Episodes

  • Is God (Scientifically) Real? with Rabbi Aaron Zimmer and Rabbi Elie Feder

    Is God (Scientifically) Real? with Rabbi Aaron Zimmer and Rabbi Elie Feder
    Jun 19 2024
    Probably the most challenging question any religious person could answer from an agnostic person is "Is God Real?" The religious person might say "Of course he is real!" "And how do you know?" "Can't you feel it?" Of course, we all know 'feeling' is not enough. Rabbi Aaron Zimmer and Rabbi Elie Feder produced a podcast called "Physics to God" to go beyond the feeling of God. Using the scientific method along with their understanding of physics and mathematics they are able to quantifiably prove that Hashem made the universe and is indeed the embodiment of everything we know. 00:00 Introduction 05:02 Math and Physics 06:26 Proof of God 11:56 Laws of nature 15:45 Atoms and life 19:10 Fine tuning and constants 21:30 Parallel Universes 25:06 Intelligent Creator 27:39 Laws of nature 30:07 Conclusion, Physics to God About Rabbi Aaron Zimmer: After earning a physics degree and receiving rabbinical ordination from Rabbi Yisrael Chait, Aaron Zimmer considered furthering his education through graduate school. However, his intellectual curiosity extended far beyond the realm of physics, encompassing a diverse array of fields, including philosophy, mathematics, and psychology. Capitalizing on his blend of analytical and philosophical skills, Aaron utilized his personal resources to venture into commodity futures trading. This endeavor involved commodities such as oil, natural gas, cotton, sugar, and coffee. His strategic approach was deeply rooted in the conceptual frameworks of physics and the Brisker Method for Talmudic analysis. After an eleven-year career marked by success in commodity trading, Aaron decided to retire. In his retirement, Aaron channels his intellectual energy into studying various branches of knowledge, including the Talmud and physics. He resides in Lawrence, New York, along with his wife and their five children. About Rabbi Elie Feder: Elie Feder earned a PhD in mathematics from the CUNY Graduate Center and received Rabbinic ordination from Rabbi Yisrael Chait. Since 2004, Elie has been a mathematics professor at Kingsborough Community College. He has published many papers and delivered numerous talks in graph theory, which is his field of mathematical research. As a teacher, Elie has a passion for simplifying complex topics for his students. Recently, he authored a book "Gematria Refigured," which presents a rational, nonmystical approach to gematria as a tool of uncovering the significance of quantity and fine tuning in Torah, life, and the universe. For more information, you can visit Elie’s website, GematriaRefigured.com, and listen to his podcast, Gematria Refigured+. Elie resides in Far Rockaway, New York, with his wife and their four children. Connect with Rabbi Aaron Zimmer and Rabbi Elie Feder Facebook: @Physics to God (Page; not group) X/Twitter: @PhysicsToGod Instagram: @physics_to_god Connect with Bad Jew: BadJew.co https://linktr.ee/badjew BadJewPod@gmail.com Ig @BadJewPod TikTok @BadJewPod
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    34 mins
  • What Is The Real Story Of Shavuot? with Sruly Meyer

    What Is The Real Story Of Shavuot? with Sruly Meyer
    Jun 11 2024
    WE FINALLY RECEIVED THE TORAH! Time to enjoy the taste of milk and honey. But why? Can our Jewish stomachs really handle all of that dairy and what are we actually celebrating when we look at the history of the Torah - the constant tug-of-war we have with the values God laid out for us? Have we, an exiled people, really earned a celebration? Sruly Meyer, known for his incredible online recipes, embraces Shavuot - his favorite out of all of the favorite holidays. Aside from it being a tasty holiday, Meyer highlights how the Torah is our marriage contract and how our relationship with God has been "on a break" and why. Chaz Volk, host of Bad Jew, enjoys an educational 30 minutes of learning why Shavuot stands as one of the most unique metaphysical experiences. 00:00 Introduction 05:58 Our relationship with God 06:33 Hashem's marriage contract with us 12:20 Relationships and Shavuot 15:15 Improving our relationship with God 17:34 Israel, the ultimate gift 20:20 Spiritual connection 25:49 Jewish resilience post October 7th 28:02 Torah is sweet 30:09 Conclusion About Sruly Meyer: Sruly runs a marketing agency in Hollywood, Florida. He is a home cook and recipe developer who runs a food and travel blog, discussing local food scenes and daily Jewish life. He is a proud Jewish father and business owner. Connect with Sruly Meyer IG and TikTok @srulycooks www.SrulyMeyer.com Connect with Bad Jew: BadJew.co https://linktr.ee/badjew BadJewPod@gmail.com Ig @BadJewPod TikTok @BadJewPod
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    32 mins
  • How Can You Bring Light Unto Nations? with Solomon Friedman

