Chatting Rabbis

Next Tuesday is the Rebbe's 120th birthday, and Mendy and Eliezer don't necessarily see eye to eye on how it should be marked. But they still manage to have a cordial and lively conversation on the subject.

A conversation about Mendy's visit to the World Expo in Dubai with his son, as a symbol for world peace, tolerance, and even as a tool for educating our own children.

A conversation about the recent passing of the great scholar Rabbi Chaim Kanievsky, and the lessons that can be learned from his extreme commitment to Torah study, and the role he played in building bridges within the community.

In this special Purim episode, Mendy and Eliezer discuss the deeper meaning of the holiday—Purim joy (including drinking on Purim), rising above our inhibitions, and Jewish unity—along with childhood memories and how they celebrate Purim with their communities today. Bonus: Mendy's solo rendition of a tune from Fiddler on the Roof.

With war still raging in Ukraine and hundreds of thousands of Jews having evacuated or still in harms way, Eliezer and Mendy discuss the many efforts to protect them, with a focus on the outpouring of kindness coming from all over the world. Prayers for a peaceful resolution!

So much of Chabad history is based in Ukraine, coupled with the personal connections Mendy and Eliezer currently have in that besieged region. With the war still raging, a fascinating conversation ensues, complete with stories and anecdotes, bringing it all to life. NOTE: Since the situation in Ukraine continues to change from minute to minute, our conversation may not reflect up to date informati...

Eliezer and Mendy have a lively discussion about the complex and often contradictory relationship Chabad has with Zionism and the State of Israel.

Eliezer caught some flack for tweeting that people should stop visiting Auschwitz, and Mendy vehemently disagreed with him from an emotional and also an existential perspective. Listen to both sides of this somber subject, and come away with a better appreciation for how the Holocaust shaped the Jewish world today and into the future.

Politics, personal opinions, social media, cancel culture, and everything in between. Should rabbis who represent something far greater than themselves be involved in political commentary? Eliezer and Mendy tackle this pet peeve in hopes of bringing clarity to the subject.

Mendy shares memories and lessons from the life of his grandfather, Rabbi Dovid Moshe Lieberman, whose shiva concludes this week. From Holocaust survivor to world renowned rabbi and halachic authority, and above all a proud Chossid and family man.

The Mishnah (Avot 2:5) says, "A bashful person cannot learn, a short-tempered person cannot teach." Mendy and Eliezer discuss their efforts (and challenges) with both sides of this important teaching, how asking questions is the key to learning, and how being available to respond is the key to being good-natured.  Bonus: Weather report for Turkey in January.

Commemorating the yahrtzeit of their great-grandfather Rabbi Yehuda Chitrik, Eliezer and Mendy share memories and lessons they learned from him and his 106 years of a very full life. From Russia to Belgium, Montreal, New York, and Miami, learn about this fascinating yet humble character, who studied under three generations of Chabad Rebbes, starting at the original yeshiva in the city of Lubavitch...

An emotionally charged conversation about the horrors of sexual abuse, how the religious Jewish community is not immune to it, and what might be the correct way to deal with it as parents and as community leaders.

Mendy and Eliezer get personal about their life-long struggles with weight and how they continue to overcome their individual challenges by living healthy and active lifestyles. Learn how the same tools recommended to push yourself to exercise can be applied to Jewish observance and Torah learning. And how you can actually learn Torah while working out.

A first-hand account of last week's summit of the Alliance of Rabbis in Islamic States in Istanbul, including the surprise visit to the presidential palace in Ankara and meeting with Turkish President Erdogan. Learn about the mutual respect that exists between the Jewish communities and their host countries and some of the issues being dealt with by this diverse group of Jewish leaders.

An honest conversation about how we raise and educate our children, including the lessons we learn from the mistakes we make along the way. Education is a work in progress, and sometimes the focus needs to be on educating ourselves on how to be better parents.

After last week's episode about the challenges of dealing with Jewish travelers, Eliezer and Mendy discuss the positive side of hosting and interacting with the many people that pass through our doors. There are inspiring stories of personal growth, as well as the friendships developed over years with repeat visitors, balancing out the challenges and ultimately making it all worthwhile.

While some Chabad Houses function to serve tourists and travelers, the focus of the majority of Chabad rabbis and rebbetzins is primarily to serve their local communities. Once in a while a visitor needs help and Chabad is always there to lend a hand. But travelers often expect Chabad to be there to provide for all of their needs, from kosher meals to lodging to minyanim. Mendy and Eliezer attempt...

An exploration of some fascinating Chanukah traditions: Where were the Syrian-Greeks actually from? The connection between Tisha B'av and Chanukah. Why do some Jews have an extra candle on their menorahs? Where should the menorah be lit and what shape should it be? All this and much more in this special Chanukah episode, from Turkey to Indiana. And don't forget the Chanukah-gelt.

Is a shliach more committed to the ideals of Chabad and the Rebbe than a fellow Lubavitcher who is not a shliach? Does our sacrifice today compare to the sacrifice of those that came before us? Commemorating the 19th of Kislev, the "festival of liberation" of the Alter Rebbe, founder of Chabad, Mendy and Eliezer tackle this heavy and often sensitive subject. Also, the Turkish connection to Yud-Tes...

A conversation about the recent visit to the United States by Rabbi Yehuda Gerami of Iran. Eliezer and Mendy discuss the pushback his trip faced, and the importance of communities having capable leaders who understand the need for development, as well as the need for interaction with other communities and their leaders in order to grow and evolve. Along the way, learn about some of the differences...

In discussing the phenomenon of antisemitism, Mendy and Eliezer cover a wide range of topics, such as historic Jew hatred, Jewish pride, Hollywood's depiction of religious Jews, how to combat racism and bigotry in general, Judaism not seeking converts, and how the world can be a better place for everyone—if we would only want it to be.

From Sweden to Manhattan to Indiana, breakaways in the Jewish community are sometimes unavoidable, especially given the different styles, personalities, and ages of the prominent players. Eliezer and Mendy discuss how this painful subject can be utilized as a springboard to communal growth and maturity.

Eliezer and Mendy discuss the relationship, and sometimes the divergence, Chabad rabbis have with the "establishment" and the various elements of their communities, including rabbis of other congregations, communal lay leaders, and Jewish Federations. A special episode in honor of the Kinus Hashluchim, the International Conference of Chabad Emissaries, being held this weekend in New York.

Discover the backstory of the rescue of Afghanistan's last Jew, and along the way learn about the process of long distance halachic divorces and how a rabbi should deal complex halachic issues in general, as well as the evolution of Jewish tradition and culture, including the popularization of kosher sushi and what the Rebbe said about one family's responsibility to their neighbors. You are invite...