A Rabbi and a Lawyer Walk Into a Bar

Bris or Brit?  However you pronounce it, we “cut” through issues surrounding the circumcision ritual.  We also discuss the rise of “hu-bris” in our modern political discourse and the importance of humility in the Jewish faith. 

We start by discussing Israel’s conflicts with Gaza over the last two years, and how John’s kids visited Israel when they occurred.  Reflecting on those incidents, John discussed the international legal framework for armed conflicts, including  jus ad bellum  (how wars begin) and  jus in bello  (how wars are fought).  We then pivot to an audience request for Asher to...

The three weeks between the fasts of 17 Tammuz and 9 Av are the saddest days in the Jewish calendar.  Although normally an upbeat podcast, we’ll explore this period through the lens of the Highland Park parade shooting, which occurred near John’s home.  We’ll discuss how rabbis help their congregants cope with catastrophic events.  We end on an optimistic note, talking about how to reverse the  si...

In the genesis of our new podcast, we introduce ourselves to a world that we hope is listening.  We discuss our respective backgrounds and how we met as Rabbi and congregant (later President) of Anshe Sholom B’nai Israel synagogue in Chicago.   We talk about deciding to launch this podcast after almost 30 years of schmoozing without a microphone, and what listeners can expect if they lend us their...