Honey From The Rock
Join host Bill Lipsey for inspiring conversations with Israel's most innovative spiritual leaders and entrepreneurs. Discover how the Honey Foundation is reshaping Israeli society by empowering diverse Jewish expression and building meaningful communities. From groundbreaking rabbis to community changemakers, each episode explores how spiritual entrepreneurship is creating a more open, connected Israel—for the benefit of Jews everywhere.
Honey From The Rock
Beyond Boundaries: A Leading Modern Orthodox Rabbi - on the Renewal of Jewish Life in Israel
In this episode, Bill sits down with Rabbi Kenneth Brander, President and Rosh Yeshiva of Ohr Torah Stone, for a profound conversation spanning his personal journey and perspectives on Jewish community and inclusion.
Show Notes:
- Personal Journey: Rabbi Brander shares how his trajectory changed from becoming a dentist to attending Yeshiva University after his transformative experience at Shalavim Yeshiva.
- Influential Relationships: Rabbi Brander discusses his older chavruta who fell in the Lebanon War and how Rabbi Soloveitchik encouraged him to enter the rabbinical world.
- Inclusive Judaism: The conversation explores Rabbi Brander's commitment to building relationships with all Jews regardless of their observance practices.
- Challenging Traditions: Rabbi Brander discusses his willingness to question established standards to foster greater inclusion, including topics like women in the clergy.
- LGBTQ Inclusion: The discussion covers his work integrating the LGBTQ community within a halachic framework, emphasizing the humanity behind these complex issues.
- Living Halacha: Rabbi Brander reflects on how halacha permeates daily life in Israel in ways not experienced elsewhere.
- War and Loss: A poignant conversation about the students Rabbi Brander has lost in the current war.
- Healing Division: The importance of healing divisions within Jewish communities both before and during wartime.
- Community Building: Their conversation concludes with thoughts on the vital importance of community for all Jews in Israel.
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