The Accidental Talmudist Podcast

Salvador Litvak’s entertaining search for God, wisdom, and the purpose of everything. The Accidental Talmudist podcast features modern-day sages who make ancient teachings relevant to our busy lives. Sal’s guests are storytellers, deep thinkers, and world-class conversationalists.

Rabbi Mendel Kalmenson: How To Find Your Purpose 01/15/2025

Rabbi Mendel Kalmenson: How To Find Your Purpose Rabbi Mendel Kalmenson is the bestselling author of seven books that provide invaluable advice for how to create a life of meaning and joy. His newest book, On Purpose, teaches readers to see the Divine providence in every moment, encounter and relationship in their lives, in good times and bad. Spiritual leader of Chabad of Belgravia UK, Rabbi Kalmenson is an emissary of the Lubavitcher Rebbe who is passionate about transmitting the wisdom of the Rebbe to help people improve themselves, their relationships, and the world around them. ❤️ Support our work: 🤗 Our best content in your inbox weekly: accidentaltalmudist.org/newsletter 📱NEW! 'Accidental Talmudist' App now available for Apple and Android! 🤣 Learn more about Salvador, AT, & Let My People Laugh: linktr.ee/salvadorlitvak /episode/index/show/accidentaltalmudist/id/34715230

Gedaliah Gurfein: The People's Talmud 06/27/2024

Gedaliah Gurfein: The People's Talmud Rabbi Gedaliah Gurfein is the creator of the People’s Talmud, a remarkable online resource that makes the Talmud accessible to all who are curious, even those with little Jewish knowledge. Rabbi Gurfein explains what the Talmud is and why it’s the operating system of Judaism. Far from being archaic, the Talmud addresses issues that highly relevant to the modern world such as life after death, other inhabited planets, marriage and parenting, and how to create a just and fair society. /episode/index/show/accidentaltalmudist/id/31917047

Roz Rothstein: Combating Lies and Misinformation About Israel 02/09/2024

Roz Rothstein: Combating Lies and Misinformation About Israel Roz Rothstein founded the pro-Israel advocacy group Stand With Us in 2001 to combat lies and misinformation about Israel on college campuses and in the media. SWUs promotes the truth about the Jewish state and Zionism, educating young adults who condemn Israel without knowing the facts. SWU organizes protests and ad campaigns, files lawsuits on behalf of college students, and trains students to debunk lies and stand up for Israel and the Jewish people. Roz has been named by the Forward and The Jerusalem Post as one of the most influential Jews in the world. Follow the Accidental Talmudist on , and . /episode/index/show/accidentaltalmudist/id/29874583

Scott Shay: How Did Antisemitism Become Such a Big Problem on College Campuses? 12/05/2023

Scott Shay: How Did Antisemitism Become Such a Big Problem on College Campuses? Scott Shay is the author of Conspiracy U: A Case Study, tracing the growth of anti-Zionist conspiracy theories at his alma mater, Northwestern University. In a far-reaching and dire conversation, Sal and Scott explore how antisemitism originates on both the far left and far right, and how this plague has been nurtured on American campuses. Follow the Accidental Talmudist on , and . /episode/index/show/accidentaltalmudist/id/28945838

Rabbi Doctor Daniel Friedman: Talmud For Regular Folks 01/12/2022

Rabbi Doctor Daniel Friedman: Talmud For Regular Folks Author and speaker Daniel Friedman shares transformative wisdom from our Sages, as well as surprising research from his doctoral thesis on American Christian attitudes toward Israel. Follow the Accidental Talmudist on , and . /episode/index/show/accidentaltalmudist/id/21758384

Danny Lobell: Doing Your Worst 10/04/2021

Danny Lobell: Doing Your Worst Comedian Danny Lobell joins Sal for a laugh-out-loud conversation covering a wide range of topics, including what they’d do with a billion dollars, Sal’s accidental Canada commercial, and the value of doing your worst. Danny shares his perspective on coming back to Judaism, and what conservatives and liberals have in common. /episode/index/show/accidentaltalmudist/id/20696492

Rabbi Abraham Cooper: Fighting for Freedom and Tolerance 06/30/2021

Rabbi Abraham Cooper: Fighting for Freedom and Tolerance Rabbi Cooper, director of the Simon Wiesenthal Center, talks about rescuing Jews from the Soviet Union, promoting peace around the world, and why Jewish pride is vital in tough times. /episode/index/show/accidentaltalmudist/id/19655372

