Ask a Jew

Happy Good Friday! Shh, we have a serious guest, everyone behave please in the comment section. Today we welcome Jacob Mchangama [https://jacobmchangama.com/]. Jacob is the author of the breezy beach read “Free Speech – A History from Socrates to Social Media” [https://www.amazon.com/Free-Speech-History-Socrates-Social/dp/1541600495], research professor at Vanderbilt University where he is also the founder and Executive Director of The Future of Free Speech institute [https://futurefreespeech.org/], and a Senior Fellow at The Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression theFIREorg [https://substack.com/profile/139927201-thefireorg]. JOIN THE CONVERSATION ON SUBSTACK! ASKAJEW.SUBSTACK.COM Here’s what we cover: * Anne Frank is from Denmark, right? * Free Speech in the ancient world * When is speech actual violence? * The optimistics and pessimistic case for free speech * Back when the ACLU was cool * Immigration and speech * Can’t we just make antisemitism illegal * The vibe shift * Mahmoud Khlalil * The future of free speech Here’s your feel-good story for the week [https://x.com/yaelbt/status/1912478439744897109]: An IDF reservist found this sweet pup in Gaza, who apparently ran over when he heard the soldiers speaking Hebrew. The soldier quickly discovered that this is no other than Billy, a dog that was kidnapped from Kibbutz Nir Oz on October 7. He belonged to Rachel Dancyg, the ex-wife of hostage Alex Dancyg [https://www.timesofisrael.com/alex-dancyg-75-renowned-holocaust-educator-was-wise-and-witty/] who was murdered in Gaza. Rachel’s brother, Itzik Elgarat [https://www.timesofisrael.com/slain-captive-itzik-elgarat-buried-brother-says-netanyahu-dug-his-grave/], was also abducted from the kibbutz and murdered in Gaza. Some sweetness in the midst of it all. 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 [https://askajew.substack.com/subscribe?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_2]

This week in honor of Passover, we welcome the coolest Rabbi I know (after Chaya Leah’s father of edJEWcation [https://substack.com/profile/211269114-edjewcation]), Rabbi Gavriel Bellino [https://www.sixthstreetsynagogue.org/rabbi] of NYC’s 6th street shul [https://www.sixthstreetsynagogue.org/]. There are tons of photos, videos and musing that go with this episode from my visit to Israel. please check them out on substack at askajew.substack.com [https://askajew.substack.com/] and/or on Instagram @askajewpod. [https://www.instagram.com/askajewpod] If you live in NYC you should absolutely visit 6th Street Shul (yes, this is Yael!) Its super welcoming and lowkey, and they throw some great parties. They also have the best Instagram account [https://www.instagram.com/sixthstreetsynagogue/] (operated by the Rabbi). We talk about being a born-and-bred NYC Rabbi, issues facing Judaism today, spirituality, Kosher sushi, gays, women and David Schwimmer. 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 [https://askajew.substack.com/subscribe?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_2]

This week we welcome returning guest and the youngest person we know, Blake Flayton, to talk about his new book: 10 Things Every Jew Should Know Before They Go to College. [https://10thingseveryjewshouldknow.com/] We talk to Blake about how to win over Gen Z (with social justice!), whether or not we should we be gatekeeping the the antisemitism discourse, and why we don’t want to see anymore Holocaust movies….for now. You can follow Blake [https://substack.com/profile/39420257-blake-flayton]on Substack, X [https://x.com/blakeflayton] and Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/blakeflayton/], check him out calling out campus antisemitism in The NY Times before it was cool [https://www.nytimes.com/2019/11/14/opinion/college-israel-anti-semitism.html], and of course buy the book - everyone should read it, not just the kids! Also listen to his excellent podcast with Einat Wilf [https://open.substack.com/pub/einatwilf], We Should All Be Zionists. [https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/we-should-all-be-zionists-podcast/id1698319255] Also: * AI Therapy * Finally the world is waking up! oh wait nvm * What Birthrigtht gets wrong * You say Dual Loyalty like it’s a bad thing * Fighting Antisemitism from the left [https://open.substack.com/pub/bflayton/p/yes-we-must-fight-themfrom-the-left?r=1gxumo&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web&showWelcomeOnShare=false] - Blake’s latest essay on Substack: * Keep your friends? * Enough with the Holocaust movies * I’d rather be 9 people’s favorite thing than 100 people’s 9th favorite thing * Are we all just talking to ourselves on Instagram? The problem with social media Zionism. * The Insta-fada! * Woke Anne Frank * Stop what you’re doing and learn Hebrew 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 [https://askajew.substack.com/subscribe?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_2]

G’day from the Land Down Under! Promise this is our first and last Australia joke in these show notes. Today we welcome the Jewish Hugh Jackman (ok, I lied), Josh Szeps [https://substack.com/profile/113977-josh-szeps] to Ask A Jew! Josh is the host of Uncomfortable Conversations with Josh Szeps [https://uncomfortableconversations.substack.com/], and host of Szeps Live on Substack every Tuesday at 9pm (that’s normal time, not whatever they use in Australia). We loved having Josh on, even though he’s a lefty and that makes us feel unsafe. But it’s hard not to love him, and you will too. Also it doesn’t hurt that he’s kind of a hottie. Aside from a 40 minute standard chit-chat about aviation, we cover: * Do they even have months in Australia?? * We forgive you, Mel Gibson * Shabbas Gay * Why don’t people fall in Australia? * The moon looks different in Australia * How much money does Elon Musk have in Australia * Ok Josh, spill it - what happeend to the Malaysian Airline?? * Aviation Today - with Josh Szeps * Can you introduce us to the cast of Love on The Spectrum? * The Princess Bride 2 * Australia replaced its Prime Minister with a paper straw * 39 minutes in and we’re still talking about planes * Josh’s grandmoother’s amazing holocaust story (sorry we mocked her for it) * Antisemitism in Australia * WHERE’S THE JEWS?? * Oh look a bunch of Jews disagreeing about Israel * Josh is wrong about Israel and french fries 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 [https://askajew.substack.com/subscribe?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_2]

The world needs to stop talking about Jews and the only way that will happen is if Barak Obama and Jennifer Aniston have a baby. PHOTOS, CONVO, AND MORE ON SUBSTACK! askajew.substack.com [https://askajew.substack.com/] Also: * Chaya Leah makes a stunning confession * Purim Hangover * Covid anniversary * Hasidic fashion and the horrors of Brandy Melville * The strange life of supermodels * Save us, Barak Obama and Jennifer Aniston! * Shitty Columbia students * You don’t hate the universities enough * Not all slopes are slippery * CL book recommendation: Tribe: On Homecoming and Belonging [https://www.amazon.com/Tribe-Homecoming-Belonging-Sebastian-Junger/dp/1455566381] by Sebastian Junger [https://www.amazon.com/Tribe-Homecoming-Belonging-Sebastian-Junger/dp/1455566381] 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 [https://askajew.substack.com/subscribe?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_2]