Drinking and Drashing: Torah with a Twist
By Drinking and Drashing
Drinking and Drashing: Torah with a TwistFeb 21, 2022
Ep. 330 - A Digestif!
While this iteration of Drinking and Drashing: Torah with a Twist might have come to a close, you can still always head to our website (www.drinkinganddrashing.com) to find past episodes, resources, drinks, and merchandise. We are so grateful to have learned with and from you and look forward to the new adventures that await us in the future!
Find us on social media:
Facebook: Drinking and Drashing: Torah with a Twist
Instagram: @DrinkingandDrashing
Website: www.drinkinganddrashing.com
Our Discord Server: https://discord.gg/xeeghhpSy3
Show the love with some Drinking and Drashing: Torah with a Twist merchandise at store.drinkinganddrashing.com, and don’t forget to subscribe and give us a rating on Apple Podcasts—it’s a great way to help our show grow!
Edited by Michael Iaciofano
Ep. 329 - Shavuot Revelations with Amanda, Gabe, and Edon
We bring you this final podcast episode as an insider look at Drinking and Drashing: Torah with a Twist. Hear about our proudest moments, our silliest giggles, some of the challenges we’ve faced and overcome, and some of our favorite fan stories that still make us smile. Thanks for the memories listeners—we wish you a Chag Shavuot Sameach (Happy Shavuot!) and hope that you’ll enjoy traveling down memory lane (as we come down Mt. Sinai together) as Amanda, Gabe, and Edon speak from the heart about this meaningful podcasting passion project.
To continue the conversation:
Drinking and Drashing Email: drinkinganddrashing@gmail.com
Find us on social media:
Facebook: Drinking and Drashing: Torah with a Twist
Instagram: @DrinkingandDrashing
Website: www.drinkinganddrashing.com
Our Discord Server: https://discord.gg/xeeghhpSy3
Show the love with some Drinking and Drashing: Torah with a Twist merchandise at store.drinkinganddrashing.com, and don’t forget to subscribe and give us a rating on Apple Podcasts—it’s a great way to help our show grow!
Edited by Michael Iaciofano
Ep. 328 - B’midbar with Rabbi Andrew A. Goodman
We begin the fourth book of the Torah—the book of Numbers—with its Hebrew primary parasha—B’midbar! (But, if you ask Amanda, there’s multiple ways you can say this! If you ask Gabe, Amanda’s wrong!) Rabbi Amanda K. Weiss, Canto (one more year until the R!) Gabe Snyder and “Chazanta!” Edon Valdman are thrilled to welcome back Rabbi Andrew A. Goodman to celebrate our penultimate parasha podcast (and Edon’s bar mitzvah portion). What did we talk about? Great question! Tune in to hear about active inclusion, continuous learning, how to ensure that people feel valued, how communities come together to create a working society, and how we can bring more equity into the systems we currently live in.
Some source links:
Chazante: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chazante
Chazanta (the way Edon means it): the husband of a Chazzan (or cantor)
To continue the conversation:
Rabbi Andrew Goodman’s email: andrew.goodman@huc.edu
HUC-JIR Website: www.huc.edu/explore
Find us on social media:
Facebook: Drinking and Drashing: Torah with a Twist
Instagram: @DrinkingandDrashing
Website: www.drinkinganddrashing.com
Our Discord Server: https://discord.gg/xeeghhpSy3
Show the love with some Drinking and Drashing: Torah with a Twist merchandise at store.drinkinganddrashing.com, and don’t forget to subscribe and give us a rating on Apple Podcasts—it’s a great way to help our show grow!
Edited by Michael Iaciofano
Ep. 327 - Behar-Bechukotai with Miranda Bass
WOW!!! This week, you’re hearing for the first time ever on our podcast Master of Sacred Music Gabe Snyder and RABBI Amanda K. Weiss! Woohoo! (Chazak chazak v’nitchazek!) We’re not done learning yet! We still have the extraordinary Miranda Bass who walks us through the significance of service (both to the Temple and to your country). Navigating the political landscape is never an easy adventure, but it’s worthwhile to use our values as a compass and our community as a guide. How we treat each other makes a huge difference to where we end up—even when it’s just finding a common ground when we stand in disagreement with one another. Oh right! And don’t forget…rest is radical and holy. (Also…#crimedoesntpay against people OR institutions).
Some source links:
Robert Alter’s Translation: https://wwnorton.com/books/9780393292497
Jubilee Year: https://myjewishlearning.com/article/sabbatical-year-shemitah-and-jubilee-year-yovel
Ibn Ezra: https://myjewishlearning.com/article/abraham-ibn-ezra
To continue the conversation:
Miranda’s email: mbass10000@gmail.com
Find us on social media:
Facebook: Drinking and Drashing: Torah with a Twist
Instagram: @DrinkingandDrashing
Website: www.drinkinganddrashing.com
Our Discord Server: https://discord.gg/xeeghhpSy3
Show the love with some Drinking and Drashing: Torah with a Twist merchandise at store.drinkinganddrashing.com, and don’t forget to subscribe and give us a rating on Apple Podcasts—it’s a great way to help our show grow!
Edited by Michael Iaciofano
Ep. 326 - Emor with Rabbi Becky Jaye
When we’re in the middle of counting the Omer (the time between Passover and Shavuot), it’s hard NOT to think about what counts—in our actions, our thoughts, and especially in our words. We were thrilled to welcome back (this time as featured guest!) Rabbi Becky Jaye, Program Manager for Emor: The Institute for Bold Jewish Thought (a project of T’ruah!). We discuss the importance of finding diverse ways to interpret Jewish texts (and practices), and how we might enable people to open up the space for all to share their thoughts safely and clearly. How might we pause when in conversation in an effort to really get to the core of someone else’s mindset? When we have meaningful and authentic discussions (say, like we do on this podcast), we are able to deeply hold each other in presence and relationships in beautiful and unexpected ways (even when it might be difficult).
Some Links to What Rabbi Becky Jaye is Reading/Working On!
T’ruah: The Rabbinic Call for Human Rights: www.Truah.org
On Repentance and Repair (Rabbi Danya Ruttenberg): www.OnRepentance.com
The Person You Mean to Be (Dolly Chugh): https://dollychugh.com/book/the-person-you-mean-to-be
To continue the conversation:
Rabbi Becky Jaye’s email: bjaye@truah.org
Emor’s Website: https://emorinstitute.org/
Emor’s Instagram: @emor_institute
Find us on social media:
Facebook: Drinking and Drashing: Torah with a Twist
Instagram: @DrinkingandDrashing
Website: www.drinkinganddrashing.com
Our Discord Server: https://discord.gg/xeeghhpSy3
Show the love with some Drinking and Drashing: Torah with a Twist merchandise at store.drinkinganddrashing.com, and don’t forget to subscribe and give us a rating on Apple Podcasts—it’s a great way to help our show grow!
Edited by Michael Iaciofano
Ep. 325 - Achrei-Mot–Kedoshim with Gabe, Amanda, and Edon!
This is a short one, but a GREAT one! For our second double-portion in a row, we brought you the original trio to speak a bit about this week’s duality: how do we deal with life after death? Or even more so, how can we look at the relationships we hold in life and find ways to find holiness in every interaction? Of course, as always, there’s a run-down AND a special drink! Listen in with your favorite Drinking and Drashing team!
Find us on social media:
Facebook: Drinking and Drashing: Torah with a Twist
Instagram: @DrinkingandDrashing
Website: www.drinkinganddrashing.com
Our Discord Server: https://discord.gg/xeeghhpSy3
Show the love with some Drinking and Drashing: Torah with a Twist merchandise at store.drinkinganddrashing.com, and don’t forget to subscribe and give us a rating on Apple Podcasts—it’s a great way to help our show grow!
