When a student asked about the nature of Judaism - about why it’s called Judaism - the stakes, for her, had suddenly grown very high. The Washington Post had recently published an article with the provocative headline: “Is Judaism an ethnicity? A race? A nationality? Trump signs an order and provokes an identity crisis,” and people began asking: “if other people who aren’t even Jewish are going to tell us about the very nature of Judaism, we should probably know ourselves.” To answer the...

Discussing the events at Congregation Beth Israel in Colleyville, Texas, where an armed attacker took four hostages, including the rabbi. We ask: "What's a Jewish response in a moment of crisis," and look at the idea of "Spiritual Pre-hab." Show Notes and transcript will be available soon. Check back for more details or visit shootpodcast.com Credits Shoot! is written, hosted, and produced by Jesse Paikin. You can always say hi, share your thoughts, or ask your own question at...

Who gets to decide what counts as “religion,” and how that should shape our understanding of how Judaism can be meaningful in our lives? What happens when a revolutionary Jewish thinker - fed up with his lower status as a Jew in 1700s Prussia - wants people to start thinking about the very essence of Judaism in a new way? And what happens when a Prussian Christian theologian has a very different idea of what Judaism should look like? In Part II of this episode, we reach the conclusion of...

Turns out we actually aren’t entirely sure how to define “religion.” And we’re not even sure if Judaism fits the description to begin with. If we’re using the lens of “religion” to understand Judaism, what is the nature of that lens? How does its clarity and focus affect what we’re looking at? Is it magnifying or distorting things? When we use that lens, what are we seeing, and what are we not seeing? And who built that lens? Can we even call Judaism a religion? In This Episode, we learn...

1,200 years ago, one of the oldest Jewish communities in the world asked a question. It was a question that would reverberate through history, and still impact us today. What does this simple act teach us about the role of questions and answers in Judaism, and how Jewish practice works and evolves across space and time? In this episode, we learn about... How Jews have asked questions throughout history, and how the answers have helped form unique cultures, rituals, and communities. How...

A short-form explanatory Jewish podcast, with expansive questions and diverse commentary. One big Jewish question each episode. With answers that have integrity and inspiration. And always where to turn next to learn more. All in under 30 minutes each.