Ask a Jew

You think American politics are complicated? Israeli elections are so confusing, even the people explaining them aren’t sure anyone’s going to win. So we brought in two of Israel’s leading political journalists, Amit Segal and Nadav Eyal, both Call Me Back contributors, to help us make sense of the mess. We also found time to investigate Golda Meir’s love life and chat about ChayaLeah’s son’s wedding. We get into: Is Netanyahu actually losing—or is everyone about to lose their minds for nothing? Could Israel really end up voting again just a few months later? Should American Israelis get on a plane to vote in an election that might determine the country’s future? And what if they live in California and just want a tax break? Is the fight over Haredi military service really about the army? Could Netanyahu ditch his far-right allies, or are they in a political marriage that even he can’t escape? Are Israelis paying enough attention to the country’s rapidly deteriorating relationship with the rest of the world?…

You know the Righteous Among the Nations Michael Moynihan from the Fifth Column Podcast, The Free Press, Vice, Bill Maher, his show “The Moynihan Report”, but most importantly - he is a dear friend of the Jews and our emotional support guest. He is our favorite person to discuss the media landscape, the state of Europe, why having a podcast is better than being a father, and why he spends his days looking for antisemitic quotes in books from 100 years ago. Also, we say something mean about John Cusack. Also listen to Michael on: The Moynihan Report. https://www.themoynihan.report/ The Fifth Column. https://www.wethefifth.com/ In this episode: Michael Moynihan: emotional support guest and Amazon Prime detective How the Fifth Column accidentally created an entire podcast community Mamdani sucks more than you think. Why does everyone suddenly have a PhD in Israel-Gaza? What’s really behind the student strikes in France? How conspiracy theories can fall apart How podcasts filled an unexpected need Saving people…

Today we are joined by some guy named Dan Senor for a wide-ranging Ask Me Anything. We tackle questions about the state of Jewish education, why we should stop calling everyone an antisemite, how Fauda is shaping perceptions of Israel globally, and what the rise of the European right means for Israel and Jews abroad, beyond Eurovision votes. In this episode: What American Hebrew school gets wrong Why anti-Zionism is resonating with young Americans Will the language around “genocide” and anti-Zionism eventually change? Why Fauda succeeds in telling Israeli stories better than non-fiction means What the rise of the European right-wing means for Israel and European Jews Dan lets Yael talk about Eurovision for longer than necessary The unlikely allies Israel may need to turn to Which American presidential candidates could effectively navigate Israeli issues What the 2026 midterms might reveal about the Democratic Party’s direction Read the article discussed in the episode.…

What happens when two very different Jews answer your most personal, random, and serious questions? We open up our chat for a mostly fun, sometime serious conversation about how we became friends and podcast partners, how an Orthodox matchmaker really works, what both of us got wrong about Judaism, and how we approach commemorating October 7th. We also weigh in on the very important issue of who’s our favorite from Beverly Hills 90210 and the Ninja Turtles. In this episode: How we went from a COVID-era Zoom to hosting a podcast together The unlikely friendship between a secular Israeli-New Yorker and a California Orthodox Jewish educator How does matchmaking actually work in the Chabad community? Why ChayaLeah’s grandfather’s old-school matchmaking system still inspires her Remembering October 7th: finding personal and communal ways to mourn Showing up for Jewish community even when group mourning isn’t your thing From the splitting of the Red Sea to manna from Heaven - what can you believe? This episode is…

Which is more important for Israel–winning the war or the PR battle? The one and only Douglas Murray is with us today, to talk Israel, poetry, and…true crime? We start off by accidentally insulting him, but don’t worry, he still likes Jews! Also: Why do Israelis sound like that? Douglas refuses to tell us who the stupidest person on the internet is Is Israel winning? Why does the media suck Free Palestine means more bike lanes Douglas will not tolerate any slander of British food The point of poetry Guilty pleasures Don’t rely on the Houthis for cancer research No Douglas, playing the piano does not count as procrastination How does aging even happen? And more…. ___ This episode is sponsored by Tikvah's Millstone Scholars Program, a selective national honors program where seventh- and eighth-graders study Jewish civilization, Israel, and America through primary sources and debate. Classes begin the week of October 18. Apply now at tikvah.org/ark. ___ Sign up to Ark+ to get access to exclusive episodes and…

Guys, we have big news. Really big. Like, Dan Senor Big. We are thrilled to announce we are joining Ark Media! Yes, Dan Senor bought us (actually, his company), and we now belong to him. Don’t worry, though; he hasn’t spent as much time with us as you have, so he doesn’t quite know what he’s in for. AND we have a new name! Please welcome: Chosen People Problems! You’ll get used to it. It’s really fun to say. Other than that, it’s still us, still for free, but just a whole lot more of us, more guests, and so far they are letting us do whatever we want around here (we’ve only made, like, one producer cry, and turned one sound editor antisemitic). We want to thank you, our amazing listeners, who turned us from an entirely organic little baby to the media empire we are now (or will be soon). We don’t know a ton about business, but I think they wouldn’t buy us if we didn’t have listeners - so thank you!! And thanks to the amazing people who loved us and took a chance on us so early on, and to Gabi and Mickey, our…

