Episodes

  • Jew in the House

    Jew in the House
    Jan 24 2025
    What’s this Asarah B’Tevet fast all about? We then swing on the pendulum between sorrow and joy at the hostage exchange. John’s representative, Brad Schneider (D-IL), discusses being a Jewish congressman these days. We trade notes on the Inauguration, our modern hakhel ceremony. John encourages Asher to be more like Pastor Lorenzo Sewell, and Asher hopes his interfaith colleagues are less like the cancelled Imam. We end by imagining Trump Tower in Gaza City.
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    42 mins
  • From Darkness to Light

    From Darkness to Light
    Dec 30 2024
    A few weeks off and the whole Middle East changes, and hopefully soon for our precious hostages. It’s Chanukah season, so we discuss our victory over the Syrians - then (Syrian-Greeks) and now. Speaking of rededicating the Temple, Asher takes us on a deep dive on the Temple Mount. We then somehow transition to the proper praying times in Greenland.
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    38 mins
  • Sanctioned by Iran

    Sanctioned by Iran
    Nov 10 2024
    We discuss celebrating Simchat Torah on the yahrtzeit of 10/7, embracing both the darkness and the light - as Jews do so well. Anshe Sholom alum Richard Goldberg, who has the coolest resume ever (including being sanctioned by Iran), then helps us understand the scourge of antisemitism and ongoing developments in the Middle East. Asher ends by convincing us not to become too shul-ed out as we enter the month of Marcheshvan.
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    1 hr and 5 mins
  • Hasbara and Hashana

    Hasbara and Hashana
    Oct 1 2024
    We discuss Israel’s remarkable success against Hezbollah so far, including whether we can rejoice in our enemy’s destruction (we can) and whether AOC understands the laws of armed conflict (she doesn’t). Although Israel does not need our advice on military strategy, as much as Asher tries, it certainly could use everyone’s help with their PR, or hasbara. Someone leading that charge is our guest, Amit Grinfeld, the Co-Founder and CEO of We Walk Together, an organization devoted to promoting Israel through education and outreach. Asher closes by getting us in the mood for the New Year.
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    43 mins
  • Tzedakah Entrepreneur

    Tzedakah Entrepreneur
    Sep 18 2024
    We discuss Asher’s connection to the Goldberg-Polin family, with the tragedy of Hersh and the strength of his mom. “The king is in the field” during the month of Elul, but are we lobbying Him or is He campaigning for our vote? In the aftermath of 10/7, John thinks the burden is on Him. To inspire us this season, we interview Jeff Kaminsky, a tzedakah entrepreneur who is touching countless lives in Ukraine and Israel through his Project Aid & Rescue.
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    Less than 1 minute
  • Our Favorite (Former Neo-) Nazi

    Our Favorite (Former Neo-) Nazi
    Aug 7 2024
    Asher describes the various restrictions during The Three Weeks, our collective period of mourning, but more importantly, explains what they are meant to elicit. Speaking of which, we are joined by Jeff Schoep, once the “Gadol Hador” of the American Neo-Nazi movement before seeing the light. He describes his life before and after doing t’shuvah - and actually uses that word in a sentence.
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    49 mins
  • Repost: A Jewish Roller Coaster

    Repost: A Jewish Roller Coaster
    May 20 2024
    In the midst of Omer counting, John admits being off track, even with tech support. As anti-Israel disturbances continue, Asher provides a firsthand account from Ann Arbor. We invite Tom Berner to describe what his group (LAAST) has been doing to fight that scourge using a variety of legal tools. We then discuss the very Jewish emotional roller coaster this past week, as we remember our victims, honor our fallen, and celebrate our nation.
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    Less than 1 minute
  • The Sun Became a Bagel

    The Sun Became a Bagel
    Apr 19 2024
    John wonders whether the recent eclipse and earthquake should have us concerned, and Asher assures us that gam zu l’tovah - everything is for the good. He also convinces us to say shehechiyanu more often. We begin the countdown to Passover by stopping tachanun, spring cleaning our chometz, and watching the latest Moses flick.
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    Less than 1 minute