The Chochmat Nashim Podcast: Women Talk Judaism

The new reality of Israel and really all Jews is stressful and even traumatic. Anne and Shoshanna talk with Sherri Mandell, a certified pastoral counselor, a founder of the Koby Mandell Foundation, and the bereaved mother of Koby Mandell Hy"d, about how to navigate this challenging time, from parenting to handling oneself to helping others.

Music: "Misery" by The Whips

Shoshanna and Anne have been nearly at a loss for words to reflect on Hamas's horrific massacre of some 1,400 people (updated number from recording). But we need words to podcast, so here we are with our experiences of that day, and a range of responses and reactions to it, from widespread chesed to social media warriors to some hypermodesty nonsense.

Music: "Misery" by The Whips

You've seen their art, now meet the artists. Anne and Shoshanna speak with the artists who have given life to Chochmat Nashim's new project, illustrating biblical and historical women. Come hear why they chose the figures they did, why they depicted them as they did, and what surprised them in the endeavor. A longer-than-usual episode, to introduce the talented women responsible for the SEEN images.

Music: "Misery" by The Whips

The idea that Israel's beautiful natural pools would have separate hours for men and women to swim is, at first blush, amazingly considerate for the religious populations. But when the very people MK Idit Silman's stalled pilot program is supposed to help don't want it implemented, Shoshanna and Anne are reminded why gender segregation outside of the synagogue isn't good for anyone.

Music: "Misery" by The Whips

Israel's government voted for the first part of Israel's judicial reform, the "reasonableness" clause, and everyone has an opinion about it, but Anne and Shoshanna focus on other actions of this coalition that are less known and may be even more significant, especially if you're a woman in Israel.

Music: "Misery" by The Whips

Look at your shelf of Jewish books, and you'll see that you have far fewer books authored by women. Rabbanit Sara Wolkenfeld joins Anne and Shoshanna to elaborate on Sefaria's new writing circle to foster books of Torah scholarship written by women, some of the challenges - and also profound and practical hopes for the future women writers of Torah.

Music: "Misery" by The Whips

Politics have real impact on the lives of Israeli citizens, and the recent passing of the budget means the current ultra-religious, ultra-nationalist government can expect to be in place for some time. Anne and Shoshanna task guest Haviv Rettig-Gur, senior analyst at The Times of Israel, to explain the implications of it all. To do so, he also described the development of Haredi society and the Israeli government's role in shaping the world of ultra-Orthodoxy as we now know it.

Music: "Misery" by The Whips

In an era of choice, we have many options how we approach our loved ones, communication, our experience of Judaism, and more. Shoshanna and Anne delve into the "languages" we employ, and how the fact that there are many of them is both liberating and a challenge.

Music: "Misery" by The Whips

Chani Apfelbaum's most recent cookbook, Totally Kosher, was the subject of pride, then consternation, and now pride again. Anne and Shoshanna share the story, including the sometimes unpleasant underbelly of fundraising and a win against erasing women.

Music: "Misery" by The Whips.

Dr. Chavi Kahn joins Anne and Shoshanna to reflect on the legacy of her father, Rabbi Moshe Kahn, z"l, beloved Talmud rebbe at Stern College -- and the recent brouhaha when Stern (temporarily) cancelled its lower level course offerings in Talmud. Why does it matter whether Stern College offers Talmud to its female students? And why should women be learning Talmud to begin with?

Music: "Misery" by The Whips