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In this special Purim episode, Talmudic TikToker and storyteller Miriam Anzovin joins us to talk about the darker side of the Purim story, especially the role of gender. We start with a dramatic retelling of the Megillah, with Miriam's very contemporary spin on the traditional tale. Then we take a closer look at the story's gender dynamics, which still resonate 2,500 years later. Happy Purim!Content warning: This episode includes explicit language and references to sexual assault. You can find Can We Talk? on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or your favorite podcast app. We're also on YouTube! Don't forget to subscribe so you never miss a new episode.Love Can We Talk? Please leave us a rating and review on Apple Podcasts. You can also drop us a line and let us know what you think or suggest ideas for future episodes. We just might read your email on the air!Want even more Can We Talk? Sign up for our monthly newsletter.
Video version of this interview: https://youtu.be/vbwZcttuNOQMiriam Anzovin is a Jewish content creator who does videos about the Talmud, Jewish lore reactions and even holiday themed makeup tutorials. She is a warm, funny and witty Jewish woman and I find a friend in her in the content creation journey. Join me for a discussion with the wonderful Miriam about her background, about her relationship to her orthodox mother, about her creative process, about trolls and the Talmud and so much more.Follow Miriam on a bunch of platforms!Youtube @MiriamAnzovin Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/miriamanzovin/Tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@UCAM7ylcgdb_dkvvrnEmLp0wTwitter: https://x.com/AnzovinaWebsite: https://www.miriamanzovin.com/
Miriam Anzovin is a visual artist, writer, content creator, and massive Jewish nerd, exploring the juxtaposition of pop culture, nerd culture, and Jewish culture. Through her #DafReactions, an ongoing video series where she shares her reactions to the daily Talmud page on TikTok, she has become one of the world's best-known commentators on the Talmud -- though despite that, she hesitates to call herself a "teacher" of Talmud. She joins Dan Libenson and Lex Rofeberg for a conversation about #DafReactions, its burgeoning community of followers worldwide, and what it all means for the future of Judaism. This episode is the fourth in an ongoing series of Judaism Unbound episodes exploring digital Judaism.Access full shownotes for this episode via this link. UnYeshiva mini-courses start in just a few days, as this episode is released! Check out your options for 3-week experiences of Jewish learning, being offered right now, via this link.
At our Virtual Morning Minyan on October 12th, Rabbi Lizzi welcomed dozens of community members to pray for those impacted by the ongoing violence in Israel and Gaza, and to hold space for one another to process our own feelings.The song featured in the intro to today's episode was "Tree of Life" by Nefesh Mountain. The creator featured at the end of today's episode was prominent artist Miriam Anzovin whose work can be found at @miriamanzovin on TikTok. Every weekday at 8:00 am, Mishkan Chicago holds a virtual Morning Minyan. Our Thursday sessions are hosted by Mishkan's Founding Rabbi, Lizzi Heydemann. You can join in yourself or listen to all the prayer, music, and inspiration right here on Contact Chai.https://www.mishkanchicago.org/series/morning-minyan-summer-fall-2023/****For upcoming Shabbat services and programs, check our event calendar, and see our Accessibility & Inclusion page for information about our venues. Follow us on Instagram and like us on Facebook for more updates.Produced by Mishkan Chicago. Music composed, produced, and performed by Kalman Strauss.Transcript
This week we say shalom to TikToker and self-proclaimed "massive Jewish nerd" Miriam Anzovin. Miriam has delighted many and enraged others in the Jewish world with her unorthodox (in all the ways) take on important Jewish texts. In her TikTok series "Daf Reactions" Miriam goes through the Daf Yomi, a page-a-day cycle of Talmudic study, tying the Talmud in to her daily life as a milennial in modern society. Her videos take a critical look at the writings of the ancient sages, and connect the stories to what's happening in modern pop culture, politics, and society. Sometimes a lightning rod for controversy, and sometimes just the breath of fresh air that those studying the Talmud need, her work has gotten attention from around the world. For more Miriam, you can visit her website https://www.miriamanzovin.com/ Or check her out in the various places: TikTok Instagram Youtube BlueSky Threads Mastodon If you want to support our show, please consider becoming a monthly patron at www.patreon.com/DataOverDogma Also, follow us on the various social media places: facebook.com/DataOverDogmaPod twitter.com/data_over_dogma Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
