The Zal (Jewish Profundity (Sometimes))

Because it does good or because it's just right? Are we expecting Mazal points to cash in later? What even is charity?  

The grayest areas, the Zalliest territory, and all new sponsors for our last episode of the year 5782.  

Thanks so much for being with us.

Music:

Stephanie Chou: http://www.stephaniechoumusic.com

Aloe Blacc's "I Need A Dollar": [YouTube]

Oy. Yo. Shift a letter, shift the meaning. Nosson gets involved in the conversation about Jewish melody and rap, traditional and contemporary, differences and common ground. 

In this episode Dovid, Adam and Hassidic rap sensation Nosson Zand discuss how successful each of these art forms are at: evoking joy, breaking limitations, melting inhibitions and building inter-human connections. 

Toward the end of the episode Nosson captures his “drop the rake” moment and depicts what it felt like to collaborate with reggae superstar Matisyahu.

A playlist of traditional Jewish melodies (niggunim): [Youtube]

Nosson's catalog: [Spotify]

The Reddit forum r/Judaism is the world's largest anonymous Jewish community.  If you know the internet, and you've ever been in a comment section, you might think this faceless space would be cesspool of crazies, haters and pedants.

And it sure would be if it weren’t for a handful of committed moderators: our guests in The Zal.

We ask what it takes to maintain a forum whose mandate includes everything from complex legal clarification to Jewish feelings of loneliness to baby-Yoda Purim costumes.

Together, we (try to) define anonymity, and ways to prevent its pitfalls while promoting its perks.

"Got myself a Jew" from Uncle Mel

Music by Stephanie Chou

The kerfuffle over 'Taco Tuesday' that pitted Taco Bell and LeBron James against Taco John’s, a far smaller taco purveyor, got us thinking about owning things that can’t be touched. 

What are the differences between trademarks and copyrights? What would the ancient scholars think about Taco Bell's case? How can anyone argue LeBron isn’t the G.O.A.T.?

We give great answers to 0 out of 3 of these questions, but hey, we only had twenty minutes.

It's Part 2 with media philosopher Andrew McLuhan. What is the antidote to a tech-triggered racing mind? Is *this* moment in communication evolution fundamentally different than other moments of media transformation?

Is it just "kids these days!" all over again? Does tweeting “Get Off Of Twitter!” help?

The McLuhan Institute 

Understanding Media: The Extensions of Man [Get it from your independent bookstore here] 

Music by Stephanie Chou: [Spotify] 

And future friend of the pod Matisyahu: [Spotify] 

Worst case scenario? You’re buying a bright red box of chocolates to fix a relationship, or because an ad told you to. Have we lost the thread — not just for this particular holiday, but even in our lives outside of flower shops and candy stores? Dovid and Adam grapple with the idea of just Doing Something for unknown reasons, or forgotten reasons, and what it means to find the thread, or submit to tradition in whole cloth. Rambam, Hilchot Avoda Zara, Chapter 1 Rebbe Rashab reprimanding his followers for singing a melody too quickly; not being present. Read the Rebbe's letter to someone daunted by the vastness of the ultimate truth. Music: Stephanie Chou "Grenada" | Nosson Zand "Our Way" | Ryan Chaney feat. Meredith Hinshaw and Adam Valen Levinson "River" 

Jewish literature is replete with mixed messages about dreams. Should one study them, as in the Torah story of Joseph interpreting the dreams of himself and others? Or should they be ignored for they are "of no account"? In this episode, we study a piece of Talmud where both of these angles come to a head. Join us as we attempt to derive a principle.

Follow along: Babylonian Talmud, Tractate Nedarim, Page 8a-8b

Mazel Tov is arguably the most known Hebrew phrase to the English speaker. "Congratulations!" Literally, it means "good luck," but — do Jews even believe in luck? With the number of people wishing they should be billionaires, it appears that we’ve got little of it.  Where is the space for luck between destiny and agency, and what do we really mean (or want to mean) when we call someone lucky?

Follow along in the Talmud, Tractate Shabbat 156a,

Tikkunei Zohar 99b

and at the Rebbe's Farbrengen, Likkutei Sichot Vol. 15 Pg. 10

Music: Charles Butler, Daft Punk "Get Lucky" cover [YouTube] // Flow sounds by Finn Carrey

For those seeking social media clout, there’s the strong temptation to pilfer what has already proven to work. 

