• Home
  • About
  • Feedback
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • YouTube
Jewish Coffee House
  • Productions
  • Podcasts
    • Orthodox Conundrum
    • Intimate Judaism
    • The Maimonides Minute
    • Chochmat Nashim
    • Intellectual Spirituality
    • Ask the Rabbis
    • The Franciska Show
    • Let My People Eat
  • Blogs
    • The Scott Kahnversation
    • Avenue-(G)K Blog
  • Productions
  • Podcasts
    • Orthodox Conundrum
    • Intimate Judaism
    • The Maimonides Minute
    • Chochmat Nashim
    • Intellectual Spirituality
    • Ask the Rabbis
    • The Franciska Show
    • Let My People Eat
  • Blogs
    • The Scott Kahnversation
    • Avenue-(G)K Blog
 
Jewish Coffee House
  • Productions
  • Podcasts
    • Orthodox Conundrum
    • Intimate Judaism
    • The Maimonides Minute
    • Chochmat Nashim
    • Intellectual Spirituality
    • Ask the Rabbis
    • The Franciska Show
    • Let My People Eat
  • Blogs
    • The Scott Kahnversation
    • Avenue-(G)K Blog
  • Productions
  • Podcasts
    • Orthodox Conundrum
    • Intimate Judaism
    • The Maimonides Minute
    • Chochmat Nashim
    • Intellectual Spirituality
    • Ask the Rabbis
    • The Franciska Show
    • Let My People Eat
  • Blogs
    • The Scott Kahnversation
    • Avenue-(G)K Blog
JCH » Politics » Orthodox Conundrum

A Vision of Separating Halacha & State, not Religion & State: A Conversation with Rabbi Aaron Leibowitz (148)

February 14, 2023 9:54 am

In our previous episode, Scott talked with Shoshanna Keats-Jaskoll about the challenge to faith that takes place when some rabbis betray their calling by not acting as they should. When leaders fail us, they leave wreckage in their wake – the wreckage of failed expectations, of disappointment, of crisis, and of course the practical issues like, as Shoshanna related, needing to wait years for a get and more.

This episode is a type of follow-up to last week’s. The Israeli Chief Rabbinate was formed with positive goals in mind, and there are some wonderful representatives of Torah Judaism who work for that institution. But as Lord Acton said in 1887, “Power tends to corrupt, and absolute power corrupts absolutely.” We’re certainly not there yet, but political power in the hands of the Rabbinate – which is the case in Israel in certain areas of Halacha, such as marriage, divorce, conversion, and kashrut – has led to serious problems that are themselves violations of Torah. And while presumably most rabbis in the Rabbinate have noble goals, the reality of the Rabbinate brings to mind a different aphorism: The road to hell is paved with good intentions.

Rabbi Aaron Leibowitz, the founder and President of Hashgacha Pratit, decided to do something about it. You might agree with his solutions, and you might not. Some of what he suggests may sound quite radical. But either way, remember that we often witness a repeating pattern: that there’s a serious problem that leadership fails to address, so someone else decides to do something – and then is condemned by the leadership that failed to act. Our response should be that if leadership wants a response or solution that it can accept, then leadership shouldn’t drag its feet and wait for someone else to do something.

Please listen to and share this podcast, and let us know what you think on the Orthodox Conundrum Discussion Group on Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/groups/432020081498108).

The Orthodox Conundrum is looking for sponsors – either to promote your business or organization, or in someone’s honor or memory . If you want to reach thousands of listeners every week, then write to us at [email protected].

Thanks to all of our Patreon subscribers, who have access to bonus JCH podcasts, merch, and more – we appreciate your help, and hope you really enjoy the extras! Visit the JCH Patreon site at https://www.patreon.com/jewishcoffeehouse.

Visit https://www.jchpodcasts.com/ to learn all about creating your own podcast.

Music: “Happy Rock” by bensound.com

Share and Like
« Previous Post
Next Post »
Join Us

Bonus Content and Groovy Goodies

dedicate a  podcast

advertise with us

Join the JCH community!

Subscribe now
FOLLOW US
Twitter feed is not available at the moment.
Like Us
About
DEAR COFFEE DRINKERS AND OTHER HUMANS, Jewish Coffee House is a startup podcast network, which produces and broadcasts both audio and video content. (Also jokes.) We're starting off small, but we plan to expand... Read more
Contact Us
We want to hear from you. Send us an email at [email protected]
Or give us a call
USA and Canada: (917) 724-2241
United Kingdom: 203-769-1465
Israel: 058-527-9885
For more contact info click here
Popular

Laws of Pesach Part 8 – Hilchot Chametz uMatzah 4:7-12

Join the Maimonides Minute for the re-release of our series on the Rambam’s laws of Passover. This shiur offers additional

Podcasts
  • Orthodox Conundrum
  • Intimate Judaism
  • The Maimonides Minute
  • Chochmat Nashim
  • Intellectual Spirituality
  • Ask the Rabbis
  • The Franciska Show
  • Let My People Eat
Copyright 2018. All rights reserved, Rabbi Scott Kahn.
Accessibility   Terms of Use   Privacy Policy   Contact Us
Scroll to top
Skip to content
Open toolbar Accessibility Tools

Accessibility Tools

  • Increase TextIncrease Text
  • Decrease TextDecrease Text
  • GrayscaleGrayscale
  • High ContrastHigh Contrast
  • Negative ContrastNegative Contrast
  • Light BackgroundLight Background
  • Links UnderlineLinks Underline
  • Readable FontReadable Font
  • Reset Reset