Who knew that you could blame evolutionary biology for doom scrolling, binging on donuts or getting seasick? In this episode, we talk to Dr. Rob Kurzban, an evolutionary psychologist, about how human feelings and behaviors are shaped by evolution. He explains the adaptive functions of emotions, the role of boredom, and how our minds respond to environmental cues, providing insights into human nature and morality. Also: Evolution doesn’t care about your feelings Do animals get bored? Scrolling through Instagram has some evolutionary purpose Wait, is evolution real?? The temptation of non-kosher donuts Why some people are into spanking Oh and lots about peeing and puking Remember, you can watch this episode on Youtube! Definitely buy (and read) All the Feels: The Evolved Function of Every Human Emotion and Sensation so you can impress your friends with all these fun facts. Do you have something you want to ask us? Don’t worry, we won’t judge you. Submit your questions HERE —- This episode is sponsored by…

This week, we’re joined by the one and only Dara Horn to discuss her new book, The Final Solution to the Jewish Question: A Love Story for the Living. It’s an incredible book that will make you both angry and proud, which is kind of on brand for us right now. Watch this episode on YouTube: https://youtu.be/9gykZ22yuIY We get into why antisemitism is not just a prejudice but a lie (and it can’t be solved by “empathy”); why Holocaust education kinda sucks sometimes, and why the most interesting question in Jewish history is not why they tried to kill us, but why we are still here. Check out Dara’s Tell Institute (coming soon to a school near you?) Have questions for us? Submit here: Tinyurl.com/askajew

Ilya Shapiro is a senior fellow and director of constitutional studies at the Manhattan Institute and briefly, but not insignificantly, the executive director of the Georgetown Center for the Constitution. Naturally, we bring him in to talk about Legally Blonde, which Baldwin Brother is the hottest (clearly Billy), and fine, the commerce clause. Follow Ilya’s work on his Substack Shapiro’s Gavel, but his book Lawless: The Miseducation of America’s Elites – An Insider's Account of Institutional Weakness and the Transformation of Law Schools, and of course check him out on X, where it all began… Also: Ilya identifies as “Trans-Sephardic” What kind of russian doesn't like pickles?? Ilyan really wants to talk about the commerce clause - but we want to talk about mayonnaise. The Federalist Papers are the Talmud of the constitution Shapiro V Georgetown Never tweet and then go to bed How badass is it to publish your resignation letter in the Wall Street Journal? Yael gets quizzed for her citizenship test…

Dear Jews and regular people, Rosh Hashana is upon us, which means it’s time to reflect on the past year, take a hard look at our behavior, ask forgiveness from the people we’ve wronged, and then immediately start judging everyone again. What a year it has been. Actually, we take that back. We’re tired of saying “what a year it has been.” Every year is apparently going to be A YEAR now. We would like one boring Jewish year, please. Nothing historic. Nothing unprecedented. Nothing that requires a statement from a Jewish organization. Just apples, honey, some light antisemitism we can complain about, and everyone home by 10. Is that really too much to ask? This week on Ask a Jew, we’re getting ready for the new year with someone very special: ChayaLeah’s dad, Rabbi Abba Perelmuter. We brought him on partly because he is a rabbi with decades of wisdom and an incredible ability to make big Jewish ideas feel relevant and human. But Yael really wanted him on because she was hoping he would tell an embarrassing…

25 years ago, we told people to never forget September 11th, and how’s that going for us? On this special episode, we are happy to interview Larry Wein, a tribe member, former NYPD Homicide detective, and 9/11 first responder. We heard what that day was like for Larry, as well as the six months that followed, which he spent at Ground Zero. Every. Single. Day. We talk about the idiocy of conspiracy theories, mental and physical health for first responders, and a special trip he is planning to Israel for the Police Unity Tour, which brings American and Israeli cops together to cycle through the country. But first - you are blessed with 25 minutes of us catching up on some, shall we say, lighter topics. We talk about Yael’s favorite new Instagram account of a random Texan dude who is fluent in Hebrew, why the Met Gala should have a holocaust themed night, and also play F/Marry/Kill with Zohran Mamdani, Brad Lander and John Galliano (it’s really easy when you think about it) Have questions for us? Go to…