“If the creator of this content got so much attention - why can’t I!?” they ask themselves rhetorically as they press “post” on the piece as if it’s their own. 

The more guilt-ridden types will at least sprinkle on their “reaction” while most won’t even bother doing that. In this shortie, Adam and Dovid riff on the morality, patheticness and implications of this disturbingly common practice. 

Credit to Tzil V’zemer for the motivating song.

Tamir Goodman is the only basketball player in history to play at a D1 level while fully observing Shabbat. It’s a story that includes shocks, setbacks and lots of uplifting moments. Glancing at the Wikipedia version of Tamir’s story would lead most to exclaim “Yoshke! This guy sacrificed a lot to keep Shabbat!” But this isn’t how Tamir sees it. Shabbat kept him. The ups and downs of Tamir’s path were received with a sage-like equanimity which he attributes to wearing G-d’s jersey. Videos: Tamir's background; and the 1999 SNL skit with Jerry Seinfeld playing the "Jewish Michael Jordan" (16:30). Music by Flint — "Cloudy Skies," "Glitch Flop."

Two Jews bump into their Rebbe. One is unsophisticated but caring, the other is accomplished but aloof. Both had room to grow, but only one troubled the Rebbe. (Listen to find out which!) Join us as we discuss a second lesson (see ep. 7 for #1) from Rebbe Maharash to explore the choices for the "best" course of action. Follow along here (apologies to the Yiddish-challenged): Sefer Hatoldos Rebbe Maharash. You can purchase the English translation here. Perugia by Steph Chou off Prime Knot: [Amazon] [Apple] [Spotify]

In the long list of liturgical “I’m Sorrys” Jews recite on Yom Kippur, there's one which continues with: “for the sin... of a confused heart.”

But to the modern ear, confusion sounds like a pretty plausible excuse, not a mea culpa?

Dovid and Adam are joined in The Zal by Nthenya from Kenya - comedian, screenwriter and actor. Don't miss her soon-to-be-released special “Domesticate Me."

Music: A bit of shofar from the Yamma Ensemble. The inimitable Richard Poon sings "Complicated" by Avril Lavigne, Itzhak Perlman plays klezmer with The Klezmatics, and the band Tantz does, too.

It was G.I. Joe in a 1980s cartoon who first said "knowledge is half the battle". The traditional Rabbinic phrase goes even further: "knowledge of the ailment is half the remedy."  In a time defined maybe most by its glut of information, how far will all this *knowing* take us? On tap: a discussion around physical ailments, mental health issues, the war and recent collapse in Afghanistan, and more.

Follow along in the Talmud, Tractate Sota Page 44a 

And at the Rebbe's Farbrengen, Toras Menachem Purim 5718 - 1958 Ch. 42

Music: Steph Chou, :Movement 3: Ensemble" from C for G Ballet [YouTube] 

Often in Jewish history our haters sought to put an end to Judaism by the trigger of a gun. This episodes explores when a Jew should "choose life" and when to make the ultimate sacrifice for their beliefs. 

Follow along: Rambam: Mada, Foundations of Torah, Ch. 5, Laws 1-3

It feels both sad and true that it took this October's tragedies to rouse a oneness among Jews that would be a dream at times of peace. All too often, it's an outside threat that lumps us together as “the Jews.”

In this episode, we talk about that lump. We talk about beards.

Episode 40 was recorded in the good ol' days of a few weeks ago, before we were swallowed up. When we could whimsically dissect our differences with that constant belief: they don’t ultimately matter.

We’ll be recording something soon that doesn't pretend the outside world doesn't exist — but in the meantime, here's a couple voices from a lighter time.

Credits: Neighs, neighs (Ancient Lithuanian War Song), Umbrella by The Laurie Berkner Band, Our Way and Something To Live For by Nosson Zand, Uniform Convergence by Stephanie Chou and Mr. Kim Gotlieb teaches Tefillin.

Envision yourself meditating. Seriously. In this vision, have you sprouted a 10-inch beard and teleported to the edge of a forlorn mountainside? The arts of meditation and prayer are so foreign to our existence that they're either too vague or too specific to grasp — do we need an app or a New Age album or nothing or...?

In this episode, Adam and Dovid discuss praying vs. just saying, meditating or just standing by a wall — and lots of the in-betweens.  What can different practices aiming towards accessing something sublime mean — or do? — for us in a usual day in our usual head. 

