Baruch Lytle is an African American Orthodox Jew from Williamsburg, Brooklyn, and he identifies as a Satmar Chasid. 

He describes his conversion to Judaism as the defining moment of his life and greatest accomplishment.  He is also an award-winning journalist, having written nearly 200 articles for the largest Jewish newspaper in America, The Jewish Press.   

In 2023, he won the Simon Rockower Award – the Jewish journalism version of the Pulitzer – for Excellence in Journalism. His favorite writing assignments deal with self- improvement, and he has worked extensively with the developmentally disabled at agencies throughout New York State. 

In this episode we discuss his personal religious journey, and some of the interesting issues in the Orthodox community that he has covered. 

Baruch and I also discussed our recent Orthodox Political survey, and I discussed the variations within Modern Orthodoxy and the “silo effect”: 

Report – A Survey of Orthodox Jewish Political Attitudes and Behaviors: Haredi and Modern Orthodox Sectors 

Article – Despite What Some Want to Believe, Modern Orthodoxy is Indeed Politically Split 

 Some of Baruch Lytle’s Jewish Press articles referenced in this podcast: 

Study Finds Frum Jews Financially Secure – And Stretched 

The State of Orthodox Singles: It's Complicated 

Interview with Middle East Intelligence Expert Avi Melamed 

Book Review: The Ultimate Guide to Understanding Antisemitism