edJEWcation

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...

Welcome back to edJEWcation! On this week’s episode, we start by discussing a couple of potential business ideas: Could there be a “Chabad-mode” for AI that would allow Jews who are Shomer Shabbos to use it during the weekly day of rest? Or a “Fred Flintstone-mode” for Uber so observant Jews can use it during the holiday? Then we get into the meat of our discussion (no dairy, though; this is a tho...

On this week's edJEWCation we talk about jail. The Rabbi talks about why Chabad spends time there, why he goes, the ethical and moral implications of punishment, how the Torah attempted to deter crime, and the role of the Torah in shaping societal justice. Then we go into our penultimate discussion of Ethics of our Fathers where we discuss Mishna's which talk about balancing wisdom with ac...

Join us in this enlightening episode as we delve into the intricate dynamics of power, politics, and purpose within Jewish history and contemporary society. We continue to explore the cautionary wisdom of Pirkei Avot (Ethics of our Sages), examining the allure and perils of proximity to authority and the impact of antisemitism on political ideologies. Rabbi Perelmuter offers invaluable insights, f...

This week’s episode of edJEWcation centers around "Pirkei Avot," also known as "Ethics of Our Fathers," a tractate of the Mishnah that offers timeless wisdom and ethical teachings from Jewish sages. Unlike other tractates focused on legalistic or ritualistic aspects of Judaism, Pirkei Avot emphasizes moral conduct, personal integrity, and communal responsibility. It comprises s...

What does Ivanka Trump, Elizabeth Taylor, Patriots great Andre Tippet, and Sammy Davis, Jr. all have in common? That's right, they all converted to the chosen people, and that's the topic for our discussion today...conversion. We'll talk about how things may have gone a lot more smoothly for G-d's chosen people if they had tried recruiting more, why so few people who start the conv...

On this week’s episode of “edJEWcation” we embark on an intellectual rollercoaster as we delve into a mosaic of Jewish sagacity and humor! Ever heard of a Rabbi turned stockbroker? Well, strap in because we're diving into that tale and more! Curious about why Jews put stones on graves? Consider it cracked! And just when you thought we'd stay in the shallow end, we'll take a short aside...

You know how edJEWcation is usually a rollicking good time, with crazy stories of all things being Jewish? This episode…maybe a little less of that because on this one, we conclude our “Life of a Jew” series with how every story ends…plotz-ing.  In this episode, we’ll discuss Jewish customs around death and mourning. We’ll discuss sitting Shiva, the rituals and beliefs around burials, the Kaddish,...

Chag Sameach everyone! We were so excited about our first Passover episode, we decided to do it again! We start out this episode answering a few listener questions like what are some good books about Israel and Judaism, go further into the matchmaking marriage process Chabad uses to marry off their kids, and what the heck made the Rabbi want to become a Rabbi in the first place? Then, we get into...

Sing along with me… it’s the most wonderful time of the year…oh wait, wrong song, wrong holiday. However, I think most Jews would agree with the sentiment. Many OG’s (original gentiles) think that Jews’s favorite holiday is Hanukkah because of the gifts (awesome) and the gelt (disgusting), but au contraire, in our expert opinion, the titleholder and reigning champion for favorite Jewish holiday is...