The Stoic Jew

Have any questions, insights, or feedback? Send me a text! Length: 29 minutes 44 seconds Synopsis: Seven days ago I made an episode about my thoughts and feelings about starting this new teaching job. In this episode I talk how four Stoic principles from Epictetus helped me to have the best first week imaginable. Related Content: - 8/28/23: Stoic Jew Thoughts on the First Day at a New School - 8/2...

Have any questions, insights, or feedback? Send me a text! Length: 9 minutes 25 seconds Synopsis: I recorded this while sitting in the parking lot before entering my new school on Day 1 in the few minutes before school started. I wanted to preserve my thoughts and feelings in a manner untainted by hindsight. (If you missed the life update, check out the previous episode.) Sources: - Marcus Aureliu...

Have any questions, insights, or feedback? Send me a text! Length of audio: 47 minutes Synopsis: Have you been what I'll be up to this coming year?  Have you heard me allude to a MAJOR update that I said I'd announce about my professional life in the near future? Are you aware of one of these updates, but not the other? Well, if none of this interests you, then by all means, feel free to...

Have any questions, insights, or feedback? Send me a text! Length: 13 minutes 43 seconds Synopsis: I used to think there was something ... illicit (?) about my fusion of Judaism and Stoicism - at least, from the perspective of "Orthodox Stoicism." However, I recently learned that what I'm doing isn't too different from what Epictetus, Seneca, and Marcus Aurelius did with their...

Have any questions, insights, or feedback? Send me a text! Length: 12 minutes 20 seconds Synopsis: I accidentally invented a new form of meditation this morning, which I call "taking a gratitude bath." I subsequently realized that I already "take a gratitude shower" every day when I say the morning blessings. I could have waited until I tweaked this technique and compiled sourc...

Have any questions, insights, or feedback? Send me a text! Length: 22 minutes 45 seconds Synopsis: This week, the historic city of Lahaina (Maui, Hawaii) was utterly destroyed by wildfires. As of the time of this recording, 36 people are dead, and hundreds of buildings have burned to the ground. (Update: the death toll is now at 53.) Upon reading this tragic news, my mind immediately went to the b...

Have any questions, insights, or feedback? Send me a text! Length: 14 minutes 55 seconds Synopsis: Thank God, I've been sick for the past five days. In this episode I recount three lessons I have been reminded of and implemented during this time. As per my new/old plan: I recorded this primarily for myself, but if you gained from it, feel free to let me know!  Related Rabbi Schneeweiss Conten...

Have any questions, insights, or feedback? Send me a text! Length: 18 minutes 13 seconds Synopsis: After battling the resistance (and losing) all summer, I finally broke through and recorded my 300th episode! Originally this was supposed to coincide with my "two years of gratitude" milestone (which I passed 27 days ago), but better late than never!  I address these topics and more in thi...

Have any questions, insights, or feedback? Send me a text! I don't usually do this, but since my latest article on rabbischneeweiss.substack.com/ fits so perfectly into The Stoic Jew podcast, I decided to cross-post the audio version here. Speaking of which, I'm genuinely curious as to how many listeners of TSJ are even aware that I have a substack. Synopsis: This is the audio version of...

Have any questions, insights, or feedback? Send me a text! Length: 10 minutes 24 seconds Synopsis: The aim of this short episode is to explain why I haven’t made an episode since before Pesach, but the REAL reason I’m making this episode is to help jumpstart my production of content for TSJ again. If you're interested in the secret episode, feel free to email me or reach out to me on WhatsApp...

Have any questions, insights, or feedback? Send me a text! Length: 23 minutes 35 seconds Synopsis: In this episode we examine the practice of making a vow to Hashem at a time of distress - one of the major themes in Tehilim 116, which we recite in Hallel. We compare and contrast this to Seneca's views on gratitude (which align with Judaism) and his attitude towards vows (which does not). We f...

Have any questions, insights, or feedback? Send me a text! Length: 20 minutes 25 seconds Synopsis: In this pre-Pesach episode I share an insight I had this year while learning the halachos of Pesach which resulted in a rush of gratitude which is appropriate to Pesach for a number of reasons. If only Marcus Aurelius knew what he was missing out on. Sources:  - Aurelius, Meditations 4:49,8  - Haggad...

Have any questions, insights, or feedback? Send me a text! Length: 29 minutes Synopsis: I’ve recently been asked by several people about my current meditation practice and what I get out of it. I decided to make an episode in which I recap my history with meditation practices, review some of the key benefits of meditation according to Stoicism and Judaism, and conclude with a summary of my current...

