Conversations and commentary grounded in Covenantal Judaism
Horizontal Conversations
Claim This Podcastby Horizontal Media
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42 episodes
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Podcast Overview
Conversations and commentary grounded in Covenantal Judaism
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Publishing Since
8/14/2024
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Recent Episodes
July 19, 2026
Disrupting the Narrative with Tali Aynalem
<html><h3><strong>The Rabbi Avi Show: Episode 23 Show Notes</strong></h3><p>In this very special episode, Rabbi Avi sits down with the outstanding <strong>Tali Aynalem</strong>—an Israeli-Ethiopian-American, IDF veteran of the Givati Brigade, and a sharp marketing professional who is completely shifting the conversation on social media.</p><p>Born in Israel to parents who made Aliyah in the early 1980s, Tali grew up in Oregon, giving her a completely unique perspective on both the Israeli cultural fabric and modern American activism. They dive into a deep, long-form conversation about her lived experience, breaking through the victim mentality on progressive American campuses, the hidden systemic realities of the Middle East, and her exciting new grassroots project, Breaking Bread.</p><h3><strong>Key Topics</strong></h3><ul><li><p><strong>Generational Roots & Aliyah History:</strong> Tali shares her family's unique background, predating the famous military airlifts of the mid-80s, and discusses the profound longing for Jerusalem (Beit HaMiqdash) that defined early Ethiopian pioneers.</p></li><li><p><strong>The Shock of American Racial Politics:</strong> Moving from Israel to Oregon, Tali describes the bizarre shift of entering an American university environment where she was explicitly introduced to an "oppression and victimhood" mentality for the first time.</p></li><li><p><strong>Life in the Fabric of Israel:</strong> Pushing back against online myths of a systemic "apartheid state," Tali shares her lived reality of total cultural belonging in Israel compared to the actual second-class citizenship and labor abuse under the Kafala system in parts of the Arab world.</p></li><li><p><strong>The Morality of the IDF:</strong> Drawing from her service in the Givati Brigade, Tali humanizes the soldiers on the borders, refuting Western media caricatures and detailing a culture that celebrates life rather than glorifying destruction.</p></li><li><p><strong>The Betrayal of October 7th:</strong> Tali reflects on being physically on the ground in Israel during the Simchat Torah attacks, catching one of the last flights out, and navigating the painful relational fallout with long-term American friends in the weeks that followed.</p></li><li><p><strong>Grassroots Leadership & "Breaking Bread":</strong> A look at Tali's new project with Ashira (Black and Jewish Podcast), moving past traditional, institutional "pastor and rabbi dinners" toward a model focused on business networking, economic partnership, and uncompromised Zionist dialogue.</p></li><li><p><strong>The Core of Jewish Identity:</strong> Tali explains why her personal representation doesn't matter as much as strong foundations built at home, culminating in her latest thesis: There is no Judaism without Zionism, and there is no Judaism without God.</p></li></ul><h3><strong>Important Links </strong></h3><ul><li><p><strong>Support the Show:</strong> Show your appreciation for independent, long-form media by supporting our channel at<a href="https://www.patreon.com/horizontalmedia" target="_blank"> </a><u><a href="https://www.patreon.com/horizontalmedia" target="_blank">Horizontal Media Patreon</a></u>.</p></li><li><p><strong>Tali’s Writing:</strong> Read, subscribe, and share Tali's sharp weekly cultural commentary on<a href="https://taliaynalem.substack.com" target="_blank"> </a><u><a href="https://taliaynalem.substack.com" target="_blank">Tali Aynalem's Substack</a></u>.</p></li></ul><h3><strong>Final Takeaway</strong></h3><p>"Always answer with truth. Look for the numbers yourself, look for the pictures yourself, and you'll find everything that you are looking for. Because truth always wins." — <strong>Tali Aynalem</strong></p></html>