A special episode, in English, with the Tik Tok Jewish celebrity Miziam Anzovin. A couple of month ago her Daf Yomi short video reactions went viral. As a young, secular, American Jew she is teaching Talmud through social media with a lot of sense of humor attracting thousands to Jewish sources. In this episode Miriam tell us about her life, what brought her to study and teach Talmud, the struggles of being a woman dealing with a book produce by man for man, and what she is trying to accomplish with her "Daf reactions". http://www.miriamanzovin.com https://www.tiktok.com/@miriamanzovin?lang=en
August 31, 2022Torah Smash! The Podcast for Nerdy JewsEpisode 10: It's Daf Yomi, Mr. Frodo! …With Special Guest Miriam AnzovinWe form a small fellowship as we are joined by writer, visual artist, and TikTok creator, Miriam Anzovin. Explore the works of J.R.R. Tolkien, and many other nerd culture references. as we consider the forces of good and bad in the ordinary and extraordinary. 00:04:24 Lord of the Rings inspires a child00:12:03 Let's Smash This!00:15:34 The yetzer hara and yetzer hatov of Middle Earth00:20:15 Schleps, birthdays, and the letter G00:26:10 How the One Ring would affect each host00:36:24 The real nerd of Boston00:37:31 Destroying the yetzer hara: a midrash00:42:29 Reactions and conversations are teachings00:45:14 Closing banter with MiriamIf you're interested in following Miriam on social media, you can find her on TikTok, Instagram, and Youtube (@miriamanzovin) or on Twitter (@anzovina).You can discover more about Miriam's work on her website: www.miriamanzovin.comThis episode is supported in part by Sinai and Synapses, which offers people a worldview that is both scientifically grounded and spiritually uplifting. They provide tools and language for learning and living to those who see science as their ally as they pursue personal growth and the repair of our world. Sinai and Synapses helps to equip scientists, clergy and dedicated lay people with knowledge and skills to become role models, ambassadors and activists for grappling with the biggest and most important questions we face. They believe that in order to enhance ourselves and our world, we need both religion and science as sources of wisdom, as the spark for new questions, and as inspiration and motivation.Through classes, seminars, lectures, videos and writings, they help create a vision of religion that embraces critical thinking and scientific inquiry, and at the same time, gives meaning to people's lives and helps them make a positive impact on society.Sinai and Synapses is incubated at Clal – The National Jewish Center for Learning and Leadership, which links Jewish wisdom with innovative scholarship to deepen civic and spiritual participation in American life. You can learn more at www.sinaiandsynapses.org or @SinaiSynapses on twitter.Share this episode with a friend: https://www.torahsmash.com/post/episode-10-its-daf-yomi-mr-frodoConnect with us online, email us directly, and more at www.torahsmash.com
Miriam Anzovin is a millennial TikToker who is transforming Talmud study for the social media age. Her “hot takes” on Daf Yomi, where a person learns one page of Talmud every day, have drawn viral attention from supporters and critics alike. She joins David Zvi Kalman, a Hartman Scholar in Residence and Director of New Media, and Yehuda Kurtzer, to discuss the future and accessibility of Torah study, the whirlwind of going viral on social media, and sh*tposting on the Torah – literally. This episode originally aired on February 8th, 2022.
Miriam Anzovin became a TikTok sensation thanks to her hot-take reactions of the Talmud and other Jewish texts, “locally sourced from a millennial brain” — with the goal of making Judaism sparkle for everyone — religious and non-religious Jews alike. The Future of Jewish is a podcast hosted by Joshua Hoffman, the founder of JOOL. In each episode, Joshua is joined by top leaders, thinkers, and doers who are paving the path for a promising Jewish future.
