Ask a Jew

Ask a Jew
  • 5.0 (225)
  • RELATIONSHIPS
  • UPDATED WEEKLY
Ask a Jew

Yael Bar tur, secular sinner, and Chaya Leah Sufrin, pious Haredi, ask each other the hard questions, from Torah to Tinder askajew.substack.com

  1. 5D AGO

    The free speech recession - with Jacob Mchangama

    Happy Good Friday! Shh, we have a serious guest, everyone behave please in the comment section. Today we welcome Jacob Mchangama. Jacob is the author of the breezy beach read “Free Speech – A History from Socrates to Social Media”, research professor at Vanderbilt University where he is also the founder and Executive Director of The Future of Free Speech institute, and a Senior Fellow at The Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression theFIREorg. JOIN THE CONVERSATION ON SUBSTACK! ASKAJEW.SUBSTACK.COM Here’s what we cover: * Anne Frank is from Denmark, right? * Free Speech in the ancient world * When is speech actual violence? * The optimistics and pessimistic case for free speech * Back when the ACLU was cool * Immigration and speech * Can’t we just make antisemitism illegal * The vibe shift * Mahmoud Khlalil * The future of free speech Here’s your feel-good story for the week: An IDF reservist found this sweet pup in Gaza, who apparently ran over when he heard the soldiers speaking Hebrew. The soldier quickly discovered that this is no other than Billy, a dog that was kidnapped from Kibbutz Nir Oz on October 7. He belonged to Rachel Dancyg, the ex-wife of hostage Alex Dancyg who was murdered in Gaza. Rachel’s brother, Itzik Elgarat, was also abducted from the kibbutz and murdered in Gaza. Some sweetness in the midst of it all. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit askajew.substack.com/subscribe

    1h 22m

  2. APR 8

    Put your enemies on a sheet cake - with Rabbi Gavriel Bellino

    This week in honor of Passover, we welcome the coolest Rabbi I know (after Chaya Leah’s father of edJEWcation), Rabbi Gavriel Bellino of NYC’s 6th street shul. There are tons of photos, videos and musing that go with this episode from my visit to Israel. please check them out on substack at askajew.substack.com and/or on Instagram @askajewpod. If you live in NYC you should absolutely visit 6th Street Shul (yes, this is Yael!) Its super welcoming and lowkey, and they throw some great parties. They also have the best Instagram account (operated by the Rabbi). We talk about being a born-and-bred NYC Rabbi, issues facing Judaism today, spirituality, Kosher sushi, gays, women and David Schwimmer. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit askajew.substack.com/subscribe

    1h 20m

  3. APR 2

    10 Things Every Jew Should Know Before They Go to College

    This week we welcome returning guest and the youngest person we know, Blake Flayton, to talk about his new book: 10 Things Every Jew Should Know Before They Go to College. We talk to Blake about how to win over Gen Z (with social justice!), whether or not we should we be gatekeeping the the antisemitism discourse, and why we don’t want to see anymore Holocaust movies….for now. You can follow Blake on Substack, X and Instagram, check him out calling out campus antisemitism in The NY Times before it was cool, and of course buy the book - everyone should read it, not just the kids! Also listen to his excellent podcast with Einat Wilf, We Should All Be Zionists. Also: * AI Therapy * Finally the world is waking up! oh wait nvm * What Birthrigtht gets wrong * You say Dual Loyalty like it’s a bad thing * Fighting Antisemitism from the left - Blake’s latest essay on Substack: * Keep your friends? * Enough with the Holocaust movies * I’d rather be 9 people’s favorite thing than 100 people’s 9th favorite thing * Are we all just talking to ourselves on Instagram? The problem with social media Zionism. * The Insta-fada! * Woke Anne Frank * Stop what you’re doing and learn Hebrew This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit askajew.substack.com/subscribe

    1h 26m

  4. MAR 25

    What Women Want

    G’day from the Land Down Under! Promise this is our first and last Australia joke in these show notes. Today we welcome the Jewish Hugh Jackman (ok, I lied), Josh Szeps to Ask A Jew! Josh is the host of Uncomfortable Conversations with Josh Szeps, and host of Szeps Live on Substack every Tuesday at 9pm (that’s normal time, not whatever they use in Australia). We loved having Josh on, even though he’s a lefty and that makes us feel unsafe. But it’s hard not to love him, and you will too. Also it doesn’t hurt that he’s kind of a hottie. Aside from a 40 minute standard chit-chat about aviation, we cover: * Do they even have months in Australia?? * We forgive you, Mel Gibson * Shabbas Gay * Why don’t people fall in Australia? * The moon looks different in Australia * How much money does Elon Musk have in Australia * Ok Josh, spill it - what happeend to the Malaysian Airline?? * Aviation Today - with Josh Szeps * Can you introduce us to the cast of Love on The Spectrum? * The Princess Bride 2 * Australia replaced its Prime Minister with a paper straw * 39 minutes in and we’re still talking about planes * Josh’s grandmoother’s amazing holocaust story (sorry we mocked her for it) * Antisemitism in Australia * WHERE’S THE JEWS?? * Oh look a bunch of Jews disagreeing about Israel * Josh is wrong about Israel and french fries This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit askajew.substack.com/subscribe