Edited by Michael Iaciofano
Ep. 324 - Tazria-Metzora with Samantha Klipstein
Who doesn’t love a bargain? This week we’re getting an excellent guest to take on not one, but two parashiyot (well, at least a two-in-one because this week we have a double portion!). We are so thrilled to have Samantha Klipstein join us and walk us through what this week’s portion can look like through the lens of modern-day healthcare. How can we provide care and destigmatize diagnoses? How can we ensure that our medical providers are treated with honor and respect? How can we do it all without a sacrificial system? We know that this episode will be for all, for each according to their ability (hey that’s from this week’s portion!).
Hebrew Terms Used in This Conversation:
V’ahavta l’reiacha kamocha: Love your neighbor as yourself
Kavod habriyot: Respect for all creation
G’milut chasadim: Acts of loving-kindness
Bikkur cholim: Visiting the sickness
To continue the conversation:
Samantha’s TikTok: @fatcharlidamelio
Samantha’s Instagram: @samanthaklip
Find us on social media:
Facebook: Drinking and Drashing: Torah with a Twist
Instagram: @DrinkingandDrashing
Website: www.drinkinganddrashing.com
Our Discord Server: https://discord.gg/xeeghhpSy3
Show the love with some Drinking and Drashing: Torah with a Twist merchandise at store.drinkinganddrashing.com, and don’t forget to subscribe and give us a rating on Apple Podcasts—it’s a great way to help our show grow!
Edited by Michael Iaciofano
Ep. 323 - Sh'mini with Cantor Julie Yugend-Green
What does it look like to treat those who die with dignity? How can Jewish leaders mourn for and alongside their communities while maintaining the sacred mantle of leadership? In this week’s episode, we were blessed to learn with and from Cantor Yugend-Green, the current Cantor of Oak Park Temple (a special place for Executive Producer, Edon Valdman!). We look at the role of the Chevra Kadisha, the special Jewish burial laws and practices, and what it means to maintain silence (or even what NOT to say) in the face of great adversity.
Hebrew Terms Used in This Conversation:
Chevra Kadisha: a burial society, literally “holy friend,” who prepare the deceased for burial
Met/Metah: the deceased (m and f forms)
Taharah: purifying the body for burial, pouring water
Kavannah: intent
“Vayidom Aharon”: And Aaron was silent (Lev. 10:3)
Rosh: the head of the ritural
M'chilah: a prayer asking for forgiveness (for inadvertent indignity caused by taharah)
R'chitzah: gentle cleansing of the deceased
Halbashah B’Tachrichim: dressing of the deceased in burial garments
Tuma/tamei: impure, unclean or “vulnerable”
Tahor: pure, clean, or “whole”
“Baruch Dayan haEmet.”: “Blessed is the true Judge”
“Hamakom Yenachem Etchem B’toch Sh’ar Avelei Tzion Viyrushalayim”: “May God comfort all of you among the rest of the mourners of Zion and Jerusalem.”
To continue the conversation:
Cantor Julie Yugend-Green’s email: jygopt@comcast.net
Past Episode on Death/Chevra Kadisha:
Vayechi with Sarit Wishnevski: https://spotifyanchor-web.app.link/e/XiowZ3dwOyb
Find us on social media:
Facebook: Drinking and Drashing: Torah with a Twist
Instagram: @DrinkingandDrashing
Website: www.drinkinganddrashing.com
Our Discord Server: https://discord.gg/xeeghhpSy3
Show the love with some Drinking and Drashing: Torah with a Twist merchandise at store.drinkinganddrashing.com, and don’t forget to subscribe and give us a rating on Apple Podcasts—it’s a great way to help our show grow!
Edited by Michael Iaciofano
Ep. 322 - Passover with Wendy Berelson
Mitzrayim — Hebrew for Egypt — literally means “Narrow Place,” and we found our listenership just a bit too narrow… That is, until we were redeemed by the power of Wyoming. That’s right: we got Wyoming, finally getting the last state in our quest for listeners from all across the country.
In honor of that achievement, we are thrilled to celebrate this special Passover episode with Wendy Berelson, a leader in the Laramie, Wyoming Jewish community. Wendy has stepped up in multiple capacities to serve her small-but-mighty community and help it thrive.
We talk Passover, tradition, community work, and, of course, Jewish life in Wyoming. Listen in and enjoy. Pesach Sameach!
To continue the conversation:
Wendy’s email: berelson@uwyo.edu
Laramie JCC Email: laramiejcc@gmail.com
Laramie Jewish Community Website: https://laramiejcc.weebly.com/
Instagram for LJCC: @LaramieJewishCommunity
Instagram for UW Hillel: @uwyo_hillel
Find us on social media:
Facebook: Drinking and Drashing: Torah with a Twist
Instagram: @DrinkingandDrashing
Website: www.drinkinganddrashing.com
Our Discord Server: https://discord.gg/xeeghhpSy3
Show the love with some Drinking and Drashing: Torah with a Twist merchandise at store.drinkinganddrashing.com, and don’t forget to subscribe and give us a rating on Apple Podcasts—it’s a great way to help our show grow!
Edited by Michael Iaciofano
Ep. 321 - Tzav with Lisa Colton
How can we look at the opportunities and goals that are constantly changing in the Jewish landscape to help us amplify what success can look like? Innovator, transformer, and community collector, Lisa Colton walks us through the importance of always adapting and adjusting with intention—and ensuring that our values can support those quick and necessary pivots. In this episode we check our preservationist impulses that might keep us stuck (“…but we’ve always done it that way!), and aim to seek how we might be able to celebrate new choices.
To continue the conversation:
Darim Website: www.darim.org
Lisa’s Email: lisacolton@gmail.com
Lisa’s Instagram: @lisa.colton
Find us on social media:
Facebook: Drinking and Drashing: Torah with a Twist
Instagram: @DrinkingandDrashing
Website: www.drinkinganddrashing.com
Our Discord Server: https://discord.gg/xeeghhpSy3
Show the love with some Drinking and Drashing: Torah with a Twist merchandise at store.drinkinganddrashing.com, and don’t forget to subscribe and give us a rating on Apple Podcasts—it’s a great way to help our show grow!
Edited by Michael Iaciofano
Ep. 320 - Vayikra with Cantor Harriet Dunkerley
What do we do when we start a new book that feels so far away from the Judaism that we practice now? Spiritual leader, educator and Amanda’s HHD guide Cantor Harriet Dunkerley explains that so many of the values of our sacrifices are practiced in meaningful ways now (thankfully, with less blood!). We discuss what we need to sacrifice to draw closer to others and to ourselves, finding the essential qualities that we all hold inside of every one of us, and how music can bring us to a higher level of individual, communal, and spiritual excellence. We hope that you enjoy our special offering this week and that it brings you peace!
To continue the conversation:
Cantor Dunkerley’s email: cantorharriet@templebnaichaim.org
Temple B’nai Chaim’s website: www.templebnaichaim.org
Cantor Dunkerley’s Facebook: Harriet Dunkerley
Find us on social media:
Facebook: Drinking and Drashing: Torah with a Twist
Instagram: @DrinkingandDrashing
Website: www.drinkinganddrashing.com
Our Discord Server: https://discord.gg/xeeghhpSy3
Show the love with some Drinking and Drashing: Torah with a Twist merchandise at store.drinkinganddrashing.com, and don’t forget to subscribe and give us a rating on Apple Podcasts—it’s a great way to help our show grow!
