edJEWcation

What happens when a wealthy man buys up all the synagogue seats and blocks the aisles? Or when a rabbi tries to convince the Lubavitcher Rebbe, a trained engineer, that an ocean liner basically "runs itself" on Shabbos? In part 2 of their Responsa deep dive, the edJEWcation crew explores how Jewish law evolves to meet the real world, from Talmudic property rights to Shabbos doorbells in modern Brooklyn. The Rabbi, ChayaLeah, and Jay cover it all: the Cypriot chicken saga, the kosher cheeseburger question raised by lab-grown milk, getting a "hetter" (permission slip) for nail polish at the mikvah, and a last-minute Shabbos wedding in medieval Krakow that required some seriously creative legal reasoning. It's Jewish law as it's meant to be…living, breathing, and endlessly fascinating.

In this special birthday episode, ChayaLeah and Jay sit down with the man of the hour, the Rabbi, as he turns 70. Born in Montreal on March 4th, 1956 (the 22nd of Adar on the Jewish calendar), the Rabbi reflects on a life he never could have predicted: from growing up in a non-Chabad home and boarding a bus to a New Jersey yeshiva on a whim, to serving as a Schlaich in Seattle, building a Chabad presence in Boston's Kenmore Square, and eventually putting down roots in California where, through decades of challenge, a global pandemic, and more than a few permit headaches, his community finally found a permanent home. Grounded in the wisdom of Pirkei Avot (which calls 70 "ripe old age," a fullness and satisfaction), the Rabbi shares what it really feels like to look back on a life of purpose, sacrifice, and gratitude. Funny, honest, and genuinely moving, this episode is a masterclass in what it means to "keep breathing" until the sail comes in.

What if the holiday that looks the most like a carnival is actually hiding the most profound questions in Judaism? Professor Tanya White, Bar-Ilan University professor, host of the Books and Beyond podcast, and one of the most engaging Jewish educators alive, joins Jay and ChayaLeah to unpack the Book of Esther like you've never heard before. We explore why God's name doesn't appear once in the Megillah (and what that means for us today), the concept of "radical seeing" and the stunning parallel between Purim and our post-October 7th world. ChayaLeah opens up about Esther's loneliness and sacrifice, Jay brings a story about a Cold War spy finding God in his daughter's ear, and Tanya shares an "invisible string" that will genuinely move you. This is the Purim episode you didn't know you needed.Where to find Tanya-Torah Chat on WhatsAppTanyaWhite.orgBooks and Beyond PodcastTanya’s InstagramBooks & articles we discussed-The Invisible String by Patrice Karst: the children’s book Tanya shares the beautiful “invisible string” story fromWhy Grow Up? by Susan Neiman: philosopher’s book on the problem of evil that Tanya references in discussing adversity and resilienceRav Soloveitchik’s concept of “fate to destiny”: consider linking to Kol Dodi Dofek or a summary essayGod in Search of Man by Abraham Joshua Heschel: Heschel’s concept of “radical amazement”Witness by Whitaker Chambers: his memoir is where the famous “daughter’s ear” moment comes from

Was Theodor Herzl a secular visionary or a spiritual seeker? A hero or a heretic? On the 130th anniversary of his landmark manifesto Der Judenstaat, Professor Gil Troy, presidential historian, Zionist scholar, and editor of The Zionist Ideas, sits down with Jay and ChayaLeah for a conversation that covers all of it: Herzl's complicated relationship with Judaism, why he was persona non grata in Haredi education, the emotional power of standing at his grave on Mount Herzl, and why Professor Troy’s concept of "identity Zionism" speaks directly to Jewish students navigating hostile campuses today. Along the way, the hosts bring their signature mix of head and heart, Jay digs into the intellectual history while ChayaLeah shares what it was like to discover Herzl as an adult after growing up Chabad, where his picture wasn't exactly hanging on the wall. It's a timely, moving, and surprisingly fun deep dive into the father of modern Zionism.To learn more about Professor Troy’s work, you can find it at his website GilTroy.comA selection of works:To Resist the Academic Intifada: Letters to my Students on Defending the Zionist DreamThe Zionist Ideas: Visions for the Jewish Homeland: Then, Now, TomorrowThe Essential Guide to October 7th and its Aftermath: Facts, Figures, History

