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Brad and Steven are back for the ninth season of the Amen Corner! In the first episode, they recap the momentous events of the past summer — President Biden’s disastrous debate, the attempted assassination of the former president, Biden’s decision to drop out of the presidential race, and the Yankees decision to remove Clay Holmes as their closer. […]

‘Inside Out 2’ is the sequel to the critically acclaimed and widely beloved 2015 Disney/Pixar animated film ‘Inside Out,” and is proving to be just as successful. By depicting the inner life of an adolescent girl, these films explore how our emotions shape us, for good and for ill. The sequel adds to this by […]

Dune: Part 2, now streaming on Max, continues the sprawling epic adapted from Frank Herbert’s legendary sci-fi series. Featuring an all-powerful psychotropic mineral, a race of space witches, personal force fields, giant sandworms, Dune explores themes such as power, greed, the nature of heroism, and intersectional liberation — topics about which Judaism also has a […]

Marvel Animation’s X-Men ’97, now streaming on Disney+, is a reboot/sequel to the X-Men animated series that was beloved by older Millennials who grew up in the ‘90s. The sequel is smoother and shinier, but still possesses the same spirit that made the original series so popular: mutant melodrama and pulse-pounding action set-pieces, combined with thinly-veiled political commentary […]

This week, Brad and Steven were actually together and recorded the final podcast of the season directly from the Amen Corner studios in NYC. To celebrate the end of the season, the guys first went to the happiest place on earth — Barney Greengrass — due to a torrential downpour, they found themselves unable to […]

This week, in what is the penultimate episode of the season, Brad and Steven continue to discuss the campus wars. They also talk about the Washington Post and a recent disturbing article about Jewish power and perceived control over the mayor and police in NYC, bad coffee in the DC area, and what happens when conservatives […]

The third installment in PopTorah’s ongoing conversation about Taylor Swift, our resident rabbinic Swifties discuss her latest album, “The Tortured Poets Department.” Spoiler alert: the reviews were decidedly mixed, and prompted some spirited conversation. We suspect many of you have strong feelings as well. Was it poetry? Or was it torture? (Don’t say we didn’t, […]

This week, Brad and Steven talk (a bit) more about the campus protests and wonder out loud if seeing a non-Arab or a non-Muslim wearing a keffiyeh is triggering. They also ask if it’s cultural appropriation for non-Middle Easterners to wear a keffiyeh. They also talk a bit about New York sports, where the Knicks and Rangers […]

This week, Brad and Steven are back after (another) week off for travel. They spend the entire episode discussing the nationwide campus protests. They talk about the meaning behind the slogans that are being chanted around the country and wonder how much the protestors understand what it is that they’re saying. They also talk about how […]

The new film, ‘Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire,’ a sequel to the ‘Ghostbusters: Afterlife’ is a thing that exists. But should it? Rabbis Knopf and Olitzky have feelings. Is there something strange in the neighborhood? Are we ‘ready to believe’? Or is it just a matter of “If there’s a steady paycheck in it, I’ll believe anything […]

This week, Brad and Steven return from their various travels and find that the Passover Seder season is upon us. They talk about Germany, lunch in Athens, the Yankees and Knicks, and they wonder if the Amen Corner will reach the magical 33 episodes of the season. Can they do it? Tune in to find […]

The new AppleTV+ series ‘Manhunt’, adapted from James L. Swanson’s eponymous book, follows the 12 day search for Abraham Lincoln’s assassin, John Wilkes Booth. As the hunt for Booth unfolds, it exposes a deeper conspiracy — one aimed at restoring white men to political dominance, despite the South losing the war. In this episode, Rabbis […]

This week, Brad and Steven follow up on their discussion of the Trump bible and talk about religious groups like Mormons and Chabad. They also talk about how Jews are becoming less welcome on college campuses and what happens when Jews are removed (or remove themselves) from public forums. Put on some headphones and have […]

Brad and Steven are back this week after a brief hiatus with another episode of your favorite podcast. The guys catch up on some of the things they missed, like the passing of Joe Lieberman and Louis Gossett, Jr and Trump’s decision to start selling bibles. They also talk about Covid, hand washing, and staying […]

The 96th Academy Awards are behind us, and Rabbis Knopf and Olitzky are here to talk about the Torah of this year’s nominees. In this special episode, we discuss Oppenheimer, Barbie, Poor Things, The Zone of Interest, and more! Who won, who lost, who was snubbed, who stirred controversy, and who got the coveted “PopTorah Bump”? […]

This week, Brad and Steven conjure up the memory of Steven’s late father, Michael Cook, to talk about how to avoid being screwed over. They’re back to talking about junk fees on auto rentals, the advantages of having lawyers and doctors in the family, and finally about a situation with Con Edison that can only be solved […]

