Talking Tachlis Podcast
194 episodes - English - Latest episode: about 1 year ago - ★★★★★ - 86 ratingsJoin us as we discuss the most pressing and interesting issues of the day, relating to Jewish life, and life in general.
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Episodes
43. Jewish Modesty For The Masses?
October 31, 2018 12:32 - 33 minutes - 23.5 MBThis week, Uri and Rivky discuss Avi Shafran's opinion piece: “A Safer Space For Women In Orthodox Judaism’s Rules For Sex.” Shafran argues that the secular world might do better with adopting some of Orthodox Judaism's rules for modesty - and that maybe they would protect women, especially in the age of #metoo. They ask, is it true? Does Orthodoxy has a safer, more respectful approach to women than the secular world? Relevant links: 1. Shafran: https://www.tabletmag.com/scroll/272690/a-safer...
42. Detain? That's Insane!
October 23, 2018 20:11 - 28 minutes - 19.4 MBThis week Rivky and Uri start with some feedback: should the podcast be more Jewish? Then they discuss the recent case of Lara Alqasem, an American student who was detained in Ben Gurion airport for her ties to the BDS movement. Why did Israel do this? Do actions like that have counter-productive results? Finally, Rivky and Uri discuss what they will do when they win the $1.6 billion Mega Millions jackpot. Links: Bechdel Test: https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bechdel_test NYT Op Ed: https://ww...
41. Grievance Studies
October 18, 2018 01:47 - 29 minutes - 20.4 MBThis week, Uri and Rivky break down an exciting new film, Empathy Inc., by an up and coming director, Yedidya Gorsetman. They then dive into their main topic. 3 academics have revealed an elaborate hoax - they wrote 20 fake scholarly papers, that they then submitted to various prestigious academic journals in the fields of Gender and Sexuality, Feminism, Queer studies, and Race studies (which they grouped in a field they called "Grievance Studies.") Each paper used fashionable buzzwords and m...
40. Keeping Up With Kavanaugh
October 10, 2018 04:08 - 34 minutes - 23.5 MBRivky and Uri are back! Talking Tachlis has finally returned after our long break for the holidays. This week, they talk about the only thing to discuss: Judge Brett Kavanaugh and Dr. Christine Blasey Ford. They ask - how can we possibly separate the people from the politics? Is there a war on men? And, in a more global, philosophical sense, when we're in an unprovable he said/she said argument about sexual misconduct - who do we believe?
39. 5779 Here We Come!
September 13, 2018 05:26 - 26 minutes - 18.6 MBThis week, Uri and Rivky look back on 5778 and the first year of Talking Tachlis. What were our most controversial topics? Which episodes got the most listens? Which episodes were our favorites? Talking Heads - Once In A Lifetime https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5IsSpAOD6K8 Bob Dylan - Like A Rolling Stone https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IwOfCgkyEj0
38. Ramaz's Reckoning
September 05, 2018 20:41 - 33 minutes - 22.8 MBThis 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://fi...
37. Your Neighbor Is A Nazi
August 29, 2018 02:27 - 33 minutes - 23.3 MBThis 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.youtub...
36. #HimToo? - Avital Ronell and Nimrod Reitman
August 21, 2018 20:16 - 32 minutes - 22.3 MBThis 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 “revers...
35. Nation State Of Mind
August 14, 2018 22:15 - 31 minutes - 21.5 MBRivky 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/56...
34. Open The Door And Let 'Em In?
August 07, 2018 17:14 - 39 minutes - 27.3 MBThis 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/sund...
33. We Flipped Our Latkes In The Air (Sometimes)
August 02, 2018 02:46 - 27 minutes - 19.3 MBThis 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
32.5 Put On Your Yarmulke!
July 30, 2018 04:37 - 11 minutes - 7.68 MBRivky 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!
32. Who Aren't We Not?
July 26, 2018 07:50 - 30 minutes - 20.8 MBThis 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.
