What is a Bad Jew? Part 2 with Igor Milgram
02/07/24 • 29 min
1 Listener
What have we learned after a year? Bad Jew, the podcast has produced content for over a year. 58 episodes later, the show has reached the top 10% of Jewish podcasts by being consistent in Jewish teachings. But has it been consistent in teaching the foundation it was built on? That there is no such thing as a Bad Jew?
Igor Milgram, an entrepreneur from the Bay Area of Northern California, had a similar idea. Wanting to connect the forgotten members of the Jewish community, he put together his personal resources to spread the message that there truly is no such thing as a Bad Jew. He does this by creating spaces to welcome all members no matter what their background is. Milgram's events caught the eye of Bad Jew podcast host Chaz Volk. Chaz and Igor explore the meaning of Bad Jew, Jewish identity, and openly discuss the potential of their comprehensive partnership.
About Igor Milgram:
Igor Milgram – A Jewish Immigrant from Ukraine. Born during the Soviet Union and a Bay Area Resident since he was two years old. Igor has always broken the mold of what was expected of him. Whether it be working at NASA with no degree at 21, becoming Vice President of AEPI at SJSU at 23, starting a Cannabis Infused Beef Jerky Company, or helping run a high-end meat processing company before the age of 30, he has chosen to carve his own path instead of using one set out in front of him. Now a consultant in the cannabis industry, who helps take care of his mother and grandmother, and an active participant in the SF Bay Area Jewish scene, he has started a new project to foster a change in the Jewish Community. By creating SFBadJews he hopes to create a sense of home for all the Jewish People who have been left behind by the Jewish world as it exists currently, change the stereotypes of what society expects a Jewish person to be, and transform what the Jewish world thinks a Good Jew or Bad Jew looks like.
Connect with Igor Milgram:
IG @sfbadjews
Connect with Bad Jew:
BadJew.co
https://linktr.ee/badjew
Ig @BadJewPod
TikTok @BadJewPod
What have we learned after a year? Bad Jew, the podcast has produced content for over a year. 58 episodes later, the show has reached the top 10% of Jewish podcasts by being consistent in Jewish teachings. But has it been consistent in teaching the foundation it was built on? That there is no such thing as a Bad Jew?
Igor Milgram, an entrepreneur from the Bay Area of Northern California, had a similar idea. Wanting to connect the forgotten members of the Jewish community, he put together his personal resources to spread the message that there truly is no such thing as a Bad Jew. He does this by creating spaces to welcome all members no matter what their background is. Milgram's events caught the eye of Bad Jew podcast host Chaz Volk. Chaz and Igor explore the meaning of Bad Jew, Jewish identity, and openly discuss the potential of their comprehensive partnership.
About Igor Milgram:
Igor Milgram – A Jewish Immigrant from Ukraine. Born during the Soviet Union and a Bay Area Resident since he was two years old. Igor has always broken the mold of what was expected of him. Whether it be working at NASA with no degree at 21, becoming Vice President of AEPI at SJSU at 23, starting a Cannabis Infused Beef Jerky Company, or helping run a high-end meat processing company before the age of 30, he has chosen to carve his own path instead of using one set out in front of him. Now a consultant in the cannabis industry, who helps take care of his mother and grandmother, and an active participant in the SF Bay Area Jewish scene, he has started a new project to foster a change in the Jewish Community. By creating SFBadJews he hopes to create a sense of home for all the Jewish People who have been left behind by the Jewish world as it exists currently, change the stereotypes of what society expects a Jewish person to be, and transform what the Jewish world thinks a Good Jew or Bad Jew looks like.
Connect with Igor Milgram:
IG @sfbadjews
Connect with Bad Jew:
BadJew.co
https://linktr.ee/badjew
Ig @BadJewPod
TikTok @BadJewPod
Previous Episode
How Do Jews Set Goals? with Rabbi David Schlusselberg
It's the secular new year which means many of you have taken the time to practice introspection and reflect on what was and what could have been. The need to improve for 2024 is conditioned by the growth mindset we all have. As it turns out, even the Torah is built around a growth mindset.
While many wouldn't initially recognize the Torah as a place to set goals, Rabbi David Schlusselberg helps us realign our thinking. Schlesselberg sits with host, Chaz Volk, to draw from lessons from biblical stories and allow space for personal stories to be shared.
