Honoring and Challenging Jewish Orthodoxy – Dr. Lindsay Simmonds

Honoring and Challenging Jewish Orthodoxy – Dr. Lindsay Simmonds

Author: Meli Solomon, the Talking with God Project April 25, 2024 Duration: 45:54

Episode 66. 
Lindsay shares her experiences as an Orthodox Jewish woman, discussing her deep engagement with Orthodox Judaism, the challenges and frustrations she faces within her community, and her efforts in advocating for women's inclusion and agency in religious practices. This is a fitting conversation during the Jewish holiday of Passover, with its themes of journeys, change, and relationship with God. Also, one of the key elements of the Passover Seder just held around the world, is asking questions. Lindsey, in her ongoing Jewish study, teaching, and earlier doctoral work, is dedicated to asking questions and seeking the answers from within her British Orthodox perspective. Her lifelong passion for studying the Jewish sacred texts, as well as decades spent on increasing Orthodox women’s engagement with that material testify to the richness of these texts, and the value of using your knowledge to effect change, however long it takes.

Highlights:
·       Lindsay's diverse roles and influences
·       Women's agency in Orthodox Jewish communities
·       Fulfillment and commitment to faith through Torah study
·       Teaching and leading study groups
·       Evolution of Social Norms and Halakhic Decisions
·       Engagement with Orthodox learning, feminism, and at the London School of Jewish Studies
·       Struggles and frustrations faced by women in the Orthodox community


Social Media links for Lindsay: 
London School of Economics & Political Science (LSE), Religion & Global Society Unit (RGS) – https://www.lse.ac.uk/rgs 

London School of Jewish Studies (LSJS) – https://www.lsjs.ac.uk/ 

Abraham Initiatives, UK – https://abrahaminitiatives.org/taiuk/

Council of Christians & Jews – https://ccj.org.uk/about-us 

Midreshet Lindenbaum (Seminary) – https://www.midreshet-lindenbaum.org.il/

Nisa-Nashim – https://www.nisanashim.com/

Nishmat (Seminary) – https://nishmat.net/

 
Social Media links for Méli:
Talking with God Project – https://www.talkingwithgodproject.org
LinkedIn – https://www.linkedin.com/in/melisolomon/
Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100066435622271


Transcript:  https://www.buzzsprout.com/1851013/episodes/14953056


Follow the podcast!
The Living Our Beliefs podcast offers a place to learn about other religions and faith practices. When you hear about how observant Christians, Jews and Muslims live their faith, new ideas and questions arise:  Is your way similar or different?  Is there an idea or practice that you want to explore?  Understanding how other people live opens your mind and heart to new people you meet. 

Comments?  Questions? Email  Méli at – info@talkingwithgodproject.org
 

The Living Our Beliefs podcast is part of the Talking with God Project


Hosted by Meli Solomon of the Talking with God Project, Living Our Beliefs: Exploring Faith & Religion in Daily Life is a conversation about the practical realities of spiritual life. This podcast moves beyond abstract theology to examine how ancient traditions from Judaism, Islam, and other spiritual paths actually inform our modern routines, decisions, and relationships. Each episode delves into the nuanced spaces where belief meets action, exploring the challenges and rewards of aligning deeply held values with everyday behavior. You'll hear from a variety of voices discussing how they navigate this integration, whether through ritual, ethical choices, or community engagement. The discussions are grounded in real-life experience, focusing on the tangible ways faith provides meaning, fosters connection, and shapes identity in a contemporary context. Rather than offering simple answers, this series invites reflection on the ongoing, personal work of weaving spiritual principles into the fabric of daily existence. It’s for anyone curious about how others live out their convictions and seeking inspiration for their own journey toward a more coherent and purposeful life, all through thoughtful, accessible dialogue.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 101

Living Our Beliefs: Exploring Faith & Religion in Daily Life
Podcast Episodes
Woman of Valor, an Orthodox Jewish tale – Lynne Golodner [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 39:18
Episode 50.Woman of Valor is Lynne Golodner’s first published novel after six non-fiction books and two poetry collections. This engaging story lets us into the rewarding and complex life of Sally, who took on the Orthod…
Teaching Youth about Islam – Dr. Mona Islam [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 45:04
Episode 49.Mona grew up in Texas in the 1980s, the only veiled Muslim girl throughout her school years. Her faith and immigrant family was seen as strange and unknown, yet she was dedicated to her faith, even starting to…
Bonus. Religion in Our Modern World, a Muslim View (Wajahat Ali) [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 54:55
Episode 48.As a columnist (The New York Times, the Daily Beast and elsewhere), speaker, published author, recovering attorney and practicing Muslim, Wajahat Ali brings a sharp eye and thoughtful commentary to the issue o…
Combining Jewish Paths – David Satin [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 45:19
Episode 47.David has traveled far, religiously speaking, from his upbringing in a largely secular Jewish home. Other than attending services at a Reform synagogue on Boston’s North Shore, there was minimal observance. Si…
Try My Jesus, a Christian Workbook – Carlton E. Smith [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 45:12
Episode 46. Having traversed the spectrum of Christian denominations – from the middle (United Methodist) to the conservative (Pentecostal) then all the way to the liberal (Unitarian Universalist) – Carlton has derived a…
Surviving a Christian Religious Cult – Peter Young [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 50:51
Episode 42 Peter, author of Stop the Tall Man, Save the Tiger, describes his journey through a small Christian religious cult. Getting drawn in was not his intention, and he believes that no one knows they’re in a cult,…
A New Public Muslim Face – Katrina Kincade [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 42:20
Episode 41. An award-winning reporter at WBZ/CBS Boston, the first Muslim Miss Massachusetts (2022), volunteer for the Special Olympics, convert (or revert) to Islam from Catholicism and a Black American – Katrina holds…