Tisha B'Av starts this Monday night. It is a complete bummer of a holiday, but, as Jenna argues, a really important and useful bummer. In the Torah this week, we start Devarim, the fifth and final book of the Torah.

Jenna shares some insights from recent travels and current events, then interviews filmmaker Becky Tahel Bordo about her newest documentary project, "American Birthright." The parshiot this week are a doozy.

Jenna offers a Jewish perspective on some current events.  The Torah portion this week is (kind of) feminist.

Jenna offers a Jewish perspective on some current events. The Torah portion this week is (kind of) feminist.

This week, Jenna explores Judaism's take on two seemingly unrelated topics: angels and animal rights. Then, the Torah portion is insane. Learn more about Judaism's take on animal rights here: ttp://www.jewfaq.org/animals.htm

Jenna catches up with writer and comedian H. Alan Scott about filming Latter Day Jew, a documentary about his journey from Mormon to Jew, and what he's experienced in the process as a gay Jewish Zionist. Support H. Alan's film at:

http://www.halanscott.com/latterdayjew/

Judaism is a deeply subversive religion. As Jews, we are mandated to challenge unjust institutions and leaders--even to the point of arguing with God. But unfettered subversiveness is potentially disastrous. Using a story from the Talmud and the week's parsha, Jenna investigates how to be righteously subversive, and what good Jewish leadership looks like.

A year after the Pulse Nightclub shooting, Jenna invokes the words of the sage Hillel to demand change. Jenna then chats with Rabbi Adam Greenwald, director of the Miller Introduction to Judaism Program at American Jewish University about beginning a lifetime of Jewish learning, finding a synagogue, and why rabbis really want to meet you.

Jenna talks about Rabbi Abraham Joshua Heschel and what his teachings offer us in the current insane American political climate--and in relation to this week's insane Torah portion.

Jenna explains why she didn't release a Shavuot episode after all, and how some embarrassing goings-on in her personal life have helped her engage Judaism's conceptions of healing in a new way. In the Torah portion, Jenna studies Judaism's least abided-by law. Support Bad Jew Weekly on Patreon: patreon.com/badjewweekly