edJEWcation

Welcome to the seminal edition of the edJEWcation book club. To usher in the monthly event, we read The Sunflower by Simon Wiesenthal. During our wide-ranging discussion, we discuss: Some of the most impactful (both positively and negatively) responses to Wiesenthal’s conundrum The complexities of forgiveness, discussing various perspectives on the moral implications of granting forgiveness to tho...

In this conversation, we explore the complex topic of redeeming captives from a biblical perspective. We discuss: The emotional and ethical dilemmas faced by families of hostages, Historical precedents in Jewish law, and the teachings of Maimonides. The implications of valuing captives, gender differences in redemption, and the broader societal impacts of these practices. Ethical considerations su...

On this episode, we trade a Polish Jew (the Rabbi) for a Russian Jew, Masha Merkulova. Masha is the founder and Executive Director of Club Z. Club Z ’s mission is to create a student network of educated and articulate activists who are committed to Zionism and advocate for themselves, Israel, and the Jewish people. During the episode, we discuss: Masha’s upbringing in the Soviet Union Her revelati...

This week on edJEWcation we do something a but different, we discuss the vacation the Rabbi and ChayaLeah took. Ok, that may be underselling it a bit. In World War Two, roughly 90% of the 3 million Jews living in Poland at the time were murdered…the Rabbi is a child of two of those survivors. To commemorate their family and all the deceased Polish Jews, the Perelmuter family organized a family tri...

This week, we talk about the founder of the Hasidic movement…the life and legacy of the Baal Shem Tov. We discuss: His early life and spiritual awakening The impact he had on Jewish spirituality Early opposition to the Hasidic movement The distinct customs, modes of prayer, and the joy that Hasidism brought to the Jewish people during a time of despair. The challenges of faith and the importance o...

Welcome back (In the Welcome Back Cotter melody…am I dating myself?). After a looooooooong holiday period, we are finally recording a new episode for the first time in a month. And do we have a barn burner for you!!!!! But first, here are a couple of quick updates about the show: When we started the show, we began by splitting the episodes into cultural topics and Parsha discussion, but in case yo...

This is a short episode based on a substack post I made last week about the IDF's killing of Yahya Sinwar and what our response should be. If you don't subscribe to our Substack you can find the post here - https://edjewcationpod.substack.com/p/dont-dance-on-graves And you can find a link to the X post I reference here - https://x.com/amjadt25/status/1847199234828693879 We'll be back soon with ful...

Have you ever seen a Jew build a house? Unlikely. The closest we get is during the Sukkot holiday. That alone makes the holiday notable, but there are other reasons we should pay attention to the holiday, and we will discuss all of those in this episode, along with a bonus discussion about Simchat Torah. In this episode, we’ll get into- The origins and traditions of Sukkot The significance of the...

Alright all you sinners…this one’s for you. This episode is everything you ever wanted to know about how to get back in Hashem’s good graces. You know it, you love it…it’s Yom Kippur . On this episode we discuss: Yom Kippur is often misunderstood as a heavy holiday, but it is fundamentally hopeful. The day is an opportunity for new beginnings and letting go of past baggage. Fasting on Yom Kippur i...

This week, we reflect on the October 7th massacre from both a personal and religious perspective. We discuss: How October 7th changed us personally and affected our Jewish identity. The idea of collective grief The rise of domestic antisemitism in the immediate aftermath and the year since Unity among the Jewish community How education needs to be reevaluated Theological questions about suffering...

We’re coming up to the busiest Jew time of the year and it all starts with Rosh Hashana, so this week, we’ll give you all a primer on the holiday. We’ll talk about- The importance of food in Jewish culture Understanding Rosh Hashanah and Attending Synagogue Overcoming Intimidation and Finding Meaning in Synagogue Services Reflection and Personal Growth during Rosh Hashanah A Time for Reflection an...

In this episode, we talk about…a month. No, that’s not the episode's length; that is its topic. Specifically, the month of Elul (I know, I know…trust me, the episode is much more interesting than it sounds). We discuss: Elul’s significance as a time for reflection before Rosh Hashana The month’s biblical origins What does the “King in the Field” have to do with Elul The importance of the conce...