Jon Stewart’s back, baby! The influential Jewish comic who made ‘The Daily Show’ a cultural juggernaut before leaving in 2015 has returned, for a limited time, to his old seat. Does he have what it takes to make the show, and basic cable, relevant again? Is he the political savior we’ve been waiting for, who […]

This week, Brad and Steven talk about the State of the Union address, junk fees, disgraced former politicians, President Buden’s age (as if we needed more people talking about this), and wonder about pronouns. Have a listen while you enjoy the extra hour of daylight! You can listen to The Amen Corner in lots of […]

This week, Brad and Steven are back, talking about the soon to be released Alex Van Halen autobiography, the departure of Mitch McConnell, Steven’s turn to the right, what should and should not go into scones, and just for good measure, a little about their beloved Yankees. Have a listen and enjoy! You can listen […]

HBO’s long-running comedy series, Curb Your Enthusiasm, starring legendary comedian and ‘Seinfeld’ co-creator Larry David as a slightly fictionalized version of himself, is coming to an end with its 12th and final season. Rabbis Knopf and Olitzky take a look back at the hilarious highs and cringe-worthy lows of Larry’s many exploits, and discuss the […]

This week, Brad and Steven talk about their daughters and college (spoiler alert: it involves ED and happy endings), IVF and Alabama, South Carolina, the hypocrisy of Trump supporters (we know, shocking!), and yet more about pizza. Have a listen! You can listen to The Amen Corner in lots of ways. On iTunes, Spotify, Stitcher, Google […]

In this week’s better late than never episode, Brad and Steven are going all in on pizza again, this time, while reminiscing about the long winter days in between football and baseball season of their childhoods. They also talk about Trump’s gold sneakers, the lame NBA All Star Game (and all star games in general), and Matisyahu. […]

The new Netflix film ‘Good Grief,’ written, directed, and produced by star Daniel Levy, explores how we pick up the pieces in the wake of tragic loss, especially when we discover things about our loved ones after their death that complicate their legacy and our memories of them. Rabbis Knopf and Olitzky discuss what emerges […]

Much of this week’s episode is devoted to a discussion about National Pizza Day. Brad and Steven talk about the merits of New York-area pizza and the outsized importance it has on people who grew up in the area. They also talk about make-you-own-pizza and how to define what makes something “pizza.” All in all, […]

Alexander Payne’s newest film, ‘The Holdovers,’ stars Paul Giamatti as a prickly, demanding teacher at an elite northeastern boarding school who gets stuck supervising the one student left on campus during winter break. Set as the 60’s become the 70s, what ensues is emotional, funny, and ultimately uplifting — a coming-of-age story for student and […]

This week, Brad and Steven talk about how they’re well on their way to being crotchety old men, and the elderly life that they envision for themselves doesn’t seem so far-fetched. They also talk about the recent judgement against the former resident of the White House and about the corrupt Supreme Court. Have a listen […]

This week, Brad and Steven talk about the right-wing grift that they’re going to run, the lack of discussion around Trump’s cognitive decline, the ongoing war in Gaza, and flight delays. Happy listening! You can listen to The Amen Corner in lots of ways. On iTunes, Spotify, Stitcher, Google Play, or your favorite RSS aggregator.

The new musical ‘Wonka,’ a prequel of sorts to the beloved Roald Dahl novel “Charlie and the Chocolate Factory” and the classic Gene Wilder film based on it, is a celebration of imagination, lovingkindness, and, of course, chocolate. Grab your golden tickets and go on a tour of the factory — watch out for that […]

This week, Brad and Steven discuss college — the cost, the value, the job prospects, and the purpose. Unsurprisingly, they compare the process today to how it was back in the “old days,” when they were going through it themselves. They also touch on the Israel-Palestine conflict and how it was supposed to be over […]

This week’s episode is coming to you a bit later in the week than usual, but we’re trying to keep to our New Year’s resolution and doing the podcast as often as possible. We talk about flight delays, perception versus reality and what’s more important in today’s political climate, and of all things, Tulsa. Happy Listening! […]

It’s been an interesting and somewhat challenging year for superhero movies, with the once seemingly invincible Marvel Studios showing signs of wear and tear. For example, the studio’s latest tentpole team-up film (and one of its best in years), ’The Marvels,’ is now widely regarded as its first-ever commercial flop, and the actor Jonathan Majors, […]

It’s the final episode of 2023 and this week Brad and Steven are talking about the year ahead and the one that just passed. For better or worse, the guys’ New Year’s resolution is to continue to do the Amen Corner, hopefully more regularly. At any rate, have a listen and here’s to a better 2024! […]

This week, Brad and Steven are back after a brief hiatus. Their moods, however, continue to be “meh” in the extreme as they still try to make sense of what’s happening all around us. Adding injury to insult, both of them had to deal with emergency rooms over the past few days, but each had a completely […]

