Charlie Kirk’s assassination is a shocking, tragic act of violence. Murder is a desecration of the image of God, full stop. We condemn it unequivocally, and we pray for comfort for his family and for all who were harmed.

At the same time, Charlie Kirk was a complicated public figure. He was outspokenly pro-Israel and often advocated for Jewish safety; he also voiced criticisms of Israel’s current government. He advanced positions that many in the Orthodox world consider essential, and others consider deeply problematic. He defended Israel vigorously, and he also gave a platform to voices widely regarded as openly antisemitic. All of that can be true at once, and ignoring any part of that picture does our community no favors.

In the days since his death, we’ve seen Orthodox individuals and organizations release statements ranging from restrained condolences to sweeping praise that some would call over-the-top. Today we’re going to step back and ask, dispassionately and honestly: what should Charlie Kirk’s legacy be for Orthodox Jews?

This is neither a eulogy nor an indictment. Our aim is to slow the rush to hot takes and consider how a mature community remembers someone who meant very different things to different people.

I have three guests on today's episode: Rabbi Yitzchok Adlerstein, Rabbi Benjamin Kelsen, and Rabbi Pesach Wolicki. Together we’ll explore where they agree, where they diverge, and what that means for real life: how institutions and leaders speak publicly, and how we keep our disagreements from corroding relationships. Above all, we’ll try to conduct this conversation in a way that is truthful, proportionate, and humane.

Check out Orthodox Conundrum Commentary on Substack and get your free subscription by going to https://scottkahn.substack.com/.

We're excited to announce that we at Jewish Coffee House are continuing to expand the conversation by bringing you—our listeners—into the mix. Introducing JCH Q&A, an exciting new podcast where listener-submitted questions are answered in a thoughtful, honest, and engaging way. We plan to dive deep into your pressing hashkafic, political, and philosophical questions. We will address the ideas that matter, the issues that challange us, and the topics that spark real curiosity.

To submit a question for our first episode, you must be a member of the JCH Podcast WhatsApp Community. (Join here.) No question is off limits, and all submissions will remain anonymous. We're looking forward to answering your questions on our first episode!

Please listen to and share this podcast, and let us know what you think on the Orthodox Conundrum Discussion Group on Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/groups/432020081498108).

Thanks to all of our Patreon subscribers, who have access to bonus JCH podcasts, merch, and more - we appreciate your help, and hope you really enjoy the extras! Visit the JCH Patreon site at https://www.patreon.com/jewishcoffeehouse.

Check out https://jewishcoffeehouse.com/ for the Orthodox Conundrum and other great podcasts, and remember to subscribe to them on your favorite podcast provider. Also visit https://www.jchpodcasts.com/ to learn all about creating your own podcast.

Music: "Happy Rock" by bensound.com

Is it possible—maybe even Jewish—to be angry at God? From Abraham’s challenge at Sodom to Job’s cries of despair, Tanach is filled with voices that confront the Divine. But what does that mean for us today, when we struggle with personal tragedy, global antisemitism, and the ongoing pain of the seemingly endless war against Hamas?

In this wide-ranging conversation on the Orthodox Conundrum, Scott Kahn speaks with Rabbi Dr. Raphael Zarum, Dean of the London School of Jewish Studies, about whether anger at God is heresy or a profound act of faith. Along the way, they discuss biblical protest, repentance, the Shoah, the morality of Israel’s current war, the themes of Rosh Hashanah, contemporary crises, and whether confronting God can actually bring us closer to Him.

We're excited to announce that we at Jewish Coffee House are continuing to expand the conversation by bringing you—our listeners—into the mix. Introducing JCH Q&A, an exciting new podcast where listener-submitted questions are answered in a thoughtful, honest, and engaging way. We plan to dive deep into your pressing hashkafic, political, and philosophical questions. We will address the ideas that matter, the issues that challange us, and the topics that spark real curiosity.

To submit a question for our first episode, you must be a member of the JCH Podcast WhatsApp Community. (Join here.) No question is off limits, and all submissions will remain anonymous. We're looking forward to answering your questions on our first episode!

Check out Orthodox Conundrum Commentary on Substack and get your free subscription by going to https://scottkahn.substack.com/.

Please listen to and share this podcast, and let us know what you think on the Orthodox Conundrum Discussion Group on Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/groups/432020081498108).

Thanks to all of our Patreon subscribers, who have access to bonus JCH podcasts, merch, and more - we appreciate your help, and hope you really enjoy the extras! Visit the JCH Patreon site at https://www.patreon.com/jewishcoffeehouse.

