The Orthonomics Podcast

Dena Schusterman is the author of "Stories Carry," a personal memoir about faith, belonging, and the inherited stories that shape us. As the daughter of Chabad emissaries in 1970s Berkeley, California, and now a Chabad shlucha herself in Atlanta, Dena, mother of eight, has spent her life straddling two worlds – deeply rooted in Hasidic tradition while fully engaged in modern society. Her book has a unique style, interweaving stories from her past, her parents, and grandparents. It's a fun read that will definitely get you thinking … great for Jewish book clubs. As Mayim Bialik wrote, "Dena's stories have the power to move us both because we can clearly see our own life in them and also because we cannot. Raised in an observant and committed Jewish home, she has lived a life so different from what many of us have experienced." LINK to Dena's website LINK to the book at Amazon LINK to the book at Mercer University Press LINK to the OU's AI site If you have suggested questions you would like us to ask in our upcoming broad survey on the topic of technology, email them to mark@nishmaresearch.com

Rabbi Dr. Shmuly Yanklowitz is a prominent Orthodox rabbi, educator, and social justice activist, best known for founding multiple justice-oriented Jewish organizations and for his prolific writing on ethics and spirituality. Raised in an interfaith family, he chose Judaism as his religious path at a young age and eventually pursued rabbinic training and advanced academic study in ethics and moral development. He holds master's degree from Harvard and from Yeshiva University, a Ph.D. from Columbia, and rabbinic ordination from Yeshivat Chovevei Torah. In this episode, we discuss why he sees a need for improved social justice in the world and the role that Orthodox Jewry and his organization can play to effect change, the origins of his efforts to infuse kashrut standards with ethical consideration, how to combat antisemitism by living our mission in the world, treatment of immigrants and the homeless, igniting Jewish passion among the young through social actions, why we cannot align Torah values with political partisanship, how Jews should be strategic in partnering with potential supporters when it comes to Israel advocacy, reminding us of the many great partners that we have in the U.S., the need for spiritual advocacy in the Orthodox community, and the need to strengthen Jewish-Christian relations. Finally, he tells us about his forthcoming book: "Psalms Between Us: A Rabbi and His Christian Mother on Faith, Love, and Loss." Links: LINK to the Uri L'Tzedek Orthodox Social Justice LINK to his book: Psalms Between Us: A Rabbi and His Christian Mother on Faith, Love, and Loss."

Henry Kopel is a retired federal prosecutor with over 30 years' experience involving national security matters, domestic terrorism, and violent crimes. He most recently authored the extremely ambitious and informative book "War on Hate," which, as one reviewer (Ayaan Hirsi Ali) notes, "raises important questions about how free societies in the West can best be defended from the challenge of Islamism." He is also the author of "The Case for Sanctioning State Sponsors of Genocide Incitement" in the Cornell International Law Journal and has published many op-ed commentaries on Middle East issues. He is a graduate of Brandeis University, Oxford University, and the University of Pennsylvania Law School. He has served as a teaching assistant in the government department at Harvard College and lectured on prosecuting hate crimes at the University of Connecticut Law School. In this episode we discuss the reasons for terrorist and genocide and why there is much misunderstanding of their causes, the role of mass ideological hate indoctrination, the psychology behind terrorist and psychopathic behavior and the triggers of such behavior, why the Western world, educational institutions and the media are blind to the causes of terrorism, the secret deals thar certain East European nations made with the PLO, the "Palestiniazation" of Middle East studies at colleges, and more. Henry Kopel's book "War on Hate: How to Stop Genocide, Fight Terrorism, and Defend Freedom" is available at AMAZON and other booksellers. He also has numerous articles at The Times of Israel , including: • The Democrats' Duplicitous Hypocrisy on the US-Iran MOU (7/2/26) • On Iran, Both Left and Right Agree: Better to Denounce Jews than Defend Freedom (5/19/26) • To Defeat Antisemitism, Target the Lies of Anti-Zionism (2/17/26) • How the West Let the Intifada Go Global – And How the Diaspora Can Defeat It (12/27/25) • The Israel-Loathing Left Has Become the Future of America's Democratic Party (11/26/25) • Diaspora Jews Must Confront the Toxic Ideology Behind the Violence (6/4/25) • No Professor Rosensaft, Kamala Harris is Hardly the 'Pro-Jewish' Candidate (8/29/24) • How the Keffiyeh Became the 21st Century's Swastika (5/19/24) • To End Hamas Horrors, De-Nazify Palestinian Culture (10/19/23)