For information on Rabbi Yitzchak Ben Sheshet of Valencia, see here.

More inspiration from the Rebbe on making one's prayers selfless, watch here.

To purchase a book from Rabbi Adin (Even-Yisrael) Steinsaltz's writings, click here.

We're faced with an annoyance of our own making: call it turbulence, call it discomfort. To what degree are we supposed to ignore it or suffer it stoically or fight it? 

What should Dovid say to his kids when the plane is bouncing around? What should you do when you hit those big bumps in the road, or realize you're just going to be driving on gravel for the next 200 miles?

In this episode, Metaphor Guru Adam — he once called a confluence of bad things a "perfect storm"!  Brilliant — takes us on a trip into the bumpy air of pessimistic complacency vs. small-goal realism.

Oh, and Adam grows a beard.

In this unintended episode, we banter and vent (vanter?) on the ridiculousness that is the self-absorbed-thoughtful-post and the decorum governing it. 

Selfies at Auschwitz? Action shots at funerals? Memorial posts that feature your best angle? We go there. 

The song of this episode is “Selfie” by Gurshabad.

Diversity is no small issue, but what all can it mean? Is our goal to acknowledge the commonality in diversity or to accept diversity as an end in itself? 

Current tech and ways of being have helped us silo our understandings *and* our understandings of those understandings. (Zal enough for ya?)

In this episode, Adam and Dovid discuss how this siloing happened, what contributes to it, and what might increase the truest kind of diversities in our lives.

Music by Nosson Zand, Stephanie Chou, and a clip from one of the wisest films ever made. Come get involved.

During times of crisis, weary eyes look for guidance.

Is our eyesight just getting worse or has the nature of leadership really changed? Are we just crusty curmudgeons or are leaders not what they used to be? 

Gotta be both. So: what do we do in this vacuum of guidance — should we be speaking more, or shutting up?

This episode dedicated to our friend Dex Carvey, a creator of so much gone so much too soon. Some of Dex's fingerprints: this early stage comic-book series; opened for Dana Carvey's Netflix special (won't hear Dex, but he's entitled to 10% of all laughs); idea behind The Weird Place podcast, produced by Conan O'Brien.

Explore some of the music by Zusha. 

Chazkel (Charlie) Roth was born in 1925 to a Chassidic family. He was a part of the first batch of students in the first Chabad Yeshiva on American Shores. Our recorded recollections of his, published here for the first time, paint a loving and colorful picture. 

Charlie became agnostic later in his life but still remained in warm contact with his Jewishness and the Chabad community. 

Like many other ‘hippie-Jews’ he rediscovered the depth of his religious birthright by identifying the parallels between the humanistic psychology and Jewish mysticism. 

Join Dovid and Adam as we remember an interesting life and a beautiful soul. May the Neshama of Yechezkel ben Meir Hillel have an Aliya. 

Music by: Shlomo Carlebach and ZionLight.

Experience the Rebbe's Farbrengen here.

Rabbi Avrohom Rapoport a.k.a. @RabbiRaps joins this episode of The Zal to discuss influencing: what's it like having an online congregation 1800 times bigger than at Shul?

The tightrope of preserving both the meaningfulness of content and clickability, is not for the faint-hearted. What are the considerations when speaking to your family, your friends, your community and your... world? Person Vs. Persona. Spoiler: staying natural - and transparent - are big keys for the good Rabbi.

Oh also: He's got a problem with "The Zal." Can we still be friends?

Music by the ever-elevating Zusha Band.

When the devotee exclaimed "Rebbe, I'm full of crookedness!" he wasn't expecting to be told to think more about himself. Join Adam and Dovid as they explore instruction by the 19th century Rebbe Maharash* for self-improvement and hash out the differences between self-centering and self-centeredness.

Follow along here (Yiddish only, sorry Adam and co.): Sefer HaToldos Admu"r Mahara"sh.

Click here to purchase an English translation of this text.

Music: "Eye Contact" from Steph Chou's Prime Knot. 

*The Rebbe Maharash (1834 to 1882) was the fourth spiritual leader since the inception of the Chabad branch of orthodox Judaism. He is perhaps most known for his saying (known in Yiddish as “lechatchilah ariber”): “The world says: If you can't go under [an obstacle], leap over; I say: In the first place, go over!" Read more about his life here. 