Aaron MacLean is host of the School of War podcast, a National Security Analyst at CBS, a columnist at the Free Press, a retired Marine captain, and now, a reluctant and delightful guest on Ask A Jew. We discuss Iran, China, growing up the son of a WW2 veteran, The War of the Spanish Succession (??), and, ew, are we turning into France?? Join the conversation on Substack: Askajew.substack.com And check out this episode on YouTube: www.youtube.com/@AskAJew Also: Avoiding the Jihad elective at Oxford. Boulder Colorado is a gateway drug to the Muslim Brotherhood. Aaron learned Arabic only to be deployed to a non-Arabic-speaking country. What’s your favorite war, Aaron? Chaya Leah’s first word was Auschwitz. Why is Harrison Ford still hot?? Not many people know what it’s like to have your freedom at stake? Aaron’s forthcoming book: “Pro-Israel - Despite it all”. Are we winning the war?? What happened to the Turks? They used to be cool. What should we talk about next, China? Cancer? Ew, are we turning into…

Warren Kinsella wears many hats: a lawyer hat, a punk-rock musician hat, an author hat - and our favorite - a pissed-off Canadian hat. We chat with him about his new book, The Hidden Hand: The Information War and the Rise of Antisemitic Propaganda. After you have purchased the book, follow Warren on X as well. Here is a piece he wrote about his research for The Free Press: Our interview with Warren starts around minute 35, before that you can enjoy us catching up about Lindsay Clancy, how dare Bill Ackman donate a billion dollars to medical causes, the land mass currently known as Israel, and more. Also - Have a question for us? We have a form! ICYMI, here we are in Wyoming with Nadav Eyal: Thanks for reading Good for the Jews! This post is public so feel free to share it. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit askajew.substack.com/subscribe

We just wrapped up our first ever live show in Wyoming (naturally), and we had a blast!! Thank you so much to the Jackson Hole Jewish Community for hosting us, to the amazing listeners who traveled to be there, and to our special guest Nadav Eyal, who you all know from Call Me Back, Yediot Achronot, and his substack Between Us. You can and should also follow him on X and Instagram. Good for the Jews is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support our work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber. If you like, you can also watch this episode on YouTube, and check out more photos on our Instagram! * We cover all this and more with Nadav: * What the Heck is goin on in Israeli politics?? * What the polls are saying, and what can change it. * People who hate Israel won’t change their mind if Bibi loses…but it will be easier * Israel needs to get out of the news cycle * Can the next Israeli government have Arab parties in its coalition? * Diplomacy vs. Strength, The Rebbe vs. Nadav * Iron…

John Spencer is a retired Army officer, Urban Warfare expert, Chair of War Studies at the Madison Policy Forum and Executive Director at the Urban Warfare Institute. He’s been in some funky situations (including seven visits to Gaza), and encountered everything from terrorists to killer bees. He captures it all in his new book, Twenty Times I Almost Died: Life Lessons from the Edge of Survival. It’s a great book, funny and insightful, and you should absolutely buy it for yourself and the people in your life. We talk about the badass bond between the IDF and the US Armed Forces, the privilege of being a pacifist, and why John might prefer his kids go to Columbia over the Naval Academy (shudder) * Chaya Leah was also in the army… Hashem’s army * The NY Times wants to know if John got his $7,000 from us. * Pushing back against Jon Stewart * No man steps into the same river twice * John can’t decide what’s worse, sending his kids to Columbia, or the Naval Academy. * Oh you don’t believe in war? How nice. * We…

Hi Jews and Jew Lovers! It’s been an exhausting week running the world, but we still had some time to sit and catch up about Spain, Morocco, water guns and the kingdom of Cerritos Auto Square (mentioning them in case they want to sponsor the podcast.) Have a question?? Askajewpod@gmail.com Also: * J-Pop is the new K-Pop. * If Chaya Leah’s hair looks good but nobody can see it, does it still look good? * Can you use a water gun on Shabbat? * Stop calling everyone an antisemite, some people are just stupid. * Tell us if you experienced an antisemitism and we’ll tell you if you really did (that number again is askajewpod@gmail.com) * Our apperance on the Josh Szeps show! Want to listen? How about a 7-day free trial to his channel?? Click here. * Albanians are cool, except that one guy who didn’t let my friends in his restaurant. * Anyone in London?? Hit us up. * You can now watch Mark Dubowitz of the FDD talk about whether the Iranian leadership is hot on YouTube. This is a public episode. If you'd like to…

Mark Dubowitz is the chief executive of The Foundation for Defense of Democracies (FDD), and our new reluctant friend. We sit him down to talk about Iran, Saudi Arabia, why the IRGC wants Ted Kaczynski to kill him, why we can’t just send Bruce Willis (in Armageddon) to drill into Pickaxe mountain, and who the bad guys would want winning the Israeli election… Follow Mark on X, but not too closely like the Iranian government. Who’s joining us in Wyoming for our first ever live show?? Nadav Eyal will be there, will you? August 10th, there are only 37 tickets left!! Also in this episode: * Why didn’t Iran pick a good photo of Mark to present at Khamenei’s funeral? * Make democracy cool again. * Mark never met a self-hating Jew until he came to America. * How to deal with your anti Zionist kids? Tell them they’re idiots. * The Iranians won’t miss an opportunity to kiss an opportunity. * Mark realizes we want to talk about whether or not Ahmedinejad is attractive… and he has some thoughts. * What do you say to…