    How Can You Bring Light Unto Nations? with Solomon Friedman
    Jun 5 2024
    It goes without saying that the internet can be a disgusting display of human nature. Anonymous trolls, scams, and false information run rampant and they're not hard to run into. A centerpiece to this disturbing reality is the adult entertainment industry which has never been known to treat people with dignity. Exposing people of all ages to this content can do a variety of harmful things but the worst is that it enables everyone to participate in it including the young. Solomon Friedman of Ethical Capital Partners recognized this truth. While his calling was not a religious one, he has helped make the internet a safer place by incorporating device-based age verification technology and sharing such recognition software with law enforcement. Friedman is responsible for putting up roadblocks in front of every nefarious action that takes place on a variety of adult sites. Chaz Volk, host of Bad Jew, learns that bringing light to the darkest of places means taking on unpopular projects while showing proud leadership and poise. 00:00 Introduction 05:35 Adult industry pioneered key internet innovations 07:06 Surprising ideas about ethics in internet marketing 11:19 Online platforms need moderation and safety measures 16:14 Opting out, age gates needed for online content 19:47 Internet privacy is essential for freedom and democracy 22:40 Jurisdiction of freedom 23:51 Tech giants and governments needed for safer platforms 26:55 Legal, meets safety standards, limits certain content 30:16 Conclusion About Solomon Friedman: Connect with Solomon Friedman Solomon is a trial and appellate lawyer, representing individuals and organizations before all levels of court in Canada. He is certified as a specialist in criminal law by the Law Society of Ontario. For over a decade, Solomon has been a trusted voice at Parliament, regularly appearing before Standing Committees of both the House of Commons and Senate in Canada, providing testimony about criminal, regulatory and constitutional law matters. Solomon is a legal author and commentator. He has published dozens of academic and popular articles and is the co-author of Canada’s leading text on firearms law and regulation. He also lectures widely to audiences of defence lawyers, judges and police officers on a wide spectrum of criminal and regulatory law topics. Solomon's work has been recognized by his peers in both the legal and broader business community. In 2014, he was named one of the Forty under 40 by the Ottawa Business Journal and the Ottawa Chamber of Congress. In 2016, he was given Precedent Magazine's Precedent Setter Award. In 2018, he received the Regional Senior Justice Award by the County of Carleton Law Association. Solomon is an adjunct law professor, teaching The Law of Evidence and Advanced Criminal Evidence at the University of Ottawa, Faculty of Law. Prior to his call to the bar, Solomon clerked for Justice Morris Fish of the Supreme Court of Canada. Solomon came to the law following rabbinical studies in Israel, where he was ordained in 2005. Connect with Solomon Friedman: EthicalCapitalPartners.com Connect with Bad Jew: BadJew.co https://linktr.ee/badjew BadJewPod@gmail.com Ig @BadJewPod TikTok @BadJewPod
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    33 mins
  • How Do I Find Love? with "Coach" Daniel Ratner

    How Do I Find Love? with "Coach" Daniel Ratner
    May 29 2024
    Do you feel lonely? Do you feel it's time to find your true love? Do you feel hopeless in the romance department? Many of us do including me. If you're like me, Chaz Volk, the host of this show, you have spent many sleepless nights staring at the ceiling wondering what the future holds and if you're even worthy of your desires. In the quest to find my b'sheret ("meant to be"), I interview "Coach" Daniel Ratner hailing from Israel to explain the necessary pieces that need to be in place in order to find love. Coach draws from the wisdom of workshops he has led and books he has written to explain what necessary elements must be existent in order to survive the four stages of love. 00:00 Introduction 04:42 Discipline 08:40 The Four Phases of Love 09:37 Listening is key for meaningful relationships 14:32 Embrace growth 18:13 Physicality and attraction 20:43 The issue with getting physical too soon 24:05 Fully understanding your partner 29:19 Attracting the right people 31:55 The beauty disadvantage 35:15 Conclusion About Coach Daniel Ratner: Coach Ratner was a world-class rare coin dealer & real estate developer in America. He has now transitioned himself into an influential educator for organizations who seek inspiration. His focus is on fostering meaningful relationships, building self-esteem, and providing spiritual motivation. His 5th book, “Infinite Marriage: The 4 Phases of Loving Relationship”, was released in May 2024. Connect Coach Daniel Ratner: Podcast: Living in Clarity - available on all podcast platforms! www.coachratner.com Connect Bad Jew: BadJew.co https://linktr.ee/badjew BadJewPod@gmail.com Ig @BadJewPod TikTok @BadJewPod
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    37 mins
  • How Do You Do Jewish Activism? with Marla Friedson

