Four Cubits

In this episode, Jeff and Eli discuss Barry Freundel, Marc Gafni and the dynamics of sexual scandal in the religious world.

Show Notes:

Mark Oppenheimer's New York Times piece on Marc Gafni.

The Huffington Post piece on the anniversary of Barry Freundel's arrest.

In this episode, Jeff and Eli lay out the New Atheist argument against Islam in four parts. They then examine the weaknesses in the argument and explore their differences on the boundaries that ought to be imposed on would-be critics of religion.

Show Notes:

To see Bill Maher and Sam Harris go at it with Ben Affleck on Real Time click here.

To read Glenn Greenwald's criticism of Sam Harris and the New Atheists click here.

To read Graeme Wood's recent controversial article in The Atlantic click here.

To read Haroon Moghul's response to Wood's article click here.

In this episode, Eli talks to Edina Lekovic, Director of Policy and Programming at the Muslim Public Affairs Council. They talk about the recent murders in Chapel Hill, the definition of Islamophobia, President Obama's relationship to the American Muslim community, the 2011 study by the Center for American Progress, and antisemitism that is couched in Islamic language.

Show Notes:

For a nice introduction to Islamophobia click here.  

To learn more about Edina's organization click here.

For some background on New Ground click here.

To read "Fear Inc." click here.

In this episode, Jeff and Eli discuss the attacks on Charlie Hebdo and the Kosher market in Paris. They examine each other's definitions of terrorism, discuss whether the actions of states can properly be called terrorism, and touch on the issue of freedom of speech.

Show Notes:

Wikipedia on the definition of terrorism: Terrorism

Eli's article for Jewschool: New Teams

In this episode, Jeff and Eli are joined by Rabbi Sara Zacharia to conclude their discussion about the role of women in Judaism.

Show Notes:

To read Rabbi Pamela Barmash's Teshuva click here.

To see evidence that Daniel Gordis lost his mind click here.

To learn more about JTS click here.

To learn more about Ziegler click here.

In this Episode, Jeff and Eli are joined by Dr. Batya Ungar-Sargon, staff writer for Tablet, to continue the discussion about women and Judaism.

Show Notes:

To read Batya's piece on Yeshivat Maharat, click here.

For more on the Maharat program, click here.

In this episode, Jeff and Eli talk about the role of women in the Jewish world. They touch on the legal status of women in Jewish law, leadership positions, and ritual participation and talk about the paradox posed by progressive forms of Orthodoxy.

Show Notes:

To learn more about Avi Weiss's seminary for training Orthodox women to be Rabbi-like leaders click here.

To learn more about Egaladox Judaism click here.

In this episode, Jeff and Eli continue their conversation about God. They start by talking about hermeneutics and the role of human perspective in religious interpretation and move to the subject of prayer.

Show Notes:

To read the story of the Oven of Akhnai click here. 

For background on the kidnapping of Nachshon Waxman click here.

In this episode, Jeff and Eli continue their discussion of God and talk about their own views on the subject.

Show Notes:

To read about Pascal's Wager, by which Jeff is utterly unconvinced, click here.

To read about Christopher Hitchens, click here.

In this episode, Jeff and Eli talk a little about the film The Wolf of Wall Street and then launch into their next big topic of conversation: God.

Show Notes:

Background on Maimonides.

Background on Spinoza.

Background on Hermann Cohen.

The Ontological Proof.