In this episode of the Edjewcation Podcast, the hosts tackle an eclectic mix of topics, from their chaotic recording schedule (who needs sleep anyway?) to basking in some much-needed listener love. They even dip their toes into controversy, dissecting a wild interview from Tucker Carlson's show (because why not stir the pot a little?). The spotlight, however, is on the Rabbi’s deep dive into the h...

For those of you who are not of the "very online" set, Tucker Carlson interviewed Darryl Cooper, also known as MartyrMade, on his show this week. The interview set off a firestorm because of Cooper's, let's be generous and say poorly informed World War 2 opinions. After that, some old tweets emerged in which he made some quite disparaging remarks about Judaism and its relationshi...

Certain dimwitted fools (given this is a family show, that’s the best descriptor I can give) on the internet have been making claims about Judaism based on the preachings of a small group of zealots known as False Prophets. In today’s episode, we will discuss the two most famous members of the group, Sabbatai Zevi and Jacob Frank. We’ll discuss: The concept of prophets in Judaism What distinguishe...

With all the online anti-semitism and Jewish conspiracy theories in the dark corners of the internet (thanks, Candace Owens), we decided to take one of the issues head-on and discuss the concept of Kabbalah and its core teachings. Including: The history of Kabbalah, its mystical nature, its relationship with traditional Judaism, and the Zohar The blurred line between Kabbalistic practices and hala...

Get ready for a fun and insightful episode of edJewcation! This time, we're diving into the world of mitzvahs (commandments) that are all about women power. From the perfect challah to lighting Shabbos candles without burning down the house, and navigating the delicate waters of family purity—we’ve got you covered. The hosts sprinkle in some history, a dash of modern-day practices, and plenty...

Most internet influencers acquire an audience by emoting more positivity in a single Insta post than the average person can conjure in a week…but on edJEWcation, that’s not how we roll, thus the title of this week's episode, where we will discuss two supremely depressing topics. For the first topic, we discuss the most solemn day in the Jewish calendar, the three weeks and the holiday of Tisha...

And now for something a little bit different… On this episode, we are thrilled to welcome our first guest to edJEWcation, when ChayaLeah and Jay trade in the Rabbi for the Chief Historian of Operation Benjamin, Shalom Lamm. Operation Benjamin is an organization that ensures Jewish soldiers who were killed in World Wars One and Two but improperly buried are given the Jewish burial they deserve. Thi...

Since we have been neglecting the parsha recently, we decided to spend this week focusing on one of the essential stories of the Old Testament, The Binding of Isaac. In this episode, we explore: Different interpretations and perspectives on the story, including the idea that Abraham's willingness to sacrifice his son was a test of his faith and the belief that G-d wanted Abraham to say no to t...

With ChayaLeah fresh off her trip to Florida, where the Hassdim enjoyed an outdoor wedding in 900-degree weather, with wool coats on, the gang comes back together to finish their discussion on the Rebbe by talking about his ten Mitzvah campaign. The purpose of the campaign was to inspire less observant Jews to partake in some of the 613 Jewish mitzvahs The ten mitzvah’s of the Rebbe’s campaign are...

This episode is a special tribute to the Chabad Rebbe, Rabbi Menachem Mendel Schneerson , on the 30th anniversary of his passing. Along with discussing his biography and leadership of the Chabad movement, we discuss some of the key elements of the Rebbe’s philosophy, such as being of service to others, the need to fulfill one’s purpose in life, not succumbing to self-pity, the benefit of placing o...

Welcome to a special episode of "Edjewcation," where we're diving into Jewish traditions like we're on a spiritual scavenger hunt! First up, the "shul." What's the deal with shuls? Are they more than just where your Bubbe goes to schmooze? We'll unravel their historical secrets and discover why they're the ultimate hangout spot for Jewish life, gossip included. Ever wondered about the cantor's rol...

Even most non-Yids know that Shabbat is the day of rest, but did you know there are 39 categories of work that are prohibited on the Sabbath? If not, you better listen to this episode where we discuss some of them, or you’ll just go on sinning every Sabbath and be none-the-wiser. We’ll talk about the benefits of Shabbat in the reconnecting with family and community, the history and significance of...

Here's the description - When most goys think of being Jewish, they think the little hats, eight crazy nights, and no cheeseburgers; well it's that last thing we're talking about today…kosher. But first, we'll do something we rarely do…cover a recent event. We'll discuss a New York Post story about a Jewish World War 2 soldier who was lost behind enemy lines only to have been d...