Y'all had a lot to say about our last podcast! We've collected some of your responses as well as the wider response to Miriam Anzovin's videos. Join Shoshanna and Anne as we break down how to disagree even when we're passionate. Music: "Misery" by The Whips
Our hosts welcome the Queen of TikTok Talmud to the show, and they discuss the Golden Calf, feeling lost without a leader, and the rabbi under your bed. Episode Timecodes: (18:20) Miriam Anzovin Interview (39:21) James Roday Rodriguez defines Hebrew/Yiddish terms used in the episode (42:18) Rabbi Shira's Guided Meditation
Harry Freedman, author of Leonard Cohen: The Mystical Roots of Genius, The Murderous History of Bible Translations, and a variety of other books with equally-sensational titles, joins Dan Libenson and Lex Rofeberg for a conversation that explores Leonard Cohen's contributions to Judaism -- and potentially to Judaisms of the future. They also connect Cohen's musical creations to other Jewish figures, including Louis Jacobs and Miriam Anzovin (if you're thinking "is she the one from Tiktok" -- yes!).If you're enjoying Judaism Unbound, please help us keep things going with a one-time or monthly tax-deductible donation. Support Judaism Unbound by clicking here! You can also buy Judaism Unbound merch (hoodies! stickers! mugs! so much more!) by heading to www.judaismunbound.com/store.To access shownotes for this episode, click here.
What an honor to podcast for you! This week, the Nice Jewish Fangirls discuss the trait of honor (kavod) from fandom to reality. How is honor portrayed in fiction? Is it the same trait that the Middot Mussar refer to? What can we we learn from the nuances between these definitions, and how can we bring honor into our daily lives? This week's obsessions include the online game Wordle, the Talmudic TikToks of Miriam Anzovin, and the hit Japanese anime Belle. Next time, we will be discussing the middah of zerizut! Middot Mussar source sheet: www.sefaria.org/sheets/211995.12?…with=all&lang2=en Get our NEW MERCH! www.redbubble.com/shop/ap/45021944 Tamar's BOOK! www.goodreads.com/book/show/492498…12nAq28iR&rank=1 Get in touch with us! Twitter: www.twitter.com/JewishFangirls Facebook: www.facebook.com/jewishfangirls/ Email us at nicejewishfangirls@gmail.com Review us on Apple Podcasts: podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/nice…ls/id1181390630 Edited by Jamie Blumberg. You can reach them on Twitter (twitter.com/jamie_blumberg), email them at jamietheblumberg@gmail.com, or visit their website at jamberg.me/
From the controversy of her colorful videos to why she's learning Talmud every day, to her connection to Judaism - despite self-proclaimed atheism, to her dramatic eye makeup, Miriam Anzovin brings her authentic self to the table. Shoshanna and Anne speak with her about sudden fame, why she isn't chucking profanity any time soon, and how TikTok is the least of our worries. Music: "Misery" by The Whips
Miriam Anzovin is a millennial TikToker who is transforming Talmud study for the social media age. Her “hot takes” on Daf Yomi, where a person learns one page of Talmud every day, have drawn viral attention from supporters and critics alike. She joins David Zvi Kalman, a Hartman Scholar in Residence and Director of New Media, and Yehuda Kurtzer, to discuss the future and accessibility of Torah study, the whirlwind of going viral on social media, and sh*tposting on the Torah – literally.
Miriam Anzovin is a millennial content producer for JewishBoston.com with a semi-viral, and hyper-niche TikTok account in which she shares reflections on the daily daf. Anzovin's videos are very different than most; they're fun, irreverent, and not quite traditionally educational. So, naturally these videos have created a stir. Uri and Rivky wonder, while some in the Jewish community are obsessed, is Anzovin approaching Torah in a fresh, exciting, new way, or are her videos inappropriate and outside the bounds of reverence for Torah and the Talmud? Is there sexism here? Is there a level of “appropriateness” when we're involved in Torah? Links: https://twitter.com/SamMgelman/status/1487575760277753862 https://www.jta.org/2022/01/28/opinion/raunchy-sarcastic-tiktok-talmud-commentary-isnt-profane-its-torah https://forward.com/culture/480764/daf-yomi-recaps-on-jewish-tiktok-miriam-anzovin/ https://www.heyalma.com/a-woman-went-viral-on-tiktok-for-talking-about-talmud-then-came-the-critics/ https://www.jewishboston.com/read/an-atheist-does-daf-yomi/ https://www.tabletmag.com/podcasts/take-one
The Vibe of the Tribe recently asked you, our listeners and members of the community, what questions you've always had about Judaism. Turns out, you had a lot of questions, like: Where do Jewish prayers come from? What really makes food kosher? What's the difference between Jewish denominations? Why do many Jews cover their heads, and why such a sartorial variety of hats, scarves, snoods and wigs? What do acronyms like Z”L and B”H stand for? And, really, what's up with the celebrity obsession with Kabbalah? Extremely qualified guest expert Rabbi Vanessa Harper, an educator at Temple Beth Elohim in Wellesley and the genius creator of https://www.instagram.com/lechlechallah, joins Miriam and Ashley on this episode to answer these questions, and more! Please note: The Vibe of the Tribe podcast is going on hiatus. It's been a true joy to share these episodes and learn along with you. Our wish is that this podcast, and knowledgeable experts like Rabbi Harper, will continue to inspire you to learn more about the incredible diversity and array of Jewish culture, heritage and history that connects us all as one people. To reach out to us, email podcast@jewishboston.com. Produced by Miriam Anzovin and edited by Miriam Anzovin and Jesse Ulrich, with music by Ryan J. Sullivan.
