The Jewish World

In this powerful episode of *The Jewish World*, Rabbi Elchanan Poupko sits down with Israeli artist Tamar Zeitlin for an extraordinary conversation about transformation, faith, family, and the Land of Israel.Born in Jerusalem in 1985 and a tenth-generation native of the Land of Israel, Tamar grew up between Jerusalem and the ancient Jewish community of Safed. But her path took her into the fiercely anti-Zionist Neturei Karta community, where she lived as part of the community and worked as an illustrator for the Neturei Karta movement.Today, Tamar’s life tells a dramatically different story. She is the mother of six children, three of whom have joined the Israel Defense Forces, and her children proudly identify with Zionism and the State of Israel. Her son recently graduated with excellence from the IDF Squad Commanders Course, a milestone that represents just how far her family’s journey has taken them.Tamar’s transformation from anti-Zionism to a deep love for Israel is reflected in her art, her family, and her vision for the future. Her paintings celebrate the beauty of the Land of Israel and the richness of Jewish life, showing how Judaism and love of Israel can inspire creativity, hope, and a commitment to building the future.Rabbi Poupko and Tamar discuss her years within Neturei Karta, what led her to reconsider the ideology she once embraced, raising six proud Zionist children, her sons’ service in the IDF, and how her art has become an expression of her love for the Jewish people, Judaism, and the Land of Israel.This is a remarkable story of moving from rejection of Zionism to embracing the Jewish state—and of a family choosing to build, serve, create, and celebrate the beauty of Israel.You can find her art here: https://jewish-painting.com/about/

In Part 2 of The Jewish World, Rabbi Elchanan Poupko continues his conversation with Simon Mendes, director and producer of The Darkest Light, going deeper into the remarkable story of Rabbi Shlomo Carlebach and the world that shaped him.They explore Carlebach’s early years, his family background and roots in rabbinic German-Jewish communities, and the profound impact of the Holocaust on his generation. The conversation also examines Carlebach’s connection to Chabad and his relationship with Orthodox, Conservative, and Reform Judaism.Beyond the biography, Poupko and Mendes discuss the enormous social and religious changes Carlebach helped bring to the Jewish world—his music, his approach to reaching Jews across denominational lines, and the community and spiritual culture that grew around him.What made Carlebach so transformative? How did his German-Jewish and Chabad roots shape his vision? And how did he leave such a lasting mark on Jewish religious and cultural life?Part 2 continues the conversation about the man behind the music, the world that formed him, and the extraordinary legacy he left behind.

In this episode of The Jewish World, Rabbi Elchanan Poupko sits down with Simon Mendes, director and producer of The Darkest Light, the new documentary examining the life, legacy, and allegations of sexual abuse surrounding beloved Jewish musical icon Rabbi Shlomo Carlebach.Mendes shares his experience making the film and telling the deeply complicated story of Carlebach through the eyes of his daughter, Neshama, as she confronts the painful reality of allegations against her father and the impact of his legacy on survivors and the community that embraced his music.Rabbi Poupko brings a deeply personal perspective to the conversation. His parents were close with Carlebach, and as a child and young man, Poupko spent many Shabbatot at Carlebach's moshav, attended his concerts, and experienced firsthand the extraordinary charisma and spiritual power that drew generations of Jews to Carlebach.Together, Mendes and Poupko explore the tension between the music and spiritual inspiration that shaped Jewish life for so many and the serious allegations that have profoundly changed how Carlebach's legacy is understood.This is Part 1 of a two-part conversation about Carlebach, his music, his community, and the difficult questions raised by The Darkest Light.

In this compelling episode of The Jewish World, host Rabbi Elchanan Poupko sits down with Professor Jeffrey Lax, a distinguished law professor at the City University of New York (CUNY) and founder of Students, Alumni, and Faculty for Equality (SAFE) on Campus. Together, they explore the high-stakes legal and cultural battles surrounding antizionism and antisemitism on American university campuses.Professor Lax brings a unique perspective as both a legal scholar and a passionate Zionist advocate. With over two decades of experience teaching law and confronting discrimination law in practice, he has been at the forefront of legal challenges to what he describes as systemic antisemitism and anti-Israel activism at CUNY. Lax and colleagues have taken bold legal action against compulsory union representation they argue forces Zionist Jews to be aligned with leadership that promotes anti-Israel resolutions — a case that has drawn attention up to the U.S. Supreme Court leve

In this compelling episode of The Jewish World, host Rabbi Elchanan Poupko sits down with Professor Jeffrey Lax, a distinguished law professor at the City University of New York (CUNY) and founder of Students, Alumni, and Faculty for Equality (SAFE) on Campus. Together, they explore the high-stakes legal and cultural battles surrounding antizionism and antisemitism on American university campuses.Professor Lax brings a unique perspective as both a legal scholar and a passionate Zionist advocate. With over two decades of experience teaching law and confronting discrimination law in practice, he has been at the forefront of legal challenges to what he describes as systemic antisemitism and anti-Israel activism at CUNY. Lax and colleagues have taken bold legal action against compulsory union representation they argue forces Zionist Jews to be aligned with leadership that promotes anti-Israel resolutions — a case that has drawn attention up to the U.S. Supreme Court level.

