Rabbi Brent Chaim Spodek is a Faculty Associate Fellow for Pardes North America. He received rabbinic ordination and a master’s degree in Philosophy from the Jewish Theological Seminary, where he was the first recipient of the Neubauer Fellowship. Prior to entering the rabbinate, he attended Wesleyan University and worked as a journalist in Durham, North Carolina.
Brent has served as the rabbi of Beacon Hebrew Alliance since 2010, and previously held positions at American Jewish World Service and Congregation B’nai Jeshurun. A Senior Rabbinic Fellow of the Shalom Hartman Institute, Brent has been recognized by the Jewish Forward as one of the most inspiring rabbis in America, and by Newsweek as “a rabbi to watch.” He lives in Beacon with his wife and two children.
By: Rabbi Brent Chaim Spodek Kohelet (Ecclesiastes) is easily one of the strangest books in the Bible. Proverbs tells us that wisdom leads to a good life. Deuteronomy insists that righteousness brings blessing. The Psalms assure us that the world,…
Tanakh, Ketuvim (Writings), Ecclesiastes, Jewish calendar, Sukkot
How do we love another person well—not in theory, but in the complicated reality of everyday life? Good Jewish Lover brings the Torah of relationships into conversation with the challenges of contemporary life. Hosted by Rabbi Brent Chaim Spodek, each…
Podcast series, Good Jewish Lover
What does it really mean to join the Jewish people? In this episode, Zvi Hirschfield and Rabbi Brent Spodek explore the themes of Shavuot through the lens of Megillat Ruth and Jewish conversion. They examine what it means to join…
Tanakh, Torah, Bamidbar (Numbers), Bamidbar, Podcast series, Pardes Parsha Podcast
In a world rife with conflict and oversimplified narratives about “the other,” how can we embody true holiness by cultivating empathy, humility, and deeper human connection? Rabbi Brent Spodek joins our host Rabbi Zvi Hirschfield this week for a thought-provoking…
Tanakh, Torah, Vayikra (Leviticus), Kedoshim
Zvi is joined from across the ocean with Pardes North America faculty associate Rabbi Brent Spodek, host of Good Jewish Lover, to discuss the weekly parsha. Brent discusses our tendency to lean on core negative images, failing to see ourselves…
Tanakh, Torah, Devarim (Deuteronomy), Podcast series, Pardes Parsha Podcast, Re’eh
How is it possible for a relationship to be strengthened through conflict? In this week’s podcast, Rabbi Zvi Hirschfield is joined by Rabbi Brent Spodek, Pardes North America faculty member and host of Good Jewish Lover. Together, they discuss the…
Tanakh, Torah, Bamidbar (Numbers), Chukat, Podcast series, Pardes Parsha Podcast
During a holiday where there is both darkness and light, where we retreat indoors and shine brightly from the windowsill, go on a journey with Pardes North America to find meaning in the discord within our tradition. Night 8 –…
Jewish calendar, Chanukah