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The Good, The Bad, and The ‘Wicked’

What does it mean to be good? And who gets to decide? In this magical episode of PopTorah, we dive into the world of Wicked, the spellbinding prequel to The Wizard of Oz that flips the script on the nature of good and evil. Join Rabbis Knopf and Olitzky as they explore how the tale of Elphaba and Glinda challenges our assumptions about morality, power, and friendship, all through the lens of Jewish wisdom. From Talmudic debates on justice to the Torah’s portrayal of misunderstood heroes, we uncover how Wicked invites us to question the stories we tell and the labels we assign. Listen now and embrace the complexities of life’s green-tinted shades of gray! Rabbis Michael Knopf and Jesse Olitzky are lifelong friends, pop culture fanboys, and lovers of all things Jewish. Join them every other week for a conversation about what’s going on in pop culture from a Jewish perspective and about Judaism through the lens of pop culture. How do you listen to PopTorah? You have a lot of options you know? iTunes, Spotify, Google Play, Stitcher, RSS, it’s your choice!

Amen Corner Season 10, Episode 13

This week, Brad and Steven are back for one last time in 2025. They’re talking about the 60 Minutes/Bari Weiss situation and put it in the context of the larger discussion of legacy vs. new media. They also talk about the lack of accepted truths in today’s world and wonder what this portends for the future. Have a listen and Happy Holidays! You can listen to The Amen Corner in lots of ways. On iTunes, Spotify, Stitcher, Google Play, or your favorite RSS aggregator.

Undercover on Campus: ‘A Man on the Inside’ Season 2 and the Purpose of Learning

What does it mean to learn, to teach, to remain faithful to ideals in a changing world? Rabbis Knopf and Olitzky discuss A Man on the Inside Season 2 — campus mysteries, human motives, and the deeper questions this witty Netflix comedy invites us to ask. Rabbis Michael Knopf and Jesse Olitzky are lifelong friends, pop culture fanboys, and lovers of all things Jewish. Join them every other week for a conversation about what’s going on in pop culture from a Jewish perspective and about Judaism through the lens of pop culture. How do you listen to PopTorah? You have a lot of options you know? iTunes, Spotify, Google Play, Stitcher, RSS, it’s your choice!

Amen Corner Season 10, Episode 12

Brad and Steven are back at it this week, and what a week it’s been. Between the horrific shootings at Brown University, the despicable terrorist attack in Sydney, and the senseless murders of Rob and Michele Reiner, there has been a lot to process in a short amount of time. The guys talk about these events as well as the (partial) release of the (redacted) Epstein Files, and Representative Elise Stefanik’s decision to drop out of the race for governor of New York and not to run for congress again. It’s also Chanukah and Christmas is in a few days, so happy holidays to all, no matter what you celebrate or even if you don’t celebrate at all. You can listen to The Amen Corner in lots of ways. On iTunes, Spotify, Stitcher, Google Play, or your favorite RSS aggregator.

Amen Corner Season 10, Episode 11

Brad and Steven are back at it this week, talking about President Trump’s winning of the first ever FIFA Peace Prize — yay Donald! They also talk about the recently released 2025 National Security Strategy and the shift away from the rules-based international system that was created (by the US) in the aftermath of WWII. They also talk about (and like) Forrest Gump. Have a listen and enjoy! You can listen to The Amen Corner in lots of ways. On iTunes, Spotify, Stitcher, Google Play, or your favorite RSS aggregator.