Ari Schaffer is a Young Israel shul member and board member, founder of CT for Israel, a grassroots group advocating for Israel and opposing antisemitism throughout Connecticut. He is also on the board of the Jewish Community Relations Council of Greater Hartford. For his day job, Ari is the Communications Director at the Buckley Institute, which is dedicated to promoting intellectual diversity and free speech at Yale University. He previously worked for the Georgia Secretary of State, the U.S. Department of Commerce, and the White House. In this episode we discuss how Ari was instrumental in creating a very active Grassroots Activist organization that has been effective in advocating for Israel, fighting antisemitism, and bringing the Jewish community together as a powerful voice for Israel and the Jewish people. Our hope is that this conversation will inspire others to undertake such efforts.

Viva Hammer is a fifth generation Australian who moved to New York after finishing law school. She served as a lawyer in the private sector and then at the US Treasury and in the US Congress. She is a partner in a DC law firm and holds academic positions at Brandeis University and the Australian National University. She has been interviewing Orthodox parents of large families for 20 years in the US, Canada, the UK, Australia and Israel and has published and spoken all over the world on her findings. In this episode we discuss a wide range of related issues, including the average number of children in the Orthodox community; how and why this figure has dramatically changed in the last 50 years; how the changing nature of what it means to be Orthodox has contributed to the change in fertility measures; the growing incidence of family planning, use of birth control and halachic views relating to birth control, including its growing permissibility; how Orthodox Jewish family growth had become so vastly different from what is seen in fertility rates worldwide; whether and how marriage issues could affect Orthodoxy as a high-fertility society; and more. Viva's website – http://vivahammer.com – has many of her publications, speeches, and news articles, and provides for much fascinating reading. In addition, her recent writings include: https://thejewishindependent.com.au/why-do-orthodox-families-have-so-many-children/ https://escholarship.org/uc/item/9xk346gj

Mindy Schaper is a unique personality. Not only did she volunteer a kidney to save the life of a young man whom she did not know, but she also volunteered as a surrogate mother, carrying the child of an Orthodox couple full-term … and she did this twice! So now you understand the title of this podcast. Mindy Schaper grew up Chassidic in Boro Park, Brooklyn and now identifies as Modern Orthodox. She is a writer and marketing project manager, with degrees in psychology, English and Judaic Studies She helped to found and run Project Makom, an organization that supports people transitioning out of or re ‑ orienting from the Haredi world and often seeking a place in the Modern Orthodox world. Her video about being an Orthodox Jewish surrogate ("Being an Orthodox Jewish (and Married!) Surrogate" explores the intersection of modern family-building and traditional Halacha. It highlights the profound cultural and religious considerations required, including navigating Kosher dietary laws during embryo transfers and receiving specific Rabbinic guidance on fertility treatments. Here is a LINK to the video. In our post-interview segment, we share results from our recent survey on the issue of how and why Modern / Centrist Orthodox and Haredi identify and define themselves. The findings are in our new study "Issues of the Day: Orthodox Jewish Community Views on Key Current Issues," which also covers: Our strengths and top challenges; Top issues that we need to better understand; Dialogue and relationships with non-orthodox Jews and with non-Jews; and an Update on modern / centrist orthodox attitudes toward women in shul leadership. Click HERE to access the full report; and click HERE to access all of the Orthodox community research.

In this episode we discuss the recent surge in Jewish conversions and the reasons for this surge, especially in Israel. Rabbi Dr. Kenneth Brander is the President and Rosh HaYeshiva of the Ohr Torah Stone network in Israel. It comprises 32 educational institutions, leadership development initiatives, outreach programs, women's empowerment initiatives across Israel and internationally. Rabbi Brander received his semicha ordination from Yeshiva University, where he taught rabbinic courses, served as Vice President for University and Community Life, and as Dean of the Center for the Jewish Future. He holds a Ph.D. in general philosophy and comparative literature. He was senior rabbi of the Boca Raton Synagogue, overseeing its growth from 60 to more than 600 families, and he also founded the Katz Yeshiva High School. He and his family live in Israel, but he often visits his son Rabbi Tuvia Brander and family in West Hartford, CT, and I know that because that is my shul. Here are links to: Ohr Torah Stone – Click HERE Our recent report on Challenges Facing American Orthodox Jews – Click HERE Click HERE to access all of the Nishma Orthodox community research If you have questions, issues you'd like to see discussed, etc., email mark@nishmaresearch.com

