Being Jew-ish

Episode 30! It's election season. Seth and Dave explore how what's happening in Israel and Gaza might impact elections (and other important life events, like looking at colleges for our kids). How are Israel and Antisemitism present in political positions, and how much should we be considering those elements when making our own votes? Seth and Dave take some time to unpack Senator Chuck Schumer's congressional speech on Israel and Gaza. Finally, they explore the importance of finding levity even in moments like these, since Purim is coming up this week. This is the final show of Being Jew-ish's first season. Seth and Dave will return for season two soon.

This week we share a conversation recorded on Dave's recent trip to Israel with Danny Miran, the father of Israeli hostage Omri Miran, 46-year-old, held in Gaza since October 7, 156 days as of the release date of this podcast. Danny's account is heart-wrenching and yet hopeful. Given the emotional weight of his burden, Danny Miran spoke with us in Hebrew, and Daniel Shek, former Israeli ambassador to France and current head of the diplomatic department at Families of Hostages and the Missing Forum, served as translator. For Omri's story, click here: https://stories.bringthemhomenow.net/bringthemhome/miran-omri For general information on Families of Hostages and the Missing Forum (the "bring them home now” organization), click here: https://stories.bringthemhomenow.net/

Dave is back from leading the synagogue's Solidarity Mission to Israel. It was an emotionally intense and moving trip, where participants volunteered throughout the country (mostly in the food and agriculture sectors) and brought and distributed donations. They met with survivors from the October 7 massacres, grieving and pained family members of people killed and hostages, displaced families from the north, and soldiers currently on duty. Dave learned about the dangers Israelis face every day— while people in Jerusalem and Tel Aviv have 1.5 minutes from hearing a rocket siren to seek shelter, in the Gaza envelope, people have no more than a 15-second warning at best. We'll hear a message from Sam, a reservist in an infantry brigade. In future weeks, we'll hear more recordings from the trip. As always, please leave a review on Apple Podcasts and share it with a friend!

This week we speak with Shemtov Hollinger, a special forces reservist who has been serving in the West Bank since the national alarm went off on October 7. By the time this is released, for the first time since, Hollinger is returning to his regular work as a nurse. Listen for a fascinating conversation of a first-hand account of what's happening on the ground along with his perspective on what the future may hold. We are so grateful to all those putting their lives on the line for the sake of our people and the State of Israel. Please note that we will not be releasing an episode next week, but the following week, we'll be sharing recordings from Dave's solidarity mission to Israel. Please share with a friend and rate on Apple Podcasts.

This episode is dedicated to Seth's father Lou on his second yahrtzeit. This week, we spoke with Malka Shaw, LCSW. Malka shares with listeners her work at Kesher Shalom, an organization dedicated to supporting mental health professionals with everything connected to the October 7th attacks, the recent rise in Antisemitism, and the general Jewish experience today. Mental health professionals need additional tools for supporting their Jewish clients and Jewish mental health professionals very much need support for their own experiences. Thankfully, Kesher Shalom is there to support them. For more information, go to keshershalom.com.

In episode 25 (a quarter of the way to 100!), Dave and Seth discuss what it means for Israel to have a “moral” military. We explore the issues raised in the Newsweek article, “Israel implemented more measures to limit civilian casualties than any other nation in history.” (link at the end). Is it possible for an army to be moral? They also discuss the current political climate in the United States and what impact it may have on the war in Gaza. https://www.newsweek.com/israel-implemented-more-measures-prevent-civilian-casualties-any-other-nation-history-opinion-1865613

The Israel-Hamas saga continues. The International Court of Justice took South Africa's genocide suit against Israel seriously. Fortunately, in their announcement (interestingly shared the day before International Holocaust Remembrance Day). At the same time, they did not call for a ceasefire, they did call for Israel to take every possible step to limit the afflicting of Palestinians in Gaza, take all measures to punish direct incitement to genocide, and assure humanitarian aid and services. Meanwhile, many countries are calling for Israel to be kicked out of the Eurovision Song Contest. As they say (or not), the best part of waking up is geopolitical conflict in your cup. In good news, we celebrated the trees' birthday with Tu Bishvat.

We ring in 2024 with Episode 23! Seth and Dave discuss the presidential election and the problematic misinformation we anticipate. It's vital that we seek out the truth and that we can hold multiple truths simultaneously. One can criticize Israel while NOT being Antisemitic. How? We'll share with you! Jonathan Kasler's article on the [inadequate] responses to what's happening in Gaza: https://medium.com/@kasler.jon/5-war-journal-e1e19a92d066. Please share this podcast with a friend and leave a review on Apple Podcasts!

