The Two Tall Jews Show
By Meyer Grunberg & Isaac Simon
The Two Tall Jews ShowJul 16, 2023
Noah Jacobson on 'Big Jewish Ideas', The Maccabeats , and a Good Old Jewish Shmooze
Noah Jacobson is the host of Unpacked's new channel, Big Jewish Ideas: "Big Jewish Ideas is well, a place for just that. We’re going to be looking for answers and exploring the spiritual side of Judaism. Beyond the basics of how to practice, we’re more interested in why people practice it and what it all means."
Noah is also a founding member of The Maccabeats, Jewish music and a cappella phenomena from Yeshiva University.
Rick Richman on Israeli History, Assimilation v. Integration, Zionism, and the Jewish Future
On today's show we are pleased to have Rick Richman. Mr. Richman is a writer and author who has frequently penned pieces for such publications as the New York Sun, the Jewish Press and Commentary, to name a view. He is the author of Racing Against History: The 1940 Campaign for a Jewish Army to FIght Hitler and in 2003 starting his own blog Jewish Current Issues, articles essays, books and comments relating to Current Jewish issues. His most recent book, And None Shall Make Them Afraid: Eight Stories of the Modern State of Israel, shed’s light on the life and accomplishments of 8 different Jews half of whom hail from Europe and the United States, recounting the trials and tribulations of their faith and fight to reclaim the Jewish spirit. A scholar of many hats who speaks with a singular voice and possesses an acute understanding of the relationship between history and memory, Rick Richman sheds light on the historical intersections of Zionism and Americanism one figure at a time. Support our projects and join our community: https://linktr.ee/otdjewishistory
Itamar Moses, Tony Award Winning Playwright, on the Art of Writing and his Latest Work, "An American Tale: The Musical"
Itamar is an internally acclaimed screenwriter and playwright. An alumni of Yale and NYU Itamar has taught playwriting at both institutions. In 2018 Moses received the Tony Award for his work on The Band's Visit, based on the 2007 Israeli film of the same name which tells the story of a group of Egyptian musicians who get lost on their way to a concert in Israel, winding up in a small town in the center of the Israeli desert. Moses’s writing is not limited to musicals and has written for such shows as Men of a Certain Age and Boardwalk Empire. Now, Itamar is showcasing his latest work, an on-stage rendition of the kid's classic, "An American Tale, The Musical" at the Children's Theater Company in Minneapolis, MN.
Whether it's for stage or screen, Itamar Moses continues his prodigious output of creativity, dazzling theater and living room audiences one script at a time.
Rabbi Levi Teldon (@alamorabbi) on Texan Jewry, Humor & Torah, and Inspiring the World
Screenwriter, app developer & guitarist— all in his own head. Rabbi @alamochabad & co-founder @YJSAtx. Long Island native. Dad of 7. Rabbi at @oneandahalfrabbis
SEASON 4 PREMIERE: Ben M. Freeman (vol. 3) on his New Book: "Reclaiming Our Story: The Pursuit of Jewish Pride Connecting to our Judaism"
Back on for the third time, we are pleased to have Ben M. Freeman back on the program. Ben is a Jewish studies educator and chief participant in the modern day Jewish pride movement. He serves as a Jewish Diplomat for the World Jewish Congress and a Research Fellow for the The Institute for the Study of Global Antisemitism and Policy (ISGAP). A frequent lecturer on the global stage, Ben has come to serve as a preeminent leader for Jews globally, representing the intersection between Jewish triumph and tragedy, illuminating the subtle yet symbolic nuances of Jewish identity required to bring about Jewish pride.
SEASON 3 FINALE - LOOKING AHEAD TO 2023
We talk new Gregorian calendar, Israeli politics, the battle between Light & Darkness, and plans for 2023. See you soon for Season 4!
Scott Cushing on Community Efforts, Jewish Rights, Israeli Politics (slightly pre-2022 election), and Future of Jews in America
Scott is an editorial writer, political advocate, Jewish rights activist, and in the past served as a newspaper publisher. He currently serves as Special Advisor to the Nassau County Executive on the Combating Antisemitism Task Force. An active participant in local politics, holding senior staff positions for the New York State Assembly and New York State Senate for over two decades; he is an active member within Israeli and Jewish spaces throughout Nassau County, serving the global Jewish community one day at a time.
You can find all of his published work on Times of Israel here
Follow Scott Cushing on Instagram here
Check out our other projects and support us at Jewish Original Media here
Adiel Cohen on Knowing our Jewish Story, Planting Seeds, and Life in Israel
Adiel is a content creator, writer, educator, and Jewish-Israeli rights activist residing in vibrant city of Ramat Gan, Israel.
He specializes in issues related to Middle East foreign policy, Jewish history, national identity and has an active growing presence of a combined 70K + on Tik Tok and Instagram as @adielofisrael.
Check out all of his work here
Check out our other projects from Jewish Original Media and support us here
Taylor Amrani Vol. 2 on Finding our Sparks of Spirituality, Emergent Inspiration, & Understanding Growth
We are pleased to have back on a recurring guest: Taylor Amrani back on for her second time. Taylor is a coach, teacher, podcaster, and spiritual savant, fluent in the art of centering her clientele through the trials and tribulations of this thing called “life”.
A social media specialist who has a wide presence on such platforms as TikTok, YouTube and Instagram, Taylor is a maven of the mainstream, who caters her content to the novices of our new digital world, offering assistance, whether it’s through one on one sessions, group classes or her weekly podcast the “lifebytaylor podcast” which touches on the individual human elements in her own life and from the best self help books that make life sustainable, durable and above all, meaningful, breaking them down for both herself and her listeners.
