OMfG podcast: jewish wisdom for unprecedented times

Season 3 Episode 4: On DarknessIt's almost Chanukah! We're counting down to the Festival of Lights, because, well- the world is kinda dark right now. The rabbis JG hope you'll join them in a different kind of holiday prep as we think about some of the earth-based traditions that coincide with Chanukah, like Tekufat Tevet. This Chanukah, we're doubling down on the fun, so grab alllllll your favorite beverages, give a listen, and share it with a friend!

We know, it's been awhile. That stuck-in-the-narrow places feeling has felt like more than a metaphor lately, with the world really working overtime on those "OMfG" moments. But, it's almost Passover (and theoretically, springtime, despite the freezing gray pawl over New England) and we just knew that Jewish tradition could come in clutch at a moment like this. Join the rabbis JG for a Passover episode dedicated to the centuries of brave Jews, whose moral courage, grit and resilience can guide us today. Whether you're planning Seder for 20, or planning to DoorDash some matzoh ball soup, we hope these stories of people who trusted their kishkes and acted with real chutzpah will inspire. (Season 5, Episode 3)

Season 4: Episode 4, the kids are allright In this special episode of OMfG, the rabbis JG are thrilled to welcome to very special guest hosts, Aliza and Mia, two of the Berkshires' finest recent high school grads. Aliza and Mia share their experiences as Jewish American teens, reflecting on the challenges of their unique high school experiences , their evolving Jewish journeys, and the impact of October 7. Join us as we talk, laugh, and think out loud with Aliza and Mia as they answer questions ranging from "what do you wish adults understood about being Jewish teenagers today?" to "why do sloppy joes exist?"

OMfG! It's almost Passover! The rabbis JG are getting ready for Passover and hope you'll give a listen as we tackle important questions like "what spiritual chametz are you hoping to rid yourself of this year" and "how long is too long to keep matzah meal"? We're bringing in the wisdom of our rabbis as we get ready for the festival of freedom, so sit back, grab some matzah and a seltzer, and enjoy! And if you're not feeling quite ready for the festival days ahead, don't worry, we got you: there's no way everyone was ready to leave Egypt at the same time.

Happy Cheshvan! It's that time of year again-- no major festivals, just a whole month of regular everyday life, and we are here for it. Cheshvan is a time for settling in, and taking time to just be. Our kind of month! So, sink into your favorite corner of the couch, grab a seltzer, and join the rabbis JG for what we like to call "The Torah of Nothing Special" (hint: it's actually kinda special). 

How do we know when enough is enough, or maybe even too much when it comes to fulfilling our obligations to the world around us? As we make our way to seder tables for Passover 2022, the narrative of a perilous journey to freedom is literal for more than 2 million Ukrainian refugees around the world.Join the rabbis JG for an open and honest conversation on the Jewish ideas around obligation, and how we show up in times of crisis.

It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas, and the rabbis JG are here for it.  Come for the Home Alone and Chinese food references, and stay to find out which famous Jewish leader had a Christmas tree in his home, and how a Christmas tree saved the lives of one Jewish family in the 1930’s. Shout outs to Rabbi Joshua Plaut and his book: A Kosher Christmas, the American Holocaust Museum, the Berlin Jewish Museum, and of course, our wonderful editor, Jesse Ulrich and Rant9 Productions. 

It's Cheshvan, the Hebrew month when rabbis heave a sigh of relief and thank God for a lighter calendar. And speaking of a lighter calendar, the rabbis JG are kicking of season 2 with a dive into the wisdom behind Shmita, the practice of a once-every-seven-years sabbatical. So, take a break (no pun intended) and join us for an energetic conversation on the holiness in doing less. 

It's mid July and the Rabbis JG are special guests on JewishBoston.com's The Vibe of the Tribe Podcast, where we spend a lively 60 minutes... talking about our 30 minute podcast. Co-hosted by Miriam Anzovin and Dan Seligson, we're talking Torah cafe carts, feminist Torah super heroes, dress codes for revelation for Mt. Sinai (Desert Cocktail Recommended), and making a list of snarky merch we want to sell! We dig a bit deeper into what the "f" stands for... and, of course, offer some poignant reflection of how much we love creating OMfG!   Many thanks to Miriam, Dan and Jesse for a lot of fun! 

School's out for the summer and wow (!) are we thankful to teachers, educators, administrators, support staff, cafeteria and maintenance workers - and obviously Hebrew school teachers, too. Join the Rabbis JG as we hear from Math educator and administrator, Jenny Rittberg, about what it was like to be on the frontlines of education this past year. We're also talking favorite Jewish texts about learning, stories of mildly bad behavior in school, and wondering if excel sheets can be a spiritual practice!

This week the Rabbis JG are talking about the ritual of counting the Omer, a sacred bridging of the time from Passover to Shavuot, pessimism and optimism, as well as speaking to a particular painful reckoning in the Reform Movement with regard to abuse of power.  Are you a count “upper” or count “downer?”  How do you sustain the time it takes to reach mountaintop moments? Featuring the beautiful music of Rabbis Yosef Goldman, Zach Fredman and Shir Yaakov Feit.  For more of Yosef's music, check out his latest CD on bandcamp and the Rising Song Institute.

For our 10th episode, the Rabbis JG are talking "what we've learned, what we've lost, and what we've gained" during this past year of pandemic living.