Judaism Unbound

500!!!! We made it. Somehow, someway, a wild idea that was once a figment of our imagination...has now been around for 500 weeks. In this episode, Dan, Lex, and Miriam [https://www.judaismunbound.com/team] celebrate that incredible number -- and take this as an opportunity to look back on the founding and evolution of Judaism Unbound, first as a podcast and then as an organization with many other facets. Miriam, Judaism Unbound's executive director, hosts the first portion of the episode -- with Dan and Lex switching from their typical role of co-hosts to co-guests -- and then she becomes a combination host-and-guest for the latter portion. Come for some behind the scenes lore about the history of our organization, stay for....a mystery Easter-Egg (Afikoman?) at the end! Access full shownotes [https://www.judaismunbound.com/podcast/episode-500] for this episode via this link [https://www.judaismunbound.com/podcast/episode-500].  If you've enjoyed Judaism Unbound [https://www.judaismunbound.com/], consider celebrating this 500th episode with a one-time or monthly donation [https://www.judaismunbound.com/donate] with a one-time or monthly tax-deductible donation -- support Judaism Unbound by clicking here! [https://www.judaismunbound.com/donate]

Elul is the 12th and final month of the Jewish calendar year. Elul Unbound [https://www.judaismunbound.com/elul2024] is a Judaism Unbound initiative all about making Elul meaningful, through creative digital modalities. In this episode, Lex Rofeberg [https://www.judaismunbound.com/team] and Wendie Bernstein Lash [https://wendielash.com/] explore the notion of chiasm (for "what is a 'chiasm' -- which is a great question -- click here) [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chiastic_structure], along with what it has to do with the month of Elul and the broader 7-year Shmita cycle. This Elul podcast is the third in a mini-series of four that are being released as part of Elul Unbound 2025 [https://www.judaismunbound.com/elul2025] (our 26th-29th Elul episodes overall). -------------------------------------- To check out all our Elul bonus episodes from previous years, which can still be relevant to your experience of Elul this time around, click here [https://www.judaismunbound.com/elul2025#minipodcasts]. Join our bi-weekly journey through Elul Unbound 2025 by signing up at this link [https://www.judaismunbound.com/join-elul-unbound2], and sign up for our Elul Unbound Shabbat gatherings here [https://judaismunbound.zoom.us/meeting/register/GX67OqInQLeO5cfj1HD9WA#/], where we will be forging our kavanot (intentions) for the new year in real time with fellow Unbounders. If you're enjoying Judaism Unbound [https://www.judaismunbound.com/], please help us keep things going [https://www.judaismunbound.com/donate] with a one-time or monthly tax-deductible donation -- support Judaism Unbound by clicking here! [https://www.judaismunbound.com/donate]

Elul is the 12th and final month of the Jewish calendar year. Elul Unbound [https://www.judaismunbound.com/elul2024] is a Judaism Unbound initiative all about making Elul meaningful, through creative digital modalities. In this episode, Lex Rofeberg and Wendie Bernstein Lash explore the 13 attributes of mercy, traditionally associated with Elul and the High Holidays. This Elul podcast is the second in a mini-series of four that will be released as part of Elul Unbound 2025 [https://www.judaismunbound.com/elul2025] (our 26th-29th Elul episodes overall). -------------------------------------- To check out all our Elul bonus episodes from previous years, which can still be relevant to your experience of Elul this time around, click here [https://www.judaismunbound.com/elul2025#minipodcasts]. Join our bi-weekly journey through Elul Unbound 2025 by signing up at this link [https://www.judaismunbound.com/join-elul-unbound2], and sign up for our Elul Unbound Shabbat gatherings here [https://judaismunbound.zoom.us/meeting/register/GX67OqInQLeO5cfj1HD9WA#/], where we will be forging our kavanot (intentions) for the new year in real time with fellow Unbounders. Access full shownotes [https://www.judaismunbound.com/podcast/episode-499-elul-2025-2] for this episode via this link [https://www.judaismunbound.com/podcast/episode-499-elul-2025-2]. If you're enjoying Judaism Unbound [https://www.judaismunbound.com/], please help us keep things going [https://www.judaismunbound.com/donate] with a one-time or monthly tax-deductible donation -- support Judaism Unbound by clicking here! [https://www.judaismunbound.com/donate]

