For me this story began in Jerusalem on December 11, 1917, but I didn't know it then. On that day, my grandmother Esther, who I'm named for, was one of the flower girls who welcomed General Allenby to the city of Jerusalem, which the British ha

020: Running and Ritual, with Kathy Pugh

May 4th, 2018 35m 28s

I had a fun conversation with running and holistic health coach Kathy Pugh. We talked about everything from the Boston Marathon to the Golden Calf and quite a few things in between.To run with Kathy or reach out to her for coaching, you can f

019: Mourning, in Memory of Kate Bartolotta

Apr 19th, 2018 14m 57s

Every religious tradition has mourning rituals, and of course, so does Judaism. Today, in memory of my friend Kate Bartolotta, I talk about Jewish mourning rituals and some ways people are grieving together on social media.Kate was a mother,

Holiday Episode: Passover

Mar 30th, 2018 13m 44s

Do you have questions about Passover? So do I. Listen to the podcast for some good questions. Listen to yourself for some good answers.Happy Passover to all who are celebrating!

018: Personalized Judaism, with Cantor Debbi Ballard

Mar 23rd, 2018 33m 5s

In this conversation with Cantor Debbi Ballard, we talk about personalizing Jewish events and rituals. Listen for Debbi's response to the question about how she incorporates ritual into her family and her life. Notice her first answer... and

017: Mikvahs, with Naomi Malka

Mar 16th, 2018 30m 40s

In this conversation with Naomi Malka, Director of Immersive Experiences at Adas Israel Congregation in Washington, DC, we talk about the origin of mikvahs, ancient and modern rituals for their use, and even our own personal mikvah experiences.

016: Best Dressed, with Rachel Nachmias

Mar 9th, 2018 34m 40s

Does it really matter what you wear? And how do you choose what to wear? If you were an ancient Israelite priest, that choice was made for you. When performing rituals, they wore some of the most ornate, fancy, and noticeable clothing ever seen

Holiday Episode: Purim

Feb 28th, 2018 27m 2s

It's Purim!What's Purim? Maybe you've heard the story of Queen Esther and heroic party planning that saved all the Jews from India to Ethiopia. But a good story is always worth repeating, and there might just be a few things in there that sur

015: A Place for Every Body, with Susan Silverman

Feb 13th, 2018 30m 19s

What is it like when there is a stranger in your midst? What about when that stranger needs your help?Rabbi Susan Silverman and I talked about the status of the African refugees seeking asylum in Israel. She spoke about the laws and the proce

Holiday Episode: Tu B'shvat

Jan 31st, 2018 12m 49s

Today is Tu B'shvat. What is that?To see the poem read on today's episode, visit www.outoftheboxjudaism.comIf you enjoy this podcast, please consider leaving a review on iTunes and telling a friend.

014: An EPIC Life, with Julie Neale

Jan 24th, 2018 46m 9s

Listen by clicking above, on iTunes, SoundCloud, Stitcher, or your preferred app.What rules do you live by? Did you create them, or did someone else?Julie Neale of Mother's Quest has made her own EPIC guideposts and she checks in with them

013: When Everything Suddenly Changes, with Sarah Nannen

Jan 12th, 2018 44m 16s

Remember how things were before everything changed?Whether that means a new king ruling Egypt, the unexpected death of a young husband, or the change you experience in your life, sometimes there’s no going back to the way things were.Sarah

012: Vayechi - The End of the Beginning

Dec 28th, 2017 22m 46s

Jacob and Joseph died. It is the end of the beginning of the Torah, the end of 2017, and the beginning of a new year.When you reflect back on 2017, what will you take with you in your new beginning? To start 2018 dedicated to achieving your

011: Vayigash - Making the Move, with Mark Kurbalenko

Dec 20th, 2017 45m 17s

Joseph reveals himself to his brothers and the whole family escapes famine by moving to Egypt. Today's interview is with Mark Kurbalenko, someone who knows first hand what it's like to have to move from his home country to a safer place.You c

Holiday Episode: Hanukkah

Dec 17th, 2017 13m 28s

Happy Hanukkah!Hanukkah is a celebration of rededication. It is time to rededicate ourselves to our priorities. Find out more at www.OutoftheBoxJudaism.com/rededicate

010: Miketz - Famine in the Land, with Michelle Stuffman of Mazon

Dec 11th, 2017 52m 18s

Joseph was let out of jail to interpret Pharaoh's dreams. He saved the land from famine and was appointed the second in command as a reward. Not long after, his brothers came to Egypt in search of food.Today’s interview is with Michelle Stuff

009: Vayeshev - Joseph's Awesome Coat, with Rebecca Melsky of Princess Awesome

Dec 5th, 2017 48m 54s

When Joseph was seventeen, his father gave him a special coat, showing everyone that he was the favorite son. From there it all went downhill - or, down into a pit. Joseph spent time in at least two pits, all because of the clothes he was weari

008: Vayishlach - Complicated Family Relationships, with Tamara Arnold

Nov 28th, 2017 42m 39s

Jacob leaves his uncle's home and heads back to the land that would later be known as Israel. Along the way, he himself gets the name Israel. Jacob reunites with his twin, Esau, and they part again. A prince falls in love with Jacob's daughter

007: Vayetze - Marriage Oaths and Contracts, with Ruth Becker

Nov 23rd, 2017 45m 24s

Jacob starts this Torah portion at a rock and ends it by a hard place. That rock is where he had a vision of angels going up and down a ladder. The Torah portion ends with Jacob at a hard place, specifically a pillar he made to separate himself

006: Toldot - Getting to Know the Neighbors, with Matt Adler

Nov 16th, 2017 41m 16s

This is the story of Isaac and Rebecca and their twins, Esau and Jacob. A birthright is bought and sold and delivered, food is made, and lives are threatened. And there's also an assumption made about someone that is false and hurtful. Do you s

005: Chaye Sarah - Into the Cave and Off of the Camel, with Elana Polin Glassman

Nov 9th, 2017 28m 24s

Every beginning comes from an ending. In this case, the beginning of Abraham settling in The Land was Sarah's death. Abraham bought a burial cave for her - and later for himself.Tune in to hear about how this purchase was made and what happen

004: Vayera - Cooking Up New Traditions, with Huppit Bartov Miller

Nov 8th, 2017 31m 13s

Do you host family for the holidays? How do you treat people who come to your home? How are you treated as a guest? Tune in to hear about how Abraham and Sarah, treat their guests, and how Lot treats his. Today's guest is Huppit Bartov Miller

003: Lech Lecha - Daring to Suck, with Keri-anne Livingstone

Nov 8th, 2017 40m 33s

Get up and go! Leave everything behind and go! GO! Can you imagine leaving everything you know to go someplace unnamed? Tune in to the episode to hear what happened when God told Abram to GO! to a land that God would show him.Keri-anne Livi

002: Noah - Healing Intergenerational Trauma with Emily Wanderer Cohen

Nov 8th, 2017 38m 45s

You may have learned the story of Noah and the Ark as a child. Maybe you even remember a few lines from the song, "The animals they came on, they came on by two-sies, two-sies."Tune in to take a look at the story from a more adult perspective

001: B'reishit - What is Out-of-the-Box?

Nov 8th, 2017 5m 34s

Let's start at the very beginning. What is this podcast all about? What is this story all about? Listen. Learn. Enjoy.This podcast is for people who are interested in Out-of-the-Box Judaism -- whether Jewish or not. What does out of the box

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