When she was a child, human rights activist and educator Dr. Shula Mola and her family fled Ethiopia for Israel. As they and other members of the Beta Israel Ethiopian Jewish community embarked on this harrowing journey through Sudan, Dr. Mola dreamed of their goal—a return to Jerusalem, and reuniting in community with other Jews at the Beit HaMikdash (holy temple) in Jerusalem. The gap between the dream and the reality of coming to the State of Israel as refugees was massive and often deeply traumatic. Dr. Mola, now a post-doctoral fellow at the Schusterman Center for Israel Studies at Brandeis University focusing on preserving and elevating Ethiopian Jewry in Israel, joins The Vibe of the Tribe for an important episode on a unique community in the Jewish diaspora. Looking back at that time from her current vantage point, she discusses what happened when her community's self-perception and identity encountered the realities of Israeli society, and the ongoing struggle the Beta Israel have faced to be “recognized” as part of the Jewish people by the rabbinical establishment—despite practicing Judaism for thousands of years. Tune in to hear Dr. Mola's riveting personal narrative and illuminating overview of the issues the Beta Israel community faces. As the co-founder of Mothers on Guard, a group of mothers that protests police brutality against youth of Ethiopian origin, Dr. Mola discusses fighting for her community and how the discourse around race in Israel differs from that in America. Dr. Mola also shares how aspects of the Beta Israel community's traditions, like the post-Yom Kippur holiday of Sigd, are finally being officially recognized in Israel and what it means for Beta Israel inclusion. Dr. Mola will also be speaking on Sunday, Nov. 21, at 10 a.m. about the struggle of Ethiopian Jews in Israel for “normality” and the variety of ways to deal with exclusion and racism. Register for the event, hosted by Temple Emunah, CJP and Schusterman Center for Israel Studies: https://www.jewishboston.com/events/i-am-completely-normal-the-struggle-of-ethiopian-israelis To reach out to us, email podcast@jewishboston.com. Produced by Miriam Anzovin and edited by Miriam Anzovin and Jesse Ulrich, with music by Ryan J. Sullivan.
