August 28, 2024
Torah Smash! The Podcast for Nerdy Jews
Episode 62 - Deadpool and Lamed Vavnikim

There are so many people in our world who are making the world a better place. Judaism calls them lamed vavnikim, or the righteous 36. But what about the people in the void who are making our world a better place? Or those who are trying to find missing anchor beings to make their own world better for their girlfriend who doesn’t love them anymore? They’re good too, right? Well, maybe they’re not “Avengers good”, but, woo, they’re about to make a name for themselves here.

00:01:24 Most people think they’re good people
00:03:07 We know the right answer and these aren’t it
00:06:11 Deadpool and Wolverine
00:08:40 Thirty-Six (Plus) Righteous People
00:12:00 The Thirty Six Graphic Novel by Kristopher White
00:14:38 Barak’s rant about D&W plot holes
00:19:51 Happy Hogan’s afikomen office
00:24:11 Into the Void
00:29:28 Wolverine variants
00:33:17 Musical anchors
00:35:27 Not one, but two (and a Peter)
00:36:14 More likes and dislikes
00:40:18 Deadpool 4?

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August 14, 2024
Torah Smash! The Podcast for Nerdy Jews
Episode 61 - Inside Mussar 2

Emotions can sometimes be difficult to handle and we find that they’re also often pretty Jewish. Join us as we explore the two joyfully sad movies by Pixar, Inside Out 1 and 2, and the connections to a very popular Jewish practice. We let the little voices inside our heads out for this conversation and we share the emotions that we wish made appearances in the films. Plus a hot take: Bing Bong is Jewish.

00:00:39 Step Inside RDY’s Mind
00:02:04 Initial film reactions
00:08:30 Favorite afikomen
00:12:56 Saboteurs and Mussar
00:19:39 Jewish guilt and nostalgia
00:23:19 If can control our emotions, we show true strength
00:31:23 Next is high school emotions
00:34:25 The original five base emotions
00:38:51 Other favorites and afikomen

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July 31, 2024
Torah Smash! The Podcast for Nerdy Jews
Episode 60 - All Nerds Think About Is Sects …with Special Guest Melissa Raub

Judaism is divided into sects or branches, but they all share a few core beliefs. We agree that they don’t sit on a spectrum, but perhaps they live in some kind of venn diagram? But, reviewing the sects of Judaism isn’t enough for us, we also explore the sects of Nerdaism. Or, as Barak preferred to call them, the cool kids tables.

00:03:21 The denominations of Judaism
00:04:51 Nerds and Geeks and Dorks and Dweebs
00:05:15 Breaking down the differences in Judaism
00:17:42 Save the Scranton Paper Tower
00:18:22 Breaking down the differences at the cool kids tables
00:20:40 Just Jews and Just Nerds
00:23:52 Torah Smash 5 Year Quest
00:25:40 How does one translate to the other?
00:28:46 Paul Rudd Marvel Nerd?
00:32:32 Knowing someone helps to welcome them
00:33:40 Mitzvahflix
00:36:42 What type of nerdy Jew are you?

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July 17, 2024
Torah Smash! The Podcast for Nerdy Jews
Episode 59 - The Messiah Element

Not the first element, hydrogen. Not the second, the third, or even the fourth element. No, this episode is about the Fifth Element, and it’s just… perfect. Grab a flying taxi and head to the (for some reason) garbage filled airport because you won two tickets aboard the Flohston Paradise cruise ship! Is it possible to save the world from destruction? Or is that actually how we save it? Join us meat popsicles as we discuss the future of the galaxy. But first, do you have your multipass?

00:01:05 Our second “97” property in a row
00:03:22 Recapping The Fifth Element
00:06:01 The Jewish concept of messiah
00:08:40 Isaiah 7:14
00:10:22 The perfect being
00:14:11 Creating from destruction
00:16:29 War vs Love
00:19:11 RDY’s Messianic Theology
00:23:22 Bringing about the messiah
00:26:27 Questions of the heavenly court
00:29:21 The name of the messiah
00:34:48 Childlike wonder and trash
00:38:10 Barak’s favorite afikomen
00:39:18 How would you imagine a saved world?
00:40:16 Any final points

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July 3, 2024
Torah Smash! The Podcast for Nerdy Jews
Episode 58 - X-Men Again Again …with Guest Host Joel Swedlove

In this episode, our guest host, Joel Swedlove, leads our team through a quote quote from a rabbi with a funny name name. We discuss the ever popular X-Men ‘97 animated series that recently completed and explore the similarities and differences in how we watched it. Not just because it’s a different show, but because we are different people than when we first saw it. You’re not gonna wanna miss this one, bub!

00:04:30 Joel keeps us on track
00:05:03 Put out the Bat SigNal
00:05:57 Starting with a quote quote from a rabbi with a funny name name
00:09:33 X-Men ‘97
00:13:32 Reboots, sequels, and requels
00:17:25 Knowing every character or story arc ahead of time
00:23:45 MCU’s struggles with completionist homework
00:26:33 Keeping Magneto’s impactful Jewish background
00:29:25 The timeless X-Men story
00:32:27 Fun fact about Menachem Begin’s X-men connection
00:35:10 There is nuance between good and bad
00:44:16 The X-Men will return

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June 19, 2024
Torah Smash! The Podcast for Nerdy Jews
Episode 57 - To Everything There Is A Bluey…with Special Guest Cantor Emily Simkin

This week’s episode of Bluey is called… Torah Smash! Sometimes special episodes come into our lives, this is one of those episodes. For real life! We talk about our feelings around the Heeler’s “moving” episode and all the advice that we’ve learned from a cartoon dog (and from real people as well). Life can get ruff sometimes, so we hope you find this episode to be a real t-r-e-a-t.