Edited by Michael Iaciofano
Ep. 319 - Ki Tisa with Dr. Miriam Heller Stern
While this may be one of our first majorly law-centered locations, Mishpatim helps us look at our humanity and our Jewishness as an interconnected feature of Judaism, the Jewish People, and the Jews. Rabbi Howard Goldsmith helps us play with how we might inspire our communities with a people-first approach, discovering our whys by reading past the whats. Whether you’re a listener who intensely follows halakhah (Jewish law), or a person who believes that Jewish law just doesn’t simply apply (excepting those laws who help us treat each other right), then this episode is definitely for you! Bonus points if you can define phylacteries (we can’t).
To continue the conversation:
Dr. Stern’s email: mstern@huc.edu
Dr. Stern’s Instagram: @sternsavvy
HUC-JIR’s School of Education: https://huc.edu/schools-programs/school-of-education/
Find us on social media:
Facebook: Drinking and Drashing: Torah with a Twist
Instagram: @DrinkingandDrashing
Website: www.drinkinganddrashing.com
Our Discord Server: https://discord.gg/xeeghhpSy3
Show the love with some Drinking and Drashing: Torah with a Twist merchandise at store.drinkinganddrashing.com, and don’t forget to subscribe and give us a rating on Apple Podcasts—it’s a great way to help our show grow!
Edited by Michael Iaciofano
Ep. 318 - Tetzaveh with Sloane Applebaum
Have you ever wondered how artistry and fashion design might enter into our history as a Jewish people? This week, we learned from Sloane Applebaum, Supply Chain Manager for SkinCeuticals at L'Oréal, how fashion can be a collaborative construction. Colors and fabrics can represent status and belonging. Coded messages can be woven in to even the simplest tunics. Building ourselves up as beautifully as we created the blueprints for the Tabernacle, we are planning out the priestly garb. How does this tie into our own preferred fashion tastes? Listen in to hear an episode that can only be called on trend! #LetsGetDressed
To continue the conversation:
Sloane’s LinkedIn: Sloane Applebaum
Find us on social media:
Facebook: Drinking and Drashing: Torah with a Twist
Instagram: @DrinkingandDrashing
Website: www.drinkinganddrashing.com
Our Discord Server: https://discord.gg/xeeghhpSy3
Show the love with some Drinking and Drashing: Torah with a Twist merchandise at store.drinkinganddrashing.com, and don’t forget to subscribe and give us a rating on Apple Podcasts—it’s a great way to help our show grow!
Edited by Andrew Yanchyshyn
Ep. 317 - Terumah with Yoshi Silverstein
How can we take ownership and notice of our bodies when we’re building holy dwelling spaces? Everyone has a gift, skill, or offering, that enables us to build sacred communities and spaces. Mitsui Collective Founder and Executive Director Yoshi Silverstein shares his insights about how we find sparks of the divine from within and how to share them via our creations. Increasing our awareness of the capacity of our bodies can truly help us create social change in our communities—the ones in which our bodies live. Are we paying attention to what’s happening inside and around us? In this episode, we dig deep to find out how looking inward can help us create structures for antiracism and anti-oppression work, even all the way back to when we were slaves in Mitzrayim.
To continue the conversation:
Mitsui Collective’s website: MitsuiCollective.org
Mitsui Collective’s Facebook: Mitsui Collective
Mitsui Collective’s Instagram: @MitsuiCollective
Yoshi’s Instagram: @YoshiMatzah
Yoshi’s Website: YoshiSilverstein.com
Find us on social media:
Facebook: Drinking and Drashing: Torah with a Twist
Instagram: @DrinkingandDrashing
Website: www.drinkinganddrashing.com
Our Discord Server: https://discord.gg/xeeghhpSy3
Show the love with some Drinking and Drashing: Torah with a Twist merchandise at store.drinkinganddrashing.com, and don’t forget to subscribe and give us a rating on Apple Podcasts—it’s a great way to help our show grow!
Edited by Michael Iaciofano
Ep. 316 - Mishpatim with Rabbi Howard Goldsmith
While this may be one of our first majorly law-centered locations, Mishpatim helps us look at our humanity and our Jewishness as an interconnected feature of Judaism, the Jewish People, and the Jews. Rabbi Howard Goldsmith helps us play with how we might inspire our communities with a people-first approach, discovering our whys by reading past the whats. Whether you’re a listener who intensely follows halakhah (Jewish law), or a person who believes that Jewish law just doesn’t simply apply (excepting those laws who help us treat each other right), then this episode is definitely for you! Bonus points if you can define phylacteries (we can’t).
To continue the conversation:
Congregation Emanu-El of Westchester’s website: https://congregationemanuel.org
Congregation Emanu-El of Westchester’s Facebook: Congregation Emanu-El of Westchester
Find us on social media:
Facebook: Drinking and Drashing: Torah with a Twist
Instagram: @DrinkingandDrashing
Website: www.drinkinganddrashing.com
Our Discord Server: https://discord.gg/xeeghhpSy3
Show the love with some Drinking and Drashing: Torah with a Twist merchandise at store.drinkinganddrashing.com, and don’t forget to subscribe and give us a rating on Apple Podcasts—it’s a great way to help our show grow!
Edited by Michael Iaciofano
Ep. 315 - Yitro with Rabbi Cece Beyer
Have you heard the news?? We’ve just lived through a miracle; we’re going to dance tonight!!! For Parashat Yitro, we’re moving from miraculous redemption to meaningful reality. Lucky for us, we have awesome rabbi, dancer, singer, leyner, and camp-advocate Rabbi Cece! Rabbi Cece walks us through the modalities of mentorship, magic at the mountain, and how to make music even out of the quietest of moments.
To continue the conversation:
Rabbi Cece’s website: www.RabbiCece.com
Rabbi Cece’s Instagram: @rabbicece
Rabbi Cece’s Twitter: @rabbicece
Find us on social media:
Facebook: Drinking and Drashing: Torah with a Twist
Instagram: @DrinkingandDrashing
Website: www.drinkinganddrashing.com
Our Discord Server: https://discord.gg/xeeghhpSy3
Show the love with some Drinking and Drashing: Torah with a Twist merchandise at store.drinkinganddrashing.com, and don’t forget to subscribe and give us a rating on Apple Podcasts—it’s a great way to help our show grow!
Edited by Michael Iaciofano
Ep. 314 - Beshalach with Cantor Rosalie Will & Cantor Ellen Dreskin
Our hearts are singing for our third dance with Beshalach, featuring Cantor Rosalie Will and Cantor Ellen Dreskin as our Miriam’s songstresses! In this episode, we lift up the magic of collaborative music, shared faith, and singing communities. We also discuss how song can help us face challenges, conflicts, and challenges, as well as help ensure that our traditions remain relevant and resonant for us all. Oh and also #Edon gifts us with a song near the end of the episode!
To continue the conversation:
Cantor Dreskin’s website: www.ellendreskin.com
LightLab Podcast: https://elianalight.com/podcast
Cantor Will’s website: www.roasliewill.org
Sing Unto God’s website: www.singuntogod.com
Find us on social media:
Facebook: Drinking and Drashing: Torah with a Twist
Instagram: @DrinkingandDrashing
Website: www.drinkinganddrashing.com
Our Discord Server: https://discord.gg/xeeghhpSy3
Show the love with some Drinking and Drashing: Torah with a Twist merchandise at store.drinkinganddrashing.com, and don’t forget to subscribe and give us a rating on Apple Podcasts—it’s a great way to help our show grow!