Spooky season is upon us, and that means it's time for The Vibe of the Tribe's annual Halloween episode with author and occult and sci-fi expert Peter Bebergal! This year, we've left our usual haunted graveyards and golem attics to explore the horror themes, Jewish parallels and otherworldly allure of science fiction for Jewish writers and creators. Tune in to this discussion of how the sci-fi genre has been influenced by Jewish hopes and fears by writers and artists like Isaac Asimov and Jack Kirby. We examine the assimilationist Borg of “Star Trek,” the immigrant story of Superman (a true “stranger in a strange land”) and graphic novel Jewish representation in characters like Magneto and Wanda Maximoff (“WandaVision”). If you are also captivated by the horror of alternative histories, or are intrigued about aliens in Jewish scripture and wonder how you can practice Judaism in space, this episode is for you! In addition to being a four-time podcast guest (check out previous episodes below!), Bebergal is the author of “Strange Frequencies: The Extraordinary Story of the Technological Quest for the Supernatural,” “Season of the Witch: How the Occult Saved Rock and Roll” and “Too Much to Dream: A Psychedelic American Boyhood.” He's also the editor of the anthology “Appendix N: The Eldritch Roots of Dungeons and Dragons.” This episode is dedicated to Ilan Ramon (z”l), the first Israeli astronaut and a Jewish pioneer who sought answers to questions we asked during this episode. The son of a Holocaust survivor, Ramon was killed in the Space Shuttle Columbia disaster. Further reading: ”6 Must-Read SFF Books by Jewish Authors From Around the World” by Carly Silver: https://www.tor.com/2020/10/14/6-must-read-sff-books-by-jewish-authors-from-around-the-world/ “Wandering Stars: An Anthology of Jewish Fantasy & Science Fiction” edited by Jack Dann: http://www.jewishlights.com/mm5/merchant.mvc?Screen=PROD&Store_Code=JL&Product_Code=978-1-58023-005-6&Category_Code= “Jews in Space: On the Unsung History of Jewish Writers and the Birth of Science Fiction” by Lavie Tidhar: https://lithub.com/jews-in-space-on-the-unsung-history-of-jewish-writers-and-the-birth-of-science-fiction/ To reach out to us, email podcast@jewishboston.com. Produced by Miriam Anzovin and edited by Jesse Ulrich, with music by Ryan J. Sullivan.
How much do we really know about the lives of our parents and the secrets they've kept in their past? How do we delineate fiction from fact in our family histories? What parts are real and what parts have we needed to be real? Many people may wonder, but few actually embark on a quest to uncover the truth. Judy Bolton-Fasman, one among the rare few who have done it, was brave enough to recount in a gripping memoir her search for the familial mysteries that have haunted her life. The beloved arts and culture writer for JewishBoston.com, Bolton-Fasman joins her colleagues Miriam, Ashley and Kali to speak about her mesmerizing book debut, “Asylum: A Memoir of Family Secrets.” Tune in as we discuss the juxtaposition of her Sephardic and Ashkenazi identities, the jaw-dropping revelations she discovered about her parents and what it's like to become a 60-year-old literary debutante. Learn more at https://www.judyboltonfasman.com and https://www.jewishboston.com/profile/judybf. To reach out to us, email podcast@jewishboston.com. Produced by Miriam Anzovin and edited by Jesse Ulrich, with music by Ryan J. Sullivan.
In “a long-expected” episode, The Vibe of the Tribe celebrates the 20th anniversary of the cinematic release of the iconic fantasy film “The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring.” Join Miriam and guest Jesse Ulrich of Pod4Good as they harness the power of their mutual nerd interests (Judaism and fantasy literature) to set forth on a quest to understand the world of author J.R.R. Tolkien through a Jewish lens. They explore Tolkien's own words on how Jewish history, culture and language influenced his creation of Middle Earth, his use of Jewish stereotypes and how he responded to the rise of Nazism. They also discuss how Tolkien is, at heart, a writer of (Anglo-Saxon) midrash and how characters, events and locations throughout “The Lord of the Rings” films and books embody Jewish values and ethics. From Frodo's deep mesiras nefesh (self-sacrifice), Boromir's teshuva (repentance/returning), the Entish love for Tu B'Shvat to who should be the last person in the “Fellowship Minyan,” they discuss it all. Grab your second breakfast, settle into your comfortable hobbit hole and press play on this gloriously nerd-tastic episode! To reach out to us, email podcast@jewishboston.com. Produced by Miriam Anzovin and edited by Jesse Ulrich, with music by Ryan J. Sullivan.