Do you know we have a Facebook Page now? Well we do and you can find it here- edJEWcation Facebook PageOn to the show…In honor of Valentine's Day, the edJEWcation crew tackles the big questions: What does Judaism really say about love and marriage? How do Jewish dating traditions actually work? And can you have a successful partnership while maintaining independence?The rabbi shares his own marriage story (spoiler: they got engaged after three weeks), explains why looking for perfection is a recipe for disaster, and breaks down the difference between lust, romantic love, and companionate love. CL challenges the Hollywood myth that your spouse needs to fulfill every single role in your life, while Jay keeps everyone honest about balancing independence with intimacy. From Talmudic wisdom about choosing partners to practical advice about not developing an "office wife," this episode offers refreshing perspectives on Jewish relationships that are equal parts traditional insight and modern realism. Whether you're single, dating, or been married for decades, this conversation will make you rethink what love really means and no, it's not just butterflies and Valentine's candy.

Make sure to subscribe to our substack to keep up to date on the latest edJEWcation episodes and events Subscribe to the edJEWcation Podcast-----The Tucker Carlson situation has everyone asking the same question: when a friend goes off the deep end morally, do you stay loyal or cut them loose? We dig into this through a Jewish lens, from Talmudic principles to modern media ethics, and get surprisingly personal about struggles with Chabad identity and navigating between Orthodox and liberal Jewish worlds. Also in this episode: Why there are 20 Christian Bible study groups on one college campusThe Gene Wilder/Mel Brooks origin storyJoe Rogan's hilariously wrong guess about Jewish demographicsA brutally honest discussion about how we justify breaking our own values (yes, including the hypothetical In-N-Out burger scenario).

What do you do when Jewish law meets real life, and real life is messy, terrifying, or morally impossible?In this episode, we dive into rabbinic responsa: the centuries-old Jewish tradition of posing urgent, practical, and often heartbreaking questions to Rabbis. From ancient debates about matzah to modern dilemmas involving technology, medicine, and identity, responsa form Judaism’s living case law.We explore how this system developed from Moses and the Sanhedrin, through the Talmud, medieval Spain, Soviet Russia, and even Auschwitz, where a single question forced a rabbi and a father to confront the most agonizing moral choice imaginable.Along the way, we laugh a little, debate, and uncover why Jews have always believed that how you ask a question can matter just as much as the answer.Jewish law, moral philosophy, historical survival, and one very uncomfortable Pesach pastry, all in one episode.To subscribe to the edjEWcation podcast, click here:Subscribe to The edJEWcation Podcast

This episode is a recording of our second edJEWcation Zoom.Instead of a formal topic or text, we opened up the (virtual) doors and invited our listeners into a live edJEWcation Beit Midrash. What followed was an honest, unscripted conversation about being Jewish right now: how it feels, how we respond, what we’re afraid of, and why community matters more than ever.There are no hot takes here. No definitive answers. Just Jews doing what Jews have always done — talking, questioning, disagreeing, supporting one another, and refusing to face the moment alone.If you’ve been struggling to put words to how you’re feeling, this conversation might help you feel a little less alone.