Edited by Michael Iaciofano
Ep. 313 - Bo with Rabbi Ari Goldstein
For Parashat Bo, we’re talking plagues, darkness, light, Zionism, and more with guest Rabbi Ari Goldstein. Rabbi Goldstein is Gabe’s mentor at Temple Beth Shalom in Arnold, MD. A fantastic teacher and speaker, Ari shares his thoughts and interpretations, as well has his rabbinic philosophies, taking to heart the difficult balance between reverence for Biblical narrative and historical fact.
To continue the conversation:
Temple Beth Shalom: AnnapolisTemple.com
Find us on social media:
Facebook: Drinking and Drashing: Torah with a Twist
Instagram: @DrinkingandDrashing
Website: www.drinkinganddrashing.com
Our Discord Server: https://discord.gg/xeeghhpSy3
Show the love with some Drinking and Drashing: Torah with a Twist merchandise at store.drinkinganddrashing.com, and don’t forget to subscribe and give us a rating on Apple Podcasts—it’s a great way to help our show grow!
Edited by Michael Iaciofano
Ep. 312 - Va'era with Judi Williams
What does it look like when we’re in the middle of our arc to redemption—especially when we’re facing a spiritually suffering community and we’re unsure of how to make use of the microphones available to us? Extraordinary educator Judi Williams helps explain how presence can be a form of protest, how to help people learn to speak out for themselves (organizing internally before they organize communally), and how to ensure that the message clearly gets out to the people who need to hear it most.
To continue the conversation:
Judi’s email: judi.m.williams@gmail.com
Find us on social media:
Facebook: Drinking and Drashing: Torah with a Twist
Instagram: @DrinkingandDrashing
Website: www.drinkinganddrashing.com
Our Discord Server: https://discord.gg/xeeghhpSy3
Show the love with some Drinking and Drashing: Torah with a Twist merchandise at store.drinkinganddrashing.com, and don’t forget to subscribe and give us a rating on Apple Podcasts—it’s a great way to help our show grow!
Edited by Michael Iaciofano
Ep. 311 - Shemot with Aliza and Jason Plotkin
Welcome back to the Book of Shemot! We’re starting a brand new book, but don’t worry, we have some familiar friends to help us move through it. Welcoming back #TeamPlotkin (Jewish professionals Aliza and Jason Plotkin), we engage with this week’s parasha through a new lens: that of adoption. Jason and Aliza walk us through how adoption can be seen and understood as a Jewish value, as we explore the different family structures that Shemot provides us within our first three chapters of this new book of Exodus (Shemot!).
Jewish tradition of adoption:
Parashat Vayechi (Gen 48:5): Jacob takes Ephraim and Manasseh as his own
Parashat Shemot (Ex 2:5-10): Bat Paraoh takes Moses as her own Book of Ruth
Ruth (4:16-17): Naomi takes Ruth’s son as her own Book of Esther
Esther (2:7): Mordechai takes on a foster-father role for Esther Sanhedrin 19b: Anyone who raises someone, it is as if someone has given birth to that person.
To continue the conversation:
Aliza’s email: alizaplotkin@gmail.com
Jason’s email: jplotkin@temple-israel.org
Find us on social media:
Facebook: Drinking and Drashing: Torah with a Twist
Instagram: @DrinkingandDrashing
Website: www.drinkinganddrashing.com
Our Discord Server: https://discord.gg/xeeghhpSy3
Show the love with some Drinking and Drashing: Torah with a Twist merchandise at store.drinkinganddrashing.com, and don’t forget to subscribe and give us a rating on Apple Podcasts—it’s a great way to help our show grow!
Edited by Michael Iaciofano
Ep. 310 - Vayechi with Sarit Wishnevski
Chazak, chazak, v’nitchazeik! We’ve made it to the last book of Genesis and a cinematic peek into the final moments of Jacob’s life. In this episode, we learn about supporting strong and meaningful endings from Sarit Wishnevski, Executive Director of Kavod V’Nichum. We learn about rituals and experiences that help inform our involvement in end-of-life practices that can honor the lives of those we hold dear in our community. Also, you might just learn a secret about the 7th of Adar!
To continue the conversation:
Kavod V’Nichum’s website: https://kavodvnichum.org
Find us on social media:
Facebook: Drinking and Drashing: Torah with a Twist
Instagram: @DrinkingandDrashing
Website: www.drinkinganddrashing.com
Our Discord Server: https://discord.gg/xeeghhpSy3
Show the love with some Drinking and Drashing: Torah with a Twist merchandise at store.drinkinganddrashing.com, and don’t forget to subscribe and give us a rating on Apple Podcasts—it’s a great way to help our show grow!
Edited by Kate Griffin
Ep. 309 - Vayigash with Scott Black
What happens when our communities are thrown into just a bit of chaos? What happens when we make plans, but need to also be ready to pivot at the same time? Our guest, today, Director of Operations for Camps Airy and Louise (and Creator of Schwipe!), Scott Black, helps us engage in the work of community-building, even in the face of major challenges. We also engage with AI-Bots, Sefaria, and the missing links that are needed to ensure success for the future. Don’t miss out on this incredible episode, or as Scott’s daughter asks, “Have you talked to Scott Black about that?”
To continue the conversation:
Schwipe’s website: www.schwipe.com
Scott’s Email: scott@schwipe.com
Find us on social media:
Facebook: Drinking and Drashing: Torah with a Twist
Instagram: @DrinkingandDrashing
Website: www.drinkinganddrashing.com
Our Discord Server: https://discord.gg/xeeghhpSy3
Show the love with some Drinking and Drashing: Torah with a Twist merchandise at store.drinkinganddrashing.com, and don’t forget to subscribe and give us a rating on Apple Podcasts—it’s a great way to help our show grow!
Edited by Michael Iaciofano
Ep. 308 - Mikeitz with Jesse Epstein
Rabbinical Student and generally-impresive-and-very-busy-person Jesse Epstein joins the Drinking and Drashing crew to discus Parashat Mikeitz. Jesse’s entrepreneurial pursuits—most recently, his acquisition and relaunch of the Shmaltz Brewing Company—make him the perfect guest to discuss this Torah portion of dreaming big dreams and making plans to conquer them. Oh, and his Hebrew name is Yosef, so that’s cool.
To continue the conversation:
Shmaltz Brewing Company's Instagram: @ShmaltzBrewing
Shmaltz Brewing Company's website: https://shmaltzbrewing.com
Torah and Tourniquets: https://torahandtourniquets.com
Find us on social media:
Facebook: Drinking and Drashing: Torah with a Twist
Instagram: @DrinkingandDrashing
Website: www.drinkinganddrashing.com
Our Discord Server: https://discord.gg/xeeghhpSy3
Show the love with some Drinking and Drashing: Torah with a Twist merchandise at store.drinkinganddrashing.com, and don’t forget to subscribe and give us a rating on Apple Podcasts—it’s a great way to help our show grow!
Edited by Kate Griffin and Edon Valdman
Ep. 307 - Vayishlach with Rabbi Dr. Kari Tuling
Throwback to the BEST type of religious school: the one where you had the “cool teacher” who taught you about the craziest Genesis stories and really wanted to know what YOU thought and felt and had to say? What—you didn’t have that experience? Well let us give it to you this week with an excellent teacher—Rabbi Dr. Kari Tuling!—who helps us wrestle with some difficult Torah portions and traditions, thoughts about God, and maintaining vulnerability when entering into real conversation. Whether you’re grappling with God or feeling secure in your Jewish Thought, we think this episode is bound to have something awesome for you!