Elul is the 12th and final month of the Jewish calendar year. Elul Unbound [https://www.judaismunbound.com/elul2024] is a Judaism Unbound initiative all about making Elul meaningful, through creative digital modalities. In this conversation, Lex Rofeberg and Wendie Bernstein Lash kick off this year's Elul Unbound experience. This Elul bonus episode is the first in a series of four that will be released as part of Elul Unbound 2025 [https://www.judaismunbound.com/elul2025] (our 26th-29th Elul episodes overall). -------------------------------------- Energized about Jewish learning and unlearning? Dive into our upcoming 3-week mini-courses in the UnYeshiva! Classes include Elul: Your On-Ramp into Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur [https://www.judaismunbound.com/2025-courses/p/elul-on-ramp], Anti-Fascist Mussar [https://www.judaismunbound.com/2025-courses/p/antifascist-mussar], The Siddur (Prayer-Book) Unbound [https://www.judaismunbound.com/2025-courses/p/siddur-unbound], and Comix Midrash: Drawing the Orchards (Pardes) of Elul [https://www.judaismunbound.com/2025-courses/p/comix-midrash]. Head to JudaismUnbound.com/classes [https://www.judaismunbound.com/classes#elul2025] to learn more! Financial aid [https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSe4B-qHIQ0-PDwsgzA3mgrkYO55kQfqH6hh_bboT7cVrCv5mw/viewform] is available for all who need it. To check out all our Elul bonus episodes from previous years, which can still be relevant to your experience of Elul this time around, click here [https://www.judaismunbound.com/elul2025#minipodcasts]. Join our bi-weekly journey through Elul Unbound 2025 by signing up at this link [https://www.judaismunbound.com/join-elul-unbound2], and sign up for our Elul Unbound Shabbat gatherings here [https://judaismunbound.zoom.us/meeting/register/GX67OqInQLeO5cfj1HD9WA#/], where we will be forging our kavanot (intentions) for the new year in real time with fellow Unbounders.

Elul is the 12th and final month of the Jewish calendar year. Elul Unbound [https://www.judaismunbound.com/elul2024] is a Judaism Unbound initiative all about making Elul meaningful, through creative digital modalities. In this conversation, Lex Rofeberg and Wendie Bernstein Lash kick off this year's Elul Unbound experience. This Elul bonus episode is the first in a series of four that will be released as part of Elul Unbound 2025 [https://www.judaismunbound.com/elul2025] (our 26th-29th Elul episodes overall). -------------------------------------- Energized about Jewish learning and unlearning? Dive into our upcoming 3-week mini-courses in the UnYeshiva! Classes include Elul: Your On-Ramp into Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur [https://www.judaismunbound.com/2025-courses/p/elul-on-ramp], Anti-Fascist Mussar [https://www.judaismunbound.com/2025-courses/p/antifascist-mussar], The Siddur (Prayer-Book) Unbound [https://www.judaismunbound.com/2025-courses/p/siddur-unbound], and Comix Midrash: Drawing the Orchards (Pardes) of Elul [https://www.judaismunbound.com/2025-courses/p/comix-midrash]. Head to JudaismUnbound.com/classes [https://www.judaismunbound.com/classes#elul2025] to learn more! Financial aid [https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSe4B-qHIQ0-PDwsgzA3mgrkYO55kQfqH6hh_bboT7cVrCv5mw/viewform] is available for all who need it. To check out all our Elul bonus episodes from previous years, which can still be relevant to your experience of Elul this time around, click here [https://www.judaismunbound.com/elul2025#minipodcasts]. Join our bi-weekly journey through Elul Unbound 2025 by signing up at this link [https://www.judaismunbound.com/join-elul-unbound2], and sign up for our Elul Unbound Shabbat gatherings here [https://judaismunbound.zoom.us/meeting/register/GX67OqInQLeO5cfj1HD9WA#/], where we will be forging our kavanot (intentions) for the new year in real time with fellow Unbounders.