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High Holidays 5783 with Rabbi Daniel Bortz (@millennialrabbi): On Returning, Connecting, and Growing
In this episode, we sit down with R' Bortz to break down all things Tishrei, High Holidays, Teshuva, the Shofar, the Sukkah, the dancing with the Torah, developing a connection with our Creator, and going all in on the opportunities we have as Jews to go into 5783 with the right momentum to take our lives and the lives of those around us to the next level.
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Originally from South Africa and raised in San Diego, Rabbi Bortz brings a fresh approach to Jewish philosophy, Jewish mysticism and Jewish rituals.
He is the Founder of Jteen of San Diego, an organization dedicated to educating and empowering teenagers, and then created SOUL X, an organization offering experiential events for adults to foster deep soul connection.
Rabbi Bortz is truly a Millennial Rabbi - he loves sports and music, practices Brazilian “Jew” Jitsu, and lives everyday with the mission of infusing ancient Jewish wisdom with today’s culture, viewing every moment as an opportunity for personal growth and the elevation of our surroundings for a greater Divine purpose.
You can find Rabbi Bortz on Instagram @millenialrabbi, on all podcast platforms as the host of the “Beneath the Surface” podcast (also the title of his book you can find on Amazon)
Rabbi Pynchas Brener on Venezuelan Jewry, his Show "Cafe con Fe", and Scope of Jewish History
On today’s show, we are very excited to introduce a new guest to the pod: Rabbi Pynchas Brener. Rabbi Brener is formerly the Ashkenazi Chief Rabbi of Venezuela, he received his BA in Rabbinic Ordination from Yeshiva University, masters from Columbia and PHD from Bar Ilan in Israel.
Born in Poland in 1931, he moved with his family to Peru at a very young age. Rabbi Brener is the author of various books on Jewish philosophy, written in Spanish and is currently the host of a Torah learning YouTube channel called "Cafe con Fe", or in English, "Coffee and Faith".
Finally, in August of 2019, Rabbi Brener was appointed the official envoy for the disputed government of Venezuelan president Juan Guiado although neither country has held diplomatic relations since 2009.
You can find all of his published content at his website here. Check out his YouTube channel, Cafe con Fe, here.
Sari Kopitnikoff on Jewish Education in the Information Age, Creating Content, and Jewish Moments
Sari Kopitnikoff. Sari is an author, educator and social media personality who is the founder of ThatJewishMoment, a company dedicated to preserving and informing others about Judaism’s major and minor moments, through lesson plans, infographics and merchandise.
A seasoned veteran of the classroom, Sari has brought her humor, wit and knowledge of the Jewish people to the forefront of her vision, explaining the value of Jewish identity and the importance of Jewish pride, every step of the way.
You can follow her on Instagram here, on TikTok here, and check out her website to see her virtual challenges, books, and shop here
Rabbi Shlomo L. Litvin Vol. 2 on Educating Jewish, Work-Life Balance, Tzfat Tales, a Niggun, and the Beauty of Torah
A man who needs no introduction. The official rabbi of the Two Tall Jews Show, a fellow tall Jew himself, a recurring guest on the pod and our number one fan: Rabbi Shlomo Leib Litvin back on the pod for the second time to chat, share, and farbreng.
Rabbi Litvin is the director of Chabad of the Bluegrass At the University of Kentucky where he serves both the Jewish community of Lexington as well as the University of Kentucky. A Jewish jack of all trades and a true Tzaddik of our time, Rabbi Litvin continues to break barriers between the spiritual and secular world while combatting hatred through the spreading of light via Jewish education across all platforms and places.
To support Rabbi Litvin, his work, community, and his father's lost shul click here.
You can find him on Twitter, Instagram, and Clubhouse as @BluegrassRabbi
Check out our other projects and support us here
FEED DROP ft. A Bintel Brief - The Jewish Advice Podcast (Episode 10: "Heartbroken Bubbe")
Today, we're trying something new and sharing a special episode of the insightfully and joyfully Jewish podcast, A Bintel Brief. Check out their upcoming episode drop on September 15 that may or may not feature a short ad about us :)
In this classic Jewish advice column from The Forward, two mothers dish on the dilemmas of Jewish-American life, identity, culture and politics. This episode is one of our favorites: in it, hosts Ginna Green and Lynn Harris help a grandmother distraught by the news that her daughter might not raise her granddaughter in a Jewish tradition.
Tema Smith of 18Doors and Sharon Goldtzvik of Uprise join for a conversation about Jewish continuity. You can listen to A Bintel Brief at www.forward.com/a-bintel-brief-podcast/.
Stay tuned for some awesome guests with such names as Rabbi Shlomo Litvin (volume 2), Sari Kopitknikoff, and Adiel Cohen.
Wil Sylvince on NYC Comedy Scene, Identity in Comedy, and Secrets of the Cellar
On today’s episode we are pleased to have comedian and actor Wil Sylvince. Wil is a veteran of the New York comedy scene who has opened for the likes of Chris Rock and Dave Chappelle and has performed on HBO, Comedy Central and Showtime.
A contributor to "Chappelle’s Show" and Daman Wayan’s "The Underground", Wil hails from Brooklyn who remembers a New York that preceded frozen yogurt shops, banks and barista booming cafes. He has come to rein supreme, a comedic symbol of a bygone era who has come to reign supreme as an entertainer whose impersonations, quick wit and timing transcend the gentrified undercurrents of his audiences.
