Orange Socks Podcast Exploring Jewish Art and Creativity with Yitzchok Moully

Yosef Gillers is the founder of GrowTorah, a nonprofit helping Jewish students experience Torah through nature, gardening, and environmental education. Sitting beside the Elizabeth River instead of inside the studio, we explore Yosef’s lifelong connection to the outdoors, the creative roots of GrowTorah, and the deeper Torah ideas hidden inside seeds, soil, farming, and sustainability. From school gardens shaped like menorahs and magen davids to lessons about emunah, leket, shmita, and bal tashchit, Yosef shares how reconnecting with nature can also reconnect us to Torah, responsibility, and wonder.

Along the way, we talk about photography, glassblowing, process versus outcome, creativity without technical perfection, and the importance of simply starting — planting the seed before knowing exactly what will grow. This conversation is about slowing down enough to notice the world around us, embracing creativity as an ongoing process of refinement, and learning that growth itself is part of the art. And as always, it’s about finding your orange socks by leaning into who you already are.

About Yosef:

Yosef is an experiential Jewish educator, team leader, and a Wexner Field Fellow (Class 7). With a degree in Environmental Studies from Washington University in St. Louis and certificate in Experiential Jewish Education from M2, he bridges education with community impact.

He is the Founder & Co-Executive Director of GrowTorah, and he serves on the board of I Was Supposed To Have a Baby and as a member of the Teaneck Environmental Commission. He lives in Teaneck, NJ, with his family and spends most of his winter Sundays teaching skiing at Plattekill Mountain.

https://www.growtorah.org/yosef

https://www.instagram.com/growtorah/

Creatives Yosef thinks you should know:

https://www.anseladams.com/

 Casey Neistat https://youtu.be/WxfZkMm3wcg?si=JkIjl2-EHpqZmYerhttps://www.chihuly.com/works/glass

http://www.jessicatdeutsch.com/

More about Orange Socks:

Contact us at [email protected]

Now on Apple Podcast https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/orange-socks-podcast/id1749369628

On Spotify

https://open.spotify.com/episode/5Ec3LbPdujZG531xKLPssh?si=381bf3bb2b624ffd

On Youtubehttps://www.youtube.com/@OrangeSocksPodcast

Connect with Yitzchok Moully

https://www.instagram.com/moullyart/

https://www.moullyart.com/

Gershon Braun is a musician, mental health nurse, and breathwork practitioner whose creative journey lives at the intersection of music, healing, and inner work. In this episode of Orange Socks, Gershon reflects on growing up surrounded by music, playing alongside his father from a young age, and eventually finding his own voice — not just as a drummer, but as a songwriter sharing deeply personal stories through music. We talk about perfectionism, the fear of putting unfinished work into the world, and the tension between creativity as passion versus profession.

The conversation expands into Gershon’s work with breathwork and mental health, where breath becomes more than technique — it becomes a tool for grounding, presence, healing, and reconnecting to softness in a noisy world. We explore anxiety, trust, creative vulnerability, and the challenge of creating without needing validation. This episode is about patience, process, and learning to stay open long enough for something real to emerge. And as always, it’s about finding your orange socks by leaning into who you already are.

About Gershon:

https://www.instagram.com/divine_breath_of_imperfection/

https://giftofbreath.com/about

Elul: Connection Beyond Fear:

https://open.spotify.com/track/73vpiPZyuKHyMQeMYXjTyL?si=AXSpbcDDTTaeSwkD4VNABg

Jared Bernstein opens this conversation with a raw spoken-word piece — a window into the inner world he’s spent a lifetime learning how to face, process, and express. From a childhood shaped by insecurity and silence to becoming a baal teshuva in his thirties, Jared shares how creativity became his way of making sense of everything — fear, identity, relationships, and his connection to G-d.

Through poetry, painting, and honest reflection, Jared explores the ongoing battle with the inner critical voice — and how writing, observing, and expressing those thoughts can transform them. This is a conversation about courage, not as something you arrive at, but something you practice — again and again.

Find your orange socks by leaning into who you already are.

