The Orthonomics Podcast

Hosted by Mark Trencher

Business Religion SpiritualityInterviews guests

Website RSS feed

Episodes

Latest episode

Sep 2026

Language

EN-US

About the show

The Orthonomics Podcast explores issues of importance to the Orthodox Jewish community, through the dual lenses of data – drawn from a wide range of sources – and informed conversations with knowledgeable and often opinionated experts. Each episode also includes a segment titled "What do you want to know about the Orthodox community?" In which our guest, as well as our listeners, get to pose their questions on issues that intrigue them, and we answer your questions.

Listen to episodes

60 recent

November 11, 2026Episode 1628 min

(64) Healing the Fractures … with Roberta Rosenthal Kwall

Roberta Rosenthal Kwall is Professor at DePaul University College of Law, where her scholarship focuses on Jewish law and culture, intellectual property, authors' rights, and creativity. She holds an undergraduate degree from Brown University, a law degree from the University of Pennsylvania, and a master's degree in Jewish Studies from Spertus College. In this episode, we discuss her just-released book – Polarized: Why American Jews Are Divided and What to Do About It – which examines the religious, political, and Israel-related divisions within American Jewry, and how Jews might sustain a shared communal life despite those disagreements. Her other books include Remix Judaism , The Myth of the Cultural Jew: Culture and Law in Jewish Tradition, and The Soul of Creativity; and her writings appear in numerous Jewish and secular publications She is a frequent lecturer on American Jewish identity and the relationship between Jewish tradition and contemporary life, has taught as a visiting professor in Israel. Toward the end of the episode, we mention a planned broad survey on technology and Orthodox Judaism. If you have suggested questions on this topic, email them to mark@nishmaresearch.com

September 3, 2026Episode 1526 min

(63) The Stories That Carry … with Dena Schusterman

Dena Schusterman is the author of "Stories Carry," a personal memoir about faith, belonging, and the inherited stories that shape us. As the daughter of Chabad emissaries in 1970s Berkeley, California, and now a Chabad shlucha herself in Atlanta, Dena, mother of eight, has spent her life straddling two worlds – deeply rooted in Hasidic tradition while fully engaged in modern society. Her book has a unique style, interweaving stories from her past, her parents, and grandparents. It's a fun read that will definitely get you thinking … great for Jewish book clubs. As Mayim Bialik wrote, "Dena's stories have the power to move us both because we can clearly see our own life in them and also because we cannot. Raised in an observant and committed Jewish home, she has lived a life so different from what many of us have experienced." LINK to Dena's website LINK to the book at Amazon LINK to the book at Mercer University Press LINK to the OU's AI site If you have suggested questions you would like us to ask in our upcoming broad survey on the topic of technology, email them to mark@nishmaresearch.com

July 30, 2026Episode 1426 min

(62) An Orthodox Rabbi Changing the World … with Rabbi Shmuly Yanklowitz

Rabbi Dr. Shmuly Yanklowitz is a prominent Orthodox rabbi, educator, and social justice activist, best known for founding multiple justice-oriented Jewish organizations and for his prolific writing on ethics and spirituality. Raised in an interfaith family, he chose Judaism as his religious path at a young age and eventually pursued rabbinic training and advanced academic study in ethics and moral development. He holds master's degree from Harvard and from Yeshiva University, a Ph.D. from Columbia, and rabbinic ordination from Yeshivat Chovevei Torah. In this episode, we discuss why he sees a need for improved social justice in the world and the role that Orthodox Jewry and his organization can play to effect change, the origins of his efforts to infuse kashrut standards with ethical consideration, how to combat antisemitism by living our mission in the world, treatment of immigrants and the homeless, igniting Jewish passion among the young through social actions, why we cannot align Torah values with political partisanship, how Jews should be strategic in partnering with potential supporters when it comes to Israel advocacy, reminding us of the many great partners that we have in the U.S., the need for spiritual advocacy in the Orthodox community, and the need to strengthen Jewish-Christian relations. Finally, he tells us about his forthcoming book: "Psalms Between Us: A Rabbi and His Christian Mother on Faith, Love, and Loss." Links: LINK to the Uri L'Tzedek Orthodox Social Justice LINK to his book: Psalms Between Us: A Rabbi and His Christian Mother on Faith, Love, and Loss."