He is also a longtime comic and emcee at the Comedy Cellar, located in the heart of Greenwich Village. When he is not touring the country or appearing in films, sketch comedy shows or co-hosting the Laugh Button’s “Talk Clearyler” podcast with fellow colleague and comedian Cipha Sounds, Wil can be found holding down center court at the Comedy Cellar, revving up the most energetic basement in the village, one joke at a time.
Follow @wilsylvince on Instagram for updates on his latest comings and goings.
Follow and support all of our content and projects here
Dr. Dovid Katz on Yiddish Literature, Language, and Defending Historical Truths
On today’s show we are privileged to have world renowned Historian, linguist and scholar Dovid Katz, whose list of accomplishments would take the duration of this podcast to complete.
Dr. Katz was born and raised in Brooklyn. From 1978-1997 Dr. Katz taught Yiddish at Oxford University where he founded and led Oxford’s Yiddish studies program.
In 2001 he served as the Co-Founder and Director of Research, Vilnius Yiddish Institute at Vilnius University and from 1999-2010, as Professor of Yiddish Language, Literature and Culture. Since its founding in 2009 he has operated and edited DefendingHistory.com, a newsletter, journal and historical outlet which seeks to preserve the memory of the Holocaust in Eastern Europe by combating its denial and distortion by individuals and governments.
You can check out Dr. Katz's work at his website Defending History and over on his main site, DovidKatz.net
Libby Amber Walker on TikTok Success, Jewish Mothas, and Being Jewish Online
A graduate of the University of Buffalo with a degree in theater performance and in the last 2 years, she assumed the persona of the Jewish Mother, "Sheryl Cohen", with her handle @libbyamberwalker, where she has amassed over 36K followers.
A skillful Tik Toker, talented and funny content creator - Libby is also a podcast host as well, now cohosting the SchmuckBoys Jewish dating podcast with her two friends, Marla and Maxine.
Whether its talent management, creating content, tik-toking, makin' jokes, serving as an ambassador for the Jewish community, or tackling the world of online dating, Libby uses her multi-pronged personality to juggle the multifaceted nature of her many jobs.
Check her out on Instagram here, TikTok here, and her podcast Shmuckboys here
Check out all of our projects and support us here.
Celebrating our 2 Year Anniversary + Rabbi Steve Leder on Faith, Family, Community, and Life After Death
This past week we celebrated Lag Ba'Omer (5782) - marking two years of On This Day in Jewish History / Two Tall Jews Show While it sounds cliché, it is hard to comprehend the 2 year anniversary of OTDJH. When everything we do involves outlining history’s process, it can be odd to alter our thinking to focus on ours. This whole process has been an exercise in turning one’s passion into an obligation. So much of this journey has been about appreciating that process. Thank you for being here with us every step of the way. We are excited about what's next and excited to say we are only just getting started.
On today’s show we are pleased to ALSO have Rabbi Steve Leder of the Wilshire Boulevard Temple in Los Angeles. A graduate of Northwestern, Rabbi Leder received a Masters in Hebrew Letters in 1986 and his Rabbinical Ordination from Hebrew Union College in Cincinnati the following year. In 1987 he joined the Wilshire Boulevard Temple and has served as the congregation's senior rabbi since 2003. He is the author of four books and most recently, “The Beauty of What Remains: How Our Greatest Fear Becomes Our Greatest Gift” which was published in January. His writings have appeared in the LA Times, The New York Times, and the Jewish Journal. In addition to his rabbinical duties, he has taught Homiletics at Hebrew Union College in Los Angeles and is a regular contributor to television news programs.
You can find Rabbi Leder on Instagram here and Twitter here
Check out our other projects and support us here
Alexandra Zapruder on Holocaust Remembrance, Antisemitism and the Importance of Bearing Witness
Alexandra Zapruder earned her undergraduate degree at Smith College and her Masters at Harvard. As a founding staff member of the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum, she has, for over twenty years, contributed to our knowledge of the Holocaust. In particular, she is the author and editor of Salvaged Pages: Young Writer’s Diaries of the Holocaust, published in 2002 and recipient of the National Jewish Book Award in the Holocaust category. She has also penned pieces for Lithub, The Smithsonian Magazine and The New York Times.
She also, of course, has one of the most recognizable last names in American history, especially for the generation that grew up in the 1960s and 70s. Her most recent book, Twenty-Six Seconds: A Personal History of the Zapruder Film, is a fascinating account of how her grandfather’s famous home movie capturing the assassination of President Kennedy intertwined the life of her family with the life of the nation. In dealing with diaries from children's’ past or being a descendant of someone that documented this country’s most famous political assassinations, one can’t help but draw a connection between her two books—a fascination with fragments from the past, her effort to make sense of the objects left behind, and how that shapes our understanding of history.
Whether it is pages from children’s diaries written during the darkest period in Jewish history or the meaning of an 8 millimeter home movie shot in 1963, Alexandra Zapruder has used her skills to reclaim objects and help us see them in new ways, illuminating the importance of what it means to bear witness, regardless of the medium.
Check her out in the 22nd Annual Fanya Gottesfeld Heller Conference for Educators with the Museum of Jewish Heritage here
You can find her on Twitter at EZapruder
Follow and support all of our projects here.
Author and Lawyer Daniel Berke on his Grandfather's Experiences Fighting in Pacific Theater (WW2), Being Jewish in the UK, Importance of Zionism, and Modern Day Jewish-Hatred
On our next episode, we featured Daniel Berke - Daniel Berke is a lawyer specializing in criminal and regulatory law and has a Master’s Degree in Criminal Justice. He has acted in numerous high-profile and complex legal matters throughout the Jurisdiction and has been interviewed in major news and current affairs broadcasts about his work and cases.