WARNING: Episode 22 contains conversation about extreme violence and should be listened to with caution. This week, Seth and Dave are joined by Rabbi Dan Cohen of Temple Sharey Tefilo-Israel (www.tsti.org) for a very difficult conversation. With several clergy, political staffers, and police chiefs, Dan and Dave bore witness to the October 7 atrocities as they watched the 47-minute documentary the Israel Defense Forces put together from the massive amount of video footage collected from the terrorist attacks. The film's official title is “October 7th, 2023: Hamas Massacre Collected Raw Footage.” Dan and Dave share what they saw and offer reflections and reactions. Episode 22 is our final episode for 2023, as Seth and Dave take a couple of weeks of vacation. See you in 2024.

Episode 21 is dedicated to the memory of Rabbi David Ellenson, Ph.D. David was one of the great rabbis of this generation. Among other roles, he was the head of Hebrew Union College - Jewish Institute of Religion when Dave studied there and the one who gave him s'michah (ordained him). He was a brilliant scholar and an incredible human being, respected by Jews from all backgrounds. He died at the age of 76 on Thursday, December 7. For more information on Rabbi David Ellenson, PHD., see his obituary in the New York Times— https://www.nytimes.com/2023/12/10/us/david-ellenson-dead.html. In episode 21, Seth and Dave listen to the clip of the congressional hearing of the presidents of U Penn, MIT, and Harvard, and discuss the problems of their unwillingness to state without reservation that calling for an intifada is problematic speech on their campuses. Seth and Dave discuss the difficulty of choosing a college for Jewish students and then explore some lesser-known Hanukkah tidbits.'

Blessed are You, Eternal our God, Redeemer of Captives. At the time of the episode recording, Dave and Seth discuss the current ceasefire and the release of some of the hostages. To what degree is this all good for Israel and Hamas, and what are the many potential pitfalls and downsides to this current path of action? Separately, Chanukah is coming, and no Jew-ish podcast is complete without a Chanukah extravaganza. If there is anything holiday-related that you would like to see included in the Chanukah episode, please leave your request along with a positive rating in the Apple Podcasts reviews.

Tsahi Shemesh, founder and chief instructor of Krav Maga Experts in NYC, joins Seth and Dave. Tsahi shares his perspectives as an instructor and life-long practitioner of Israel's unique self-defense system, Krav Maga (roughly translated as “close touch”), as an Israeli and Jew living in New York City, and as a parent too. Dave and Tsahi first met when Tsahi came to Dave's congregation to teach a self-defense workshop after the rise of Antisemitism in 2019. Learn more about Tsahi Shemesh and Krav Maga Experts at www.kravmagaexperts.com. You can also learn more from Tsahi on his podcast, Krav Talk, available on all major podcast platforms. Please help us grow our show by sharing on your social media accounts and leaving a positive review on Apple Podcasts.

This week, Seth and Dave discuss Israeli actress Gal Gadot's showing of the Israel documentary on Hamas' atrocities and the ensuing violent protests. How can so many be so ignorant of the evils deliberately perpetrated by some human beings on others? We discuss how anti-Zionism can technically be considered not to be Antisemitic, but among these protesters, the nuances required for that technicality are grossly absent. We discuss Brett Stephen's New York Times op-ed, “For America's Jews, Every Day Must Be Oct. 8.” We cannot let our hearts soften and forget the way so many were silent in the face of the Jewish people's murder at the hands of terrorists. We can never forget how people were literally cheering in the streets of NYC and all over college campuses for Hamas' terror on our people. We must continue to keep that taste of our emotions on October 8 until our people can finally live in safety and peace.

Seth and Dave discuss President Barack Obama's brief commentary on how we ought to be approaching the war in Gaza, understanding that there's far more complexity and complicity than most seem to be acknowledging. Then we hear from Mosab Hassan Yousef, the author of Son of Hamas: A Gripping Account of Terror, Betrayal, Political Intrigue, and Unthinkable Choices in his interview with Piers Morgan, and offer our own reflections. Please share this show with any friends you think may benefit from it, and consider leaving a review on Apple Podcasts. Positive reviews increase the likelihood of new people finding this show. Thanks!

Israel has begun its ground operation in Gaza, and anti-Israel and Antisemitic activity is on the rise throughout the world, especially on college campuses. There is no easy solution here, no clear right and wrong, no clear long-term fixes. What should Israel be doing, and what should it not be doing? Where should Hamas be held responsible? What about the Arab states? And what should we take into account when choosing colleges for our children? Seth and Dave explore this impossible situation in which we, the Jewish people, find ourselves. For good moderate reporting on what's happening in Israel, check out the Times of Israel. www.timesofisrael.com.