The new sports comedy ‘Next Goal Wins,’ directed by Taika Waititi, is based on the true story of American Samoa’s soccer team as it attempts to overcome its embarrassing status as the worst team in the sport’s history. The film stars Michael Fassbender as Dutch-American coach Thomas Rongen, who has the unenviable task of helping […]

Much of this week’s episode is devoted to a discussion between Brad and Steven about the 45-minute video compiled and screened by the government of Israel that documents the atrocities committed by Hamas terrorists on October 7. The video contains footage from body cameras of the Hamas attackers, closed-circuit footage, video from victims’ cellphones and from first responders […]

The new miniseries on Netflix, ‘The Fall of the House of Usher,’ is many things all at once: a love letter to Edgar Allen Poe, a gothic horror masterpiece, and a biting social commentary reminiscent of HBO’s ’Succession.’ Loosely based on a Poe story of the same name — and brimming with references to other […]

This week, Brad and Steven talk about their Thanksgivings and wonder if there’s such a sting as too many kinds of pie. They also discuss New York City doormen, how important they are in the daily lives of the people in their buildings, and why we should tip them. TOf course, they also talk about the ongoing […]

This week, Brad and Steven try to talk about subjects other than the war in Gaza. They discuss the latest Yankees woes and a little bit about Thanksgiving, but come back to the elephant in the room and, once again, the Middle East takes center stage in the conversation. Have a listen, remember our shared humanity […]

Taylor Swift’s long-awaited “Eras” tour was not only the pop cultural event of 2023, it was one of the most successful concert tours in music history. Each night Taylor took fans on an epic three hour tour of her career. And she has followed up on that success by releasing a film version of her […]

This week, Brad and Steven continue to talk about the war in Israel and Gaza and its impact on Jews around the world. They talk about a number of physical altercations that have taken place on the Upper West Side of Manhattan and return to the subject of antisemitism and anti-Zionism on campus. Have a listen. […]

You know that Rabbis Knopf and Olitzky are lifelong friends, but did you know that they met as teenagers on a youth group summer trip to Israel? And did you know that they lived down the street from one another in Jerusalem for a year? Now, Israel is a central and inseparable part of their […]

This week, Brad and Steven continue to talk about the situation in Israel and Gaza and the repercussions that are being felt around the US, particularly on college campuses. They also talk about the new Speaker of the US House of Representatives as well as the mass shooting in Lewiston, Maine. Please have a listen. […]

This week, Brad and Steven talk about the spillover effects of Israel’s war in Gaza — from the frontlines to the academy to the streets of Paterson. Have a listen. You can listen to The Amen Corner in lots of ways. On iTunes, Spotify, Stitcher, Google Play, or your favorite RSS aggregator.

Disney and Pixar’s latest animated feature, Elemental, became a sleeper hit at the box office this summer. Using the interaction of various elements as an extended metaphor for the immigrant experience and striking the balance between honoring one’s past while charting their own future, the movie has a lot of resonance with Jewish history and tradition. […]

This week, Brad and Steven talk about the horrific Hamas terrorist attack against Israel. You can listen to The Amen Corner in lots of ways. On iTunes, Spotify, Stitcher, Google Play, or your favorite RSS aggregator.

This week, Brad and Steven talk about the flooding that hit New York, the normalizing of the abnormal and whether or not rabbis should talk about politics in their Yom Kippur services. Have a listen and enjoy! You can listen to The Amen Corner in lots of ways. On iTunes, Spotify, Stitcher, Google Play, or your […]

Back in May, film and television writers went on strike. Actors joined them on the picket lines in July, leading to the longest strike in Hollywood history (the WGA recently ended it’s strike when it struck a new deal with the studios, and it is expected that SAG-AFTRA will follow suit shortly). In this very […]

 Brad and Steven are back with the first episode of Season Eight of the Corner. They’re back to their usual banter about the Jewish High Holidays, the best food for breaking the fast, Lauren Boebert, and the lack of accountability in our society. All in all, it’s like they’ve never been gone — have a listen […]

Rabbis Knopf and Olitzky seem like they would be the target audience for Adam Sandler’s new Netflix movie, You’re So Not Invited to My Bat Mitzvah. But while the film covers some explicitly Jewish subject matter, the rabbis had mixed feelings about it — as an Adam Sandler comedy, and as a piece of Jewish art. […]

It’s official — ‘Barbie’ and ‘Oppenheimer’ are this summer’s unlikely “it” couple! This summer, we’re all obsessed with the World’s Most Famous doll taking on the patriarchy and wrestling with mortality, and the Father of the Atomic Bomb struggling with his conscience and (maybe) starting a chain reaction that will destroy the world. It all […]