Jews in the US Military

03/22/22 • 48 min

What does it mean to be a Jew in the United States military? Phil Lieberman, an Orthodox rabbi, professor of Jewish Studies at Vanderbilt, and a decorated, active-duty military chaplain, talks with Yehuda Kurtzer about how success as a Jewish navy chaplain is not always measured by the size of community but in educating others about Jewish life. Ronit Stahl, author and associate professor at UC Berkeley, frames the larger historical context of Jews in the armed services normalizing Judaism as an American religion.

Previous Episode

Seven Deep Purim Ideas

Two scholars who see the world quite differently offer a deep yet playful read of the Book of Esther. Speaking this week with Dovid Bashevkin, the Director of Education for NCSY, Yehuda Kurtzer proposes seven philosophical, literary, theological, political, and moral theses on the megillah to enrich your Purim conversations – or start new ones.

Next Episode

A Musical Journey with Joey Weisenberg

Where does song end and prayer begin? Joey Weisenberg, founder and director of Hadar’s Rising Song Institute and author of The Torah of Music and Building Singing Communities joins Yehuda Kurtzer to discuss the spiritual role of music in Jewish communal life, what creating has been like in a time of the COVID-19 pandemic, and to share some music that will uplift and inspire you.

Music included in this episode is listed below and at this Spotify playlist.
• Yonati (Song of Songs, 2:14)
• Gam Ki Eilech
• Shokhein Ad
• Ya’aleh Koneinu
• Lincoln’s Nigun / Yamin U’smol (Kabbalat Shabbat)
• L’eila (Kaddish)

It can be purchased through Rising Song Records.