This week, Uri finally tried the Impossible Burger! When we finish wishing Uri mazal tov, Rivky and Uri dive into the recent report from Ramaz about sexual abuse in the school. The report is thorough, and sad, and prompts us to ask - how do we feel about Ramaz, and the way they handled this situation? Should we have a gender bias when we consider abuse, and especially, abuse of children? What do we expect differently from our schools and institutions in the future? The Ramaz report: http://files...
Sep 05, 2018•33 min
This week, Uri and Rivky dive into the light and breezy topic we all know and love, Nazis. They discuss the recent deportation of the 95-year-old Jakiw Palij, a former Nazi volunteer guard. They ask, why deport Palij? Did Palij get what he "deserved"? What is justice, and who does it serve? NY Times https://www.nytimes.com/2018/08/21/nyregion/nazi-queens-deported.html NPR https://www.npr.org/2018/08/21/640474479/alleged-nazi-labor-camp-guard-deported-to-germany The Believer https://www.youtube.c...
Aug 29, 2018•34 min
This week, Uri tells Rivky about his new favorite movie: 93Queen. Then they dive into the insane story of Professor Avital Ronell and the sexual harassment investigation brought against her by her former graduate student, Nimrod Reitman. The story is made even more upsetting by a letter signed by dozens of leading intellectuals and academics, supporting Dr. Ronell. Rivky and Uri ask, what should we focus on??? Are their identities - queer, Israeli, academic - important? What does this “reverse” ...
Aug 21, 2018•32 min
Rivky is back! This week Uri and Rivky start off by catching up on their adventures from the last couple of weeks. Then they get into Israel's new Nation-State bill. What is it? Is it good? Is it bad? Does it actually change anything? Catch up on everything below: The Nation-State Bill: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Basic_Law:_Israel_as_the_Nation-State_of_the_Jewish_People The Atlantic (critique of the law): https://www.theatlantic.com/international/archive/2018/07/israel-nation-state-law/56571...
Aug 14, 2018•31 min
This week Uri speaks with another very special guest host, immigration lawyer Laura Berger. But before getting into a discussion about America's immigration policies, they first try to make sense of the ever decreasing interaction and dialogue between liberals and conservatives in the US. Washington Post article: https://www.washingtonpost.com/amphtml/news/the-fix/wp/2017/07/20/half-of-liberals-cant-even-stand-to-be-around-trump-supporters/ NYT: https://www.nytimes.com/2018/06/16/opinion/sunday/...
Aug 07, 2018•39 min
This week we have another special guest co-host! Former Maccabeat Imu Shalev joins Uri for a conversation about their favorite music videos, as well as Imu's current work with Aleph Beta. What is Aleph Beta? You'll have to listen to find out! Aleph Beta: https://www.alephbeta.org/ Maccabeats: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qSJCSR4MuhU https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DRaQSbuTiBg
Aug 02, 2018•28 min
Rivky checks in to say hi and give her take on last week's discussion. Our first mini episode, and a chance to get your "Rivky fix" until she returns to the studio in a couple of weeks!
Jul 30, 2018•11 min
This week Uri has a conversation with returning guest host Miki Friedmann. Miki wants to know- what's the deal with Rivky and Uri always starting every topic with a disclaimer about who they aren't? They take a short trip down memory lane, and then they discuss the trials and tribulations of living life with a kippah on one's head.
Jul 26, 2018•30 min
This week, Uri and Rivky recap last week's episode and special guest Deena Klein. They then discuss Sasha Baron Cohen's new show, " Who Is America?" and ask - is the show any good? Is it unfair to the guests? And, of course, is it good for the Jews? Next, they dive into Scarlett Johansson (another member of the tribe). Was it wrong for Johansson to be cast as a transgender man? And, what about Business Insider - were they correct in removing Greenbaum’s article from their website? What about Gre...
Jul 18, 2018•34 min
This week with Rivky away preparing for her wedding, Uri has a conversation with friend of the podcast, Deena Klein. She discusses what it's like to be gay in the Orthodox community, and where she sees things heading in the future. Eshel Pledge: http://www.eshelonline.org/pledge/ Ruth Bader Ginsberg on SNL: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=II8IkwDVnsI https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XhzSd-Kz-zA
Jul 10, 2018•32 min
This week, Rivky and Uri discuss the activist group IfNotNow. The group's goal is to protest the Israeli occupation. What do we think about their mission statement? What do we think about their tactics? Catch up on everything below: If Not Now website: https://ifnotnowmovement.org/ Birthright walk off: https://forward.com/fast-forward/404314/birthright-participants-publicly-walk-off-trip-to-visit-west-bank/ Judaism Unbound: http://www.judaismunbound.com/ Music: Kaveret - Medina Ktana https://www...
