JOI to the World

Is Being Anti-Israel the Same as Being Antisemitic?

🎧 Listen to this and other episodes at www.joidenver.com/podcasts In this episode of Dear Rabbi, I tackle a great and very timely question: Is it antisemitic to be anti-Israel? This is a nuanced issue that requires careful understanding of the difference between legitimate criticism and hate. I lived in Israel for about nine years, and I can tell you that nobody is more critical of Israel than Israelis themselves. Well, maybe the UN, but aside from them, Israelis are Israel's harshest critics. There's nothing antisemitic about being against a specific aspect of the Israeli government or a particular policy they've implemented. Democracies invite and require criticism that's healthy and normal. But with that said, there is a very fine line. We're finding that so much antisemitic rhetoric and antisemitic tropes that have existed for thousands of years are being rebranded as anti-Zionism or anti-Israel sentiment, and that IS antisemitic, and it IS a problem. I point to concrete evidence: During the clash between Gaza and Israel in May 2021, antisemitic attacks around the world, including here in the United States, skyrocketed. There was a direct correlation between anti-Israel rhetoric and antisemitic violence. People were being beaten up on the streets of the United States who had no connection to Israel or anything specifically happening in the Middle East. The key question to ask yourself: Am I criticizing the policy of a democratic country (which is totally okay), or am I trying to delegitimize Israel's right to exist? The former is legitimate political discourse. The latter is another form of antisemitism that's becoming increasingly popular today in the United States. If you follow the trends, it's actually quite scary.

Parshat Bamidbar: You Become Who You Camp With

📖 Parshat Bamidbar This Week: The Torah dedicates significant space to detailing who camped next to whom in the desert, every tribe's exact position around the Mishkan. Why does this matter? Because proximity shapes identity. Who we are depends on the people we spend our time with. The tribes closest to the Mishkan absorbed more holiness. Those farther away had different influences. If you want to change who you are and who you'll become, change who you surround yourself with. Your friends, your community, your influences—they're not just decorative. They're formative. Choose your camp wisely. You're absorbing more than you realize. Shabbat Shalom. ⛺ Follow us for more: Website - https://www.joidenver.com [https://www.joidenver.com/] Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/joidenver [https://www.instagram.com/joidenver] Facebook - http://www.facebook.com/JOIdenver [http://www.facebook.com/JOIdenver] YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/c/JOIdenver [https://www.youtube.com/c/JOIdenver] Pinterest - http://pinterest.com/jewishdiy [http://pinterest.com/jewishdiy] Subscribe to "JOI to the World" to access all our podcasts, including Yada Yada Yiddish, Kids Say the Deepest Things, Reconnect, and Dear Rabbi.

My Dog Ate My Kippah - Does It Need Jewish Burial?

In this episode of Dear Rabbi, I answer a beautifully rhymed question: "Michael ate my kippah." Does it need to go to genizah?" Let me first clarify the terms: a kippah is the head covering Jewish men traditionally wear, Michael is a dog, and genizah is the process and place where we bury holy items. Genizah (also known as "shaimos," literally "names") is required when a piece of parchment or paper has God's name on it; we're not allowed to destroy it or throw it away, so it gets buried the same way a human being would.  The question is, does a destroyed kippah need Jewish burial, or can it just be thrown out? The simple answer is no, it does not need genizah. A kippah (yarmulke) has no spiritual significance whatsoever. It's nothing more than a convenient way to cover our heads. Jewish men cover their heads to constantly remind themselves that God is above that's actually where the term "yarmulke" comes from: "yirat Malka," meaning "fear of the King" or "awe of Heaven." But how I cover my head isn't mandated. I can use a turban, hood, baseball cap, or fedora—really, any head covering counts. The fact that I wear one type of covering versus another is insignificant. The yarmulke has absolutely no inherent spiritual value. I often see people drop their kippah, pick it up, and kiss it the same way we kiss a holy Jewish book or other sacred item that falls. This is totally unnecessary because, as I said, it doesn't have any spiritual or religious significance. Keep the questions coming! If you have a burning question about Judaism, Please email us at Dearrabbi@Joidenver.com [https://Joidenver.com]📧 Tune in to Dear Rabbi and uncover the wisdom behind Jewish customs and laws. 🎙️🌟 Follow us for more: Website - https://www.joidenver.com [https://www.joidenver.com] Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/joidenver [https://www.instagram.com/joidenver] Facebook - http://www.facebook.com/JOIdenver [http://www.facebook.com/JOIdenver] YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/c/JOIdenver [https://www.youtube.com/c/JOIdenver] Pinterest - http://pinterest.com/jewishdiy [http://pinterest.com/jewishdiy] Subscribe to "JOI to the World" to access all our podcasts, including Yada Yada Yiddish, Kids Say the Deepest Things, Reconnect, and Dear Rabbi.

