Good Faith Effort – Details, episodes & analysis

Every story has a beginning... Join us for this podcast series as we explore the twelve sections of Genesis, as divided in Jewish tradition. Christian actor and social media influencer Nathaniel Bouzlic discusses each part with Rabbi Dr. Ari Lamm.

• Rabbi Dr. Ari Lamm is the Chief Executive of BZ Media and President of SoulShop. A leading religious public intellectual, Rabbi Lamm hosts the top-ranked podcast on the Bible and society, Good Faith Effort, and his popular Twitter threads on “Why Read the Bible in Hebrew?” have reached millions and been covered by major international news outlets. For his leadership in the world of Jewish ideas, The Jerusalem Post recently ranked him #37 on its list of the world’s 50 Most Influential Jews.

• Nathaniel Buzolic is an acclaimed Australian Actor, best known for his role as Kol Mikaelson in "The Vampire Diaries" and "The Originals," With a diverse background in acting, hosting, and a commitment to his Faith and Heritage.

Every story has a beginning... Join us for this podcast series as we explore the twelve sections of Genesis, as divided in Jewish tradition. Christian actor and social media influencer Nathaniel Bouzlic discusses each part with Rabbi Dr. Ari Lamm. 

• Rabbi Dr. Ari Lamm is the Chief Executive of BZ Media and President of SoulShop. A leading religious public intellectual, Rabbi Lamm hosts the top-ranked podcast on the Bible and society, Good Faith Effort, and his popular Twitter threads on “Why Read the Bible in Hebrew?” have reached millions and been covered by major international news outlets. For his leadership in the world of Jewish ideas, The Jerusalem Post recently ranked him #37 on its list of the world’s 50 Most Influential Jews. 

• Nathaniel Buzolic is an acclaimed Australian Actor, best known for his role as Kol Mikaelson in "The Vampire Diaries" and "The Originals," With a diverse background in acting, hosting, and a commitment to his Faith and Heritage.

On today’s episode, Ari spoke with the greatest character actor in the history of Hollywood, the legendary Stephen Tobolowsky, about his lifelong journey to understand the Hebrew Bible.

Along the way they talked about growing up around members of the Nazi Party; Stephen’s love of Shakespeare; being comfortable with weirdness; Stephen getting held at gunpoint during a hostage situation; Deuteronomy and the Shema prayer; thinking about death; why Ned Ryerson is the most Jewish character in the history of American film; and much more!

Good Faith Effort is a production of Bnai Zion and SoulShop

Guest Quote
"There is such a positiveness in Judaism, that when you become a part of it, you realize how absolutely life-affirming it is. Even in death, it gets you through all the terrible transitions: from Genesis to Exodus, Leviticus to Numbers to Deuteronomy. It can get you through every one of those walls, every one of those challenges.“ - Stephen Tobolowsky

Time Stamps

* (5:06) Jordan Calhoun’s “Piccolo is Black”, and growing up without a Jewish Community

* (11:23) Stephen opens the Pandora’s Box of rediscovering Judaism

* (22:45) The 5 Books of Moses, as a story of life 

* (24:28) Californication, and Stephen’s decision to write a spiritual memoir

* (30:57) Magic exists, and Stephen’s tale of finding God while being held hostage at the grocery store

* (40:33) Visiting the Bible throughout your life

* (44:44) Importance of saying the Shema

* (54:55) Is Ned Ryerson the most Jewish movie character?

Good Faith Effort is a production of SoulShop, Bnai Zion, and Caspian Studios

Links

Follow Ari on Twitter - https://twitter.com/AriLamm

Find out more about Stephen: https://stephentobolowsky.com/

My Adventures With God, on Amazon Books: https://www.amazon.com/My-Adventures-God-Stephen-Tobolowsky/dp/1476766460

Watch on YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/@GoodFaithEffort

One of the great blessings of the digital age is that we can connect to more people, and have access to more information, than any other time in history. So our core challenge today is not letting this embarrassment of riches overwhelm us. Yes, we can know anything we want to know, but is knowledge the same thing as wisdom? Yes, we can connect to anyone in the world, but is a retweet the same as a real relationship? How do we make sure we’re committing to the ideas and people that will actually enrich our lives, and help us enrich the lives of others? This week, Rabbi Lamm spoke about all this with leading author and pastor Van Moody, of the Worship Center in Birmingham, Alabama.

On today's installment: The Song of Songs, and growing closer to God by loving those who are radically different from you.

This week people all over America and the world will start planning for St. Valentine's Day. You might not expect a Rabbi to care. Instead, we decided to drop four special episodes each covering a different angle on love, the Bible, and, of course, the Beatles. Sign up for more events here: https://thejoshuaproject.com/love

On today's installment: David and Bathsheba, and the value of healthy self-love.

This week people all over America and the world will start planning for St. Valentine's Day. You might not expect a Rabbi to care. Instead, we decided to drop four special episodes each covering a different angle on love, the Bible, and, of course, the Beatles. Sign up for more events here: https://thejoshuaproject.com/love

Nowadays, it’s common to think of Silicon Valley and traditional religion as the new Athens vs. Jerusalem. But in many ways this betrays a failure of imagination. These are the only two major forces, certainly in American life, with ambitious visions — which seem crazy to everyone else — for transforming the world that is into the world that ought to be. So what are the factors driving these two things apart, which ones might be bringing them together, and what’s the best way to move forward? This week, Rabbi Ari Lamm speaks about all this with the amazing Katherine Boyle, partner at General Catalyst.

On today's installment: Jeremiah, the end of days, and the love of family and community.

This week people all over America and the world will start planning for St. Valentine's Day. You might not expect a Rabbi to care. Instead, we decided to drop four special episodes each covering a different angle on love, the Bible, and, of course, the Beatles. Sign up for more events here: https://thejoshuaproject.com/love

On today's installment: Jacob, Rachel, and love that runs deeper than mere attraction and romance.

This week people all over America and the world will start planning for St. Valentine's Day. You might not expect a Rabbi to care. Instead, we decided to drop four special episodes each covering a different angle on love, the Bible, and, of course, the Beatles. Sign up for more events here: https://thejoshuaproject.com/love

The Exodus is justly celebrated as the earliest triumph for freedom in human history. But as everyone from the American founders, to Frederick Douglass, to Cecil B. DeMille understood, the story of Israel’s freedom—and the American freedom modeled on it—would be incomplete without the Ten Commandments. Because what the Revelation at Sinai introduced to civilization was the idea that there is no lasting freedom without obligation. So this week, Rabbi Lamm spoke with Nellie Bowles of the New York Times about unchosen obligations, converting to Judaism, and why what America needs right now is…tradition!