OMfG podcast: jewish wisdom for unprecedented times

We know, it's been awhile. That stuck-in-the-narrow places feeling has felt like more than a metaphor lately, with the world really working overtime on those "OMfG" moments. But, it's almost Passover (and theoretically, springtime, despite the freezing gray pawl over New England) and we just knew that Jewish tradition could come in clutch at a moment like this. Join the rabbis JG for a Passover episode dedicated to the centuries of brave Jews, whose moral courage, grit and resilience can guide us today. Whether you're planning Seder for 20, or planning to DoorDash some matzoh ball soup, we hope these stories of people who trusted their kishkes and acted with real chutzpah will inspire.  (Season 5, Episode 3)

No matter how you spell it, it's Chanukah!  Join the rabbis JG for a holiday warm up as we reflect on the current moment and look toward a holiday filled with light. This year, we present you with "8 awesome things" to embrace during this season of light. From the joys of this years' Chanukah/Christmas/Winter break mashup, to the beauty of a Chanukah inspired wardrobe- we've got you covered for 8 light filled nights. Tune in for some much-needed inspiration to help you find light during these unprecedented times

We are kicking off season 5 of the OMfG Podcast: Jewish Wisdom for Unprecedented Times with our feet firmly planted on the bridge between summer and a new year ahead.  If you've ever wondered what your rabbis are thinking about when the countdown to Rosh Hashanah is on, we're happy to pull the curtain back on all of the intention and hope (as well as the procrastination) that gets us from Elul to the final blast of the shofar. 

Season 4: Episode 4, the kids are allright In this special episode of OMfG, the rabbis JG are thrilled to welcome to very special guest hosts, Aliza and Mia, two of the Berkshires' finest recent high school grads. Aliza and Mia share their experiences as Jewish American teens, reflecting on the challenges of their unique high school experiences , their evolving Jewish journeys, and the impact of  October 7.  Join us as we talk, laugh, and think out loud with Aliza and Mia as they answer questions ranging from "what do you wish adults understood about being Jewish teenagers today?" to "why do sloppy joes exist?"  

OMfG Season 4, Ep: 3 Here we are, stuck in the middle with you. It's been more than 100 days since the horrific events of October 7, and the rabbis JG are checking in. In this terribly challenging moment, it feels like we are in the middle of a story that we wish we knew had a happy ending. This week, we're talking comfort food, comfort tv (clear eyes, full hearts, can't lose) and Jewish wisdom for making our way through tough times.

OMfG Season 4 Episode 2: The Israel Episode Since the terrifying events of October 7, we've been struggling to find the words for this moment. After nearly seven weeks of watching so much pain and horror unfold, the rabbis JG got together for a long talk about what makes this moment so singularly difficult. From fragmentation to unity, or from doubt to conviction, we hope you'll join for this unique episode as we reflect on the war in Israel.

Omfg it's almost 5784! The Hebrew month of Elul has arrived and the rabbis JG are getting ready! But we could never get ready alone- we get by with a little help from our friends. And so, with gratitude to Rabbi Rachael Pass and Jodie's URJ Eisner Camp tzofim and Olim limud groups, we present to you a little Elul Torah of Swift. From collective effervescence to dealing with regrets, we hope you'll join us as we make our way through the end of summer into a sweet new year ahead. 

OMFG: We're at a Christian Retreat Center! Live from Middleburg, Virginia (well, live when we recorded it…) the rabbis JG are back together again, and reflecting on themes of rest, renewal and retreat. With gratitude to our friends and teachers, join us for a different kind of episode as we think out loud about where we've been, and where we're going. Happy summer to you!

OMfG! It's almost Passover! The rabbis JG are getting ready for Passover and hope you'll give a listen as we tackle important questions like "what spiritual chametz are you hoping to rid yourself of this year" and "how long is too long to keep matzah meal"? We're bringing in the wisdom of our rabbis as we get ready for the festival of freedom, so sit back, grab some matzah and a seltzer, and enjoy! And if you're not feeling quite ready for the festival days ahead, don't worry, we got you: there's no way everyone was ready to leave Egypt at the same time.

Tu BiShevat is here, and we're here for the trees (even if they are currently covered in icicles here in the "coldest place on the planet"). Join the rabbis JG for an unexpected twist on the New Year of the Trees, a mystical moment on the Jewish calendar which we hope to make a bit less mystifying. So grab your favorite tree-grown fruit (we love a good medjool date) and give a listen. Come for the sportball references, stay for the seltzer recs.

Season 3 Episode 4: On Darkness It's almost Chanukah! We're counting down to the Festival of Lights, because, well- the world is kinda dark right now. The rabbis JG hope you'll join them in a different kind of holiday prep as we think about some of the earth-based traditions that coincide with Chanukah, like Tekufat Tevet. This Chanukah, we're doubling down on the fun, so grab alllllll your favorite beverages, give a listen, and share it with a friend!