Parshat Behar: You Don't Really Own Anything

📖 Parshat Behar This Week: Imagine buying land, working it for decades, building your wealth, and then every 50 years, Yovel hits, and it goes back to the original owner. Wait, what? How is that even fair? But that's exactly the Torah's system. The message? You don't really own anything. Everything you have, your land, your wealth, your talents, and your life, is a gift from God. The Yovel is a radical reset, reminding us that nothing truly belongs to us. It's all on loan. This concept is incomprehensible to our Western ownership-obsessed minds, but it's liberating. When you realize you don't own anything, you stop clinging so tightly. You hold it all with open hands. Gratitude replaces entitlement. Shabbat Shalom. 🌾 Follow us for more: Website - https://www.joidenver.com [https://www.joidenver.com/] Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/joidenver [https://www.instagram.com/joidenver] Facebook - http://www.facebook.com/JOIdenver [http://www.facebook.com/JOIdenver] YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/c/JOIdenver [https://www.youtube.com/c/JOIdenver] Pinterest - http://pinterest.com/jewishdiy [http://pinterest.com/jewishdiy] Subscribe to "JOI to the World" to access all our podcasts, including Yada Yada Yiddish, Kids Say the Deepest Things, Reconnect, and Dear Rabbi.

If Torah Forbids Adding Laws, How Do Rabbinic Mitzvot Exist?

🎧 Listen to this and other episodes at www.joidenver.com/podcasts In this episode of Dear Rabbi, I tackle an excellent paradox: The Torah explicitly states that one is prohibited from adding or subtracting from the mitzvot. So how then do rabbinic mitzvot come to be? Isn't that adding to the Torah? You're correct that the Torah forbids us from adding or detracting from it, and both are equally problematic. Your question is so good that the Ramban (Nachmanides) himself asks it: How did the rabbis make fences for the Torah? Isn't that adding to it? I explain the crucial distinction between rabbinic mitzvot and adding to the Torah. Adding to the Torah would be claiming "this is what the Torah says" when the Torah doesn't actually say it. Rabbinic mitzvot are very different; the rabbis are doing exactly what the Torah commands them to do: putting up protective fences to prevent people from transgressing actual Torah law.  The key is understanding the distinction between rabbinic law and Torah law. As long as we recognize these are safeguards protecting us from violating biblical Torah law, it's not only acceptable but actually required by the Torah itself. Think of guardrails on a highway or a fence on top of a high roof. If we take Torah seriously, we need those guardrails to keep us in line. History proves the wisdom of rabbinic laws. I've personally looked at some and thought, "Are you serious?" If X happens, then Y will happen? They seem totally disconnected!" But history shows that Jewish communities that abandoned rabbinic laws began abandoning Torah laws as well. The direct correlation validates the rabbis' foresight. Keep the questions coming! If you have a burning question about Judaism, Please email us at Dearrabbi@Joidenver.com [https://Joidenver.com]📧 Tune in to Dear Rabbi and uncover the wisdom behind Jewish customs and laws. 🎙️🌟 Follow us for more: Website - https://www.joidenver.com [https://www.joidenver.com] Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/joidenver [https://www.instagram.com/joidenver] Facebook - http://www.facebook.com/JOIdenver [http://www.facebook.com/JOIdenver] YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/c/JOIdenver [https://www.youtube.com/c/JOIdenver] Pinterest - http://pinterest.com/jewishdiy [http://pinterest.com/jewishdiy] Subscribe to "JOI to the World" to access all our podcasts, including Yada Yada Yiddish, Kids Say the Deepest Things, Reconnect, and Dear Rabbi.