Check out https://jewishcoffeehouse.com/ for the Orthodox Conundrum and other great podcasts, and remember to subscribe to them on your favorite podcast provider. Also visit https://www.jchpodcasts.com/ to learn all about creating your own podcast.

Music: "Happy Rock" by bensound.com

This episode is partially a detective story, partially an analysis of daring ideas, and partially an invitation to discover new methodolgies of confronting challenges to Orthodox Judaism.

Rav Kook drafted L’Nevuchei HaDor over a century ago—then the manuscript largely disappeared from view, resurfaced piecemeal, and sparked debates about redaction and “censorship.” In this follow-up to our popular episode with Professor Marc Shapiro, I speak with Rabbi Aryeh Sklar, translator of the new English edition, to unpack both the history of the text (why it was sidelined, what changed between versions, and who may have been protecting whom) and the ideas that make it urgent now: how Rav Kook navigates tensions between moral intuition and Torah; his approach to challenges from writings of the ancient Near East; why heresy can refine faith; his respectful stance toward other religions; and much more. As we approach Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur, we ask what this early, daring Rav Kook can offer a polarized 2025 about creative teshuva, intellectual honesty, and religious confidence without fear.

Check out the wonderful new podcast, Women Talking Mitzvot, co-produced by Deracheha.org and Beit Midrash Migdal Oz, with Rabbanit Shayna Goldberg and Rabbanit Dr. Yosefa Fogel Wruble. To listen, click here (Apple) or here (Spotify).

Exclusive deal for Orthodox Conundrum listeners: code perplexed20 will give 20% off if they pre-order L’Nevuchei HaDor through kodeshpress.com.

We're excited to announce that we at Jewish Coffee House are continuing to expand the conversation by bringing you—our listeners—into the mix. Introducing JCH Q&A, an exciting new podcast where listener-submitted questions are answered in a thoughtful, honest, and engaging way. We plan to dive deep into your pressing hashkafic, political, and philosophical questions. We will address the ideas that matter, the issues that challange us, and the topics that spark real curiosity.

To submit a question for our first episode, you must be a member of the JCH Podcast WhatsApp Community. (Join here.) No question is off limits, and all submissions will remain anonymous. We're looking forward to answering your questions on our first episode!

Check out Orthodox Conundrum Commentary on Substack and get your free subscription by going to https://scottkahn.substack.com/.

Please listen to and share this podcast, and let us know what you think on the Orthodox Conundrum Discussion Group on Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/groups/432020081498108).

Thanks to all of our Patreon subscribers, who have access to bonus JCH podcasts, merch, and more - we appreciate your help, and hope you really enjoy the extras! Visit the JCH Patreon site at https://www.patreon.com/jewishcoffeehouse.

Check out https://jewishcoffeehouse.com/ for the Orthodox Conundrum and other great podcasts, and remember to subscribe to them on your favorite podcast provider. Also visit https://www.jchpodcasts.com/ to learn all about creating your own podcast.

Music: "Happy Rock" by bensound.com

As one 929 cycle ends and the next begins, Scott talks with Rabbi Benny Lau—founder of 929—about why the project started, what it hopes to change in Jewish life, and what a shared, chapter-a-day cadence can build across communities. They also tackle the harder questions: the risks of using Tanach as a direct guidebook without the mediating lens of the Oral Tradition, how to engage ethically with challenging passages, and where pluralism meets red lines. Practical takeaways included: how beginners can start this week, and what to do when you fall behind. Whether you’re all-in on 929 or cautious about it, this episode is about reading Tanach deeply—and responsibly.

Check out the wonderful new podcast, Women Talking Mitzvot, co-produced by Deracheha.org and Beit Midrash Migdal Oz, with Rabbanit Shayna Goldberg and Rabbanit Dr. Yosefa Fogel Wruble. To listen, click here (Apple) or here (Spotify).

We're excited to announce that we at Jewish Coffee House are continuing to expand the conversation by bringing you—our listeners—into the mix. Introducing JCH Q&A, an exciting new podcast where listener-submitted questions are answered in a thoughtful, honest, and engaging way. We plan to dive deep into your pressing hashkafic, political, and philosophical questions. We will address the ideas that matter, the issues that challange us, and the topics that spark real curiosity.

To submit a question for our first episode, you must be a member of the JCH Podcast WhatsApp Community. (Join here.) No question is off limits, and all submissions will remain anonymous. We're looking forward to answering your questions on our first episode!

Check out Orthodox Conundrum Commentary on Substack and get your free subscription by going to https://scottkahn.substack.com/.

Please listen to and share this podcast, and let us know what you think on the Orthodox Conundrum Discussion Group on Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/groups/432020081498108).

