THE LIVING JEWISHLY BLOG
EPISODE 57: The Ethics of Radicalism
Tune in for an in-depth exploration of the ethics of radicalism and fanaticism, the DNA of Kahane’s desired revolution, and the lingering echoes of his rhetoric today.
We are Not Diminished by the Other
What happens to Chanukah in an atmosphere where Christmas can be so all consuming? What do we do with these December dilemmas? Read Dr. Elliot Malamet’s latest blog to find out!
The Many Faces Of Chanukah
In this week’s episode of Living Jewishly, Dr. Elliot Malamet, Rabbi Yossi Sapirman, and Rabbi Bluth shed light on the multitude of themes that make Chanukah such a rich, beautiful period of celebration and thanksgiving.
EPISODE 56 Between Sinai and a Hard Place: Teaching Under the Shadow of Doubt
In this episode, Dr. Elliot Malamet speaks with Sara Susswein Tesler, who teaches the Five Books of Moses at an Orthodox girls seminary — while being an enthusiastic student of biblical criticism.
Chanuka and the Spinning of Fate
The dilemma of Chanuka is how to stand out proudly as a Jew in a world where, at times that might be a precarious undertaking. Our Judaism does not require a neon sign, but it also not something to obscure or keep sequestered indoors. May the light of Chnauka shine in our hearts, and then radiate outwards into the rest of our lives and our world.
Episode 54: What Would You Do?
Dr. Elliot Malamet and guests Rachel Greenblatt and Jeffrey Goldwasser investigate the ethics of our approach to winter holidays, how we can hold onto our religious identities while integrating new traditions, and where to find balance in the rise of holiday consumerism.
Giving Away our Power
One of the distinguishing features of the Hebrew Bible is that the flaws of its protagonists are exposed, on full display. Unlike attempts at stylized heroic literature such as The Iliad, Biblical characters not only make mistakes but act out imprudently and even childishly, just like well…we would, faced with similar situations, especially when they lay blame at the feet of others.
EPISODE 53 Are We Filled Up Yet?
Dr. Elliot Malamet and expert guests Susan Osher and Dr. Allan Kaplan explore the relationships between eating, religion, and emotions — and discuss the possibility of creating a relationship between food and faith that is both physically and psychically beneficial.
The Voyage In
God had said to Abraham, “Go out from your country, your place of birth and your father’s house to the land I will show you.” Why not just say “Pack up and go to place X?” In this blog, Dr. Elliot Malamet discusses how difficult it is to change your life, especially as you get older and become set in your ways and asks the question "Why not?".
Learning to Stop
In an age of increasing anxiety and stress, Shabbat is a transformative time period that reconnects us to our families, our friends, our community, and most importantly, to ourselves. From cooking to conversation, music to meditation, prayer to peace, the genuine Shabbat experience is what the world needs now.
Episode 50: Sukkot and the Future of the Earth
This week’s episode of Living Jewishly dives into our evolving relationship with the natural world, how to incorporate our holiday messages into the rest of our year, and the importance of embracing our identities as beings of nature.
EPISODE 49: Yom Kippur - Learning to Forgive
This episode is all about forgiveness — why we need it, what can stand in its way, and how we can reach it. Yom Kippur is a time of atonement in which we challenge accountable actions.
Life and the Doorknob Confession
Why do people bother with the High Holidays? Some want to, some have to, some feel compelled to, some do it for others, some pay homage to the past, some throw darts at the future. The High Holidays remind us about repentance, of reconnecting to Jewish values and Jewish unity. The lesser-known purpose of Rosh Hashanah is, on some fundamental level, about remembering that we are going to die.
Baseball, Ice Cream and Fixing a Broken World
In Elliot Malamets latest blog he discusses the “Law of Triviality,” which asserted that the amount of time spent discussing an issue within an organization ran in inverse proportion to its actual importance. When the world is shuddering under the press of weightier matters we choose to talk about trivial things instead of discussing the important issues due to lack of understanding.
Day by Day
In our culture, we are repeatedly given two paradoxical/contradictory messages: Be Yourself & Be Better. So how do we navigate between self-acceptance and the goal of transforming into the best version of ourselves?
Borderlines: The Ethics of Immigration
Is immigration a basic human right? Or is it a privilege? This episode of Living Jewishly is an instalment of What Would You Do?, a podcast about ethics. In this episode, we explore the borderlines making up the ethics of immigration.
Five Things to Do When you feel Powerless about Israel
For the vast majority of people, the feeling of events well beyond our control will be the residual taste of this conflict, and we will be prone to despair. Here are five things to do when you feel powerless about what happens in Israel, to begin to refine your perspective and become a more empowered Jewish citizen of the world.
Episode 33 - Judaism and Mental Health
In conversation with mental health experts, Dr. Elliot Malamet explores the line between healthy piety and unhealthy pathology, how our upbringing influences our experience of mental distress, and how spirituality can be integrated into psychotherapy.