He holds a board position in a not for profit legal organization, is a member of the Jewish Diplomatic Corps of the World Jewish Congress.
He is also the author of “Captured Behind Japanese Lines: With Wingate’s Chindits – Burma 1942–1945,” his first book which was inspired by the incredible heroism of his grandfather, Frank Berkovitch who fought alongside the Chindits during WWII. “Captured behind Japanese Lines” chronicles his grandfather’s journey as a soldier as well as his time spent as a prisoner of war after being caught by the Japanese. The work is the product of considerable personal research, research that took him to Burma to bear witness to his grandfather’s experience and we’re fortunate to have him on our podcast so that Frank’s story and the stories similar to it will never be forgotten.
Check him out on Twitter @danielberke1
SEASON 3 PREMIER: Rabbi Mendel Rubin on the Rebbe's 120th Birthday, Impact of Chabad's Digital Presence, and Reb Yoel's Legacy
We. Are. Back! Welcome back to the Two Tall Jews Show presented by Jewish Original Media and in collaboration with the World Jewish Congress, powered by the NextGenInc program. We are excited to kick off Season 3 of the podcast with a very special guest: Rabbi Mendel Rubin of UofAlbany in New York.
"Rabbi Mendel and Raizy Rubin and family are the directors and family-in-residence at Shabbos House since Fall 1997. The original plan in Fall 1997 was to try Shabbos House for a year, but we fell in love with it, and hope to continue here for years to come.
Rabbi Mendel Rubin was raised in Albany NY, and studied in Yeshiva and Rabbinical schools in Brooklyn, Paris and Israel. He enjoys preparing and sharing creative classes and relevant Dvar Torahs. He also teaches Talmud, Chassidic Thought and directs the TNT (Torah ‘n Technology) and APPS Programs at the Maimonides Hebrew Day School in Albany."
You can follow him on Twitter @shabboshouse where he is very active.
Check out and support his Chabad house here
Support our projects and check them all out here
SEASON 2 FINALE: Updates + 2022 Vision
That’s a wrap for Season 2 🎉
Check out some of our all time stats, top 5 episodes, and quotes from the most downloaded episodes on our Instagram page: https://www.instagram.com/p/CYmp6--Nchb/
Thank you to all of our guests - you’ve enriched our show and helped expand our audience immensely.
Thank you for listening, engaging, supporting, subscribing. It means the world to us to bring you this content and we can’t wait to continue doing so.
For those interviews we’ve done and not yet released - worry not. We have not forgotten about you friends. Consider yourselves in the rotation for Season 3.
We’ve stepped away for a bit as our cohost and producer adjusts to making Aliyah - we’ll be back better than ever soon enough
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We are the Two Tall Jews… and we are ready to go!
https://linktr.ee/otdjewishistory
Old Jewish Men Guy on Jewish Humor, Best Deli in NY, and Ralph Lifshitz
On today’s show we are very pleased to have Noah Zimmerman, founder and operator of the Instagram page Old Jewish Men (@oldjewishmen). If you’re wondering why this page exists and more importantly, how it became so f*****g funny, you’re about to find out.
Zimmerman’s content, which ranges from borderline barbaric to beautifully bizarre, spans a wide continuum, casting the spotlight on older Jewish men and for a brief moment, turning their anonymity into celebrity. In addition to breaking Jewish news, creating Jewish memes and commenting on the lives of famous Jews, the page is famous for its daily content which includes the frequent poll question, "OJM or not OJM" as well as its signature Ralph Lifshitz apparel.
Much of its story content is narrated by Zimmerman, who’s legendary Old Jewish Man impersonation serves as a humorous reminder of how all of us remember our Jewish grandfathers, with a bit of shtetl, war veteran, and Brooklyn sprinkled in between. With over 55K followers it is a page that emphasizes the perks of aging Jewish, Noah Zimmerman has headed the call, creating content which combines the humor and Hebraic in ageing New York Jews.
Follow OJM here
Buy OJM merch here
Follow us and support our different projects here: https://linktr.ee/otdjewishistory
Dr. Efraim Zuroff on Nazi Hunting and Serving Justice for the Unjustifiable
Dr. Efraim Zuroff is a Holocaust historian, scholar and Nazi hunter who currently serves as the Director of the Simon Wiesenthal Center in Jerusalem where he works as the chief coordinator overseeing a global research effort to prosecute Nazi war crimes. Dr. Zuroff is the author of numerous books on the Holocaust and is the author of the Center’s annual “Status Report” which details the global investigation to track down and prosecute Nazi officers. In 2002 Dr. Zuroff, along with Aryeh Rubin, spearheaded Operation Last Chance through the Wiesenthal Center which provides financial incentives for information that will lead to the prosecution and conviction of Nazi war criminals. The project has been implemented throughout eastern Europe. A graduate of both Yeshiva University in New York and Hebrew University in Jerusalem, Dr. Zuroff has devoted his life to tracking down Nazis and uncovering the secrets of World War II.
Our show is presented to you by IZZY. IZZY features a growing library of unlimited Israeli movies, TV shows, and documentaries that you can watch anytime, anywhere, and as much as you want, with English subtitles — all for one low monthly or yearly subscription. And for being one of our listeners, you can get 10% off your first month's subscription with the coupon code: JewishHistory. Be sure to redeem this coupon code exclusively via their website — www.streamisrael.tv — and then use your email address and password to access IZZY across their suite of streaming apps, such as Apple TV, Android TV, ROKU, Amazon Fire, and more.