🎙️ Interview with LTC Eyal Dror: Israel’s Operation Good Neighbor & The Future of Humanitarian EngagementIn this powerful and timely conversation, Rabbi Elchanan Poupko sits down with IDF Lt. Col. (Res.) Eyal Dror, the commander of Operation Good Neighbor, Israel’s remarkable humanitarian mission to aid Syrian civilians during their country’s brutal civil war.💬 What you'll hear in this interview:The inside story of how Israel helped thousands of Syrians through Operation Good NeighborWhy this mission still matters today, amid rising regional instabilityLTC Dror’s insights into the Jolani regime and what it means for Syria’s futureThe growing and dangerous role of Turkey in SyriaWhy delivering aid to Gaza today is far more complicatedWhat it would take to build real peace with the people of GazaAnd a hopeful, yet honest, vision of what’s next for humanitarian efforts in the Middle East🔥 Eye-opening, emotional, and informative, this episode explores the moral dilemmas, strategic choices, and human stories behind Israel’s efforts to help those beyond its borders—even former enemies.📌 Don’t forget to subscribe, leave a review, and share this important episode.#IDF #EyalDror #OperationGoodNeighbor #Syria #Gaza #HumanitarianAid #Israel #MiddleEast #RabbiPoupko #Podcast #Peacebuildingto order the book https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/embracing-the-enemy-eyal-dror/1147296224

In this compelling episode, Rabbi Elchanan Poupko speaks with Rabbi Dr. Yitz Greenberg about his experience attending the Beis Yosef Yeshiva in Brooklyn during the 1950s—a yeshiva deeply shaped by the resilience of Holocaust survivors and those who endured the brutal Soviet gulags of Siberia. Rabbi Greenberg shares firsthand accounts of the Novardhok tradition in America, the spiritual struggles and triumphs of its students, and the unique atmosphere of a yeshiva filled with those rebuilding their lives after unimaginable suffering. Together, they explore the pressing question: Did the Mussar movement survive the Holocaust? And if so, how did it evolve in the shadow of such devastation? Tune in for a powerful discussion on faith, perseverance, and the legacy of Mussar in a post-Holocaust world.

In this thought-provoking episode, Rabbi Elchanan Poupko sits down with Yehudis Fletcher, a political and social activist from London and co-founder of Nahamu, an organization dedicated to combating extremism. Together, they explore the evolving role of Women in the Orthodox Synagogue, addressing challenges, progress, and the ways tradition and modernity intersect in Jewish communal life.The conversation also delves into the life and legacy of Sarah Schenirer, the visionary founder of the Bais Yaakov movement, whose pioneering efforts transformed Jewish education for women. How did Schenirer’s work shape the status of women in Orthodox communities? What lessons can be drawn from her impact today?Join us for an insightful discussion on faith, leadership, and the future of women's participation in Orthodox Jewish spaces.

 In this powerful episode of The Jewish World podcast, Rabbi Elchanan Poupko sits down with Bethany Mandel, co-founder of Shield Communications PR, to discuss her tireless efforts advocating for the hostages taken by Hamas terrorists to Gaza. From the harrowing morning of October 7th, Bethany has been a leading voice on Capitol Hill and in America's newsrooms, rallying support for the hostages and raising awareness about their plight.Listen as Bethany shares her firsthand experiences, the challenges of advocacy in a complex media landscape, and the vital importance of keeping the hostages' stories alive. This episode is a testament to the power of determination and the fight for justice. Don't miss this inspiring conversation. 

In this episode of The Jewish World, Rabbi Elchanan Poupko sits down with sexuality educator and cultural critic Dr. Logan Levkoff to discuss Netflix’s new hit series, Nobody Wants That. Together, they unpack the complex themes woven into the show, exploring whether it perpetuates stereotypes or even antisemitic tropes and what this portrayal might mean for Jewish and non-Jewish viewers alike.As they delve into the series' plotlines and characters, Rabbi Poupko and Dr. Levkoff raise essential questions: Are these depictions harmful, or do they provide unique opportunities to confront societal biases? What are the benefits and potential pitfalls of watching the show, and how does it shape viewers’ perceptions of Jewish life, identity, and relationships? Tune in for an insightful discussion that balances critique with curiosity, offering a nuanced perspective on how pop culture can influence interfaith understanding and impact the Jewish community today.