Remember to subscribe to edJEWcation for all our latest updates hereIn the fourth installment of the edJEWcation book club, we discuss The True Believer by Eric HofferWritten in 1951 by a longshoreman with an unsettling grasp of human psychology, The True Believer asks a simple question with terrifying implications: why do ordinary people become fanatics?In this edJEWcation Book Club episode, we dig into Eric Hoffer’s timeless analysis of mass movements, self-hatred, humiliation, certainty, and the seductive power of belonging. From Nazism and Communism to campus encampments, TikTok activism, and online extremists, we debate whether Hoffer was describing history or diagnosing our present.We wrestle with uncomfortable questions:Is hatred easier to organize than love?Are today’s movements real revolutions or just cosplay with slogans?Why do people crave certainty so badly?Why do some religions help people lead meaningful lives, and others turn them into fanatics?Along the way, we talk loneliness, social media, male humiliation, Holocaust jokes in unexpected places, and why not knowing might be the most Jewish answer of all.Plus: a surprise detour into Marty Supreme, Timothy Chalamet, and why humiliation might be the hidden engine of fanaticism.Read the book. Question everything. And maybe, just maybe, turn your phone off.

If you haven’t already, remember to subscribe by clicking the link below:Subscribe here---------------------------------------------------Why do Jews fast, and what is fasting actually supposed to do?In this episode of edJEWcation, we dive into the 10th of Tevet, one of the lesser-known Jewish fast days, and use it as a gateway to explore the deeper meaning of Jewish fasting, repentance, and communal responsibility. The Rabbi walks us through the historical origins of the fast, the siege of Jerusalem that led to the destruction of the First Temple, while Jay asks the questions many people are thinking but rarely ask.Along the way, we unpack:What the 10th of Tevet commemorates and why it still mattersHow Jewish fast days differ from Yom KippurMaimonides’ radical idea that tragedy demands introspection, not dismissalWhether suffering is “random” or spiritually meaningfulHow fasting connects to modern events, including October 7thWhy Judaism emphasizes action, mitzvot, and responsibility over asceticismWe also zoom out to the weekly Torah portion, exploring Jacob’s final words to his sons, leadership failures, anger vs. passion, and what it means to be accountable, not just historically, but right now.This is not an episode about being hungry. It’s an episode about meaning, memory, and what Jews are supposed to do with history.📖 Topics include: Jewish fasting, the 10th of Tevet, destruction of the Temple, repentance in Judaism, Rambam on suffering, Jewish theology, Torah commentary, and Jewish responses to tragedy.

Friendly reminder to subscribe to edJEWcation on Substack so you can be included in all the happenings about the podcast and join our next monthly Zoom call.Just click hereIn this episode of edJEWcation, we unpack Kings II, one of the wildest books in the Hebrew Bible, through the lens of Jewish history, Biblical storytelling, and modern meaning.From the dramatic transition from Elijah to Elisha, to miracles that feel both supernatural and surprisingly practical, we explore Hebrew Bible stories that center on prophets, power, faith, and moral responsibility. Along the way, we discuss why salvation in the Bible so often comes from underdogs and outcasts, including one of the most unlikely heroes in all of Scripture.The conversation widens to tackle antisemitism, Israel’s place in world attention, collective Jewish trauma, and what Biblical history teaches us about societies that lose their moral compass. Why does the world obsess over Israel? Why do prophets speak uncomfortable truths? And why does the Bible keep choosing the people everyone else ignores?Blending Torah learning, Biblical history explained, cultural commentary, and a healthy dose of edJEWcation banter, this episode connects ancient texts to the questions people are asking right now about faith, meaning, and identity.

As promised, we hosted our first edJEWcation Zoom call on the 3rd night of Chanukkah this week, and a great time was had by all. We got the light the menorah with the Rabbi, had some great questions, and got to do some deep Jewish philosophizing. We opened the first Zoom to all our listeners, and we may keep it that way for a little while, but eventually it will be exclusively for paid members of the edJEWcation community.We’ll let you know the date for our January call soon, and we hope to see you all there!Chag Chanukah Sameach everyone!