To continue the conversation:
Congregation Kol Haverim: https://www.kolhaverim.org
Rabbi Dr. Tuling's email: rabbi@kolhaverim.org
Find us on social media:
Facebook: Drinking and Drashing: Torah with a Twist
Instagram: @DrinkingandDrashing
Website: www.drinkinganddrashing.com
Our Discord Server: https://discord.gg/xeeghhpSy3
Show the love with some Drinking and Drashing: Torah with a Twist merchandise at store.drinkinganddrashing.com, and don’t forget to subscribe and give us a rating on Apple Podcasts—it’s a great way to help our show grow!
Edited by Kate Griffin
Ep. 306 - Toldot with April Baskin and Tracie Guy-Decker
What happens when our origin stories don’t really present us in the best light—or even shows us as characters that we don’t identify with? When stories are often shared by “the winners” or the people who wield power, there’s a lot of missed or erased history—all of which influence our greater Genesis understandings. Luckily for us, we were able to learn from April Baskin and Tracie Guy-Decker of Joyous Justice acclaim—how to step back, look around, and listen in order to lift up diverse voices. It’s okay to struggle with our stories—but the Joyous Justice team helps us find tools to confront confrontation and to help raise our communities to a higher level of excellence on the pathway to joyous justice for everyone.
To continue the conversation:
Roadmap to Resilience Workshop (Dec 5, 2022!): https://joyous-justice.mykajabi.com/roadmap
Joyous Justice Website: https://joyousjustice.com/
Joyous Justice Facebook: Joyous Justice
Joyous Justice Community Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/590922415522750/
Joyous Justice Instagram: @joyous.justice
The Joyous Justice Podcast: https://www.buzzsprout.com/1146023
Find us on social media:
Facebook: Drinking and Drashing: Torah with a Twist
Instagram: @DrinkingandDrashing
Website: www.drinkinganddrashing.com
Our Discord Server: https://discord.gg/xeeghhpSy3
Show the love with some Drinking and Drashing: Torah with a Twist merchandise at store.drinkinganddrashing.com, and don’t forget to subscribe and give us a rating on Apple Podcasts—it’s a great way to help our show grow!
Edited by Michael Iaciofano
Ep. 305 - Chayei Sarah with Gabe Snyder and Amanda K. Weiss
Here’s a short episode because OUR own lives are a little crazy even when it comes during the week that we’re focusing on Sarah’s life! (Or are we?!?) Don’t worry, we’ve still got you covered with that parashah rundown and for midrashic mixology! Looking for a short but sweet conversation with your two favorite best friend cohosts? Look no further—tune in now!
Find us on social media:
Facebook: Drinking and Drashing: Torah with a Twist
Instagram: @DrinkingandDrashing
Website: www.drinkinganddrashing.com
Our Discord Server: https://discord.gg/xeeghhpSy3
Show the love with some Drinking and Drashing: Torah with a Twist merchandise at store.drinkinganddrashing.com, and don’t forget to subscribe and give us a rating on Apple Podcasts—it’s a great way to help our show grow!
Edited by Kate Griffin
Ep. 304 - Vayera with Amelia Merrill
Storytime! After journey on Lech L’cha, we have so many different tales in Parashat Vayera. Negotiations, mysterious guests, action scenes, transformations, pseudo-sacrifices, lies, laughs, banishment, abandonment…oh my goodness! Lucky for us, we are able to learn from our guest this week, journalist and playwright Amelia Merrill, how to derive the meaning from the many tales and how to find the balance between seeking the truth and drashing an interpretation.
To continue the conversation:
Amelia’s Twitter: @ameliamerr_
Amelia’s Instagram: @mia_merrill
Find us on social media:
Facebook: Drinking and Drashing: Torah with a Twist
Instagram: @DrinkingandDrashing
Website: www.drinkinganddrashing.com
Our Discord Server: https://discord.gg/xeeghhpSy3
Show the love with some Drinking and Drashing: Torah with a Twist merchandise at store.drinkinganddrashing.com, and don’t forget to subscribe and give us a rating on Apple Podcasts—it’s a great way to help our show grow!
Edited by Kate Griffin
Ep. 303 - Lech L’cha with Rabbi Mary Zamore
Drinking and Drashing: Torah with a Twist is on its third round! For our third Lech L’cha episode, we have Women’s Rabbinic Network executive director, Rabbi Mary Zamore. Rabbi Zamore is an ethicist, activist, and awesome guest! This Torah portion is so foundational to the story of the Jewish people, and yet there are several points within it that make us sad, uncomfortable, or angry. How do we hold this text as sacred while also recognizing its faults? What can we learn from the mistakes of our shared past? How can we go forth together toward a more equitable future?
To continue the conversation:
Women's Rabbinic Network's website: WomensRabbinicNetwork.org
Rabbi Zamore's email: MaryZamore@womensrabbinicnetwork.org
Find us on social media:
Facebook: Drinking and Drashing: Torah with a Twist
Instagram: @DrinkingandDrashing
Website: www.drinkinganddrashing.com
Our Discord Server: https://discord.gg/xeeghhpSy3
Show the love with some Drinking and Drashing: Torah with a Twist merchandise at store.drinkinganddrashing.com, and don’t forget to subscribe and give us a rating on Apple Podcasts—it’s a great way to help our show grow!
Edited by Kate Griffin
Ep. 302 - Noach with Rabbi Dennis Ross
What happens when the world is being destroyed and recreated and you find yourself in the middle of it? How do we manage our relationships and communication amidst chaos? Rabbi Dennis Ross shares his wisdom—both as an intentional interim rabbi and as an expert on Martin Buber—with us and our listeners about how we might be able to read Noah through a new lens: that of relationship-building and dialogue, of transitions and the temporary nature of our tradition.
About Martin Buber: https://plato.stanford.edu/entries/buber/
About Gustav Landauer: https://theanarchistlibrary.org/library/james-horrox-gustav-landauer-1870-1919
A Year with Martin Buber: Wisdom from the Weekly Torah Portion: https://www.amazon.com/Year-Martin-Buber-Portion-Inspiration/dp/0827614659
To continue the conversation:
Rabbi Dennis Ross’ email: dennis@dennisross.net
Rabbi Ross’ Website: www.dennisross.net
Find us on social media:
Facebook: Drinking and Drashing: Torah with a Twist
Instagram: @DrinkingandDrashing
Website: www.drinkinganddrashing.com
Our Discord Server: https://discord.gg/xeeghhpSy3
Show the love with some Drinking and Drashing: Torah with a Twist merchandise at store.drinkinganddrashing.com, and don’t forget to subscribe and give us a rating on Apple Podcasts—it’s a great way to help our show grow!
Edited by Kate Griffin
Ep. 301 - Bereshit with Leana Jelen Tapnack
Way to kick off Season 3 ON A JEWISH HOLIDAY! We begin again with Parashat Bereshit, recording during our sofrut (Scribal Arts class) at school with our incredible teacher Leana Jelen Tapnack who helps us understand how it is that we can literally create our own Torah and stories, regardless of gender, fear of failure, or a limited knowledge base. We were also thrilled to welcome fourth year HUC-JIR rabbinic student (and fellow sofrut stan!) Ilana Symons.
To continue the conversation:
Leana’s Instagram: @sofer_so_good
Ilana’s Email: ilana.symons@huc.edu
The Pardes Institute of Jewish Studies: www.pardes.org.il
Stam Scribes: www.stamscribes.com/who-we-are
Women’s Tefilin Gemach*: www.stamscribes.com/educational-programming/tefillin-loans
*NOTE: The Gemach is open for borrowing for anyone who identifies as a non-cisgender man.
