This week on edJEWcation, we’re going full Nine Days mode, which means no meat, no music, no manicures, and absolutely no Martha Stewart-level Shabbat table décor.

ChayaLeah and Jay kick things off with a discussion on Bob Dylan’s Orthodox daughter, Paul McCartney’s politics (or lack thereof), and why Regina Spektor just became the patron saint of Jewish pride at concerts. But don’t worry it’s not just a classic edJEWcation tangent-fest (well, it is, but on purpose). Because all this music talk was really just a smooth setup for the Nine Days of Av: the annual Jewish crash course in grief, restraint, and self-discipline.

We break down the very real (and very weird) laws of the Nine Days: no laundry, no showers, no wine, no weddings, and definitely no binge-watching Welcome Back, Kotter. We explore what these restrictions are trying to teach us, and why Judaism demands personal sacrifice if we’re serious about rebuilding what was lost.

Then we zoom out: what does it mean to truly mourn a 2,000-year-old temple? Why is Judaism more than just theoretical ideals? And can giving up Instagram for nine days actually make you a better Jew or at least a more present human being?

Highlights include:

🧼 The halachic logic behind skipping showers (it’s grosser than you think)

📵 Why social media might be worse than smoking and what that means for our kids

🕯️ How one Shabbat dinner (without screens) could be the mental health revolution America’s been waiting for

🎧 And yes… Jewish a cappella is allowed. But should it be?

Whether you're observing the Nine Days or just looking to unplug and reconnect, this episode is a call to swap comfort for meaning and to consider that maybe, just maybe, the messiah won’t arrive until we’re all a little more willing to go without Spotify.