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Weekly series
Judaism

Judaism

Updated 31/12/2024
Self-Improvement

Self-Improvement

Updated 02/06/2021

23/04/2025

Shemini

This week’s parsha includes the instructions about the laws of Kashrut, which remain some of the most complicated and baffling commandments in Judaism. How can the things we choose to eat—or not eat—define us? And can keeping a mitzvah truly transform us even if we’re not feeling transformed? Tune in to find out. Sivan Rahav-Meir is a leading Israeli journalist, media personality, and Torah scholar. You can sign up for her The Daily Thought WhatsApp group, where Sivan sends small insights about Judaism and current affairs. Check out Liel Leibovitz’s new book, How the Talmud Can Change Your Life: Surprisingly Modern Advice from a Very Old Book, available directly from the publisher or wherever you purchase books. You can find all of Tablet’s podcasts at tabletmag.com/podcasts.

23/04/2025

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15 min
SEASON 27, EPISODE 16

Avodah Zarah 16 and 17 - NSFW

On today's pages of Talmud, Avodah Zarah 16 and 17, the sages share with us a pretty unbelievable story about a rabbi with a penchant for prostitutes. What happened next, and what lesson can be learned from this seemingly goofy story? Listen and find out.

S27, E16

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8 min
19/08/2025

The Trump-Putin Summit

This week, Walter and Jeremy discuss why Americans are moving less, Trump's deployment of National Guard troops to Washington, declining alcohol consumption in the US, and the Trump-Putin meeting in Alaska.

19/08/2025

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30 min
SEASON 40, EPISODE 17

Menachot 17 - Spicy Scholars

On today’s page, Menachot 17, we encounter the "spicy ones" of Pumbedita and a fascinating debate over two distinct models of intellectual excellence. The Gemara tells a story of three legendary sages who find themselves exhausted and frustrated by a brilliant but temperamental colleague whose sharp mind makes him nearly impossible to follow. It serves as a timeless reminder that while "uprooting mountains" is impressive, the stability of the "Sinai" model is what actually allows for a sustained, inclusive conversation. Is it possible to be too smart for the good of the community? Listen and find out.

S40, E17

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8 min
14/09/2023

Stealing the Show

This week on Unorthodox, you’re totally invited to our bat mitzvah. First we talk to Amanda Stern—aka Fiona Rosenbloom—the author of the young adult novel You Are So Not Invited to My Bat Mitzvah, which the new Netflix film is based on. She shares (pre-strike!) what it was like to have her novel adapted into an Adam Sandler movie and gives us an update on what she’s working on now. Then director Guy Nattiv joins us to discuss Golda, his new film about former Israeli prime minister Golda Meir. He tells us about the experience of making a film about one of Israel’s most iconic figures, working with Helen Mirren, and more. We love to hear from you! Send us emails at unorthodox@tabletmag.com, or leave a voicemail at our listener line: (914) 570-4869. Check out our Unorthodox tees, mugs, and hoodies at tabletstudios.com. Find out about our upcoming events at tabletmag.com/unorthodoxlive. To book us for a live show or event, email Tanya Singer at tsinger@tabletmag.com. Subscribe to our weekly newsletter to get new episodes, photos, and more. Join our Facebook group, and follow Unorthodox on Twitter and Instagram. Unorthodox is produced by Tablet Studios. Check out all of our podcasts at tabletmag.com/podcasts. SPONSORS: Hadassah is hosting “Inspire Zionism: Tech, Trailblazers and Tattoos,” a two-day online event featuring panels with inspiring Zionist women, hosted by our own Stephanie Butnick. To join the conversation October 25 and 26, register at go.hadassah.org/inspire. This High Holiday season, help HIAS provide vital services to refugees in more than 20 countries around the world. All donations through September 22 will be matched, doubling your impact. You can learn more at hias.org/unorthodox. American Jewish University (AJU) invites you to join them for their Fall semester of online learning. To learn more and register, visit aju.edu/open and use code unorthodox for a 10% discount.

14/09/2023

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48 min
SEASON 27, EPISODE 32

Avodah Zarah 32 and 33 - Object Lesson

In today's Talmud pages, Avodah Zarah 32 and 33, the sages broaden their conversation about wine made by gentiles. A fascinating discussion follows, about whether or not shards from an earthenware vessel which originally held non-kosher wine may be used for other purposes. We further deepen the discussion with a personal story from our producer Josh Kross. His anecdote shares a question with today's pages: what does it mean to hold onto an object with a loaded, or controversial, history? Listen and find out.

S27, E32

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11 min
30/09/2025

Ha'azinu

In this week’s parsha, Moshe sings of God’s care for Israel, of the dangers of complacency, and of the eternal covenant that binds us still. As Yom Kippur gives way to Shabbat, his words echo through time: ha’azinu—listen. Across Israel, new generations are doing just that: students gathering on Zoom to prepare for Shabbat, young people filling hotels in Jerusalem to greet its light, first-timers discovering peace in a day without phones. So how do we carry the fire of Yom Kippur and the first Shabbat of the year into the second, and the third, and the days beyond? Tune in to find out.

30/09/2025

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20 min
19/09/2025

The Week When Decades Happened

This week, Walter and Jeremy discuss the Trump administration's apparent speech crackdown, the Saudi-Pakistani mutual defense pact, the rise of cocaine cartels in Mexico, the recent events that shook the Western order, and why rightwing influencers are obsessed by Israel and Jew hatred.

19/09/2025

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38 min
24/11/2025

The UN Security Council Resolution: Gaza, Jerusalem, Baku, Washington, Ankara, and Riyadh

It is not clear how the theory of the Trump plan will be implemented in practice - and above all it is still unclear how Hamas will be disarmed. Has the UN Security Council Resolution made things any clearer? Are Israel's friends in Baku, Azerbaijan going to help solve this conundrum, and finally, have Israel Update's listeners managed to explain to Mike and Gadi what a conundrum is? And here are the links we promised: Zineb Riboua's piece on why the right get Mamdani wrong: https://www.hudson.org/politics-government/what-right-gets-wrong-about-zohran-mamdani-zineb-riboua And here's Mike's conversation with Caroline Glick: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r6y1cJqp9JM

24/11/2025

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1hr 16min
SEASON 40, EPISODE 86

Menachot 86, 87, and 88 - Revisiting the Wicked Child

On today’s special Passover episode, we pause our study of Menachot 86, 87, and 88 for an end-of-festival special featuring producer Josh Kross. Since we have spent so many days discussing the "unleavened bread offerings" of these pages, we pivot to an exploration of the "Wicked Child" in the Haggadah. We re-examine the famous question—"What is this ritual to you?"—not as a sneer of exclusion, but as a profound challenge of identity. Through the insights of Rabbi Sari Laufer, we explore how every child at the Seder is already part of the story, proving that even the most difficult questions are a vital spark for spiritual renewal. How can the "wicked" child actually be the deepest seeker at the table? Listen and find out.

S40, E86

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14 min

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