Follow Dr.Zuroff on Twitter here
Check out his books for purchase here
Check out all of our relevant links across different platforms here
Yom Kippur 5782: Reframing Perspectives and Starting Anew
We're back with another holiday special. And on this day, the holiest holidays of all: Yom Kippur. Join us as we break down Isaac's questions and attempt to enter Yom Kippur with the proper mindset - for "we are like angels".
On deck:
- Yom Kippur During Times of the Temples
- Why / How Is Yom Kippur Amongst the Happiest Days of the Year?
- On "Being Like Angels"
- Reframing Teshuva
Check out all of our other projects and visit our merch store to support us here.
Book Club: "Rebbe" by Rabbi Joseph Telushkin, Part 3 Discussion ft. the Book's Editor, Jake Zebede
The Two Tall Jews and On This Day in Jewish History have begun our first book club! Check out our discussion of part 3 featuring the book's editor, Jake Zebede who shared some BTS in the making of the biography - particularly many of the thought processes, experience with the author, and why the unique structure of the book that isn't linear (as most biographies are). In this discussion, we went over the Rebbe's 7 Virtues:
- Love Your Neighbor: Focus on the Individual
- Creating Fearlessness, Creating Leaders
- Optimism and the Careful Choosing of Words
- "I'm Also Tired. So What?": The Rebbe's Work Ethic
- Expressing Disagreement Without Being Disagreeable
- Anything Worth Doing is Worth Doing Now
- Judaism's Mission to the World: Spreading Light & Oneness
First on our list is the latest biography on Rabbi Menachem Mendel Schneerson, the Lubavitcher Rebbe of blessed and righteous memory. Every other week, we aim to share clips of our recaps of each part as we read this incredible and meaningful book together.
At the same time, we have a small group of people who have joined us in reading this book together. Every other Sunday evening, we meet for about 30-45 minutes over a private Zoom to discuss the latest part of the book.
If interested in joining us, send us a DM and we'll add you to the guest list!
Purchase book here: https://www.amazon.com/Rebbe-Teaching...
DM us to join the bi-weekly Zoom meetings here: https://www.instagram.com/two.tall.je...
If you're unable to read the allotted amount by the time we have our call, that's what these recaps will be for!
Check out all of our other projects and merch store to support us here: https://linktr.ee/otdjewishistory
Margot Touitou on Being Jewish (& funny) on TikTok, Living in Tel Aviv, and #GoodVibezOnly
Margot Touitou is probably everything you are not. She’s a Jewish-American-Israeli comedian, writer, and digital director based out of Tel Aviv where she currently works at a tech startup.
You probably know her by her Instagram and TikTok handle: @margot2e2 where she has a combined number of well over 10K followers w/ pretty funny (& meaningful) content too.
She lives in Tel Aviv, Israel although she hails from Denver. Margot is the host of the podcast "Kiss and Tel Aviv”: the first and only podcast about dating, sex, and relationships in the Nonstop City of Tel Aviv.
Some topics we covered in this chat:
- Behind the scenes into Margot's creative process
- Being Jewish online (particularly TikTok)
- Worst Piece of Advice Given About Moving to Israel
- 3 Things Margot Would Change if She Were Prime Minister Tomorrow
- Antisemitism in 2021
Check out all of our other projects and merch store to support us here.
Book Club: "Rebbe" by Rabbi Joseph Telushkin, Parts 1 & 2 Recap
The Two Tall Jews and On This Day in Jewish History have begun our first book club!
First on our list the latest biography on Rabbi Menachem Mendel Schneerson, the Lubavitcher Rebbe of blessed and righteous memory. Every other week, we aim to share clips of our recaps of each part as we read this incredible and meaningful book together.
At the same time, we have a small group of people who have joined us in reading this book together. Every other Sunday evening, we meet for about 30-45 minutes over a private Zoom to discuss the latest part of the book. If interested in joining us, send us a DM and we'll add you to the guest list!
Purchase book here: https://www.amazon.com/Rebbe-Teaching...
DM us to join the bi-weekly Zoom meetings here: https://www.instagram.com/two.tall.je...
If you're unable to read the allotted amount by the time we have our call, that's what these recaps will be for!
~
Check out all of our other projects and merch store to support us here: https://linktr.ee/otdjewishistory
Rabbi Shlomo Litvin on a Jew's Purpose, Clubhouse, Holocaust Education / Tokenization, and Chabad Lubavitch's Positive Impact
On today’s show, we are pleased to have Rabbi Shlomo Litvin is the director of Chabad of the Bluegrass At the University of Kentucky and the, “Clubhouse Rabbi”. Rabbi Litvin serves both the Jewish community of Lexington as well as the University of Kentucky. He began serving as its director in May 2015 and became the Senior Rabbi of the Jewish Study Center at the University of Kentucky in August 2016. He received his Masters in Rabbinical Studies from Central Yeshiva Tomchei Tmimim Lubavitch in New York.
Whether it's by voice on Clubhouse, pen or tweet, Rabbi Litvin continues to combat hatred and spread light through Jewish education on a daily basis.