About Rabbi David Schlusselberg:
Rabbi David Schlusselberg is a teacher and the mashgiach ruchani at the Rae Kushner Yeshiva High School in Livingston, NJ. He has been working with teenagers in formal and informal settings for over 15 years. Rabbi Schlusselberg obtained semicha from Yeshiva University, and has a master's degree in Jewish education from the Azrieli Graduate School of Jewish Education.
Connect with Rabbi David Schlusselberg
IG @rabbi_david_schlusselberg
TikTok @rabbi.davidschlusselberg
Connect with Bad Jew:
BadJew.co
https://linktr.ee/badjew
Ig @BadJewPod
TikTok @BadJewPod
Next Episode
What Is Love? with Rabbi Melinda Bernstein
It's Valentine's Day, the day that all people either adore or despise depending on whether or not they are single (or whether or not they're in a good relationship). Love is an abstract concept. There certainly are easy-to-spot actions that lovers take like giving and receiving affection, doing favors for each other, exchanging gifts, and even verbally saying "I love you." But how those feelings develop and how they change over time is an intangible emotion that no one has ever perfectly mastered.
Rabbi Melinda Bernstein is a freelance Rabbi who regularly officiates weddings and helps guide the spirituality that couples can struggle to tap into. Bernstein guides us through the evolution of relationships, the art of communication, and the pursuit of a soulmate. Chaz Volk, host of Bad Jew, learns about Rabbi Melinda's reframing of "roadblocks" to "road walks" in relational paths; She shares her personal experiences and Kabbalistic insights on being a vessel for divine energy.
Episode Timeline:
00:00 Introduction to Rabbi Melinda Bernstein.
06:20 Choosing to heal, see passion, be real.
08:20 Road walk: conflict resolution through open dialogue.
11:01 Navigating inner conflict, seeking connection and guidance.
13:21 Kabbalah as conduit to connect with energy.
19:13 Seeking deep wisdom and joy in life.
20:35 Individual sexual energy and healing vs herd.
24:13 Manifesting good or bad outcomes is uncertain.
27:51 Seeking love and companionship after 18 years.
29:28 Time is precious, make every moment count.
About Rabbi Melinda Bernstein:
Melinda is a freelance rabbi in Southeast Florida. She was Ordained May 14, 2009 on the sandy beach in Hollywood, Florida. She chose this date in honor of Mother's Day and Israel Independence Day. As a native Floridian, Melinda was born in Miami Beach, was raised Reform Jewish in Dade County, raised children Orthodox Jewish in Broward County, and raised many eyebrows with her open-minded, eclectic & unique Rabbinical style.
As a child of the reform movement, Melinda felt bored and uninspired. As a wife and mother, Melinda became a Ba’al Teshuvah in the orthodox lifestyle, which was nourishing yet void of her mystical, musical and shamanic interests. As a divorcee’, Melinda embraced an embodied path and has helped others do the same. Melinda embraces the present as a loving energy between God, her Ancestors, family and beyond. From her life experiences Melinda has found and accessed a loving conduit of energy with God.
Melinda's approach to Judaism is anchored with the consciousness of the heart, the passion of the soul, and the delight of knowing the body. Through years of study and practice, Melinda transcends the ordinary and knows how to meet people where they are. Her covenant with God is rooted in compassion, understanding and love upon our neighbors of the earth.
Each of us has a unique journey towards redemption and in that journey is a roadmap of our soul work. Learning to map out the road ahead is Melinda’s divine specialty and joy. Read Melinda’s Journey to Redemption and get her free Roadmap to assist you map out the road ahead.
Melinda is a devoted mother of two, mother-in-law to one and grandmother of three. Melinda knows that family and faith are at the forefront of every endeavor and in her "free" time, she explores new ways of being best herself.
Melinda's approach to Judaism is anchored with the consciousness of the heart, the passion of the soul, and the delight of knowing the body. Through years of study and practice, Melinda transcends the ordinary and knows how to meet people where they are. Her covenant with God is rooted in compassion, understanding and love upon our neighbors of the earth.
Personable, professional & easy to work with, Melinda has excellent references!
Connect with Rabbi Melinda Bernstein:
www.MelindaBernstein.com
Connect with Bad Jew:
BadJew.co
https://linktr.ee/badjew
Ig @BadJewPod
TikTok @BadJewPod
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