This week, we welcome Sal Litvak to the show…better known as the Accidental Talmudist.
In the first part of this conversation, Sal shares his unique Jewish journey, from his immigrant roots in Chile to his spiritual seeking and eventual reconnection with Judaism through the Talmud. He discusses the impact of personal loss, the rediscovery of his faith, and his commitment to teaching and sharing Jewish wisdom with a diverse audience.
We explore the complexities of Jewish learning, the journey towards religious observance, and the tools available for studying Talmud.
We then transition to Sal’s love of filmmaking, where he shares the story of his creative journey and how he ended up at USC film school. We talk about the trials and tribulations involved in the creation and subsequent release of his Passover comedy film, When Do We Eat?, and his upcoming film, Guns and Moses.
We close out our chat by discussing the complexities of faith, comedy, and the Jewish experience portrayed in film, the challenges first-time directors face, the importance of personal stories in art, and the need to engage young Jews in their heritage.
This was a tremendous and far-reaching conversation. We hope you enjoy it.
You can find Sal at any of his social media channels: