edJEWcation

Jan 29 2025 47 ep. 65 mins 11
edJEWcation Podcast artwork

Your weekly dose of Jewish wit and wisdom. Each week Rabbi Abba Perelmuter, Chayaleah Sufrin, and Jay Covitz explore Jewish history, culture, and writings. Whether you're a relapsed Jew or an old pro there is something for us all to learn.

  Religion & Spirituality
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Washington, Shakespeare and the Jews

Jan 29 2025 65 mins  
In this episode, we cover a lot of ground with our guest and true Renaissance woman, Sarah Skwire. We originally invited Sarah to discuss an article she wrote about the significance of George Washington's letter to the Hebrew congregation in Newport, Rhode Island. During that portion of the discussion, we explore the letter’s historical context, Washington’s deft usage of l

Euthanasia: A Jewish Perspective

Jan 22 2025 59 mins  
With the growth of the number of countries legalizing euthanasia to various degrees, we thought it would be a good topic to discuss this week. You know, why not hit on another lighthearted topic, amiright? In our conversation, we discuss the importance of life in Judaism, the moral dilemmas surrounding euthanasia, and the role of rabbis in guiding families through end-of-life decis

Divorce: A Jewish Perspective

Jan 16 2025 71 mins  
When ChayaLeah said she wanted to discuss “the big d,” I thought she meant delis, which got me excited because I can actually add something to that discussion. Alas, it was not to be. Apparently she meant divorce, which depressed me on several levels. Anyway, in this conversation, we start by discussing the impact of the horrendous California fires on the Jewish community, emph

Charity: A Jewish Perspective

Jan 08 2025 62 mins  
Welcome back for another edJEWcation discussion. This week, we’re talking Tzedakah (or charity, for everyone who didn’t attend Hebrew school). In this conversation, we explore: The significance of charity in Judaism, Personal stories of giving The Torah’s perspective on charitable obligations The impact of charity on individuals and communities The historical context of

Capital Punishment: A Jewish Perspective

Jan 02 2025 57 mins  
On this episode, we discuss the Jewish perspective on capital punishment. The discussion includes: A discussion about current events, including the recent horrific murder on the New York subway Contrasting the Jewish religious perspective with American justice. The role of justice in society and the biblical foundations of punishment. The importance of objective morality an

Chanukah Starts With a CH

Dec 26 2024 51 mins  
Today, we discuss the holiday where the Jews try to go head-to-head with the Christians…Chanukah. During our discussion, we cover: The intersection of humor, joy, and historical context within Jewish culture, particularly focusing on the significance of Chanukah. The importance of humor in Jewish identity, the complexities of Jewish joy, and the historical events surrounding

edJEWcation Book Club: The Sunflower by Simon Wiesenthal

Dec 18 2024 62 mins  
Welcome to the seminal edition of the edJEWcation book club. To usher in the monthly event, we read The Sunflower by Simon Wiesenthal. During our wide-ranging discussion, we discuss: Some of the most impactful (both positively and negatively) responses to Wiesenthal’s conundrum The complexities of forgiveness, discussing various perspectives on the moral implications of grant

If We Can, We Must

Dec 12 2024 65 mins  
In this conversation, we explore the complex topic of redeeming captives from a biblical perspective. We discuss: The emotional and ethical dilemmas faced by families of hostages, Historical precedents in Jewish law, and the teachings of Maimonides. The implications of valuing captives, gender differences in redemption, and the broader societal impacts of these practices.

Club Z Is-Real

Dec 04 2024 60 mins  
On this episode, we trade a Polish Jew (the Rabbi) for a Russian Jew, Masha Merkulova. Masha is the founder and Executive Director of Club Z. Club Z’s mission is to create a student network of educated and articulate activists who are committed to Zionism and advocate for themselves, Israel, and the Jewish people. During the episode, we discuss: Masha’s upbringing in the Sovi

A Homecoming - The Perelmuters in Poland

Nov 27 2024 80 mins  
This week on edJEWcation we do something a but different, we discuss the vacation the Rabbi and ChayaLeah took. Ok, that may be underselling it a bit. In World War Two, roughly 90% of the 3 million Jews living in Poland at the time were murdered…the Rabbi is a child of two of those survivors. To commemorate their family and all the deceased Polish Jews, the Perelmuter family or