Shows / Martini Judaism
Martini Judaism
For those who want to be shaken and stirred. Join one of American Judaism’s most prolific thought leaders and his special guests as they talk about the current state of Judaism, American culture, politics, religion, and spirituality.
Episodes
Martini JudaismWhy American Jews Are Divided
For me, it is the second half of her subtitle: what to do about it. Kwall’s final chapter, “A Self-Help Blueprint for American Jews,” proposes a foundation of…
Martini JudaismDara Horn Has A Final Solution To The Jewish Question
What is the most important story in Judaism? You might think that it is the Exodus from Egypt. Or, even, perhaps, the giving of the Torah at Mount Sinai. Nope…
Martini JudaismWhat Does It Mean To Be Made In God's Image?
For years I believed that the phrase "made in the image of God" had become a pious slogan Jews slap on almost every issue -- a phrase in danger of becoming a…
Martini JudaismIs Antisemitism an “Exceptional Hatred?”
In 1977, a man named Frank Collin announced that he planned to march his fellow neo-Nazis through Skokie, Illinois, a Chicago suburb where roughly one in ten…
Martini JudaismThe Truth About "Jewish Lightning"
Rabbi Jeff Marx has written a new book, Jewish Firebugs: Arson and Antisemitism from the Civil War to World War I, and he does something almost nobody has…
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The Intellectual Roots of Feminism’s Antisemitism
It turns out that every corner of progressive culture has a price of admission, and Jews are finding it progressively more difficult to pick up that tab. Add…
Martini JudaismIs It Time To Retire the Term ‘Zionism’?
View Zionism from one angle, and it is Theodor Herzl, seeking to rescue the Jews of Europe. From another, it is seeking to resurrect Jewish culture. From…
Martini JudaismHow Do We Confront the Hatred in Rock Music?
Author and musician Daniel Rachel has written a new, disturbing and quite overdue book, "This Ain’t Rock ‘n’ Roll: Pop Music, the Swastika and the Third…
Martini JudaismEurope’s Stained Glass Is Stained With Antisemitism
I have done my share of traveling in Europe, and when I am there, I visit cathedrals. Most are majestic, and they are filled with Christian art that would take…
Martini JudaismThe Lesson Southern Jews Knew First
When I reflect on my rabbinical career, I realize I have spent nearly a third of it south of the Mason-Dixon Line. Yes, that includes about 10 years in South…
Martini JudaismHow To Love Israel, Even When It Is Hard
I was talking recently with a young man about his social life. He described an evening that did not sound like the stuff of romantic legend. The dinner seemed…
Martini JudaismWhy Judy Blume Matters
I had weird reading habits when I was a kid. For one thing, no one ever told me that there were certain books that boys should read, and certain books that…
Martini JudaismWhom Does Your God Love? A Jewish Case for the Stranger. With Shai Held
What does the Torah actually say about immigrants — and what does it demand of us? Rabbi Jeff Salkin sits down with one of the Jewish world's leading…
Martini JudaismWhy a War With Iran Means Confronting Radical Evil
On Purim, Jews read Esther — a story of survival in the face of annihilation. This episode connects that ancient warning to today’s confrontation with Iran. Is…
Martini JudaismHow American Jewish immigrants invented childhood
Michael Kimmel’s Playmakers reveals how Jewish immigrants built America’s toy industry—and reshaped modern childhood. From teddy bears to superheroes, they…
Martini JudaismBeing a Rabbi in the Midst of an Earthquake + Elan Babchuck
As the ground shifts beneath our feet, where is our faith? For your consideration: Rabbi Elan Babchuck. He is the founding director of Glean Network, an…
Martini JudaismJews and Hats: A Thousand-Year-Old Love Story
When did Jews start covering their heads? Certainly not in the Bible. The practice emerged during rabbinic times, and not everywhere. Learn more about your ad…
Martini JudaismReform Judaism's Wide Open Doors + Rabbi Rick Jacobs
Why Do Jewish? Love, Obligation, and the Courage to Show Up Imagine a familiar conversation in any household across the world. “Do we have to go to the school…
Martini JudaismAntisemitism Is as American as Apple Pie + Pamela Nadell
Historian Pamela Nadell joins us to confront an unsettling truth: antisemitism didn’t come to America—it was born here. In her powerful new book, Antisemitism…
Martini JudaismHow do you go from hatred to hope? + Arno Michaelis
The Days of Awe are upon us. They always hit me with a familiar, bracing urgency: Look at your life. Consider your words, your choices. Where have you failed?…
Martini JudaismThe book every Jew should read before the High Holy Days
Former Obama speechwriter Sarah Hurwitz on faith, identity, and resilience. What happens when a White House insider turns her attention to Jewish wisdom…
Martini JudaismThe Scopes "monkey" trial has not adjourned
What if everything you think you know about the Scopes “Monkey Trial” is—well, a little off? Jeff Salkin sits down with Doug Mishkin—lawyer, singer-songwriter…
Martini Judaism'Have you changed your mind about President Trump?'