Ask A Jew is going to Wyoming!! We’ll be hosting a live show Monday, August 10th in Jackson Hole, how cool would it be if you join us there? If not for us, do it for Nadav Eyal, who will be our special guest, and who we didn’t add to the above AI image because he may (rightfully) sue us. Any questions? Email us at askajewpod@gmail.com Thanks for reading Good for the Jews! This post is public so feel free to share it. This week, we discuss Clavicular and Ro Khanna’s great adventures, why the Haredi issue will probably determine Israel’s next elections, and how adorable it is that everyone’s obsessed with us. Oh look, i’m angry in the NY Post again! Please read and fume with me. This time I write about how a brave Israeli hostage practically had to ambush the UN lady in charge of violence against women to finally agree to hear about her sexual assault at the hands of Hamas. However bad you think the UN is - it’s worse. Now, here is a photo from my Israel trip, the dead sea to be exact. Fun fact - this animal…

Rafael Mangual is a senior fellow at the Manhattan Institute Institute, a contributing editor of City Journal, and authour of the book Criminal (In)Justice: What the Push for Decarceration and Depolicing Gets Wrong and Who It Hurts Most. He joins us to explain what the HECK is going on with the DSA in New York, what it was like to grow up as a Dominican-Puerto Rican New Yorker with a cop for a father, what BLM and the Defund the Police movement got wrong, and what’s in store for all of us in Mamdani’s New York. Follow Rafael on X, and don’t forget to check out the episode on YouTube as well! Also, HAPPY BIRTHDAY AMERICA!! You rock. Here are a few things we love about you, in no particular order. What are we missing? * Amazon Prime * Sam Harris * Air Conditioning * Peanut Butter * Movie Theatre soda * Yellowstone National Park (actually, all national parks) * The Blue Angels * Turning right on red * Halloween * Women that call you “Hon” This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other…

Ben Kawaller is a writer and journalist who you may know from his video series “Ben Meets America” in the Free Press, and from the Reflector podcast series “Strange Bedfellows” about how the LGBT movement went slightly off the rails. We discuss coming out as a writer late in life, going to Korea for illegal spa treatments that include salmon sperm injections to the face, and whether Adam (the one from Adam & Eve) was into some kinky animal stuff… HAPPY PRIDE! Interview starts around minute 40. Follow Ben on X, Instagram. BUT FIRST! 40 minutes of catching up from your favorite Jews: Chaya Leah had a big party, Yael had a big crash. We celebrate both. Also we crown a winner fo the Challah giveaway, so listen carefully as you may be the lucky recepient. Mazal tov the Chaya Leah’s son and his soon-to-be wonderful bride!! Thank you to her parents who listened to a few episodes and still allowed her to marry into this family. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get…

In the criminal justice system, the people are represented by two separate yet equally important groups: the judges who rule on justice, and the clueless podcasters who interrogate them. Thanks for reading Good for the Jews! This post is public so feel free to share it. Today we are honored to welcome Judge Roy K. Altman, a United States Judge for the Southern District of Florida, and author of the new book: “Israel on Trial: Examining the History, the Evidence, and the Law”, a #1 Bestseller in Foreign & International Law. We talk about what it’s like to defend Israel in the court of public opinion, the drama of federal judge email chains, how the IDF is run by a bunch of Jewish lawyers, and what happens when you call the Mahjong hotline. Watch this episode on YouTube: Good for the Jews is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support our work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber. Also: * Objection: this judge is way too young. * An…

It’s 9:04 in New York and we finally reached boss level. Today’s guest is Dan Senor of the “Call Me Back” podcast, bestselling co-author of “Start-Up Nation” and “The Genius of Israel”, and all-around great guy. We chain him to the chair for a good 90 minutes for our version of a serious interview, which included the Halachic case for rooting for the New York Knicks, who despises Brad Lander more, Dan or Yael (close call), why people who hate Israel usually also hate America, what Dan’s favorite conspiracy theory is, and what’s the one question Dan’s wife never wants to hear, ever again. If you enjoyed this episode please consider rating and reviewing us on Apple Podcasts and Spotify and leaving a comment. It really helps us grow! And watch this episode on Youtube as well later today! This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit askajew.substack.com/subscribe

Batya (!) Ungar-Sargon needs no introduction, but if you insist: she’s the host of of “Batya!” on News Nation (Saturday at 7PM & Sunday at 11AM EST), host of the YouTube show “Prove It! With Batya”, and author of the brand new book, The Jews and the Left, which comes out tomorrow, is already a bestseller, and you should buy it immediately! Are you coming to happy hour tonight?? Or are you an antisemite? Why not both?? Monday, June 1st 6pm Spring Street Lounge 48 Spring St, New York, NY 10012 Chaya Leah, Yael, some special guests, and this just in - SWAG! See you there. Here’s what we cover with Batya: * Hot gossip about Leo frank * No bagel and lox parade * What kind of Jews should we blame for antisemitism? * Brad Lander, and the case of the “I got nothing else going for me” politician. * The right wing hates Israel just because of foreign aid? * Is Batya still a leftie? Yes, and so is Trump. * I’m still a Democrat, I just don’t vote for them anymore. * Batya is looking out for Trump. * Psychoanalyzing JD…

