In this episode, Eli and Max are joined by Dr. Na’ama Carlin to discuss her book Morality, Violence, and Ritual Circumcision. They talk about Dr. Carlin’s distinction between two types of violence: Manichaen violence, which is done by and to people; and generative violence, which helps to create identities." They discuss the contemporary circumcisi…

In his second appearance on The Bruchim Podcast, Jeff presents his view on the ethics of circumcision, and Max and Eli respond with their own views on the matter. They discuss the right to bodily integrity, the right to self-determination, the differences and similarities between male and female genital cutting practices, and the possibility that c…

In the third part of this series, Eli and Max are joined by the moral philosopher Jeff Helmreich. After Jeff gets up to speed on the conversation, he complicates matters by introducing a fifth option for the relationship between ethics and Jewish law. The group digs into the "Oven of Akhnai," a famous story from the Babylonian Talmud. Jeff then tal…

In the second part of this series, Eli is joined by Bruchim’s Director of Education, Max DuBoff, to look at an essay by Rabbi Ethan Tucker that is directly relevant to the relationship between Ethics and Jewish law. After a brief introduction to Rabbi Tucker’s place in the Jewish world, they try to understand how Rabbi Tucker's view fits into the c…

Are Jewish law and ethics in conflict? Eli is joined by Max DuBoff, Bruchim's Director of Education, to explore this question. They begin by defining their terms and explaining what they mean by ethics and what they mean by halakha, Jewish law. Max then proposes four possible positions that one might take regarding the relationship between the two,…

In this episode, Eli is joined by Bruchim’s Executive Director Rebecca Wald. Rebecca talks about the decision not to circumcise her son and the consequences of that decision. Eli and Rebecca then discuss Rebecca's website Beyond the Bris and how it became one of the premier Jewish websites on the subject of circumcision. They also talk about Rebecc…

In this episode, Eli is joined by Bruchim’s Director of Education Max DuBoff and Jewish journalist Mark Oppenheimer. This episode was recorded two days after Hamas’s October 7th attack against Israel so the conversation starts with reactions to the news. The discussion then moves to the role of antisemitism in Jewish-American identity, the importan…

In this episode, Eli is joined by Bruchim’s President, Lisa Braver Moss. Lisa discusses her regret after circumcising her two boys, and how this catalyzed a lifetime of activism about Jewish circumcision. She also reflects on writing a novel about circumcision and a book of ceremonies for alternative baby welcoming ceremonies, also called brit shal…

In this episode, Gary Shteyngart joins Eli to talk about growing up as an immigrant and his memories of being circumcised at the age of seven. He talks about "the very painful complications from his circumcision which have haunted him as an adult." Gary talks about the decision to tell his story to the New Yorker, the reception of his article, and …

Welcome to the Bruchim Podcast! For our first episode, host Eli Ungar-Sargon is joined by Max Buckler, Bruchim’s Director of Strategic Initiatives and a bioethics researcher. They discuss: Is it a contradiction for a Jew to be opposed to circumcision? And what's the basis of Jewish identity? They also talk about the need for an organization like Br…

Welcome to The Bruchim Podcast! The only podcast in the world dedicated to Jews who think differently about circumcision.By Bruchim

After a quick review of the Barbie movie, Jeff and Eli talk about a widely-circulated petition that seeks to link the Israeli judicial overhaul with the larger Israeli-Palestinian conflict. To read the open letter, click/tap here. To read about the open letter, click/tap here.By Eliyahu Ungar-Sargon & Jeff Helmreich

In this episode, Jeff and Eli discuss the principle of free speech and how it comes into conflict with the desire to regulate hate speech, or group libel. In an attempt to tease apart and examine the various ideas and values at play in this conflict, they look at Stanley Fish, Ronald Dworkin, and Jeremy Waldron. Show Notes: To read Stanley Fish on …

In this episode, Jeff and Eli discuss the issue of antisemitism. They examine and evaluate multiple definitions of the term, talk about the attempt of some to include anti-Zionism in their definitions, and reflect on the impact of social media on the spread of antisemitic ideas. They conclude with their own recommendations on best practices in the …

In this episode, Eli tells the story of a recent personal encounter he had with antisemitism and the intersectional bigotry that followed from it before he and Jeff discuss the meaning of patriotism. They then wade into the contemporary culture wars on race using Ross Douthat's recent OpEds in the New York Times as an access point to the controvers…

In this episode, Jeff and Eli discuss the Derek Chauvin verdict and its implications for the country and the criminal justice system. They then continue their deep dive into racism with an examination of Lawrence Blum's concept of the moral asymmetries inherent in different kinds of racism. Show Notes: To read Lawrence Blum's "I'm Not A Racist But.…

In this episode, Jeff and Eli continue their discussion on the metaphysics of race with a quick review of Hardimon's biological realism and a discussion of social realism/constructionism and anti-realism. They examine the metaphysics of Sally Haslanger, Paul C. Taylor, and Joshua Glasgow as they discuss the merits and problems posed by social reali…

