After one person's complaint led the OU-Torah Tidbits to remove images of women from the back cover, Chochmat Nashim worked to increase women's profiles in the publication, especially in writing more of the Torah columns. But what would have happened without those behind-the-scenes efforts? A case study in the value in speaking out. Music: "Misery"…

Since October 7, it has been painful for many people of faith to approach God, to find the words to respond to our changing, impossible reality. A new book - AZ NASHIR brings all the pathos and the hope, providing words for those who can't find their own. Compiled and edited by Shira Lankin Sheps, Rachel Sharansky Danziger, and Anne (!), this movin…

Another blow in Israel with Hamas's cold-blooded murder of six hostages on the verge of being rescued alive by the IDF. Shoshanna and Anne probe the country's state of raw emotion, call out the evil of Hamas, acknowledge the conflict of being put between a rock and a hard place, and offer tips for the things we all can do to make the world a better…

Rabbi Dr. Noam Weinberg joins Shoshanna and Anne to explain the toxicity and dysfunctionality facing too many couples and families in our community. Importantly, he also offers tips and tools to help people avoid these pitfalls. Music: "Misery" by The WhipsAv Anne Gordon and Shoshanna Keats-Jaskoll

Sometimes, all the progress lands society right back at the beginning. Just ask the women who would like to be on Israel's committee to select rabbis. Or the female tank soldiers. Or the liberal left who would never tolerate discrimination, except when it comes to Orthodox women. Anne and Shoshanna review the things that have changed, but remained …

Known for his revolutionary - and often controversial - TikTok videos calling out the worst in frum society, Rabbi Avraham Mordechai Gottlieb chats with Shoshanna and Anne on kabala, his worldview, and why women must keep fighting for Torah to win.Av Anne Gordon and Shoshanna Keats-Jaskoll

When Avi was called up on October 7 (for 5 of the next 8 months), his wife, Bazy, became a "Milu-Ima" (a reservist is called a miliumnik). Home with 4 beloved children and an uncountable number of diapers to change, Bazy was one of 70 women in comparable situations in her neighborhood alone. She set out to do something for her neighbors... and her …

Shoshanna Keats-Jaskoll has a deep end insightful conversation with Sony Perlman of Brainstorm Podcast on how we've outsourced our Judaism, and gone far from the source.Av Anne Gordon and Shoshanna Keats-Jaskoll

Even as the war rages in Israel, American campuses have become a whole other front line. Anne and Shoshanna speak to two US college students about their experiences of antisemitism and anti-Zionism on campus, and marvel at the strength of these incredible young people. Music: "Misery" by The WhipsAv Anne Gordon and Shoshanna Keats-Jaskoll

How can we celebrate when our people are in captivity? Yet, Passover isn't cancelled this year, even if you feel it should be, so how do we make sense of it? In what is now an annual pre-Passover episode to help boost our seder experience, Anne and Shoshanna talk to Dr. Tammy Jacobowitz about how to approach the holiday this very difficult year. Mu…

Six months into Israel's war with Hamas, and nearly all sectors of Israeli society are feeling it, but extended army service and a sadly rising death toll have turned Israeli attention to the Haredim who (for the most part) do not serve in the IDF. Much of Israel is irate, but with the yeshiva exemptions newly canceled, Haredim are irate too. Anne …

Adina Sash has set the Orthodox world buzzing about the strike she hopes will help agunot. Shoshanna and Anne talk to Adina about her campaign and what has come of it (so far). Music: "Misery" by The WhipsAv Anne Gordon and Shoshanna Keats-Jaskoll

Yes, representation in Israeli politics really matters. Shoshanna and Anne delve into why women running for municipal office is so important (even during the war). For all that elected officials should represent the concerns of the entire population, it is too easy to miss issues that don't touch one directly. Thus, the need for women to focus on c…

Does "Together, we will win" inspire you or depress you? Shoshanna and Anne "take the temperature" of how people are reacting differently to the same general experience of war, from how it is a different experience for Israelis as compared to those around the globe, and how it is different for every Israeli. As promised in the episode, the insane s…

Shoshanna and Anne speak with the very talented Shani Weinmann Kay about her experience as a religious woman in the IDF, especially during this time of war, and how her experiences have strengthened her commitment to the army, her family, and her personal religious practice. Music: "Misery" by The Whips…

In one of our more personal (and we think powerful) episodes, Shoshanna and Anne speak frankly about their respective decisions to tour some of the destroyed communities of the Gaza Envelope -- and to avoid doing so. Music: "Misery" by The WhipsAv Anne Gordon and Shoshanna Keats-Jaskoll

Eve Barlow, Fleur Hassan Nahoum and Adiel Cohen are warriors on the front lines of the media war against Israel - joined of course by our own Shoshanna Keats Jaskoll. In this special double-length episode, Anne and Shoshanna talk to these pros about how they do what they do, how YOU can do it too, and why being cancelled is actually a great thing. …

