This week, we welcome Sal Litvak to the show…better known as the Accidental Talmudist.

In the first part of this conversation, Sal shares his unique Jewish journey, from his immigrant roots in Chile to his spiritual seeking and eventual reconnection with Judaism through the Talmud. He discusses the impact of personal loss, the rediscovery of his faith, and his commitment to teaching and sharing Jewish wisdom with a diverse audience.

We explore the complexities of Jewish learning, the journey towards religious observance, and the tools available for studying Talmud.

We then transition to Sal’s love of filmmaking, where he shares the story of his creative journey and how he ended up at USC film school. We talk about the trials and tribulations involved in the creation and subsequent release of his Passover comedy film, When Do We Eat?, and his upcoming film, Guns and Moses.

We close out our chat by discussing the complexities of faith, comedy, and the Jewish experience portrayed in film, the challenges first-time directors face, the importance of personal stories in art, and the need to engage young Jews in their heritage.

This was a tremendous and far-reaching conversation. We hope you enjoy it.

You can find Sal at any of his social media channels:

• Instagram

• Facebook

• Tiktok

Have you noticed the large number of internet trolls who are “just discovering” things recently? Or have uncovered secret truths that “you aren’t allowed to talk about?” If you have, you’ve probably seen one of the “just discovered” things that “they aren’t allowed to talk about” is that Communism was actually a secret Jewish cabal led by the likes of Karl Marx (who was Jewish) and Joeseph Stalin (who was not).

Is there any truth to this? To find answers, we interviewed Paul Hanebrink, Professor of History at Rutgers University to discuss his book A Spectre Haunting Europe: The Myth of Judeo-Bolshevism

In this conversation, we explore the historical roots and contemporary implications of the myth that associates Jews with communism, examining how this narrative has evolved and its impact on anti-Semitism, particularly in Eastern Europe.

We discuss on the role of Jewish identity in communism, the use of pogroms as political tools, and parallels to modern anti-Zionism. We delve into the complex themes of anti-Semitism, Jewish identity, and the historical context of Bolshevism and communism. We discuss the use of anti-Semitism in Eastern European political discourse, and the implications of “dual loyalty” acusation for Jewish individuals today.

We wrap up by addressing the challenges of Holocaust education (which Professor Hanebrink happens to teach a course on) and the evolving nature of Holocaust memory, emphasizing the importance of understanding the Jewish experience during these historical events.

Links from the episode:

• Professor Hanebrink’s books:

  • A Spectre Haunting Europe

  • In Defense of Christian Hungary

• In The Midst of Civilized Europe: The Pogroms of 1918-1921 and the Onset of the Holocaust by Jeffrey Veidlinger

Do you like Halloween? Do you like Jews? Well, then you’ll love Purim.

In this conversation, we explore the significance of Purim through its historical narrative in the Book of Esther, the key characters, and the holiday’s customs.

ChayaLeah and the Rabbi reflect on their personal experiences with the holiday (probably involving drinking too much) and the evolution of Purim traditions over the years. We discuss why we drink so much on the holiday (only if you’re over 21, of course), the significance of costumes and masks, the ever-present groggers, and its modern equivalents. The dialogue delves into the narratives of stories heroes, namely Esther and Mordechai, and we highlight how Ester’s story closely follows that of The Hero’s Journey. We reflect on the balance between celebrating victories, acknowledging past tragedies, and emphasizing the Jewish community’s collective responsibility to each other.

Happy Purim, everybody!

If you spend time on X/Twitter (which I would never waste my time doing), you’ve probably seen a bunch of internet morons talking about how “they’ve read the Talmud and here’s this horrendous thing it says.” Today, we discuss why they are full of nonsense (this is family programming).

But first, we begin discussing a recent Pew Research poll that shows that the decades-long slimming of American religious affiliation may have seen a stemming of the tide, especially among younger people. I asked the rabbi if he had seen this among the Chosen People.

We then move into the Talmud by discussing its structure and the central role it plays in Judaism. We delve into the complexities of Talmud study, emphasizing the importance of reconciliation, respect in disagreements, and the intricate nature of Jewish law. The Rabbi introduces us to the concept of “the meandering Talmud,” its purpose in legal arguments, and the balance between human interpretation and divine will.

We close out the episode by discussing a typical Talmudic story, The Oven of Akhnai, and how a typical Talmudic story analysis would occur.

Links from the episode:

• Chabad Teen Program

• Johnathan Sacks/Richard Dawkins debate

• Daf Yomi description

• The Oven of Akhnai

• Rabbi Perelmuter’s Talmud series

This week's episode was a high-wire act. What I thought would be a slight aside to kick things off ended up being the entire episode. You never know what those crazy Jews are going to do…

We start discussing what I thought was a profound insight from this week's parsha (don’t mind if I do!), Exodus 22:21-23 if you want to read along, which led us to a broader discussion about the importance of justice in Jewish law.