Our guest is Shoshanna Keats Jaskoll, a well-known Orthodox Jewish writer and activist whose work focuses on women's rights in Orthodox Judaism and the visibility of women in religious life. Born and raised in Lakewood, New Jersey, she moved to Israel with her family, where she has become a prominent voice challenging religious extremism, the erasure of women from public and communal spaces, and broadly advocating for Orthodox Jewish women. In this episode we discuss a number of issues including the increasing erasure of images of women in Orthodox venues. the agunah problem (women who are unable to obtain a get – a Jewish legal divorce – and are chained to former spouses and unable to remarry), women's health issues, their growing roles in Jewish learning, and more. She is a co ‑ founder of Chochmat Nashim , an organization that creates change in the global Jewish society by challenging dangerous trends in Jewish communities around the world. Using new and traditional media the organization sheds light on societal norms that exclude women and feed extremism. She is also a founder of Rate My Deit Din , a resource and website that evaluates and improves Jewish divorce in the rabbinic court (beit din) system. Courts are rated via user and professional reviews and are offered ways to improve users' experiences. Finally, she is a founder of the Laura Ben David Jewish Life Photo Bank , a dedicated resource for authentic images of Jewish women, families, and communities, aiming to counter erasure.

In this episode we discuss aliyah with Shifra Gewurtz, reflecting realistically on the challenges, the realities, and the successes. We talk about her long-term goal of making aliyah, the decision-making process, the many logistics involved, family issues (lots of teenagers involved), housing, taxes and income, tuition and health costs, what surprised her, and more. Shifra is passionate and honest in our conversation. She previously had her own retail business in New York, currently works for the Orthodox Union, and is also a dating life and marriage coach. I will add that she is my niece and we view her as a "source of wisdom." Link to Jewish Learning & Gap Year Survey … Click HERE .

In this episode we discuss with Rabbi Dr. Michael J. Broyde the evolution, especially in the past half century, of communal standards for tzniut in dress, particularly among women; whether laws of tzniut over the millennia have been objective and fixed, or subject within bounds to changing societal norms; possible U.S. societal changes that might affect tzniut in the Orthodox community; the positive benefits of increasing diversity in the Orthodox community, especially in the U.S.; Haredi shifting values relating to learning and working, Rabbi Broyde is a professor of law at Emory University School of Law and a leading scholar at the intersection of law, religion, and Jewish ethics. He is also Berman Projects Director and senior fellow at Emory's Center for the Study of Law and Religion, and teached Jewish Law at Columbia University. His most recent book, "Splitting Hairs," which we discuss in some detail, is a rigorously argued and refreshingly candid halakhic study of women's hair covering and tzniut more broadly. It is available at Amazon … click HERE . Ordained at Yeshiva University, he served for many years as a dayan on the Beth Din of America and was the founding rabbi of Young Israel of Toco Hills in Atlanta. He holds a JD from New York University School of Law and has authored hundreds of articles and numerous books on Jewish law, family law, bioethics, religious freedom, and comparative religious law. In recent years, he has written on such topics as religious arbitration, kidney transplants and vouchers, Jewish law and modesty, and a modern explication of the Book of Genesis. Rabbi Broyde can be reached at mbroyde@emory.edu , and he welcomes emails. A Times of Israel interview about his new book is available at this LINK .