What are you doing on December 16th at 8PM (aside from lighting your second Menorah candle)? Well, now you have plans…join us for our first listener Zoom call. We’d love to chat with you.What do Vegas slot machines, King Solomon’s thousand wives, and Elijah’s world-class trash-talking have in common? Apparently… everything. In this week’s episode, ChayaLeah returns from her very spiritual pilgrimage to Las Vegas (don’t ask) and the crew dives back into Kings I, where the Jewish kingdom splits faster than Jay can say “Bubastite Portal Relief.”We unpack Solomon’s great rise and even greater follies, why foreign influence can derail even the wisest man alive, how Jeroboam becomes the Biblical poster child for “absolute power corrupts absolutely,” and why miracles don’t magically fix people (looking at you, Golden Calf).Then we hit one of Tanakh’s greatest showdowns: Elijah vs. the Prophets of Baal complete with the OG trash talk, pyrotechnics, and an unexpected lesson about finding God not in the earthquake, fire, or whirlwind…but in the quiet.Plus: archeology nerdery, theological curveballs, parenting warnings from ancient Israel, and the official announcement of our first-ever edJEWcation community Zoom (yes, Rabbi is learning about it in real time).All this and more in a biblical rollercoaster that goes from Shlomo to Shishak to Still Small Voice in under an hour.

In this pre-pre-PRE-Hanukkah special (because we refuse to let Christmas music win), the crew breaks down the real Hanukkah story: the oil, the civil war, the Hellenists, the hammer, and the heroic home court advantage, while also inventing a brand-new Hanukkah tradition involving sword fights and presents hidden in a makeshift Temple. Along the way, we tackle assimilation, Jewish identity, why no one ever explained the whole “Greeks vs. Syrians” thing, and the surprising appearance of a tall FBI agent who would “take a bullet for the Jews.” Happy early Hanukkah… and don’t forget to pick up your free Chabad menorah.

We’re running on zero sleep, too much Friendsgiving, and a very inflated sense of our own importance, so naturally, it’s time for… a HUGE ANNOUNCEMENT.This week, Jay and ChayaLeah unveil edJEWcation’s brand-new Substack subscription levels which include monthly Zoom hangs, one-on-one sessions, and why none of this means we’re going behind a paywall. (Relax. Don’t throw things.)Plus: why Substack isn’t scary, why the Rabbi needs a bigger platform, and why Jewish content matters right now more than ever.Come for the news. Stay for the self-deprecating humor and accidental Jewish pep talk.Subscribe to The edJEWcation Podcast

🚨 ALERT! Have you ever wanted to Zoom with the three of us? Or maybe even have some one-on-one time? Well, the world is now your oyster because we’ve officially launched several subscription tiers, with our first Zoom taking place sometime after Thanksgiving!These will just be the starting points (we have a lot of goodies cooking), so keep your eyes peeled — and don’t worry, we’ll also personally annoy you to make sure you don’t miss out.If you’re interested in joining us, click hereOn to the episode…What was supposed to be a wholesome Thanksgiving episode turned into… well… a cross-continental Chabad saga, a philosophical smackdown over near-death experiences, a masterclass on meaning, and a heated debate about why every family should avoid politics at dinner. Rabbi shares wild scenes from the Chabad convention (VIP ropes included), Jay reveals his Mossad side-hustle, and ChayaLeah gives the only real Thanksgiving advice you need: don’t be alone, and don’t talk politics. A very gishmak pre-Thanksgiving hang with your favorite dysfunctional trio.