    1h 41m

  5. MAR 19

    Everyone (Except our Listeners) Sucks

    The world needs to stop talking about Jews and the only way that will happen is if Barak Obama and Jennifer Aniston have a baby. PHOTOS, CONVO, AND MORE ON SUBSTACK! askajew.substack.com Also: * Chaya Leah makes a stunning confession * Purim Hangover * Covid anniversary * Hasidic fashion and the horrors of Brandy Melville * The strange life of supermodels * Save us, Barak Obama and Jennifer Aniston! * Shitty Columbia students * You don’t hate the universities enough * Not all slopes are slippery * CL book recommendation: Tribe: On Homecoming and Belonging by Sebastian Junger This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit askajew.substack.com/subscribe

    1 hr

  6. MAR 11

    Econ for Dummies

    You demanded, we supplied! This week we are honored to have Prof. Russ Roberts join us on Ask A Jew. Russ is the host of the wildly successful podcast EconTalk (where he talks about everything from tariffs to the Opera), president of Shalem College in Jerusalem, and a fellow at the Hoover Institution at Stanford. He’s also the author of many books, including How Adam Smith Can Change Your Life: An Unexpected Guide to Human Nature and Happiness , and the economics-based novel, The Price of Everything. It is only natural that this internationally renowned economist and influential podcaster sit down with us to explain, like, what is economics anyway. We discuss tariffs, AI, Jerusalem, incentives, empathy, and prayer, among other things. We also dive into whether or not being a Jew and a Zionist makes sense from an economics stand point, and which careers we should all invest in when the robots come for our jobs. Make sure to check out “EconTalk: Conversations for the curious” wherever you get your podcasts, follow Russ right here on Substack Russ Roberts, and take a sneak peak at his new book currently titled The Agnostics Guide to Jewish Prayer. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit askajew.substack.com/subscribe

    1h 21m

  7. MAR 4

    The Zionist Case for Ukraine

    Who’s this, disprespecting us on our podcast?? It’s our very own rare earth mineral, The Free Press columnist and host of the wonderful Breaking History podcast, Eli Lake! Did he even say thank you once? I don’t know. Probably at the end. Does it even matter? We hope you enjoy the episode. If you didn’t, it’s because Chaya Leah didn’t bring her translator. Want more AAJ fun? Join the conversation on Substack! askajew.substack.com Here’s what we cover: · Yael learns something astonishing about how Chaya Leah views Volodymyr Zelenskyy and J.D Vance · You’re not a Russian agent, you’re just stupid. · Trump is playing 4D Uno · This wouldn’t have happened under King David · Eating s**t is the bed rock of diplomacy · The axis of idiocy - people who love Gaza and Putin · A digression into terrorist rectums · Go prove you don’t have a sister · Ugh, have you even heard of traveling medicine shows? · Truth is for losers · Plato Vs. the Torah · What to tell an ugly bride? · A great story whose details Yael can’t remember · How antisemitic does someone have to be for you to cut them off? · The Oscars pissed us off, even though they haven’t started yet · A ray of stupid sunshine · Let’s dig into Meir Kahane because none of this has upset people enough Want to help us grow? Share this episode and give us a 5 star rating or comment wherever you get your podcasts! This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit askajew.substack.com/subscribe

    1h 13m

  8. FEB 27

    New Look Same Mood

    Look. The words are done. They have just run out. So we filled the void with various mouth noises, about everything from the orthodox child labor, Meir Kahane, the Grand Canyon and Apple Cider Vinegar. Listen, some weeks are so icky, it’s ok to order a 7-11 Big Gulp on Uber Eats in the middle of a recording. Or is it? Anyway, please excuse our mess, but you get it, right? * The story of Ariel Bibas’s best friend from kindergarten * The new Hollyowod Jews who are punching back. Don’t you just love to see it? * Friend of the pod talking Kahane with Israelis This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit askajew.substack.com/subscribe

    1h 2m
See All (149)

    5
    out of 5
    225 Ratings

    About

    Yael Bar tur, secular sinner, and Chaya Leah Sufrin, pious Haredi, ask each other the hard questions, from Torah to Tinder askajew.substack.com

    Information

    • Creator
      Ask a Jew
    • Years Active
      2021 - 2025
    • Episodes
      149
    • Rating
      Explicit
    • Copyright
      © Ask a Jew
    • Show Website
      Ask a Jew

    You Might Also Like

    Content Restricted

    This episode can’t be played on the web in your country or region.

    To listen to explicit episodes, sign in.

    Stay up to date with this show

    Sign in or sign up to follow shows, save episodes, and get the latest updates.
    Select a country or region

    Africa, Middle East, and India

    Asia Pacific

    Europe

    Latin America and the Caribbean

    The United States and Canada