31. Kinder Guardians
July 18, 2018 00:30 - 34 minutes - 23.5 MBThis 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 ...
30. She's Here, She's Queer, She's Machmir
July 10, 2018 22:39 - 32 minutes - 22.2 MBThis 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
29. Is It Time For IfNotNow?
July 04, 2018 20:54 - 33 minutes - 23.3 MBThis 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://...
28. What Does Feminist Torah Look Like?
June 27, 2018 01:15 - 33 minutes - 23.4 MBThis 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
27. Looking for America
June 20, 2018 01:47 - 39 minutes - 27 MBThis 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...
26. A Journey Through Journalism
June 13, 2018 13:24 - 27 minutes - 18.7 MBThis 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 bel...
25. Michael Chabon Solves the Shidduch Crisis
June 06, 2018 01:30 - 34 minutes - 23.5 MBThis 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 ...
24. Turn On, Tune In, Drop Out
May 30, 2018 03:57 - 30 minutes - 20.8 MBThis 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 p...
23. Talking Feminism
May 15, 2018 23:18 - 34 minutes - 23.7 MBThis 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?...
22. Talking Tachlis Sells Out
May 08, 2018 17:58 - 25 minutes - 17.6 MBThis 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 ...
21. Who Is Jordan Peterson?
May 01, 2018 12:24 - 30 minutes - 20.8 MBThis 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:...
20. She Never Claimed To Be A Role Model!
April 25, 2018 10:00 - 29 minutes - 20.6 MBThis 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...
19. Tear Down This Wall?
April 11, 2018 15:37 - 26 minutes - 18.6 MBThis 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.co...
18. Jewish Climate Control
March 27, 2018 14:41 - 34 minutes - 23.6 MBRivky'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-...
17. Do Millennials and Modern Orthodoxy Mix?
March 20, 2018 19:46 - 29 minutes - 20.5 MBThis 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 responsibilit...
16. Unpacking AIPAC
March 15, 2018 00:32 - 28 minutes - 19.4 MBThis 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...
15. Are We The World?
March 06, 2018 19:05 - 37 minutes - 25.7 MBThis 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...
14. Preacher Man Seder
February 27, 2018 17:43 - 36 minutes - 24.9 MBThis 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 perpetu...
13. Fake News and Poland's Jews
February 21, 2018 15:17 - 29 minutes - 20.6 MBThis 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,...
12. Gimme Shelter
February 15, 2018 00:28 - 38 minutes - 26.3 MBThis 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 r...
11. Super Bowls and Womens' Roles
February 06, 2018 20:37 - 28 minutes - 20 MBThis 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/orth...
10. The Lonely Man Of Faith
February 01, 2018 16:33 - 29 minutes - 20.3 MBThis 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.newyor...
9. Sycophants and Supermarkets
January 24, 2018 14:16 - 30 minutes - 21.2 MBThis week, in their first episode of 2018, Rivky and Uri talk about the recent brouhaha involving Rivky's alma mater, Frisch, and their recent email encouraging students to write to Trump, thanking him for his embassy announcement. They then discuss Seattle's hottest new grocery store, Amazon Go, and ask, should we be more worried, or more excited? Catch up on everything below: 1. Haaretz broke the Frisch story: https://www.haaretz.com/us-news/.premium-parents-protest-pro-trump-campaign-at-ku...
8. Prison Break
December 28, 2017 16:44 - 27 minutes - 19.1 MBThis week, as 2017 draws to a close, Rivky and Uri take stock of the political roller coaster of the last year, and especially ask about Trump's relationship to the Jews. But before getting there, they first discuss (and argue) about the biggest news of the week - the Rubashkin release. Catch up on everything below: Rubashkin release: https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/morning-mix/wp/2017/12/21/how-trump-came-to-commute-an-ex-meatpacking-executives-27-year-prison-sentence/ Songs: Folsom Pris...