July 7, 2026Episode 1332 min

(61) The War on Hate … with Henry Kopel

Henry Kopel is a retired federal prosecutor with over 30 years' experience involving national security matters, domestic terrorism, and violent crimes. He most recently authored the extremely ambitious and informative book "War on Hate," which, as one reviewer (Ayaan Hirsi Ali) notes, "raises important questions about how free societies in the West can best be defended from the challenge of Islamism." He is also the author of "The Case for Sanctioning State Sponsors of Genocide Incitement" in the Cornell International Law Journal and has published many op-ed commentaries on Middle East issues. He is a graduate of Brandeis University, Oxford University, and the University of Pennsylvania Law School. He has served as a teaching assistant in the government department at Harvard College and lectured on prosecuting hate crimes at the University of Connecticut Law School. In this episode we discuss the reasons for terrorist and genocide and why there is much misunderstanding of their causes, the role of mass ideological hate indoctrination, the psychology behind terrorist and psychopathic behavior and the triggers of such behavior, why the Western world, educational institutions and the media are blind to the causes of terrorism, the secret deals thar certain East European nations made with the PLO, the "Palestiniazation" of Middle East studies at colleges, and more. Henry Kopel's book "War on Hate: How to Stop Genocide, Fight Terrorism, and Defend Freedom" is available at AMAZON and other booksellers. He also has numerous articles at The Times of Israel , including: • The Democrats' Duplicitous Hypocrisy on the US-Iran MOU (7/2/26) • On Iran, Both Left and Right Agree: Better to Denounce Jews than Defend Freedom (5/19/26) • To Defeat Antisemitism, Target the Lies of Anti-Zionism (2/17/26) • How the West Let the Intifada Go Global – And How the Diaspora Can Defeat It (12/27/25) • The Israel-Loathing Left Has Become the Future of America's Democratic Party (11/26/25) • Diaspora Jews Must Confront the Toxic Ideology Behind the Violence (6/4/25) • No Professor Rosensaft, Kamala Harris is Hardly the 'Pro-Jewish' Candidate (8/29/24) • How the Keffiyeh Became the 21st Century's Swastika (5/19/24) • To End Hamas Horrors, De-Nazify Palestinian Culture (10/19/23)

June 22, 2026Episode 1218 min

(60) You Can Make a Difference … with Ari Schaffer

Ari Schaffer is a Young Israel shul member and board member, founder of CT for Israel, a grassroots group advocating for Israel and opposing antisemitism throughout Connecticut. He is also on the board of the Jewish Community Relations Council of Greater Hartford. For his day job, Ari is the Communications Director at the Buckley Institute, which is dedicated to promoting intellectual diversity and free speech at Yale University. He previously worked for the Georgia Secretary of State, the U.S. Department of Commerce, and the White House. In this episode we discuss how Ari was instrumental in creating a very active Grassroots Activist organization that has been effective in advocating for Israel, fighting antisemitism, and bringing the Jewish community together as a powerful voice for Israel and the Jewish people. Our hope is that this conversation will inspire others to undertake such efforts.

June 18, 2026Episode 1130 min

(59) Orthodox Jewish Fertility and Family Size … with Viva Hammer

Viva Hammer is a fifth generation Australian who moved to New York after finishing law school. She served as a lawyer in the private sector and then at the US Treasury and in the US Congress. She is a partner in a DC law firm and holds academic positions at Brandeis University and the Australian National University. She has been interviewing Orthodox parents of large families for 20 years in the US, Canada, the UK, Australia and Israel and has published and spoken all over the world on her findings. In this episode we discuss a wide range of related issues, including the average number of children in the Orthodox community; how and why this figure has dramatically changed in the last 50 years; how the changing nature of what it means to be Orthodox has contributed to the change in fertility measures; the growing incidence of family planning, use of birth control and halachic views relating to birth control, including its growing permissibility; how Orthodox Jewish family growth had become so vastly different from what is seen in fertility rates worldwide; whether and how marriage issues could affect Orthodoxy as a high-fertility society; and more. Viva's website – http://vivahammer.com – has many of her publications, speeches, and news articles, and provides for much fascinating reading. In addition, her recent writings include: https://thejewishindependent.com.au/why-do-orthodox-families-have-so-many-children/ https://escholarship.org/uc/item/9xk346gj

