Chutzpod!

After the Supreme Court's ruling, Rabbi Shira and Joshua welcome three esteemed rabbis to take a look at some Jewish text in an effort to contemplate the court's decision, and frame a Jewish response.

Episode Timecodes:

(06:05) Rabbi Lauren Holtzblatt and Rabba Sara Hurwitz join the show

(31:30) George Newbern defines the Hebrew/Yiddish terms used in our episode

(36:15) Rabbi Annie Lewis’ Guest Meditation

This week the Rabbi and Joshua speak to an unforgettably unique guest, author Michael Twitty as this weekend is "NYC Pride".  Michael is an African-American Jew, who identifies with the LGBTQ community, and has an upcoming book titled: "Koshersoul: The Faith and Food Journey of an African American Jew".

Episode Timecodes:

(08:30) Michael Twitty Interview

(37:35) Rabbi Shira's Guided Meditation

As World Refugee Day is on Monday June 20th, Rabbi Shira and Joshua welcome on a pair of important voices from the Hebrew Immigrant Aid Society (HIAS), which is the oldest refugee organization in the world.  Mark Hetfield is the CEO & President of HIAS and Melanie Nezer is its Senior VP, Global Public Affairs.

Episode Timecodes:

(05:10) Interview w/ Mark & Melanie

(39:10) Rabbi Shira's Guided Meditation

The rabbi and Joshua get back to basics, taking a look at this week’s Torah portion, Nasso, and exploring Judaism’s perspectives on asceticism, charity, and humility.

Episode Timecode:

(34:08) Rabbi Shira’s Guided Meditation

Rabbi Shira and Joshua shine a spotlight on the surprisingly esoteric Jewish holiday of Shavuot, which is coming up in early June. A tradition of the holiday is to stay up all night studying Torah and in that spirit, we welcome on Rabba Yaffa Epstein and Rabbi David Schuck.

Episode Timecodes:

(00:00) Rabbi Shira’s thoughts after the shooting in Texas

(13:44) Rabba Yaffa Epstein and Rabbis David Schuck join the show

(46:01) Rabbi Shira's Guided Meditation and Counting of the Omer

SUMMARY: Rabbi Shira and Joshua welcome the CEO of the National Council of Jewish Women, Sheila Katz. Together, they discuss Jewish thought on reproductive rights, when life begins, and what can be done in response to the Supreme Court's intention to overturn Roe vs. Wade.

Episode Timecodes:

(04:45) Sheila Katz Interview

(35:04) Quick interviews with those attending the Abortion Justice Rally in D.C.

In this episode, Rabbi Shira and Joshua discuss the ins and outs of Judaism's tattoo taboo. Is it verboten? Where on the sliding scale of sin does it fall?  And the biggie: will a tattoo get you barred from a Jewish cemetery?

Episode Timecodes:

(25:18) Janel Moloney defines the Hebrew & Yiddish terms used in our episode

(28:51) Rabbi Shira's Guided Meditation as we count the Omer

The Rabbi and Joshua welcome editor-in-chief of The Atlantic, Jeffrey Goldberg, to discuss his fascinating sit-down with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky at his compound in Kyiv. Goldberg explains the similarities that Zelensky shares with many American Jews and why it is so noteworthy that Ukraine's President is Jewish at this particular time.

(09:02) Jeffrey Goldberg Interview

(33:47) Rabbi Shira’s Guided Meditation as we count the Omer

Rabbi Shira and Joshua welcome Israeli and Palestinian guests to the podcast to engage in an inclusive and nuanced conversation around Yom HaZikaron and Yom Ha’atzmaut.

Episode Timecodes:

(6:15) Leah Solomon Interview

(38:18) Layla Alsheikh Interview

(60:45) Reading the names of those who recently were killed in the region

Joshua and Rabbi Shira reconvene after spending Passover seder with friends and family. As Yom HaShoah (Holocause Remembrance Day) approaches, we take this opportunity to hear an unforgettable family story from Esther Safran Foer and her son Franklin Foer about their ancestry that was affected by the Holocaust. Esther has written a book titled, “I Want You to Know We’re Still Here: A Post Holocaust Memoir” about her experiences.

(08:42) Interview with Esther and Franklin

(42:58) Rabbi Shira “Counts the Omer”