Are you in or around New York City?? Mark your calendars for Monday, June 1st at 6pm!! Come have a drink with ChayaLeah and Yael! Spring Lounge 48 Spring St, New York, NY 10012 Comment if you plan to attend! Special guests may make an appearance… Good for the Jews is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber. Thank you so much to everyone who has already filled out the Ask a Jew survey! We are genuinely so grateful for the feedback and reading your comments, suggestions, and extremely passionate opinions has been the highlight of our week. If you haven’t filled it out yet, PLEASE DO SO ASAP. The survey is super short, hugely helpful for us as we grow the podcast, and makes us feel important and data-driven. Also: homemade baked goods from ChayaLeah are still on the line. This week on Ask a Jew, we were thrilled to welcome bestselling author and Jewish rom-com queen Jean Meltzer to the podcast. Jean is the author of The Matzah Ball,…

WATCH THIS EPISODE ON YOUTUBE! Hello - SURVEY. Fill out the SURVEY. Last one to fill out the SURVEY is an antisemite. Plus you have a chance to win Chaya Leah’s baked goods, made especially for you! If you already filled it out, you are our favorite! If you are the listeners from Japan, Barbados, Scotland or Pakistan - email us! We want to get to know you (you can all email us actually. It is called Ask A Jew you know….). askajewpod@gmail.com Also, this just in - Mark your calendars for Monday, June 1st at 6pm!! Come have a drink with some other AJJers (Jew-pies?) and meet your two favorite Jewish podcasters (not Ezra Klein and Dan Senor) at: Spring Lounge 48 Spring St, New York, NY 10012 Comment if you plan to attend! Special guests may make an appearance… Now that logistics are out of the way - we gathered around the microphone last night to discuss Chaya Leah’s favorite holiday, Shavuout, and her two least favorite things in the world: antizionist Jews and Eurovision. We also have some TV and book…

Dr. Gad Saad is a scholar at the Declaration of Independence Center for the Study of American Freedom at the University of Mississippi, and all-around Mensch. As a Lebanese-Canadian-Jewish academic, let’s just say he knows a thing or two about the culture wars, and the war wars. We talk about his latest book “Suicidal Empathy: Dying to Be Kind”, how our minds have been infected by parisites, what happened when he made fun of Quebec French (linguistic genocide), and how exactly the IDF trains magical dogs to r*pe terrorists. Follow Dr. Saad on X, Facebook, YouTube and Instagram (where he has a combined 2 million+ followers), you’re in for a fun ride! Also this episode will soon be available on our Youtube! Check out our channel and subscribe. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit askajew.substack.com/subscribe

Today on Ask a Jew, we’re joined by writer Freya India, author of Girls: Generation Z and the Commodification of Everything, to talk about what growing up as a girl looks like in the age of Instagram, how we are all carrying generational trauma from Eve, and why not everything in your life is a problem to be fixed. Turns out we’re all just 13-year-old girls! Now go buy the book. Do you know you can watch this episode on YouTube? Well, you can! We also get into why social media can feel like a “rumination machine” for anxious girls, how beauty culture and Facetune turn teenagers into products, and why every normal feeling is suddenly language‑ified into a “disorder,” a “trauma,” or a “healing journey.” We also talk about what boys are seeing online, the rise of “looksmaxxing,” and whether anyone knows how to have a normal relationship anymore. If you’re a parent, a millennial/Gen X woman looking at Gen Z with horror, or a Gen Z girl trying to make sense of your own feed, this one is for you. Also: * Will the…

Two episodes in one week? You lucky ducks! Maybe there’s even a third one coming…Only Hashem (and maybe producer Gabi) knows. BUT FIRST - are you following us on YouTube? Listen, I get if you’re an antisemite and don’t want to show your cards. We won’t judge you. But if you care about the Jewish people, really the only thing left to do is subscribe, like and leave a comment! We had some beginner’s luck with the delightful Sal Mercogliano (34,000 views?? Maybe we do control the media), and also uploaded some older ones, like fan favorite Michael C. Moynihan of The Fifth Column! BTW if you are a YouTube expert email us at askajewpod@gmail.com for all your tips, because our team (aka Yael) does not know what it’s doing. You can also email any questions, comments and concerns there. Today’s episode is a blast from the past, aka last week. Not to make this a history lesson, but do you remember the shooting at the White House Correspondents Dinner? How about the King Charles White House visit? Those were the days!…

This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit askajew.substack.com/subscribe

