A Rabbi and a Lawyer Walk Into a Bar

Asher describes his MLK weekend church visits and John aspires to sing with a gospel choir.  Speaking of outreach, John eats bagels with a recovering neo-Nazi.  We then invite Jeremy Treister to describe his journey from eruv checker to the 21st Maccabiah Games gold medal track cyclist. 

John shares some surprising Jewish twists from his European vacation, including an evangelical shofar, German stumbling stones, “Pappa Don’t Preach” at a kosher restaurant, L’As du Fallafel at Le Marais, and so much more!  After worrying that John was invaded by body snatchers for being too cosmopolitan, Asher explains how to confront the vicissitudes of life and then takes a run for the border.

We start by explaining why Mike Pence tweeted the wrong candelabra.  Asher then describes how Jews can approach the Christmas season, and we then compare the obscure Nittel Nacht observance with Vegas.  John explains why the Central Time Zone is such a bummer on New Year’s Eve as we wish everyone a wonderful new year.

Wish us mazel tov in reaching our 18th episode without being cancelled, literally or figuratively!  Speaking of getting “chai,” we get into the weeds about marijuana under both secular and Jewish law.  We then jointly get blunt about Chanukah, including why Jews generally don’t light up for the “Festival of Lights.”

A recent shivah house visit prompts John to ask Asher about the mourning custom.  Who is Othniel Ben Kenaz and what’s his connection to the recent disturbances in Hebron?  We then analyze Thanksgiving through a Jewish lens, and Asher offers tips on how we can keep the knives down this year (except when carving the turkey).  Finally, Asher wishes John a happy birthday on what is also an important day in Jewish history.

We ponder whether Roe-vember stopped the Red Wave, leading us to the halachic view of abortion, and why it differs from the fundamentalist Christian perspective.  Doug Klein, our first guest(!), then explains his Zionist Guide to the World Cup.  It wouldn’t be our podcast without yet more on the antisemitism front (thanks Dave Chappelle), before John ends on a note of responsibility and Asher ends on a note of tolerance.

(Rabbi) Asher (Lopatin) describes his adventures at the other General Assembly.  We then unpack the latest Israeli election, and how American Jews should respond to the results.  Asher explains kosher issues surrounding whisk(e)y, our favorite libation.  Before ending with Sodom and Gomorrah, John probes how far traditional Jews can push the boundaries of “veggie traif” – for a friend.

Because this is the “Genesis” episode of the year….Now that COVID hits our podcast, we ask why there is a “Land of Confusion” among some Jews regarding modern medicine.  Asher tells us that if we don’t strictly construe the Torah, we are not “Throwing It All Away,” and thinking otherwise may be a “Misunderstanding.”  We discuss the Jewish view on gender without getting “In Too Deep.”  “That’s All!”

So many holidays, so little time.  As we move through Sukkot, while avoiding skunks, we squeeze in Hoshana Rabbah, Shemini Atzeret, and Simchat Torah (and its importance to the Top Secret! movie), not to mention the little-known Hakhel ceremony.  Then so many questions.  Is Kohelet/Ecclesiastes a nihilistic manifesto?  Was Barney just a little too good?  Should we care about Kanye?

Does 5783 mean that we walked around with dinosaurs?  John’s trip to Philly prompts a discussion of the Liberty Bell and the Jewish view on Jewish slavery.  We then discuss Asher’s White House adventures, and how Jewish celebrations there never fail to impress.  Finally, we wrap up with concepts to internalize for Yom Kippur, and how chickens are for eating (if treated humanely), not for waving above your head.

Should Jews really be driving forklifts, and is asking that question antisemitic?  Asher and John then discuss superheroes, both real (9/11) and imagined (Sabra).  After unpacking the Rosh Hashanah seder, our co-hosts then pivot to themes of royalty and Rosh Hashanah.  We marvel at the similarities between the upcoming coronations in England and in synagogue, and discuss whether God is an adherent of servant leadership.

Sending our kids off to school makes us reminisce about our college experiences, which seem like yesterday.  Somehow we also find a way to tie the Ben & Jerry’s divestiture controversy to erotic pasta.  We end by discussing the various traditions of the Jewish month of Elul, and how they should help us prepare for Rosh Hashanah.