This week, we meet with a former officer from Israel's elite IDF search and rescue team, unit 669. We're leaving his name out of the show for safety reasons. He'll speak about their general work, their work specific to the war, his views on what's happening both in Israel and the US, and projects for the future. He specifically addresses what they do when they encounter Palestinians and Hamas in need of medical care, you'll want to hear this. To learn more about unit 669, go to this link: https://youtu.be/_VA6w6hcjoE?si=rx_KjOGkYXiuK-jx Please consider financially supporting 669's work in these projects: 1. Immediate distribution of medical kits to citizens still facing danger. https://lifesavingkit-669.com/ 2. Providing necessary equipment, morale support, food supplies, and other basic essentials. https://www.afu669.org/donate

This week has been extremely rough on the Jewish community, We are fortunate to have many people in the right place at the right time to make a difference. Sadly, we are finding that there are a ton of people, many of whom we have called allies and friends, who have been silent or worse in the face of what's going on. We have a strong message for them in this episode. Please take the time to share this episode with anyone who needs it, and leave a rating on Apple podcasts— that helps the show grow and reach more folks. For the record, Seth and Dave have a great deal of sympathy for all innocents, Palestinian, and Israeli, hurt and killed in this war started by Hamas' terrorist attack. Seth and Dave would both prefer to see a two-state solution between Israelis and Palestinians. And, Seth and Dave hold that Israel has an obligation to do whatever it takes to keep its citizens safe.

Recorded on Monday, October 9, 2023. This is not the episode that we had planned, it's the episode that's necessary. Israel is at war, attacked by Hamas at a scale and with an element of surprise not seen since 1973's Yom Kippur War. We're devastated by what's happening. We pray for strength, healing, and comfort. We pray that Israelis and all those in the Middle East will soon be able to live in security and peace. To support Israelis in this difficult time, please consider making a donation to UJA's emergency campaign: Emergency Funding for Israel https://tinyurl.com/ye287edc.

Dave had COVID-19 over Rosh Hashanah and Seth wants to know all about it. How does a rabbi get away with sitting the holiday out? We speak about the intensity of Yom Kippur — one day of the year to focus on fixing everything we've done wrong since the last one. The good news is that you actually have the entire High Holy Day period. But don't take this as permission to procrastinate! We speak about what really gets judged (if you believe that) and some Rabbi Yitz Greenberg theology. We also cover a dig at the Jewish vote, the rabbi whisperer, and the joys of Sukkot. Happy 5784!

Rosh Hashanah is coming! First, Antisemitism at the US Open from a German speaker. Is hatred towards Jews on the rise among Germans or is this just one bad German apple? Then, Elon's back, suing the Anti-Defamation League for, you guessed it, defamation! Finally, High Holy Days. What are they about? How should we be changed by these holy days, and what work do we have to do to get there? For advice on this, we highly recommend Rabbi Alan Lew's (may his memory be for a blessing) book This is Real and You are Completely Unprepared: The Days of Awe as a Journey of Transformation, available for order where all books are sold. Last, teleprompter shenanigans. Ron Burgundy, this one's for you. Shana tova, Happy Jew-ish New Year!

In Episode 9, after weeks of Seth's asking, Dave finally shares his rabbinic origin story. First, we spend time on Seth's joining the picket line of the SAG-AFTRA strike and Jewish perspectives on workers' rights. Then We head up to Canada to discuss fires and Dave's formative years before coming back to the United States to learn about rabbinical school at Hebrew Union College and Dave's career path following ordination. Separately, the High Holy Days are coming and we at Being Jew-ish want to make sure you have somewhere to be (if you want!). If you are in the tri-state area and would like to come to join us for High Holy Day services, please be in touch via our website, below. If you aren't in the area and need a place to go, Dave would be happy to connect you with a local community. Links: Temple B'nai Abraham - tbanj.org Hebrew Union College Jewish Institute of Religion - Hebrew Union College - Jewish Institute of Religion SAG-AFTRSA strike info - Home

In Episode 8, we learn about the Judaism of Batman! Learn from special guest Jordan B. “Gorf” Gorfinkel, former manager of the Batman franchise for DC comics, whose creations, such as Batman: No Man's Land and Birds Of Prey, have resulted in critically acclaimed and commercially successful publications (Birds Of Prey, the most successful female superhero team franchise in history), film (Birds Of Prey, The Dark Knight Rises), television series, games, merchandise and more. More recently, Gorf created, wrote, and produced the Amazon #1 Bestseller Passover Haggadah Graphic Novel, and Gorf is now working with Koren Publishers to produce the entire Hebrew Bible in graphic novel form Listen in to learn about Judaism according to Gorf, and Batman through a Jewish lens. If you're in the tri-state area, be sure to come to Temple B'nai Abraham (tbanj.org) to learn with Gorf on February 2 and 3, 2024. For more on Gorf, go to gorfy.com and jewishcartoon.com.