About Jared:

My earliest creative memory is of comparing a drawing I made to one by my

best friend. My stick figure paled beside his confident lines, and in that

moment, I decided I couldn't draw. The discouragement was immediate and

visceral — but I wasn't ready to let go. That tension between doubt and

persistence has shaped everything since.

My work returns to those early feelings of inadequacy — not to relive them,

but to move through them. As a baal teshuva, this journey is not only artistic

but spiritual: a process of returning, of seeking connection with G-d through

creation. In this space I've found freedom — the ability to create without

judgment, to trust instinct over expectation.

At its core, my practice is about courage. The willingness to risk failure, stay

vulnerable, and continually reinvent. I work intuitively across poetry,

photography, and painting, allowing each piece to emerge raw and unfiltered

— something close to the immediacy of Basquiat, where expression takes

precedence over perfection.

Whether through image or text, I give form to my inner world. Creation

becomes both confrontation and transformation — a way to navigate identity,

reconcile inner conflict, and deepen my connection to the divine. Between

2020 and 2025, a period of intense growth, I came to understand that

vulnerability carries a universal resonance. That many of us, at some time,

gave up on fully expressing ourselves.

*Bio*

Jared Bernstein was born in Baltimore, Maryland, and was raised in New

Jersey. At a young age, he was shaped by a fascination with words and a

belief that there was something going on beyond what his eyes could see.

These characteristics sparked Jared’s passion for writing stories and painting,

which he later published in a book “Courageous Chicken” (Ktav 2021) - A

journey to living courageously, portrayed through paintings and poems. He

studied photography and business at Pace University in New York City and

earned a BBA in finance.

Raised in a secular home, Jared embraced a Torah-observant lifestyle in his

early thirties. He lives in Jerusalem with his wife and children.

Jared’s work is exhibited in galleries and is sold worldwide.

Website  - https://www.courageouschicken.com

Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/courageouschicken/

Photography work = https://www.jaredbernsteinphotography.com

Aish Hatorah -https://aish.com/revealing-the-soul-of-an-artist/

Jerusalem Post - https://www.jpost.com/j-spot/article-798933?utm_source=jpost.app.apple&utm_medium=share

Jewish action Oct 7 - https://jewishaction.com/web-exclusive/commemorating-october-7-through-art/?utm_source=SilverpopMailing&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Oct+7+2025+Newsletter+(1)&utm_content=&spMailingID=36051984&spUserID=MjQwODMyOTUxNTYS1&spJobID=3003186908&spReportId=MzAwMzE4NjkwOAS2

More about Orange Socks:

Contact us at [email protected]

Now on Apple Podcast https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/orange-socks-podcast/id1749369628

On Spotify

https://open.spotify.com/episode/5Ec3LbPdujZG531xKLPssh?si=381bf3bb2b624ffd

On Youtubehttps://www.youtube.com/@OrangeSocksPodcast

Connect with Yitzchok Moully

https://www.instagram.com/moullyart/

https://www.moullyart.com/

Shimon Cowen is a philosopher, rabbi, and founder of the Institute for Judaism and Civilization in Melbourne. Raised in a deeply intellectual home and trained in philosophy, his journey eventually led him into Torah learning and a lifelong exploration of the relationship between Judaism and culture. In this conversation, we discuss a question that sits at the center of his work: can there be truly great art that emerges from the spirit of Torah?Shimon shares his vision for serious Jewish art — art that doesn’t simply depict Jewish life, but grows out of Torah itself as its guiding framework. We explore the difference between Jewish artists and genuinely Jewish art, the responsibility of creators, and the possibility of building a movement that brings high-level artistic expression into the world of Torah.

About Shimon:

https://www.ijc.com.au/our-team

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shimon_Cowen

More about Orange Socks:

Contact us at [email protected]

Now on Apple Podcast https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/orange-socks-podcast/id1749369628

On Spotify

https://open.spotify.com/episode/5Ec3LbPdujZG531xKLPssh?si=381bf3bb2b624ffd

On Youtubehttps://www.youtube.com/@OrangeSocksPodcast

Connect with Yitzchok Moully

https://www.instagram.com/moullyart/

https://www.moullyart.com/

Noa Lea Cohn is an art historian, curator, and cultural force behind Jerusalem’s Art Shelter Gallery — a contemporary Jewish social gallery housed inside a functioning bomb shelter. In this episode, we explore her mission to create space for Haredi artists within Israel’s broader art world, her academic research on visionary Jewish art, and how movements of spiritual return shape creative expression. From Popthodox to underground comics exhibitions, Noa shares how art can bridge communities, soften stereotypes, and serve as a platform for grassroots cultural change.

