The Straw Hat

Chayei Sara 5780: Announcing ASBI’s New Siddur

This week, Rabbanit Sarna and Rabbi Wolkenfeld have a parsha-themed discussion about tefilat mincha (and share why you should come to Mincha/Ma’ariv at ASBI!), followed by an exciting announcement that our shul has decided upon which Siddur we will be purchasing. Learn why they're so thrilled about the decision and hear from Rabbi Aaron Katchen, ASBI’s Koren Publishers sales representative.
Music credit: “Three” from the album Proverbs, by Les Hayden, used under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 License.

Lech Lecha 5780: The Cholent Effect

This week, Rabbanit Sarna and Rabbi Wolkenfeld explain something called “The Cholent Effect” as it relates to this week’s parsha, Parshat Lech Lecha and discuss some of the medical halacha questions raised by assisted reproductive technologies. They also interview Anna Rubin, a Community Organizer at the Jewish Council on Urban Affairs.
Music credit: “Three” from the album Proverbs, by Les Hayden, used under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 License.

Bereshit 5780: Now What?

The Straw Hat is back! With the chagim behind us, Rabbanit Sarna and Rabbi Wolkenfeld share some of the exciting things that will be happening at ASBI in the coming weeks and months. They also discuss this week’s parsha, Parshat Bereshit, with a particular focus on the curses of Adam and Eve, followed by an interview with Rabbanit Sarna’s husband, Ethan Schwartz, who shares some of his expertise as a doctoral student in Hebrew Bible.
Music credit: “Three” from the album Proverbs, by Les Hayden, used under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 License.

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.