Drinking and Drashing: Torah with a Twist
by Drinking and Drashing
Storytelling. Innovation. Jewish Values. Leadership. Midrash. Entrepreneurship. Mixology. Community. Engagement. Torah. This is a podcast about YOU. Each week we invite an incredible guest or two (or more!) to join us in conversation about the values that drive their incredible work and how a tumbler of Torah might make a magnificent mixed drink. We’re shaking—not stirring—things up with a classic twist on a millennia-old tradition. So raise the volume and your glass each week with Drinking and Drashing: Torah with a Twist. L’chayim!
Episodes
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Ep. 330 - A Digestif!
While this iteration of Drinking and Drashing: Torah with a Twist might have come to a close, you can still always head to our website (www.drinkinganddrashing.com) to find past episodes, resources, drinks, and merchandise. We are so grateful to have learned with and from you and look forward to...
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Ep. 329 - Shavuot Revelations with Amanda, Gabe, and Edon
We bring you this final podcast episode as an insider look at Drinking and Drashing: Torah with a Twist. Hear about our proudest moments, our silliest giggles, some of the challenges we’ve faced and overcome, and some of our favorite fan stories that still make us smile. Thanks for the memories...
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Ep. 328 - B’midbar with Rabbi Andrew A. Goodman
We begin the fourth book of the Torah—the book of Numbers—with its Hebrew primary parasha—B’midbar! (But, if you ask Amanda, there’s multiple ways you can say this! If you ask Gabe, Amanda’s wrong!) Rabbi Amanda K. Weiss, Canto (one more year until the R!) Gabe Snyder and “Chazanta!” Edon Valdman...
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Ep. 327 - Behar-Bechukotai with Miranda Bass
WOW!!! This week, you’re hearing for the first time ever on our podcast Master of Sacred Music Gabe Snyder and RABBI Amanda K. Weiss! Woohoo! (Chazak chazak v’nitchazek!) We’re not done learning yet! We still have the extraordinary Miranda Bass who walks us through the significance of service…
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Ep. 326 - Emor with Rabbi Becky Jaye
When we’re in the middle of counting the Omer (the time between Passover and Shavuot), it’s hard NOT to think about what counts—in our actions, our thoughts, and especially in our words. We were thrilled to welcome back (this time as featured guest!) Rabbi Becky Jaye, Program Manager for Emor…
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Ep. 325 - Achrei-Mot–Kedoshim with Gabe, Amanda, and Edon!
This is a short one, but a GREAT one! For our second double-portion in a row, we brought you the original trio to speak a bit about this week’s duality: how do we deal with life after death? Or even more so, how can we look at the relationships we hold in life and find ways to find holiness in...
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Ep. 324 - Tazria-Metzora with Samantha Klipstein
Who doesn’t love a bargain? This week we’re getting an excellent guest to take on not one, but two parashiyot (well, at least a two-in-one because this week we have a double portion!). We are so thrilled to have Samantha Klipstein join us and walk us through what this week’s portion can look like...
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Ep. 323 - Sh'mini with Cantor Julie Yugend-Green
What does it look like to treat those who die with dignity? How can Jewish leaders mourn for and alongside their communities while maintaining the sacred mantle of leadership? In this week’s episode, we were blessed to learn with and from Cantor Yugend-Green, the current Cantor of Oak Park Temple...
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Ep. 322 - Passover with Wendy Berelson
Mitzrayim — Hebrew for Egypt — literally means “Narrow Place,” and we found our listenership just a bit too narrow… That is, until we were redeemed by the power of Wyoming. That’s right: we got Wyoming, finally getting the last state in our quest for listeners from all across the country. In…
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Ep. 321 - Tzav with Lisa Colton
How can we look at the opportunities and goals that are constantly changing in the Jewish landscape to help us amplify what success can look like? Innovator, transformer, and community collector, Lisa Colton walks us through the importance of always adapting and adjusting with intention—and...
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Ep. 320 - Vayikra with Cantor Harriet Dunkerley
What do we do when we start a new book that feels so far away from the Judaism that we practice now? Spiritual leader, educator and Amanda’s HHD guide Cantor Harriet Dunkerley explains that so many of the values of our sacrifices are practiced in meaningful ways now (thankfully, with less…
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Ep. 319 - Ki Tisa with Dr. Miriam Heller Stern
While this may be one of our first majorly law-centered locations, Mishpatim helps us look at our humanity and our Jewishness as an interconnected feature of Judaism, the Jewish People, and the Jews. Rabbi Howard Goldsmith helps us play with how we might inspire our communities with a…
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Ep. 318 - Tetzaveh with Sloane Applebaum
Have you ever wondered how artistry and fashion design might enter into our history as a Jewish people? This week, we learned from Sloane Applebaum, Supply Chain Manager for SkinCeuticals at L'Oréal, how fashion can be a collaborative construction. Colors and fabrics can represent status and...
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Ep. 317 - Terumah with Yoshi Silverstein
How can we take ownership and notice of our bodies when we’re building holy dwelling spaces? Everyone has a gift, skill, or offering, that enables us to build sacred communities and spaces. Mitsui Collective Founder and Executive Director Yoshi Silverstein shares his insights about how we find...
