Michael Sokolovsky and Xava De Cordova
Xai, how are you?
Queer Jews Michael Sokolovsky and Rabbi Xava De Cordova play with the multi-millennial dialectic that is the Talmud. Join them as they throw drash, seek prophetic insight and uncover the rabbinic smuttiness inherent in the system.
Author
Michael Sokolovsky and Xava De Cordova
Category
Podcast website
Latest episode
Jul 5, 2026
Where to listen?
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Episodes
268. Shaving It for a Rainy Day 05.07.2026 21:47
Got a structured Nazarite funds inheritance settlement but need cash for sacrifices now? Call Mishnah Nazir, Chapter 4 Mishnah 7 cash now! Really though, why is chapter 4 all about stuff lady nazirites can't do? Join Shel Maala in England: http://bit.ly/torah-in-exile To ask us questions, email us at xaihowareyou@gmail.com. Support us on patreon at patreon.com/xaihowareyou. Music by Ben Schreiber.
267. Teach a Man to Shave 27.06.2026 26:19
What can you get away with for "educational purposes"? Could you, for instance, override the Torah? Maybe! Listen and find out. Check out Shel Maala in England at http://bit.ly/torah-in-exile To ask us questions, email us at xaihowareyou@gmail.com. Support us on patreon at patreon.com/xaihowareyou. Music by Ben Schreiber.
266. Shaven Wife, Shaven Life 10.06.2026 19:14
To ask us questions, email us at xaihowareyou@gmail.com. Support us on patreon at patreon.com/xaihowareyou. Music by Ben Schreiber. To ask us questions, email us at xaihowareyou@gmail.com. Support us on patreon at patreon.com/xaihowareyou. Music by Ben Schreiber.
265. Dough D'Oh 26.05.2026 27:05
When you're a hardworking woman making your own dough, but you end up designating animals for a sacrifice that will never happen, hijinks are bound to ensue. Chuck some money into the Dead Sea and take a listen. Check our The Torah is a Tiara here: http://bit.ly/torah-tiara To ask us questions, email us at xaihowareyou@gmail.com. Support us on patreon at patreon.com/xaihowareyou. Music by Ben Schr...
264. Rebellious Lashes 25.05.2026 25:27
Want glamorous, long lasting lashes? Try breaking your Nazirite vow by going to a wine tasting after your husband has nullified it. Maybe she's born with it, maybe it's Nazarene. Check catch Shel Maala in the UK here: http://bit.ly/torah-in-exile To ask us questions, email us at xaihowareyou@gmail.com. Support us on patreon at patreon.com/xaihowareyou. Music by Ben Schreiber.
263. Wife Guy 04.05.2026 19:46
Sometimes you can be SUCH a wife guy that you agree to her nazirite vow and later regret it. What happens then? Sign up for Xava and Binya in the UK here: http://bit.ly/torah-in-exile To ask us questions, email us at xaihowareyou@gmail.com. Support us on patreon at patreon.com/xaihowareyou. Music by Ben Schreiber.
262. Mutually Assured Naziriteship 29.04.2026 22:27
What has a never ending paradoxical chain of interlinking vows, women's rights, the Church of England and ordinary halakha? That's right, it's our mishnah! Sign up for Alef Beysics at Shel Maala here: http://bit.ly/alef-beysics To ask us questions, email us at xaihowareyou@gmail.com. Support us on patreon at patreon.com/xaihowareyou. Music by Ben Schreiber.
261. Nazirite Tattletales 15.04.2026 19:58
What happens when you vow, and then someone comes into court and gives testimony about your vow? But then what if another guy comes in and says something different and then two other guys say something different than that? Thank GOODNESS our Rabbis thought to explain this. Find out about Nazirite vows and legal testimony. To ask us questions, email us at xaihowareyou@gmail.com. Support us on patre...
260. Queen Helene Sets the Scene 09.04.2026 25:28
A mishnah about a woman with a name and her own agenda! Now that's a rare treat. Sign up for The Three Oaths here: https://bit.ly/threeoaths To ask us questions, email us at xaihowareyou@gmail.com. Support us on patreon at patreon.com/xaihowareyou. Music by Ben Schreiber.
259. Impurity? In My Cemetery? 17.03.2026 26:54
It's more likely than you think! What if you take a Nazirite vow in a spot that is fundamentally incompatible with Naziriteship? Thank GOODNESS the Rabbis thought about this. Catch Liz Furman at Shel Maala: https://bit.ly/sm-sfas To ask us questions, email us at xaihowareyou@gmail.com. Support us on patreon at patreon.com/xaihowareyou. Music by Ben Schreiber.
258. (100) Days of Naziriteship 15.03.2026 34:35
After a long ramble about modesty, Xava's upcoming paper, and motivation in Judaism, we get around to a nifty little mishnah about that slippery, weird, in-between day of Naziriteship we call day 30. To ask us questions, email us at xaihowareyou@gmail.com. Support us on patreon at patreon.com/xaihowareyou. Music by Ben Schreiber.
257. Terms and Condiments 24.02.2026 21:14
Finally, you all may learn our take on hot dog vs. hamburger and the mundanity of free will. Also, a mishnah in which when you try to be a little too specific, you really get bitten in the butt by corpse impurity. Check out Shel Maala’s PNW tour here: http://bit.ly/ShelMaalaPNW To ask us questions, email us at xaihowareyou@gmail.com. Support us on patreon at patreon.com/xaihowareyou. Music by Ben...
