Torah Smash! The Podcast for Nerdy Jews – Détails, épisodes et analyse

August 28, 2024
Torah Smash! The Podcast for Nerdy Jews
Episode 62 - Deadpool and Lamed Vavnikim

There are so many people in our world who are making the world a better place. Judaism calls them lamed vavnikim, or the righteous 36. But what about the people in the void who are making our world a better place? Or those who are trying to find missing anchor beings to make their own world better for their girlfriend who doesn’t love them anymore? They’re good too, right? Well, maybe they’re not “Avengers good”, but, woo, they’re about to make a name for themselves here.

00:01:24 Most people think they’re good people
00:03:07 We know the right answer and these aren’t it
00:06:11 Deadpool and Wolverine
00:08:40 Thirty-Six (Plus) Righteous People
00:12:00 The Thirty Six Graphic Novel by Kristopher White
00:14:38 Barak’s rant about D&W plot holes
00:19:51 Happy Hogan’s afikomen office
00:24:11 Into the Void
00:29:28 Wolverine variants
00:33:17 Musical anchors
00:35:27 Not one, but two (and a Peter)
00:36:14 More likes and dislikes
00:40:18 Deadpool 4?

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August 14, 2024
Torah Smash! The Podcast for Nerdy Jews
Episode 61 - Inside Mussar 2

Emotions can sometimes be difficult to handle and we find that they’re also often pretty Jewish. Join us as we explore the two joyfully sad movies by Pixar, Inside Out 1 and 2, and the connections to a very popular Jewish practice. We let the little voices inside our heads out for this conversation and we share the emotions that we wish made appearances in the films. Plus a hot take: Bing Bong is Jewish.

00:00:39 Step Inside RDY’s Mind
00:02:04 Initial film reactions
00:08:30 Favorite afikomen
00:12:56 Saboteurs and Mussar
00:19:39 Jewish guilt and nostalgia
00:23:19 If can control our emotions, we show true strength
00:31:23 Next is high school emotions
00:34:25 The original five base emotions
00:38:51 Other favorites and afikomen

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April 10, 2024
Torah Smash! The Podcast for Nerdy Jews
Episode 52 - Moses and the Justice League

Passover is around the corner, so of course, we will look at the hero who, to avoid the destruction of his people, was sent by his parents to eventually grow up to be the hero we all look up to. I’ll give you a hint, they’re a member of the Justice League. …Wait, who were you thinking of?

00:00:38 Barak likes Jewish holiday smashes
00:01:56 Moses and Superman
00:03:12 Comparison of the two heroes
00:11:34  No capes!
00:15:31 The rest of the biblical Justice League
00:16:17 Is Cyborg a Golem?
00:17:42 Aquaman and the sea based characters
00:18:26 Young and Impulsive
00:18:48 Green Lantern’s ring
00:23:38 The Emerald Archer
00:25:40 Martian Manhunter
00:27:48 Wonder Woman and Black Canary
00:31:24 The Dark Knight
00:34:59 Who’s left?

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March 27, 2024
Torah Smash! The Podcast for Nerdy Jews
Episode 51 - You Are So Not Invited To My Borg Mitzvah

Star Date: April 5, 2063. Earth has finally made contact with other intelligent life in the universe, so we better ask them all the important questions: Do lobster people keep kosher? How many people attend a Borg’s b’nai mitzvah service? And why does Ethan think Star Trek: First Contact can hold its own with Wrath of Kahn?

00:01:15 First Contact Day 04/05/63
00:03:16 Not sure if it holds up, but what a cast!
00:07:15 The power of touch
00:10:01 How would alien life change Judaism?
00:13:55 Humanity in a post-religious world
00:16:29 Does life on other planets have free will?
00:18:45 Alien b’nai mitzvot
00:21:15 Debating through real life examples
00:25:38 First romantic contact
00:28:22 Continuing the arguments …err …conversations
00:31:04 A little perspective
00:32:24 Is there religion in 2063?
00:33:09 Going back to the writing

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March 13, 2024
Torah Smash! The Podcast for Nerdy Jews
Episode 50 - Funny, You Don’t Look Jewish …with Special Guest Fabrice Sapolsky

Purim is around the corner (some may say it’s around three corners) and throughout the holiday we disguise who we really are. Together with comic creator and publisher, Fabrice Sapolsky, we explore some comic heroes who hide in plain sight and we discuss how these decisions are reflective in our modern world. So, pull up a chair, grab a plate of hamantashens, and enjoy this one!