Were the pre-October 7th warnings dismissed because they originated with women? Are the men of the old-boy network at a disadvantage because they have been trained to think in certain ways? Shoshanna and Anne recognize the women who were involved in so many various aspects of October 7th and the war since, with an eye to how women can (and we'll sa…

Since October 7, Israel has tragically, devastatingly seen more people burying loved ones and sitting shiva than the country could ever have been prepared for. Enter the newly founded organization Chesed Shel Emet, and Pnina Pfeuffer, who speaks with Shoshanna and Anne about how four Haredi women have stepped up (with others) to make this painful p…

Antisemitism is the oldest hatred in the book, yet, even in the wake of the October 7th massacre, it's new for each generation, and each person experiences it fresh. Shoshanna and Anne call attention to what's been going on, and consider how we as a people stick together to combat the hatred against us. Plus, a postscript on the American Jewish com…

The new reality of Israel and really all Jews is stressful and even traumatic. Anne and Shoshanna talk with Sherri Mandell, a certified pastoral counselor, a founder of the Koby Mandell Foundation, and the bereaved mother of Koby Mandell Hy"d, about how to navigate this challenging time, from parenting to handling oneself to helping others. Music: …

Shoshanna and Anne have been nearly at a loss for words to reflect on Hamas's horrific massacre of some 1,400 people (updated number from recording). But we need words to podcast, so here we are with our experiences of that day, and a range of responses and reactions to it, from widespread chesed to social media warriors to some hypermodesty nonsen…

You've seen their art, now meet the artists. Anne and Shoshanna speak with the artists who have given life to Chochmat Nashim's new project, illustrating biblical and historical women. Come hear why they chose the figures they did, why they depicted them as they did, and what surprised them in the endeavor. A longer-than-usual episode, to introduce…

The idea that Israel's beautiful natural pools would have separate hours for men and women to swim is, at first blush, amazingly considerate for the religious populations. But when the very people MK Idit Silman's stalled pilot program is supposed to help don't want it implemented, Shoshanna and Anne are reminded why gender segregation outside of t…

Israel's government voted for the first part of Israel's judicial reform, the "reasonableness" clause, and everyone has an opinion about it, but Anne and Shoshanna focus on other actions of this coalition that are less known and may be even more significant, especially if you're a woman in Israel. Music: "Misery" by The Whips…

Look at your shelf of Jewish books, and you'll see that you have far fewer books authored by women. Rabbanit Sara Wolkenfeld joins Anne and Shoshanna to elaborate on Sefaria's new writing circle to foster books of Torah scholarship written by women, some of the challenges - and also profound and practical hopes for the future women writers of Torah…

Politics have real impact on the lives of Israeli citizens, and the recent passing of the budget means the current ultra-religious, ultra-nationalist government can expect to be in place for some time. Anne and Shoshanna task guest Haviv Rettig-Gur, senior analyst at The Times of Israel, to explain the implications of it all. To do so, he also desc…

In an era of choice, we have many options how we approach our loved ones, communication, our experience of Judaism, and more. Shoshanna and Anne delve into the "languages" we employ, and how the fact that there are many of them is both liberating and a challenge. Music: "Misery" by The WhipsAv Anne Gordon and Shoshanna Keats-Jaskoll

Chani Apfelbaum's most recent cookbook, Totally Kosher, was the subject of pride, then consternation, and now pride again. Anne and Shoshanna share the story, including the sometimes unpleasant underbelly of fundraising and a win against erasing women. Music: "Misery" by The Whips.Av Anne Gordon and Shoshanna Keats-Jaskoll

Dr. Chavi Kahn joins Anne and Shoshanna to reflect on the legacy of her father, Rabbi Moshe Kahn, z"l, beloved Talmud rebbe at Stern College -- and the recent brouhaha when Stern (temporarily) cancelled its lower level course offerings in Talmud. Why does it matter whether Stern College offers Talmud to its female students? And why should women be …

You know already that hyper-tzniut gets Chochmat Nashim riled up - it's literally the incarnation of the slide to extremism that harms Judaism for everyone. This time it's a cross-body bag, giving Shoshanna and Anne reason to remind everyone that this very Jewish value can be taken too far. Music: "Misery" By The Whips…

In our annual Seat at the Seder Table episode, Anne and Shoshanna are pleased to partake of Rachel's powerful insights that help bring the Haggadah's driest parts to life, from the blurring of time to putting ourselves into the story. Music: "Misery" by The WhipsAv Anne Gordon and Shoshanna Keats-Jaskoll

Would more women in Israel's coalition change its policies? Who knows, but they'd make a more representative government. Shoshanna and Anne discuss the reversals to women's rights that we'd never have thought would be in danger, in the wake of International Women's Day, no less. Music: "Misery" by The Whips…