We exist in an era when the Jewish rituals around mourning—such as sitting shiva and saying kaddish—make frequent appearances in popular culture, from Marvel TV shows to films to Broadway plays. There is, however, significantly less attention paid to the other rituals around death, ones that are fundamental to understanding how Judaism sees the role of the living in caring for the dead. The Hevra Kadisha, or holy society, comprises highly-trained volunteers who take care of the deceased with a profound level of respect and commitment. Jewish tradition offers ancient and beautiful customs and rituals to guide us through loss, and serving in the Hevra Kadisha is not only considered a privilege, it is an act of ultimate loving-kindness and respect toward our fellow Jews. To discuss these important and meaningful mitzvot, Miriam and Dan are joined by two members of the Community Hevra Kadisha of Greater Boston (https://www.hevrakadisha.org). James Cohen (he/him), co-president, is deeply involved in the community, having previously worked at Keshet and currently at Jewish Family & Children's Service. Emily Fishman (they/them or she/her), who goes by the name EmFish, has been a member of the Community Hevra Kadisha of Greater Boston for about five years. Alongside Cohen, they co-led the Hevra Kadisha's trans tahara project (https://www.keshetonline.org/resources/toward-a-gender-inclusive-hevra-kadisha). They have also been teaching and consulting with hevras in other metro areas for more than a year. Tune in to this episode to learn about burial rituals, the importance of inclusivity (https://jewishjournal.com/commentary/blogs/241299/taharah-gender-emily-fishman-emfish) in the work of the Community Hevra Kadisha and how lessons from the tahara (ritual purification) room can ripple out to positively impact the Jewish community at large. To reach out to us, email podcast@jewishboston.com. Produced by Miriam Anzovin and edited by Jesse Ulrich, with music by Ryan J. Sullivan.
Antisemitism: What's new with the oldest hatred? It's a difficult question to ask, but we did it anyway. Dr. Rachel Fish (https://rachelfish.com), a nationally recognized expert on how to confront Jew hate, joins us on The Vibe of the Tribe as Greater Boston and the rest of the country have experienced a surge in anti-Israel actions and hate crimes against Jews. Dr. Fish discusses tips for students of all ages returning to school amid the ongoing rise in anti-Jewish and anti-Zionist sentiment, navigating hate on social media, how to channel anger into productive action, the cyclical nature of hatred toward Jews and why “antisemitism” should be retired as a term. Join us for this can't-miss conversation. Resources for combating antisemitism: If you have experienced or witnessed an incident of antisemitism, bias, bigotry or hate, report it using the Anti-Defamation League's incident form: https://www.adl.org/reportincident Learn about CJP's antisemitism initiative: https://www.cjp.org/antisemitism-initiative Read this recent article co-authored by Rabbi Marc Baker of CJP, Jeremy Burton of the Jewish Community Relations Council of Greater Boston and Robert Trestan of the ADL: https://jewishjournal.org/2021/07/29/this-is-a-critical-moment-for-our-jewish-community-what-can-we-do/ Produced by Miriam Anzovin and edited by Jesse Ulrich, with music by Ryan J. Sullivan.
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!
As a Jewish podcast, it's only natural we want to be BFFs with other Jewish podcasts. After all, we're a small corner of the podcast universe, and us Jewish podcasters need to stick together! On this episode, we welcome local rabbis Jen Gubitz and Jodie Gordon, co-hosts of the new podcast “OMfG: Jewish Wisdom for Unprecedented Times,” a project that came into being from text message exchanges of ideas, fears and humor during the darkest moments of the pandemic. Their new podcast—whose title means exactly what you think it does—is lovingly irreverent, rooting our human experiences today in the story of Jewish peoplehood throughout history. Join us for hot Torah takes on subversive female characters, overthinking what we would have worn at Mount Sinai, the realization that the pit from “Parks and Recreation” is the best metaphor for life, celebrating Judaism in all of its beauty and weirdness, the importance of swearing for clergy and, why, if you happen to notice someone pushing a stroller in which there is a Torah scroll wearing a onesie, you should try not to stare. Read “The Millennial Parsha: Balak” parody Torah mentioned by Miriam in the episode: www.jewishboston.com/read/the-mille…l-parsha-balak Produced by Miriam Anzovin and edited by Jesse Ulrich, with music by Ryan J. Sullivan.
To say that we all collectively could use a laugh is a vast understatement. Luckily, rabbi, humorist, author, interfaith leader, academic, community activist and “disciple of joy” Reb Moshe Waldoks joins us to lift our spirits. The author of the classic and comprehensive “The Big Book of Jewish Humor,” Reb Moshe takes The Vibe of the Tribe mic (and doesn't let go) to share his story and philosophy. Tune in and laugh along as he describes building a vibrant community at Temple Beth Zion in Brookline using the power of “Yom Kippur jokes” and meditation, his explanations of what is and is not “Jewish humor” and the importance of finding the joy—not just the oy—of Jewish life. You don't want to miss this hilarious episode as Reb Moshe—and, to a lesser extent, Miriam and Dan— cover everything from Bernie Sanders mittens memes to inadvertent Talmud hilarity, plus a vociferous disagreement about the merits (or lack thereof) of Larry David. Produced by Miriam Anzovin and edited by Jesse Ulrich, with music by Ryan J. Sullivan.