Find us on social media:
Facebook: Drinking and Drashing: Torah with a Twist
Instagram: @DrinkingandDrashing
Website: www.drinkinganddrashing.com
Our Discord Server: https://discord.gg/xeeghhpSy3
Show the love with some Drinking and Drashing: Torah with a Twist merchandise at store.drinkinganddrashing.com, and don’t forget to subscribe and give us a rating on Apple Podcasts—it’s a great way to help our show grow!
Edited by Kate Griffin
Ep. 247 - V'Zot HaBrachah with Gabe Snyder
It was SO nice that we did it TWICE! Gabe took over our LAST parashah of our second season—V’zot Habracha and it was SUCH a blessing! We can’t believe that we’ve come to the end of our second season and are so appreciative that we get a chance to “turn it, turn it, turn it again” at Simchat Torah! L’chayim to all of our listeners and supporters and chazak chazak v’nitchazek (may we all be strengthened)!
Find us on social media:
Facebook: Drinking and Drashing: Torah with a Twist
Instagram: @DrinkingandDrashing
Website: www.drinkinganddrashing.com
Our Discord Server: https://discord.gg/xeeghhpSy3
Show the love with some Drinking and Drashing: Torah with a Twist merchandise at store.drinkinganddrashing.com, and don’t forget to subscribe and give us a rating on Apple Podcasts—it’s a great way to help our show grow!
Edited by Kate Griffin
Ep. 246 - Ha’Azinu with Rabbi Amalia Mark
We fear we do not have the time to write this week’s blurb all in rhyme—but welcome to our penultimate parasha with Ha’azinu! We hope that you’ll listen up and listen in to the incredible organized chaos of this episode and the calming, passionate, and poetic presence of Rabbi Amalia Mark, Director of Programs and Partnerships at Mayyim Hayyim. Whether speaking to pleas, poetry or preparing for transitions, Amalia helps us wade through the transformational comfort of the ritual mikveh bath and its meaning to us today.
To continue the conversation:
Amalia’s Instagram: @yrlocalrabbi
Mayyim Hayyim: www.mayyimhayyim.org
Our Discord Server: https://discord.gg/xeeghhpSy3
Show the love with some Drinking and Drashing: Torah with a Twist merchandise at store.drinkinganddrashing.com, and don’t forget to subscribe and give us a rating on Apple Podcasts—it’s a great way to help our show grow!
Edited by Kate Griffin
Ep. 245 - Vayeilech with Ethan Helfand
Welcome to 5783—this is our FIRST episode of the new year and we’re so excited to be heading out (soon!) of Deuteronomy while we enter into a new year with new/old friends. Luckily for us, we have a strong and resolute leader in Ethan Helfand who helps us understand managing change, remembering and supporting those who struggle, and trusting the process and the preparation. Shout out to Executive Producer Edon Valdman for his increased participation this week, and of course, #DoGoodThings and #MazalTovJoshie! (Oh right, and Happy Birthday Amanda!)
To continue the conversation:
Ethan’s email: ethanh@thejkc.org
Ethan’s Facebook: Ethan Helfand
First Call: www.FirstCallKC.org
Article on Addiction in the Jewish Community: www.tabletmag.com/sections/community/articles/the-fruit-of-the-vine
Our Discord Server: https://discord.gg/xeeghhpSy3
Show the love with some Drinking and Drashing: Torah with a Twist merchandise at store.drinkinganddrashing.com, and don’t forget to subscribe and give us a rating on Apple Podcasts—it’s a great way to help our show grow!
Edited by Mike Iaciofano
Ep. 244 - Nitzavim with Maharat Rori Picker Neiss
Can you even STAND it? We might be missing Gabe and Edon this week, but don’t worry—we have an incredible episode with two dynamic debuts! We learn about our own personal power, decision-making, and how we can lift up all voices within our communities from extraordinary friend and guide Maharat Rori Picker Neiss AND we get to gab with our incredible editor Kate Griffin! You’re not going to want to miss out on how YOUR Torah might just pop up in this particular parasha!
To continue the conversation:
Rori’s Facebook: Rori Picker Neiss
Rori’s Twitter: @RoriPN
Kate’s Email: kategriffinsound@gmail.com
Kate’s Instagram: @SoundsLikeKate
Our Discord Server: https://discord.gg/xeeghhpSy3
Show the love with some Drinking and Drashing: Torah with a Twist merchandise at store.drinkinganddrashing.com, and don’t forget to subscribe and give us a rating on Apple Podcasts—it’s a great way to help our show grow!
Edited by Edon Valdman
Ep. 243 - Ki Tavo with Jill Zenoff
Jill Zenoff joins us for a delicious (if not overly-cheesy) episode for Parashat Ki Tavo. A friend of farms and food, Jill brings a unique perspective to our conversation about first fruits, blessings, curses, and — of course — cheese. We love cheese. How does the first harvest connect to our world today? How does it connect to Tikkun Olam — repairing the world? We’ll cover all this and more, all with a taste of Torah and — again — cheese. In fact, in a Drinking and Drashing: Torah with a Twist first, Jill pairs our Midrashic Mixology cocktail with a cheese! This episode is brought to you by Lactaid. Ok, not really, but it probably should be.
To continue the conversation:
Jill’s Instagram: @cheese_camp_director_jill
Our Discord Server: https://discord.gg/xeeghhpSy3
Show the love with some Drinking and Drashing: Torah with a Twist merchandise at store.drinkinganddrashing.com, and don’t forget to subscribe and give us a rating on Apple Podcasts—it’s a great way to help our show grow!
Edited by Kate Griffin
Ep. 242 - Ki Teitzei with Jacob Stoehr
When we’ve been wandering in the desert for what seems like forever, when is the right time to check in on our organizational missions and visions, our time management, and our overall cultural design? It’s possible that this week’s guest, ADP Workforce Management Consultant Jacob Stoehr might have a new take on how to find the value and thematic connections on the seventy-four mitzvot that occur in this week’s episode, err, we mean Torah portion!
For Parashat Ki Teitzei, Jake talks about the idea of always helping design for people—giving people the solutions that they need to get done everything they can do! As we find ourselves wandering physically, psychologically, or even digitally, Jake believes there’s a way to engage the community on all levels.
To continue the conversation:
LinkedIn: Jacob Stoehr
Twitter: Jacob.Stoehr@adp.com
Our Discord Server: https://discord.gg/xeeghhpSy3
Show the love with some Drinking and Drashing: Torah with a Twist merchandise at store.drinkinganddrashing.com, and don’t forget to subscribe and give us a rating on Apple Podcasts—it’s a great way to help our show grow!
Edited by Kate Griffin
Ep. 241 - Re’eh with Rabbi Ariel Naveh
In this week’s episode, Amanda coins a new term: “nudgecator.” What’s a nudgecator? Let’s ask Rabbi Ariel Naveh!
For Parashat Re’eh, Rabbi Ari talks with us about a pursuit of justice for the future by reckoning with our past. Whether it’s passages of Torah or moments in American history, we need to be able to look back and be honest about the darker elements. And, as we say throughout the episode, that can be really hard. So join us as we talk Torah, history, and action for this week’s episode.
To continue the conversation:
Facebook: Ariel Naveh
Twitter: @ActualRabbiAri
Instagram: @ArielNaveh
Our Discord Server: https://discord.gg/xeeghhpSy3
Show the love with some Drinking and Drashing: Torah with a Twist merchandise at store.drinkinganddrashing.com, and don’t forget to subscribe and give us a rating on Apple Podcasts—it’s a great way to help our show grow!