July 5, 2026
The Rabbi Avi Show: Waking Up to History — Assimilation, Trauma, and The Past, Again with Benjamin Abravenel
<html><h3><strong>Show Notes: The Rabbi Avi Show, Episode 22</strong></h3><h3><strong>Episode Overview</strong></h3><p>In this powerful and timely episode, Rabbi Avi unpacks a profound tectonic shift currently altering the collective Jewish psyche in the wake of October 7th. Tracing a direct narrative arc over recent conversations, the show explores what it truly means to wake up to history when comfortable diaspora illusions of security begin to shatter.</p><p>Rabbi Avi is joined remotely by physician and debut novelist <strong>Benjamin Abravenel</strong> to discuss his captivating new psychological family drama, <strong>The Past, Again</strong> (published by Koehler Books). Together, they dive deep into the heavy existential questions facing modern Jewry: Is American exceptionalism a fragile myth? Can diaspora Jews ever truly unpack the suitcase in the closet? And how does transgenerational trauma shape our response to rising contemporary anti-Semitism?</p><h3><strong>Connecting the Threads: The Arc of Waking Up</strong></h3><p>Before sitting down with today's guest, Rabbi Avi reflects on the foundational themes laid down across recent episodes that bridge personal trauma, institutional betrayal, and the moral burdens of self-defense:</p><ul><li><p><strong>The October 8th Awakening (with Chloe Loos):</strong> A raw look at the immediate psychological shattering that occurred the morning after the attacks. This conversation confronted the sudden birth of the "October 8th Jew"—the jarring moment when the comfortable, sun-bleached illusions of diaspora exceptionalism cracked open.</p></li><li><p><strong>Ideological Evolution (with Dr. Molly Dunn):</strong> An analysis of the macro-level systemic failures and the moral collapse within elite academic and cultural institutions. This episode illuminated the deep isolation and political homelessness felt by Jewish families when the modern public square pressures them to mute or repackage their trauma just to stay palatable for prime time.</p></li><li><p><strong>Truth, Fiction, and the Modern Golem (with Roger Simon):</strong> A deep dive into theological fiction through the novel Emmet. Roger Simon demonstrated how dry journalism and political essays reach their limit when trying to capture existential dread, showing that narrative fiction is often the best vessel capable of holding the raw spiritual weight of our historical survival.</p></li></ul><h3><strong>Key Discussion Points with Benjamin Abravenel</strong></h3><h3><strong>1. Moving from Medicine to Fiction</strong></h3><p>After 35 years of practicing medicine, Dr. Abravenel turned to fiction to unpack heavy, modern anxieties. He shares the defining turning point behind the book: a poignant conversation with an Auschwitz-surviving patient who told him she still keeps a packed suitcase in her closet because safety is only guaranteed "so far." This, combined with witnessing literal anti-Semitic graffiti on the walls of modern Europe, sparked a desire to write a dystopian narrative set right in his idyllic hometown.</p><h3><strong>2. The Illusion of Paradise</strong></h3><p>The novel is intentionally set in the carefree, sun-bleached paradise of Santa Barbara and Montecito. Dr. Abravenel explains that Jewish history is full of cycles where Jews reach the highest pinnacles of societal success before elements of society abruptly turn against them. In modern America, he flags the rise of fragmented tribalization and "lone wolf" attacks from both the far left and far right as modern echoes of these historical repetitions.</p><h3><strong>3. The Generational Rift & Family Secrets</strong></h3><p>The book charts a profound family divide:</p><ul><li><p><strong>Brian (The Father):</strong> A deeply analytical Talmudic scholar who embodies the naive confidence of American exceptionalism.