The first dance at many Jewish weddings is the Horah. It is replete with a medley of religious sounding (Klezmer-ish) music: that is, most of the lyrics are "Oy Oy Oy." Only once that box is checked can the celebration move into the 21st century.

But, what happens when those parts are mixed? When Jewish sentiments are delivered in a hip-hop package, is the religious sanctity lost? Is the song even hip-hop? What are the specific and shared values and purposes of older and newer music?

To answer some of these question, The Zal is thrilled to host its first ever guest: Hassidic Rapper, Nosson Zand.

The OG Hassidic reggae superstar Matisyahu said: “Nosson Zand is the real thing. In the world of ‘Jewish Music’ and Jewish rappers there is absolutely no one who if they asked me to write a recommendation quote, I would get behind, with the exception of Nosson. Religious Jew or not he can hold his own with an authentic style. The fact that he represents our people and his lyrics carry weight is unique in this age of the prostitution of hip hop music and the unyielding emptiness and spiritual death that is drowning American youth.”

For the music video of Nosson's smash-hit collaboration with Matisyahu, watch here.

The piece of Talmud discussed can be studied here (Talmud, Sanhedrin 101a).

To experience an uplifting Niggun (Hassidic Melody) with the Rebbe, watch here.

In all honestly, our completely real sponsors made us do it. Still, we think you'll love what's here at thezal.sellfy.store.

In this soft launch, find sweatshirts to mugs, beanies to onesies, all by legendary 19th, 20th, and 21st century companies: 

• Bananischewitz kosher banana wine: Monkeys like it, so why shouldn't you™
• Matzocoin: The crypto of affliction
• and of course Schmendl's Herring Deodorant: Why smell like a man when you can smell like a fish?

Happy Hannukah, happy Christian Hannukah (listen in to correct our pronunciation), and have a glorious Time Until Your Stuff Arrives.

Email us at zalpodcast@gmail.com with any and all questions, ideas for new products of any kind (we'll make them for ya), and new sponsors you'd like to see come on board.

Things may not go back to the way they were for Jews for a while. Dovid's Yom Kippur speech offers 2 recommendations for Jews living in this post-10/7 world. The terms pro-semitism and Jewing make an appearance.

Without expertise or first-hand experience, there’s little to add to the conversation about the situation in Ukraine. But we can listen. 

Michael Zatloff is a faith-minded individual who left behind his house and home of 24 years to escape Putin’s bombs. This is his viewpoint. 

For original quote “saving one person is like saving the world” see Talmud, Sanhedrin 37a

Lewis Franck is on a first-name basis with some of the great drivers of all time — but, you might ask... is this a NASCAR podcast now?* What makes racing bigger than just turning left a lot?

Lewis schmoozed, reported, investigated, philosophized.  In the Zal, he tells us about the benefits of trespassing, what racing tells us about class and future (im)possibilities for egality, and how he gave bar mitzvah lessons in the Sistine Chapel.

We got metaphors baby.

Intro music: ("Indianapolis Song Forever!")

Better music: Zusha

*We do, however, love the movie Cars.

On last week’s episode, Dovid put a message out for the “simpletons.” Adam’s response, basically: “Dude, harsh!” This week we explore why “simple” isn’t a dig, why true simplicity — in approach and theory and desire and practice — ain’t simple.

On tap: the ultimate greatnesses of simplicity, from the divine to the academic to the personified. The old sages’ takes. The DUI field sobriety test.

Come get involved.

Thank you to our sponsors. Bad music by your co-host; great music by these folks:

Jubilee Reed’s full rendition of Anatevka: [YouTube].  Find her EPs here.

Haryun Ban’s full rendition of Sunrise, Sunset; arr. Jeremy Choi: [YouTube]. Find him on [Instagram]. 

Three time Indy 500 winner, Mauri Rose, was a member of the tribe. Or he wasn't. 
The standout driver faced the slurs of anti-Jew leaflets, was inducted to The Jewish Sports Hall of Fame, and - went to a Lutheran church.
Michael Brown, of the Indiana Jewish Historical Society, enters The Zal to help us untangle the story.
Indy 500 Highlights from 1939 & 1941

(Warning ↑↑ contains b&w news footage of violent accidents.)

Music by Zusha Band: "Dovber"

Once a good deed is performed, the second guessing starts. People immediately get judgmental of themselves and others — if a mitzvah comes naturally, the judgment says "too easy!" And if it was hard, the judgment says "you can't be that good if it was that hard!" In this episode we try to understand three of the very different places inspiration to do good can come from, and what makes all of them equally valid. 