In this episode, we continue our discussion of health, including some references to our recent survey of the community, with Dr. Sharon Galper Grossman. Dr. Grossman is a Harvard-trained physician (MD) with a Master of Public Health degree (MPH), a radiation oncologist, public-health scholar, and a Jewish law ( halacha ) scholar and educator, known for bridging modern medicine and Jewish ethics and halacha , especially on issues related to women's health and preventive measures. She previously served on the faculty at Harvard Medical School. Dr. Grossman is deeply involved in advanced Jewish legal scholarship. She completed the Morot L'Halakha program at Matan Women's Institute for Torah Studies, and she provides the observant Jewish community with expert medical knowledge uniquely melded with deep halachic knowledge and appreciation. She has written widely on these topics in such publications as Tradition, Rambam Maimonides Medical Journal, and The Times of Israel. Click HERE to see Dr. Grossman's article in the OU Jewish Action Pesach Newsletter: "The Ozempic Seder: Navigating Weight-Loss Medicine on Pesach." For our recent report, "The Nishma Research / JOWMA Orthodox Jewish Community Health Needs Assessment Survey" – click HERE . For a related article in The Jewish Press, "How Healthy are Orthodox Jews?" – click HERE . Many articles by Dr. Grossman are available at The Times of Israel – click HERE . If you have any suggestions for our upcoming survey on "Gap Year Experiences and Impacts" please email them to us – click HERE .

In this episode, we discuss with Dr. Jennie Berkovich the results of our recent survey of over 1,100 Orthodox Jews, relating to their health concerns and issues. Dr. Berkovich is a board-certified pediatrician focused on improving access to care for children, while also educating communities about pediatric health. She is also the Director of Education of JOWMA – The Jewish Orthodox Women's Medical Association – the organization that collaborated with us on this study, and she authored substantial sections of the report, providing her medical reactions and advice on the health issues raised. Links : For the full report, "The Nishma Research / JOWMA Orthodox Jewish Community Health Needs Assessment Survey" – click HERE . For a related article in The Jewish Press, "How Healthy are Orthodox Jews?" – click HERE . To access the JOWMA website, click HERE . Note that the website has information on many resources available to healthcare providers and to the public. There are many pages in the report labeled as "Medical Observations & Recommendations – Prepared by JOWMA," and these were all prepared by Dr. Berkovich in connection with the most frequently mentioned health concerns. In our conversation, Dr. Berkovich mentioned the "Plant-Forward Diet," and this is explained in a bit of detail on pages 28-29 of the report. Dr. Berkovich mentioned JOWMA's forthcoming book, "The Jewish Woman's Health Handbook" (summer of 2026). If you want to be informed when the book is released, just send an email to mark@nishmaresearch.com , with "JOWMA Book" as the subject, and we'll send you an email when the book is released.

Harry Weller is extremely knowledgeable on the topic of how we as Jews can defend ourselves, be prepared for and able to respond to threats. In this episode we discuss the need for, and resources available for Jews to learn self-defense, preparedness, how to deal with potential threats, and even the topic of gun ownership. Harry Weller is a long-time Connecticut attorney who served for decades as a Senior Assistant State's Attorney in the Connecticut Division of Criminal Justice. He is known for his work as a prosecutor and appellate litigator, handling a wide range of criminal appeals on behalf of the state. He argued numerous cases in the Connecticut Appellate and Supreme Courts, including high-profile criminal matters. He was a recipient of awards such as Prosecutor of the Year and the University of Connecticut School of Law's Public Service Award for his contributions to criminal justice. In addition, he has served as an Adjunct Professor at UConn Law School. Here is a LINK to the Legion Program, which Harry describes in this episode.

Rabbi Steven Greenberg is an Orthodox rabbi and author. Ordained at Yeshiva University, he has spent years teaching, writing, and speaking across the Jewish world about tradition, ethics, and religious change. Specifically, as co-founder of the group Eshel, he was one of the earliest voices calling for inclusion of LGBTQ individuals – gay people – within Orthodox Judaism. How do we do that? On the one hand, we must think deeply about how Torah speaks to this reality. At the same time, we must care for people living this reality right now. Rabbi Greenberg joins us to explore where Orthodoxy has been – and where it may be heading – on some of its most challenging and important questions. Here is a LINK to Eshel for more information. Or enter into your web browser: https://www.eshelonline.org/ If you have any comments on this episode, suggestions for future episodes, or just want to chat about research in the Jewish world, please email mark@nishmaresearch.com .

