In this follow-up episode to our Nobody Wants This discussion on intermarriage, we “double-click” on a listener question we didn’t fully unpack last time: what ARE Jewish values — and how do they differ from the broader Western values most of us grow up with today?

We move beyond surface-level differences like holidays or synagogue vs. church and explore deeper theological ideas and how these ideas may manifest themselves culturally. From Judaism’s love of argument and debate (rooted in Torah and Talmud) to its radical view that the physical world—food, work, money, pleasure—can be a path to holiness rather than an obstacle, we examine how Jewish ideas filter down into everyday behavior, humor, ambition, and even a readiness to challenge authority.

The conversation also tackles big questions head-on: • Why Jews argue—and why that’s a feature, not a bug • Why food, wine, and physical enjoyment play such a central role in Jewish life • How Judaism differs from other religions in its relationship to politics, economics, and the material world • What “chosen people” actually means (hint: responsibility, not superiority) • Why being commanded can be spiritually greater than acting purely on instinct

Along the way, we draw on biblical stories, Talmudic principles, pop culture (from Meet the Parents to Harry Potter), and personal anecdotes to show how these values still show up today—sometimes in ways people don’t even realize.

If you’ve ever wondered whether intermarriage creates real value conflicts—or whether those conflicts run deeper than December decorations—this episode gets to the core of it.

I am excited to bring back Rabbi Moshe Friedman on the podcast. He formerly joined us for our first episode released, Harry Potter, and whether Harry owes a debt of gratitude to the Dursleys, despite their mistreatment, in addition to our more recent episode on The Avengers: Was Thanos Right? Do the Ends Justify the Means?

Rabbi Friedman is a Jewish educator, musician, spoken word artist, video essayist, and author. He has spoken and performed for audiences around the world, and continues to explore innovative ways of spreading Jewish wisdom through art, music, and media. You can find his work at rav-mo.com and on his YouTube channel "Mensch Sense" at https://www.youtube.com/@menschsense1.

If you enjoy this podcast, please leave us a review and share with your friends. We also welcome comments and reviews with suggestions for future episode ideas as we continue to dissect moral dilemmas in the biggest movies and TV shows out there, all from a Jewish perspective.

In this episode, we welcome back Rabbi Rick Fox to discuss Nobody Wants This, the Netflix rom-com that sneaks a very real Jewish dilemma into what looks like a light, funny love story. The show follows Joanne, a non-Jewish woman, and Noah, a Reform rabbi, who fall for each other and quickly realize that their relationship raises some uncomfortable questions neither of them can ignore. We dig into the core issue the series keeps circling: intermarriage.

The series follows Joanne, a non-Jewish woman, and Noah, a rabbi, as they fall for each other—only to realize that love alone doesn’t resolve the deep religious, cultural, and communal tensions their relationship creates. We look at Noah’s tension as a Reform rabbi who’s trying to be honest about who he is and what he represents, and Joanne’s parallel struggle—whether conversion is something she truly wants, or whether pretending it doesn’t make her uncomfortable is already a problem. Along the way, we talk about what Judaism can bend on, what it can’t, and why these questions still hit so close to home for so many people.

Here are a few questions we’d like answered:

1. Well, let’s get it out of the way - intermarriage. Good, great, grand, wonderful? Or disaster, spiritual annihilation? Bring it on. What’s so bad about it?
2. Judaism does value change. Judaism changes. We adapt. That’s how we’ve survived. So what’s so wrong with this? Why can’t Judaism change and just allow this to happen?
3. Regarding conversion:
   1. there is something authentic about Joanne being real. She doesn’t know that she wants to convert, and she is willing to break off the relationship for her.
   2. Similarly, Noah does say, “I don’t want to be the person who’s asking you to be someone different.”
4. Is it wrong because the kids won’t be Jewish? What’s the source for the mother determining Jewish kids, anyway?
5. Seriously, though - would this be better if it was a non-Jewish boy marrying a Jewish girl? The kids will be Jewish!

