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Jewish Ideas to Change the World

Valley Beit Midrash
Judaism
Torah
Israel
Social Justice
Holocaust
Anti-Semitism
Jewish Law
Jewish Identity
Jewish Ethics
Spirituality
Talmud
Midrash
Purim
Community
Jewish History
Ethics
Zionism
Compassion
Kabbalah
Resilience

Jewish Ideas to Change the World delivers thought-provoking content by leading Jewish thinkers with diverse perspectives and backgrounds. It is produced by Valley Beit Midrash. Valley Beit Midrash (VBM) is dedicated to social justice as driven by Torah ethics. VBM's mission is to improve lives through Jewish learning, direct action, and leadership development. Listen to VBM's other podcasts: • Soc... more

PublishesDailyEpisodes1034Founded11 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
Religion & SpiritualityJudaismEducation

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Artwork for Jewish Ideas to Change the World

Latest Episodes

A virtual event presentation by Professor Sylvia Barack Fishman

The event was co-sponsored by Congregation Or Tzion

About The Event:

This class will draw on recent American and Israeli novels that portray what it’s like to be a Jew in each count... more

A virtual event presentation by Rabbi Sid Schwarz

About The Event:

America is suffering from a spiritual “deficit”. It has been made worse by social media, ideological polarization, and an erosion of key parts of the American ethos. Rabbi Sid has... more

A virtual event presentation by David Shyovitz

About The Event:

Classical Jewish texts are chock-full of demons, monsters, incantations, and other occult and fantastical contents. But these elements are often treated dismissively or deemed embarra... more

A virtual event presentation by Michael Fishbane

About The Event:

Primacies begins with the assertion that our earliest preverbal experiences are accompanied by a primary language—tears, cries, and laughter—offered long before we learn our ordina... more

Key Facts

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Recent Guests

Sid Schwarz
Rabbi, author, founder of Covenantal Communities; CLI program founder
Clergy Leadership Incubator (CLI); Kenessa Communities of Meaning; Adat Shalom Reconstructionist Congregation
Episode: Building Intentional Spiritual Communities
David Shyovitz
Associate Professor of Jewish History at Northwestern University; author
Northwestern University
Episode: Cain’s Children: Mysticism and Monstrosity in the Jewish Tradition
Michael Fishbane
Professor and author of Primacy's Experience, and the main interview guest
University of Chicago
Episode: Primacies: Experience, Expression, and the Jewish Imagination
Benji Lovitt
Comedian and author
Comedian and author
Episode: Jewish Comedy Post October 7th, A Conversation with Benji Lovitt
Amanda McVann
New Hood Justice Director for Tikud Ha'ir
Tikud Ha'ir (Milwaukee)
Episode: Love Is a Verb: Jewish Wisdom for Building Meaningful Relationships
Rabbi Ed Feinstein
Rabbi, speaker on Jewish thought and leadership
Valley Beth Shalom
Episode: The American Jewish Miracle
Rabbi Mike Feuer
Educator, content creator, and spiritual counselor
Jewish Heroism Project
Episode: Models of Heroism and Independence in Our Time
Sara Tropper
Poet and editor; author of White Heat
Author, Poet Editor
Episode: Forging White Heat: A Post–October 7 Haiku Journey
Martin Herskovitz
Public fellow at Finkler Institute for Holocaust Studies, Bar-Ilan University; poet; child of Holocaust survivors
Rojovo, Israel; Bar-Ilan University
Episode: Holocaust Testimony Reimagined

Host

Rabbi Shmuly Yanklowitz
Host of the Valley Beit Midrash Podcast; guides interviews and leads discussions.

Reviews

4.8 out of 5 stars from 45 ratings
  • Boycotts work

    Laura Geller is a z!onist and anyone who platforms her is the same.

    Apple Podcasts
    1
    Camera_add
    United Kingdom8 months ago
  • I look forward to every episode

    Though not Jewish, nor even a resident of Phoenix, I treasure the learning that is shared on the podcast. Rabbi Shmuly Yanklowitz brings great thinkers to share their wealth of knowledge and wisdom with the congregation. I love the interaction with the audience at the end of the lectures.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Dan'l E. as in elegant
    United States8 years ago
  • Wonderful Content

    This podcast offers truly enriching, thought provoking and relevant material. The speakers mostly approach things from a Jewish background but people of any faith, spirituality (or lack thereof) can find nuggets of wisdom in the lectures offered here. In our busy world, the average person may not have time to study philosophy or Torah but with this VBM podcast you can slip in a little bit of enlightening material in your drive home from work.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Theswordandspoon
    United States9 years ago

Listeners Say

Key themes from listener reviews, highlighting what works and what could be improved about the show.

