We discuss the Torah and Persian sources for the name of Israel’s recent Iran operation.  Asher describes how the Diaspora can advocate for Israel when the going gets tough, getting more strident than during his anti-foie gras days.  Speaking of advocacy, John requests a summer “get out of shul free” card, but Asher isn’t buying it.  After a refresher on Tisha B’Av, John extracts Asher from an uncharacteristic funk by invoking the tradition that Moshiach, and the messianic era, will be born on that saddest day in the Jewish calendar.

We haven’t spoken since John’s dog ate the afikoman, and we discuss his Omer success and Asher’s Omer challenges. In the meantime, Asher continues his amazing world travels, this time to Kurdistan on an interfaith mission with his Chaldean friends. We discuss that region’s deep connection to Jewish history, including minor prophets like Nachum (John had to Google him). We then discuss Trump’s anti-antisemitism efforts, and our gratitude that adults are finally in the room on college campuses. Asher ends by describing the Wild West way in which new Jewish holidays are established.

Did Asher visit Africa to avoid Pesach cleaning?  We discuss his recent trip to Ghana (after Syria), and John suspects that Asher is a CIA officer.  Asher describes the slave trade artifacts he witnessed, and contrasts them to slavery in the ancient Jewish tradition.  He then answers Passover FAQs and reminds us to remember the goal of our seders.   We grapple with having gratitude for freedom while our people remain in tunnels.  Of course, no Jewish podcast is complete without referencing a problematic case of someone shouting “Heil Hitler.”

And now for something completely different. We discuss Asher’s unbelievable adventures in Syria and Qatar, including his new (former) Al-Qaeda buddies and his guardedly optimistic outlook for the region as a result. John then discusses the importance of teaching about legal issues surrounding the Holocaust and why the right is on the rise in Germany. With Adar and Purim approaching and considering Asher’s trip, we’re reminded of v’nahafoch hu, how events can spin around in surprising ways.

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.

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.

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.

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. 

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.

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.