ALERT - Have you ever wanted to Zoom with the three of us? Or maybe even have one-on-one time? The world is now your oyster, as we have officially launched several subscription tiers, with our first Zoom taking place sometime after Thanksgiving.These will just be starting points, as we have a bunch of additional goodies planned, so be on the lookout (but we’ll also, of course, annoy you to make sure you’re aware).”On to the episode…Jay kicks things off with a pop quiz that (shockingly!) doesn’t totally embarrass ChayaLeah, the Balfour Declaration gets its due, and the laughter rolls from there. Joined by journalist and historian Oren Kessler, author of the award-winning Palestine 1936: The Great Revolt and the Roots of the Middle East Conflict, the trio time-travel back to the messy, fascinating years that set the stage for everything that followed in Israel’s story.If you’re interested in joining us, click hereAlong the way:🕵️‍♂️ We meet muftis, mayors, and media moguls from Mandate Palestine.📜 Discover how the first two-state idea appeared.💰 Learn why so many anti-Zionist Arab leaders secretly sold land to Jews.🗞️ Unpack how newspapers (and propaganda) shaped the conflict.🕰️ And of course, discuss how much Churchill loved Jews.There’s banter, history, and a few “wait what?!” moments as Oren proves that real history can be just as wild as the memes about it.So pour some coffee (or something stronger) and join us for another edJEWcational ride through the past.

🚨 ALERT! Have you ever wanted to Zoom with the three of us? Or maybe even have some one-on-one time? Well, the world is now your oyster because we’ve officially launched several subscription tiers, with our first Zoom taking place sometime after Thanksgiving!These will just be the starting points (we have a lot of goodies cooking), so keep your eyes peeled — and don’t worry, we’ll also personally annoy you to make sure you don’t miss out.If you’re interested in joining us, click hereThe edJEWcation trio is back together and possibly breaking cosmic laws by existing in the same place at the same time. After surviving time zone changes, jet lag, and Jay’s daylight-savings complaints, we dive headfirst into the wild, wise, and occasionally weird world of First Kings.This episode has it all:📖 David can’t get warm, so things get a little… biblically awkward.👶 Solomon inherits the throne at age 12 (no pressure, kid).⚖️ The OG “split the baby” moment proving once again that ancient Israel didn’t need Maury (but we date ourselves).💍 700 wives, 300 concubines, and one very patient temple-permit department.🦁 Solomon’s throne puts the Iron Throne to shame.💰 And we learn why prosperity might be the hardest test of all.ChayaLeah reflects on modern boundaries (thank you, Mel Robbins), the Rabbi reminds us that Jews are tribal, not racial, and Jay manages to squeeze in Chabad.org and a Baruch joke.It’s history, humor, and heresy (lightly toasted), exactly the way we like it.

This week, Jay and ChayaLeah sit down with Professor Jeffrey Veidlinger of the University of Michigan — historian, author of In the Midst of Civilized Europe, and director of the Raoul Wallenberg Institute — for a hauntingly relevant conversation about the pogroms that swept through Ukraine between 1918 and 1921.They explore how ordinary neighbors became murderers, why humiliation often cuts deeper than death, and how centuries of trauma ripple through Jewish identity to this day. From the streets of the shtetl to the chaos of modern social media, the conversation moves between past and present — revealing unsettling parallels between old hatreds and new headlines.It’s a deeply human, deeply Jewish episode that asks: what does it mean to live — and rebuild — in the midst of civilized Europe?

This week on edJEWcation, we go full wandering-Jew with an episode that starts in the December Project (a book about preparing for death) and somehow winds its way through Hemingway, Dostoevsky, Hasidic storytelling, Masada, Jonathan Sacks, the Nakba, Judge Caprio, and why your neighbor’s sukkah is basically Jewish Home Depot cosplay.In between, we wrestle with:Why fiction can sometimes tell the truest storiesHow Jewish stubbornness, sacred texts, and a portable identity kept us alive when every other ancient culture disappearedWhy Sukkot is the Babe Ruth of underrated mitzvot (and why American Jews still don’t show up)The awkward Jewish instinct to love every Jew except the ones on our own blockIsrael as hammer vs. nail…and why too many Jews still prefer the nailJudge Caprio, Rhode Island’s saint of traffic court, and why mercy belongs on the bench and in the Beit MidrashIt’s history, politics, theology, pop culture, and K-pop (yes, really) all shaken into one of the most edJEWcation episodes yet.