Coronavirus: Special Report

For the final episode of Season 2 I got into the spirit of the Festival of Lights. Susan Polgar, the first female chess grandmaster and real-life Beth Harmon of Netflix's latest hit The Queen's Gambit, chats about overcoming sexism in the chess world as well as her Jewish Hungarian heritage. Gilad Halpern returns to talk through the recent news of the Morocco-Israel peace deal and the split in Israel's right-wing political party Likud. Rabbi Margaret Jacobi of Birmingham Progressive Synagogue shares Chanukah themed Talmud, renowned Jewish chef Denise Phillips takes us through her tips for latkes and oil, and the Bagel Broigus is renamed the Doughnut Debate as Lindsey Taylor Guthartz, Samuel Lebens and Clive Lawton discuss whether Chanukah should be remembered or celebrated.

For the penultimate episode of Season 2, I spoke with Rabbi Jeremy Gordon at his shul of New London Synagogue in St John’s Wood in January 2020. Our chat focussed on marriage under Masorti (Conservative in America) and how it contrasts with the British default that is, Orthodox weddings. We also spoke about one of the dominant figures of 20th Century British Jewry: Rabbi Louis Jacobs.

One Orthodox. One Reform. One Marriage. I had a rather lovely and candid conversation with Reform Rabbi Debbie Young-Somers and her newly ordained (at the time) Orthodox husband, Rabbi Gary Somers. Most couples disagree about the division of chores but their disagreement is halachic (Jewish Law) and I was curious as to how they make it work. The interview was recorded at their home in January 2020.

Associate Professor of American Politics at Tufts University Eitan Hersh joins me in this episode to talk through the Jewish voting patterns in the US election. Madeline Young delves into the ways Black Lives Matter is affecting the Jewish community. Rabbi Harvey Belovski shares some high-concept Talmud, we have our usual Israel update from journalist Gilad Halpern and another Bagel Broigus emerges, this time around The Future of Gender and Judaism, featuring Sally Berkovic, Michelle Janes and Rabbi Daniel Lichman.   The episode image is creative commons public domain. 

In this episode I'm joined by Yehudis Fletcher, founder of Nahamu, a thinktank examining extremism in the Jewish community, and an Independent Sexual Violence Adviser (ISVA) for Jewish charity Migdal Emunah. Recorded in two parts, we first discuss Fletcher’s life and work, followed by a catch up to hear how she feels the landscape may have changed in light of the Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse hearings. Whilst we do not go into graphic detail, please note that issues are discussed that may be difficult for some.

For this Bagel Bite, I was joined by Rabbi Dr Jonathan Romain MBE, minister of Maidenhead Reform Synagogue in Berkshire. He is also a writer, broadcaster and founder of the Accord Coalition, a collective of religious groups, humanists, teachers and more working towards inclusive education. We met at Limmud Festival 2019 for a robust discussion on the divergent topics of faith schools and assisted dying.

For this Bagel Bite, I'm joined by the hilarious Lynn Ruth Miller, who holds the title as the world's oldest comedian. Please be advised that we do use language and discuss some topics that may not suitable for children. Lynn's book, 'Getting the Last Laugh' is available in bookshops now.

Esther Safran Foer, author and mother of Jonathan, joins Hayden Cohen in the first Bagel Podcast for JR to discuss her new book, I Want You to Know We're Still Here: A Post-Holocaust Memoir. Then we hear from Karen Heilig, assistant executive vice president of Claims Conference – an organisation seeking justice for Jewish victims of Nazi persecution – about the reparations from the German government for survivors. Plus Gilad Halpern speaks on the UAE Israel deal; Rabbi Leah Jordan talks about the life and times of Elisha ben Abuyah in Talmud for Schmeryls; and this episode's Broigus asks "Why should young Jews care about Israel?", featuring Labour Councillor Joshua Garfield, Esther Craven from Yachad and Robin Moss from UJIA.

This is a bit of a different episode as we’ll be hearing how a cross section of the Jewish community is responding to Covid 19. The aim is in the midst of madness to provide some positivity. It is by no means comprehensive and apologies if I’ve missed something huge. Take this episode as an overarching snapshot. Featuring  Ashley Blaker, Leeds Pop up, Hagai Rossman, Rabbi Pink, Laura Janner-Klausner, Keith Brooks, Laurie Rackind & Miriam Lorie

On this episode, especially for Mother's Day in the UK we have Marjorie Ingall, Author of 'Mamaleh Knows Best', 'Tablet Magazine' columnist and half of 'Sorry Watch' to discuss American Jewish Culture, comedy, the history of geeks and how to apologise. At the moment it's hard for most of us as we can't see our mums but on behalf of all children, thanks Mum. This was recorded all the way back at Limmud Festival 2018, but I wanted to preserve this gem of an interview for Mother's Day.