Alan Dershowitz: Comparing Talmudic And U.S. Law in Capital Cases 02/02/2021

Alan Dershowitz: Comparing Talmudic And U.S. Law in Capital Cases Studying the law of capital cases in the Talmud and American jurisprudence with trial attorney, best-selling author and Harvard Law Professor Alan Dershowitz. /episode/index/show/accidentaltalmudist/id/17781524

Rabbi Reuven Wolf: Who Is The Jewish Messiah and When Is He Coming? 10/18/2020

Rabbi Reuven Wolf: Who Is The Jewish Messiah and When Is He Coming? Rabbi Reuven Wolf of Maayon Yisroel Chassidic Center, takes us deep into Jewish mysticism as Sal and his rabbi explore some tough questions: Why does God hide? What does Messiah mean within Judaism? What do all Jews have in common? What is the role of non-Jews in the World to Come? /episode/index/show/accidentaltalmudist/id/16448147

Nas Daily: I Made 1000 Videos in 1000 Days and Received 6 Billion Views 07/18/2020

Nas Daily: I Made 1000 Videos in 1000 Days and Received 6 Billion Views Nas Yassin is an Arab Israeli who scored a full scholarship to Harvard and started Nas Daily, a wildly successful Facebook page with 26 million followers, that documents his travels and experiences around the world. Sal and Nas explore the intersection of faith, social media, storytelling, government, Hollywood and interesting characters they’ve known. /episode/index/show/accidentaltalmudist/id/15254489

Shloime Zionce: Hasidic Travel Writer 06/08/2020

Shloime Zionce: Hasidic Travel Writer Shloime Zionce, the colorful travel correspondent for Ami Magazine, shares stories about finding kosher food in Afghanistan, explaining tefillin to airport security in Saudi Arabia, and being mistaken for an Israeli spy. /episode/index/show/accidentaltalmudist/id/14746403

Douglas Rushkoff: Is Social Media a Needed Tool or a Slow-Motion Bomb? 05/12/2020

Douglas Rushkoff: Is Social Media a Needed Tool or a Slow-Motion Bomb? Cultural commentator Douglas Rushkoff has a unique take on the human condition in the modern world. Technology and culture alienates people from each other, and the central question today is how do we bring the human race together despite the unique challenges of our era. /episode/index/show/accidentaltalmudist/id/14380205

Rabbi Shais Taub: How to Find the Truth About Yourself 03/25/2020

Rabbi Shais Taub: How to Find the Truth About Yourself Rabbi Taub is a prominent Chabad rabbi and an expert in Jewish spirituality and recovery from addiction. With a down-to-earth manner and talent for storytelling, he makes Jewish mysticism accessible and relevant to everybody. /episode/index/show/accidentaltalmudist/id/13691645

Dani Kollin: The Unincorporated Man 10/08/2019

Dani Kollin: The Unincorporated Man Author Dani Kollin and Sal explore their mutual love of science fiction, the good and bad of capitalism, what happens if people are financial commodities, and the importance of saying “I love you” to God. /episode/index/show/accidentaltalmudist/id/11558231

Rabbi Tzvi Freeman: What is Chassidus? 09/10/2019

Rabbi Tzvi Freeman: What is Chassidus? Rabbi Tzvi Freeman, a self-described “un-Orthodox rabbi,” shares Chassidic teachings that help us come closer to God, each other and our own true selves. He brings down deep teachings from the Baal Shem Tov, founder of Chassidism, and the great Lubavitcher Rebbe. What does it mean that we all carry a spark of the Divine? /episode/index/show/accidentaltalmudist/id/11189051

Rabbi Manis Friedman: The Joy of Intimacy 08/27/2019

Rabbi Manis Friedman: The Joy of Intimacy Chabad rabbi, author and public speaker Manis Friedman is an expert on relationships and intimacy. Rabbi Friedman’s advice for a healthy marriage is counter-intuitive, even shocking: “I love you” is the worst thing you can say. Marrying for love is as bad as marrying for money. And you won't believe what he said about sex… /episode/index/show/accidentaltalmudist/id/11007920

Stephen Tobolowsky: My Adventures with God 08/13/2019

Stephen Tobolowsky: My Adventures with God Legendary character actor Stephen Tobolowsky talks about his unique journey as a person of faith in Hollywood. Stephen shares unforgettable stories about people he has known and his ongoing adventures with God, the subject of his new book. /episode/index/show/accidentaltalmudist/id/10869527

The Accidental Talmudist Podcast

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