The king is in the field
Eliezer and Mendy discuss the month of Elul as preparation for the High Holidays, including the influence of AI on our lives and how to streamline our work and family commitments.
Aug 24, 2023•24 min•Season 2Ep. 34
Chatting Rabbis
A cross-Atlantic conversation between Rabbi Eliezer Zalmanov of Munster, Indiana, and Rabbi Mendy Chitrik of Istanbul, Turkey.
Come for the novelty, stay for the intriguing discussions and topics, and learn something new each time.
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Episodes
Summer Travels
A lighthearted conversation about Mendy and Eliezer's summer travels, sprinkled with fascinating tidbits of history and traditions.
Aug 17, 2023•26 min•Season 2Ep. 33
20 Av in Almaty
Reflections on visiting the grave of Rabbi Levi Yitzchok Schneerson, father of the Lubavitcher Rebbe, in Almaty, Kazakhstan, on the day of his yahrtzeit.
Aug 10, 2023•26 min•Season 2Ep. 32
Israel, Jewish Unity, and Tisha B'av
A somber conversation about the current political climate in Israel which is causing a tremendous rift between ideologies and fellow Jews, and an important lesson from Tisha B'av for current events.
Jul 26, 2023•22 min•Season 2Ep. 31
The Kashrus Industry
With Mendy on his way back from the AKO conference in Montreal, an informative conversation about the ins and outs of the kashrus industry, especially how it relates to everyday life, both of a Chabad shliach and the average consumer.
Jul 20, 2023•29 min•Season 2Ep. 30
Shabbos at the Ohel
A recap of the Shabbos Eliezer and Mendy spent at the Ohel together with thousands of others marking the Rebbe's yahrtzeit.
Jul 06, 2023•26 min•Season 2Ep. 29
Gimmel Tammuz - The Rebbe's Yahrtzeit
Join Mendy and Eliezer for an emotional conversation and "farbrengen" marking the Rebbe's yahrtzeit.
Jun 21, 2023•24 min•Season 2Ep. 28
Social Media
A conversation about the upside and downside of being in a world of social media, and how to possibly make the best out of the various mediums of communication available today.
Jun 15, 2023•25 min•Season 2Ep. 27
Sending kids to camp
An important conversation about sending kids to camps, from the perspective of parents as well as Eliezer and Mendy's own camp experiences as campers and counselors.
Jun 08, 2023•23 min•Season 2Ep. 26
Shavuot reflections
Eliezer and Mendy recap their Shavuot activities and discuss the various traditions that have evolved over time and their implementation in Chabad communities.
Jun 01, 2023•25 min•Season 2Ep. 25
North African Update
Mendy recaps and shares inspiration from his travels of the last two weeks - to Tunisia to comfort the Jewish community of Djerba following a terrorist attack, and to Morocco to participate in the regional Kinus Hashluchim.
May 23, 2023•27 min•Season 2Ep. 24
Jewish Unity
A special Lag Baomer episode, complete with the history of the Omer mourning customs and how our behavior during this period is meant to be a catalyst for Jewish unity throughout the year.
May 04, 2023•26 min•Season 2Ep. 23
Caring and Learning
In the first half of this episode Mendy and Eliezer discuss the devotion of Chabad rabbis and rebbetzins in the former Soviet Union, highlighted by a recent visit of 600 students to Istanbul. In the second half, Mendy recounts his recent trip back to the ground zero in Antakya and the fascinating conversations he had with his travel-mates.
Apr 27, 2023•26 min•Season 2Ep. 22
Collections
A brief conversation (due to technical difficulties) about the value of collecting historical artifacts, such as stamps, coins, books, manuscripts, etc.
Apr 19, 2023•18 min•Season 2Ep. 21
Focus on the kids
A conversation about the importance of focusing on our kids during Pesach and in general.
Mar 30, 2023•27 min•Season 2Ep. 20
Getting Territorial
A conversation about the pros and cons of being territorial when it comes to Chabad institutions and shlichus in general.
