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PopTorah

PopTorah

157 episodes — Page 3 of 4

Dune, Power Dynamics, and Platform Disruption

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. Dune, now in theaters and streaming on HBOMax, is […]

Nov 18, 202145 min

More Than ‘Only Murders in the Building’

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. The new series ‘Only Murders in the Building,’ starring […]

Nov 4, 202137 min

‘Maid’ in America

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. The new Netflix limited series ‘https://www.netflix.com/title/81166770,’ inspired by Stephanie […]

Oct 21, 202155 min

We Believe in ‘Ted Lasso’

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. Jason Sudeikis’ AppleTV+ comedy series ‘Ted Lasso,’ about a […]

Oct 7, 202144 min

Settling into ’The Chair’

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. The new Netflix series The Chair is about the […]

Sep 23, 202138 min

Checking Into ’The White Lotus’

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. The new series The White Lotus, currently streaming on […]

Sep 2, 202134 min

Greater Than the Sum of our ‘Parts’

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. The new British TV series ‘We Are Lady Parts,’ […]

Aug 19, 202148 min

Learning From and Dunking on ’Space Jam: A New Legacy’

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. The new film ‘Space Jam: A New Legacy,’ currently […]

Aug 5, 202131 min

‘Loki’, Free Will, and Glorious Purpose

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. The new Marvel Cinematic Universe television series ‘Loki,’ currently […]

Jul 22, 202145 min

In ‘The Mitchells vs. the Machines’, Which Side is Torah On?

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. The new film The Mitchells vs. the Machines, now […]

Jul 8, 202145 min

Getting Down with ‘In the Heights’

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. The new film ‘In the Heights’, based on Lin […]

Jun 24, 202148 min

‘Oslo’ and the Israeli-Palestinian Conflict

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 does one talk about, let alone resolve, the […]

Jun 10, 202159 min

God, the Good and the Bad Batch

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. The Bad Batch, now streaming on Disney+, is the […]

May 27, 202138 min

Torah Kombat

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. Is the reboot of Mortal Kombat, out now in […]

May 13, 202145 min

The Falcon and the Winter Solider and the Rabbis

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. The new series The Falcon and the Winter Soldier is the […]

Apr 29, 202138 min

Don’t Ignore ‘Superstore’

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. he NBC sitcom Superstore just ended its six-season run, spinning hijinks and […]

Apr 15, 202142 min

The Torah of the Snyder Cut

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. Ever since the superhero team-up film Justice League, released […]

Apr 1, 202156 min

Nomadland and Life in the Wilderness

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. The new film Nomadland from writer-director Chloé Zhao, based […]

Mar 18, 202143 min

Racial Justice, and Revolution

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. Rabbis Knopf and Olitzky welcome special guest Rev. Dr. […]

Mar 4, 20211h 0m

#FreeBritney and Judaism

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. The documentary Framing Britney Spears, now on Hulu, is […]

Feb 18, 202145 min

Grief and Assimilation, Now in ‘WandaVision’

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 we grieve for and heal from loss? […]

Feb 4, 202158 min

‘Soul’, the Meaning of Life, and the Great Beyond

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. What is the meaning and purpose of our lives, […]

Jan 21, 202145 min

Wonder Woman 1984 and Streaming Wars Redux

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. Almost exactly one year ago, Rabbis Knopf and Olitzky […]

Jan 7, 202158 min

Should We Be Happy About ‘Happiest Season’?

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. The rabbis are talking Christmas! Seriously. The new Hulu […]

Dec 24, 202041 min

It’s Alright — The Rabbis are Saved by the Bell!

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. Time out! Put on your favorite neon tank top, […]

Dec 10, 202039 min

Judaism and The Climate Crisis, and ‘I am Greta’

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. At the age of 15, Swedish teenager Greta Thunberg […]

Nov 26, 202044 min

Cultural Learnings From Borat For Make Benefit Glorious JCast Network Podcast PopTorah

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. Borat is back, and he’s…still outrageous. But while provocateur […]

Nov 13, 202053 min

The Torah Of Sorkin

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. In the span of just two weeks, we were […]

Oct 29, 202055 min

Does Torah Have ‘The Right Stuff’?

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. The new Disney+ / National Geographic series The Right […]

Oct 15, 202058 min

Remembering the Notorious (and Righteous) RBG

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. On Erev Rosh Hashanah, Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader […]

Oct 1, 20201h 0m

‘The Boys’ are Back in Town

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. In their very first episode of PopTorah, Rabbis Knopf […]

Sep 17, 20201h 0m

Remembering Chadwick Bozeman (z”l)

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. On August 28, 2020, the world was shocked and saddened […]

Sep 3, 202046 min

An American Pickle: The Jewish Encino Man

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. The new film from Seth Rogen, ‘An American Pickle,’ […]

Aug 13, 202046 min

The Rabbis Taste the Nation

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. The new Hulu series Taste the Nation, starring Top […]

Jul 30, 202050 min

The Torah of ‘Hamilton’

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. The groundbreaking Broadway phenomenon Hamilton is now a feature […]

Jul 16, 202046 min

Pop-pourri

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. Rabbis Knopf and Olitzky catch up on and discuss […]

Jul 2, 202042 min

Black Lives Matter

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. The the homicide of George Floyd at the hands […]

Jun 18, 202045 min

‘The Last Dance’ and the Challenge of Greatness

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. The 90’s era Chicago Bulls, led by Michael Jordan, […]

Jun 4, 202048 min

‘Westworld’ And Questions About the Nature of Our Reality

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. What’s Jewish about robots becoming sentient and plotting to […]

May 21, 202039 min

Live! — Star Wars Day Special

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. In honor of Star Wars Day, Rabbis Knopf and […]

May 7, 202054 min

Escape from New York

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. The new Netflix miniseries “Unorthodox,” based on the 2012 […]

Apr 23, 202042 min

PopTorah Live! — ‘The Plot Against America’

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. In the special live episode, recorded in the midst […]

Apr 9, 20201h 6m

Hunting for the Ethics of Memory and Revenge on ‘Hunters’

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. Amazon Prime’s new series ‘Hunters’ premiered to decidedly mixed […]

Mar 26, 202057 min

S1 Ep 14The Rabbis are Cray-Cray for Tay-Tay

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. Join the world’s newest Swifties Rabbis Knopf & Olitzky […]

Mar 12, 202057 min

S1 Ep 13‘Parasite’ and the Perils of Inequality

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. The Korean film ‘Parasite’ stunned the world by winning […]

Feb 27, 202050 min

S1 Ep 12Finding God in ‘The Good Place’

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. Join Rabbis Knopf and Olitzky for a conversation about […]

Feb 13, 202052 min

Two Rabbis Talk ‘The Two Popes’

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. Join Rabbis Knopf and Olitzky as they discuss the […]

Jan 30, 202058 min

Seek Peace and Pursue Peace — ‘1917’

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. Rabbis Knopf and Olitzky break down Sam Mendes’ groundbreaking […]

Jan 16, 202052 min

The Torah of Star Wars

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. It’s the “Return of the Rabbis!” Call it their […]

Jan 2, 202056 min

The Frozen Chosen

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. Venture “Into the Unknown” with Rabbis Knopf and Olitzky […]

Dec 19, 201950 min