Talking Tachlis Podcast – Details, episodes & analysis

This week Rivky and Uri are joined by the indomitable Mordechai Levovitz to discuss the latest craze taking over TikTok- Orthodox Jewish musical group The Miami Boys Choir.  They try to understand what could be fueling this trend, and they ask, is it good for the Jews?

  Times of Israel article - https://www.timesofisrael.com/the-miami-boys-choir-churned-out-generations-of-child-stars-where-are-they-now/   Rolling Stone article - https://www.rollingstone.com/culture/culture-news/miami-jewish-boys-choir-tiktok-viral-1234602435/

It’s been one year since the shooting at Tree of Life, in which a right-wing gunman entered the Tree of Life Synagogue in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania and killed 11 people, and injured 6 more. At the one year anniversary, Uri and Rivky analyze the articles and think pieces published about American antisemitism - particularly Bari Weiss, Zack Beauchamp, and Deborah Lipstadt. They ask, how has the American Jewish community changed since Tree of Life? What is a more “important” focus - left-wing antisemitism, or right-wing antisemitism? And, is is "good" that, for some, fear or negativity has become motivation for Jewish life or Jewish community? Related links: One Year Since Tree Of Life: https://www.wtae.com/article/one-year-commemoration-of-tree-of-life-synagogue-shooting-marked-around-the-world/29601905# Zack Beauchamp On Anniversary Of Shooting: https://www.vox.com/the-highlight/2019/10/18/20899208/tree-of-life-anniversary-pittsburgh-shooting-american-jews Bari Weiss (from one year ago): https://www.nytimes.com/2018/10/27/opinion/synagogue-shooting-pittsburgh.html Judith Butler’s Book Review Of How To Fight Anti-Semitism: https://jewishcurrents.org/bari-weisss-unasked-questions/ Deborah Lipstadt On Fighting Antisemitism With Joy: https://forward.com/opinion/433264/the-best-way-to-fight-anti-semitism-jewish-joy/ Trends in American Antisemitism: https://www.adl.org/audit2018#themes-and-trends Antisemitism On College Campuses: https://www.adl.org/resources/reports/schooled-in-hate-anti-semitism-on-campus How Safe Do You Feel As An American Jew, 1 Year Later?: https://www.haaretz.com/us-news/EXT-INTERACTIVE-a-year-after-pittsburgh-shooting-do-you-feel-safe-as-a-jew-in-america-1.8031157 Music: Ringo Starr - No No Song - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eCSjKXEy65g

This week, Uri and Rivky start by talking about Yom Kippur in Israel, as well as the recent controversy regarding the NBA and China. Then they dive into their main topic: a recent letter released by the Chicago Rabbinical Council (CRC), addressing the upcoming legalization of recreational marijuana in the state of Illinois. The letter strongly states that recreational marijuana violates halacha and is forbidden. Uri and Rivky discuss the relevance of this statement, as well as some very interesting Jewish sources relating to all kinds of other mind-altering substances. Links: Yom Kippur in Israel: https://www.timesofisrael.com/israel-shuts-down-for-yom-kippur-2/ NBA China controversy: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bA450uGN6fk  Various Jewish sources relating to marijuana: https://www.sefaria.org/sheets/20405?lang=bi Lubavitcher Rebbe discusses alcohol: https://www.academia.edu/9320130/The_Lubavitcher_Rebbes_Decree_Against_Drunkenness_Booklet_titled_To_Drink_Like_a_Chossid_ Rambam discusses alcohol: https://judaism.stackexchange.com/questions/43617/being-intoxicated-a-sin Lubavitcher Rebbe discusses LSD: https://www.chabad.org/therebbe/letters/default_cdo/aid/3190865/jewish/Should-I-Take-LSD-to-Attain-Spiritual-Heights.htm Rabbi Aryeh Kaplan and Kaneh Bosem: https://judaism.stackexchange.com/questions/82554/who-says-that-keneh-bosem-is-cannabis Theory that Moses was on drugs: https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-525993/Moses-high-hallucinogenic-drug-received-Ten-Commandments-claims-academic.html Shitta/Acacia Tree in the Torah: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shittah_tree https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Acacia_species_known_to_contain_psychoactive_alkaloids Music: Ishai Ribo - Seder Ha'avodah ttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ECy3CMxShIQ  The Beatles - Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=naoknj1ebqI

On the first episode of 5780, Rivky and Uri start by going over some feedback from last week's episode. Then in the spirit of Yom Kippur and the 10 Days of Repentance, they talk about what makes a good apology, they play some clips of great thinkers discussing the topic, and they analyze some famous apologies (and non-apologies) from this past year. Links: Paul McCartney on Colbert https://youtu.be/475Yc5YlqAU?t=440 Atone Phone Colbert http://www.cc.com/video-clips/liknzb/the-colbert-report-atone-phone---ira-glass-calls SNL Pete Davidson and Dan Krenshaw The original joke - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ukbtA3df8BI&t=83s The apology - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GKaakjMVtyE&t=7s Naftali Bennet ad https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dFGWJ1vIf44 Music: B-I-B-L-E https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vxe0SD0_DzI Justin Bieber - Sorry https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fRh_vgS2dFE

