Stuff Jews Should Know

Everyone knows that Yom Kippur is the holiest day of the Jewish Year, but did you know that the Talmud lists it as one of the top two happiest?  How can a day that deals with such heavy themes as sin and atonement be celebrated with so much joy?  That is for sure Stuff Jews Should Know!   subscribe on iTunes 

What do Jews do between Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur? The answer to that question could impact your entire year! Join Mottle and Batya on this new episode of Stuff Jews Should Know for a fun, light hearted, and personal exploration of the Ten Days of Repentance.

Classic Rosh Hashanah episode of Stuff Jews Should Know.  Have a good and sweet new year

Often referred to as the Jewish Valentine's Day, Tu b'Av is the Jewish Holiday of Love. How does Judaism view a holiday dedicated to love? Batya and Mottle explain the origins the ancient celebrations, and the modern revival of this holiday that you may have never heard of.

Mazal Tov! You have a new Jewish baby. What is next? Have you chosen a name? Brit Milah? What is a Shalom Zachor or a Shalom Bat? How much do you know about a Pidyon haBen? Mottle and Batya take you through the sometimes confusing process of welcoming a new Jewish life into the world.

Purim commemorates the salvation of the Jewish People from a genocide in the 5th Century BCE in the Persian Empire. On one hand it is the most festive, joy filled day of the year, but to the Jewish mystics it is on a higher level than even Yom Kippur. Mottle and Batya share 'the Stuff Jews Should Know' about this incredible holiday.

Death is an experience that every human being comes in contact. Judaism has an incredible 'toolbox' for dealing with this universal experience.

Where does the concept of a Bar Mitzvah come from? Today you are a man, tomorrow you are a 7th grader again. Was it always that way? Batya and Mottle dig deeper into this well known Jewish life cycle event and reveal 'stuff' about it that you probably didn't know.

Batya and Mottle do a gossip show.  It is not what you make think. (or may have hoped for).  They explore the Jewish laws about what is considered gossip and what isn't.  It might surprise you and possible change the way you speak about people.  Check it out.

Maybe the question should be 'why are there' major denominations in Judaism?  Batya and Mottle explore the major denominations and the origins, and try to get beyond the labels.   

Why does Judaism make it so difficult to convert? What are the steps required to become a Jew? How are the laws of conversion today different than they were in the past? What is the difference between a Reform conversion, or an Orthodox conversion? Batya and Mottle dive into these questions and more on this episode.

For two thousand years where ever Jews where in the world, they have directed their prayers toward a hill in Jerusalem.  What is the significance of this hill historically, and spiritually?  Certain it is Stuff Jews Should Know!  

What makes a wedding a Jewish wedding? Mottle and Batya walk you through the entire day from start to finish.  You will be shouting Mazal Tov an feel like were there!  

Mottle and Batya are back with the Season Premier of Stuff Jew Should Know!  Where does Jewish prayer come from?  How is it different?  This is Stuff Jews Should Know.

The Classic Stuff Jews Should Know Yom Kippur episode.  Prepare for the Day of AtONEment with Mottle and Batya.  NEW SEASON of SJSK begins October 21.  

Shavuot is one of the three main biblical festivals celebrated by the Jewish People.  It commemorates the giving of the Torah at Mount Sinai.  It is also intimately connected to Israel's ancient agricultural cycle.  Learn more about this amazing holiday with your hosts Mottle and Batya.

Special show in honor of Yom Yerushalayim! The anniversary of the Reunification of the Eternal Capitol of the Jewish People after 2000 years of Exile.

Lag b'Omer is the best Jewish Holiday you never heard of! Outside of Israel, it is rarely celebrated, but in the Land of Israel, it is an ecstatic celebration of joy with deep Kabbalistic themes. Join Mottle and Batya to explore this amazing holiday.  

  If I have a tattoo am I allowed to be buried in a Jewish Cemetery?  Lot's of people ask this question but what what does Jewish law say?  Does Jewish law conflict with your Bubbie's advice on Tattoos?  Check out the Stuff Jews Should know podcast, Jews and Tattoos.

What are those black leather boxes that you see men wearing at the Western Wall? Do women wear tefillin? What are they made of? What is the deeper spiritual meaning behind this ancient Jewish custom? Join Mottle and Batya to explore this and more!       Wanna learn more?  Check out this cool video about making teffilin

First time EVER!!! and last time for 77,000 years!  Chanukah and Thanksgiving overlap into the cultural sensation Thanksgivikah!!! There is actually a depth to this more than the menurkey, and Turkey latkas.  Join Mottle and Batya for this fun exploration of Judaism's newest holiday! Never miss an episode!  Subscribe on iTunes  

It is the beginning of the five books of Moses. We are familiar with the stories, but what is the common thread that ties them all together? Why start what is predominantly a book of laws with a book of stories? What do we actually learn from this. This is the time of year where Jews all around the world are reading the Sefer Bereishit or the Book of Genesis. Join Mottle and Batya to explore why. Never miss an episode! subscribe on iTunes 

