Even most non-Yids know that Shabbat is the day of rest, but did you know there are 39 categories of work that are prohibited on the Sabbath? If not, you better listen to this episode where we discuss some of them, or you’ll just go on sinning every Sabbath and be none-the-wiser.

We’ll talk about the benefits of Shabbat in the reconnecting with family and community, the history and significance of lighting the Shabbat candles, the Saturday evening Havdalah service which closes out the Sabbath, and many other questions around the commandment and poignancy of celebrating the Sabbath.

Then, we’ll make the hardest of hard turns…moving from the serenity of Shabbat to the fire and brimstone of our Parsha of the week, Sodom and Gomorrah.

Why did G-d feel it necessary to give Abraham warning that he was going to destroy the city? Why did G-d listen to Abraham when he negotiated for the lives of the innocent people who lived there? What does this tell us about the Bible’s perspective on collective punishment?

Links for the week:

Parsha: Genesis 18:17 - 18:33

Recommended Reading: The Sabbath by Abraham Joshua Heschel

Here's the description - When most goys think of being Jewish, they think the little hats, eight crazy nights, and no cheeseburgers; well it's that last thing we're talking about today…kosher.

But first, we'll do something we rarely do…cover a recent event. We'll discuss a New York Post story about a Jewish World War 2 soldier who was lost behind enemy lines only to have been discovered two years ago buried in a mass grave with Nazi soldiers and the efforts undertaken to give him a proper burial.

NY Post Article: https://nypost.com/2024/06/01/world-news/remains-of-jewish-american-soldier-recovered-after-being-buried-with-nazis/

When we get to the kosher topic, we'll discuss-

For this week's parsha, we'll discuss the Angels who visit Abraham and Sarah and tell them the good news about Isaac's coming.

To round it out, our buddy Eli Lake wrote us a little ditty about keeping kosher (with an AI assist). It's a banger…

Welcome back to edJEWcation! On this week’s episode, we start by discussing a couple of potential business ideas: Could there be a “Chabad-mode” for AI that would allow Jews who are Shomer Shabbos to use it during the weekly day of rest? Or a “Fred Flintstone-mode” for Uber so observant Jews can use it during the holiday?

Then we get into the meat of our discussion (no dairy, though; this is a thoroughly kosher podcast): the holiday of Shavuot (which is going on in the US right now), which commemorates the Jewish people receiving the Torah from G-d 3,000 years ago. We talk about the significance of the story of the giving of the Torah, the 49 days leading up to the holiday, the Ten Commandments, and the need for an ethical foundation in our lives.

During the discussion, we take a slight detour to discuss The True Believer by Eric Hoffer and how it can help explain the craziness we see on college campuses around the country.

We then wrap up with our final discussion of the Ethics of our Fathers, emphasizing the importance of virtues and character.

Links from our discussion:

On this week's edJEWCation we talk about jail.

The Rabbi talks about why Chabad spends time there, why he goes, the ethical and moral implications of punishment, how the Torah attempted to deter crime, and the role of the Torah in shaping societal justice.

Then we go into our penultimate discussion of Ethics of our Fathers where we discuss Mishna's which talk about balancing wisdom with action and empathy with understanding.

Join us in this enlightening episode as we delve into the intricate dynamics of power, politics, and purpose within Jewish history and contemporary society. We continue to explore the cautionary wisdom of Pirkei Avot (Ethics of our Sages), examining the allure and perils of proximity to authority and the impact of antisemitism on political ideologies.

Rabbi Perelmuter offers invaluable insights, from the dangers of social media distraction to the significance of embracing individual paths and fulfilling the commandments.

We get quite personal toward the end of the episode as we discuss the essence of belonging, the challenges of finding community in today's transient society, and the pivotal role of religious communities in fostering shared values and support. And yes, we do spend several minutes discussing Tina Turner… you never know what you’re going to get from edJEWcation!

This week’s episode of edJEWcation centers around "Pirkei Avot," also known as "Ethics of Our Fathers," a tractate of the Mishnah that offers timeless wisdom and ethical teachings from Jewish sages. Unlike other tractates focused on legalistic or ritualistic aspects of Judaism, Pirkei Avot emphasizes moral conduct, personal integrity, and communal responsibility. It comprises six chapters filled with pithy maxims and profound insights, guiding individuals on how to live righteously, cultivate good character, and interact harmoniously with others. Its teachings advocate for humility, kindness, the pursuit of knowledge, and the importance of community, making it a beloved and widely studied text in Jewish tradition.

The Rabbi breaks it down in his usual wise-cracking way, stressing the importance of spreading Torah knowledge and setting up study hubs. We chat about making disciples and how sometimes teachers learn more from students—kind of like how Yoda learned patience from dealing with Luke (and how much the Rabbi learns from ChayaLeah).