The Israeli public is deeply divided over legislation aimed at dramatically changing the judicial system in Israel, specifically the relationship between the government and the Supreme Court. Israelis don't agree (of course) on how best to protect the country. Anne and Shoshanna make sense of the political temperature in Israel. Our annual fundrais…

It was a brand new Chochmat Nashim project when Shoshanna and Anne first told you about it back in August, and now that it's well underway, it's ripe for an update. How many courts are reviewed on the site? Why did one dayan complain about his rating? How is it helping people who think they might want a divorce? And what about that new training pro…

SPECIAL EPISODE: Chochmat Nashim crossover with Orthodox Conundrum. Join Shoshanna Keats-Jaskoll and Rabbi Scott Kahn in a powerful conversation about how disappointment in rabbinic figures lead her to be the person she is today.Av Scott Kahn

When there's so much going on that each story demands our attention, in brief, Anne and Shoshanna bring you 5 "shorts": To die an agunah; Rabbi Moshe Kahn z"l; Erased women fail to inspire; Can a witness invalidate herself?; and Israel's newly certified learned women. Music: "Misery" by The WhipsAv Anne Gordon and Shoshanna Keats-Jaskoll

What are we to do when those who hold positions of responsibility don't rise to the occasion of their office? Worse, what do we do when they criticize local efforts for tackling the very thing they should have addressed, but didn't? Shoshanna and Anne wrestle with the need for righteous moral leaders and the terrible absence of enough such people. …

Ben Shapiro's recent article posed a challenge for Anne, Shoshanna, and their guest, Dr. Yardaena Osband: Where can Modern Orthodoxy improve? Together, they raise concerns about what the community faces and the need for leadership and personal conviction going forward. Music: "Misery" by The WhipsAv Anne Gordon and Shoshanna Keats-Jaskoll

Israel's presumptive new government may legalize sex segregation where Israeli law had prohibited it. Shoshanna and Anne tackle just how problematic this change would be, and why willing discrimination (in the Haredi world) is a slippery slope of harm. Music: "Misery" by The WhipsAv Jewish Coffee House

Shoshanna and Anne host guest Elisheva Rishon, a Black Jewish woman, who weighs in on the most recent spike in antisemitism, the knee-jerk reactions to it, what it means to be caught in the middle of both the Black and Jewish communities, and what we all can do about it. Music: "Misery" by The WhipsAv Jewish Coffee House

Yes, it's another Israeli election. This time, political extremism is in the running. Anne and Shoshanna try to understand the popularity of Israel's far-right parties, and explain why Chochmat Nashim shuns extremism of all kinds. Music: "Misery" by The WhipsAv Jewish Coffee House

Shoshanna and Anne answer YOUR questions: How we keep going in the face of opposition, whether any change is really happening, a primer on pre- and post-nups, and how is it OK to take a captive wife in war?? Music: "Misery" by The WhipsAv Jewish Coffee House

Protests, prenups, and, still, so many women are chained in marriage. Now, a new Chochmat Nashim project encourages transparency and best practices in the religious courts. Shoshanna and Anne explain the project and why it is both innovative and a safeguard for the Jewish community. Our next step to end get-abuse! Visit Rate My Beit Din at https://…

Anne and Shoshanna are guests on Rabbi Scott Kahn's Orthodox Conundrum podcast to talk about men's and women's spaces in Orthodoxy. Music: “Happy Rock” by bensound.comAv Jewish Coffee House

For nearly a decade (!), Chochmat Nashim has been exposing and explaining the damage caused by erasing women - that goes so far beyond an interest in seeing women's faces. Anne and Shoshanna revisit the topic with the insights borne of conversations with too many naysayers. It's time to end the erasure of women - and just chill! Music: "Misery" by …

The ultra-Orthodox world is banning the internet for women, cutting them off from their livelihoods, their social networks, and their access to information. We obviously find this appalling and infantilizing, but do the women of that world agree? Shoshanna and Anne speak with an insider who tells all. Music: "Misery" by The Whips…

Anne and Shoshanna take the pulse of how Israel's complex (and teetering) coalition government has improved some of the systems in Israeli society that we care about (with a special mention for Chochmat Nashim's deputy director). We also review how Matan Kahana, the complicated figure who heads the state's religious services (now as deputy minister…

Abortion. Everyone has an opinion, including those who will never face it. Shoshanna and Anne discuss why, as Orthodox Jews, we should care about American abortion policy - specifically, the potential banning and criminalization of abortion. Music: "Misery" by The WhipsAv Jewish Coffee House

Pesach prep can take your time, energy, and attention away from the spiritual aspects of seder. Anne and Shoshanna went looking for "women's Torah" to enrich our seder experiences, and enlist Rabbanit Sara Wolkenfeld for her insights, experience, and many tips to help our seders be all they can be - without adding much prep time. https://www.sefari…