Nitzavim 5779: Shana Tova

This week, amidst all our High Holiday preparations, Rabbanit Sarna and Rabbi Wolkenfeld take some time to share their thoughts on tashlich—a common ritual for the afternoon of the first day of Rosh Hashanah. We wish all our listeners a healthy and happy new year! The Straw Hat will take a holiday break on October 9 and will return on Wednesday, October 23.
Music credit: “Three” from the album Proverbs, by Les Hayden, used under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 License.

Ki Teitzei 5779: The Yahrzeit Episode

This week, Rabbi Wolkenfeld and Rabbanit Sarna will be focusing on a topic we’ve been discussing recently in Daf Yomi: yahrzeits. They’ll discuss when and how they’re observed and also delve into this week’s parsha to explore how that ties in. Rabbanit Sarna also interviews Anshe Sholom’s Executive Director, Steve Miller, who shares a bit about how our yahrzeit plaques work.Music credit: “Three” from the album Proverbs, by Les Hayden, used under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 License.

Re’eh 5779: The B’nai Mitzvah Episode

This episode is all about B’nai Mitzvah! With so many upcoming B’nai Mitzvah at ASBI, Rabbanit Sarna and Rabbi Wolkenfeld discuss some of the general aspects of B’nai Mitzvah in addition to how they work at ASBI. They also interview Nitai Gorlin, whose Bar Mitzvah will be celebrated at Anshe Sholom in just a few weeks.
If you want to read our B’nai Mitzvah Handbook, discussed in this episode, visit asbi.org/handbook.
Music credit: “Three” from the album Proverbs, by Les Hayden, used under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 License.

Vaetchanan 5779: Putting in the Work

In this episode, Rabbanit Sarna and Rabbi Wolkenfeld look ahead to the High Holidays and discuss the ways in which adults, kids, and teenagers can all start preparing to make these holy days as meaningful as possible. They also interview ASBI’s President Jeremy Treister.
Music credit: “Three” from the album Proverbs, by Les Hayden, used under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 License.

Matot-Masei 5779: Snacking on the Eruv

In this episode, Rabbanit Sarna and Rabbi Wolkenfeld catch up after their respective trips to Israel before delving into a discussion about eruvim and how ASBI’s eruv is comprised. They also discuss Tisha b’Av and how it’s observed at ASBI and interview ASBI teen member and minyan regular Ezra Landman-Feigelson.Music credit: “Three” from the album Proverbs, by Les Hayden, used under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 License.

Balak 5779: Not Under My Umbrella

In this episode, Rabbanit Sarna and Rabbi Wolkenfeld discuss the three weeks – the period leading up to Tish’a B’Av – as well as this week’s Parsha, Parshat Balak. They also examine the usage of umbrellas on Shabbat and interview ASBI’s VP of House, Daniel Chiat.Music credit: “Three” from the album Proverbs, by Les Hayden, used under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 License.

Korach 5779: The Power of the Jewish Public

This week’s episode is all about community. Rabbanit Sarna and Rabbi Wolkenfeld look at this week’s Parsha, Parshat Korach, and discuss minyan and tefilah b’tzibbur and why 10 people might be one way to define community. They go on to discuss who has historically been included in the Jewish community and how that might be different today. This episode also features an interview with the VP of our Education Committee, Binyamin Cohen, and the answer to last week’s trivia question!
Music credit: “Three” from the album Proverbs, by Les Hayden, used under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 License.

Beha’alotcha 5779: Memorized Torah

This week, Rabbanit Sarna and Rabbi Wolkenfeld talk about a new program at the shul—Learn & Earn—and interview some of the participants, Noam, Hillel, Akiva, and Sophie Wolkenfeld. They also discuss the shiur Rabbi Wolkenfeld taught during Shavuot about Torah holding and Torah stands. This episode also features our first-ever trivia question and the chance to be featured on the next episode of the podcast!
Music credit: “Three” from the album Proverbs, by Les Hayden, used under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 License.

Bamidbar 5779: From Holy to Holy

In preparation for Shavuot this week, Rabbanit Sarna and Rabbi Wolkenfeld discuss some of the differences between Shabbat and Yom Tov and examine the transition from Shabbat into Yom Tov which will occur this Saturday night. They also interview the chair of ASBI’s Family Committee, Jennifer Loeb.
Music credit: “Three” from the album Proverbs, by Les Hayden, used under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 License.

Behar 5779: To Love a Shul

This week, in the wake of an antisemitic attack on our shul, Rabbanit Sarna and Rabbi Wolkenfeld share what they love about Anshe Sholom B’nai Israel and celebrate what’s special about our community. Congressman Mike Quigley of Chicago’s 5th District appears as a special guest on the podcast to share some words of support. We’ll also hear from Erica Phillips, ASBI’s Vice President for Ways and Means, who will speak about a wonderful chance to gather to celebrate and support our community - our upcoming Soiree.
Music credit: “Three” from the album Proverbs, by Les Hayden, used under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 License.