7. On What Day Were Aliens Created?
December 19, 2017 19:28 - 26 minutes - 18.6 MBThis week, Uri and Rivky discuss a critical question - are aliens among us? And if they are, how does that affect the way we think about GOD? You know, little things like that. We also say goodbye to Chanukah, and ask, what do we do when there are parts of Torah, or our history, that are a little emotionally difficult for us to grapple with? Catch up on everything below: Articles 1. UFOs - https://www.nytimes.com/2017/12/16/us/politics/pentagon-program-ufo-harry-reid.html 2. Is The Earth Flat...
6. Happy Holidays!
December 12, 2017 20:49 - 29 minutes - 20.4 MBThis week, Uri and Rivky talk about Birthright - is it a good thing for the Jews? For Israel? What is the value of Birthright? In their second topic, they pick up where Howard Dean, Melissa Harris-Perry, David Brooks, and Robert George leave off, and ask - do liberals hold the moral high ground? Catch up on everything below: 1. The Nation, Romance on Birthright Israel: https://www.thenation.com/article/romance-birthright-israel/ 2. Debate: https://www.intelligencesquaredus.org/debates/liberal...
5. Neighborhood Bully: Israel and Anti-Semitism
December 06, 2017 17:52 - 59 minutes - 41.4 MBThis week, Uri and Rivky discuss last week's controversial panel on anti-Semitism, Anti-Semitism and the Struggle For Justice. The panel was held at the New School and organized by New School’s journalism program, Jewish Voice for Peace, Haymarket Books, Jacobin Magazine and Jews for Racial & Economic Justice, or JFREJ. They ask, how can you tell the difference between anti-Zionism and ant-Semitism? What did we learn from this panel, if anything? Catch up on everything below: 1. The Panel: ht...
4. Don't Tax Me, Bro!
November 28, 2017 17:52 - 24 minutes - 17 MBThis week, we ask, what is the estate tax? Why do Republicans want to eliminate it, and are they right? And we discuss the #metoo phenomenon and the implications for the (Jewish and non-Jewish) artists who have been exposed - how do we deal with the art they have created? Catch up on everything below: 1. https://www.cbpp.org/research/federal-tax/ten-facts-you-should-know-about-the-federal-estate-tax 2. https://www.theatlantic.com/business/archive/2016/02/resistance-estate-tax/470403/ 3. https...
3. You Didn't Build That: A Thanksgiving Episode
November 21, 2017 19:51 - 24 minutes - 17 MBThis week, Uri and Rivky present a Very Special Episode for Thanksgiving. They ask, as American Jews, what is our relationship to our country? What do we owe our government, and our community, as citizens of America? Catch up on the Jack Flamholz Memorial Yom Iyun, "Judaism in America: Intersecting Values and Identities": http://drisha.org/yomiyun/
2. Did You Ever See Our Show? It Was Called the Holocaust!
November 14, 2017 16:18 - 20 minutes - 14.2 MBThis week, we break down Ekow Ankah's opinion piece in the New York Times: Can My Children Be Friends With White People? And we discuss Larry David's SNL monologue - groundbreaking humor, or horribly offensive? We end the episode with recommendations for must-read articles in our newest segment, "Did You Read It?" Catch up on everything below: 1. https://mobile.nytimes.com/2017/11/11/opinion/sunday/interracial-friendship-donald-trump.html? 2. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G0eeNijdv3I 3. htt...
1. Talking Tachlis - An Introduction
November 07, 2017 03:50 - 17 minutes - 12.3 MBIn Episode 1, Rivky and Uri discuss Eitan Gross' article in Times of Israel, Andrew Altman's article in the Forward, and the use of social media. For further reading: http://blogs.timesofisrael.com/modern-orthodoxy-from-a-teenagers-perspective/ http://forward.com/scribe/386754/why-i-chose-to-attend-public-high-school-even-though-im-ultra-orthodox/ https://www.amazon.com/Circle-Dave-Eggers/dp/159413961X