Music by Joe Bagale.

Follow along: Rebbe Rashab's Discourses - 1906 - Page 308 - There's no English link online, but if you read Hebrew or want to see how vast the work of the Rebbe Rashab is....

Can I replace my Rabbi with artificial intelligence? Do convenience and (the illusion of) privacy outweigh the power of the human touch? Will AI officiate weddings? 

For now, Dovid will keep his job because he can lift chairs — still, the AI Age is upon us. Once-complex questions are being answered with algorithmic ease. But should all questions be answered by the soul-free machine? (And where does this "should" even come from?)

In this episode, IBM 7094 gives speech a try (1961), Arthur C. Clark discusses "the future" (1964), and we hear some first words from an Artificial Jesus.

Music, originally suggested for this episode by ChatGPT: Boards of Canada, "Roygbiv" and "Dayvan Cowboy"; Kraftwerk, "The Robots"; Jean-Michel Jarre, "Oxygène, Pt. 4".

Rabbi Raps is back for part 2 of his visit into The Zal. In this episode he shares how he originally was compelled to influence, his need to remain not overly-prepared and why he loves an audience of gentiles. (That is: people who are fine with the temperature in the room.)

Plus, there are humans on the internet! Real ones. Individuals!

Music by the Chassidim at Zusha Band

Audio snippets from @RabbiRaps

In this episode of The Zal, meet David Yarus, Founder at JSwipe (affectionately: Tinder for Jews).

We talk about the difficulties of modern dating: paradox of choice, cowardice, ghosting and worse.

Along the way we discuss insights for individuals in the journey for their “one” and, fixes for what David refers to as “Big Jewish.”

Music: Nostalgic Longing, Jovial Longing, Modern Contentment - Thanks artists!

#AirTags #Bashert

Is a Jew still a Wandering Jew if she chooses to be on the road? In this episode we discuss the Jewish perspective on the necessary balance between mind and body — spirituality and physical labor — hidden in stories that seem as straightforward as war journalism. Join us in The Zal and listen to Adam's mind get blown as we unpack the story of crossing the River Jordan (or choosing instead to wander) from practical and mystical perspectives. 

Follow along here: Torah, Numbers 32: 5-20 

What is a mentor? A useful connection? Someone with experience and wisdom? A kind person? Smart? Educated? Even when finding these traits, it's hard to know if they're a good fit for you. This episode addresses the general goal of mentorship - and three different types of mentors. Torah sources, real world applications.

Follow along: Pirkei Avot Chapter 1, Mishnas 6 and 16

New horror film The Offering (out Friday) paints an unusual setting for terror. Instead of the typical sleepy suburb, it's a tight-knit Jewish neighborhood. Instead of clueless homeowners, it's kind — and sometimes wise — ultra-orthodox Jews.

Writer and Producer Hank Hoffman, Producer Jonathan Yunger, and lead-actress Emily Wiseman enter the Zal to discuss the film's content, intentions, and implications.

Can the accurate depiction of Hasidim in film dispel anti-Jewish tropes, even in the world of horror? Beyond the Jewish context, how much of the genre is sheer entertainment and how much is meaningful metaphor?  What does it mean to handle profound (mystical! fantastical! terrifying!) philosophy for insiders while not triggering misunderstanding. (Yup — we talk about Unorthodox, too. We had to.)

The Offering opens in theaters and everywhere on demand starting Friday, January 13. 

Music:

Sami Hope's "Tidal Wave" [Spotify]

Yoel Baal Shem vanquishing demons.

(Rock the) Belz by Socalled.

After theorizing in part 1 why a Jew might be inclined to allow Antisemitism to define their Judaism, Dovid and Adam now lay out arguments why this framing should be prevented. The reasons for a real, human and proactive involvement in Judaism - or at least Jewyness - run from the pragmatic, to the substantive, to the purposeful.

Dovid'll instruct you to lay Tefillin or light Shabbat candles. Ask Adam and he might advise to host a binge of Mel Brooks - not Gibson - films. There is a consensus about billboards that demand "Please Love Us." Listen in to find out.

Music on this episode is from the midwestern Yid - Benny Goodman.

