Ask a Jew

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 American-Israeli-Romanian-Venezuelan-Mexican-Polish judge naturalizes new citizens. * The verdict: turns out some people are crazy.* Wait, what is a judge and can we become one?* The Mahjong hotline is the ultimate arbiter of justice.* Do NOT Reply All to a federal judge email chain.* Who needs to go to Disneyland when you can visit a civil war battlefield?* How did we get here after 1,200 people were butchered?* The good news: most of what the haters believe is wrong, and we have evidence.* An army of international legal scholars are running this war in real time.* The Jews have been asleep at the wheel.* There’s a Jewish federal judge in Arkansas??* Americans believe in a society that follows the rules.* Falafel Night on campus ain’t gonna cut it. * It’s the US, Israel and Ukraine against the world.* What can you do? Bring people to Israel to see for themselves. 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 1st6pmSpring Street Lounge48 Spring St, New York, NY 10012Chaya 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 Vance.* Americans are hungry, for actual food.* Turn off your damn phone.* Get us more Jews over here!* Is fighting antisemitism worth our time?* Jews are getting the white treatment…and that’s ok?* Meeting Jew-lovers at Trader Joe’s.* Antisemitism is not a big deal.* Jews are not a minority group.* Do your feelings get hurt?* We need Jewish Balls, not Jewish Joy.* The Jews need to take back improv!* Graham Platner better not misgender someone! 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!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.comAlso, 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 Lounge48 Spring St, New York, NY 10012Comment 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 recommendations for you, discuss Mayor Mamdani’s stupid party, and send some special love to Albania.Turns out I was partially right about our Albanian brethren, I said they didn’t lose a single Jew during the holocaust, turns out they actually GAINED Jews. You should use this super fun fact to impress your Albanian doormen in New York, they are very proud of it (rightfully so), as well as their impeccable Eurovision voting history (doormen may not care about that). Shout out to my dad Ronnie for this information! Some links:* JVP barfy tweet* J-Street mamdani Substack, what do you think?* Great book recommendation following our shipping recommendation - thank you to whoever suggested it!* ICYMI - my Eurovision recap (you don’t need to enjoy or like or even know what Eurovision is to read)* Some listeners suggested a book club, but we all know books are for nerds. How about we all pick a season of 90 Day Fiance and watch together?? Meisha and Nicola — a gorgeous American and painfully average Israeli united by their love of Jesus — agree! (Season 6)See you in NYC June 1st!!(Did we mention there is a survey?) 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 allure beauty box change your life?* We are all just 13 year old girls* Social media escalaes every trend o the extreme* Not everything needs to be solved* Is therapy a scam?* We’re all trying to gain control* social media is a rumination machine* Beware of therapy talk* Feeling anxious? you’re probably normal* The stories we tell ourselves* We all have generational trauma from Eve* You think you need therapy? Go live in Somalia!* Freya is so pretty* Is every personality trait is a problem?* We don’t care about your healing journeys 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

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

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 Jews are more annoying - women or men?* Call your mother!!!Check out the Beverly Podcast! wherever you get your podcasts, on Youtube and Instagram.Thank you for listening to Ask A Jew! We love you all equally, but our non-Jewish listeners are more equal. We want to send some love and welness vibes to listener Jonathan Campbell, who is going through some rough s**t and currently on a healing journey. Jonathan, get better soon. We can’t afford to lose any listeners 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

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. 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

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 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

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

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

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 is an antisemite!Chaya Leah’s adorable cousings Moishe and Luigi (please don’t sue, Nintendo)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

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.* Doubling down on Islam as a kid* This amazing story about Yassine’s father:* Western leftists - please find meaning elsewhere.* The hard truth Jews need to hear - not everyone is an antisemite, some of them are just stupid.* How to protest well.* Everyone needs to stop being so confident.* Leave a white woman, take a white woman. 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