Why Judaism

We wrap up the interview with Rabbi Adlerstein who delves further into the divide caused by the various movements in Judaism, and offers a suggestion for Jewish continuity despite all of the complexities.

Rabbi Adlerstein continues to answer questions pertaining to Jewish law and the reasons behind Jewish law such as the prohibition against tattooing, and the relationship between the Orthodox to the non-Orthodox.

Rabbi Adlerstein picks up where we left off in the first segment and discusses the origin of the Bible, the various Jewish movements, and his relationship with Dennis Prager.

Rabbi Adlerstein is an Orthodox rabbi, lawyer, professor, teacher, writer, and administrator.  His resume is long and his answers are open and direct.

Concluding the conversation with Rabbi Eli Herscher, who was rabbi of Stephen S. Wise Temple in Los Angeles at the time.  

Continuing the conversation with Rabbi Eli Herscher of Stephen S. Wise Temple in Los Angeles.  Topics include conversion to Judaism.

Rabbi Herscher is a prominent Reform rabbi in Los Angeles. He was the Senior Rabbi of one of the largest congregations in the world (Stephen S. Wise Temple) when this interview took place (ca. 2004), and he is now the Senior Rabbi Emeritus.

Rabbi Eli Herscher was the Senior Rabbi of Stephen S. Wise Temple in Los Angeles when the interview took place (2004).  Today, he's the Senior Rabbi Emeritus of Stephen S. Wise Temple in Los Angeles, a large Reform congregation.

This the fourth and final segment of the interview with Rabbi Reinman, beginning with his thoughts on how to respond to someone who thinks the commandments are too constricting.

We continue with the conversation and the topic of 'biblical criticism.'  How do you explain the fact that Tzipporah's father "Jethro" or "Yitro" in Hebrew had so many different names?  Doesn't that lessen the credulity of the Torah?

The conversation continues with Rabbi Reinman, beginning with his thoughts on what Sandy Koufax did when a game of the World Series fell on Yom Kippur.

Rabbi Reinman, an Orthodox rabbi, co-wrote a book of e-mail correspondence with Ammiel Hirsch, a Reform rabbi, titled, "One People, Two Worlds: A Reform Rabbi and an Orthodox Rabbi Explore the Issues That Divide Them" (Schocken, 2002).  This interview is the first of four parts, covering topics such as intermarriage, Ameican politics, and the major difference between Judaism and Christianity, among many more.

The final segment with Rabbi Harold Schulweis (z'l) begins with his thoughts on anti-semitism.

The conversation continues with Rabbi Schulweis (z'l), former rabbi of Valley Beth Shalom in Encino.

In part two of four parts, Rabbi Harold Schulweis begins by discussing the various movements in Judaism: Reform, Orthodox, Conservative, and Reconstructionist.

Rabbi Schulweis (z"l), former rabbi of Valley Beth Shalom in Encino, CA was generous with his time and shared his wisdom.  He passed away in 2014, 10 years after this interview.  He was one-of-a-kind.  This was the very first interview from the film project, and episode one, approximately 30 minutes of the 2-hour interview.

This podcast is made from the foundations of a documentary film project called "Why Judaism," which is in post-production.  Interviews with Jews of all stripes will be posted that run the gamut of nearly every conceivable Jewish topic.