Xai, how are you?

Michael Sokolovsky and Xava De Cordova
  • 5.0 (66)
  • RELIGION & SPIRITUALITY
  • UPDATED BIWEEKLY

Queer Jews Michael Sokolovsky and Rabbi Xava De Cordova play with the multi-millennial dialectic that is the Talmud. Join them as they throw drash, seek prophetic insight and uncover the rabbinic smuttiness inherent in the system.

  1. 4D AGO

    256. Fiddle Leaf Figs on the Roof

    Mishnah 2 of chapter 3! What if there was a light-year long bridge of dough would that be messed up or what? Check out Shel Maala's PNW Tour here: https://bit.ly/ShelMaalaPNW To ask us questions, email us at xaihowareyou@gmail.com. Support us on patreon at patreon.com/xaihowareyou. Music by Ben Schreiber.

    25 min

  2. FEB 9

    255. Going Both Ways

    A new chapter of Mishnah begins! Is there such a thing as a day of Naziriteship which can apply to two separate terms, and count for each? Find out if the rabbis are biphobic or not with this one simple mishnah. Check out the Shel Maala PNW Tour here: Check out Shel Maala's PNW tour here: http://bit.ly/PNWInterest To ask us questions, email us at xaihowareyou@gmail.com. Support us on patreon at patreon.com/xaihowareyou. Music by Ben Schreiber.

    20 min

  3. FEB 5

    254. Russian (Nazirite) Doll

    The tension between the magic of vows and the legal folderol of the Rabbis heightens in this Mishnah about vows within vows. Check out Shel Maala's PNW tour here: http://bit.ly/PNWInterest To ask us questions, email us at xaihowareyou@gmail.com. Support us on patreon at patreon.com/xaihowareyou. Music by Ben Schreiber.

    24 min

  4. JAN 21

    253. Nazirite, Interrupted

    After a long break (Michael was sick, sorry!) We're back to talk about Nazirite's taking breaks. What if you go on a paternity leave Naziriteship in the middle of your day job Naziriteship? Thank goodness, our Rabbis thought of this problem. To ask us questions, email us at xaihowareyou@gmail.com. Support us on patreon at patreon.com/xaihowareyou. Music by Ben Schreiber.

    22 min

  5. 12/24/2025

    252. Schrödinger’s Naziriteship

    And you thought we had unspecified Nazirites before! This week, conditionals within conditionals, hedging our bets, and being embarrassed for our inadequate feelings. Sign up for In the Shadows here: http://bit.ly/shelmaalashadows To ask us questions, email us at xaihowareyou@gmail.com. Support us on patreon at patreon.com/xaihowareyou. Music by Ben Schreiber.

    30 min

  6. 12/16/2025

    251. Born to be a Nazirite, Forced to be Podcaster

    What if you swore a Nazirite vow on the birth of your son, but the numinous indescribable horror of gender said "No."? Find out in this episode! Also we'll talk about some Rabbinic misogyny, transphobia, and why we're still interested in this mishnah anyway. Sign up for Shel Maala's Terms of Service here: http://bit.ly/torahTOS To ask us questions, email us at xaihowareyou@gmail.com. Support us on patreon at patreon.com/xaihowareyou. Music by Ben Schreiber.

    24 min

  7. 12/06/2025

    250. Heroes with a Half Shave

    The shaving saga continues! Rabbi Meir's iconoclastic hot takes return to the pod, along with the mythical half-Nazirite. Do two halves make a whole? Let's find out. To ask us questions, email us at xaihowareyou@gmail.com. Support us on patreon at patreon.com/xaihowareyou. Music by Ben Schreiber.

    27 min

  8. 11/12/2025

    249. Bros Shaving Bros

    What happens when two totally normal bros vow to shave each other? The Rabbis knew and had rules about it, which they put in this mishnah. Catch Shel Maala's East Coast Tour here: http://bit.ly/eastcoast-5786 To ask us questions, email us at xaihowareyou@gmail.com. Support us on patreon at patreon.com/xaihowareyou. Music by Ben Schreiber.

    19 min
See All (259)

5
out of 5
66 Ratings

About

Queer Jews Michael Sokolovsky and Rabbi Xava De Cordova play with the multi-millennial dialectic that is the Talmud. Join them as they throw drash, seek prophetic insight and uncover the rabbinic smuttiness inherent in the system.

Information

  • Creator
    Michael Sokolovsky and Xava De Cordova
  • Years Active
    2020 - 2026
  • Episodes
    259
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © All rights reserved
  • Show Website
    Xai, how are you?

You Might Also Like