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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

PublishesDailyEpisodes1031Founded11 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
EducationJudaismReligion & Spirituality

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Artwork for Jewish Ideas to Change the World

Latest Episodes

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

A hybrid event presentation with Rabbi Marc Gitler and Austin Swafford

About The Event:

When we study Torah, are we uncovering truths that have always existed—waiting to be discovered like treasures buried in ancient text? Or are we active creators... more

A virtual event presentation by Rabbi Leah Cohen Tenenbaum and Rabbi Douglas Kohn

About The Event:

In his clarion call for ethical behavior, Rabbi Hillel tells us, “In a place where there is no humanity, strive to be human.” But what exactly does... more

Rabbi Shmuly Yanklowitz sits down with comedian Benji Lovitt. 

Comedian Benji Lovitt brings a unique and uplifting presentation that blends humor with insight. In this fun and educational presentation, Benji Lovitt explores how Israelis have always ... more

Key Facts

Accepts Guests
Contact Information
Podcast Host
Number of Listeners
Find out how many people listen to this podcast per episode and each month.

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Recent Guests

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 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
Mayim Bialik
American actress, neuroscientist, and public advocate
Mayim Bialik's Breakdown (podcast)
Episode: Mayim Bialik in Conversation with Rabbi Shmuly
Avi Gunther
Former student quoted on the concept of freedom; shared personal reflection
Episode: An Unfinished Freedom: Passover as the Birth of an Ideal
Rabbi Dr. Wendy Zierler
Sigmund Falk Professor of Modern Jewish Literature and Feminist Studies at HUCJIR
Hebrew Union College – Jewish Institute of Religion
Episode: Going Out with Knots: My Two Kaddish Years with Hebrew Poetry

Host

Rabbi Shmuly Yanklowitz
Host of the Valley Beit Midrash Podcast, focused on Jewish ethics, social justice, and leadership development.

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 Kingdom7 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.

Content consistently ties text to real-world action.
Guests bring diverse, thoughtful perspectives.
Occasional controversy around political topics appears handled with care.
Scholarly depth combined with accessible teaching.

Chart Rankings

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

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

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.
Striving to Be Human
Q: What is a human being?
The hosts describe humanity as a balance between inner moral responsibility and outer actions, emphasizing self-reflection (histadel) and accountability, with ongoing dialogue about how technology challenges our understanding of what makes us human. They invite readers to define humanity through relationships, moral courage, and purposeful action rather than external validation or influencer culture.
Holocaust Testimony Reimagined
Q: How do you come up with the subjects for your poems and how do you decide what to write about for each piece?
The subjects arise from a mix of personal family history, the need to connect with deceased relatives, and an imaginative process that fills in gaps; the writing often starts from questions about who the family was and evolves through memory work and creative reconstruction.

Audience Metrics

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

Listeners per Episode
Gender Skew
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Age Range
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Social Media Reach

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 on Jewish ethics, theology, and social justice drive these episodes, with frequent exploration of Torah-based ethics, rabbinic interpretation, and modern-day applications. Guests range from scholars to activists, often weaving in philosophy, text study, and practical action. Notable strengths include a clear emphasis on community impact, accessible scholarship, and a willingness to tackle controversial topics with nuance. Listeners seeking rigorous Jewish thought connected to real-world issues will likely find this engaging, while those preferring lighter, entertainment-focused content may want to skim episode topics first.

Where can I find podcast stats for Jewish Ideas to Change the World?

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How many listeners does Jewish Ideas to Change the World get?

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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. The Rabbi Sacks Legacy
2. Identity/Crisis
3. For Heaven's Sake
4. Wondering Jews with Mijal and Noam
5. The Tikvah Podcast

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

Jewish Ideas to Change the World launched 11 years ago and published 1031 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

How do I contact Jewish Ideas to Change the World?

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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. Michael Fishbane
2. Benji Lovitt
3. Amanda McVann
4. Rabbi Mike Feuer
5. Sara Tropper
6. Martin Herskovitz
7. Mayim Bialik
8. Avi Gunther

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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