Happy Cheshvan! It's that time of year again-- no major festivals, just a whole month of regular everyday life, and we are here for it. Cheshvan is a time for settling in, and taking time to just be. Our kind of month! So, sink into your favorite corner of the couch, grab a seltzer, and join the rabbis JG for what we like to call "The Torah of Nothing Special" (hint: it's actually kinda special).

You thought those holidays were over once you sunk your teeth into that first bagel at break-fast? No way! Whether you've got a serious sukkah in your backyard, or are scratching your head wondering “what holidays?”- this episode has it all. Join the rabbis JG as we talk Shemini Atzeret (Shemini At-what?)—— a somewhat obscure observance that might just be the ultimate Jewish goodbye.

The rabbis JG are back, with a whole new season of OMfG. It's been awhile, so we're welcoming you all back with the chance to catch up and reconnect. We're excited to move through the year with all of you, as we share wit, wisdom, and poetry inspired by the Jewish calendar, with a healthy dose of snark. On Preparation: we're kicking off season 3 asking the question "how do we prepare for transformation?" If you're feeling like all those back-to-school lists don't leave you feeling ready, then listen in- kick off Elul with a little Jewish wake up call.

How do we know when enough is enough, or maybe even too much when it comes to fulfilling our obligations to the world around us? As we make our way to seder tables for Passover 2022, the narrative of a perilous journey to freedom is literal for more than 2 million Ukrainian refugees around the world.Join the rabbis JG for an open and honest conversation on the Jewish ideas around obligation, and how we show up in times of crisis.

Who needs Wrigley's Spearmint when you've got a double dose of the month of Adar to bring on the joy? Join the rabbis JG as we think out loud about how to lean toward joy, and dabble in the Torah of Compartmentalization (i.e. some ideas for the spiritual challenges of moving in and out of pandemic intensity).

This episode is your official rabbinic permission slip- to just get through. Forget unprecedented- it's hard not to feel like the world is downright unhinged these days. Join the rabbis JG for a reminder that sometimes, one foot in front of another is all we need to do. ** This episode was recorded before the events at Beth Israel in Colleyville, TX. We are grateful for the safety of our colleague Rabbi Charlie Cytron-Walker and his congregants.

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas, and the rabbis JG are here for it. Come for the Home Alone and Chinese food references, and stay to find out which famous Jewish leader had a Christmas tree in his home, and how a Christmas tree saved the lives of one Jewish family in the 1930's. Shout outs to Rabbi Joshua Plaut and his book: A Kosher Christmas, the American Holocaust Museum, the Berlin Jewish Museum, and of course, our wonderful editor, Jesse Ulrich and Rant9 Productions.

No matter how you spell it, we could all use a little light and a miracle or two as we make our way to the end of 2021. Join the Rabbis JG for a special Chanukah episode- as we "go under the hood" of the story as you might know it, and shine a light on some of the lesser known stories and customs of Chanukah. Let's just say there's plenty of salty cheese, wine and feminism to go around. Hanuká Alegré! Happy Chanukah! חנוכה שמח!

Our baby is 1 year old, and you're invited to celebrate without the smash cake or obligation to bring a present. Join us for a look back at 1 year of OMfG!

It's Cheshvan, the Hebrew month when rabbis heave a sigh of relief and thank God for a lighter calendar. And speaking of a lighter calendar, the rabbis JG are kicking of season 2 with a dive into the wisdom behind Shmita, the practice of a once-every-seven-years sabbatical. So, take a break (no pun intended) and join us for an energetic conversation on the holiness in doing less.

Its almost Rosh Hashanah 5782 and the Rabbis JG are back from a very OMfG Summer! This week we're talking about the final glimmers of summer, how Dar Williams is our Rabbi, and the Torah of Monarch Butterflies! Come for the laughter, stay for the Cool Ranch recommendation! Wishing you a happy, healthy and sweet new year!

It's mid July and the Rabbis JG are special guests on JewishBoston.com's The Vibe of the Tribe Podcast, where we spend a lively 60 minutes... talking about our 30 minute podcast. Co-hosted by Miriam Anzovin and Dan Seligson, we're talking Torah cafe carts, feminist Torah super heroes, dress codes for revelation for Mt. Sinai (Desert Cocktail Recommended), and making a list of snarky merch we want to sell! We dig a bit deeper into what the "f" stands for... and, of course, offer some poignant reflection of how much we love creating OMfG! Many thanks to Miriam, Dan and Jesse for a lot of fun!

Get your trunks packed and your sunscreen ready because OMfG it's time for summer camp. From the hill, to the lake, to the Gaga pit, this episode is dedicated to the magic of Jewish sleep away camp. We'll dive into the history and have the chance to reflect on this unique summer with special guests Ben Cutler and Sara Beth Berman. With gratitude to URJ Goldman Union Camp Institute and URJ Eisner Camp for shaping us!