The late Arthur Hertzberg was one of American Judaism’s greatest rabbis and intellectual leaders. But he did not start out that way. More than 70 years ago, he…
Martini JudaismWhy Southern Judaism Matters - with Shari Rabin
As we mark Jewish Heritage Month, how do we embrace the heritage of Southern Jews? Ask Shari Rabin, one of the rising stars of Jewish studies in America. She…
Martini JudaismWhen Did October 7 Really Begin? A Conversation With Yardena Schwartz
Trigger warning: this episode contains references to sexual violence. October 7 reminds Jews of what happened in Hebron on August 24, 1929. In her book "Ghosts…
Martini JudaismWhy Pope Francis mattered for the Jews
Why does the death of the Pope touch me, as a Jew? I cannot think of a Pope who had the depth of relationships with the Jewish community as this Pope had…
Martini JudaismThe cafeteria approach to religion isn't only for Catholics
I was talking with a Roman Catholic-raised friend who no longer practices the religion of his youth. At a certain point in the conversation, he snorted about…
Martini JudaismVanessa Hidary is a "bad Jew." That's OK with her.
My friend, Vanessa Hidary. Vanessa Hidary is a cool person. She is a spoken word artist, an educator, and an advocate. She is a trail-blazer. Her work has had…
Martini JudaismDo Jews have dual loyalty?
What do Batman and Superman have to do with Jewish identity? Other than the fact that their creators were Jews: Batman by Bob Kane, and Superman by Jerry…
Martini JudaismWhen are we allowed to yell at God?
"If God lived in our neighborhood, we'd throw stones through His [sic] windows." I do not know who originally said that, though I think that the original was…
Martini JudaismBishop Budde was speaking Hebrew
Remember the 10th commandment? "Thou shalt not covet"? This past week, many preachers violated that commandment. They were coveting the sermon Bishop Mariann…
Martini JudaismAmy Spitalnick: How Dangerous is Christian Nationalism?
It happened exactly four years ago. I am speaking of January 6, 2021 -- the attack on the US Capitol Building by supporters of Donald Trump – claiming that…
Martini JudaismRemembering David Ellenson
Last week, we observed the first yahrzeit (anniversary of a death) of Dr. David Ellenson -- past president of Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of…
Martini JudaismAre Jews God-phobic? With Arnold Eisen
If you encounter someone who wants to talk about God, odds are that person isn't Jewish. Why? I am talking to a friend of mine about his experience on various…
Martini JudaismThe Election and the Jews
Rabbi Jeff Salkin sits down with Rabbi Jonah Pesner, one of American Judaism's most prominent voices and the director of the Religious Action Center of Reform…
Martini JudaismRemembering the late Alex Dancyg, a hostage from Warsaw
On Tuesday, July 16, I and a group of rabbis traveled south from Jerusalem — to the Gaza envelope. There, we visited the places that Hamas had ravaged on Oct…
Martini JudaismA Reform Jewish woman and an Orthodox rabbi talk Torah: Abigail Pogrebin & Rabbi Dov Linzer
Two of my favorite people — Abigail Pogrebin and Rabbi Dov Linzer — who have just written a new book, "It Takes Two To Torah: An Orthodox Rabbi and Reform…
Martini JudaismIt's More Than L'chaim: Judaism Is a Celebration of Life. With Rabbi Irving Greenberg
First, this modern Orthodox rabbi was one of the first rabbis to really touch my life and to engage me in what my Protestant colleagues would call “formation.”…
Martini JudaismWhen the reverend became a rabbi
We need to take the spiritual journey of Ana Levy-Lyons with the gravity it deserves. Truth be told: There is a shortage of rabbinical students. Jews need…
Martini JudaismA new Jewish denomination: Josh Shapiro-ism
Jews have been living on an emotional roller coaster. In recent weeks, we experienced a welcome "high." Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro was under serious…
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Could the White House become a Jewish home?