In this episode, Jeff and Eli begin by discussing a controversial SNL joke about Israel’s vaccination program. Next they discuss the devastating empirical problems faced by the classical racialist view of race before launching into a discussion of the different metaphysical camps in the philosophy of race. They start with Biological Realism using M…

In this episode, Jeff and Eli examine different definitions of racism. They look at Robin DiAngelo, Ibram X. Kendi, and Paul C. Taylor’s definitions and talk about the strengths and weaknesses of each before talking about the way in which Jeff thinks racism should be redefined. Show Notes: To read Robin DiAngelo’s book White Fragility, click/tap he…

In this episode, Jeff and Eli wrap up their non-comprehensive stroll through the history of racial thinking and move on to talk about the role that religion played in the history of racism and slavery. Eli then argues for the centrality of racism to the Enlightenment project, while Jeff defends its honor. Show Notes: To read about the Curse of Ham,…

In this episode, Jeff and Eli take a moment to reflect on the end of the Trump era before jumping into a discussion on race. They talk about their personal connection to race and then talk about the history of racial thinking using Paul C. Taylor’s account as a guide. Show Notes: To watch The New Yorker’s video from inside the Capitol attack on Jan…

In this episode, Jeff and Eli conclude their conversation about the empirical study of emotions by talking about the fall of the triune model of the brain and the developments in neuroscience that brought it about. They delve into Lisa Feldman Barrett’s model of emotions and talk about its metaphysical implications. Show Notes: To read about Paul M…

In this episode, Jeff and Eli continue their exploration of the empirical study of emotions. They track the public battle between Margaret Mead and Paul Ekman before making their way into Neuroscience where they meet Joseph Ledoux, Antonio Damasio, and finally begin a discussion of Lisa Feldman Barrett’s work. Show Notes: To read about the rivalry …

After a short discussion about the upcoming presidential election in the United States and the new data about how Jewish Americans will be voting, Jeff and Eli dive into their next topic which is the empirical study of emotions. Starting with the foundational 19th century texts by Charles Darwin and William James, they move into the 20th century an…

In this episode, Jeff and Eli discuss Pamela Hieronymi’s seminal essay “Articulating an Uncompromising Forgiveness.” After a brief discussion about the revolution that Hieronymi wrought in moral philosophy, they dig into the differences between seeking forgiveness and apologizing. They then explore the areas in which Jeff’s account of apologies div…

In this episode, Jeff and Eli think they’re done with anger, but anger isn’t done with them. They take stock of the different positions and talk about where they each fall. Jeff describes his concept of Dialogic Anger in more detail and they end with a discussion of the Kavanaugh hearings. Show Notes: For Agnes Callard’s essay “The Reason To Be Ang…

In this episode, Jeff and Eli discuss Marshall Rosenberg’s take on anger and moralism as expressed in his system of Nonviolent Communication. They dive into the benefits and drawbacks of eliminating moralistic language from communication and consciousness and they discuss the efficacy of moral stance-taking and shame in shaping human behavior. Show…

In this episode, Jeff and Eli kick off a discussion on the subject of anger and resentment. They focus on two texts by the philosopher Agnes Callard and branch off into a discussion about Nietzsche, the foundations of morality, and the analytic-continental divide. Show Notes: For the Chomsky-Foucalt debate click/tap here. For Agnes Callard’s video …

In their first episode back after a three and a half year hiatus, Jeff and Eli talk about the loss of Jeff’s father to the virus, the paradoxical information environment of 2020, and the various kinds of ethical responsibilities that emerge from living through a pandemic. Show Notes: For the New York Times’ coverage of the passing of Jeff’s father …

In this episode, Jeff and Eli continue their discussion of apologies, but they broaden the scope to include apologies made by groups, institutions, and countries. Show Notes: To read more about the Victoria's Secret apology, click here. To watch veterans ask forgiveness from Native Americans at Standing Rock, click here. To read President Obama's s…

After a short follow-up discussion about the role that misogyny played in the U.S. presidential election, Jeff and Eli begin a discussion on the subject of apology. Show Notes: To read Jeff's article, click here.By Eli Ungar-Sargon & Jeff Helmreich

In this episode, Jeff and Eli discuss the election of Donald Trump and what that means for people who care about prejudices like racism, sexism, and Islamophobia. Show Notes: For Jeff's friend's book, click here. For more on the Southern Poverty Law Center, click here. To see Bernie Sanders' appearance at Liberty University, click here.…

In this episode, Eli talks to Professor Zachary Braiterman about the legacy of Elie Wiesel. This interview is then followed by an in-depth conversation between Jeff and Eli on the subject of ethics, the Holocaust, and Wiesel's refusal to criticize the State of Israel. Show Notes: To read more about Elie Wiesel's life and work click here. To read mo…

In this episode, Jeff and Eli talk a little bit about American politics before they dive into a discussion of Steven Salaita, Zionism, and Jewish-American identity. Show Notes: Dr. Salaita's lively Twitter account. The Jewish Daily Forward's exposé on the Jewish-American non-profit colossus.By Eli Ungar-Sargon & Jeff Helmreich