Have any questions, insights, or feedback? Send me a text! Length: 23 minutes Synopsis: The impetus for this morning’s (unplanned) episode was yet another night of insomnia, in what has amounted to nearly a full week of insomnia. I decided to make this episode to help me process my thoughts as I tossed and turned in bed between 4 and 5am after being awakened at 2:15am by a guy blaring music in his...

Have any questions, insights, or feedback? Send me a text! Length: 10 minutes 43 seconds Synopsis: This is the eulogy I delivered at the funeral of my Popo (grandmother), Helen Chang (10/5/1924 - 2/2/2023) on 3/13/23 in Honolulu, HI. I originally uploaded it to my Machshavah Lab podcast, where I post my miscellaneous shiurim and content, but I realized that it would be appropriate to upload it her...

Have any questions, insights, or feedback? Send me a text! Length: 23 minutes Synopsis: This past Shabbos was my 600th day of gratitude, and I decided to delay making an episode until Purim so that I could talk about the common themes. Unfortunately, I got zero sleep last night - yes, ZERO - which yielded a benefit and a detriment. The benefit is that I got to use last night's insomnia as an...

Have any questions, insights, or feedback? Send me a text! Length: 18 minutes Synopsis: My primary goal in making this episode was to remove my "podcaster's block" that has been in place since the news of the four deaths reached me on 2/2/23. After recapping those events and their aftermath, I examine Marcus Aurelius's healthy approach to grief, followed by Epictetus's unh...

Have any questions, insights, or feedback? Send me a text! Synopsis: If there’s one thing I’ve learned so far from Elizabeth Kübler-Ross’s On Grief and Grieving , it’s that we all process grief differently, and there’s no wrong way to grieve. As of the recording of this episode, Popo is still with us, but all indications point to the fact that she won’t be with us for much longer. This has been on...

Have any questions, insights, or feedback? Send me a text! Synopsis: Today’s episode was brought to you by my “mortality chavrusa,” who texted me yesterday saying that he can’t wait to hear my birthday recap. It may not be YOUR 39th birthday, but we all recently experienced New Years and many of us have recently started or will soon start our 2nd semester of the academic year. I figured this would...

Have any questions, insights, or feedback? Send me a text! Synopsis: In today’s episode I share a practical (albeit difficult) way to implement the injunction of the Sages to “judge every person favorably.” The technique was originated by Byron Katie, but I only just heard about it for the first time on Tim Ferriss’s interview of Tristan Harris. Even though I haven’t delved into Katie’s writings m...

Have any questions, insights, or feedback? Send me a text! Synopsis: In today's somewhat-longer-than-usual episode, I recap my recent 30-day "Coffee Replacement Experiment," then reflect on (roughly) three insights I gleaned from the experience, in light of the teachings of Judaism, Stoicism, and Aristotle. Sources: - Michael Pollan, This is Your Mind on Plants - Epictetus, Discours...

Have any questions, insights, or feedback? Send me a text! Synopsis: I don’t know about anyone else, but I have been FASCINATED with OpenAI GPT – the latest incarnation of an artificial intelligence chatbot which (for now) is freely available for the public at large. I’ve been equally parts amazed and horrified by its capabilities and their implications, despite never being interested in AI in the...

Have any questions, insights, or feedback? Send me a text! Synopsis: Exactly one year ago I launched the “Weeks of My Life” calendar experiment. I was reminded of this by a friend who just listened to the Counting the Weeks of My Life episode I made upon launching that experiment (see the show notes for the link), who asked me how this weekly experiment has impacted me since then. I decided to mak...

Have any questions, insights, or feedback? Send me a text! Synopsis: Today marks the 500th day of my gratitude journal, and since this happens to fall out on Erev Thanksgiving, I figured I’d make a Thanksgiving episode in which I discuss the benefits – nay, the NECESSITY – of a gratitude accountability practice, and reflect on some of the more recent benefits I’ve gained from this habit. If you’re...

Have any questions, insights, or feedback? Send me a text! Synopsis: Both Judaism and Stoicism employ the technique of “the cosmic perspective,” albeit for different ends. This weekend I read an article about a cosmic explosion which led me to discover a new application of the cosmic perspective technique which might help us to cope with life’s unexpected turns.  Related Rabbi Schneeweiss Content:...