Watch this episode on YouTube!! Yes, it's happening! Please susbcribe to our brand new channel. Are the Straits of Hormuz open or closed? Is "free shipping" actually real? How do you clear underwater mines? Do ships draw crude drawings on tracking maps? And why are Christmas sweaters designed in April?All that and more in our conversation with maritime historian, professor, and popular podcast host Dr. Sal Mercogliano, host of the hit show ‪“What’s Going on With Shipping”. If you think his channel his niche, he only has 700,000 youtube subscribers. Also: * An Italian from Long Island? Practically a Jew. * Breaking: Sal doesn’t like fish. * What are merchant mariners? * Every day is Monday on a ship. * Getting seasick is a thing. * What’s up with the Southern Ocean. * The Titanic (movie) didn’t have to end that way. * You realize your internet is connected with cables under the ocean, right? * Beware of blockade crypto scams. * Why blocking the strait of Hormuz is like blocking an artery * If Iran can’t…

Jamie Denbo is an actress, comedian, formerly a writer and producer on Grey’s Anatomy (yes, that Grey’s Anatomy), and creator of The Beverly Podcast! Oh, you may have also seen her on Curb Your Enthusiasm and How I Met Your Mother. We talk to Jamie (and Beverly) about comedy, Hollywood, Jewish moms, what we can learn about antisemitism from 12-step programs, and what happened post-October 7th in the writer’s room of a hit show (unfortunately, nothing good). Also: * Can we talk about The Pitt instead of Grey’s Anatomy? * Whispers of support, public silence. * Turns out people don’t know what Jews are. * Your coworkers posted what on Instagram?? * You can learn a lot from the antisemites. * An abundance of anger. * One righteous man in the writer’s room. * How can there be antisemitism when Donna Martin from 90210 is Jewish? * How much is real estate in the Shtetl? * Beverly is for everyone! (and thank you to the Jewish Writers Institute) * Everyone has an inappropriate, overly-sexualized aunt. * Which kind of…

During these trying times, we’re here for you to process the shattering news of the last few weeks: Abby and David from Love on the Spectrum have broken up. What will happen to the lions? We also talk about the war in Iran, settlers, cutting off family members, and how, if we were in the Holocaust, we’d absolutely be hitting on the American soldiers who came to liberate us. Also: * Chaya Leah catches up after being offline for 3 years for Passover. * Book recommendation “The Meaning of Your Life: Finding Purpose in an Age of Emptiness” by Arthur Brooks (it’s beter than it sounds) * The tragedy of Yael’s beanbag. * Putting ourselves in a Lock Box. * For Holocaust Memorial Day, we absolutely do not rank holocaust survivors. * Ok fine, we’ll talk about the war in Iran. * When Zionist Israelis start to sound like Tucker Carlson. * No, we are not in line for the gas chambers. * We make it 54 minutes before getting to Mandy Patinkin. * Some settler chatter. * Easter egg envy. * Want to play CrossPlay with us??…

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…

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…

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…

Today on Ask A Jew, we fly into the future to talk to Claire Lehmann, the founder and editor-in-chief of Quillette, a fantastic Australia-based online publication. We talk about the state of the nation in the land down under, how Australians are grappling with the rise of antisemitism and radical Islam, and which Australian celebrities are secretly based (looking at you, Bluey). Before we kick that off, we spenD about 30 minutes catching up, talking covid, hugs, and the Manosphere. We obviously recorded this before the two horrific terrorist attacks in the US yesterday, and who knows what will happen in the coming days to make this episode seem out-of-date, or even more timely. If you’re Jewish, go to synagogue tonight. If you’re not, stop by and say hi. And either way, thank a police officer if you see them! xx TONS OF LINKS, VIDEOS AND FUN ON SUBSTACK!! Follow Claire on X, Facebook, and check out her writing at Quillette (right here on Substack too!) This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this…

These are trying times for the United States, Israel, and the good people of Iran. Thankfully, we gathered on a Substack Live with our community to talk sh*t about Malala Yousafzai! Also: funny memes from Israel, we love the USA, Hashem trolls Chaya Leah through Uber Eats, and more…. Enjoy, and Happy Purim! Video of this episode as well as photos and videos of the wonderful Iranian celebration in NYC on askajew.substack.com. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit askajew.substack.com/subscribe

Behnam Ben Taleblu is senior director of the Foundation For Defense of Democracy’s Iran Program, and a senior fellow specializing in Iranian security and political issues. We ask this noted scholar the burning questions of the day like, “Do you lose weight on Ramadan?” and “What’s it like to have a fatwa on your head?” We also discuss the potential for an American (and Israeli?) strike on Iran, the incredible resilience of Iranian society, how Ayatollah Khamenei is playing us all, where Behnam is more hawkish than his Israeli colleagues. Follow Behnam on X and check out his writing at the FDD. Happy Purim, Ramadan and Nowruz to all! Also: * No one has done a better job at secularizing Iranian society than the Islamic republic itself. * What is Iran? * We’re all from Malta now. * Is Ramadan intermittent fasting? * I’m sorry I can’t come to your event, the Iranianss are after me. * Where is Hezbollah now? * Iranian society deserves a collective Nobel Peace Prize. * Bumbling idiot or 7D chess player? * The…

