Conversations surrounding Antisemitism, though painful, typically are clear as to the danger, sources and ultimate foolishness of Jew-hate. What to do about it is less straightforward. In this first part of The Zal's Antisemitism Episode, Dovid and Adam point to - and try to make sense of - the noticeable irony that the likelier a Jew is to be a victim of Antisemitism - the less they tend to speak of the problem of Jew-hate. This topic is understandably fraught, but please join us - and...

No, they’re not on this episode, but their South Park ordeal got us thinking: Do you stand to lose by letting loose? Is there any importance to unimportance? This time, we put ourselves to a new test: a twenty minute episode. The clock’s ticking as we bounce between the sub-rational and the trans-rational with a bit of royals sprinkled in between.   More on the madness of Purim

Diversity is no small issue, but what all can it mean? Is our goal to acknowledge the commonality in diversity or to accept diversity as an end in itself?  Current tech and ways of being have helped us silo our understandings *and* our understandings of those understandings. (Zal enough for ya?) In this episode, Adam and Dovid discuss how this siloing happened, what contributes to it, and what might increase the truest kind of diversities in our lives. Music by Nosson Zand, Stephanie...

New horror film The Offering (out Friday) paints an unusual setting for terror. Instead of the typical sleepy suburb, it's a tight-knit Jewish neighborhood. Instead of clueless homeowners, it's kind — and sometimes wise — ultra-orthodox Jews. Writer and Producer Hank Hoffman, Producer Jonathan Yunger, and lead-actress Emily Wiseman enter the Zal to discuss the film's content, intentions, and implications. Can the accurate depiction of Hasidim in film dispel anti-Jewish tropes, even in the...

We've told you a hundred times. We're The Zal, not the Za"L! You know, the place for discourse, not the deceased... But if you insist, we'll talk about the dead.  Join us as we discuss: What does Zichrono Livracha mean? How do Jews mourn? Can you mourn too much? Can a death be celebrated? And many more cheery topics! The Rebbe on death and mourning. Leonard Cohen's 'You Want It Darker.'

In all honestly, our completely real sponsors made us do it. Still, we think you'll love what's here at thezal.sellfy.store. In this soft launch, find sweatshirts to mugs, beanies to onesies, all by legendary 19th, 20th, and 21st century companies:  Bananischewitz kosher banana wine: Monkeys like it, so why shouldn't you™ Matzocoin: The crypto of affliction and of course Schmendl's Herring Deodorant: Why smell like a man when you can smell like a fish? Happy Hannukah, happy Christian...

Chazkel (Charlie) Roth was born in 1925 to a Chassidic family. He was a part of the first batch of students in the first Chabad Yeshiva on American Shores. Our recorded recollections of his, published here for the first time, paint a loving and colorful picture.  Charlie became agnostic later in his life but still remained in warm contact with his Jewishness and the Chabad community.  Like many other ‘hippie-Jews’ he rediscovered the depth of his religious birthright by identifying the...

Because it does good or because it's just right? Are we expecting Mazal points to cash in later? What even is charity?   The grayest areas, the Zalliest territory, and all new sponsors for our last episode of the year 5782.   Thanks so much for being with us. Music: Stephanie Chou: http://www.stephaniechoumusic.com Aloe Blacc's "I Need A Dollar": [YouTube]

So, nu? We digressed.  Welcome to The Zal After-Hours, where we share what we were already sharing but... later. Today: an ancient allegory we side-barred from our simplicity episode (#21) — Dovid goes a little deeper into simpleness.  Bad intro music by your co-host; great outro music by Haryun Ban. Find his full rendition of Sunrise, Sunset, arr. Jeremy Choi, here: [YouTube]. And find him here on [Instagram].

On last week’s episode, Dovid put a message out for the “simpletons.” Adam’s response, basically: “Dude, harsh!” This week we explore why “simple” isn’t a dig, why true simplicity — in approach and theory and desire and practice — ain’t simple. On tap: the ultimate greatnesses of simplicity, from the divine to the academic to the personified. The old sages’ takes. The DUI field sobriety test. Come get involved. Thank you to our sponsors. Bad music by your co-host; great music by these...

It's Part 2 with media philosopher Andrew McLuhan. What is the antidote to a tech-triggered racing mind? Is *this* moment in communication evolution fundamentally different than other moments of media transformation? Is it just "kids these days!" all over again? Does tweeting “Get Off Of Twitter!” help? The McLuhan Institute  Understanding Media: The Extensions of Man [Get it from your independent bookstore here]  Music by Stephanie Chou: [Spotify]  And future friend of the pod...

On this episode, we grapple with the concerns of legendary philosopher of media and communication Marshall McLuhan. From the scale of person-to-person conversations to broad social change: is evolving technology (and our choices between existing ones) more important than the very things we're saying?   Today, another guest! We talk with Andrew McLuhan, director of the McLuhan Institute (and Marshall's grandson) about these major concerns. Especially on blast: the all-consuming nature of...