This week, Uri and Rivky first break down some of the recent feedback from the YU March episode - and Uri offers an Elul apology. They they dive into today's topic, a recent article published by Rabbi Gil Student - "Is 929 Kosher?" 929 is the Tanach equivalent of Daf Yomi, in which people study a daily chapter of Tanach. Alongside the actual text study, the website both offer interpretations and commentaries from modern thinkers - both Orthodox and non-Orthodox. In Rabbi Student's essay, he argues that because there are “non-traditional interpretations of Tanakh,” and “perspectives from people who do not consider the text to be words of prophecy,” we, the public, should we wary about learning from them, because, “Studying non-Orthodox perspectives on the Bible is not recommended.” Uri and Rivky ask, is 929 as problematic as Rabbi Student seems to find it? Should there be limits to what people learn? What are those limits? Relevant links: 2017 YU Commentator "Where Are The Pitchforks? Being An Openly Gay Student At Yeshiva University: https://yucommentator.org/2017/02/pitchforks-openly-gay-student-yeshiva-university/ Dr Aaron Koller "On Halacha and LGBTQ": https://yuobserver.org/2019/09/on-halakha-and-lgbt/ About 929: https://www.929.org.il/pages/aboutEN.html Is 929 Kosher?: https://www.torahmusings.com/2019/09/is-929-kosher/

This week, Uri and Rivky begin with feedback about the Rabbi Linzer interview and surmise that everyone's biggest shock was how traditional Rabbi Linzer is. (Some like that, and some hate that, go figure.) They then dive into the main topic for this week’s episode, Yeshiva University and the student march for LGBTQ representation, and the follow-up, the #PledgeNotToPledge campaign. They ask, how homophobic is YU? (What is homophobia, anyway?) If you strip down the five “goals” the organizers are asking for - what do you think is the focus? Is homophobia more common among the students, or among the university staff and rabbis? Does it matter? Relevant links: YU March, including pictures, videos, and their five demands: https://www.facebook.com/events/336023320677992/ #PledgeNotToPledge: https://www.facebook.com/groups/PledgeNotToPledge/ Deena Klein on Talking Tachlis: https://soundcloud.com/user-355770813/shes-here-shes-queer-shes-machmir Rachael Fried on Talking Tachlis: https://soundcloud.com/user-355770813/66-lgbtq-and-orthodox-paradox-or-possibility-with-special-guest-rachael-fried

This week, Uri and Rivky speak with Rabbi Dov Linzer, the President and Rosh HaYeshiva of Yeshivat Chovevei Torah, and a leader in the liberal Orthodox world. We’ve discussed Rabbi Linzer and YCT on the show many times, but sitting down with him is a whole other story! After discussing a little bit about his background, we dove into some important topics, such as: should biblical criticism be a part of Orthodox education? [What is out of bounds? Are there bounds?] What about Zionism, and a love for Israel? We also spoke about a classic TT topic, the role of a rabbi today, and asked, what makes YCT and liberal Orthodoxy unique from YU and Hadar, two institutions YCT is often compared to? Lastly, what are issues in the liberal Orthodox world, and can we turn to other Orthodox movements for guidance? Note: we made the conscious choice to not explicitly bring up the recent tension regarding Rabbi Dan Atwood and YCT, when YCT decided not to give Rabbi Atwood rabbinic ordination several weeks before his would-be graduation. For a discussion on that topic, see our episode, The Gay Orthodox Conundrum: https://soundcloud.com/user-355770813/64-the-gay-orthodox-conundrum Related links: Clip from The Frisco Kid (amazing movie!): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WXf2yK7ojBE Rabbis in spiritual crisis: https://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-4406721,00.html The Rise of Social Orthodoxy: https://www.commentarymagazine.com/articles/the-rise-of-social-orthodoxy-a-personal-account/ Revelation Restored: https://www.amazon.com/Revelation-Restored-Critical-Responses-Traditions/dp/0813333474

This week Uri and Rivky start off by getting a little deeper into the Jewish dual loyalty conversation. Should American Jews who serve in the IDF feel weird telling non-Jewish Americans about their army service? They also look at some historical examples of groups of Americans who's loyalty was questioned. Then they dive into the main topic: What do we think about the death penalty? Is there ever a reason to use it? More specifically, should the perpetrator of the Pittsburgh Tree of Life shooting be punished by death? Finally, should this decision take into account the fact that many of the survivors and congregants of the Tree of Life synagogue have pleaded with the Attorney General not to pursue the death penalty? Related links: Harvard student has visa rejected and then accepted, finally arrived at school: https://www.thecrimson.com/article/2019/9/3/harvard-student-turned-away-arrives/ US resumes capital punishment https://www.nytimes.com/2019/07/25/us/politics/federal-executions-death-penalty.html?module=inline Death penalty sought for Pittsburgh shooter: https://www.nytimes.com/2019/08/26/us/pittsburgh-synagogue-shooting-death-penalty.html Mishna in Makot about capital punishment https://www.sefaria.org/Mishnah_Makkot.1.10?lang=bi&with=English%20Explanation%20of%20Mishnah&lang2=en Music: R.E.M. - Exhuming McCarthy https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=3&v=NGc2kkPw-6Y