Thanks to all of our Patreon subscribers, who have access to bonus JCH podcasts, merch, and more - we appreciate your help, and hope you really enjoy the extras! Visit the JCH Patreon site at https://www.patreon.com/jewishcoffeehouse.

Check out https://jewishcoffeehouse.com/ for the Orthodox Conundrum and other great podcasts, and remember to subscribe to them on your favorite podcast provider. Also visit https://www.jchpodcasts.com/ to learn all about creating your own podcast.

Music: "Happy Rock" by bensound.com

When a child shares something deeply personal about his or her sexual orientation, Orthodox parents can feel love, concern, and uncertainty all at once. In this conversation, Rabbi Yakov Horowitz reflects on what he’s learned working with families and communal leaders: how to approach the first conversations, which words can prevent hurt, and where halacha and mesorah guide our choices. We also consider what he’s heard from senior rabbinic figures, how different communities navigate these moments, and what hope might look like over time. This is a tender, honest discussion meant to help listeners think carefully, speak gently, and consider their next steps with dignity—whatever they may be.

Check out Tehillim Unveiled with Ari Levisohn and Rav Jeremy Tibbetts on Apple Podcasts or on Spotify - with a new three-part series on Tehillim 27, L'David Hashem Ori, dropping just in time for Elul!

To contact Kesher Families, click here.

Follow Rabbi Yakov Horowitz on Instagram - @yakovhorowitz and @brightbeginningsforum.

We're excited to announce that we at Jewish Coffee House are continuing to expand the conversation by bringing you—our listeners—into the mix. Introducing JCH Q&A, an exciting new podcast where listener-submitted questions are answered in a thoughtful, honest, and engaging way. We plan to dive deep into your pressing hashkafic, political, and philosophical questions. We will address the ideas that matter, the issues that challange us, and the topics that spark real curiosity.

To submit a question for our first episode, you must be a member of the JCH Podcast WhatsApp Community. (Join here.) No question is off limits, and all submissions will remain anonymous. We're looking forward to answering your questions on our first episode!

Check out Orthodox Conundrum Commentary on Substack and get your free subscription by going to https://scottkahn.substack.com/.

Please listen to and share this podcast, and let us know what you think on the Orthodox Conundrum Discussion Group on Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/groups/432020081498108).

Thanks to all of our Patreon subscribers, who have access to bonus JCH podcasts, merch, and more - we appreciate your help, and hope you really enjoy the extras! Visit the JCH Patreon site at https://www.patreon.com/jewishcoffeehouse.

Check out https://jewishcoffeehouse.com/ for the Orthodox Conundrum and other great podcasts, and remember to subscribe to them on your favorite podcast provider. Also visit https://www.jchpodcasts.com/ to learn all about creating your own podcast.

Music: "Happy Rock" by bensound.com

Why do so many young Modern Orthodox and National Religious Jews embrace the community but drift from halacha? In this episode of Orthodox Conundrum, Rabbi David Stav, head of Tzohar, joins Scott to confront the growing gap between identity and observance. Together they tackle the hard questions: Are we teaching halacha in ways that feel lifeless and irrelevant? Has secular society — from college to army service to technology — reshaped how youth see mitzvot? And most importantly, how can parents and educators reignite passion for Torah and halacha, showing a new generation that Jewish law is not just obligation, but a path to joy, meaning, and belonging?

Check out the wonderful new podcast, Women Talking Mitzvot, co-produced by Deracheha.org and Beit Midrash Migdal Oz, with Rabbanit Shayna Goldberg and Rabbanit Dr. Yosefa Fogel Wruble. To listen, click here (Apple) or here (Spotify).

We're excited to announce that we at Jewish Coffee House are continuing to expand the conversation by bringing you—our listeners—into the mix. Introducing JCH Q&A, an exciting new podcast where listener-submitted questions are answered in a thoughtful, honest, and engaging way. We plan to dive deep into your pressing hashkafic, political, and philosophical questions. We will address the ideas that matter, the issues that challange us, and the topics that spark real curiosity.

To submit a question for our first episode, you must be a member of the JCH Podcast WhatsApp Community. (Join here.) No question is off limits, and all submissions will remain anonymous. We're looking forward to answering your questions on our first episode!

Check out Orthodox Conundrum Commentary on Substack and get your free subscription by going to https://scottkahn.substack.com/.

Please listen to and share this podcast, and let us know what you think on the Orthodox Conundrum Discussion Group on Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/groups/432020081498108).

Thanks to all of our Patreon subscribers, who have access to bonus JCH podcasts, merch, and more - we appreciate your help, and hope you really enjoy the extras! Visit the JCH Patreon site at https://www.patreon.com/jewishcoffeehouse.