In this episode we discuss the cost of Orthodox / frum life. What factors affect it, and how? We discuss overall finances (how many are doing OK; how many are not doing OK?); the impact of children's education costs; housing costs in Orthodox neighborhoods; kosher food prices; competitiveness and "showiness"; whether and how incomes are keeping up; is the Orthodox situation getting worse, including compared to the U.S. as a whole?; and, finally, to what extent are people holding up under cost pressures? My guest, David Sheril grew up Britain. His family became baalei teshuvah when he was nine years old. When David was eleven, his family made aliyah, and he moved to the US at age 22, in 2005. David attended Mir Yerushalayim and Ner Yisroel, he served as a Jewish high school rebbe for several year,; and then attended law school. He is currently General Counsel for a privately held real estate transactional, management, and lending company. David resides in Clifton, New Jersey, with his wife Miriam (formerly an officer at the Federal Reserve Bank and now Head of Product at an international fintech startup) and their three children. If you have any comments on this episode, suggestions for future episodes, or just want to chat about research in the Jewish world, please email mark@nishmaresearch.dom . Finally, our Orthodox Community Health Needs and Assessment Survey will be online through January 19, and here is a LINK to take the survey, if you are inclined to do so.

Audrey Lichter is a long-time Jewish educator and community leader, and the founding Executive Director of the Chai Mitzvah program. Audrey has worked in Jewish education for over 30 years, including as the founding principal of Yachad, the community high school in Greater Hartford, Connecticut. She has been active as a lay leader, received community awards, and has been involved locally and nationally in Jewish day school and educational initiatives. Her leadership background and deep experience in Jewish learning helped shape Chai Mitzvah into a program that emphasizes personal meaning and lifelong Jewish engagement. She and her son Simon are the producers of a biweekly lecture series on Zoom called Scholar's Circle that features eminent scholars on topics relating to Israel, antizionism and antisemitism and the Middle East. Lectures are free and open to the public and can be accessed through the ChaiMitzvah website. Chai Mitzvah offers a huge array of Jewish study opportunities, suited to men, women and teens across all of Judaism. The books by Scott Shay that Audrey mentions are: Getting Our Groove Back: How to Energize American Jewry (2007); In Good Faith: Questioning Religion and Atheism (2018); and Conspiracy U: A Case Study (2021). More information is available at Scottshay.com . Links to: The ChaiMitzvah Website The ChaiMitzvah Scholars Circle Section The Nishma Research Jewish Study Summary What people want to learn – 605 VERBATIM Responses

Miriam Moster has a PhD sociology, she is a Mellon Humanities Public Fellow and a Wexner Graduate Fellow. Her research explores Jewish communities, education, and the experiences of individuals navigating the boundaries of insular religious worlds. "Navigating the boundaries" means moving from one sector of Judaism and observance to another sector and lifestyle; and she has published widely on these topics. Her work is distinguished by an interdisciplinary approach, drawing on sociology, narrative, and cultural studies to better understand how people view and construct their own personal identity and how they fit into a community. In a wide-ranging conversation, we talk about adults who leave the observant community, the acceptance and value of research in the Haredi community, divorces and their impact on changes in religiosity and religious self-identification, Shabbat for singles, the greater acceptance and "mainstreaming" of therapy, and the dangers and cautions relating to therapy.

Thanks to the Halacha Headlines podcast and Dovid Lichtenstein for allowing us to share this important episode with the Orthonomics audience. Halacha Headlines is an excellent podcast, primarily aimed at the Yeshivish community but with important insights for all Orthodox Jews. It is available at all podcast platforms. For further information about the issues discussed, go to http://amudim.org . The Nishma Research Health Assessment Survey of the Orthodox community is available through January 18, 2026 at http://bit.ly/orthodox-health-2025 . You may send feedback or questions to mark@nishmaresearch.com .

Harry Maryles is the author behind the blog Emes Ve-Emunah (which is now also released as a Substack publication). For many years he has written extensively and prolifically on issues of Halacha (Jewish law), hashkafa (Jewish philosophy), and contemporary matters affecting Orthodoxy. He does not shy away from sensitive or controversial issues, and his columns are just excellent. I've very much enjoyed reading his column and we have even interacted from time to time. He is a rabbi and holds a psychology degree, and also publishes essays and commentary for news-and-analysis outlets such as The Times of Israel. If you want to read his fascinating posts, here is a link to his BLOG , where he has been posting for many years, and here is a LINK to his new Substack, where you can subscribe to get his postings via email.

Elissa Felder is a: • Renowned speaker • Author of the book " From One Life to the Next Life " • The Coordinator of Core's Communities of Practice Elissa also mentioned Chai Mitzvah and the excellent Sourcebook and Materials they have prepared for follow-up discussion of the topics she raises.