Rabbi David Wolpe needs no introduction, but if you insist: He’s a scholar in residence at the Maimonides Fund, Rabbi Emeritus at LA’s Sinai Temple, and formerly a visiting scholar at the Harvard Divinity School (where, you know, Yael…never mind).

This is a somewhat optimistic, thoughtful (well, at least Wolpe’s part), conversation about why Jews are fine (when’s the last time you saw a Hittite walking around?), whether the bible is true, how we can build stronger friendships with other communities, and if we should forgive Kanye….not to mention Mandy Patinkin.

Happy Passover to our Jews, and Happy Easter to our Christians! Everyone else, have a wonderful and happy week, and thank you for listening!

Also:

* Jews like our clouds without silver lining.

* Things are great! All things considered.

* There’s no such thing as a grown up.

* The wrath of Jewish WhatsApp groups (you don’t need to text him about every Swastika)

* Wait, not everything in the bible is real?? A controversial sermon.

* What makes the Exodus true? An interview with Rabbi Dr. Joshua Berman (but finish listening to this first)

* Is AI good for the Jews?

* How Jewish do you need to be?

* Why did you become a Rabbi?

* What to say to a young Jew who wants out?

* Recommended reading: Testament of a Jew from Saragossa, by Eli Wiesel.

* We live in a society where victimhood is power.

* We need you!

* Where have all the Hittites gone?

* Can Judaism survive without a Tzar?

* Which Jews can we kick out though?

* Does Rabbi Wolpe forgive Kanye?

* Can’t finish without Pharoah Mandy Patinkin.

NEXT YEAR IN JERUSALEM!

We’ll be off next week, but if you miss us and want to help us grow, consider going to Apple Podcasts or Spotify and leave us a five star rating and a nice review.

Dr. Jonathan Sarna is one of the most well-regarded historians in America and the Professor of American Jewish History at Brandeis University. He has written and edited over 30 books (which is more than we have read…combined) and is the expert on the Jews of America. We rate the American presidents on whether they liked or didn’t like Jews, discuss how bad antisemitism really is today compared to the past, and learn why we have always been blamed for everything — historically speaking, of course.

Also:

* A brief detour into the history of… Sex and the City.

* The Jews that don’t eat Turkey.

* Rehabbing Ulysses S. Grant.

* It’s always the fault of the Jews - even before it happens.

* What Jews can learn from Feminists.

* What is going on with Jewish Studies departments in academia?

* Why many Jewish academics prefer to sit the antisemitism discussion out.

* Who hasn’t gotten an antisemitic letter from Richard Nixon??

* Honest Abe lives up to his name.

* How bad is it really?

Oh hey guess who else wrote something? Honored to make my debut in National Review with a piece about Israeli wartime humor.

Also, friend of the pod and previous guest Jen Brick Murtazashvili had a wonderful piece in the Washington Post today about what we get wrong about this war (a lot). Here’s a gift link.

Happy Nowruz!

Is Iran winning? Do the people support the regime? Are the Arab countries mad at us? Beni Sabti has no time for your nonsense.

Born and raised in Iran, Beni is one of Israel’s top war commentators and a fellow at the Institute for National Security Studies (INSS) at Tel Aviv University. We were honored to catch him for a bit (albeit after a few glasses of wine…) to get the real story behind the headlines. Shots were fired, and narratives sunk like the Iranian Navy. Follow him on X.

Much more on Substack!

To our Iranian listeners - we love you guys! Show 'em what you got.

Also:

* The Iranian regime only knows how to do one thing - take hostages

* love to waste Time, Money and Lives.

* The weight of responsibility when Trump listens to your interviews

* Wait Ahmadinejad is still alive? And he’s not Mossad??

* The Ayatollah is still around…in a refrigerator.

* Launchers can be rebuilt - leadership cannot

* 21:20 half a million wounded people

* Reza Pahlavi is totally a thing

* Maybe if we controlled the world the Oscar’s would be better.

* The Saudis aren’t playing

* Are the Arabs mad at us?

* Iranians love pride!

* No to Gaza, no to Lebanon! I live only for Iran.

* How are the Jews doing?

* America and Israel together = tears of joy.

* It’s not about Israel, stupid!

* Take the hope from the Iranian regime and give it to the people