Jul 04, 2018•34 min
This week, Rivky and Uri discuss a panel discussion that took place on June 12 and was organized by Hadar, an egalitarian institute of Jewish learning. The title of the event was "What Feminist Torah Needs To Look Like." Is it about gender? Power? Marginalized identity? Audio of the Hadar event https://www.hadar.org/torah-resource/what-feminist-torah-needs-look The Eurythmics - Sisters Are Doin' It For Themselves https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=drGx7JkFSp4
Jun 27, 2018•34 min
This week, Uri and Rivky dive into the issue on everyone's minds: the OU honoring Jeff Sessions at their annual policy conference, after the emergence of reports of children being forcibly separated from their parents by immigration authorities. They ask, what is really going on? What are these policies, really? How are the policies under Trump different than Obama, or Bush-era policies? And what about the OU - did the OU make a mistake? What should they have done? Is the anger against the OU de...
Jun 20, 2018•39 min
This week, Uri and Rivky begin with some feedback from last week's contentious episode on Michael Chabon's speech. (Hi, Michael!) Then, they dive into the meta-discussion about journalism. What is responsible journalism? Why does Trump, and do politicians in general, seem to have such a contentious relationship with the media? What responsibility do journalists have? What about Jewish journalists - is there a problem with "airing dirty laundry"? Is there media bias? Catch up on everything below:...
Jun 13, 2018•27 min
This week, Uri and Rivky talk about their cravings for the newly-kosher "Impossible Burger" - the first kosher cheeseburger. They ask, what does kashrut mean, when we increasingly approach a world in which everything is kosher? Then, they discuss Michael Chabon's speech at the HUC graduation, in which Chabon makes the case for intermarriage, and tearing down all fences - literal or otherwise. Is Chabon crazy? Does he have a point? Is he racist, or are we? Catch up on everything below: Kosher Che...
Jun 06, 2018•34 min
This week, Uri and Rivky recap Shavuot, and two interesting lectures Uri attended: the first by Bret Stephens and second by John Podhoretz (possible friend of the pod??). Then, they discuss Michael Pollan's new book, "How to Change Your Mind," in which Pollan brings in mountains of research and makes a case for mushrooms, LSD, and other psychedelics. Uri and Rivky ask, does he have a point? How should we, especially in the Jewish, or spiritual, community, think about drugs? Are they a valid path...
May 30, 2018•30 min
This week, Uri and Rivky discuss the winner of Eurovision 2018 - Netta Barzilai. They then present some pushback to the new Amy Schumer movie, "I Feel Pretty," especially Amy Hess' fascinating takedown in the New York Times about "beauty standard denialism." They discuss some of the history of feminism, and how different approaches to feminism have dealt with issues of beauty standards and women's empowerment. Catch up on everything below: Netta Barzilai, "Toy": https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C...
May 15, 2018•34 min
This week, Uri and Rivky recap the latest Kanye West drama, and talk about some of the backlash. Then, they talk about Bob Dylan's new whiskey company, and they ponder the concept of "selling out." Finally, they recommend a recent episode of This American Life, which tells the story of a group of inner city high school students who were taken to see Schindler's List. Catch up on everything below: Kanye: Slavery is a choice: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lWJBWU7asEg George Bush doesn't care abo...
May 08, 2018•26 min
This week, Uri and Rivky talk about this week's hottest event, the Woman Seder, and they discuss Yeshiva University's new Giving Day videos, featuring famous athletes, comedians, and more, and ask, why do we give to YU? Then, they discuss Jordan Peterson, the alt-right's new favorite "public intellectual." They ask, is Jordan Peterson as brilliant as he's made out to be? Is he harming or helping our public discourse? And what does it really mean? Catch up on everything below: Jordan Peterson: ht...
May 01, 2018•30 min
This week, Uri and Rivky ask: we're phasing out signatures on receipts - but why do we have receipts at all?? Then, they discuss what we're all talking about - Natalie Portman's "boycott" of the Genesis Prize ceremony. They ask, what is the Genesis Prize? Does it matter that Natalie Portman isn't attending the ceremony? Is it truly a boycott, or something else? And what does it really mean? Catch up on everything below: NY Times about credit card signatures: https://www.nytimes.com/2018/04/08/bu...
Apr 25, 2018•30 min
This week, Uri and Rivky ask, is there anything offensive about repurposing the Passover story - especially when the Palestinians are sometimes seen as modern day Israelites? Then, they tackle the protests at the Israeli-Gaza border. They ask, what/who are the Palestinians protesting? Hamas claims that the protests are non-violent, and the IDF claims that the protests are smokescreens (literally) for terror - who's lying? Catch up on everything below: NY Times is on it: https://www.nytimes.com/2...