Mar 23, 2023•28 min•Season 2Ep. 19
Staying motivated
Eliezer and Mendy discuss how they stay motivated to do what they do, and whether seeing tangible success in their work is a factor.
Mar 16, 2023•27 min•Season 2Ep. 18
In those days and in our times
A special Purim episode about turning darkness and sadness into light and happiness, in the past and present, and about making the best of every situation.
Mar 02, 2023•27 min•Season 2Ep. 17
Eruv Controversy
Mendy and Eliezer discuss the oft debated topic of whether or not communities like Crown Heights should have an eruv, allowing people to carry things outdoors on Shabbos.
Feb 23, 2023•28 min
Earthquake Update
A firsthand account from Mendy of the devastation caused by the recent earthquake in Turkey and Syria.
Feb 08, 2023•15 min•Season 2Ep. 15
Yud Shevat
The 10th ("Yud") of Shevat is the yahrtzeit of the previous Lubavitcher Rebbe and the day that the Rebbe officially took over leadership of the Chabad-Lubavitch movement. In this episode, Eliezer and Mendy reflect on the day's significance and its relevance today.
Feb 01, 2023•28 min•Season 2Ep. 14
Serious Torah Study
After a brief introduction about Eliezer's side occupation as copy editor of the Derher magazine, the conversation moves on to the need for a more serious commitment to Torah study and Chabad's inclusion in the broader Jewish world, a topic weighing on Mendy's heart.
Jan 26, 2023•26 min•Season 2Ep. 13
Censorship, Scribes, Slaughter, and Circumcision
Mendy and Eliezer briefly discuss the backlash from the previous episode and then transition to a conversation about skills Mendy picked up outside of his typical yeshiva education: safrus (scribal art), shechita (ritual slaughter), and milah (circumcision).
Jan 19, 2023•31 min•Season 2Ep. 12
Smartphones part 2
Continuing the conversation about smartphones, especially as it relates to our children, Eliezer and Mendy discuss the methods schools and yeshivas use to enforce their rules and how sometimes using a little common sense and individualized attention can go a long way.
Jan 05, 2023•29 min•Season 2Ep. 10
Smartphone Addiction
Mendy and Eliezer discuss the use of smartphones and its widespread ramifications, for themselves as adults and also for their children, especially those in yeshivah, where common-sense delicate enforcement is necessary.
Dec 29, 2022•29 min•Season 2Ep. 9
Batter up!
Is it about a donut batter or a baseball batter? The only way to find out is by eavesdropping on this lively Chanukah conversation between Eliezer Zalmanov and Mendy Chitrik.
Dec 22, 2022•27 min•Season 2Ep. 8
Yud-Tes Kislev
Eliezer and Mendy discuss the significance of the Chabad holiday "Yud-Tes Kislev" commemorating the Alter Rebbe's release from prison in 1798. Eliezer shares his recently re-lived memories of celebrating Yud-Tes Kislev with his late rosh yeshiva, Rabbi Yisroel Freidman.
Dec 15, 2022•24 min•Season 2Ep. 7
Jewish Pride in Vienna
A Shabbaton for European Jewish teenagers in the Austrian capital leads to a discussion about Jewish pride in general, and especially in places where Jews have suffered so much in the past. Eliezer and Mendy also touch upon the development of "shlichus" over time and how Chabad Houses generally operate today.
Dec 08, 2022•28 min
A calling, not a job
With some amusing stories from their own experiences, Eliezer and Mendy discuss the importance of Chabad yeshiva students willingly making themselves available to help in the mission of bringing the joy of Torah and Judaism to the world rather than turning it into a job for pay.
Dec 01, 2022•28 min•Season 2Ep. 5
Bagels and Farbrengens
From Qatar to New York City: Mendy and Eliezer start with discussing the efforts to make kosher food available to Jewish World-Cup fans, before moving on to a recap of their most inspiring and uplifting weekend at the International Kinus Hashluchim. Bonus: A behind-the-scenes peek of a farbrengen.
Nov 24, 2022•29 min•Season 2Ep. 4
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