Bad Jew Weekly
Summary: An irreverent, inclusive take on Judaism from the baddest Jewess around. Jewish and interested in learning more, but terrified of going to synagogue? Not Jewish and curious, but don't know where to begin? Somewhere in between? This is the podcast for you.
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- Artist: Jenna Reback
Podcasts:
What does being a progressive Zionist mean in practice? What does the political and social landscape of Israel look like today? How do we take a stand to end the Occupation of Palestine? Jenna chats with Rabbi Ephraim Pelcovits, SoCal Regional Director of the New Israel Fund. Learn more about this organization at nif.org. Also, the Torah portion this week is a hot mess.
“I know you’re mad. What are you gonna do about it?” Jenna discusses the Jewish concept of gemilut chasadim, acts of loving kindness, and then interviews MAZON’s Samuel Chu about righteous anger, feeding the hungry, and the true definition of allyship. The Torah portion for this past week is uncannily apt.
“…We all know by now that racism is at the heart of this country.” Jenna talks with Rabbi Sharon Brous about the strength in the face of anti-Semitism, and bringing Torah and moral courage back to the heart of Judaism. Watch Rabbi Brous’s Ted Talk here: https://www.ted.com/talks/sharon_brous_it_s_time_to_reclaim_and_reinvent_religion
What do we get out of hearing the same story over and over again? How can we make every retelling a new experience? Jenna looks to this week’s parshah to investigate.
What does it mean to be chosen by God? Jenna looks at a passage from Pirkei Avot, current events, and Moses's last days for an answer.
Tisha B'Av starts this Monday night. It is a complete bummer of a holiday, but, as Jenna argues, a really important and useful bummer. In the Torah this week, we start Devarim, the fifth and final book of the Torah.
Jenna shares some insights from recent travels and current events, then interviews filmmaker Becky Tahel Bordo about her newest documentary project, "American Birthright." The parshiot this week are a doozy.
Jenna offers a Jewish perspective on some current events. The Torah portion this week is (kind of) feminist.
Jenna offers a Jewish perspective on some current events. The Torah portion this week is (kind of) feminist.
This week, Jenna explores Judaism's take on two seemingly unrelated topics: angels and animal rights. Then, the Torah portion is insane. Learn more about Judaism's take on animal rights here: ttp://www.jewfaq.org/animals.htm
Jenna catches up with writer and comedian H. Alan Scott about filming Latter Day Jew, a documentary about his journey from Mormon to Jew, and what he's experienced in the process as a gay Jewish Zionist. Support H. Alan's film at: http://www.halanscott.com/latterdayjew/
Judaism is a deeply subversive religion. As Jews, we are mandated to challenge unjust institutions and leaders--even to the point of arguing with God. But unfettered subversiveness is potentially disastrous. Using a story from the Talmud and the week's parsha, Jenna investigates how to be righteously subversive, and what good Jewish leadership looks like.
A year after the Pulse Nightclub shooting, Jenna invokes the words of the sage Hillel to demand change. Jenna then chats with Rabbi Adam Greenwald, director of the Miller Introduction to Judaism Program at American Jewish University about beginning a lifetime of Jewish learning, finding a synagogue, and why rabbis really want to meet you.
Jenna talks about Rabbi Abraham Joshua Heschel and what his teachings offer us in the current insane American political climate--and in relation to this week's insane Torah portion.
Jenna explains why she didn't release a Shavuot episode after all, and how some embarrassing goings-on in her personal life have helped her engage Judaism's conceptions of healing in a new way. In the Torah portion, Jenna studies Judaism's least abided-by law. Support Bad Jew Weekly on Patreon: patreon.com/badjewweekly