From the time she wrote her 2015 essay that went viral, “A Letter to My Son Jacob on His 5th Birthday,” Mimi Lemay became more than the mother of a young trans boy—she became an activist, fighting for his rights and thousands of others facing misunderstanding at best and outright harassment and discrimination at worst. Her son Jacob, born “Em” (a pseudonym), knew before he was 3 that his birth gender didn't match who he was. Through his transformation to his true self, he took a journey that was a reflection of Lemay's—a woman raised in an ultra-Orthodox Jewish community within a rigid framework of rules and roles defined by her gender. In this moving episode, we talk to Lemay about her beautifully written memoir, “What We Will Become: A Mother, a Son, and a Journey of Transformation,” how trans visibility has changed since 2015 and how the fight for the rights of trans and nonbinary people has been central in her life. From the joy of seeing Jacob's “gender euphoria” upon finally living as his true self to the pain of seeing discrimination of trans people leveraged for political gain across the country, Lemay talks about what she has learned in the past six years and what we can all do to help ensure every person is cherished. Resources: Find a local PFLAG chapter: https://pflag.org Track anti-transgender legislation: https://freedomforallamericans.org/legislative-tracker/anti-transgender-legislation Learn about gender fluidity in the Jewish tradition: https://www.keshetonline.org/resources/gender-fluidity-in-the-jewish-tradition Produced by Miriam Anzovin and edited by Jesse Ulrich, with music by Ryan J. Sullivan.
Jake Cohen loves food. We love food. And we love Jake Cohen. Hailed as “the creative, youthful future of Jewish food” by icon Joan Nathan, Cohen is known for, among many other things, his zesty Instagram presence and blending his Ashkenazi food heritage with his husband's Persian Iraqi Jewish traditions. The nice Jewish boy, culinary creative genius and New York Times bestselling author behind the new “Jew-ish: A Cookbook: Reinvented Recipes from a Modern Mensch” joins us to discuss the power of intergenerational cooking, discovering and reuniting the Jewish diaspora through food and how he and his husband are creating their own authentic Jewish experience. Feeling hungry? Get an exclusive recipe for Cohen's everything bagel galette at https://www.jewishboston.com/read/everything-bagel-galette. Learn more about Cohen at https://www.wakeandjake.com. Produced by Miriam Anzovin and edited by Jesse Ulrich, with music by Ryan J. Sullivan.
It has taken the Jewish communal world a long time to reckon with intermarriage. And the evolution of attitude—from gloom and doom to gradual, partial acceptance—has been decades in the making and is ongoing. For generations, the health of the Jewish population in America was measured largely by one statistic—the percentage of Jews intermarrying. And it's a number that has steadily increased since 1970. Yet one historian noted, “Statistical data inform us of structure, not content.” The “interfaith panic” led to a history of stigmatization and marginalization for interfaith couples based on fear of Jews disappearing, their offspring lost to intermarriage and spouses' faiths and traditions. Many people in interfaith relationships have stories to tell, including The Vibe of the Tribe co-host Dan, who has been in such a relationship for more than half his life and which, in recent years, has resulted in two Jewish children. From off-hand comments from other Jews at work or home to declarations from rabbis about how they would “never officiate” an interfaith marriage ceremony to relatives who have threatened to “never speak to” or “disown” children or grandchildren who intermarry, the bias is as real as it is hurtful. There are several problems with this mindset, in addition to the obvious. Interfaith Jews aren't lost, but anecdotally speaking, they don't respond well to being stigmatized. Dr. Keren McGinity, the first interfaith specialist at the United Synagogue of Conservative Judaism, is here to change the long-held perceptions of intermarriage as a “threat” to Judaism. She is an educator-activist specializing in Jewish intermarriage and gender roles, teaches at Brandeis University and is the author of “Still Jewish: A History of Women and Intermarriage in America” and “Marrying Out: Jewish Men, Intermarriage, and Fatherhood.” Her website, https://loveandtradition.org, is dedicated to opening hearts and broadening minds about intermarriage to build a fully inclusive Jewish community. In this episode, Dr. McGinity provides the historical and gender context of the intermarriage panic, offers tips on how to be an ally, discusses implications in Jewish law and completely flips the script on everything we've been led to believe about what “doing Jewish” really means. Produced by Miriam Anzovin and edited by Jesse Ulrich, with music by Ryan J. Sullivan.
