are real, gritty and complex and the personal and communal implications of military involvement more so. The nuances and consequences of this topic affect identity, duty, and the evolving landscape of Charedi life and offer us a rare glimpse into a deeply personal, heated and heavily debated aspect of Israeli society.

Connect with JJ:

Email: [email protected]

Join us on Whatsapp:

Click the link below to join the Listening to Understand WhatsApp community, where we share exclusive information about episodes and topics discussed on the show. Join the conversation that ONLY happens here⬇️

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Listen to us:

Spotify:https://open.spotify.com/episode/5Ux5OupXGRTNLgJVttpcF1?si=lIL8nhOFTsuxiGP-QGy_TA

Itunes: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/listening-to-understand/id1729038630

Comments or Suggestions?

We’d love to hear from you:

[email protected]

Sponsored by:

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Get your custom printed & promotional logo Tees, hoodies, hats, swag, and other gear, great for Bar & Bat Mitzvas, business& corporate, family gatherings & events, all printed with your logo or message.

Get $55.00 off your order today with coupon code MATANA

Maxifyz.com

Maxifyz.com provides doctor formulated, lab certified, USA grown high quality CBD oils, tinctures and 100% legal Hemp products to reduce anxiety and stress, provide muscle relaxation and help to get a better night’s sleep.

Get 10% off your order plus free shipping with coupon code HOPE

Kayla Haber-Goldstein addresses the issue of Agunot, women trapped in marriages due to their husbands' refusal to grant a Get (Jewish divorce). Kayla organized an Asifa, a gathering of Rabbonim, to educate them on the complexities of get refusal and encourage them to take action within their communities. She is pioneering a movement to emphasize the critical importance of this issue with Rabbis to understand the severity of the issue, steps that can be taken and providing guidance to couples navigating divorce to prevent escalation and potential get refusal.

Kayla underscores the need for compassion and understanding towards Rabbis and acknowledged the challenging nature of their roles and the pressures they face in serving their communities. By raising awareness and educating Rabbis, progress can be made towards resolving the Agunah crisis

Kayla and her husband Rabbi Shmuel Goldstein, currently serve as the Associate Rabbi and Rebbetzin in Congregation Beth Tefillah in Paramus NJ. Together with their two children they run an open home at which anyone who needs a Shabbat, a dinner or a listening ear is welcome. Besides for speaking engagements and events that Questioning The Answers put on, Kayla has recently become involved in the Agunah crisis.

Connect with Kayla:

Website: https://kaylahaber.wixsite.com/questioningtheanswer

Instagram @questioningtheanswers

email: [email protected]

Join us on Whatsapp:

Click the link below to join the Listening to Understand WhatsApp community, where we share exclusive information about episodes and topics discussed on the show. Join the conversation that ONLY happens here⬇️

https://chat.whatsapp.com/G9t7fDac0wrB4FZsKtyYk4

Listen to us:

Spotify:https://open.spotify.com/episode/5Ux5OupXGRTNLgJVttpcF1?si=lIL8nhOFTsuxiGP-QGy_TA

Itunes: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/listening-to-understand/id1729038630

Comments or Suggestions?

We’d love to hear from you:

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Sponsored by:

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Get your custom printed & promotional logo Tees, hoodies, hats, swag, and other gear, great for Bar & Bat Mitzvas, business& corporate, family gatherings & events, all printed with your logo or message.

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Is public alcohol abuse out of control at Kiddushim and Shul? Should communities and Rabbonim set alcohol boundaries in shul at Kiddushim? Should we accept poor behavior? Are we role modeling good behavior for our children? Do we understand the difference between using alcohol responsibly and irresponsibly in Judaism? 

Menachem Poznanski is a licensed clinical social worker specializing in addictions treatment and recovery support. Menachem is Director of The Living Room, a clubhouse program for Jewish young adults in recovery from addiction, and Editor-in-chief of The Light Revealed, a content publisher serving the Jewish recovery community. Menachem is the author of three books and hosts the podcast "Consciously" 

Menachem weighs in on the need for individuals to critically examine their beliefs and behaviors. Excessive alcohol consumption is something that we need to take accountability for and we need to recognize personal limits and ownership of our actions and not let alcohol be an excuse for irresponsible behavior. Introducing our children to responsible alcohol consumption, in moderation, can be a good step to changing the accepted norms.

Connect with Menachem:

Website: TLRfamily.org Thelightrevealed.org

Email: [email protected]

Instagram: @menachempuz @thelightrevealed

Menachem’s Books:

https://mosaicapress.com/product/acceptance/

https://mosaicapress.com/product/consciously/

https://mosaicapress.com/product/stepping-out-of-the-abyss/

Mentioned on the Podcast:

Amudim Kiddush Video 

Join us on Whatsapp:

Click the link below to join the Listening to Understand WhatsApp community, where we share exclusive information about episodes and topics discussed on the show. Join the conversation that ONLY happens here⬇️

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Listen to us:

Spotify:https://open.spotify.com/episode/5Ux5OupXGRTNLgJVttpcF1?si=lIL8nhOFTsuxiGP-QGy_TA

Itunes: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/listening-to-understand/id1729038630

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Listen to Understand: The Ripple Effect of Secrecy on Identity and Relationships

Mordechai Salzberg, LCSW, is a sexual addiction therapist who works primarily with Chasidic Jews. After his first episode on the Hope to Recharge podcast last January 2022 titled “The Fatal Price of Sexual Shame and Secrecy,” he joins us this time, armed with the courage to tell his own story.