I am excited to welcome Rabbi Rick Fox back to the podcast as he joins us on this episode to answer our questions. Rabbi Fox formerly joined us twice. First, to discuss the Matrix, and what the Torah approach is to taking the blue pill or the red pill. Second, to discuss Pulp Fiction and the Jewish perspective on the events in our lives, whether it is Divine intervention or luck. Rabbi Fox is the Executive Director of MEOR Penn, which is a Jewish outreach organization, servicing the Jewish community at the University of Pennsylvania as a campus chaplain, educator and mentor. A graduate of the Wharton School of Business at Penn with a minor in music. Rabbi Fox began his career in marketing consulting even as he remained an avid musician. While on sabbatical in Israel, Rabbi Fox developed a passion for Jewish education, eventually returning to teach Jewish students at his alma mater in 2015. Rabbi Fox resides in Philadelphia with his wife and four children. His wife, Rivkah Fox, is an active shadchanit i.e. matchmaker and founder of BlindFate, a dating platform for Jews all over the world. You can find Rabbi Rick Fox online on his podcast, “So, What Does Judaism Say About..?”, which is available on Spotify, Apple Podcasts and Amazon, and on Instagram @rabbirickfox. You can find his wife Rivkah Fox on Instagram @rivkahfox.

If you enjoy this episode, please leave us a five star review, share it with your friends, and hit follow! That’s the best way to grow our following, and feel free to leave a movie suggestion and dilemma in the comments. We’d love to hear from you.

Rabbi Rick Fox: https://www.instagram.com/rabbirickfox/

Rivkah Fox: https://www.instagram.com/rivkahfox/

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/3Skgi4px0z692jdlwSeiRz

Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/so-what-does-judaism-say-about/id1632137067

Amazon Music: https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/66b36dd4-0052-40a4-b3c4-40241ed7616e/so-what-does-judaism-say-about

In this episode, join Rabbi Yechezkel Freundlich and I as we dig into the world of The Office and explore the ethics of pranking. Jim’s elaborate schemes on Dwight are some of the most iconic moments in the show — but are they actually okay? What’s the Torah’s view on pranking people in general? Is it just a wholesome way of getting a laugh? Or is this just bullying, albeit orchestrated by a charming bully on an adult dork - and if so, can pranking ever be a positive form of behavior? Can pranking build camaraderie and strengthen a team?

The Office is set in the small city of Scranton, Pennsylvania, and centers around characters working for Dunder Mifflin, a company that sells paper. The company has multiple branches, but we’re mostly focused on the Scranton branch. There are probably about a dozen characters in Scranton, which includes the manager, secretary, salesmen, accountants.

Two of these characters are Jim Halpert and Dwight Schrute, both members of the sales staff. Jim is funny, charming, and easygoing; Dwight is intense, literal, and entirely devoted to rules, procedures, and duty. Their dynamic — and especially Jim’s pranks at Dwight’s expense — becomes a defining element of the show. Pam Beesly, the receptionist (who Jim later marries), often joins the fun.

Over the course of the series, we see a wide range of pranks:

- Jim gift-wraps Dwight’s desk, chair, and office supplies. - Jim sends “Future Dwight” faxes warning Dwight of poisoned coffee, causing Dwight to slap a coworker’s mug out of his hands. - Dwight files formal complaints about everyone calling him “Dwayne,” a bloody glove appearing in his drawer, and hitting himself with his phone after Jim gradually weighted it with nickels, and then removed all of the nickels in one shot.

Jim becomes the victim of a long con when Dwight teams up with a coworker who loves meatballs, turning the tables on Jim for an entire week.

This leads us into the following questions:

1. 1. What’s the Torah’s general view of pranks? Positives, negatives, and why?

   2. Go through each prank – what are the issues in each?

   3. Dwight getting revenge – can a person start pranking back? Or should he take the high road?

   4. When does a prank go from being a friendly joke, to just being mean?

   5. What’s the difference between pranking and playing a computer game for teambuilding purposes?

   6. When is a prank just a cute way of leading in to a delightful surprise? (the wedding)

Another passion of his is teaching. Beyond the traditional high school classroom where Rabbi Freundlich has taught for many years, Rabbi Freundlich utilizes various models to connect with a wide range of people of varied backgrounds, ages and education, such as formal sermons or a lecture series, a marriage and parenting workshop, or even through on-line videos and podcasts.

Together with his wife Rifki, the Freundlichs are parents to seven children. Rabbi Freundlich can be contacted by emailing rabbifreundlich@bethsholomlawrence.org. You can also listen to Rabbi Freundlich on his synagogue's podcast, The Congregation Beth Sholom Podcast, links below.

Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast/congregation-beth-sholom-rabbi-yechezkel-freundlich/id1642970440

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/6wb3l2ezvlWnLfgsukZFij?si=82431809dec04ad4&nd=1&dlsi=fa603ed493b6469a