We speak about collective identity, humility in creativity, the responsibility of Jewish artists in moments of crisis, and why art cannot be blind to reality. This is a conversation about building hubs instead of bubbles, about depth over surface, and about finding your orange socks by leaning into who you already are.

About Noa Lea

https://youtu.be/ks9c31HoQYk

https://brandeis.academia.edu/DrCohnNoaLea

https://www.instagram.com/dr_noa_lea_cohn/
https://www.instagram.com/art_shelter_gallery

/https://www.jpost.com/in-jerusalem/sheltered-art-404386

More about Orange Socks:

Contact us at [email protected]

Now on Apple Podcast https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/orange-socks-podcast/id1749369628

On Spotify

https://open.spotify.com/episode/5Ec3LbPdujZG531xKLPssh?si=381bf3bb2b624ffd

On Youtubehttps://www.youtube.com/@OrangeSocksPodcast

Connect with Yitzchok Moully

https://www.instagram.com/moullyart/

https://www.moullyart.com/

Sheva Chaya is a glassblower, painter, and longtime Tzfat artist whose work bridges Torah, material, and meaning. In this conversation, we explore her journey from a Princeton painting class to building a life of art and family in the city of the Arizal. What began as personal self-expression evolved into something much larger — a commitment to creating work rooted in Klal Yisrael, Eretz Yisrael, and the inner light of Torah. Through the metaphor of molten glass — fragile shards transformed by fire into something unified and unbreakable — Sheva shares how Chassidus, Zohar, and creativity intersect in her studio and in her life.

We speak about presence, idealism, resisting the pull of commercial art culture, and the courage to create without chasing validation. This episode is a reflection on art as avodah, on slowing down enough to truly see, and on reclaiming creativity as something deeply and essentially Jewish. As always, the invitation is to find your orange socks by leaning into who you already are.

About Sheva Chaya:

https://www.shevachaya.com/

https://www.instagram.com/shevachaya/

Rosa Katzenelson is an Argentine-born Jewish artist whose vibrant, textured paintings explore soul, exile, unity, and transformation. In this episode of Orange Socks, we sit inside Rosa’s studio and talk about her journey from psychology and filmmaking in Buenos Aires to becoming a baalat teshuva and finding her voice through paint. She shares the impact of a confrontational art mentor who pushed her to paint from the soul, the late-night Chabad encounter that changed her life, and how she sees art as a tool to elevate reality — like a brush that can transform darkness into light.

We explore her recurring themes of galut and geulah, material and spiritual, unity through difference, and the idea that everything — from painting to cooking — can become holy depending on how it’s used. This is a conversation about depth, paradox, Jewish identity, and the courage to create from your inner truth. And ultimately, it’s about finding your orange socks by leaning into who you already are.

About Rosa:

https://rosakatzenelson.com/Home.html

https://www.instagram.com/rosakatzenelson

More about Orange Socks:

Contact us at [email protected]

Now on Apple Podcast https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/orange-socks-podcast/id1749369628

On Spotify

https://open.spotify.com/episode/5Ec3LbPdujZG531xKLPssh?si=381bf3bb2b624ffd

On Youtubehttps://www.youtube.com/@OrangeSocksPodcast

Connect with Yitzchok Moully

https://www.instagram.com/moullyart/

https://www.moullyart.com/

Shimon Cowen is a philosopher, rabbi, and founder of the Institute for Judaism and Civilization in Melbourne. Raised in a deeply intellectual home and trained in philosophy, his journey eventually led him into Torah learning and a lifelong exploration of the relationship between Judaism and culture. In this conversation, we discuss a question that sits at the center of his work: can there be truly great art that emerges from the spirit of Torah?Shimon shares his vision for serious Jewish art — art that doesn’t simply depict Jewish life, but grows out of Torah itself as its guiding framework. We explore the difference between Jewish artists and genuinely Jewish art, the responsibility of creators, and the possibility of building a movement that brings high-level artistic expression into the world of Torah.