Happy almost-Iran war day! On this solo pod, we discuss our respective Valentine’s Days, whether or not the US should start executing Olympic athletes who don’t bring home medals, and Chaya Leah’s near Holocaust experience at a fancy kosher restaurant in LA. We also finally take some listener questions! We help a listener explain to her Goyfriend why she wants to raise their kids Jewish even though she’s not a huge Jew herself, and advise another listener facing her new role at work as the token “tell us about antisemitism” employee. You can send yours to askajewpod@gmail.com. No questions is stupid, as you can clearly see by Yael’s question about a drunk encounter with a Big Mac. Want to help us grow? Consider rating us 5 stars and leaving a review on Apple Podcasts or Spotify! This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit askajew.substack.com/subscribe

Lahav Harkov is the Senior Political Correspondent for Jewish Insider, formerly of the Jerusalem Post, and most importantly - a repeat offender on AAJ. She’s here to answer all our current affairs questions, and some of our stupid questions too. We cover the potential of a war with Iran, an upcoming election in Israel (If you think American politics are crazy…), and the notorious Blue Square Superbowl ad that will save us all from antisemitism. 🟦 🟦 🟦 Shield against mean comments 🟦 🟦 🟦 Follow Lahav on X, check out her writing on Jewish Insider, and listen to her podcast, Misgav Mideast Horizons. Also: * What’s the difference between Donald Trump and a reform rabbi? * Ehud Barak is the Mandy Patinkin of Israel. * Kosher pizzagate. * What are Trump and Bibi gossiping about? * What’s the verdict on the Iran attack from June? * War or no war? * Think American politics are crazy? That’s cute. Listen to what’s going on in Israel. * Hostages on Dancing With the Stars. * The Robert Kraft Blue Square question… what do…

What’s this?? Is it your birthday? Or are you just getting two episodes in one week because we love you so much?? As Jews around the world gather to celebrate Tu B’Shvat and the New England Patriots, we caught up to discuss everything that’s on our mind. Good for the Jews is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support our work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber. * We make it 1 minute and 25 seconds before talking about Mandy Patinkin. * A brave conversation about the things that everyone agrees about. * Uterus shaped challas. * Our grandparents didn’t survive Auschwitz to eat sourdough bread. * I could climb that tower. * An exciting day at 770. * Stop condemning antisemitism when it’s easy. A conversation about morals on edJEWcation * Hashem is a Patriots fan. * In defense of vaping. * Wait what is Tu B’Shvat again? * Everyone is home…now what? A reminder to join us in the Substack chat, and leave us a 5 star review and comment on Apple Podcasts and Spotify. Last one to do it…

Eylon Levy is a former Israeli Government Spokesman and one of Israel’s most recognized faces on the global stage since October 7th. A graduate of Oxford and Cambridge (which is like Harvard in the UK - ybt), he founded the Israeli Citizen Spokesperson Office, a grassroots campaign which gives citizens an opportunity to take part in the global information war. He also hosts the new show “Eylon The Record” which you should definitely check out, and you may even recognize some of the guests from previous AAJ episodes! Find Eylon on X, Facebook, YouTube and Instagram. We talk to Eylon about the reasons Israel is losing the media war, why not everything is a PR problem, what messages actually work, and his relationship with Prime Minister Netanyahu (never met him). MUCH MORE ON SUBSTACK This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit askajew.substack.com/subscribe

Yassine Meskhout is a public defender, a Moroccan, an anarchist, a liberterian, a cyclist (*shudder*) and now, our new best friend. We’ve become obsessed with his writing since his viral November 2023 essay “The Jewish Conspiracy To Change My Mind” and the banger, “Why I write About the Jews”. We talk to Yassine about working with criminals, trying to figure out why some of his friends were celebrating on October 7th, why ICE shouldn’t shoot Mandy Patinkin, and how his father, who believes Israel created ISIS, also believes the Jews should have their own state. Check out substack for a fun Israeli-Moroccan inspired Spotify Playlist! Also: * First things first - would an ex-Jew fool Hitler? * Escaping the lack of McDonalds in Morocco through the diversity lottery. * DJ Smack-that-ass, Esq. * The life of a public defender - eleven magic words. * The system works, mostly. * Minnesota, ICE, and what expectations we should have from law enforcement. * Trying to understand the celebrations of October 7th. *…

