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Long before Westeros crowned its kings, ancient Israel had its own saga of ambition, betrayal, prophecy, and power. In this episode of PopTorah, Rabbis Knopf and Olitzky explore House of David, the new Prime series that reimagines the life of Israel’s most iconic and enigmatic ruler. Who really was King David—and who gets to tell his story? They dig into the drama, faith, and complexity at the heart of David’s journey, bringing centuries of Jewish interpretation into conversation with the show’s modern retelling. From shepherd to sovereign, sinner to songsmith, we unpack the many faces of David—and what his story reveals about leadership, legacy, and the divine in the drama.

Rabbis Michael Knopf and Jesse Olitzky are lifelong friends, pop culture fanboys, and lovers of all things Jewish. Join them every other week for a conversation about what’s going on in pop culture from a Jewish perspective and about Judaism through the lens of pop culture.

How do you listen to PopTorah? You have a lot of options you know? iTunes, Spotify, Google Play, Stitcher, RSS, it’s your choice!

This week, Brad and Steven are back, talking about the measles vaccine (PSA: make sure you still have your immunity!), the ridiculous Lindsey Graham tweet following the death of the Pope, Mexican Coca-Cola, Sephora, and the firing of Mike Waltz. Have a listen and enjoy!

You can listen to The Amen Corner in lots of ways. On iTunes, Spotify, Stitcher, Google Play, or your favorite RSS aggregator.

It’s the Easter/Passover is Over episode, and this week, Brad and Steven talk about how seemingly everyone ends Passover by eating pizza, wonder if it’s more accurate to compare the US today to Turkey or North Korea, and comment on RFK Jr’s recent frightening comments on autism. They also remind their listeners about the Signal Chat scandal and how it has completely fallen off of the radar screen with no punishment being meted out whatsoever. Happy listening and Happy Easter and end of Passover!

You can listen to The Amen Corner in lots of ways. On iTunes, Spotify, Stitcher, Google Play, or your favorite RSS aggregator.

Season 3 of ‘The White Lotus’ trades Sicilian scandal for Thai transcendence, following guests who journey to Thailand seeking serenity, connection, and maybe even enlightenment. What they find, however, is far more complicated. In this soul-searching episode of PopTorah, Rabbis Knopf and Olitzky unpack the show’s exploration of wealth, power, relationships, and the search for meaning. Is it possible to buy enlightenment? Can spiritual awakening be authentic in a world of luxury and illusion? And what does Jewish wisdom have to say about the difference between a vacation and a pilgrimage? Tune in as we wander the sacred and superficial in Mike White’s tropical house of mirrors.

Rabbis Michael Knopf and Jesse Olitzky are lifelong friends, pop culture fanboys, and lovers of all things Jewish. Join them every other week for a conversation about what’s going on in pop culture from a Jewish perspective and about Judaism through the lens of pop culture.

How do you listen to PopTorah? You have a lot of options you know? iTunes, Spotify, Google Play, Stitcher, RSS, it’s your choice!

This week, Brad and Steven are back with a special Passover episode. In honor of the holiday, the guys talk about gefilte fish and keeping carp in the bathtub back in the day. They also discuss the tariff craziness of the last week and the uncertainty that they brought to global markets. They also talk about Global entry, the one positive thing about living in a surveillance state. Happy listening and Happy Passover!

You can listen to The Amen Corner in lots of ways. On iTunes, Spotify, Stitcher, Google Play, or your favorite RSS aggregator.

This week, Brad and Steven are back at it, talking about, what else? Signalgate. Hard to believe that this story broke less than a week ago and how quickly it unfolded. The guys talk about the lying before Congress, the hypocrisy, and the disdain for the rule of law on display. They also talk about the Yankees and their magic bats. Have a listen!

You can listen to The Amen Corner in lots of ways. On iTunes, Spotify, Stitcher, Google Play, or your favorite RSS aggregator.

When the world seems to be going off the rails, what movies and shows do we turn to for comfort, and why? Rabbis Knopf and Olitzky are binge-watching at the edge of the abyss. Join us as we catch up on everything Jewish about our favorite pop culture offerings of this Winter of our Discontent. Join us as we discuss the third season of The White Lotus, the second season of Severance, the fourth season of The Righteous Gemstones, and the new series Paradise, among other shows and movies.

Rabbis Michael Knopf and Jesse Olitzky are lifelong friends, pop culture fanboys, and lovers of all things Jewish. Join them every other week for a conversation about what’s going on in pop culture from a Jewish perspective and about Judaism through the lens of pop culture.

How do you listen to PopTorah? You have a lot of options you know? iTunes, Spotify, Google Play, Stitcher, RSS, it’s your choice!

This week, Brad and Steven are back at it, talking about the ominous turn that the country is taking. They discuss Paul Weiss’ capitulation to Trump and debate what they would have done had they been forced to make a similar decision. They also talk about the risk of being stopped in an airport and the Democrats’ response (or lack thereof) to the authoritarian moment that we’re in. They try to figure out if flawed responders like AOC and Bernie Sanders are better than no responders at all. Have a listen!

You can listen to The Amen Corner in lots of ways. On iTunes, Spotify, Stitcher, Google Play, or your favorite RSS aggregator.

Brad and Steven are back at it this week, talking about the steady creep toward authoritarianism, film A Real Pain, what’s happening at Columbia University, and Chicago deep dish pizza and the semantic debate over what is defined as pizza, Have a listen!

You can listen to The Amen Corner in lots of ways. On iTunes, Spotify, Stitcher, Google Play, or your favorite RSS aggregator.

Weddings are supposed to be joyous occasions—but what happens when everything goes off the rails? In this celebratory episode of PopTorah, we RSVP to You’re Cordially Invited, the new comedy that turns a dream destination wedding into a hilarious disaster. Join Rabbis Knopf and Olitzky as they unpack the film’s themes of love, family, and unexpected chaos, exploring what it really means to celebrate life’s biggest milestones. Grab a glass, break some glass, and listen in!

Rabbis Michael Knopf and Jesse Olitzky are lifelong friends, pop culture fanboys, and lovers of all things Jewish. Join them every other week for a conversation about what’s going on in pop culture from a Jewish perspective and about Judaism through the lens of pop culture.

How do you listen to PopTorah? You have a lot of options you know? iTunes, Spotify, Google Play, Stitcher, RSS, it’s your choice!