Uploaded July 2026 | Updated September 2026, 3 weeks ago
Zalman Newfield – From Tradition to Transformation
In this episode of Detours & Destinations, Rabbi David Ingber sits down with writer, educator, and thinker Zalman Newfield for a conversation about faith, identity, belonging, and the transformative power of asking difficult questions. Drawing on themes from his memoir Brooklyn Odyssey: My Journey Out of Hasidism, Newfield reflects on his upbringing in the Chabad-Lubavitch community of Crown Heights and the deeply personal journey that led him beyond the religious world in which he was raised.
Together, they explore what happens when inherited certainty begins to crack, and how intellectual curiosity, spiritual searching, and emotional honesty can reshape a life. Newfield discusses the tension between loyalty and individuality, the costs and freedoms of leaving tightly bound communities, and the possibility of remaining connected to tradition while questioning its foundations.
Drawing on his experiences as a teacher, thinker, and bridge-builder across worlds of tradition and modern life, Zalman reflects on the detours that shaped his path—and the discoveries that emerged along the way.
Our guest is Zalman Newfield: zalmannewfield.com
Learn more about Footsteps organization: footstepsorg.org
Read Zalman’s book Brooklyn Odyssey: My Journey Out of Hasidism:
https://a.co/d/0j22s1tE
Follow Zalman on Instagram instagram.com/professorzalman
Read Zalman’s thoughts on Facebook
facebook.com/p/Zalman-Newfield-author-of-Brooklyn-Odyssey-61587552245531
Rabbi David Ingber’s IG instagram.com/rabbiingber
92NY Bronfman Center Events: 92ny.org/jewish-life
Producer: Efrat Bigger
Content Editor: Maya Gayer
Video Editor: Sean Kennedy
Music By: Shimon Smith
Special Thanks: Eden Sidney Foster
Your support helps us continue creating online content for our community. Donate now: 92NY.org/Donate
Facebook: facebook.com/92ndStreetY
Instagram: Instagram.com/92ndStreetY
TikTok: tiktok.com/@92ndstreety
Archives: 92ny.org/archives
Zalman Newfield – From Tradition to Transformation
In this episode of Detours & Destinations, Rabbi David Ingber sits down with writer, educator, and thinker Zalman Newfield for a conversation about faith, identity, belonging, and the transformative power of asking difficult questions. Drawing on themes from his memoir Brooklyn Odyssey: My Journey Out of Hasidism, Newfield reflects on his upbringing in the Chabad-Lubavitch community of Crown Heights and the deeply personal journey that led him beyond the religious world in which he was raised.
Together, they explore what happens when inherited certainty begins to crack, and how intellectual curiosity, spiritual searching, and emotional honesty can reshape a life. Newfield discusses the tension between loyalty and individuality, the costs and freedoms of leaving tightly bound communities, and the possibility of remaining connected to tradition while questioning its foundations.
Drawing on his experiences as a teacher, thinker, and bridge-builder across worlds of tradition and modern life, Zalman reflects on the detours that shaped his path—and the discoveries that emerged along the way.
Our guest is Zalman Newfield: zalmannewfield.com
Learn more about Footsteps organization: footstepsorg.org
Read Zalman’s book Brooklyn Odyssey: My Journey Out of Hasidism:
https://a.co/d/0j22s1tE
Follow Zalman on Instagram instagram.com/professorzalman
Read Zalman’s thoughts on Facebook
facebook.com/p/Zalman-Newfield-author-of-Brooklyn-Odyssey-61587552245531
Rabbi David Ingber’s IG instagram.com/rabbiingber
92NY Bronfman Center Events: 92ny.org/jewish-life
Producer: Efrat Bigger
Content Editor: Maya Gayer
Video Editor: Sean Kennedy
Music By: Shimon Smith
Special Thanks: Eden Sidney Foster
Your support helps us continue creating online content for our community. Donate now: 92NY.org/Donate
Facebook: facebook.com/92ndStreetY
Instagram: Instagram.com/92ndStreetY
TikTok: tiktok.com/@92ndstreety
Archives: 92ny.org/archives