School's out for the summer and wow (!) are we thankful to teachers, educators, administrators, support staff, cafeteria and maintenance workers - and obviously Hebrew school teachers, too. Join the Rabbis JG as we hear from Math educator and administrator, Jenny Rittberg, about what it was like to be on the frontlines of education this past year. We're also talking favorite Jewish texts about learning, stories of mildly bad behavior in school, and wondering if excel sheets can be a spiritual practice!

The most underrated Jewish festival is here (come on! Cheesecake and Torah?) and we're celebrating Shavuot with a trek through Torah. Join the rabbis JG as we talk Torah in all it's forms - Torah as our cornerstone for how to live a life of meaning, and Torah as a pretty special pajama party guest (you'll have to listen for more on that story!) With gratitude to our fantastic new editor, Jesse Ulrich, and a dash of music from the great Dan Nichols.

This week the Rabbis JG are talking about the ritual of counting the Omer, a sacred bridging of the time from Passover to Shavuot, pessimism and optimism, as well as speaking to a particular painful reckoning in the Reform Movement with regard to abuse of power. Are you a count “upper” or count “downer?” How do you sustain the time it takes to reach mountaintop moments? Featuring the beautiful music of Rabbis Yosef Goldman, Zach Fredman and Shir Yaakov Feit. For more of Yosef's music, check out his latest CD on bandcamp and the Rising Song Institute.

Spring is a season of memory in the Jewish calendar. Join the rabbis JG for a reflective conversation on how we remember as Jews. We're talking Yom Hashoah (Holocaust Memorial Day), Yom Hazikaron (Israeli Memorial Day) and wondering: what does it mean to hold on to the lessons of the past while living into the future?

Spring has sprung and Passover is on the way! This week, the Rabbis JG are having a blast talking with Rabbi Jeff Stombaugh of "The Well" in Detroit about www.friendseder.com and all things Pesach. Come for a great conversation about the magic of Passover and innovating ritual and stay for a meaningful discussion about Manischewitz flavors and the merits of... dill. Major gratitude to Leslie Gubitz for editing this podcast.

For our 10th episode, the Rabbis JG are talking "what we've learned, what we've lost, and what we've gained" during this past year of pandemic living.

What could be better than a holiday with not one but two heroines, and a mandate to eat, drink and be merry? Join the rabbis JG for some mandatory fun as we talk Purim, and welcome our very first ever guest to the podcast, Rabbi Leah Berkowitz, author of this year's breakout hit, "Queen Vashti's Comfy Pants".

Love is in the air! This week we're talking about love in all it's forms, from our besties to work spouses to neighbors to self-love. Join the rabbis JG as we wonder out loud together "what's Jewish about Valentine's Day?" (hint: it was never about roses and chocolate. Not that we're opposed to chocolate!)

What's our favorite "F" word? This week it's Friedman, as in Debbie Friedman, of blessed memory. As we enter into Shabbat Shira (an entire Shabbat dedicated to song and music), we're remembering the melodies and moments of our Jewish lives, from when "we" stood at the sea, to the soundtracks and playlists that accompany our lives today.

How many times since the pandemic started have you thought to yourself “well, after xyz happens things will change- and get better?" What do we do when we're just in the waiting place, and those new beginnings aren't quite cutting it? Join the rabbis JG for some winter-time wisdom, about how we begin over and over again, and the power of rituals of transformation.

Join the rabbis JG for a deep dive on one of our favorite topics: rest! This week we're breaking it down, thinking out loud together about the value of rest. Are rest and sleep synonymous? What if a quick snooze won't fix the bone deep tiredness you're feeling? New year, new nap plan? We sure hope so, because like you, we're exhausted.

You thought Taylor Swift's album drop was your Chanukah gift? Get excited-- we've got episode 4 ready for you just in time. It's Chanukah--- the festival of lights, and the celebration of miracles! Join the rabbis JG as we discuss everything from the miracle of life, to the miracle of making it through another day. From surviving a lion falling on top of you, to noticing how much you have to be grateful for, our Jewish tradition has a thing or two to say about miracles.

This week we're talking about gratitude and its Jewish roots, or how can gratitude transcend a one day event to become spiritual practice? Special shoutouts to our musical guest Elana Jagoda, the wisdom of Maria Sirois, incredible audio editing by Leslie Gubitz, and a big happy and healthy 40th to Jodie!

Join the rabbis JG for the episode #2 of the OMfG Podcast!This week we're talking about spiritual mantras, or how do we move through all the hard parts of being human with patience, and perseverance.? Special shoutouts to our musical guests, singer-songwriter Elana Arian, and the inimitable, Charlene Gubitz.

Join Rabbi Jen Gubitz and Rabbi Jodie Gordon for the very first episode of OMfG-- recorded just days before the 2020 Election, as we ask "what's your metaphor for this moment?"