You can find him on Twitter, Instagram, and Clubhouse as @BluegrassRabbi
Dr. David Marwell on Josef Mengele and the Memory of the Holocaust
Dr. Marwell spent 9 years with the US Justice Department and served as the Chief of Investigative Research, presiding over the prosecution of Nazi war criminals in the United States. From 1988-1994 he served as the Director of the Berlin Document Center, an archive consisting of captured personnel-related files pertaining to the Nazi Party and its related organizations. He was instrumental in the investigations into Klaus Barbie and Josef Mengele, and aided in the authoring of the key reports that followed. Dr. Marwell became the Associate Museum Director of the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum overseeing its key museum departments. From 2000-2015 he served as Director & CEO of the Museum of Jewish Heritage and in 2020 his book Mengele: Unmasking the Angel of Death, was published. Dr. Marwell is currently the President of the Leo Baeck Institute in New York City.
You can purchase his book on Amazon, now out on paperback: https://www.amazon.com/Mengele-Unmasking-David-G-Marwell/dp/0393609537
Ilana Wolstein on Calling out Antisemitism, Online Activism, and Why its Still Scary to be Jewish
On this week's episode we sit with Ilana Wolstein (@ilanawols), Jewish activist, content creator and digital media aficionado who currently works in branding and digital marketing. In her spare time, Ilana also spends her time finding homes for some of the cutest foster dogs. Online, or on the street, Ilana is a fierce supporter of the Jewish people and a strong combatant of antisemitism in all of its ever manifesting forms. Whether it's in pieces, posts or podcasts, Ilana has continued to place antisemitism at the forefront of her conscience and her conversations.
Some topics we discuss here are:
- Why its still scary to be Jewish?
- Role of the Modern Online Jewish Activist
- Importance of Gaining Jewish Literacy
- Ilana's Favorite Jewish Social Media Accounts
- Why Judaism is Not a Religion
Adar Weinreb on Achieving Reconciliation with our Cousins, Productive Dialogue, and a Brighter Future
This episode features Adar Weinreb, the host and force behind the YouTube sensation, “Sulha” which is the umbrella brand for “The Great Debate” and the “Standing Up the Podcast” amongst other amazing projects. Adar’s “Sulha” is primarily a YouTube channel with nearly 8K subscribers as of this release that puts forth impassioned debate with a diversity of opinions on a wide array of issues.
Adar’s guests largely tackle issues related to Israel, Judaism, Middle East policy, the Jewish/Israeli and Palestinian/Arab narratives, combining the history of events and connecting them to their present day challenges. The channel has also dabbled in highlighting the plight of the Uyghur Muslims in China, the conflict between Armenia / Azerbaijan, the morality of eating meat, and even the effects of psychedelics.
You can find all of Sulha using this link: https://linktr.ee/theSulha and connect with Adar using this one: https://linktr.ee/adarw
Eli Kohn on Combatting Jewish-hatred, "British Voice for Peace", and How to Approach the I-P Discourse
On this week's episode we host Eli Kohn - a Jewish social media star who combats antisemitism online with wit, humor, facts, and responses that will place any Jew-hater rightly in their place. On deck for this interview:
- Eli's work on documenting her grandfather's Holocaust survival story using his own diaries
- Challenges of fighting antisemitism on each individual platform
- How to best approach the complex discourse around the I-P conflict
- A conversation on whether or not Judaism is sexist towards women
We hope you enjoy this episode. Follow Eli on TikTok and Instagram @judeaneli and Twitter @EliKohn. You can likely find her on Clubhouse on a daily basis going deep on many of the topics covered in this episode.
SEASON 2 PREMIER: Brooke Goldstein on Ending Hatred of Jews and its Grassroots Potential for Change
WELCOME TO SEASON 2 OF THE TWO TALL JEWS SHOW.
Brooke is a lawyer, author and human rights activist. In this episode, we break down the recent spate of violence both in Israel and on Jews around the world while trying to understand where it's coming from and what we can do to properly act on moving forward.
Born and raised in Toronto, Brooke received her undergraduate degree from McGill and her law degree from Cardozo. In 2010, Brooke founded the Lawfare Project, a nonprofit legal organization and think tank for which she serves as Executive Director, dedicated to the protection of Jewish and Zionist communities all over the world. As a litigation fund, the Lawfare project provides financial backing to protect free speech and civil rights by applying challenges to discrimination and antisemitism experienced by Jews. She also heads the #EndJewHartred grassroots movement that helps Jews and allies anywhere demand direct consequences for blatant discrimination and hatred of Jews - a main topic of this conversation.
In 2011 Brooke co authored the book Lawfare: The War Against Free Speech: A First Amendment Guide for Reporting in an Age of Islamist Lawfare which serves as guide for journalists to combat the weaponization of the law in an effort to silence writers who speak out against Islamist militancy.
A driven legal scholar whose grandfather battled the Nazis as a Polish Partisan against the tyranny of Hitler’s Europe, Brooke Goldstein has dedicated her life to helping oppressed Jews everywhere, giving voice to the forgotten. Whether its aiding in the humanity of Palestinian teenagers or fighting the discriminatory label of Israeli products in France, Brooke is on the front lines. Whether its in the courtroom, in print, or on-screen, railing against the world of Jewish hatred one case at a time.
Israel Under Attack: 2021 Operation Guardian of the Walls, Day One
DEVELOPING SITUATION: As everyone knows Israel is currently under attack from Hamas / Palestinian Islamic Jihad (PIJ), the Arab-Jewish cities are in disarray and social media has been flaming the firestorm of misinformation that is only worsening the situation. As of this release, most Israelis regardless of their background are in bomb shelters and under threat of being killed by extremists in Gaza who have taken advantage of a legal housing dispute and incendiary lies to wage indiscriminate attacks on Israeli civilians. To be clear: What they're doing is not about Palestinian rights, this is about eliminating the State of Israel. We pray and hope that the violence ends and that no more innocent lives are lost. Pray for Israel, Pray for Palestinian freedom from Hamas/PIJ.
