Moishe the Grouch
A Back to School Special
This episode starts with a deep-dive into American and Israeli Sesame Street, and by deep-dive we mean the resurfacing of traumas that span continents and age groups.
It’s important to mention that while researching this substack, Yael discovered that Moishe Oofnik, the homeless weirdo from Israeli sesame street who probably has a meth problem, is actually Oscar the Grouch’s cousin! So Oscar is Jewish! If you want to “quiet quit”, or just waste some time at work, here’s a full episode of Israeli Sesame, complete with the MAGNIFICENT intro song featuring a baby that is not Yael.
Then, Chaya Leah pitches a business idea for a “fat person only” gym, we discuss the impact of Covid-19 on swinging, and both girls agree that the next temple should be built in the holiest place after the Kotel - a Target store.
Speaking of superstores, here is a link to Whole Foods CEO John Mackey’s 2009 op-ed against Obama care that inspired the great West Hollywood riots. Also check out Mackey’s recent interview with friend of AAJ Nick Gillespie below.
At some point in the show we get serious (not too serious, but a little) and talk about how Yael's relationship to Judaism has changed since meeting Chaya Leah, why seculars feel embarrassed by religious Jews, and why hugging is amazing even though the torah doesn't like it when y'all touch each other.
As promised, our podcast recommendations below. See you next week! Don’t forget to send your questions to: askajewpod@gmail.com
Is anyone following this Yeshiva University situation with an on-campus LGBTQ group? Really interesting. My sense is that the Supreme Court will rule in YU’s favor, given their track record on religious cases
https://www.timesofisrael.com/yeshiva-university-petitions-supreme-court-to-block-recognition-of-campus-lgbtq-club/
I loved Israeli Sesame Street in Hebrew school!
Pods! Have you ever listened to Three Jews, Four Opinions? They were on vacation last week so the last episode is 8/4 but it’s weekly. Anyways, three Jews spanning the political spectrum talk about US and Israeli politics. Warning: lots of yelling at each other to stop talking, and then talking over each other when they don’t. Pure joy https://open.spotify.com/show/3OCieZwg2lDpbhiQGYZl7D
Other than that, I think we all listen to the same podcasts. Chaya Leah, Identity/Crisis is great. P.s. I lied, People of The Pod from the AJC is also good https://www.ajc.org/peopleofthepod
Re: secular Jews and how they see Orthodox Jews. I could very much be an outlier but I’ve always appreciated the visibility of Orthodox Jews. “Brave” sounds condescending but that gets close to it without me rambling. Maybe “awe.”
I do think there’s a tension with secular Jews so Chaya Leah’s not imagining things. However, if a secular Jew feels embarrassment, that’s on them and they need to figure out their relationship to Judaism because it needs fixing. That feels like a self-hating thing to me.
I always imagine the orthodox in my neighborhood can tell I’m Jewish and think “there goes a Jew in the wild!”
And, apropos of nothing, I started reading Wandering Stars by Shalom Aleichem and it’s so good. The characters are constantly cursing things and I’m getting some great lines.
Love the podcast. Can’t wait to hear all about Bella hadid’s nose next week