The Rabbi and I
The Rabbi & The Cartoonist Give Answers
Kenneth Block
Show overview
The Rabbi and I has been publishing since 2021, and across the 5 years since has built a catalogue of 370 episodes. That works out to roughly 45 hours of audio in total. Releases follow a several-times-a-week cadence, with the show now in its 3rd season.
Episodes typically run under ten minutes — most land between 5 min and 8 min — though episode length varies meaningfully from one episode to the next. None of the episodes are flagged explicit by the publisher. It is catalogued as a EN-language Religion & Spirituality show.
The show is actively publishing — the most recent episode landed 4 days ago, with 18 episodes already out so far this year. The busiest year was 2022, with 140 episodes published. Published by Kenneth Block.
From the publisher
When people ask Rabbi Block a question they frequently preface the question by telling him not to answer with a question! And he can’t agree more. When People ask a question they are looking for an answer and not to be asked a question. “The Rabbi and I” podcasts are exactly that, answers to questions that Joe and Rabbi Block have been asked. The podcasts begin with Joe asking for Rabbi Block’s opinion, thoughts, views, etc. on questions that have caught his attention. He is looking for moral, spiritual, and religious guidance. And that is what Rabbi Block provides, understandable and common sense answers from nor only the Jewish tradition, but from the wisdom of other traditions as well. Rabbi Ken Block, aka “Rabbi On the Go” offers wit and wisdom on a variety of topics to Joe, the “not a Jew.” Rabbi Block is “Rabbi Emeritus” for a Reform, interfaith congregation in Chantilly, Virginia. Rabbi Block relies on his experience as a behavioral therapist and teacher to give spontaneous wisdom on any topic. Joe, like the Rabbi, was taught by Jesuits and together they explore the commonalities and contrasts in modern religion, events and experiences. Feel free to make requests or volunteer to be a guest with the topic of your choice.
Latest Episodes
View all 370 episodesHappy “God The Mother” Day
A Good Vaccine Protects Against the Hate Virus
Some Indulgences and Pleasures are Required
Let Us Pray God Doesn’t Take Sides
Jewish or Not Here is Why You Need to Remember
Matzah & Easter Eggs
S3 Ep 206The Rabbi and Pope Leo XIV Agreee on the Bible, Koran and Torah
Using Sacred Literature to promote war, conquest, and death has never had a good outcome. Political leaders use sacred literature to gather support and power for wars that only they and their supporters consider valid. Stop distorting the teachings that would unite us. Do not use God and prayer to justify your political position!
S3 Ep 205Here Come the Marines
Iran has been using its proxies, Hamas, Hezbollah, and Ansar Allah to kill, murder and create instability in the Middle East. These proxies were abetted by countries other than Iran in the area. Iran’s plan was not only to eliminate Israel but to conquer and control the other Muslim countries in the Middle East. Iran is now attacking the Muslim countries that are its neighbors. One can no longer pretend that Iran’s goal was solely destroying Israel. Stop Iran from its expansionist policy!
S3 Ep 204How Close Are We to Armageddon?
Christian Zionism is not fringe. It is organized, funded, politically sophisticated, and deeply sincere. And its view of Iran is not primarily strategic — it’s prophetic. That changes everything about how its members engage with policy.We need to understand them. Because if we want to make sense of why U.S. policy around Israel and Iran looks the way it does, we can’t ignore the millions of Americans who believe they’re watching biblical prophecy unfold on the evening news.Christian Zionists claim that Armageddon has BEGUN!
S3 Ep 203Are We Fixing Iran or Making Things Worse?
“War is worse than Hell, the people in Hell deserve to be there, in war innocent people die along with the guilty!” Said “Hawkeye” Pierce to Father Mulcahy. Iran had to be stopped and contained. Even the great deal maker couldn’t make a deal with Iran! What choice did he have. Does he have a plan or how to end the war?Starting a war is easy, ending it not so much!#Iranwar#iran#israel
S3 Ep 202Ask Not For Whom the Doom Scrolls-it Scrolls for Thee
We all do it, except the birds and the bees don’t, the animals in the forest don’t, only humans use social media to avoid reality. How does “doom scrolling” work for you. Time to stop focusing on our under 18 youth and focus on all of us. Drugs, alcohol, rock & roll, social media are all ways to keep our attention off of what surrounds us. Social media is not an acceptable diversion when it prevents us from being engaged in our lives.
S3 Ep 201Israel Will Annex The West Bank
Israel has been steadily moving towards annexing The West Bank. The passage of the most recent legislation is one step away from Annexing The West Bank. With a wink and a nod from the United States Israel will annex the West Bank. Israel is preparing to annex the West Bank
S3 Ep 200Monkey See Monkey Doo Doo
At some point in your coming of age your parents or grandparents said to you “What were you thinking”. When you make jokes, use cartoons, or substitute language you are actually expressing what you really believe. Mens Rae, your guilty mind!
S3 Ep 199A Special Message to VP Vance
It is not too late to revise your Holocaust observance statement to include the reality that the Jews were the victims of Nazi antisemitism. Your opinion matters and what you don’t say is as important as what you do say. So say it now “the Nazis murdered Jews and those who helped and defended them”. And in the end over 30 million other innocent people were murdered.
S3 Ep 198It’s Time to Wake Up America
The shofar, a ram’s horn, is blown at the High Holy Days (Rosh Hashanah & Yom Kippur), serves as a call to wake up to the results of our actions during the past year. Four sounds are blown to wake us up. The Tekiah, a long, loud blast, gets the listeners attention. The Shevarim, 3 broken sounds, calls for repentance. The Teruah, 9 staccato notes, wakes the soul. And finally the Tekiah Gedolah, a long sustained blast, calls us to live our religious teachings. Wake up and live the teachings of Jesus, Moses, Mohammed, etc.
S3 Ep 197MacGyver
ס'וועט גאָרנישט העלפןגאָרנישט העלפןGar nicht helfen" or “gor nicht helfn” in Yiddish means "nothing helps" or "beyond help," expressing that a situation is hopeless or that efforts are futile, often with a sense of resignation or a recognition that intervention isn't useful. We do however have another option. Do what MacGyver did! He looked at the tools and things he had around himself and used what was at hand to solve the problem!Feeling news overload, be MacGyver!
S3 Ep 196Interfaith Marriages Make Judaism Grow
I had a sign on my computer in my Hospital office that read: “You Are Going to Have A Good Day Because You Found Someone to Blame For Yesterday’s Mistakes!”That is exactly what we hear from Orthodox and Conservative Rabbis. Interfaith marriages are destroying Judaism! Rather than addressing their failure to present a positive, spiritual, and guilt free Judaism they choose to blame others.
S3 Ep 195You Should Be Able To Fire Whomever You Want, Unless
Your company your rules. If you accept outside funding it is no longer your company. The distinction is important!
S3 Ep 194In The Year 2025 We Made It Through Alive
Joe and the Rabbi discuss the 10 events of the year 2025 that require our attention. In the year 2025 humankind survived
S3 Ep 193Let’s Make These Holidays Ones To Remember
Merry Christmas and a joyous Chanukah 365 days a year! There is no need to limit good will and peace on earth to just one day. Let’s take the holiday message seriously and include it every day. EX 22:20 “You shall not wrong a stranger, nor oppress them for you were strangers in the land of Egypt”.