The Chochmat Nashim Podcast: Women Talk Judaism

The documentary 93Queen tells the story of Judge Ruchie Freier and her all-women ambulance corps, an unlikely story of women's empowerment coming from an even more unlikely quarter: the hasidim of Brooklyn. Chochmat Nashim sits down with the film's creator, Paula Eiselt, to talk about the hurdles and downright nastiness the women overcame, as well as what it means to enter the hasidic world with a video camera. Music: "Misery" by The Whips

Local elections in Israel brought a record number of women to positions of authority. With the Rambam saying women can't be in charge of just about anything, it sounds like a lot of people who care about Halakhah might need to move. Join Chochmat Nashim as we discuss just what is "serara" anyway, and the question of a dominant leadership in contemporary society.

Music: "Misery" by The Whips

Artificial Reproductive Technologies have made all kinds of things possible - starting with children who would not have been born. With innovation, comes halakhic response. And, in the case we discuss, rabbinic overreach, thanks to Israel's lack of separation of religion and state. Shoshanna, Rachel, and Anne consider what it means to be a parent when the state wants to taint your child (as well as define some terms and issues that the Knesset has been using incorrectly). Music: "Misery" by The Whips

The Haredi world has a 70% lower incidence of breast cancer than the general population, but a 30-50% higher mortality rate from the disease. How is this possible? What can be done to reduce the number of deaths from breast cancer among the Haredi population? Join Shoshanna Keats-Jaskoll, Anne Gordon, and Rachel Stomel to discover the reasons for the problem, the ways that it can be confronted, why some Haredi leaders are - shockingly - resisting any solutions, and what Chochmat Nashim is doing to help. Music: "Misery" by The Whips

Shoshanna, Anne and Rachel make use of the popular conversational technique (that's what it meant in our high school) to dissect the "Kavanaugh effect," the discourse leading up to his Supreme Court confirmation, and how it has reflected on the Jewish community. Music: "Misery" by The Whips

Chochmat Nashim is still on summer hiatus, but we'll be back after the chagim with brand new episodes of the Chochmat Nashim Podcast. In the interim, listen to this classic episode from last year. Rabbi Chuck Davidson explains to Chochmat Nashim the ins and outs of conversion in the State of Israel, with its large population of non-halakhically Jewish Jews. Yes, really. Music: "Misery" by The Whips

In some ways, it's a cause for celebration: an aguna for 18 years is finally released by a religious court. On the other hand, despite the fact that an Orthodox beit din has annulled the marriage, that decision has no effect whatsoever - none! - upon her legal status in Israel. Doesn't that violate the principle that the decisions of a valid beit din are accepted, even if other rabbis disagree with the ruling? What does this tell us about the pitfalls of the religion-state mix in Israeli law? And what can each of us do to fix these problems? Join Anne, Rachel, and Shoshanna to find out. If you like what we're doing and what Chochmat Nashim stands for - that Judaism is better when women are heard - please contribute to the Chochmat Nashim annual campaign that is going on this very moment. Your gift is an investment in every Jew in every Jewish community. Censorship has pervaded our culture, and silenced women need your help. Donate today and counter the damage caused by the systematic exclusion of women. Your gift makes the difference between extremism and a Judaism you can be proud of. Go to https://www.causematch.com/en/projects/chochmat-nashim-2018/ to do you part. Music: "Misery" by The Whips

What happens when women are tired of conceding to the sensibilities of men? We get cranky, that's what... or at least some of us do. Listen as Shoshanna, Anne and Rachel get in a heated debate sparked by two incidents of gender segregation this week. Music: "Misery" by The Whips

It's one thing to combat extremism in theory, but what should we do when the extremist is someone whom we love? Which value - tolerance, love, religious belief - should determine our reaction? When should we engage, and when must we cut off the avenues of conversation? And how do we balance our desire to educate our children, with the need to respect their opinions, even when we strongly disagree? Join Shoshanna Keats-Jaskoll, Rachel Stomel, and Anne Gordon for a thought provoking, timely, and perhaps even disturbing conversation. Music: "Misery" by The Whips

A recent Religious Zionist conference was women-free, by design. Chochmat Nashim asks whether we are ready to reevalute the premise of religious hierarchy. Music: "Misery" by The Whips