Dispatches from Ukraine, part two: Dima Susskiy, writer for the comedy show that made President Zelenskiy famous. Destruction and hope on the move. Telegram channel links: Memes from Kvartal 95 (Zelenskiy's former outfit); more memes from the channel "God, it's over!" More about Kvartal 95. Opening song: "Peace" by MEUTE Closing song: "Adventures in Your Own Backyard" by Patrick Watson

Without expertise or first-hand experience, there’s little to add to the conversation about the situation in Ukraine. But we can listen.  Michael Zatloff is a faith-minded individual who left behind his house and home of 24 years to escape Putin’s bombs. This is his viewpoint.  For original quote “saving one person is like saving the world” see Talmud, Sanhedrin 37a

Groupthink, group expressions, even in-group vocabulary: it's easy and reliable, and a good way to keep feathers unruffled. But this ease can be outweighed by a lost opportunity to make an idea your own. In this episode, recorded in collaboration with the Jewish Learning Institute, Adam and Dovid discuss the advantages of developing (and "chewing") your own conception of ancient ideas. Practical and theological perks are all on the table.  Read about Rabbi Chaim Brisker's Talmudic genius...

We’re back to that little old issue: man’s search for Meaning. Are we born with a need for belief beyond what we can reason? What forms can that take — what are their pitfalls? Trans-rational thought: restock on aisle humanity? You can read about the story of the Golden Calf [Here]. The Rebbe's talk on the power of heretics can be studied in the original [Here]. The Indy Star's feature of The Zal: [Here, w/ pictures (look at that punim!) & video by Rory Appleton] Music snippets from...

Worst case scenario? You’re buying a bright red box of chocolates to fix a relationship, or because an ad told you to. Have we lost the thread — not just for this particular holiday, but even in our lives outside of flower shops and candy stores? Dovid and Adam grapple with the idea of just Doing Something for unknown reasons, or forgotten reasons, and what it means to find the thread, or submit to tradition in whole cloth. Rambam, Hilchot Avoda Zara, Chapter 1 Rebbe Rashab reprimanding his...

Oy. Yo. Shift a letter, shift the meaning. Nosson gets involved in the conversation about Jewish melody and rap, traditional and contemporary, differences and common ground.  In this episode Dovid, Adam and Hassidic rap sensation Nosson Zand discuss how successful each of these art forms are at: evoking joy, breaking limitations, melting inhibitions and building inter-human connections.  Toward the end of the episode Nosson captures his “drop the rake” moment and depicts what it felt like...

The first dance at many Jewish weddings is the Horah. It is replete with a medley of religious sounding (Klezmer-ish) music: that is, most of the lyrics are "Oy Oy Oy." Only once that box is checked can the celebration move into the 21st century. But, what happens when those parts are mixed? When Jewish sentiments are delivered in a hip-hop package, is the religious sanctity lost? Is the song even hip-hop? What are the specific and shared values and purposes of older and newer music? To...

Envision yourself meditating. Seriously. In this vision, have you sprouted a 10-inch beard and teleported to the edge of a forlorn mountainside? The arts of meditation and prayer are so foreign to our existence that they're either too vague or too specific to grasp — do we need an app or a New Age album or nothing or...? In this episode, Adam and Dovid discuss praying vs. just saying, meditating or just standing by a wall — and lots of the in-betweens.  What can different practices aiming...

"Hassids don't say farewell, for they're always together" is an oft-quoted maxim but seldom understood. Maintaining closeness with a friend while gaining the advantages of distance, seems like having your herring and eating it. On this episode we discuss frames-of-mind and tactics for elevating the current, dull, Facebook friend era.  Rebbe's Farbrengen, Shabbat Tazria 1957

High holidays wishes and jokes about fishes from The Zal — back after Yom Kippur, however you pronounce it.  Tell all the non-Jews: the pod's for them too! There might even be tips about making lox in this one... Best fill-in for the blank in the title wins a prize.  Much love from us & see you soon. - D & A

Mazel Tov is arguably the most known Hebrew phrase to the English speaker. "Congratulations!" Literally, it means "good luck," but — do Jews even believe in luck? With the number of people wishing they should be billionaires, it appears that we’ve got little of it.  Where is the space for luck between destiny and agency, and what do we really mean (or want to mean) when we call someone lucky? Follow along in the Talmud, Tractate Shabbat 156a, Tikkunei Zohar 99b and at the Rebbe's...

It was G.I. Joe in a 1980s cartoon who first said "knowledge is half the battle". The traditional Rabbinic phrase goes even further: "knowledge of the ailment is half the remedy."  In a time defined maybe most by its glut of information, how far will all this *knowing* take us? On tap: a discussion around physical ailments, mental health issues, the war and recent collapse in Afghanistan, and more. Follow along in the Talmud, Tractate Sota Page 44a  And at the Rebbe's Farbrengen, Toras...

Two Jews bump into their Rebbe. One is unsophisticated but caring, the other is accomplished but aloof. Both had room to grow, but only one troubled the Rebbe. (Listen to find out which!) Join us as we discuss a second lesson (see ep. 7 for #1) from Rebbe Maharash to explore the choices for the "best" course of action. Follow along here (apologies to the Yiddish-challenged): Sefer Hatoldos Rebbe Maharash. You can purchase the English translation here. Perugia by Steph Chou off Prime Knot:...