(30) Rabbi Steven Gotlib: A Thoughtful and Bold Voice for Our Complicated Times
Release Date: 03/11/2025
(51) Jewish Preparedness and Self-Defense … With Harry Weller
The Orthonomics Podcast
Harry Weller is extremely knowledgeable on the topic of how we as Jews can defend ourselves, be prepared for and able to respond to threats. In this episode we discuss the need for, and resources available for Jews to learn self-defense, preparedness, how to deal with potential threats, and even the topic of gun ownership. Harry Weller is a long-time Connecticut attorney who served for decades as a Senior Assistant State’s Attorney in the Connecticut Division of Criminal Justice. He is known for his work as a prosecutor and appellate litigator, handling a wide range of criminal appeals on...
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(50) Rethinking, While Also Caring … with Rabbi Steven Greenberg
The Orthonomics Podcast
Rabbi Steven Greenberg is an Orthodox rabbi and author. Ordained at Yeshiva University, he has spent years teaching, writing, and speaking across the Jewish world about tradition, ethics, and religious change. Specifically, as co-founder of the group Eshel, he was one of the earliest voices calling for inclusion of LGBTQ individuals – gay people – within Orthodox Judaism. How do we do that? On the one hand, we must think deeply about how Torah speaks to this reality. At the same time, we must care for people living this reality right now. Rabbi Greenberg joins us to explore where Orthodoxy...
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(49) The Cost of Orthodox Life: Are Things Really Getting Worse? … With David Sheril
The Orthonomics Podcast
In this episode we discuss the cost of Orthodox / frum life. What factors affect it, and how? We discuss overall finances (how many are doing OK; how many are not doing OK?); the impact of children’s education costs; housing costs in Orthodox neighborhoods; kosher food prices; competitiveness and “showiness”; whether and how incomes are keeping up; is the Orthodox situation getting worse, including compared to the U.S. as a whole?; and, finally, to what extent are people holding up under cost pressures? My guest, David Sheril grew up Britain. His family became baalei teshuvah...
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(48) An Excellent Jewish Learning Resource … With Audrey Lichter
The Orthonomics Podcast
Audrey Lichter is a long-time Jewish educator and community leader, and the founding Executive Director of the Chai Mitzvah program. Audrey has worked in Jewish education for over 30 years, including as the founding principal of Yachad, the community high school in Greater Hartford, Connecticut. She has been active as a lay leader, received community awards, and has been involved locally and nationally in Jewish day school and educational initiatives. Her leadership background and deep experience in Jewish learning helped shape Chai Mitzvah into a program that emphasizes personal meaning and...
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(47) Self-Identification, Leaving Orthodoxy, Divorce, Therapy, and More … With Miriam Moster, PhD
The Orthonomics Podcast
Miriam Moster has a PhD sociology, she is a Mellon Humanities Public Fellow and a Wexner Graduate Fellow. Her research explores Jewish communities, education, and the experiences of individuals navigating the boundaries of insular religious worlds. “Navigating the boundaries” means moving from one sector of Judaism and observance to another sector and lifestyle; and she has published widely on these topics. Her work is distinguished by an interdisciplinary approach, drawing on sociology, narrative, and cultural studies to better understand how people view and construct their own personal...
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(46) Addictions and Suicides in the Orthodox Community … with Zvi Gluck, CEO of Amudim
The Orthonomics Podcast
Thanks to the Halacha Headlines podcast and Dovid Lichtenstein for allowing us to share this important episode with the Orthonomics audience. Halacha Headlines is an excellent podcast, primarily aimed at the Yeshivish community but with important insights for all Orthodox Jews. It is available at all podcast platforms. For further information about the issues discussed, go to . The Nishma Research Health Assessment Survey of the Orthodox community is available through January 18, 2026 at . You may send feedback or questions to .
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(45) A Man of Emes v’Emunah … Truth and Faith … Harry Maryles
The Orthonomics Podcast
Harry Maryles is the author behind the blog Emes Ve-Emunah (which is now also released as a Substack publication). For many years he has written extensively and prolifically on issues of Halacha (Jewish law), hashkafa (Jewish philosophy), and contemporary matters affecting Orthodoxy. He does not shy away from sensitive or controversial issues, and his columns are just excellent. I’ve very much enjoyed reading his column and we have even interacted from time to time. He is a rabbi and holds a psychology degree, and also publishes essays and commentary for news-and-analysis outlets such as The...
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(44) Navigating Grief Through Jewish Tradition … with Elissa Felder
The Orthonomics Podcast
is a: • Renowned speaker • Author of the book “” • The Coordinator of Elissa also mentioned and the excellent they have prepared for follow-up discussion of the topics she raises.
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(43) What Comes After Orthodox Divorce, for Men and Women … with Esther Eisner
The Orthonomics Podcast
Esther Eisner is the founder of AfterForever.org, an online support community for Jewish divorcees. As a divorcee herself, Esther has experienced firsthand some of the challenges of rebuilding – both one’s home and ones’ self – post-divorce. She started After Forever to help others get back on their feet and to assist in navigating the path to starting over. This is the fourth and final episode of a series dealing wih divorce in the Orthodox Jewish community. See also episode 37 (an overview of the survey findings), episode 39 (conversation with Rabbi Weissmann, director of the Beth...
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(42) Health, Covid and More … with Dr. David Wolpaw, MD
The Orthonomics Podcast
David Wolpaw reacts to the top health issues that Orthodox Jews recently told us are most important to them, including how their priorities compare with those of the general population. We also have a wide-ranging conversation covering such topics as attitudes toward vaccines, trust in medical authority and government, social media, Israel, and a little bit of politics.
info_outlineIn this episode, we have a wide-ranging discussion, touching on such topics as:
• Significant differences between US and Canadian Jewry/Orthodoxy
• Interactions and public conversations across among various denominations
• The evolving role of women in Modern Orthodoxy
• Has politics become a “Jewish issue” (and/or divisive), including attitudes toward Israel and Zionism
• Struggles with faith and rationality
• What factors lead to Orthodox couples getting divorced
Steven Gotlib is Associate Rabbi at Mekor Habracha/Center City Synagogue in Philadelphia. A graduate of Rutgers University, he received ordination from the Rabbi Isaac Elchanan Theological Seminary at Yeshiva University (RIETS), a certificate in mental health counseling from the Ferkauf School of Psychology in partnership with RIETS, and a START Certificate in Spiritual Entrepreneurship from the Glean Network in partnership with Columbia Business School. He also manages the marketing at RIETS,
A popular guest speaker throughout the US and Canada, Rabbi Gotlib has written for various websites and publications. He strongly believes in making Jewish theology, philosophy, and law as accessible as possible to all who seek guidance and comfort within our tradition. He can be reached at rabbisgotlib@mekorhabracha.org.