    How Do You Do Jewish Activism? with Marla Friedson
    May 22 2024
    Now more than ever before, your people need YOU! Anti-Israel and anti-Jewish rallies have spread like wildfire across the nation. Students get harassed on campus just for being Jews. The few Jews that do join the encampments are tokenized and glorified in hypocritical ways. No matter how much light we shed on the situation, our adversaries come back more aggressively. This is an uphill battle. Such battles don't stop Marla Friedson, co-host of Schmuckboys, from joining the counterprotests. Marla and her friends regularly post on social media and take to the streets to share their voices proudly. Friedson joins Chaz Volk on Bad Jew to discuss what it takes to effectively and accurately speak on behalf of Israel. Volk takes this opportunity to assess how the international Jewish community is doing when it comes to sharing information as well. Tune in to become inspired to take the streets and speak on behalf of those that can't! 00:00 Introduction 03:12 Judaism as a moral basis for activism 08:39 Unity within activism 09:42 The value of attending rallies 13:21 Avoiding misinformation 18:42 Credibility 20:19 Responsibility in influence 23:44 Accuracy and literacy 26:29 Jewish intimidation and antisemitism 31:22 Zionism 34:12 The undeniable tie of Judaism and Zionism 36:47 Education is key to combating antisemitism About Marla Friedson: Marla Friedson is the receptionist at Circle of Confusion, a tv/film production and management company. She is also a freelance producer, having worked on a variety of content from unscripted TV to short films to the US Tennis Open. Marla is the co-host and co-producer of Schmuckboys, a podcast about Jewish dating, Jewish identity and antisemitism. Her and co-host Libby Walker interview Jewish guests from all walks of life and release new episodes every other week through the Jewish Journal Podcast Network. Marla is very involved in Jewish organizations in L.A. serving on the board of AishLIT and working part-time as the Head of Operations for Jews Talk Justice, a Tel Aviv Institute project. She is a vocal activist for the Jewish people, using her social media platform to help educate others. Connect with Marla Friedson: IG @marsbars36 Tune into Schmuckboys on your favorite podcast platform Connect with Bad Jew: BadJew.co https://linktr.ee/badjew BadJewPod@gmail.com Ig @BadJewPod TikTok @BadJewPod
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    39 mins
  • Who Are The Mizrahi Jews? with Tal Oran

    Who Are The Mizrahi Jews? with Tal Oran
    May 15 2024
    One message this podcast has tried time and time again to explain... Jews come in all shapes and colors. The Jews from the Middle East are called Mizrahi Jews and they are just as culturally tied as Ashkenazi and Sephardic Jews are. Tal Oran, better known as The Travelling Clatt, steps away from his travel vlogging to share the full overview of Mizrahi Jewish culture. Chaz Volk, host of Bad Jew, goes through a learning curve to uncover the impactful contribution Mizrahi Jews have had on all of us and embraces the personal survival story of the Oran family. 00:00 Decade of travel, YouTube success, pro-Israel advocate. 05:12 Mizrahi Jews struggle with silencing and race 08:36 Challenged the portrayal of Jewish culture in media 12:12 Mizrahi Jews from Iraq and Azerbaijan bond 14:24 Iraqi Jewish dialect is separate language from Iraqi 17:44 Mizrahi cuisine 21:10 The long history of violence 23:35 Family fled Iraq to Iran, then Israel 26:47 Christians, Jews, and peace throughout history (myth) 30:56 Moroccan celebration Mimouna embraced by diverse cultures 31:36 Moroccan music, food, and traditional attire About Tal Oran: Tal makes content about Israel, Palestine, The Holy Land, Religions, and what makes us all come together or go apart. He wants to make peace and show love. His journey can be seen on his Instagram and YouTube channel where he produces content full time. Follow Tal Oran: Ig: @thetravellingclatt YT: @thetravellingclatt TT: thetravellingclatt Connect with Bad Jew: BadJew.co https://linktr.ee/badjew BadJewPod@gmail.com Ig @BadJewPod TikTok @BadJewPod
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    35 mins
  • What Are Holocaust Survivors Like? (Yom HaShoah Special) with Michael Ruskin