Apr 11, 2018•27 min
Rivky's back! This week, Uri and Rivky discuss Louis Farrakhan, Trayon White, and Rabbi Yitzchak Yosef. They dive into the relationship between the Jewish community and the Black community and ask - is there an intrinsic tension? If so, why is there? (And can they even talk about this without a black person in the conversation? David Brooks weighs in!) Catch up on everything below: Louis Farrakan: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=quMHNp8QwzI Trayon White: http://www.newsweek.com/dc-councilman-tra...
Mar 27, 2018•34 min
This week, Uri introduces a guest host, Miki Friedmann, good friend of Talking Tachlis! They review the Man Seder conversation, and then discuss Rachel Delia Benaim's personal piece in the Forward, about her changing relationship with Orthodox Judaism, in which she argues that there's a new category of millennial Modern Orthodox Jewry - one that cares about Judaism, and Orthodoxy, but is less focused on legalism. Miki and Uri ask, does the Orthodox Jewish community really have a responsibility t...
Mar 20, 2018•30 min
This week, Uri and Rivky first revisit their discussion on racism in the Orthodox community, and then they dive into AIPAC, which had their annual policy conference last week. Uri and Rivky ask, who is AIPAC really serving? Is it good for the Jews? America? Israel? They end with Rivky's latest book recommendation in the segment, "Did You Read It?" Catch up on everything below: AIPAC: https://www.aipac.org/ AIPAC and Progressives: https://www.jta.org/2018/03/11/news-opinion/aipac-wont-win-back-pr...
Mar 15, 2018•28 min
This week, Uri and Rivky break down a recent fascinating panel called Social Justice in Modern Orthodoxy. The panel took place in the Jewish Center, on the Upper West Side of Manhattan, and was co-hosted by the UJA and Hitoreri. Sitting on the panel: Dr. Elana Stein Hain, Rabbi Saul Berman, and Rabbi Elie Weinstock. They ask, what is social justice? Should it be part of Modern Orthodoxy, and if so, why isn’t it? What did we learn from this panel, if anything? Catch up on everything below: The pa...
Mar 06, 2018•37 min
This week, Uri and Rivky discuss the legacy of Billy Graham, "America's Pastor," who died last week at age 99. Graham changed the face of evangelical Christianity, and was the leader in using modern media to advance his message. Of course, they delve into the infamous Nixon tapes, in which Nixon and Graham chat about the Jewish problem in America. Next, Uri and Rivky talk about the new trends of the "Man Seder" - and ask, why do we have events like these? Are these events divisive and perpetuati...
Feb 27, 2018•36 min
This week, Uri and Rivky discuss Facebook - specifically, the new Wired article, Inside the Two Years That Shook Facebook—and the World. We ask, is Facebook responsible for the proliferation of "fake" news? Or this even a new phenomenon? Next, we tackle Poland's new controversial new law, which makes it a criminal act to blame Poles for Holocaust crimes. Does Poland deserve blame? Should we feel sympathetic to Poland, after their own experience in WWII? Catch up on everything below: 1. Wired, In...
Feb 21, 2018•30 min
This week, Uri and Rivky discuss the Israel's new decision to deport Eritrean and Sudanese refugees and ask, is this the right choice? Which "value" should Israel live by - accepting refugees, or creating a strongly Jewish homeland? (Or is that oversimplifying it? Perhaps.) Next, they discuss a new Forward article, in which Eli Steinberg claims that while anti-Semitism is no longer in vogue, instead, the world has shifted to become anti-Orthodox. Catch up on everything below: 1. Hava Nagila rout...
Feb 15, 2018•38 min
This week, Rivky and Uri talk about the Super Bowl, and ask, why are there so many Jewish NFL team owners, but so few NFL players? They also discuss the recent Orthodox Union announcement about female clergy. Catch up on everything below: 1. Jewish Super Bowl: http://www.jpost.com/OMG/A-Jewish-Super-Bowl-trifecta-540377 2. Jewish boxing: https://forward.com/scribe/366045/the-secret-jewish-history-of-boxing/ 3. OU on female clergy: https://www.jta.org/2018/01/31/news-opinion/united-states/orthodo...
Feb 06, 2018•29 min
This week, Rivky and Uri watch VP Mike Pence's speech in the Knesset, and ask, is this - overall - good for the Jews? Good for Israel? They also discuss the UK's recent appointment of a Minister for Loneliness and ask, if this the government's problem? And if this is a real issue, how can we "solve it"? Catch up on everything below: 1. Mike Pence speech (transcript): http://www.jpost.com/Israel-News/Full-transcript-of-Pences-Knesset-speech-539476 2. Minister for Loneliness: https://www.newyorker...
Feb 01, 2018•29 min