The goal of this episode is not to attack any particular community, but rather, to bring healthy and meaningful awareness for those affected by these topics, as well as to make them informed that there is hope and healing possible with awareness, conversation, and therapy.

Growing up within a traditional Orthodox community, Motti was exposed early on to the secrecy and shame surrounding sexuality and intimacy, along with the stringent path in life expected of him, a stereotypical Bechor (firstborn son). Since then, it has taken decades of soul searching for him to accept his sexuality, acknowledge and take responsibility for his actions, and finally, to share who he is with the world.

In this episode, he recounts his journey as a gay man, including the trauma from years of secrecy and denial, the unhealthy and risky ways he has coped, dissociative tendencies, and eventual breakdown of relationships. He emphasizes the painful effects of communities putting a premium on shame and secrecy not only on an individual, but also on the children and families involved and hopes more people may then see that there is growth and healing to be found by simply listening to understand.

Connect with Motti:

Website: Mordechai Salzberg, LCSW

Email: [email protected]

LinkedIn: Motti Salzberg

Mentioned in this podcast:

Motti’s episode on Hope to Recharge: https://hopetorecharge.com/episode/the-fatal-price-of-sexual-shame-and-secrecy-mordechai-salzberg/

Recommended Read: Judaism and Homosexuality: An Authentic Orthodox View, Rabbi Chaim Rappaport: https://www.amazon.com/Judaism-Homosexuality-Authentic-Orthodox-View/dp/0853034524

For sources in Halacha and Tanach that discuss Toayvah, please reach out to us via email: [email protected]

Listen to us:

Spotify:https://open.spotify.com/episode/5Ux5OupXGRTNLgJVttpcF1?si=lIL8nhOFTsuxiGP-QGy_TA

Itunes: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/listening-to-understand/id1729038630

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Click the link...

Rabbi Johnny Solomon, a virtual rabbi based in Israel, delves into the depths of the concept of Emuna (faith) and addresses common misconceptions of Emuna, particularly during challenging times.

Sharing insights from his personal journey, he emphasized the crucial role of individualized religious guidance. Topics include challenging the commandments, how a combination of humility and unwavering faith can serve as a compass, even when complete understanding remains elusive and the potential harm arising from overly simplistic or misguided interpretations of sacred principles.

The fluidity of Jewish Law and encouraging a nuanced understanding of Emuna, allows for a balanced approach.

Not everything may be fully comprehended, aligns with the essence of Emuna, which involves a journey of continuous exploration and growth.

Mentioned in this podcast:

Harav Aharon Lichtenstein's beautiful essay on "Bitachon"

Connect with Rabbi Johnny Solomon:

Website: https://rabbijohnnysolomon.com/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/johnnysolomon

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/virtualrabbi/

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCVgVx-DfUa_0eT0ntNqESvA/videos

Listen to us:

Spotify:https://open.spotify.com/episode/5Ux5OupXGRTNLgJVttpcF1?si=lIL8nhOFTsuxiGP-QGy_TA

Itunes: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/listening-to-understand/id1729038630

Comments or Suggestions? 

We’d love to hear from you:

[email protected]

Addressing the sensitive and multifaceted topic of Tzniut/Tznius (modesty) within the Orthodox Jewish community, Matana sits down with Bracha Poliakoff, Co author of the "Reclaiming dignity" - a guide for Tzniut/Tznius for men and women. 

Bracha highlights personal experiences, communal norms, and Halakhic interpretations and the challenges that arise from the complexity of the subject, differing opinions, and the need to address a potentially polarizing topic. 

She relies on Halakhic sources, and presents a broad spectrum of voices and provides a nuanced and thoughtful exploration of Tznius, encouraging understanding and unity within the diverse Jewish community

When we listen to truly understand - and not to respond - we can replace judgment with curiosity and open our hearts to every Jew, regardless of their personal choices.

Connect with Bracha:

Website:

https://www.reclaimingdignity.com

Amazon Book:

https://www.amazon.com/Reclaiming-Dignity-guide-Tzniut-Women/dp/1957579463

Instagram: 

@reclaimingdignity

https://www.instagram.com/reclaimingdignity/ 

Listen to us:

On Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/episode/5Ux5OupXGRTNLgJVttpcF1?si=lIL8nhOFTsuxiGP-QGy_TA

On Itunes:

https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/listening-to-understand/id1729038630

Comments or Suggestions? 

We’d love to hear from you:

[email protected]

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