Much more on Substack! Iran, Lebanon and Syria, Oh My! Hussain Abdul-Hussain is a fellow at the The Foundation for Defense of Democracies (FDD), hailing from Beirut via Baghdad and all the way to Washington DC. We talk about how he learned Hebrew by chatting with Israeli soldiers on the lebanese border, why he was wrong about the new leader of Syria, and why peace with Israel can only help the Arab and Muslim world. Follow Hussain on X and keep up with his work at the FDD! Also: * Does everyone in Lebanon hate us? Only 3 out of 4 people. * Seeing Israel beyond the F-16s, through AM radio and pop culture. * The most dangerous thing Hussain ever did - read an Israeli newspaper on the Columbia campus. * Holding our breath for Iran. * But don’t hold your breath for Syria. * Some advice for dealing with idiots. * Coming soon - Hussain’s book, The Arab Case For Israel! * The are only three Christians left in Baalbek, Lebanon - and that’s bad for Muslims. * The uselessness of the UN Peacekeeping Force. * Can…

Iran who? Venezuela what? The hottest place you need to know about right now is a little Muslim democracy in the horn of Africa called Somaliland. Recently, Israel just became the first country to recognize Somaliland as it cements its independence from Somalia, and we are now all in the honeymoon phase. We invited our new best friend Saeed Ibrahim, founder and editor of Somaliland Chronicle, to answer our hard-hitting geopolitical questions like “where is Somaliland?” and “what do you eat there?” Saeed took us through the history of the region, the longstanding bond with Israel, the reactions on the street (they like us! They really like us!), the relationships with their not-so-nice neighbors, and why countries should be on their oxygen masks first before they help others. But first, where are we? Also: * How are the daycare centers? * Come for the camels, stay for the sea cucumbers. * Oh, a real genocide. * Houthis be maaaadddd. * Location, location, location. * Any kosher hotels? * How can we be good…

Last night we went Live on Substack with our listeners and AAJ BFF and The Free Press contributer, Eli Lake. Bummed you missed it? Want to watch a video version? Subscribe for free at askajew.substack.com Read Eli’s latest about Venezuela, Iran and others, “Why the Venezuela Operation Won’t Embolden America’s Enemies” at The Free Press. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit askajew.substack.com/subscribe

Our podcast daddy Michael C. Moynihan is back from the dead for a long (and long awaited) discussion on conspiracy theories, antisemitism, dumb people, and why you shouldn’t end every conversation with a Jew with: BUT WHAT ABOUT THE PEDOPHILES?? Anyway, it’s not too late to update your 2026 resolutions, and our guest’s advice is to maybe this year, dislike yourself a little bit more. Not in a self-harm way of course, but a bit of self-hatred never hurt any writer, let’s put it that way. Also: * The Talmud is very oxen heavy * Maybe the Somali daycare thing isn’t that bad, or maybe we are just afraid they’ll come after Yeshiva’s next. * Christopher Hitchins didn’t hate religious people. Oh great, we made it 23 mins before talking about Mandy Patinkin * An argument about sexual assault. * Would you go back in time and punch Mandy Patinkin? * Holcoaust books for everyone. * Why should Moynihan’s Goyishe daughter care about antisemitism? * Antisemitism explains dumb people. * Why does Europe suck? * The…

This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit askajew.substack.com Hi everyone, Last night we were supposed to interview Michael C. Moynihan, but unfortunately he tragically passed away. At least that’s what we think, we don’t know where he is. Godspeed Michael, we’ll miss you and carry your legacy. Anyway, his disappearance is your gain, if you’re a paying subdcriber! We jumped on Substack to chat about our holiday, answer your questions,…

All photos and videos to accompany this episode are on our substack! Askajew.substack.com In this episode we cover the events of last week, from the horrific murders in Sydney, to Ben Shapiro at TPUSA, to - of course - Mandy Patinkin. In case you missed it, Ben Shapiro took to the stage last week at Turning Points USA’s AmericaFest, and in front of 30,000 people, for 30 glorious minutes, tore into all the haters. And yes, he named names. I was wondering in the episode what the reaction was in the room to Ben’s speech, or rather - how many of these kids are actually buying into the Candace/Tucker nonsense? This week I got my answer, when Blake Neff, Charlie Kirk’s producer, posted the results of a straw poll of the attendees (most were under 30 years old btw). Well, well, well. Would you look at that. Almost 87%, wait, let me spell that out - EIGHTY SEVEN PERCENT, view Israel as either a top ally or one ally of many. Only 13.3% don’t view Israel as an ally at all. This is not to say the online poison spewed…

You know Andy Mills from such podcasts as “The Daily” from The New York Times, “The Witch Trials of J.K. Rowling” from The Free Press, and most recently, the award winning show “The Last Invention” about the Al revolution from his new company ”Longview Investigations”. We discuss wether or not Al has a soul, human-robot babies, why some of the founders of the technology think we need to stop it like, now, and what does connection with humans look like in the age of machines. Over the weekend, we were all consumed by the events in Sydney, that sadly seemed inevitable. The Australian Jewish community is so small, as is the Chabad family, and almost everyone in these two groups knows someone that was affected. In days like these, Jews are often advised to lay low, keep their heads down, and not draw too much attention to themselves. Do we really need to celebrate publicly? Maybe replace that star of david necklace with something a little less conspicuous? In light of that, we share two videos of two different…