    What Are Holocaust Survivors Like? (Yom HaShoah Special) with Michael Ruskin
    May 8 2024
    As we commemorate Yom HaShoah, we dedicate this week’s episode to understanding the lives and legacies of those who survived the Holocaust. Our guest, Michael Ruskin, offers an intimate glimpse into his life as the last surviving member of his family who escaped the horrors of the Holocaust. He shares tales of his own upbringing under the shadow of his parents’ past traumas and how these experiences shaped their family dynamics. Michael also discusses his book, "The Vow," which not only documents the atrocities of the Holocaust but captures the extraordinary love story of his parents finding their way back to each other post-war. Chaz Volk, host of Bad Jew, emphasizes the resilience of survivors along with the impact of generational trauma on later generations. 00:00 Introduction 03:27 Poor upbringing and protective Holocaust-survivor parents 08:37 Found family history 10:23 Love over wealth, reflection of 'The Vow' 12:48 Difficulty conveying past experiences 17:37 Writing the book 25:16 Research, learning, and resilience 26:54 How his parents lived 29:44 Conclusion About Michael Ruskin: Michael Ruskin (born Meyer Ruksen), was born in Brooklyn, New York and raised in the beautiful city of Perth Amboy, New Jersey (central New Jersey). He is the youngest son of David and Dora Ruskin and the younger brother of the late Allen Ruskin. A graduate from Kent State University in Ohio, he received a B.A. in Political Science and Psychology. Michael spent most of his 40-year career in corporate Human Resources and private consulting. Mr. Ruskin, now retired, lives a very active lifestyle which includes traveling, tennis, dancing, hiking. He is a student of spirituality, world history, and an avid researcher. He has one niece and enjoys spending time with friends and making new ones. Michael is the last surviving member of his immediate family. The Vow: A Love Story and the Holocaust is Mr. Ruskin's first book, but not his last. He currently resides in Roswell, Georgia. Connect with Michael Ruskin: Buy 'The Vow' on www.TheVowALoveStory.com Connect with Bad Jew: BadJew.co https://linktr.ee/badjew BadJewPod@gmail.com Ig @BadJewPod TikTok @BadJewPod
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    31 mins
  • What Is Jewish Mindfulness? with Gila Ross

    What Is Jewish Mindfulness? with Gila Ross
    May 1 2024
    Take a deep breath. Let's acknowledge the fact that the world is crazy which can naturally make anyone a little crazy. It's okay to be off your rocker sometimes but that's where the mindfulness kicks in. While the world seems to spew hate in our direction, there's no better time than the present to turn toward the Jewish lens of mindfulness. Gila Ross, podcast host of PowerUp!, draws from her Jewish studies, namely from pirkei avot, to guide listeners and provide Jewish wisdom to all who tune in. Drawing from a similar inspiration, Chaz Volk, host of Bad Jew, pushes and challenges some of the ideas behind Jewish mindfulness in hopes of finding peace of his own. 00:00 Introduction to Gila Ross 03:37 Teaching abroad 08:38 Finding our purpose 12:23 Jewish mindfulness 14:30 Growth mindset 19:28 Recognizing and fixing sins 20:29 Repairing your life 23:54 Bringing out the best 29:44 Daily gratitude practices 33:00 Seeking spiritual guidance 33:43 Prayer changed to mindfulness About Gila Ross: Gila Ross's vibrant, positive and relatable style makes her a well-sought-after and much-loved coach and educator with over 20 years of experience. She has a passion for sharing the joy and relevance of Judaism and positive parenting. She is a senior educator with SEED UK. Her Power Up! podcast was named number 6 on Jewish Podcasts Worldwide. It has several weekly episodes, allowing listeners to access her wit, wisdom, and inspiration in their own time. The Ross family’s open and fun-filled home makes it a top destination for families wishing to celebrate Shabbat and the chagim. Connect with Gila Ross: IG @itsGilaRoss Book:https://lightofinfinite.com/presenter/gila-ross/ Podcast: https://linktr.ee/Gilaross?utm_source=linktree_profile_share
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    37 mins