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With the week’s Torah portion, Mishpatim , as a guide, Rabbi Shira and Josh probe the Jewish take on lying — is it ever acceptable? And we are joined by Congressman Jamie Raskin (D-MD), who discusses his new book “Unthinkable: Trauma, Truth, and the Trials of American Democracy”. Show notes:  1) Exodus 23:7 :מִדְּבַר שֶׁקֶר תִּרְחָק וְנָקִי וְצַדִּיק אַל תַּהֲרֹג כִּי לֹא אַצְדִּיק רָשָׁע (7) Keep far from a false charge; do not bring death on those who are innocent and in the right, for I will not acquit the wrongdoer. 2) Politics and Prose Bookstore 3) Rabbi Hillel, Pirkei Avot 1:14 : "If I am not for myself, who is for me?" 4) Unthinkable: Trauma, Truth, and the Trials of American Democracy, by Jamie Raskin, 2022. 5) Shepherd's Table 6) National Suicide Prevention Hotline 7) Dar Williams Back to Chutzpod!

Rabbi Shira and Joshua discuss the giving of the Ten Commandments, and what it takes to be prepared for “revelation” in our lives. Then they kick back with actor-writer-director David Wain to discuss his connection to Judaism, and the Ten Commandments-inspired film he co-wrote and directed, “The Ten”. Show notes:  1) Exodus 19:16-20 (טז) וַיְהִי֩ בַיּ֨וֹם הַשְּׁלִישִׁ֜י בִּֽהְיֹ֣ת הַבֹּ֗קֶר וַיְהִי֩ קֹלֹ֨ת וּבְרָקִ֜ים וְעָנָ֤ן כָּבֵד֙ עַל־הָהָ֔ר וְקֹ֥ל שֹׁפָ֖ר חָזָ֣ק מְאֹ֑ד וַיֶּחֱרַ֥ד כָּל־הָעָ֖ם אֲשֶׁ֥ר בַּֽמַּחֲנֶֽה׃ (יז) וַיּוֹצֵ֨א מֹשֶׁ֧ה אֶת־הָעָ֛ם לִקְרַ֥את הָֽאֱלֹהִ֖ים מִן־הַֽמַּחֲנֶ֑ה וַיִּֽתְיַצְּב֖וּ  בְּתַחְתִּ֥ית הָהָֽר׃  (יח) וְהַ֤ר סִינַי֙ עָשַׁ֣ן כֻּלּ֔וֹ מִ֠פְּנֵי אֲשֶׁ֨ר יָרַ֥ד עָלָ֛יו יְהוָ֖ה בָּאֵ֑שׁ וַיַּ֤עַל עֲשָׁנוֹ֙ כְּעֶ֣שֶׁן הַכִּבְשָׁ֔ן וַיֶּחֱרַ֥ד כָּל־הָהָ֖ר מְאֹֽד׃ (יט) וַיְהִי֙ ק֣וֹל הַשּׁוֹפָ֔ר הוֹלֵ֖ךְ וְחָזֵ֣ק מְאֹ֑ד מֹשֶׁ֣ה יְדַבֵּ֔ר וְהָאֱלֹהִ֖ים יַעֲנֶ֥נּוּ בְקֽוֹל׃ (כ) וַיֵּ֧רֶד יְהוָ֛ה עַל־הַ֥ר סִינַ֖י אֶל־רֹ֣אשׁ הָהָ֑ר וַיִּקְרָ֨א יְהוָ֧ה לְמֹשֶ

A bonus episode in which Josh and Rabbi Shira reflect upon this past weekend’s hostage situation at a synagogue in Texas. Back to Chutzpod!

  Don’t pack away those NYE decorations just yet! Rabbi Shira and Joshua discuss Tu Bishvat, the Jewish “New Year of the Trees.” They’ll help you spruce up your observance with new ways to celebrate an ancient holiday. Also, we book our first guest, and it’s Santa Claus. No, really . Show notes: 1) Leviticus 19:23-25 וְכִי־תָבֹ֣אוּ אֶל־הָאָ֗רֶץ וּנְטַעְתֶּם֙ כׇּל־עֵ֣ץ מַאֲכָ֔ל וַעֲרַלְתֶּ֥ם עׇרְלָת֖וֹ אֶת־פִּרְי֑וֹ שָׁלֹ֣שׁ שָׁנִ֗ים יִהְיֶ֥ה לָכֶ֛ם עֲרֵלִ֖ים לֹ֥א יֵאָכֵֽל׃ וּבַשָּׁנָה֙ הָרְבִיעִ֔ת יִהְיֶ֖ה כׇּל־פִּרְי֑וֹ קֹ֥דֶשׁ הִלּוּלִ֖ים לַיהֹוָֽה׃ וּבַשָּׁנָ֣ה הַחֲמִישִׁ֗ת תֹּֽאכְלוּ֙ אֶת־פִּרְי֔וֹ לְהוֹסִ֥יף לָכֶ֖ם תְּבוּאָת֑וֹ אֲנִ֖י יְהֹוָ֥ה אֱלֹהֵיכֶֽם׃ (23)  When you enter the land and plant any tree for food, you shall regard its fruit as forbidden. Three years it shall be forbidden for you, not to be eaten.  (24)  In the fourth year all its fruit shall be set aside for jubilation before the L ORD ;  (25)  and only in the fifth year may you use its fruit—that its yield to yo

This week’s Torah Portion, Bo , mentions the “mixed multitude” that left Egypt with the Israelites. Who were these “others,” and who are the "others" in our own lives today?  Also, if Joshua and Rabbi Shira went on a reality TV show together, which one would it be?  Show notes:  1) Exodus 12: 37-38 וַיִּסְע֧וּ בְנֵֽי־יִשְׂרָאֵ֛ל מֵרַעְמְסֵ֖ס סֻכֹּ֑תָה כְּשֵׁשׁ־מֵא֨וֹת אֶ֧לֶף רַגְלִ֛י הַגְּבָרִ֖ים לְבַ֥ד מִטָּֽף׃  וְגַם־עֵ֥רֶב רַ֖ב עָלָ֣ה אִתָּ֑ם וְצֹ֣אן וּבָקָ֔ר מִקְנֶ֖ה כָּבֵ֥ד מְאֹֽד׃ The Israelites journeyed from Rameses to Succoth, about six hundred thousand men on foot, aside from children. Moreover, a mixed multitude went up with them, and very much livestock, both flocks and herds. 2) "How the Golden Calf Statue made its way from CPAC to Bakersfield," Sam Morgen, Bakersfield.com. Back to Chutzpod!