Jewish congregations and institutions—particularly non-Orthodox ones—often focus on how they can be more appealing and accessible to the growing number of Jews who feel like religion isn't for them. This has resulted in "big tent Judaism", which may have swung the door open for the masses—but has it also diluted Jewish spaces and expertise?

Recently, Rabbi Ari Witkin, ordained in the Reconstructionist movement, wrote an article that cautions against over-universalizing Jewish life and messaging. "We’ve become more inclusive, more welcoming, more responsive to the diversity within our communities. It’s allowed countless people who once felt pushed out of Jewish life to find a place and build authentic relationships with our practice and tradition. But somewhere along the way, 'meeting people where they are' became the goal instead of the starting point.... And so I think we have to ask: Are we actually helping people grow? Or are we just trying not to lose them?"

And so, on this week's episode of Not in Heaven, our rabbi panel digs into whether the future of Judaism lies in smaller tents, rather than bigger ones—digging into niches, embracing stricter communal authority, and not trying to water-down the public sphere.

After that, the gang discusses Avi Finegold's latest article in the recently released summer edition of Scribe Quarterly. Are horoscopes kosher? While the popularity of star signs and astrology—among Jews and non-Jews alike—may seem distinctly "new age", Avi offers a variety a sources that show they are anything but.

Credits

• Hosts: Avi Finegold, Yedida Eisenstat, Matthew Leibl
• Production team: Zachary Judah Kauffman (editor), Michael Fraiman (executive producer)
• Music: Socalled

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• Subscribe to Not in Heaven (Not sure how? Click here)

Over the last century, North American Jews have poured untold millions of dollars into an alphabet soup of legacy institutions: UJA, CIJA, ADL, JNF, et al. And yet, after 19 months of rising antisemitism—while Canadian and American Jewish communities feel like they're free-falling through a crisis—many have been asking, "What have we been giving all this money for? Where are the results?"

To wit, two recent pieces published in the New York Post ask these exact questions. Rachel Sapoznik, an entrepreneur, wrote an opinion piece headlined "Why I’m ending my donations to US Jewish groups and seeking new leadership to protect US Jews," in which she calls for American Jews to support (mostly Republican) pro-Israel politicians instead of the Anti-Defamation League. Kathryn Wolf, a journalist, wrote a similar piece in the same publication that justaposes major organizations' glitzy galas and celebrity endorsements against a growing wave of grassroots Jewish activism.

In Canada, against the backdrop of louder upstart Jewish advocacy groups, the Centre for Israel Jewish Affairs parted ways with former CEO Shimon Koffler Fogel, a diplomatic leader who held the post for nearly 40 years, and replaced him with Noah Shack, who accepted the permanent position on June 27. "We have to be nimble,” Shack told The CJN. “We have to try new things and do whatever we can to win."

But to what extent should the Jewish community pivot away from these legacy organizations, who've spent years building goodwill with all levels of government and non-Jewish organizations? Is any support the Jewish community now finds not due to years of quiet, behind-the-scenes bridge-building?

Not in Heaven host Avi Finegold has long been critical of Jewish communal organizations—though he might also find himself disagreeing with the most vocal activists vying to replace them. In this week's episode, we unpack the pros and cons of how far these institutions have taken us, and what comes next.

Credits

• Hosts: Avi Finegold, Yedida Eisenstat, Matthew Leibl
• Production team: Zachary Judah Kauffman (editor), Michael Fraiman (executive producer)
• Music: Socalled

Support The CJN

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• Donate to The CJN (+ get a charitable tax receipt)
• Subscribe to Not in Heaven (Not sure how? Click here)

In 2013, Rabba Rachel Kohl Finegold, one of the first graduates of Yeshivat Maharat—a trailblazing institution in the Orthodox world that ordains women clergy leaders—became the first Maharat hired as clergy at an Orthodox synagogue, Montreal’s 175-year-old Congregation Shaar Hashomayim. Fast forward more than a decade to June 2025, and Yedida Eisenstat carries on that mantle as a member of the class that brings the total number of Yeshivat Maharat graduates to 100.

What connects them? Eisenstat is one of the co-hosts of The CJN's podcast Not in Heaven, along with Rabbi Avi Finegold—Rabba Kohl Finegold's husband.

To celebrate newly minted Rabba Eisenstat's position, we discuss why she opted for the title of "rabba" in the first place—as opposed to rabbi, maharat or rabbanit—and the divisive history of women’s participation, learning and leadership in modern Orthodox Judaism. Each host also reflects on their own out-of-the box journeys to rabbinic ordination, whether their education focused on theory and halacha, or the nuts and bolts of rabbinic life.

Credits

• Hosts: Avi Finegold, Yedida Eisenstat, Matthew Leibl
• Production team: Zachary Judah Kauffman (editor), Michael Fraiman (executive producer)
• Music: Socalled

Support The CJN

• Subscribe to The CJN newsletter
• Donate to The CJN (+ get a charitable tax receipt)
• Subscribe to Not in Heaven (Not sure how? Click here)