In this episode, Jeff and Eli discuss Barry Freundel, Marc Gafni and the dynamics of sexual scandal in the religious world. Show Notes: Mark Oppenheimer's New York Times piece on Marc Gafni. The Huffington Post piece on the anniversary of Barry Freundel's arrest.By Eli Ungar-Sargon & Jeff Helmreich

In this episode, Jeff and Eli lay out the New Atheist argument against Islam in four parts. They then examine the weaknesses in the argument and explore their differences on the boundaries that ought to be imposed on would-be critics of religion. Show Notes: To see Bill Maher and Sam Harris go at it with Ben Affleck on Real Time click here. To read…

In this episode, Eli talks to Edina Lekovic, Director of Policy and Programming at the Muslim Public Affairs Council. They talk about the recent murders in Chapel Hill, the definition of Islamophobia, President Obama's relationship to the American Muslim community, the 2011 study by the Center for American Progress, and antisemitism that is couched…

In this episode, Jeff and Eli discuss the attacks on Charlie Hebdo and the Kosher market in Paris. They examine each other's definitions of terrorism, discuss whether the actions of states can properly be called terrorism, and touch on the issue of freedom of speech. Show Notes: Wikipedia on the definition of terrorism: Terrorism Eli's article for …

In this episode, Jeff and Eli are joined by Rabbi Sara Zacharia to conclude their discussion about the role of women in Judaism. Show Notes: To read Rabbi Pamela Barmash's Teshuva click here. To see evidence that Daniel Gordis lost his mind click here. To learn more about JTS click here. To learn more about Ziegler click here.…

In this Episode, Jeff and Eli are joined by Dr. Batya Ungar-Sargon, staff writer for Tablet, to continue the discussion about women and Judaism. Show Notes: To read Batya's piece on Yeshivat Maharat, click here. For more on the Maharat program, click here.By Eli Ungar-Sargon&Jeff Helmreich

In this episode, Jeff and Eli talk about the role of women in the Jewish world. They touch on the legal status of women in Jewish law, leadership positions, and ritual participation and talk about the paradox posed by progressive forms of Orthodoxy. Show Notes: To learn more about Avi Weiss's seminary for training Orthodox women to be Rabbi-like le…

In this episode, Jeff and Eli continue their conversation about God. They start by talking about hermeneutics and the role of human perspective in religious interpretation and move to the subject of prayer. Show Notes: To read the story of the Oven of Akhnai click here. For background on the kidnapping of Nachshon Waxman click here.…

In this episode, Jeff and Eli continue their discussion of God and talk about their own views on the subject. Show Notes: To read about Pascal's Wager, by which Jeff is utterly unconvinced, click here. To read about Christopher Hitchens, click here.By Eli Ungar-Sargon &Jeff Helmreich

In this episode, Jeff and Eli talk a little about the film The Wolf of Wall Street and then launch into their next big topic of conversation: God. Show Notes: Background on Maimonides. Background on Spinoza. Background on Hermann Cohen. The Ontological Proof.By Eli Ungar-Sargon & Jeff Helmreich

In this episode, Jeff and Eli continue their discussion of the BDS movement and explore their differences on the nature of the State of Israel. Show Notes: To read Larry Derfner's 972 piece on the ASA boycott, click here.By Eli Ungar-Sargon & Jeff Helmreich

In this episode, Jeff and Eli discuss the American Studies Association's recent resolution to boycott Israeli academic institutions and the BDS movement in general. Show Notes: The American Studies Association Resolution on Academic Boycott of Israel Jeffrey Goldberg's response to the resolution. Omar Barghouti's response to the resolution. Peter B…

In this episode, Jeff and Eli are joined by Dr. Sarah Bunin Benor to examine Pew's A Portrait of Jewish Americans more closely. Show Notes: To read more about Dr. Benor, click here. To explore Dr. Benor's book, Becoming Frum, click here.By Eli Ungar-Sargon & Jeff Helmreich

In this episode, Jeff and Eli wrap up their conversation about racism and antisemitism and move on to their next topic, the landmark Pew survey of American Jews. Show Notes: To read the survey in its entirety, click here. To read Eli's scale of racism, click here.By Eli Ungar-Sargon & Jeff Helmreich

In this episode, Jeff and Eli dig a little deeper into positive racism and the empirical problem of generalizing about people groups. They also tackle some recent examples of racism in the news in an attempt to apply some of these concepts. Show Notes: The remarks that got Martin Bashir fired from MSNBC. The lawsuit against Bob Dylan. Kanye West's …

In the inaugural episode of Four Cubits, Jeff and Eli talk about the definition of race, who qualifies as an antisemite, and the conceptual difficulties associated with talking about racism and antisemitism. Show Notes: Read Eli's review of Daniel Goldhagen's The Devil That Never Dies here. Read Eli's essay How To Criticize a Jew here.…