Groupthink, group expressions, even in-group vocabulary: it's easy and reliable, and a good way to keep feathers unruffled. But this ease can be outweighed by a lost opportunity to make an idea your own. In this episode, recorded in collaboration with the Jewish Learning Institute, Adam and Dovid discuss the advantages of developing (and "chewing") your own conception of ancient ideas. Practical and theological perks are all on the table. 

Read about Rabbi Chaim Brisker's Talmudic genius here. 

Read of the spirituality of the Sheloh HaKadosh here. 

Meditate on the legend of the crushed crown jewel here. 

Apply the lesson The Rebbe derived from Yaakov donning Eisav's furs here. 

Music by Ryan Chaney and Stephanie Chou.

High holidays wishes and jokes about fishes from The Zal — back after Yom Kippur, however you pronounce it.  Tell all the non-Jews: the pod's for them too! There might even be tips about making lox in this one...

Best fill-in for the blank in the title wins a prize. 

Much love from us & see you soon.

- D & A

On this episode, we grapple with the concerns of legendary philosopher of media and communication Marshall McLuhan. From the scale of person-to-person conversations to broad social change: is evolving technology (and our choices between existing ones) more important than the very things we're saying?  

Today, another guest! We talk with Andrew McLuhan, director of the McLuhan Institute (and Marshall's grandson) about these major concerns. Especially on blast: the all-consuming nature of today’s mediums and what society can do to mitigate their worst effects.  As always, we will never arrive at a "conclusion," but join us for the ride, and for a mellifluous Canadian accent. 

Music by Stephanie Chou.

And from The JakeLeggers' mixing booth.

People are putting up and ripping down signs about hostages and casualties of war. People filming people filming, people losing jobs. We have a lot of questions.

What consequences constitute "cancellation"? Is silencing a form of speech? What does the first amendment have to say about all of this? (And yes, cards on the table — we've got a lot more questions than answers.)

We should probably ask, too: posting and ripping and firing and yelling... does any of it ever move the needle?

Music: Naseer Shamma's solo oud from Baghdad in the intro, and Trace Adkins' "Help Me Understand" at the end.

Conversations surrounding Antisemitism, though painful, typically are clear as to the danger, sources and ultimate foolishness of Jew-hate. What to do about it is less straightforward.

In this first part of The Zal's Antisemitism Episode, Dovid and Adam point to - and try to make sense of - the noticeable irony that the likelier a Jew is to be a victim of Antisemitism - the less they tend to speak of the problem of Jew-hate.

This topic is understandably fraught, but please join us - and chime in - to this important conversation.

Lots of the music on this episode is from the King of Swing - Benny Goodman. Sprinkled in is the Inglourious Basterds theme song.

"Hassids don't say farewell, for they're always together" is an oft-quoted maxim but seldom understood. Maintaining closeness with a friend while gaining the advantages of distance, seems like having your herring and eating it. On this episode we discuss frames-of-mind and tactics for elevating the current, dull, Facebook friend era. 

Rebbe's Farbrengen, Shabbat Tazria 1957

The war in Israel has shifted, or at least recast, certain political alliances - especially for progressive Jews.

There was a tacit understanding in the minds of many, that if I march for your cause, you'll march for mine.

Many of those who would march arm-in-arm for other humanitarian causes have discovered a newfound silence - or even taken up ranks on the anti-Israel side. And vice versa.

In this episode we discuss: false binaries vs. that famous poem and pragmatic support vs. creepy motives.

If this discussion is nothing else - it is a pretty solid (if we may say so) attempt at civility in debate.

Credits: Cole Porter's "Let's Not Talk About Love," arr. Hubble Pierce, "Mamele" by Percy Haid, and Mel Brooks' The 2000 and Thirteen Year Old Man. And hey, support our sponsors.

Nissim Black doesn't just ignore the haters, he studies them. The legendary musician knows there are people who see him as just another fad, an Orthodox Jewish rapper, a token intersection — but he's in it for the duration, batteries charged.

Keep your New Year’s resolution of entering The Zal more often and come get a taste of Nissim's music. Plus: excerpts of other contemporary rappers from religious circles and, purportedly, the first rap track ever recorded.

Nissim shares joy and loss and connections between his life, his art, and his community with big hats.

Music from Matisyahu, Shyne, Lecrae. Find Nissim Black on Spotify and YouTube — and as he mentioned, The Jubalaires "Noah" from 1946.

In this Internet Age the difference between a 4 and 5 star review may mean the success or failure of a business. (Or your Lyft wait times.) With so much at stake, Adam and Dovid examine several considerations for internet reviewers - and whether they should be reviewing at all.

