1 Aug 2025
Torah and Politics: The Jewish-American Right
The episode explores how Jewish-American conservatives reconcile their support for Trump with their values, addressing the challenges of navigating political choices that involve conflicting priorities such as immigration reform and antisemitism. By discussing principled political engagement, the speakers highlight the ongoing need for Jews on the right to weigh traditional values against the practical implications of political actions during Trump's presidency.
25 Jul 2025
Guilt by Identification: Jewish Pride in a Hostile Environment – with Daniel Held
Faced with rising antisemitism and anti-Zionism, Jewish communities are navigating how to embrace and teach Jewish pride and identity in an increasingly hostile environment. Daniel Held emphasizes the importance of education, diversity of Jewish experiences, and the need for both individual and communal resilience amidst external criticisms.
18 Jul 2025
Uncomfortable Gratitude: Deliverance from a Flawed Source – with Tamara Mann Tweel
Elana Stein Hain and Tamara Mann Tweel engage in a thought-provoking discussion on the complexities of expressing gratitude towards leaders or individuals whose values we may disagree with, using Jewish texts to explore this moral tension. They emphasize the importance of distinguishing good deeds from problematic behavior and propose a balanced approach to civic engagement.
11 Jul 2025
Allyship at the Edge: Navigating Difference – with Jacob Feinspan
Elana Stein Hain and Jacob Feinspan explore the challenges faced by American Jews who strive to maintain their Jewish commitments while engaging in progressive movements, especially amid rising anti-Zionism and antisemitism. They discuss Maimonides' teachings on friendship and coalitions, focusing on creating strategic alliances and navigating discomfort in activist spaces without compromising core beliefs.
11 Jul 2025
Allyship at the Edge: Navigating Difference – with Jacob Feinspan
Elana Stein Hain discusses the challenges of Jewish allyship in progressive spaces with activist Jacob Feinspan, focusing on navigating the inherent tensions between Jewish commitments and aligning with movements that may harbor anti-Zionist sentiments. They explore Maimonides' teachings on relationships and alliances, addressing the complex dynamics of maintaining coalitions amid increasing normalization of anti-Zionism and antisemitism in liberal contexts.
11 Jul 2025
Allyship at the Edge
Elana Stein Hain and Jacob Feinspan explore the challenges faced by American Jews as progressive spaces increasingly normalize anti-Zionism and antisemitism. They discuss Maimonides' teachings on friendship and analyze how Jews can navigate coalitions, discomfort, and alliances that test their values and boundaries.
19 Dec 2024
Know Thy Enemy
Elana Stein Hain and Christine Hayes engage with Bereshit Rabbah to explore how Jews have historically perceived themselves and their enemies in times of conflict. Through comparisons of biblical figures to enemy nations, they examine the moral implications and self-perception during war, ultimately contemplating how modern Jews might view their military involvement in light of historical precedent.
2 Dec 2024
A Guide to Jealousy
The episode explores the nature of jealousy through a discussion of a midrash on Moses' response to his impending death and Joshua succeeding him as leader. Stein Hain and Batnitzky examine the ways jealousy manifests, its roots, and potential methods to manage it by understanding human limitations and aspirations.
18 Nov 2024
Gratitude and Sorrow
Elana Stein Hain and Christine Hayes explore how traditional Jewish texts guide us in balancing gratitude and sorrow, particularly from Chapter 9 of Tractate Brachot, which outlines different blessings for joyful and sorrowful times. They discuss how these teachings can help maintain a sense of stability and prevent despair in times of difficulty.
4 Nov 2024
The Ruling Authorities
Elana Stein Hain and Leora Batnitzky explore musings from Pirkei Avot regarding the function and necessity of government, particularly in the context of election anxieties and the democratic process. They examine how Jewish thought navigates the balance between governmental authority, personal freedoms, and the responsibilities of citizens to engage in the political process through voting.
21 Oct 2024
Finding Joy in Crisis
Elana Stein Hain and Yonah Hain dissect a text from Tosefta Sotah to explore the balance between mourning and joy, particularly in the context of ongoing crisis. They discuss how Jewish life can incorporate joyful rituals while respecting the persistent presence of tragedy, particularly around Simchat Torah.
7 Oct 2024
Remembering and Forgetting: The High Holidays as a Time of Solidarity
Elana Stein Hain explores how memory and solidarity intertwine during the High Holidays, emphasizing the necessity of collective remembrance, particularly in the context of recent hostages. Drawing from Jewish tradition, she presents frameworks for how communities can maintain unity amidst differences, underscoring the importance of commitment and reconciliation.
23 Sep 2024
What’s Your Fish?
Elana Stein Hain and Yonah Hain discuss the story of Jonah through the lens of a Midrash from Pirkei DeRabbi Eliezer, suggesting that Jonah's time in the whale is less about punishment and more about gaining perspective. They explore the idea of seeking temporary refuge from life's chaos to reconnect with deeper values and responsibilities, particularly relevant as Yom Kippur approaches.
9 Sep 2024
Living with Dissonance
In this heartfelt episode, Elana Stein Hain explores the concept of dissonance using a midrash from Sifrei Bamidbar, reflecting on the tragic events surrounding the death of Hersh Goldberg-Polin. She engages with Israeli scholars Tal Becker, Tehila Friedman, and Shoshana Cohen to delve into the ways in which meaning can be derived from juxtaposed narratives amid despair and hope.
26 Aug 2024
Spiraling Upwards
Elana Stein Hain and Christine Hayes explore cycles of Jewish history and theology using Tisha B'Av kinot, Ecclesiastes, and Deuteronomy, questioning whether we can break free from repeating past mistakes. They discuss how understanding historical patterns can empower individuals to actively contribute to positive change, suggesting a blend of cyclical and linear perspectives.
12 Aug 2024
A Foundation for Hope
Elana Stein Hain and Leora Batnitzky explore the concept of generational hope and responsibility through a biblical narrative in Jeremiah 32, reflecting on the meaning of buying land amidst impending destruction. They discuss how, despite immediate crises, both historical and philosophical perspectives underline a long-term vision of continuity, faith, and transformation.
29 Jul 2024
TEXTing Live: The Rabbinic Panopticon
Elana Stein Hain and Christine Hayes delve into how public scrutiny and rabbinic 'influencers' affect behavior through a close examination of classic rabbinic texts. They discuss the concept of the 'rabbinic panopticon,' likening it to modern social media dynamics where people constantly manage their public personas under perceived observation.
15 Jul 2024
Another Way
Elana and Yonah Hain explore the challenges of expressing regret and making amends through a reading of Shemot Rabbah, focusing on the episode of Moses nullifying God's vow after the sin of the golden calf. The discussion delves into human and divine notions of regret, the mechanisms available for retracting vows, and the broader implications of expressing uncertainty in interpersonal relationships.
1 Jul 2024
Keeping Memory Alive
Elana Stein Hain and Leora Batnitzky explore the profound fear of forgetting through a passage from Sifrei Devarim and discuss memory's essential role in preserving Jewish identity and continuity. They highlight the dynamic nature of memory, comparing it to safeguarding a bird, emphasizing its necessity for individual and collective survival.
18 Jun 2024
Between a Rock and a Hard Place
Elana Stein Hain and Yonah Hain discuss the complexities faced by Jews amid rising antisemitism from both political spectrums. Through a Talmudic lens, they examine how Jews can maintain agency and foster allyships amid geopolitical tensions, drawing lessons from the historical struggles between the Persian and Roman empires.