Check out https://jewishcoffeehouse.com/ for the Orthodox Conundrum and other great podcasts, and remember to subscribe to them on your favorite podcast provider. Also visit https://www.jchpodcasts.com/ to learn all about creating your own podcast.

Music: "Happy Rock" by bensound.com

From biblical lions to the bizarre “Zionist crocodile plot,” Israel’s wildlife tells a story that shatters modern anti-Israel myths. In his new book Lions of Zion, Rabbi Dr. Natan Slifkin reveals how the animals of the Land of Israel — past and present — reflect the Jewish people’s deep, indigenous connection to their homeland. Scott and Rabbi Slifkin tackle false narratives about “settler colonialism,” “greenwashing,” and cultural appropriation, and explore how creatures like sunbirds, jackals, and even poppies have been weaponized in the propaganda war against Israel. This eye-opening conversation blends Bible, zoology, and politics to show that in Israel, even the animals have a story to tell.

To order The Lions of Zion: Biblical Natural History and the Significance of Israel, click here.

We're excited to announce that we at Jewish Coffee House are continuing to expand the conversation by bringing you—our listeners—into the mix. Introducing JCH Q&A, an exciting new podcast where listener-submitted questions are answered in a thoughtful, honest, and engaging way. We plan to dive deep into your pressing hashkafic, political, and philosophical questions. We will address the ideas that matter, the issues that challange us, and the topics that spark real curiosity.

To submit a question for our first episode, you must be a member of the JCH Podcast WhatsApp Community. (Join here.) No question is off limits, and all submissions will remain anonymous. We're looking forward to answering your questions on our first episode!

Check out Orthodox Conundrum Commentary on Substack and get your free subscription by going to https://scottkahn.substack.com/.

Please listen to and share this podcast, and let us know what you think on the Orthodox Conundrum Discussion Group on Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/groups/432020081498108).

Thanks to all of our Patreon subscribers, who have access to bonus JCH podcasts, merch, and more - we appreciate your help, and hope you really enjoy the extras! Visit the JCH Patreon site at https://www.patreon.com/jewishcoffeehouse.

Check out https://jewishcoffeehouse.com/ for the Orthodox Conundrum and other great podcasts, and remember to subscribe to them on your favorite podcast provider. Also visit https://www.jchpodcasts.com/ to learn all about creating your own podcast.

Music: "Happy Rock" by bensound.com

As we approach Tisha B'Av — a day that mourns the devastating consequences of internal strife and baseless hatred — we must ask: is there a Torah model for constructive conflict resolution? Rabbi Alex Israel joins Scott to explore a striking example in Bamidbar chapter 32, where Moses engages the tribes of Reuben and Gad in what Rabbi Jonathan Sacks called, "a model illustration of positive negotiation and conflict resolution." What does this biblical conversation teach us about how to mediate conflict, preserve unity, and build a stronger community — even when we disagree?

Scott and Rabbi Israel then apply these lessons to modern conflicts that divide the Jewish people in Israel and around the world.

This episode offers a timely and hopeful message: disagreement doesn't have to lead to division, and conflict can become a source of growth — if we learn to listen, negotiate, and speak with respect.

Check out the Tehillim Unveiled Podcast! Their episode on Tehillim 89 is especially relevant in the days leading up to Tisha B'Av - you can find it on Spotify or Apple Podcasts.

We're excited to announce that we at Jewish Coffee House are continuing to expand the conversation by bringing you—our listeners—into the mix. Introducing JCH Q&A, an exciting new podcast where listener-submitted questions are answered in a thoughtful, honest, and engaging way. We plan to dive deep into your pressing hashkafic, political, and philosophical questions. We will address the ideas that matter, the issues that challange us, and the topics that spark real curiosity.

To submit a question for our first episode, you must be a member of the JCH Podcast WhatsApp Community. (Join here.) No question is off limits, and all submissions will remain anonymous. We're looking forward to answering your questions on our first episode!

To read my article on Jewish Unity from last month, click here.

Check out Orthodox Conundrum Commentary on Substack and get your free subscription by going to https://scottkahn.substack.com/.

Please listen to and share this podcast, and let us know what you think on the Orthodox Conundrum Discussion Group on Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/groups/432020081498108).

Thanks to all of our Patreon subscribers, who have access to bonus JCH podcasts, merch, and more - we appreciate your help, and hope you really enjoy the extras! Visit the JCH Patreon site at https://www.patreon.com/jewishcoffeehouse.

Check out https://jewishcoffeehouse.com/ for the Orthodox Conundrum and other great podcasts, and remember to subscribe to them on your favorite podcast provider. Also visit https://www.jchpodcasts.com/ to learn all about creating your own podcast.

Music: "Happy Rock" by bensound.com