</p></li><li><p><strong>Judah/James (The Son):</strong> A protagonist who undergoes childhood trauma from early exposure to Holocaust imagery, choosing to change his name to "James" and aggressively adopting dogmatic atheism just to fit in and escape his heritage.</p></li><li><p><strong>Lori (The Mother):</strong> Born in Baghdad, she survived the horrific 1941 Farhud pogrom. She goes to great lengths to play down her Mizrahi roots to present herself strictly as Israeli—not out of shame, but because her history carries the lingering, haunting truth that paradise is never permanent.</p></li></ul><h3><strong>4. Cultural Gaslighting and Litmus Tests</strong></h3><p>Rabbi Avi and Benjamin confront the modern public square, where mentioning historical anti-Semitism is often treated as an aggressive act, and perpetrators claim the mantle of victimhood. They discuss the immense pressure placed on modern American Jews—particularly on elite college campuses—to undergo ideological litmus tests and reject their own identity or connection to Israel simply to be accepted by contemporary society.</p><h3><strong>5. Is There a Safe Haven?</strong></h3><p>The conversation concludes on a sobering yet resilient note. While the novel's characters try to outrun history through renaming, erasure, or silence, history ultimately catches up to them in a gripping conclusion tied to the reality of regional warfare. Yet, leaning on the words of the book's Auschwitz-surviving grandmother, Benjamin notes that Jewish survival has always been anchored in a refusal to be erased: "I'm still here."</p><h3><strong>Featured Book</strong></h3><ul><li><p><u><strong><a href="https://a.co/d/0hA5ijXy" target="_blank">The Past, Again</a></strong></u><u><a href="https://a.co/d/0hA5ijXy" target="_blank"> by Benjamin Abravenel (Published by Koehler Books). Available now on Amazon</a></u>.</p></li></ul><h3><strong>Memorable Quotes from the Episode</strong></h3><p>"I always keep the packed suitcase in my closet... So far." — Benjamin Abravenel, quoting an Auschwitz-surviving patient</p><p>"The unique thing about anti-Semitism, Jew hatred, is that it comes from both sides—the far left and the far right... Jews are being forced to undergo a litmus test before they can move on in society." — Benjamin Abravenel</p><p>"Our identity is not merely a casual religious preference. It's an interconnected civilization in a continuous historical chain." — Rabbi Avi</p><p>"While we may not be expected to finish the work of repairing this fractured world, we are absolutely not free to desist from it." — Rabbi Avi</p><h3><strong>Support Independent Jewish Media!</strong></h3><p>The Rabbi Avi Show is entirely independent, produced under the banner of <strong>Horizontal Media</strong>. We are not backed by corporate sponsors, and we do not answer to institutional boards. Diving into heavy truths, political realignments, and the raw vulnerability of our people takes immense time and operational resources.</p><p>If you value these long-form dialogues and believe that independent Jewish thought is an absolute necessity, please consider turning from a passive listener into an active financial partner.</p><ul><li><p><strong>Support us on Patreon:</strong><a href="https://www.patreon.com/horizontalmedia" target="_blank"> </a><u><a href="https://patreon.com/horizontalmedia" target="_blank">patreon.com/horizontalmedia</a></u></p></li></ul><p>Subscribe, leave a review, and share this episode to refuse to let the past be erased or distorted.</p></html>
June 29, 2026
Tammuz — The Name of a Dead God, the Anatomy of Catastrophe, and the Myth of the "Three Weeks"
<html><h3>Ḥokhmat ha-Ḥodesh</h3><h3>Episode 11: Tammuz — The Name of a Dead God, the Anatomy of Catastrophe, and the Myth of the "Three Weeks"</h3><p><strong>Host:</strong> Rabbi Yosef Lopez</p><p>Why does the Jewish calendar dedicate a month to a dead Mesopotamian fertility god? In this episode of Ḥokhmat ha-Ḥodesh, we explore the fascinating paradox of Tammuz. We trace the etymology of the month, unpack the biblical witness of idolatry at the Temple gates, and dive deep into the classical halakhic sources to challenge popular assumptions about the summer mourning period.