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

Torah should make us better people.

That shouldn't sound radical.

You know, it shouldn't sound radical to say that.

But Torah should make us better.

It should, you know, it says in one Midrash that the whole purpose of the Torah is to refine our characters.

You know, so keeping kosher shouldn't just mean, oh, I checked the box.

Like, it really should be a light to the world.

Like, like, a model for ethical consumption, you know, help our midot of just an awareness of how we affect the land, how we affect people, how we affect animals.

And we've really lost that in our fromkite.

And look, I'm totally committed to keeping kosher, you know, but I'm not looking to redefine anything.

It's really kind of a renaissance, a rejuvenation of the best ideals of what kashrus was supposed to be about in my life.

Welcome to the Orthonomics Podcast, where we explore issues of importance to the Orthodox Jewish community through the dual lenses of data and informed conversation.

And now, here is your host, Mark Trencher.

Welcome to Episode 62 of the Orthonomics Podcast.

Our guest is Rabbi Dr. Shmuley Yanklowitz.

He is an Orthodox rabbi and a social activist who is often on lists of America's most influential rabbis.

He is the author of 30 books and many articles on Jewish ethics.

He is the founder and president of Uri Lit Tzedek, the Orthodox social justice movement, Yatom, the Jewish Foster and Adoption Network, as well as several other advocacy organizations.

He has degrees from Harvard and Columbia and lives with his family in Scottsdale, Arizona.

I think you will enjoy what is a fascinating, wide-ranging, and inspiring conversation.

So, Rabbi Dr. Shmuel Yanklin, it's a real pleasure to see you again.

You know, I would say, I mean, if somebody asked me in a summary to describe you, I would say you're an Orthodox rabbi, and you are, in my opinion, the most socially activist Orthodox rabbi in the U.S., but probably anywhere.