We had absolutely nothing planned for this episode, so what you hear is 100% off the cuff.

We hope you enjoy it!

Oh boy. Here we go…

This week we decided to tackle the oh-so-non-controversial, milquetoast, mundane topic of the big A.

No, the A does not stand for Alcoholism, Agamemnon, or Adult Diapers. It stands for Abortion.

We’ve batted around discussing it for a while now and decided to avoid it (for probably obvious reasons). However, the great Kat Rosenfield wrote an article for The Free Press last week, which hit me like an AK-47 round right in the feels and made the time seem right to touch the seven million-degree stove.

In an article entitled, The Men Who Lost Their Babies, Kat describes the emotional pain men experience from a lost pregnancy by interviewing around a half dozen men who have gone through this painful experience, either due to miscarriage or abortion.

As one of those types of men, the article was a challenging but also cathartic read, as I expressed in the podcast this week.

In this conversation, we delve into the nuances of Jewish law regarding abortion, the concept of a Rodef (someone pursuing another person with the intent of killing them), and the cultural shifts in understanding reproductive rights.

We discuss the complexities of grief, parenting, and societal attitudes towards abortion over time, the emotional experiences of both mothers and fathers in the context of pregnancy loss, the spiritual beliefs surrounding unborn life, and the cultural shifts in how abortion is perceived.

We close out by emphasizing the need for support structures for women facing unexpected pregnancies and discuss the moral implications of valuing life based on desire versus inherent value and the importance of shared grieving within relationships.

Of course, we’re always interested in hearing your thoughts, but we’ll be particularly interested in this episode, so please comment below or send us a note to [email protected]

And if you want to be able to check out our punims, be sure to subscribe to our YouTube channel here.

Finally, if you read along with the edJEWcation Book Club, you’ll be excited to know we are announcing our next selection…The Screwtape Letters by C.S. Lewis

This week, we present to you all the second installment of the edJEWcation book club. This month, we discuss Mary Shelley’s classicFrankenstein.

When I first suggested this book for the book club, ChayaLeah and the Rabbi looked at me as if I had two heads (each with a yarmulka on). However, after reading it, I think they came around. The book deals with several profound human questions, each of which Judaism has something to say about (but of course).

During the discussion, we examine several of the book's primary themes: the need for community, the moral responsibilities of creation, and the desire for forbidden knowledge.

The conversation highlights the importance of friendship and belonging, the consequences of isolation, and the ethical implications of scientific advancements. We explore the intricate themes of human relationships, the pursuit of knowledge, the nature of suffering, and the roles of men and women in creation.

We also discuss the complexities of love and frustration in relationships, the consequences of seeking knowledge, and the philosophical implications of suffering as a form of atonement.

I can’t recommend this book enough. If you haven’t read it, pick it up.

After a few weeks of intense conversations, we decided to lighten it up a bit and talk about happiness and what’s so great about it, both generally and in the Jewish context.

In this conversation, we discuss the importance of a joyful home and delve into the emotional nature of happiness and gratitude. We discuss the teachings of Rabbi Nachman of Breslov and the importance of joy in spiritual practice while also addressing the distinction between true and false happiness.

We discuss the interplay between optimism and pessimism, the importance of resilience in facing life's challenges, and the relationship between happiness and achieving your goals. We emphasize practical steps you can use to cultivate happiness while also addressing cultural perceptions of happiness and its complexities.

Get ready for a great episode next week, where we’ll have our next book club…Frankenstein by Mary Shelley

In this episode, we cover a lot of ground with our guest and true Renaissance woman, Sarah Skwire.

We originally invited Sarah to discuss an article she wrote about the significance of George Washington's letter to the Hebrew congregation in Newport, Rhode Island.

During that portion of the discussion, we explore the letter’s historical context, Washington’s deft usage of language in the letter, Rhode Island’s unique role in religious toleration in America, and the impact of this letter on Jewish communities in the country.

However, as Sarah has a PhD in English Literature and expertise in Shakspeare, I would have been remiss if I hadn’t asked her the question on the tip of everyone’s tongue…was The Bard anti-Semitic?

The last piece of Sarah’s deep well of knowledge we examine is her love of free-market economics, specifically Adam Smith's philosophy and economic theories.

As you can see, this was a wide-ranging conversation, and I suspect only the first with Sarah.

We hope you enjoy it!

Links from our discussion:

With the growth of the number of countries legalizing euthanasia to various degrees, we thought it would be a good topic to discuss this week. You know, why not hit on another lighthearted topic, amiright?

In our conversation, we discuss the importance of life in Judaism, the moral dilemmas surrounding euthanasia, and the role of rabbis in guiding families through end-of-life decisions. We touch on the intersection of euthanasia and healthcare systems, if Judaism seems to have a difference between suicide and euthanasia, and discuss concerns around the implications of state-sponsored euthanasia in countries with socialized medicine.