Edited by Kate Griffin
Ep. 240 - Eikev with Romina (Romi) Naparstek
“They tried to kill us, we won, let’s eat” might be a temporary tagline, but when it comes down to it, food is often the defining factor that helps us bring Judaism to the table. What makes Judaism and food so appetizing? We were lucky to have Early Childhood Academy Director and pastry chef Romina (Romi) Naparstek with us to help us explain the blessings of all of the steps that come in creating a meal. When was the last time you remembered to savor the people around the table? To give thanks for each part (and person) who helped bring the meal together? Romi helps us redefine the concept of mindful eating through a Jewish lens and we think it’d be a great addition to your podcast menu.
To continue the conversation:
Romi's Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/laromibakery/
Email: info@laromibakery.com
Kickstarter for Romi’s book “The Traveling Alfajor”: https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/alfajor/the-traveling-alfajor
Our Discord Server: https://discord.gg/xeeghhpSy3
Show the love with some Drinking and Drashing: Torah with a Twist merchandise at store.drinkinganddrashing.com, and don’t forget to subscribe and give us a rating on Apple Podcasts—it’s a great way to help our show grow!
Edited by Kate Griffin
Ep. 239 - Va'etchanan with Sasha Kopp
V’ahavtah, fused glass, early childhood education… What do these things have in common? They’re all main points of conversation in this week’s episode! We had so much fun learning and playing with Sasha Kopp and Aliza Plotkin to talk about Parashat Vaetchanan and learning with the youngest members of our communities.
To continue the conversation:
The Jewish Education Project: JewishedProject.org
Sasha’s Website: SashaKopp.com
Sasha’s Glass Art on Instagram: @FusedGlassworksBySasha
Aliza’s Instagram: @Aliza131
Additional ECE Resources:
https://www.newsweek.com/early-childhood-educators-are-essential-our-economy-our-future-opinion-1560933
Teachers are our Building Blocks: Staffing in Jewish Early Childhood During COVID - https://ejewishphilanthropy.com/teachers-are-our-building-blocks-staffing-in-jewish-early-childhood-during-covid/
PRINCIPLES OF EXPLORING OPEN-ENDED ART - https://www.aju.edu/school-jewish-education-and-leadership/blogs/principles-exploring-open-ended-art
It’s Time for All of Us to Vote: Exploring the Democratic Process with Young Children - https://www.naeyc.org/resources/blog/exploring-democratic-process-young-children
Podcast: https://soundcloud.com/jewishedproject/rabbi-adina-allen-and-sasha-kopp-art-early-childhood-education?fs=e&s=cl
Our Discord Server: https://discord.gg/xeeghhpSy3
Show the love with some Drinking and Drashing: Torah with a Twist merchandise at store.drinkinganddrashing.com, and don’t forget to subscribe and give us a rating on Apple Podcasts—it’s a great way to help our show grow!
Edited by Kate Griffin
Ep. 238 - Pinchas with Rabbi Naamah Kelman
Would it really be a Year-in-Israel reunion episode without the Dean of the HUC Jerusalem campus Rabbi Naamah Kelman? Absolutely not! All of us have a go-to memory of learning with and being supported by Rabbi Kelman during our Year-in-Israel and we are just a small part of her legacy of teaching current and future Jewish leaders in the field! Speaking of rebellion, restoration, representation, leadership, legacy, and so much more, we are honored to continue the learning—even if it’s on an international scale! We were also thrilled to welcome fifth year nonbinary cantorial student Jordan Goldstein as our Q&A guest (and of course, our honorary roommate).
To continue the conversation:
Visit the HUC Jerusalem Campus: https://huc.edu/campus-life/taube-family-campus-jerusalem
Rabbi Naamah Kelman’s Facebook: Naamah Kelman
Jordan’s email: jordan.goldstein@huc.edu
Jordan’s Instagram: @jordan.lynn.goldstein
Our Discord Server: https://discord.gg/xeeghhpSy3
Show the love with some Drinking and Drashing: Torah with a Twist merchandise at store.drinkinganddrashing.com, and don’t forget to subscribe and give us a rating on Apple Podcasts—it’s a great way to help our show grow!
Edited by Kate Griffin
Ep. 237 - Balak with Eliana Light
While we may need to [legally] acknowledge that Parashat Balak is NOT the same as the Shrek trilogy, we are grateful to have Eliana Light, songleader and prayerground phenomenon helping us find the Jewish joy in this week’s episode. Whether talking about the magic behind Mah Tovu or how we might protest against a prayer practice that is a struggle for us, both Eliana Light and Q&A guest Becky Mann bring forward the idea that music in itself is magical and that we have a lot to look forward to when we’re able to draw a line between liturgy and t’filah.
References:
God is Not One (by Stephen Prothero): https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00DRZP82U/
Mi Yodea (by Isaac Sonett-Assor & Becky Mann): https://www.facebook.com/isaac.sonett.assor/videos/4517244893672
To continue the conversation:
Eliana’s Website: https://elianalight.com
Eliana’s Youtube: Eliana Light
The Light Lab Podcast: https://elianalight.com/podcast
The Light Lab’s Facebook: thelight.lab
The Light Lab’s Instagram: @thelight.lab
Becky’s Facebook: Becky Mann
Becky’s Instagram: @torahtheexplorah
Becky’s Soundcloud: Becky Mann
Becky’s YouTube: Becky Mann
Our Discord Server: https://discord.gg/xeeghhpSy3
Show the love with some Drinking and Drashing: Torah with a Twist merchandise at store.drinkinganddrashing.com, and don’t forget to subscribe and give us a rating on Apple Podcasts—it’s a great way to help our show grow!
Edited by Kate Griffin
Ep. 236 - Chukat with Amanda K. Weiss and Gabe Snyder
What do you do when decisions that your national community are making are heartbreaking, troubling, and traumatic? You find a way to bring yourself and your issues to the Torah portion of the week. We do this with recent decisions by the US Supreme Court in this week’s episode featuring your co-hosts who had a lot of thoughts and feelings and yes, perspectives that we wanted to share. While we didn’t smash anything physically this week, we took a swing at why the Judaism that we practice has a lot to say on the issues that we’re facing as a nation.
For those trying to avoid the political, here are timestamps for the different sections of the episode:
Parashat Chukat Distilled Summary: 01:47-05:29
Midrashic Mixology: 23:17-24:10
Some of our textual sources:
Exodus 21:22-23
Yevamot 69b:10
Mishnah Niddah 3:7
Gittin 23b:9
Mishnah Oholot 7:6
Sanhedrin 72b
Mishneh Torah
Murderer and the Preservation of Life 1:9
Responsum L’vushai Mord’khai, 1913
Pew Study (2014): https://www.pewresearch.org/religion/religious-landscape-study/religious-tradition/jewish/views-about-abortion/
To continue the conversation:
Facebook: Drinking and Drashing
Instagram: @DrinkingandDrashing
Our website: DrinkingandDrashing.com
Our email: drinkingandrashing@gmail.com
Our Discord Server: https://discord.gg/xeeghhpSy3
Show the love with some Drinking and Drashing: Torah with a Twist merchandise at store.drinkinganddrashing.com, and don’t forget to subscribe and give us a rating on Apple Podcasts—it’s a great way to help our show grow!
Edited by Kate Griffin
Ep. 235 - Korach with Andrew Belinfante
Bringing a worldly perspective to Parashat Korach, we are so excited to have on Andrew Belinfante. An organizer and community builder, Andrew travels the world as the Senior Director of Programs and Organizational Development at JDC Entwine. He brings to the show an excellent perspective on leadership, community, and Jewish tradition. We’ll discuss rebellion, reconciliation, and renewal within this Torah portion and beyond.