00:02:13 Poppy filled pockets are coming!
00:03:52 Queen Esther hides her identity
00:05:45 Daniel Kaufman’s ELI Talk
00:06:33 Which Superheroes Passively hide?
00:09:44 Bear-ly hiding at conventions
00:16:04 What brings superheroes out of hiding?
00:21:59 In Jewish History and Present
00:24:43 When do you present actively or hide passively?
00:33:20 Revisiting the superheroes who passively hide
00:40:30 Movies trying to hide as comics

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February 28, 2024
Torah Smash! The Podcast for Nerdy Jews
Episode 49 - Hogwarts School of Judaism and Wizardry…With Special Guest Rabbi Emma Gottlieb

Filled with decades of knowledge, halls filled with history, and helping to teach the young ones the history, culture, and practices of their people. As we explore the starting point for the wizarding youth attending Hogwarts, joined by Rabbi Emma Gottlieb, we explore the connections to our own Jewish educational institutions that we had opportunities to learn and study in as well.

00:04:31 A boy named Harry Potter
00:10:25 Yeshiva: A History
00:12:40 Another nerd yeshiva
00:14:27 Learning in different worlds
00:17:31 Keeping the past alive
00:20:03 The value of multiple perspectives
00:24:06 Schools around the globe
00:29:54 The competition
00:35:37 Our houses
00:38:42 Anthony Goldstein
00:40:50 Names are important
00:42:39 Abra Kadabra

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February 14, 2024
Torah Smash! The Podcast for Nerdy Jews
Episode 48 - What If Creation Wasn’t The Beginning?…With Special Guest Roy Schwartz

Judaism encourages us to ask questions. In this episode, we try to answer Marvel’s biggest question of What If…? We discuss the most recent animated addition to the MCU and debate how the question could be used to change our view of our own Jewish history.

00:01:49 The oddities of “Is Superman Circumcised?”
00:04:48 A good month for superhero fans
00:07:45 Ours is the world that was selected, for now.
00:09:59 Process theology
00:15:42 Save Scumming
00:20:20 Why OUR universe? Was it the burritos?
00:21:54 Jewish What If Scenarios
00:22:10 What If Pharoah’s Heart Wasn’t Hardened?
00:23:42 What If Moses Didn’t Part the Red Sea?
00:25:34 What If Baby Moses Chose Differently?
00:26:50 What If Adam Ate The Apple First?
00:28:58 What If We Didn’t Worship The Calf?
00:29:17 What If Pharoah Knew Joseph?
00:30:15 What If Joseph Didn’t Add?
00:31:10 What Isaac Binded Abraham?
00:35:00 What If we let this question loose in nerd culture?

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January 31, 2024
Torah Smash! The Podcast for Nerdy Jews
Episode 47 - Echo of Resilience

Our Jewish history has been passed down through the generations and some experts may say that has made us more resilient. Superheroes learn about their ancestors’ ups and downs, but one in particular has shown the impact those stories can have when you fully embrace your past. L’dor vador.

00:00:38 Shoutout to Spertus
00:01:01 Resilience as a Jewish Value
00:02:55 Marvel’s Spotlight Hero, Echo
00:05:04 Maya’s Ancestral Resilient History
00:10:05 Jewish Ancestral Resilient History
00:17:45 Resilience stems from gratitude
00:22:14 Echos of gratitude
00:28:16 What other heroes’ past make them resilient?
00:32:31 Favorite parts of the Echo series
00:39:12 More Jewish Smashes

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January 17, 2024
Torah Smash! The Podcast for Nerdy Jews
Episode 46 - The Incredible Samson

You may have grown up hearing the story of Samson, whose strength was connected to his hair. Did you know that it was also tied to one of his emotions? RDY gently guides us on a comparative look of how Samson’s love of Delilah and his destructive anger ties him to certain gamma based characters in Marvel comics.

00:00:42 The story of Samson
00:02:55 Samson’s Riddle
00:08:10 The Hulk, aka Bruce Banner
00:12:08 Dr. David Banner
00:12:48 You may not like him when he’s angry
00:18:40 Where their strengths come from
00:20:51 Anger and God
00:32:26 Being gripped by God
00:36:13 Designed on a flaw
00:38:03 Doc Samson

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January 3, 2024
Torah Smash! The Podcast for Nerdy Jews
Episode 45 - Our Heroes and Transformative Grief

Ethan returns and shares about his brief hiatus from the show due to the loss of a loved one. In this episode, we celebrate the life of Kiya, we each discuss how our grief has shaped us, and the difficult personal experiences and choices that can come from losing someone dear to us.

00:00:48 Final reminder for Torah Smash! Live!
00:01:50 Ethan talks about Kiya and the reason for his hiatus
00:03:55 Let’s talk about grief
00:07:47 Meowing and other moments of relief
00:11:17 The Jewish grieving process
00:13:04 The difference between “grief” and “mourn”
00:16:30 What types of support have you continued for others?
00:22:54 King Solomon’s special ring
00:27:57 All captains experience grief
00:32:27 It can consume you or transform you
00:34:58 The custom of kriah - tearing
00:37:43 What characters are shaped by grief
00:42:20 Sometimes there is no conclusion

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