Rabbi Olya Weinstein Interviewed on State & Religion

Rabbi Olya Weinstein, CEO of Project Kesher Israel, was featured in an in-depth, hour-long video podcast interview exploring the complex relationship between religion and state in Israel, prior to the upcoming elections on October 27th. The conversation has already attracted more than 51,000 listeners, demonstrating strong public interest in these issues.

The discussion addressed how religious authority shapes everyday life in Israel, from marriage, divorce, and burial, to Shabbat observance and kashrut. Rabbi Weinstein also explored the diversity of Jewish religious movements, spoke about secular Jewish community in Israel, the meaning of Israel as a Jewish and democratic country, and the challenges facing women seeking religious leadership. To date, Rabbi Weinstein is the first and only Russian-speaking woman rabbi who has been interviewed on these topics.

For many Russian-speaking immigrants, such questions are faced only after arriving in Israel. By addressing state and religion questions openly and accessibly, Rabbi Weinstein brings PKI’s vision of an egalitarian, pluralistic Judaism into a much wider public conversation—one that directly affects the lives, choices, and sense of belonging of the communities PKI serves.