We delve into the concept of "fences around the Torah," which isn't about keeping goats out but rather extending prohibitions to safeguard the Torah's essence. It's like setting your alarm clock five minutes early to avoid being late. The Rabbi gets philosophical, discussing the importance of intention and motivation—essentially, doing good without expecting a medal or a viral tweet. Continuous Torah study is hyped as the ultimate game-changer for life, sort of like how leveling up in a video game opens new realms of awesomeness.

ChayaLeah and Jay then chat about their Torah study adventures, emphasizing the joy of diving deep into its teachings. Curiosity and imagination are hailed as vital, with a nod to needing the right resources—like a Torah-themed scavenger hunt. Finally, the Rabbi extols the virtues of silence, action, and greeting others warmly, suggesting that a pleasant countenance is more effective than a thousand memes. They wrap up by reflecting on how ancient wisdom trumps pop culture icons, proving that sometimes old school is the coolest school.

We had so much fun during this discussion, that we never got around to the Parsha portion, but don’t worry, we’ll get back to that this week.

What does Ivanka Trump, Elizabeth Taylor, Patriots great Andre Tippet, and Sammy Davis, Jr. all have in common? That's right, they all converted to the chosen people, and that's the topic for our discussion today...conversion.

We'll talk about how things may have gone a lot more smoothly for G-d's chosen people if they had tried recruiting more, why so few people who start the conversion process end up completing it, the court that decides your Jewish fate, why Ruth converted, and why yes, if uncut men convert, they still have to get their tip snipped.

As for the Parsha this week, for the sake of continuity, we'll discuss why circumcision is so important, the somewhat messed story of Sarai and Hagar, and the birth of Ishmael.

This week's Parsha covers, Genesis 16:1–17:16

On this week’s episode of “edJEWcation” we embark on an intellectual rollercoaster as we delve into a mosaic of Jewish sagacity and humor! Ever heard of a Rabbi turned stockbroker? Well, strap in because we're diving into that tale and more! Curious about why Jews put stones on graves? Consider it cracked! And just when you thought we'd stay in the shallow end, we'll take a short aside into the ethics of war.

But wait, there's more! From the ancient annals of Jewish prayer history to the intricate mechanics of the Shema, Amidah, and Kaddish, we'll navigate the labyrinthine corridors of spiritual devotion together. Ever pondered the peculiar sway of Orthodox Jews during prayer? Prepare for enlightenment! And brace yourselves for a "lively" debate on women and prayer that's bound to ruffle a few feathers.

And as if that's not enough, we'll cap it all off with a riveting dissection of Abraham's legendary clash against not one, not two, but a whopping NINE kings! So, don your yarmulke, sharpen your wit, and join us for a rib-tickling journey of enlightenment and laughter on "edJEWcation"!

You know how edJEWcation is usually a rollicking good time, with crazy stories of all things being Jewish? This episode…maybe a little less of that because on this one, we conclude our “Life of a Jew” series with how every story ends…plotz-ing. 

In this episode, we’ll discuss Jewish customs around death and mourning. We’ll discuss sitting Shiva, the rituals and beliefs around burials, the Kaddish, and the Jewish perspective on the afterlife (did you know Judaism believes in reincarnation?), and we’ll close with ChayaLeah speaking about her experience visiting the site of the Nova Music Festival in Israel. 

Once we’re done with that laugh-riot topic, we’ll go to our Parsha for the week and follow everyone’s favorite nomads, Abram, Sarai, and Lot, as they try to escape a famine in Canaan and go to Egypt (I have a feeling we might revisit Egypt a time or two again in the future, what do you think?). We’ll talk about why Abram lies to Pharaoh about his relationship with Sarai, how they become rich while there, and wrap up with G-d promising the land of Israel to Abram (even though that’s not its name quite yet).

This week’s Parsha discussion: Genesis 12:4 - 13:18

Until next time…may your Chametz be delicious.

Chag Sameach everyone! We were so excited about our first Passover episode, we decided to do it again!

We start out this episode answering a few listener questions like what are some good books about Israel and Judaism, go further into the matchmaking marriage process Chabad uses to marry off their kids, and what the heck made the Rabbi want to become a Rabbi in the first place?

Then, we get into the parts of the Passover Seder we didn’t get a chance to discuss last week. Why do car detailing businesses love Passover almost as much as Jews do, the ten plagues, how the Greeks influenced the Seder, and why we still end every Seder with the phrase “Next Year in Jerusalem” when, well, Jews can actually do that now!

As always, if you have any questions, please e-mail us at [email protected]