00:03:01 Everyone’s favorite animated dog - Bluey!
00:06:32 Bluey is Torah
00:11:20 Ecclesiastes 3:1
00:12:34 How do we handle big life shifts?
00:16:36 Wanted more of a moving episode on moving.
00:19:26 Unetaneh Tokef
00:22:13 How do you notice life’s little things?
00:29:05 Best advice on the topic of kids
00:30:18 A quick correction about blessings
00:31:39 More genius advice
00:40:16 Favorite Bluey episodes

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June 5, 2024
Torah Smash! The Podcast for Nerdy Jews
Episode 56 - 2nd Anniversary Special - Paraders of the Blessed Ark - Part Two

The second part of this year’s epic adventure to celebrate our podcast’s two years of being Jewish and nerdy. Can our heroes defeat this mysterious giant? Can they complete their mission? What happens to Tirza’s cat rock? Find out the answers to these questions and more on this epic anniversary episode of a Torah Smashed version of Dungeons & Dragons.

00:01:40 The city golem of Ai
00:08:11 KaiJew battle
00:22:19 Different player, same dice rolls
00:29:42 Monk Ki or Monkey?
00:32:02 Our deepesht thanksh
00:40:00 Summoning ladies, and sailors, and bearers. Oh my!
00:47:18 Torah Smash’s 5 Year Quest
00:49:07 Siege Preparations
00:52:41 The Battle at Jericho begins
00:58:49 Hallelujah, it’s an ice cream truck!?
01:00:37 Jerichopalooza
01:22:25 Sweet Cherry Pie
01:25:59 I suddenly remembered my charlemagne
01:35:25 D&D geometry
01:45:19 The spear troop rolls well enough!
01:48:43 Wait! But what about…?

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Contribute to Torah Smash’s 5 Year Quest at www.torahsmash.com/donate

Connect with us online, purchase swag, support us with a donation, and more at www.torahsmash.com.

Character Information:
NOA (played by Barak Malkin) Changeling Sorcerer. She is a daughter of Zelophahad and twin sister to Tirza.

TIRZA (played by Ethan Lane-Miller) Changeling Ranger. She is a daughter of Zelophahad and twin sister to Noa.

CALEB (played by Rachel Frish) Wood Half-Elf Monk. He is second in command to Aaron.

ARONA (played by Rabbi Emma Gottlieb) Aasimar Cleric. She is the assigned protector of the Ark of the Covenant by Aaron.

RAHAB (played by Dr. Miriam Eve Mora) Eladrin Bard. She is a Canaanite sex worker who previously aided two of Joshua’s spies.

JOSHUA (played by Rabbi Benjamin Sharff) Holy Knight Paladin. He is the appointed leader of the Jewish people following Moses.

DUNGEON MASTER (RDY) The man behind the curtain, the puller of strings, and weaver of the improvised story made by the players.

May 22, 2024
Torah Smash! The Podcast for Nerdy Jews
Episode 55 - 2nd Anniversary Special - Paraders of the Blessed Ark - Part 1

To celebrate two years of being Jewish and Nerdy, we invited some of our previous guests from the past year back to the show for a Torah Smashed version of Dungeons & Dragons. Each player chose a biblical character to portray (character descriptions below) and worked together to rescue the innocents and protect one of the most famous artifacts of the Torah.

00:00:37 Character Introductions
00:01:44 Our story begins on the bank of the Jordan River
00:06:04 Between a rock and a river
00:12:05 An Unknown Code
00:21:37 Stuck between a cat rock and a hard spelling place.
00:26:36 All eyes in the city of Ai.
00:33:25 The Chatool house
00:45:33 Ai’ll Be Back
00:55:46 Guards!
01:27:51 Please, Don’t Leave
01:29:50 Shoutouts

Share this episode with a friend: https://www.torahsmash.com/post/episode-55-paraders-of-the-blessed-ark-part-one

Contribute to Torah Smash’s 5 Year Quest at www.torahsmash.com/donate

Connect with us online, purchase swag, support us with a donation, and more at www.torahsmash.com.

Character Information:
NOA (played by Barak Malkin) Changeling Sorcerer. She is a daughter of Zelophahad and twin sister to Tirza.

TIRZA (played by Ethan Lane-Miller) Changeling Ranger. She is a daughter of Zelophahad and twin sister to Noa.

CALEB (played by Rachel Frish) Wood Half-Elf Monk. He is second in command to Aaron.

ARONA (played by Rabbi Emma Gottlieb) Aasimar Cleric. She is the assigned protector of the Ark of the Covenant by Aaron.

RAHAB (played by Dr. Miriam Eve Mora) Eladrin Bard. She is a Canaanite sex worker who previously aided two of Joshua’s spies.

JOSHUA (played by Rabbi Benjamin Sharff) Holy Knight Paladin. He is the appointed leader of the Jewish people following Moses.

DUNGEON MASTER (RDY) The man behind the curtain, the puller of strings, and weaver of the improvised story made by the players.