June 12, 2026Episode 1123 min

(58) The Gift of Life … with Mindy Schaper

Mindy Schaper is a unique personality. Not only did she volunteer a kidney to save the life of a young man whom she did not know, but she also volunteered as a surrogate mother, carrying the child of an Orthodox couple full-term … and she did this twice! So now you understand the title of this podcast. Mindy Schaper grew up Chassidic in Boro Park, Brooklyn and now identifies as Modern Orthodox. She is a writer and marketing project manager, with degrees in psychology, English and Judaic Studies She helped to found and run Project Makom, an organization that supports people transitioning out of or re ‑ orienting from the Haredi world and often seeking a place in the Modern Orthodox world. Her video about being an Orthodox Jewish surrogate ("Being an Orthodox Jewish (and Married!) Surrogate" explores the intersection of modern family-building and traditional Halacha. It highlights the profound cultural and religious considerations required, including navigating Kosher dietary laws during embryo transfers and receiving specific Rabbinic guidance on fertility treatments. Here is a LINK to the video. In our post-interview segment, we share results from our recent survey on the issue of how and why Modern / Centrist Orthodox and Haredi identify and define themselves. The findings are in our new study "Issues of the Day: Orthodox Jewish Community Views on Key Current Issues," which also covers: Our strengths and top challenges; Top issues that we need to better understand; Dialogue and relationships with non-orthodox Jews and with non-Jews; and an Update on modern / centrist orthodox attitudes toward women in shul leadership. Click HERE to access the full report; and click HERE to access all of the Orthodox community research.

May 12, 2026Episode 1024 min

(57) A Surge in Conversions to Judaism … with Rabbi Dr. Kenneth Brander

In this episode we discuss the recent surge in Jewish conversions and the reasons for this surge, especially in Israel. Rabbi Dr. Kenneth Brander is the President and Rosh HaYeshiva of the Ohr Torah Stone network in Israel. It comprises 32 educational institutions, leadership development initiatives, outreach programs, women's empowerment initiatives across Israel and internationally. Rabbi Brander received his semicha ordination from Yeshiva University, where he taught rabbinic courses, served as Vice President for University and Community Life, and as Dean of the Center for the Jewish Future. He holds a Ph.D. in general philosophy and comparative literature. He was senior rabbi of the Boca Raton Synagogue, overseeing its growth from 60 to more than 600 families, and he also founded the Katz Yeshiva High School. He and his family live in Israel, but he often visits his son Rabbi Tuvia Brander and family in West Hartford, CT, and I know that because that is my shul. Here are links to: Ohr Torah Stone – Click HERE Our recent report on Challenges Facing American Orthodox Jews – Click HERE Click HERE to access all of the Nishma Orthodox community research If you have questions, issues you'd like to see discussed, etc., email mark@nishmaresearch.com

May 7, 2026Episode 933 min

(56) An Orthodox Jewish Woman Activist … Shoshanna Keats Jaskoll

Our guest is Shoshanna Keats Jaskoll, a well-known Orthodox Jewish writer and activist whose work focuses on women's rights in Orthodox Judaism and the visibility of women in religious life. Born and raised in Lakewood, New Jersey, she moved to Israel with her family, where she has become a prominent voice challenging religious extremism, the erasure of women from public and communal spaces, and broadly advocating for Orthodox Jewish women. In this episode we discuss a number of issues including the increasing erasure of images of women in Orthodox venues. the agunah problem (women who are unable to obtain a get – a Jewish legal divorce – and are chained to former spouses and unable to remarry), women's health issues, their growing roles in Jewish learning, and more. She is a co ‑ founder of Chochmat Nashim , an organization that creates change in the global Jewish society by challenging dangerous trends in Jewish communities around the world. Using new and traditional media the organization sheds light on societal norms that exclude women and feed extremism. She is also a founder of Rate My Deit Din , a resource and website that evaluates and improves Jewish divorce in the rabbinic court (beit din) system. Courts are rated via user and professional reviews and are offered ways to improve users' experiences. Finally, she is a founder of the Laura Ben David Jewish Life Photo Bank , a dedicated resource for authentic images of Jewish women, families, and communities, aiming to counter erasure.

April 30, 2026Episode 528 min

(55) Aliyah: Varnished and Unvarnished … with Shifra Gewurtz

In this episode we discuss aliyah with Shifra Gewurtz, reflecting realistically on the challenges, the realities, and the successes. We talk about her long-term goal of making aliyah, the decision-making process, the many logistics involved, family issues (lots of teenagers involved), housing, taxes and income, tuition and health costs, what surprised her, and more. Shifra is passionate and honest in our conversation. She previously had her own retail business in New York, currently works for the Orthodox Union, and is also a dating life and marriage coach. I will add that she is my niece and we view her as a "source of wisdom." Link to Jewish Learning & Gap Year Survey … Click HERE .