Please take a moment to say the Psalm 121 that we recite at the end of this episode and consider donating to Magen David Adom (Israeli emergency services) as they deal with the ongoing terror: https://linktr.ee/otdjewishistory
Lag Ba'Omer Special 5781 ft. Two Chassids in a Pod
Today is an incredibly special special: The Lag Ba’Omer Special featuring Avidan and Elio, aka the Two Chassids from Two Chassids in a Pod, live from Tzfat, Israel.
Aside from being a minor yet important and fun Jewish holiday, Lag Baomer has ane extra extra special special significance for the Two Tall Jews Show as Lag Ba’Omer marks the anniversary of our project: On This Day in Jewish History from which our podcast emerged. I guess you could say with confidence that a bonfire was lit on Lag Baomer 5780 that is still very much lit with a lot more wood on the pile.
For those that know a little bit about the story of Lag Ba’Omer, they’ll know that the holiday actually finds its roots in this very holy city that Avidan and Elio are talking to us from today. More on this special day to come in our interview
Avidan and Elio both of grew up in the West and made Aliyah to Israel. They are both on a spiritual journey based on Torah principles growth. Broadcasting from the mystical city of Tzfat, Israel.
The Two Chassids are here to share thoughts, speak to interesting people, and spread the light of Hashem and the Tzadikim!
Check them out on Instagram:
https://www.instagram.com/twochassidsinapod/
Check them out on YouTube:
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCZBAXOYs6A7akXCWH79GajQ
Neal Karlen on the Impact of his Jewish Identity and his Relationship with Prince
Neal Karlen, longtime journalist and author whose work has appeared in The New Yorker, The New York Times and The Minneapolis Star Tribune. He is the author of such books as Take My Life, Please, Babes in Toyland, Slouching Towards Fargo and Augies Secrets. Neal has also written two books about Judaism, Shanda: The Making and Breaking of a Self Loathing Jew and The Story of Yiddish: How a Mish Mosh of Languages Saved the Jews. Neal has also taught at the University of Minnesota and Augsburg College.
Before becoming an author, Neal was a staff writer for Newsweek and Rolling Stone Magazine where he became friends with Prince while writing about him, which serves as the subject of his most recent book, and our focus in today’s conversation, This Thing Called Life: Prince’s Odyssey On and Off the Record.
Find out more about Neil on his website: https://nealkarlen.com/ and check out his latest must-read book on Prince, This Thing Called Life: Prince’s Odyssey On and Off the Record on Amazon.
Natan Levy on Being an Israeli MMA Pro, Future UFC Fighter
{DISCLAIMER} As of the recording and release of this episode, Natan had to unfortunately back out of his UFC debut vs Austin Hubbard. Throughout the conversation, we speak with certainty that the fight was happening, but for the sake of Natan's overall career, he decided not to fight on April 17th. On this week's episode we host the only (current) Israeli UFC fighter. Out of Herzliyah, Israel - Natan remains undefeated in his professional fighting career with a black belt background in karate, kung fu, and JewJitsu. Natan currently calls Las Vegas home as he trains and recuperates from an injury that will hold him back from debuting as planned. Check him out on Instagram @natan_levy and tune in to see his progress as his trains his way back to the octagon!
Pesach Special 5781 ft. Rabbi Daniel Bortz aka Millennial Rabbi
On the 5781 Pesach Special we are humbled to be joined by Rabbi Daniel Bortz aka @millennialrabbi. He is the host of the “Beneath the Surface” podcast (also the title of his book you can find on Amazon), founder of Jteen of San Diego, an organization dedicated to educating and empowering teenagers, and then created SOUL X, an organization offering experiential events for adults to foster deep soul connection. Rabbi Bortz is truly a Millennial Rabbi - he loves sports and music, practices Brazilian “Jew” Jitsu, and lives everyday with the mission of infusing ancient Jewish wisdom with today’s culture, viewing every moment as an opportunity for personal growth and the elevation of our surroundings for a greater Divine purpose. In this episode we talked to Rabbi Daniel Bortz about his story in the social media game, future of online Jewish education, What is Pesach all about?, How can we all feel as if we, ourselves are, “leaving Egypt”? and internalizing the trust essence of Freedom during this particular Time of Freedom.
Roots Metals On Jewish Education, Jewelry, and Combatting Antisemitism
On the 21st Episode (not including our holiday specials), we are psyched to host Debbie Lechtman aka Roots Metals - everyone's favorite Instagram Jewish educator and jeweler. On this episode we speak about Debbie’s story from Jewish Educator to Jeweler Back to Jewish Educator (and Jeweler), the dangers of antisemitism from the Left & the Right, what is “internalized antisemitism”, how anti-Zionism is inherently antisemitic, future of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, and everything wrong with the term “Judeo-Christian”.
You can also find Debbie at
www.instagram.com/rootsmetals
Purim Special 5781: What's This Holiday All About?
As the old joke goes, one can sum up most Jewish holidays into: "They tried to kill us, we survived, let's eat" and in the case of Purim, that's exactly what happened. Check out our Purim Special to hear Meyer give over the Purim story, some follow-up questions Isaac has, and a bit on customs / commandments (mitzvot) that all Jews have on Purim. Purim Sameach and an easy fast to those fasting for Ta'anit Esther!