For seven days the Jewish People dwell in temporary huts, place with fruit, and rejoice over water?  What is going here?!  Live from their succah in the hills of Judea, join Mottle and Batya to explore the "Stuff Jews Should Know" about the biblical festival of Succot. Never miss an episode! subscribe on iTunes 

Shana Tova u'mtuka!! Rosh Hashana, the Jewish New Year is upon us.  Learn about the deeper meanings behind this holiday with Reb Mottle and Batya.  Explore what the Jewish New year really means and how to connect to it in a way you never have before. subscribe on iTunes 

Elul is the Jewish month of Return! No better time for Stuff Jews Should Know to return from summer hiatus with a whole crop of episodes, geared for the high holidays. This week Mottle and Batya speak about the Jewish concepts of Teshuva, and the spiritual preparations for the High Holidays.

In a continuation from last weeks important Jewish Books, Mottle and Batya zoom in on the siddur. What is a siddur? Some people would say it is a prayer book, however that is not what the word means. A siddur is literally translated as "order". What are we trying to make order of? What are Jews trying to accomplish with the siddur? Learn more about this book that is so central to Jewish life. Subscribe on iTunes

Everyone knows that the Torah is the center of Jewish Life.  But what do Jews mean by Torah?  Is it the Five Books of Moses?  The "Old Testament"? Does the Stuff Jews Should Know podcast count? Join Mottle and Batya in an overview of the vast library of "The People of the Book".

Everyone knows about the Passover Seder, but did you know that Passover is really a week long celebration.  The Seder is definitely a highlight, and possibly the most celebrated of all of the Jewish holidays, but if it ends there, you are missing a great time.  Join Batya and Mottle to learn about the joy of the "intermediary days" of the Passover holiday.

There is probably no more well known Jewish ritual throughout the year than the Passover Seder.  So many people have memories from childhood, positive and negative, and sometimes both at the same time! The word seder actually means "order" and is a specific set of experiences "ordered" to give someone a real taste of spiritual depth and most of all freedom.  Join Mottle and Batya for an exploration of this well known, but little understood, Jewish ritual.

Rosh Chodesh is the most important holiday, that Jews don't really celebrate!  It is absolutely essential to Jewish life, in fact, the celebration of the beginning of the month is the very first commandment given to the Jewish Nation in the bible.  Explore the centrality of this little know but increasingly popular Jewish holiday with Mottle and Batya Wolfe.

The New Year for Trees! Tu B'Shvat offers a unique opportunity for insight into living and personal growth. Throughout the centuries, Mystics have used the tree as a metaphor to understand God's relationship to the spiritual and physical worlds. In the 16th century, the Kabbalists of Tzfat compiled a Tu B'Shvat "seder," somewhat similar to the seder for Passover. The Seder involves the eating of different fruits that correspond to different Sephirot and the Four Mystical Worlds.

There is a saying that goes, "more than the Jews have kept Shabbat, Shabbat has kept the Jews"! Why has a day that has so much apparent restriction to it, been so loved and revered by Jews for thousands of years? Join Mottle and Batya on the Stuff Jews Should Know podcast as they take a fresh look at the most frequent Jewish Holiday. subscribe on iTunes 

Everyone knows what a mezuzzah is right?  Or do they?  A mezuzzah is NOT the case hanging on the doorpost, but rather it is the scroll inside the box. The mezuzzah is the gateway to the Jewish home.  Why is it so central?  Check out Mottle and Batya sharing insights into this well known but less understood Jewish symbol on the  Stuff Jews Should Know Podcast.   subscribe on iTunes 

We got lots of great comments and questions from last week's show, we decided to do a What is Kosher part 2 episode. In this week's episode Mottle and Batya cover kosher symbols, fruits and vegetables, kosher dishes and eco kosher.   subscribe on iTunes 

What does Kosher mean?  Is it that a rabbi blessed it?  What makes something kosher and something else not kosher?  Shouldn't it be more about what comes out of a person's mouth and not what goes in? This week's podcast explains in the easiest to understand terms, what Jews mean when they say something is kosher.  This is definitely STUFF JEWS SHOULD KNOW! subscribe on iTunes 

Every Jewish holiday has it's own special foods associated with it. These holiday foods aren't just foods, they have deep symbolic and historical significance. Mottle and Batya explore the world of Chanukah food and the rich tastes that surrounds the Festival of lights. subscribe on iTunes 

Chanukah comes from very real historical events that happened right here in the Land of Israel, 2200 years ago. And like with many things in Judaism, that I know I grew up with, it has been reduced to a very superficial holiday. We all know when Chanukah is, but do we know what it is? This is definitely STUFF JEWS SHOULD KNOW!   If you are wondering HOW to light Chanukah candles, check the video on the side of the page.