The Zal

Chazkel (Charlie) Roth was born in 1925 to a Chassidic family. He was a part of the first batch of students in the first Chabad Yeshiva on American Shores. Our recorded recollections of his, published here for the first time, paint a loving and colorful picture. 

Charlie became agnostic later in his life but still remained in warm contact with his Jewishness and the Chabad community. 

Like many other ‘hippie-Jews’ he rediscovered the depth of his religious birthright by identifying the parallels between the humanistic psychology and Jewish mysticism. 

Join Dovid and Adam as we remember an interesting life and a beautiful soul. May the Neshama of Yechezkel ben Meir Hillel have an Aliya. 

Music by: Shlomo Carlebach and ZionLight.

Experience the Rebbe's Farbrengen here.

Because it does good or because it's just right? Are we expecting Mazal points to cash in later? What even is charity?  

The grayest areas, the Zalliest territory, and all new sponsors for our last episode of the year 5782.  

Thanks so much for being with us.

Music:

Stephanie Chou: http://www.stephaniechoumusic.com

Aloe Blacc's "I Need A Dollar": [YouTube]

So, nu? We digressed. 

Welcome to The Zal After-Hours, where we share what we were already sharing but... later. Today: an ancient allegory we side-barred from our simplicity episode (#21) — Dovid goes a little deeper into simpleness. 

Bad intro music by your co-host; great outro music by Haryun Ban. Find his full rendition of Sunrise, Sunset, arr. Jeremy Choi, here: [YouTube]. And find him here on [Instagram].

On last week’s episode, Dovid put a message out for the “simpletons.” Adam’s response, basically: “Dude, harsh!” This week we explore why “simple” isn’t a dig, why true simplicity — in approach and theory and desire and practice — ain’t simple.

On tap: the ultimate greatnesses of simplicity, from the divine to the academic to the personified. The old sages’ takes. The DUI field sobriety test.

Come get involved.

Thank you to our sponsors. Bad music by your co-host; great music by these folks:

Jubilee Reed’s full rendition of Anatevka: [YouTube].  Find her EPs here.

Haryun Ban’s full rendition of Sunrise, Sunset; arr. Jeremy Choi: [YouTube]. Find him on [Instagram]. 

It's Part 2 with media philosopher Andrew McLuhan. What is the antidote to a tech-triggered racing mind? Is *this* moment in communication evolution fundamentally different than other moments of media transformation?

Is it just "kids these days!" all over again? Does tweeting “Get Off Of Twitter!” help?

The McLuhan Institute 

Understanding Media: The Extensions of Man [Get it from your independent bookstore here] 

Music by Stephanie Chou: [Spotify] 

And future friend of the pod Matisyahu: [Spotify] 

On this episode, we grapple with the concerns of legendary philosopher of media and communication Marshall McLuhan. From the scale of person-to-person conversations to broad social change: is evolving technology (and our choices between existing ones) more important than the very things we're saying?  

Today, another guest! We talk with Andrew McLuhan, director of the McLuhan Institute (and Marshall's grandson) about these major concerns. Especially on blast: the all-consuming nature of today’s mediums and what society can do to mitigate their worst effects.  As always, we will never arrive at a "conclusion," but join us for the ride, and for a mellifluous Canadian accent. 

Music by Stephanie Chou.

And from The JakeLeggers' mixing booth.

Dispatches from Ukraine, part two: Dima Susskiy, writer for the comedy show that made President Zelenskiy famous. Destruction and hope on the move.

Telegram channel links: Memes from Kvartal 95 (Zelenskiy's former outfit); more memes from the channel "God, it's over!"

More about Kvartal 95.

Opening song: "Peace" by MEUTE

Closing song: "Adventures in Your Own Backyard" by Patrick Watson

Without expertise or first-hand experience, there’s little to add to the conversation about the situation in Ukraine. But we can listen. 

Michael Zatloff is a faith-minded individual who left behind his house and home of 24 years to escape Putin’s bombs. This is his viewpoint. 

For original quote “saving one person is like saving the world” see Talmud, Sanhedrin 37a

Groupthink, group expressions, even in-group vocabulary: it's easy and reliable, and a good way to keep feathers unruffled. But this ease can be outweighed by a lost opportunity to make an idea your own. In this episode, recorded in collaboration with the Jewish Learning Institute, Adam and Dovid discuss the advantages of developing (and "chewing") your own conception of ancient ideas. Practical and theological perks are all on the table. 

Read about Rabbi Chaim Brisker's Talmudic genius here. 

Read of the spirituality of the Sheloh HaKadosh here. 

Meditate on the legend of the crushed crown jewel here. 

Apply the lesson The Rebbe derived from Yaakov donning Eisav's furs here. 

Music by Ryan Chaney and Stephanie Chou.

We’re back to that little old issue: man’s search for Meaning. Are we born with a need for belief beyond what we can reason? What forms can that take — what are their pitfalls? Trans-rational thought: restock on aisle humanity?

You can read about the story of the Golden Calf [Here].

The Rebbe's talk on the power of heretics can be studied in the original [Here].

The Indy Star's feature of The Zal: [Here, w/ pictures (look at that punim!) & video by Rory Appleton]

Music snippets from Nosson Zand [Spotify] and Adam Valen Levinson [sorry].