Ben Freeman (Vol. 2) On His 1st Book, "Jewish Pride: Rebuilding a People"
Our first recurring guest is the one and only Ben Freeman, Holocaust Educator and Jewish Rights Activist. This past Monday, Ben released his first book titled, "Jewish Pride: Rebuilding a People" and in this episode we took a deep dive into the contents of the book. What does it mean to have Jewish Pride? What inspired Ben to write the book? Why did he write it the way he did? We answered all of these questions and so much more. Get your own copy of Jewish Pride: Rebuilding a People on Amazon today!
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We are also happy to announce the launch of our merch store jewishoriginal.com/merch. Here, you can find shirts, sweaters, hats, mugs, canvases of beautiful sights in Israel and so much more. Send us a screenshot of a review and 5 star rating of our podcast and we will send you a discount code for 15% off the entire store.
Intro
Understand the Jewish perspective on Jewish history. An On This Day in Jewish History production - Isaac and Meyer are here to dive deeper into the aspects, dates, concepts, people, places, and opinions about Judaism and Jewish History that we can't full cover in our daily posts, on a bi-weekly basis. . See all of our relevant links here: https://linktr.ee/otdjewishistory Please subscribe, rate and review. Check us out on Instagram @two.tall.jews_show for clips and exclusive content.
Alice Bronstein on Silent Meditation and our Spiritual Journeys
Today we are pumped to be hosting Alice Bronstein from the Beautiful People Podcast to chat about her experience with silent meditation retreats, each of our individual spiritual connections and the overall journeys that we are always on. Certainly a different type of conversation and one that we absolutely enjoyed. Check out Alice on all podcast platforms and Instagram (@beautifulpeople_podcast) and enjoy the show. If you're listening on Apple Podcasts, please give us those shiny 5 stars and leave us a review :)
Arielle Kaplan on Sex Journalism and the Intersection with her Jewish Identity
On today’s episode, we are very excited to be with Arielle Kaplan. Arielle is the host of the “Balls Deep” podcast, with her friend Rachel Wainz where they explore topics of sex, dating, relationships while answering "all of your most embarrassing Google searches"
Arielle also works for heyalma as the host of “And God Was Like”, a weekly Torah portion educational series "for the Hebrew school dropout"
She has also provided bylines for such outlets as Salty Magazine, Kveller, The Nosher, and JTA.
Find her on Instagram @buffyfangirl94 and/or @whoregasmic
Channukah Special 5781: What's This Holiday All About + Can Antizionist Jews Truly Celebrate Such a Zionist Holiday?
And on the 7th Night, the Two Tall Jews released their much awaited Channukah Special. Tune in to get a historical summary of the Channukah events, Meyer and Isaac's personal approaches to having a spiritual experience during the 8 Days, and a special conversation on whether or not antizionist Jews can truly celebrate a holiday that is inherently Zionist.
Taylor Amrani on Finding Common Ground and Reframing Perspectives
Today, we welcome on Taylor Amrani, @lifebytaylor. Taylor is a Mindset Coach whose primary goal is to “help you stop wasting your time and energy on things that don’t matter and start living the life you deserve”. In a past life, Taylor was known for going viral on Facebook with videos about Israel - here we speak about why she stopped.
Taylor shares her insight with the world online on her website lifebytayloramrani.com, Instagram by the same handle (@lifebytaylor) - she’s a writer, a video creator, an incredibly positive vibe to have on your social media feed, and we are happy to have her on the Two Tall Jews Show
Adela Cojab on Institutional Antisemitism at NYU and Future for Jewish Students on College Campuses
On the 15th (!) episode of The Two Tall Jews Show, we sat down with Adela Cojab, Adela is a recent NYU graduate, published author, and Israel activist. As a student, she was president of “Realize Israel”, a Senator on the NYU Student Government, Vice President of her sorority, AEPhi, and served as the official representative of Jewish Students at the UN. Adela's work has been recognized by national and international organizations, earning her designation as one of the Jewish Week “36 Under 36” Jewish Leaders of 2018. Currently, Adela is proud to continue her advocacy work as Northeast Coordinator for Maccabee Task Force. On this episode, we dove deep into her landmark Title VI Antisemitism case against NYU who recently settled with her, setting a major precedent for future cases of discrimination against Jewish students on college campuses nationwide.
Rudy Rochman on Jewish Identity and True Nature of the Israeli-Palestinian Conflict
Rudy Rochman (@rudy_israel) is a human rights activist who has fought tirelessly for the rights of Jews and Israelis.
A veteran of the Israeli Defense Forces. At seventeen, Rudy was part of the elite paratroopers unit, Tzanchanim, and served from 2011-2013
Following his IDF service he began his studies at UCLA but quickly transferred to Columbia after it was given the designation of most antisemitic University in North America. During his time at Columbia, Rudy founded the Student Supporting Israel chapter and served as its President.
He has always been on the front lines, engulfing himself in the messes of our present day geopolitical reality, doing his best to clarify the confusion that permeates the national dialogue concerning the Middle East.
Rabbi Manis Friedman on the Nature of God, Judaism, and Our Purpose on Earth
Rabbi Manis Friedman is a world-renowned author, counselor, coach, lecturer and philosopher. Rabbi Friedman combines ancient Torah wisdom with modern wit to captivate audiences around the world. He hosts his own critically acclaimed cable television series, Torah Forum with Manis Friedman, host of the weekly podcast, “Ideas That Change the World”, and is known as “Youtube’s Most Popular Rabbi”.
You can check out his site: itsgoodtoknow.org for access to a bevy of resources and even get in touch with Rabbi Friedman today.