The world’s biggest Jewish sports podcast. Join Gabe and Jamie for laid-back interviews with pro athletes, executives and athletes; global commentary on Jewish and Israeli sports; and surprisingly in-depth investigations into whether athletes whose names sound Jewish actually are. Follow us on Twitter @menschwarmers. Brought to you by The Canadian Jewish News Podcast Network.
Jewish baseball players to watch in the 2026 MLB playoffs
Baseball’s postseason is here, which means the Menschwarmers have some important questions: Which Jewish players might actually get into a game, who has a chance to swing a series, and how much faith should anyone place in the Cubs’ pitching? Gabe and James run through the biggest names in Jewish baseball to watch in October, from Rowdy Tellez and Garrett Stubbs to Max Fried and former Menschwarmers guest Alex Bregman. They also debate Cubs lore, Jewish baseball interference and the enduring mystery of Steve Bartman.
Then James puts on his lawyer hat to unpack Zack Gelof’s lawsuit over the knee injury he suffered at Comerica Park—and why a dangerous ballpark condition could matter beyond one player’s lost time.
Plus: Wayne Rooney discovers Jewish roots; Irish international Finn Azaz finds himself in the middle of controversy around a Nations League match against Israel; and the boys arrive at a highly scientific conclusion about what Macklemore fandom now requires.
Credits
Hosts: James Hirsh and Gabe Pulver
Producer: Michael Fraiman
Music: Kosha Dillz
Support The CJN
Follow the podcast on Twitter @menschwarmers (https://x.com/menschwarmers)
Subscribe to The CJN newsletter (https://thecjn.ca/newsletters/)
Donate to The CJN (https://thecjn.ca/donate/) (+ get a charitable tax receipt)
26 Aug 2026
Meet Chaim Galbut, the Orthodox ‘Jewish Rodman’ heading to Division I basketball
Summer is winding down, which means the Menschwarmers are back in their natural habitat: wondering which Jews might make NFL rosters, how our baseball stars are faring midseason, and the many ways in which Middle Eastern politics seeps into soccer matches these days.
As NCAA basketball gets started, they look at the "Jewish Rodman", Chaim Galbut—a six-foot-seven Orthodox basketball player from Miami who is heading to Duquesne University after a gap year, who plans to keep Shabbat while playing Division I basketball. Then they turn to a quick NFL preview, the Los Angeles Lakers' new Jewish owners, and West Ham United fans' anti-Palestinian chants in purported support of Israeli footballer Manor Solomon, which make us Jews feel a little less than comfortable.
Credits
Hosts: James Hirsh and Gabe Pulver
Producer: Michael Fraiman
Music: Kosha Dillz
Support The CJN
Follow the podcast on Twitter @menschwarmers (https://x.com/menschwarmers)
Subscribe to The CJN newsletter (https://thecjn.ca/newsletters/)
Donate to The CJN (https://thecjn.ca/donate/) (+ get a charitable tax receipt)
6 Aug 2026
Sitting down with Tamir Goodman & Ricky Davis at the JCC Maccabi Games
This summer, Toronto is a host city to one of the biggest sporting events in the world. No, not the World Cup—it's the JCC Maccabi Games, held in Canada for the first time in 40 years.
This year, the organizers have brought in two memorable names from basketball history to run skills clinics and help kids learn the sport: Tamir Goodman, once dubbed the “Jewish Jordan,” and 12-year NBA veteran Ricky Davis, a.k.a. “Ricky Buckets,” join the Menschwarmers podcast to share what brought them to Toronto.
Before the interview, Gabe and Jamie take a deeper look at reports of antisemitic chants directed at Israeli striker Dor Turgeman during a New England Revolution match in Montreal. Were the crowds really chanting "Death to Israel", or was it actually a French phrase anglophones didn't catch? Then they chat about the Jewish connections to the recently launched Women’s Pro Baseball League, unpack Harrison Bader’s late-night scooter crash into a fire truck, and praise Robert Stock's return to the majors.
Credits
Hosts: James Hirsh and Gabe Pulver
Producer: Michael Fraiman
Music: Kosha Dillz
Support The CJN
Follow the podcast on Twitter @menschwarmers (https://x.com/menschwarmers)
Subscribe to The CJN newsletter (https://thecjn.ca/newsletters/)
Donate to The CJN (https://thecjn.ca/donate/) (+ get a charitable tax receipt) https://thecjn.ca/menschwarmers (https://thecjn.ca/menschwarmers)
Reach and audience
Public platform figures. Ratings count people who left a rating, not total listeners.
Apple Podcasts (US)
4.7 / 5
12 ratings
Spotify
5.0 / 5
16 ratings
Contact Menschwarmers
Guest appearances
Does not typically book guests
Based on episode analysis; this does not confirm that the show is currently accepting guests.
Pod Engine is an independent podcast discovery and analytics service and is not affiliated with or endorsed by this podcast. Artwork and show content belong to their owners. Full legal notice.
Explore this show Podcast research with Pod Engine