More than forty years ago, as I prepared to ascend the pulpit for my first High Holy Days sermon as a rabbi, one of the elders of my congregation, dear old…
Martini JudaismThe 39th-Generation Rabbi Who Is Reinventing Judaism: Amichai Lau Lavie
“I am running away to join the circus.” It was 2004, and my synagogue in Atlanta had welcomed Amichai Lau-Lavie as a guest speaker. Amichai had been the…
Martini JudaismIs the Eclipse Good For the Jews?
I am experiencing serious FOMO. I am totally bummed that I am going to be out of the range on Monday to watch the solar eclipse. So, let's talk about Judaism…
Martini JudaismGod loves you. Deal with it.
What are the three little words that rabbis almost never, ever, say to their congregations. Hold on, because I am about to say them. God loves you. That is the…
Martini JudaismA new poetry, post-Oct. 7
A very intelligent young person once asked me: “When did the Bible stop?” “What do you mean?” I responded. “I mean,” she said, “when did they decide that the…
Martini JudaismWe need a post-October 7 Talmud: a conversation with Liel Leibovitz
It is November 10, 1938. It’s in a small city in Germany. It is the night after Kristalnacht, the night of broken glass that ushered in the mass roundups and…
Martini JudaismConverts are Jewish. Period.
The other day, I was talking to someone about a friend of mine who had converted to Judaism, a.k.a., joined the Jewish people. My conversation partner stopped…
Martini JudaismIs the university good for the Jews? With Mark Oppenheimer
Did you ever think, in your wildest imagination, that the events of October 7 would lead to an all out culture war that would involve every sector of American…
Martini JudaismAre American Jews in crisis? A conversation with Professor Jonathan Sarna
“Don’t know much about history…” Those were the immortal words of Sam Cooke. It happens to be true. Many of us don’t know much about history. Just think of the…
Martini JudaismWhy Israel matters: A conversation about the National Library of Israel with Rachel Ukeles
No one ever asks, "Why should India exist?" Or Albania. Or the United States. Or any country in the world. Except for one country: Israel. So, let me make this…
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A Jewish rock star reflects on Oct. 7 + Peter Himmelman
Do you know what it’s like to fall in love? I don’t mean falling in love with a romantic partner. I am talking about the moment of falling in love with a…
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What's your story? A new podcast reveals the depth of the Jewish narrative
I first encountered Nora Gold when I read her amazing novel, Fields of Exile, which is about the anti-Israel ideologies that are now sweeping across the…
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What do we do now? Coping with the challenges of being Jewish today with David Hazony
What do we do now? Many Jews, all over the world, are asking themselves that question during these difficult weeks. Israelis are asking: What do we do now – to…
Martini JudaismWe need to talk about antisemitism. A lot. With Rabbi Diana Fersko
A blood libel. That was the first thing that went through my mind when I heard about the bombing of the Al-Ahli Baptist Hospital in Gaza, which claimed the…
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How the _____ did this happen? Israel, Hamas, the Bible, trauma, and a podcast with Prof. Jacob Wright
I can't. I just can't. At Kibbutz Kfar Aza, they have found the bodies of some 40 babies, some of whom had been beheaded. This past week has been the most…
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Why social justice in Israel cannot wait: a conversation with Orly Erez-Likhovski
"Embarrassed." "Ashamed." "Confused." "Ambivalent." "Frightened." Last week, I sat with a group of Jews in a synagogue. It was an adult education session, and…
Martini JudaismFive people in a submersible? OMG. Five hundred refugees? Meh.
The word is "postmortem," and it fits. For that is what the media has been conducting in the wake of the catastrophe that befell the Titan in the North…
Martini JudaismIs Your Career Over? with Bruce Feiler
This conversation with author Bruce Feiler could not have happened at a more opportune time. I am in the process of retiring from the full time congregational…
Martini JudaismWhy We Have Trouble Praying • with Art Green
“So, Rabbi, in your more than forty years in the rabbinate, what are those things that surprised you – those things that you never expected, or that you once…
Martini JudaismYou’re More Resilient Than You Think • Rabbi Denise Eger & Rev. Dr. Neil G. Thomas
If we held a moment of silence for every American who died of COVID it would take nearly two years at a rate of 24 hours a day to cover every name. More than…