Honest, challenging, and meaningful explorations of Jewish ideas.
Accessible yet rigorous—great for listeners who want ideas they can apply to life and leadership.
Thoughtful, faith-forward discussions with deep guests.

Chart Rankings

How this podcast ranks in the Apple Podcasts, Spotify and YouTube charts.

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Cain’s Children: Mysticism and Monstrosity in the Jewish Tradition
Q: What was the reasoning behind presenting a two-headed figure as a monster in this story?
The lecturer suggests that the two-headed figure serves to challenge assumptions about normalcy and to prompt reflection on how difference is interpreted within theological and legal frameworks, ultimately inviting a more capacious view of humanity within Jewish thought.
Building Intentional Spiritual Communities
Q: Rabbi Sid, what would you say are some of the factors contributing to the growth of Covenantal Communities, from four to upwards of sixty across the country?
Over the past 25–30 years there's been a shift away from the old synagogue-centered model toward co-ownership and lay empowerment, with a push to diversify leadership and offerings. The market wants communities that invite active participation, shared responsibility, and multiple portals for engagement beyond traditional services; when synagogues become covenantal, they attract and retain members by delivering meaningful human flourishing rather than just programming.
Primacies: Experience, Expression, and the Jewish Imagination
Q: What is the difference between pre-verbal experience and its verbal articulation in Jewish thought, and how does language preserve or transform that immediacy?
Language does not erase the pre-verbal moment; instead it deepens and expands it, allowing communal memory to carry forward individual experiences through poetry, liturgy, and narrative without losing the immediacy of the original shock or cry.
Primacies: Experience, Expression, and the Jewish Imagination
Q: How do texts actively shape our moral imagination today, beyond merely reflecting moral norms?
Text interpretation fosters humility and self-awareness, turning study into an ethical act where the reader becomes a maker of meaning and is challenged to respond to the text rather than merely absorb it.
Striving to Be Human
Q: What is the divine?
The discussion frames the divine as a standard by which human action is measured, urging humility before sacred boundaries and exploring how our own aspirations and ethical commitments shape our sense of the divine in daily life and decision-making, especially in the context of AI and creation.

Audience Metrics

Listeners, social reach, demographics and more for this podcast.

Listeners per Episode
Gender Skew
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Household Income
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Frequently Asked Questions About Jewish Ideas to Change the World

What is Jewish Ideas to Change the World about and what kind of topics does it cover?

Thoughtful discussions with leading Jewish thinkers spanning theology, history, ethics, literature, and contemporary social issues. Episodes often center on Jewish philosophy, communal leadership, memory and remembrance, and how Jewish values intersect with modern life, technology, and politics. Noteworthy are guest-interview formats that blend scholarly context with practical implications for building inclusive, purposeful communities, often featuring poets, educators, and public figures who bridge tradition and modernity. The show tends to attract listeners interested in rigorous ideas, social justice rooted in Torah ethics, and how Jewish thought can inform everyday action and leadership. A recurring strength is the ability to connect de... more

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Which podcasts are similar to Jewish Ideas to Change the World?

These podcasts share a similar audience with Jewish Ideas to Change the World:

1. SAPIR Conversations
2. The Rabbi Sacks Legacy
3. Wondering Jews with Mijal and Noam
4. Identity/Crisis
5. Ask Haviv Anything

How many episodes of Jewish Ideas to Change the World are there?

Jewish Ideas to Change the World launched 11 years ago and published 1034 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

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What guests have appeared on Jewish Ideas to Change the World?

Recent guests on Jewish Ideas to Change the World include:

1. Sid Schwarz
2. David Shyovitz
3. Michael Fishbane
4. Benji Lovitt
5. Amanda McVann
6. Rabbi Ed Feinstein
7. Rabbi Mike Feuer
8. Sara Tropper

To view more recent guests and their details, simply upgrade your Rephonic account. You'll also get access to a typical guest profile to help you decide if the show is worth pitching.

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