To continue the conversation:
Andrew’s Twitter: @AndrewBdotcom
Andrew’s Instagram: @AndrewBdotcom
Andrew’s email: andrewbelinfante@gmail.com
JDC Entwine: jdcentwine.org
Our Discord Server: https://discord.gg/xeeghhpSy3
Show the love with some Drinking and Drashing: Torah with a Twist merchandise at store.drinkinganddrashing.com, and don’t forget to subscribe and give us a rating on Apple Podcasts—it’s a great way to help our show grow!
Edited by Kate Griffin
Ep. 234 - Sh’lach L’cha with Lt. Matt Derenbacher
In Parashat Sh’lach L’cha, the Israelites are getting ready to enter and conquer the Land of Israel. In their preparation, they send out 12 scouts to go through the Land and bring back a report. And grapes. To discuss this mission, we brought in our friends and classmates, Lt. Matt Derenbacher (USAF) and Ensign Laynie Zell (USN), each of whom chose to pursue military chaplaincy during their time at Hebrew Union College. In this episode, we’ll discuss the role of chaplains in the US military, Matt and Laynie’s experiences in their roles so far, and, as always, a good bit of Torah.
To continue the conversation:
Matt's Instagram: @DBach
Jewish Welfare Board: https://jcca.org/what-we-do/jwb/
Our Discord Server: https://discord.gg/xeeghhpSy3
Show the love with some Drinking and Drashing: Torah with a Twist merchandise at store.drinkinganddrashing.com, and don’t forget to subscribe and give us a rating on Apple Podcasts—it’s a great way to help our show grow!
Edited by Kate Griffin
Ep. 233 - Beha'alotcha with Cantor Josh Rosenberg
In the words of this week’s guest, “The role of an educator is to facilitate other’s learning,” and we loved learning with Cantor Josh Rosenberg, educator extraordinaire! Josh talked with us about music, learning, and a love of community, all in light of Parashat B’haalot’cha. How do we balance structure and silliness, formality and freedom? How do we harness the energy of our communities to best bring joy and learning to our work?
To continue the conversation:
Temple Beth Elohim: TBEWellesley.org
Our Discord Server: https://discord.gg/xeeghhpSy3
Show the love with some Drinking and Drashing: Torah with a Twist merchandise at store.drinkinganddrashing.com, and don’t forget to subscribe and give us a rating on Apple Podcasts—it’s a great way to help our show grow!
Edited by Kate Griffin
Ep. 232 - Nasso with Rabbi Andrea Weiss, Ph.D.
What do you talk about when two extraordinary rabbis join you with the gift of their presence? SO MUCH! With Rabbi Andrea Weiss, Ph.D. and Rabbi Rachael Pass, we learn how each of us have a gift to bring to the world, especially if we’re willing to be present in the moment. Grappling with our ability to bring ourselves to the reading while struggling with unjust juxtapositions between ancient texts and contemporary issues, we welcome a strong commentary on Nasso through a feminist lens (continuing a strong legacy of women clergy).
To continue the conversation:
American Values, Religious Voices – 100 Days, 100 Letters: ValuesAndVoices.com
HUC-JIR Soup Kitchen: Donate.HUC.edu/SoupKitchen
HUC’s website: HUC.edu
Rabbi Rachael Pass’s website: RachaelPass.com
NEW DISCORD LINK: https://discord.gg/xeeghhpSy3
Show the love with some Drinking and Drashing: Torah with a Twist merchandise at store.drinkinganddrashing.com, and don’t forget to subscribe and give us a rating on Apple Podcasts—it’s a great way to help our show grow!
Edited by Kate Griffin
Ep. 231 - B’midbar with Mariely Luengo
We may be starting a new book, but also a brand new type of episode! We welcome in a difficult look at B’midbar where we talk about data, storytelling, and what happens when the right people are doing the counting (and recording the data!). With two Wonder Women—Mariely Luengo and Rabbi Stacy Schlein taking on the incredible work of this show (#ClevelandRepresent)—we get an insight into how we might be able to push back against a portion (or even a people) that might try to leave certain sections of society out of the story. Who counts? Who does the counting? Perhaps we’re misunderstanding the data and the story we think it’s telling. Listen to find out more!
To continue the conversation:
Mariely’s Instagram: @MarielyLuengo
West Tribe Community Food Co-op: https://jewishcleveland.org/news/blog/the_west_side_community_food_co_op_a_response_to_COVID19/
Rabbi Stacy Schlein’s Facebook: Stacy Schlein
Jewish Education Center of Cleveland: JECC.org
NEW DISCORD LINK: https://discord.gg/xeeghhpSy3
Show the love with some Drinking and Drashing: Torah with a Twist merchandise at store.drinkinganddrashing.com, and don’t forget to subscribe and give us a rating on Apple Podcasts—it’s a great way to help our show grow!
Edited by Kate Griffin
Ep. 230 - Bechukotai with AKW
We know that this spring’s episodes have been a bit sporadic but we wanted to make sure that we ended Leviticus with a little bit of learning and leaving into our personal and podcast-related challenges and successes! Hear a bit about what’s been going on, some of our proudest wins, and take a bit of Torah with you as we end this book and get ourselves strengthened up to take on another! Enjoy this SHORT episode and we hope that you might help support many more!
To continue the conversation:
Amanda’s email: Amanda.K.Weiss@huc.edu
Our Facebook: Drinking and Drashing
NEW DISCORD LINK: https://discord.gg/xeeghhpSy3
Show the love with some Drinking and Drashing: Torah with a Twist merchandise at store.drinkinganddrashing.com, and don’t forget to subscribe and give us a rating on Apple Podcasts—it’s a great way to help our show grow!
Edited by Kate Griffin
Ep. 229 - Behar with Eric Fingerhut
What can the world look like when we take a moment to celebrate the gifts that we have (especially those that come from the ground? Eric Fingerhut, President and CEO of The Jewish Federations of North America (JFNA) reminds us to really embrace those full rest opportunities, celebrate our commonalities, and remember our love of living for liberty. What happens when we as individuals come together to share our strengths as a community? Judaism in the form of a vibrant experiential education.
To continue the conversation:
Eric’s email: Eric.Fingerhut@jewishfederations.org
JFNA Facebook: Jewish Federations of North America
NEW DISCORD LINK: https://discord.gg/xeeghhpSy3
Show the love with some Drinking and Drashing: Torah with a Twist merchandise at store.drinkinganddrashing.com, and don’t forget to subscribe and give us a rating on Apple Podcasts—it’s a great way to help our show grow!
Edited by Kate Griffin
Ep. 228 - Kedoshim with Rabbi Rebecca Rosenthal
What does it mean to be holy? What is the path to holiness? Can we have different paths within Judaism?
On this episode of Drinking and Drashing: Torah with a Twist, Gabe is joined by guest co-host Agnes Valdman, an HUC cantorial student, (newly!) married to Executive Producer Edon Valdman. Together, they have a discussion with educator-extrodinaire Rabbi Rebecca Rosenthal, the Director of Youth and Family Education at Central Synagogue in New York City. With Torah and West Wing references abound, this conversation is fun and fruitful!
To continue the conversation:
Rabbi Rosenthal at Central Synagogue: https://www.centralsynagogue.org/about-us/our-clergy/rebecca-rosenthal
Rabbi Rosenthal’s Instagram: @RabbiRebeccaBakes
NEW DISCORD LINK: https://discord.gg/xeeghhpSy3
Show the love with some Drinking and Drashing: Torah with a Twist merchandise at store.drinkinganddrashing.com, and don’t forget to subscribe and give us a rating on Apple Podcasts—it’s a great way to help our show grow!
Edited by Kate Griffin