If you have yet to pick your jaw up from the floor after watching “Shtisel” Season 3, you're not alone. Join a completely verklempt Miriam and Dan for a spoiler-filled recap with special guest Dr. Shayna Weiss, associate director of the Shusterman Center for Israel Studies at Brandeis University, and an expert in Israeli culture and entertainment (and definitive “Shtisel” authority!). We deconstruct the entire season, from the shocking premiere plot twist a la “The Sixth Sense” to the emotional finale, examining the magical realism, romance, Yiddish, longing, loss, multiple Shiras, familial mishegas and the “fourth wall”-breaking in between. Don't just “lie there like a dolphin!” Mix up a mocktail of soda with a little bit of Shabbat grape juice and tune in to this episode of The Vibe of the Tribe to learn everything about “Shtisel” Season 3. Want to learn more about “Shtisel” from Dr. Weiss? Read “Shtisel's Ghosts: The Politics of Yiddish in Israeli Popular Culture” (https://ingeveb.org/blog/shtisel-s-ghosts-the-politics-of-yiddish-in-israeli-popular-culture) and listen to “Jewish History Matters: Ultra-Orthodox Jews on Israeli TV with Shayna Weiss” (https://www.jewishhistory.fm/ultra-orthodox-jews-on-israeli-tv-with-shayna-weiss). Further reading mentioned in the podcast: “Conceiving Agency: Reproductive Authority among Haredi Women” by Michal S. Raucher: https://iupress.org/9780253050021/conceiving-agency “Holocaust Memory in Ultraorthodox Society in Israel” by Michal Shaul: https://iupress.org/9780253050816/holocaust-memory-in-ultraorthodox-society-in-israel Missed our recap of Seasons 1 and 2? Catch up here: https://www.jewishboston.com/read/the-vibe-of-the-tribe-podcast-episode-76-frum-here-to-eternity-watching-shtisel Produced by Miriam Anzovin and edited by Jesse Ulrich, with music by Ryan J. Sullivan.
Hit shows with Jewish themes or Israeli casts are certainly nothing new for Netflix. But perhaps none have been as controversial and widely discussed as “Unorthodox,” a four-episode series based on the memoir of a woman who left a large Satmar Orthodox community in Brooklyn. Some see the show as an entertaining and fascinating look at a community many of us know little about. Others say it's an inaccurate and even dangerous simplification of a complex group, sensationalizing and “othering” Satmar Chassidic Jews without the context necessary to understand their way of life. And that's just what the hosts of this podcast say! Dozens of articles and webinars have featured debates over the virtues of the show. But we thought it was time for a fact-check from the experts—two women who have personal experience with Chassidic Judaism: Layah Kranz Lipsker, a Chassidic educator in Boston, and Miriam Anzovin, The Vibe of the Tribe co-host and former Orthodox Jew. Tune in as they discuss the wigs, hats, Brooklyn and Berlin plot lines, the real challenges of leaving Orthodoxy and answer burning questions from show viewers.
Nearly four years and 20,000 streams after JewishBoston.com launched The Vibe of the Tribe, we're celebrating our milestone 75th episode! Join JewishBoston director Kali Foxman as she flips the script and turns the questions on co-hosts Miriam Anzovin and Dan Seligson. Miriam and Dan discuss everything from their personal Jewish journeys to favorite episodes of the podcast and guests that have influenced them the most. There's also a fun and illuminating speed round, plus a blooper reel! (With, um, kind of a lot of F-bombs. Dan just can't help himself, apparently.) Have comments or ideas for us? Email podcast@jewishboston.com. Edited by Jesse Ulrich, with music by Ryan J. Sullivan. Find all podcast episodes at https://www.jewishboston.com/podcast.