256. Fiddle Leaf Figs on the Roof 19.02.2026 25:18
Mishnah 2 of chapter 3! What if there was a light-year long bridge of dough would that be messed up or what? Check out Shel Maala's PNW Tour here: https://bit.ly/ShelMaalaPNW To ask us questions, email us at xaihowareyou@gmail.com. Support us on patreon at patreon.com/xaihowareyou. Music by Ben Schreiber.
255. Going Both Ways 09.02.2026 19:32
A new chapter of Mishnah begins! Is there such a thing as a day of Naziriteship which can apply to two separate terms, and count for each? Find out if the rabbis are biphobic or not with this one simple mishnah. Check out the Shel Maala PNW Tour here: Check out Shel Maala's PNW tour here: http://bit.ly/PNWInterest To ask us questions, email us at xaihowareyou@gmail.com. Support us on patreon at pa...
254. Russian (Nazirite) Doll 05.02.2026 24:10
The tension between the magic of vows and the legal folderol of the Rabbis heightens in this Mishnah about vows within vows. Check out Shel Maala's PNW tour here: http://bit.ly/PNWInterest To ask us questions, email us at xaihowareyou@gmail.com. Support us on patreon at patreon.com/xaihowareyou. Music by Ben Schreiber.
253. Nazirite, Interrupted 21.01.2026 21:52
After a long break (Michael was sick, sorry!) We're back to talk about Nazirite's taking breaks. What if you go on a paternity leave Naziriteship in the middle of your day job Naziriteship? Thank goodness, our Rabbis thought of this problem. To ask us questions, email us at xaihowareyou@gmail.com. Support us on patreon at patreon.com/xaihowareyou. Music by Ben Schreiber.
252. Schrödinger’s Naziriteship 24.12.2025 29:49
And you thought we had unspecified Nazirites before! This week, conditionals within conditionals, hedging our bets, and being embarrassed for our inadequate feelings. Sign up for In the Shadows here: http://bit.ly/shelmaalashadows To ask us questions, email us at xaihowareyou@gmail.com. Support us on patreon at patreon.com/xaihowareyou. Music by Ben Schreiber.
251. Born to be a Nazirite, Forced to be Podcaster 16.12.2025 23:47
What if you swore a Nazirite vow on the birth of your son, but the numinous indescribable horror of gender said "No."? Find out in this episode! Also we'll talk about some Rabbinic misogyny, transphobia, and why we're still interested in this mishnah anyway. Sign up for Shel Maala's Terms of Service here: http://bit.ly/torahTOS To ask us questions, email us at xaihowareyou@gmail.com. Support us on...
250. Heroes with a Half Shave 06.12.2025 26:50
The shaving saga continues! Rabbi Meir's iconoclastic hot takes return to the pod, along with the mythical half-Nazirite. Do two halves make a whole? Let's find out. To ask us questions, email us at xaihowareyou@gmail.com. Support us on patreon at patreon.com/xaihowareyou. Music by Ben Schreiber.
249. Bros Shaving Bros 12.11.2025 18:59
What happens when two totally normal bros vow to shave each other? The Rabbis knew and had rules about it, which they put in this mishnah. Catch Shel Maala's East Coast Tour here: http://bit.ly/eastcoast-5786 To ask us questions, email us at xaihowareyou@gmail.com. Support us on patreon at patreon.com/xaihowareyou. Music by Ben Schreiber.
248. Exceptional 05.11.2025 23:25
Sometimes people make vows claiming or assuming they’ll be the exception to normal Nazirite stuff. The Rabbis say (mostly) no way! Check out Shel Maala’s East Coast Tour here: http://bit.ly/eastcoast-5786 To ask us questions, email us at xaihowareyou@gmail.com. Support us on patreon at patreon.com/xaihowareyou. Music by Ben Schreiber.
247. Drinking Problems 27.10.2025 20:03
Mishnah 3 of chapter 2 is here! What happens when you get a guy to leave you alone at the bar by saying you’re a Nazirite? Let’s find out. Check out Shel Maala’s East Coast Tour here: http://bit.ly/eastcoast-5786 To ask us questions, email us at xaihowareyou@gmail.com. Support us on patreon at patreon.com/xaihowareyou. Music by Ben Schreiber.
246. Xai Judaism, How Unbound Are You? -- Mishnah Nazir 14.10.2025 58:00
Lex Rofeberg and Rena Yehuda Newman of Judaism Unbound join us for a big crossover episode about Nazirite philosophy, Rabbinic agendas, Kol Nidre and the metaphysical importance of vows! The Judaism Unbound podcast is a show released every Friday, pushing the boundaries of how we might understand the Jewish past, present, and future. You can subscribe via Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or any of your ot...
245. Holy Cow 04.10.2025 22:08
If I was a Nazirite cow refusing to get up, would the Rabbi's still love me? This week, we find out! We also talk about Nazirite doors, the Shekhina as a bovine, and more. To ask us questions, text or leaves us a voicemail at the Talmud Hotline at 401-484-1619 or email us at xaihowareyou@gmail.com. Support us on patreon at patreon.com/xaihowareyou. Music by Ben Schreiber.
244. Let Them Not Eat (Fig) Cake 17.09.2025 22:20
Chapter two of mishnah Nazir begins! And it's about what if you make a completely nonsensical vow. And also, seemingly, how much credit do we give vow makers for their intentions, the interpretive power of the court, and all or nothing reasoning. To ask us questions, text or leaves us a voicemail at the Talmud Hotline at 401-484-1619 or email us at xaihowareyou@gmail.com. Support us on patreon at...
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