Did you know that 29% of American Jews struggle to make ends meet? 

What you are about to hear is a session from the 2025 Jewish Federation of North America General Assembly,  the JFNA GA, entitled Redefining Jewish Life Through the Lens of Economic Reality. 

In this session, we examined 2025 data on Jewish poverty in America, and discussed how our communal narratives about money and class obscure the real experiences of Jews across the economic spectrum. The first speaker you’ll hear is Rachel Sumekh, Entrepreneur and CEO of Together Ending Need. You’ll also hear from Jon Hornstein, Program Director at The Harry and Jeanette Weinberg Foundation, and our own Rabbi Shira. To see some of the data referenced in this episode, go to togetherendingneed.org/ga

New episodes of Chutzpod will be back February 25th! Send your questions and comments to [email protected]. Make sure you're subscribed, spread the word, and we’ll talk to you then! 

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Rabbi Shira and Hanna end the season with a torah study jam packed with family dynamics, sibling rivalry, maternal manipulations, nation-building and birthright.

Read Parashat Toldot

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Rabbi Shira and Hanna help a listener who was invited to a family wedding in Israel, but doesn’t want to go. 

How important are weddings? And what if your conflicting feelings and grief are just too painful? This is a must-listen for anyone experiencing a shift in Jewish identity when it comes to a relationship with Israel.  Rabbi Shira and Hanna help a listener navigate his changing feelings and conflicted opinions about Israel.

Text on importance of going to Jewish weddings 

Read more about Hachnasat kallah: the importance of preparing a bride for her wedding 

Read more about the mitzvah of bringing joy to people getting married

Suggestions for traveling to Israel right now:

MEJDI Tours

Green Olive Tours 

Follow our Instagram to join the conversation this week: How do you feel about traveling to Israel right now? 

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As many of you are traveling for Thanksgiving this week, we’re revisiting one of our favorite episodes. 

Dogs on a plane are kosher, but are they annoying? Rabbi Shira and Hanna discuss the Jewish ethics around animals. And, is the Torah ableist? 

If you have any interesting Jewish travel moments, let us know!

Read more about Jewish pet names

Read more about Rosh Hahanah LaBehemah 

Learn about ableism in the Torah 

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Our Chutzsquad sends in so many great questions about death and dying. Today, Hanna and Rabbi Shira attempt to answer as many as possible. 

Why, how and when do we say Mourner’s Kaddish, and for whom? What happens when you don’t have access to your loved one’s body and what’s the Jewish approach to a eulogy?

Listen to Death With Dignity episode

Read more about the Mi Sheiberach 

Read more about the Jewish afterlife

Read more about Tahara

Read more about the Jewish approach to giving a eulogy

Read more about what to do when you can’t or don’t want to grieve through prayer

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Ever wish you could listen in as a group of rabbis kibbitz about their jobs–the good, the bad and the ugly? Rabbi Shira hosts a roundtable for her rabbinic friends where they can laugh, commiserate and get some things off their chests. 

We’re joined by Rabbi Lauren Holtzblatt of Adas Israel in Washington D.C. and Rabbi Seth Goldstein of Temple Beth Hatfiloh in Olympia, Washington.

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Everyone loves to play Jewish geography, right? But what if you find the practice exclusive, confusing or even offensive? Is it time to reconsider and leave “bageling” in the past?

Why don’t you ask a convert to tell their story?

Sing-a-long to “Wherever You Go”

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A listener tells Rabbi Shira and Hanna that her rabbi uses AI to write sermons…and she doesn’t like it. 

What are the Jewish ethics of AI? And how does Shira utilize this new technology?

Read more about “the law of the land is the law”

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What’s most important when it comes to preserving Jewish tradition for future generations? Is it sharing Jewish stories? Food? Singing Hatikvah as a lullaby? 

And what if…the baby isn’t even Jewish? 

Rabbi Shira and Hanna offer advice to a soon-to-be Saba who wants to share his Jewish joy with his grandchild.

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A newly committed Jew is wondering if he should remove his old celtic cross tattoo. Rabbi Shira and Hanna talk about the complex relationships between Jews and tattoos, including their own!

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What should you look for when shul shopping besides “that feeling”? How do you know a synagogue is right for you? And what role should a temple play in our modern lives? As we celebrate Sukkot and Simchat Torah, Rabbi Shira and Hanna offer one congregation consumer their advice.

Visit a BASE Jewish Community

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