There is no 'Amazon Chapter' in the Talmud, but the Sages didn't not see this kind of thing coming. Mixing ancient principles, personal analysis and a little common-sense, you'll have the tools to answer the biggest question in the book: What Would a Mensch Do?

Music by the 5-star stars Ryan Perry and Enya.

In this inaugural episode, Adam and Dovid discuss the tricky balance of knowing that there's one best path while acting with decisiveness and without (too much) anxiety.

Follow along: Reshimos 44

Dispatches from Ukraine, part two: Dima Susskiy, writer for the comedy show that made President Zelenskiy famous. Destruction and hope on the move.

Telegram channel links: Memes from Kvartal 95 (Zelenskiy's former outfit); more memes from the channel "God, it's over!"

More about Kvartal 95.

Opening song: "Peace" by MEUTE

Closing song: "Adventures in Your Own Backyard" by Patrick Watson

Does engaging in (political) protest make a difference?

Is it apathy to stay home? Is silence concurrence? What is virtue and what is signaling? 

These questions grow more pertinent with the spotlight on protests, from America, to Israel, to... Kenya.

Reporting from Nairobi is our man Adam, where national unrest had the city half-closed, with millions taking to the streets or deciding not to.

We tangle up a list of whys and why nots.

Here, take some credit:

Casino - What Am I Doing Here
Stephanie Chou - Perugia
The poignant and provocative Martin Niemöller poem

A family heirloom made its way into Adam’s possession: a Siddur (prayer-book) that’s around 150 years old.

In this jubilee episode we discuss the provenance of this Siddur and its original owner, the meaning of a small selection of prayers and what a 30-something-not-typically-a-prayer-book-user is meant to do with this priceless book.

Music from this joyous Klezmer ensemble and Prince (who doesn't need our humble link).

A big percentage of our audience (more than just our mothers, less than all of your mothers) commented to us (verbatim): "We love absolutely everything about the pod and have no notes at all, but we would like to hear more about you as individuals. Who are you guys?"

So for this last episode of the year 5783, we put humility further to the side and put ourselves under the magnifier to compare some differences of our infra-reform and ultra-orthodox backgrounds and how they shape our perspectives now. 

Big questions: is there such a thing as a Jewish Santa? Can we all fit under the same umbrella? Can Dovid count to seven? 

Music credits to:

Piano Prelude #1 — Stephanie Chou

James Gang — Tend My Garden

The Jakeleggers — (Unreleased studio edit)

And a couple more, no spoilers, but thanks to Martin Trevy's remix for reminding us that as we move into the new year, we should still hold on to some past treasures.

Shana tova y'all — see you in 5784

We've told you a hundred times. We're The Zal, not the Za"L! You know, the place for discourse, not the deceased...

But if you insist, we'll talk about the dead. 

Join us as we discuss: What does Zichrono Livracha mean? How do Jews mourn? Can you mourn too much? Can a death be celebrated? And many more cheery topics!

The Rebbe on death and mourning.

Leonard Cohen's 'You Want It Darker.'

No, they’re not on this episode, but their South Park ordeal got us thinking: Do you stand to lose by letting loose? Is there any importance to unimportance?

This time, we put ourselves to a new test: a twenty minute episode. The clock’s ticking as we bounce between the sub-rational and the trans-rational with a bit of royals sprinkled in between.  

More on the madness of Purim

We’re back to that little old issue: man’s search for Meaning. Are we born with a need for belief beyond what we can reason? What forms can that take — what are their pitfalls? Trans-rational thought: restock on aisle humanity?

You can read about the story of the Golden Calf [Here].

The Rebbe's talk on the power of heretics can be studied in the original [Here].

The Indy Star's feature of The Zal: [Here, w/ pictures (look at that punim!) & video by Rory Appleton]

Music snippets from Nosson Zand [Spotify] and Adam Valen Levinson [sorry].

So, nu? We digressed. 

Welcome to The Zal After-Hours, where we share what we were already sharing but... later. Today: an ancient allegory we side-barred from our simplicity episode (#21) — Dovid goes a little deeper into simpleness. 

Bad intro music by your co-host; great outro music by Haryun Ban. Find his full rendition of Sunrise, Sunset, arr. Jeremy Choi, here: [YouTube]. And find him here on [Instagram].