</p><p>Discover why the unified 22-day mourning period known as "The Three Weeks" does not exist in the Talmud or the Mishneh Tora, and how understanding the difference between binding law (halakha) and later custom (minhagh) can transform our approach to communal accountability and genuine teshubhah (return).</p><h3>In This Episode</h3><ul><li><p><strong>The Etymological Irony:</strong> How a Babylonian god of pastoral fertility (Dumuzi) became the name for the Jewish month of national accountability.</p></li><li><p><strong>The Biblical Witness (Yeḥezqel 8:14):</strong> What the prophet Ezekiel saw at the Temple gate, and why the Rambam argues human beings are so easily seduced by false cosmologies.</p></li><li><p><strong>The Anatomy of Catastrophe:</strong> An analysis of Mishna Ta'anith 4:6. The five calamities of the 17th of Tammuz are not a random historical list, but a precise typology of national collapse—moving from internal fracture to external breach.</p></li><li><p><strong>Deconstructing "The Three Weeks":</strong> A bold look at classical sources. We explore how popular piety extended mourning restrictions backward, and what the Talmud and Mishneh Tora actually say about weddings, haircuts, and music during this time.</p></li><li><p><strong>The Weaponization of </strong><strong>'Ahabhath Ḥinam</strong><strong>:</strong> Why calls for "unconditional love" and unity are sometimes used to silence the very self-examination the fast days are meant to provoke.</p></li><li><p><strong>The Promise of Zekharyah:</strong> The prophetic guarantee that our fasts are conditional instruments meant to interrupt destructive patterns, destined to become days of joy.</p></li></ul><h3>Halakha vs. Custom Quick Reference</h3><p>As discussed in Section V, here is the contrast between classical law and popular custom:</p><ul><li><p><strong>Weddings:</strong> Permitted in classical law throughout Tammuz and most of 'Abh (discouraged only on the fast itself); forbidden by later custom for the full 22 days.</p></li><li><p><strong>Haircuts & Laundry:</strong> Restricted by classical law only during the week of Tish'ah be-'Abh; extended by later custom.</p></li><li><p><strong>Music:</strong> No specific seasonal restriction in classical sources (the restriction on live instrumental music applies year-round as a memory of the destruction).</p></li><li><p><strong>Meat & Wine:</strong> Restricted by classical law only at the final meal before the fast of Tish'ah be-'Abh; restricted by custom from Rosh Ḥodesh 'Abh.</p></li></ul><h3>Primary Sources Mentioned</h3><ul><li><p><strong>Mishna Ta'anith 4:6:</strong> The five calamities of the 17th of Tammuz and the halakhic pivot of mi-she-nikhnas 'Abh ("When 'Abh enters, we diminish in joy").</p></li><li><p><strong>Rambam (Maimonides):</strong></p><ul><li><p>Guide for the Perplexed (on the psychology of idolatry).</p></li><li><p>Mishneh Tora, Hilkhoth Ta'aniyyoth 5:1 (the purpose of fasting for teshubhah).</p></li><li><p>Hilkhoth Ta'aniyyoth 5:6-8, 5:14 (actual restrictions regarding haircuts, laundry, meat, wine, and music).</p></li><li><p>Peirush ha-Mishnayoth, Rosh ha-Shana 1:3 (on the optional nature of fasts during the Second Temple period).</p></li></ul></li><li><p><strong>Talmudic References:</strong> BT Yoma 9b (on śin'ath ḥinam), BT Ta'anith 26b & 29b, BT Soṭah 48a, BT Gittin 7a.</p></li><li><p><strong>Biblical Texts:</strong> Yeḥezqel (Ezekiel) 8:14; Eikhah (Lamentations) 1:3 (origin of the phrase Bein ha-Meṣarim); Zekharyah 8:19; Mishle (Proverbs) 27:5.</p></li><li><p><strong>Medieval Commentators:</strong> Radaq, Ibn Ezra (Diqduq ha-Milim), Rabbenu Ḥananel, and R. Saadia Gaon (Sefer ha-'Egaron).</p></li></ul><h3>Support the Show</h3><p>If you found meaning in this episode, please share it with friends and help us continue examining Jewish time and wisdom.</p><ul><li><p><strong>Support our work on Patreon:</strong> [Insert Link Here]</p></li><li><p><strong>Next Month:</strong> Join us for Episode 12 as we turn to the month of 'Abh, exploring the halakhic structure of Tish'ah be-'Abh and the nature of genuine political teshubhah.</p></li></ul><p></p></html>
42 total episodes available
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