This week, Seth and Dave have their first interview with social mover Brandon Kaufer, founder of the Social Good Club. After a music career, Brandon decided to apply his skills to real issues and make real change. A great-grandchild of Holocaust survivors, Brandon has always been culturally Jewish, but it's only in recent years that he began exploring the rich spirituality of our tradition. In the past year after listening to a sermon from Rabbi Sharon Brous at Ikar (Los Angeles), he woke up to the massive issue of Antisemitism and founded New Approaches as a creative incubator for sharing new ways of celebrating Jewish heritage, building bridges, and combatting online Antisemitism. Be sure to leave a rating and review on Apple Podcast, and share with your friends! Brandon's info: Brandon Kaufer Co-Founder @TheSocialGoodClub Co-Founder @WorkAnywhere Advisor @ Prison of Peace www.socialgoodclub.com

This week, Seth's story. How did a nice Jewish boy become a sports broadcaster and professional podcaster? Listen for an epic story with Bar Mitzvah DJ'ing, winning the American Hockey League Broadcaster of the Year award while still in college, having Ken Griffey Jr. think he made Seth's career, and being one of the original podcasters. Ultimately, we learn the importance of truly caring about people and dedication— it's all in relationships and hard work. Luck is only useful if everything else is in place because you've made sure of it. Bonus: thoughts on Threads and Proton Pass and a dad joke.

After the Supreme Court's decision against affirmative action, Seth and Dave explore what we need to be doing to build a more equitable society. Dave shares his experiences in a Newark-based Black-Jewish dialogue, and Seth and Dave discuss the necessity of getting to know people who are different, being vulnerable and opening ourselves up, sharing each others' stories, and building empathy. Last, we learn the reasons why Jewish people need to be working for full equity and equality for people of color.

Antisemitism in the US is the worst it has been in more than 40 years, with many incidents violent and worse. The Pittsburgh Tree of Life synagogue shooting in 2018 was the deadliest Antisemitic attack ever on American soil. Seth and Dave reflect on their own experiences in the wake of the murders. With last week's verdict of guilty on all accounts for the murderer, anticipating sentencing, Seth and Dave discuss Judaism's evolving views on the death penalty along with their own perspectives on a sensitive topic.

June is Pride Month and we stand in full support and solidarity with the LGBTQIA+ community. We explore what inclusive Judaism has to say about being accepting of all genders and sexualities, and we expose the gaping holes in arguments made by anti-LGBTQIA+ religious conservatives. Judaism affirms life in its many beautiful forms. Seth teaches Dave something about hockey (pride-related, of course). Plus, any podcast is not complete without references to the great Ted Lasso as well as the outstanding Rabbi Mike Moskowitz of Congregation Beit Simchat Torah in NYC.

Antisemitism and hate continue to rise in all forms of social media. Elon Musk recently compared George Soros to Magneto on Twitter. What is it about the current times that leads people with enormous platforms to spew hatred? Are people more hateful than years ago, or are the same people finding it more socially welcome to say what they were already thinking? Recently, Rabbi Dave took part in an NAACP conference and explained what he learned there. At the end of the episode, we read reviews from both iTunes and Facebook. Feel free to rate and review this episode and we can read it on our next show.

The inaugural episode of Being Jew-ish with Seth Everett and Rabbi David Vaisberg. We open with a conversation about Antisemitism and hate. Why are we covering this today? What would we rather discuss? Judaism has much to offer to the Jewish people and humanity. In this episode, we discuss how hate impacts groups more than just Jewish people. In future episodes, expect origin stories and explore how we each choose topics and causes. Follow Seth: linktr.ee/Seth_Everett, Follow Dave: linktr.ee/davidzvaisberg.

Preview of the new podcast that focuses on all topics including antisemitism. Expect enlightening interviews with special guests. Subscribe for meaningful and fun conversation and for new perspectives on current events. All this from two buddies just trying to make sense of this 21st century world.