About Shimon:

https://www.ijc.com.au/our-team

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shimon_Cowen

More about Orange Socks:

Contact us at [email protected]

Now on Apple Podcast https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/orange-socks-podcast/id1749369628

On Spotify

https://open.spotify.com/episode/5Ec3LbPdujZG531xKLPssh?si=381bf3bb2b624ffd

On Youtubehttps://www.youtube.com/@OrangeSocksPodcast

Connect with Yitzchok Moully

https://www.instagram.com/moullyart/

https://www.moullyart.com/

Sara Trappler Spielman is a journalist with a deep commitment to telling Jewish stories from the inside out. In this episode of Orange Socks, Sara reflects on her path as a writer — from early journaling and poetry to breaking into Jewish journalism and becoming a trusted voice covering Jewish artists, filmmakers, and creatives across the world. She shares what it means to report with integrity, where she draws her red lines as a writer, and why choosing to tell stories with light, depth, and responsibility matters more than ever. Through stories of full-circle moments, creative community, and following artists over decades, this conversation explores storytelling as shlichus — a way of shaping how we see ourselves and how the world sees us. This episode is an invitation to listen closely to your inner pull, honor the gifts you’ve been given, and find your orange socks by leaning into who you already are.

About Sarah:

https://www.facebook.com/sara.t.spielman/

https://www.tabletmag.com/contributors/sara-trappler-spielman

https://www.chabad.org/search/keyword_cdo/kid/18295/jewish/Spielman-Sara-Trappler.htm

https://mishpacha.com/contributors/sara-trappler-spielman/

Creatives Sarah thinks you should know:

Kraindel Trappler https://www.etsy.com/shop/KateFloralcreations

Miriam Yerushalmi Yournewheights.org

Saul Drier, the Holocaust survivor band - https://sauldreier.com

More about Orange Socks:

Contact us at [email protected]

Now on Apple Podcast https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/orange-socks-podcast/id1749369628

On Spotify

https://open.spotify.com/episode/5Ec3LbPdujZG531xKLPssh?si=381bf3bb2b624ffd

On Youtubehttps://www.youtube.com/@OrangeSocksPodcast

Connect with Yitzchok Moully

https://www.instagram.com/moullyart/

https://www.moullyart.com/

Reuven Flamer is a longtime creative thinker whose journey weaves together Chassidus, film, food, and an unshakable refusal to live by rote. In this wide-ranging conversation, Rabbi Flamer reflects on growing up in the countercultural 60s, searching for meaning through experimentation, and eventually being pulled—“kicking and screaming”—into Chabad. He shares how creativity survived ejecting, detours, failed utopias, hurricanes, and decades of tension between conformity and individuality, and how that spark continues to drive his work in filmmaking, podcasting, and spiritual exploration.Together, we unpack what it really means to be creative in Judaism: the difference between mastering details and reaching essence, why rote religion drains the soul, and how true creativity is not rebellion but relationship. Drawing on Chassidic thought, personal stories, and a powerful letter from the Rebbe, Rabbi Flamer reframes creativity as shlichus—the ability to see the divine core in people and bring it to the surface. This episode is an invitation to take risks, resist spiritual autopilot, and rediscover the revolution at the heart of Yiddishkeit—by finding your orange socks and leaning into who you already are.

About  Reuven:

https://www.linkedin.com/in/reuven-flamer-45113a165

https://www.streetfarbrengen.net

/https://www.highercorners.org/

More about Orange Socks:

Contact us at [email protected]

Now on Apple Podcast https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/orange-socks-podcast/id1749369628

On Spotify

https://open.spotify.com/episode/5Ec3LbPdujZG531xKLPssh?si=381bf3bb2b624ffd

On Youtubehttps://www.youtube.com/@OrangeSocksPodcast

Connect with Yitzchok Moully

https://www.instagram.com/moullyart/

https://www.moullyart.com/