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Ep. 316 - Mishpatim with Rabbi Howard Goldsmith
While this may be one of our first majorly law-centered locations, Mishpatim helps us look at our humanity and our Jewishness as an interconnected feature of Judaism, the Jewish People, and the Jews. Rabbi Howard Goldsmith helps us play with how we might inspire our communities with a…
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Ep. 315 - Yitro with Rabbi Cece Beyer
Have you heard the news?? We’ve just lived through a miracle; we’re going to dance tonight!!! For Parashat Yitro, we’re moving from miraculous redemption to meaningful reality. Lucky for us, we have awesome rabbi, dancer, singer, leyner, and camp-advocate Rabbi Cece! Rabbi Cece walks us through…
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Ep. 314 - Beshalach with Cantor Rosalie Will & Cantor Ellen Dreskin
Our hearts are singing for our third dance with Beshalach, featuring Cantor Rosalie Will and Cantor Ellen Dreskin as our Miriam’s songstresses! In this episode, we lift up the magic of collaborative music, shared faith, and singing communities. We also discuss how song can help us face…
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Ep. 313 - Bo with Rabbi Ari Goldstein
For Parashat Bo, we’re talking plagues, darkness, light, Zionism, and more with guest Rabbi Ari Goldstein. Rabbi Goldstein is Gabe’s mentor at Temple Beth Shalom in Arnold, MD. A fantastic teacher and speaker, Ari shares his thoughts and interpretations, as well has his rabbinic philosophies,...
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Ep. 312 - Va'era with Judi Williams
What does it look like when we’re in the middle of our arc to redemption—especially when we’re facing a spiritually suffering community and we’re unsure of how to make use of the microphones available to us? Extraordinary educator Judi Williams helps explain how presence can be a form of protest,...
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Ep. 311 - Shemot with Aliza and Jason Plotkin
Welcome back to the Book of Shemot! We’re starting a brand new book, but don’t worry, we have some familiar friends to help us move through it. Welcoming back #TeamPlotkin (Jewish professionals Aliza and Jason Plotkin), we engage with this week’s parasha through a new lens: that of adoption.…
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Ep. 310 - Vayechi with Sarit Wishnevski
Chazak, chazak, v’nitchazeik! We’ve made it to the last book of Genesis and a cinematic peek into the final moments of Jacob’s life. In this episode, we learn about supporting strong and meaningful endings from Sarit Wishnevski, Executive Director of Kavod V’Nichum. We learn about rituals and...
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Ep. 309 - Vayigash with Scott Black
What happens when our communities are thrown into just a bit of chaos? What happens when we make plans, but need to also be ready to pivot at the same time? Our guest, today, Director of Operations for Camps Airy and Louise (and Creator of Schwipe!), Scott Black, helps us engage in the work of...
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Ep. 308 - Mikeitz with Jesse Epstein
Rabbinical Student and generally-impresive-and-very-busy-person Jesse Epstein joins the Drinking and Drashing crew to discus Parashat Mikeitz. Jesse’s entrepreneurial pursuits—most recently, his acquisition and relaunch of the Shmaltz Brewing Company—make him the perfect guest to discuss this…
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Ep. 307 - Vayishlach with Rabbi Dr. Kari Tuling
Throwback to the BEST type of religious school: the one where you had the “cool teacher” who taught you about the craziest Genesis stories and really wanted to know what YOU thought and felt and had to say? What—you didn’t have that experience? Well let us give it to you this week with an…
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Ep. 306 - Toldot with April Baskin and Tracie Guy-Decker
What happens when our origin stories don’t really present us in the best light—or even shows us as characters that we don’t identify with? When stories are often shared by “the winners” or the people who wield power, there’s a lot of missed or erased history—all of which influence our greater...
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Ep. 305 - Chayei Sarah with Gabe Snyder and Amanda K. Weiss
Here’s a short episode because OUR own lives are a little crazy even when it comes during the week that we’re focusing on Sarah’s life! (Or are we?!?) Don’t worry, we’ve still got you covered with that parashah rundown and for midrashic mixology! Looking for a short but sweet conversation with…
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Ep. 304 - Vayera with Amelia Merrill
Storytime! After journey on Lech L’cha, we have so many different tales in Parashat Vayera. Negotiations, mysterious guests, action scenes, transformations, pseudo-sacrifices, lies, laughs, banishment, abandonment…oh my goodness! Lucky for us, we are able to learn from our guest this week,...
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Ep. 303 - Lech L’cha with Rabbi Mary Zamore
Drinking and Drashing: Torah with a Twist is on its third round! For our third Lech L’cha episode, we have Women’s Rabbinic Network executive director, Rabbi Mary Zamore. Rabbi Zamore is an ethicist, activist, and awesome guest! This Torah portion is so foundational to the story of the Jewish...
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Ep. 302 - Noach with Rabbi Dennis Ross
What happens when the world is being destroyed and recreated and you find yourself in the middle of it? How do we manage our relationships and communication amidst chaos? Rabbi Dennis Ross shares his wisdom—both as an intentional interim rabbi and as an expert on Martin Buber—with us and our...
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Ep. 301 - Bereshit with Leana Jelen Tapnack
Way to kick off Season 3 ON A JEWISH HOLIDAY! We begin again with Parashat Bereshit, recording during our sofrut (Scribal Arts class) at school with our incredible teacher Leana Jelen Tapnack who helps us understand how it is that we can literally create our own Torah and stories, regardless of...
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Ep. 247 - V'Zot HaBrachah with Gabe Snyder
It was SO nice that we did it TWICE! Gabe took over our LAST parashah of our second season—V’zot Habracha and it was SUCH a blessing! We can’t believe that we’ve come to the end of our second season and are so appreciative that we get a chance to “turn it, turn it, turn it again” at Simchat…
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Ep. 246 - Ha’Azinu with Rabbi Amalia Mark
We fear we do not have the time to write this week’s blurb all in rhyme—but welcome to our penultimate parasha with Ha’azinu! We hope that you’ll listen up and listen in to the incredible organized chaos of this episode and the calming, passionate, and poetic presence of Rabbi Amalia Mark…
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Ep. 245 - Vayeilech with Ethan Helfand
Welcome to 5783—this is our FIRST episode of the new year and we’re so excited to be heading out (soon!) of Deuteronomy while we enter into a new year with new/old friends. Luckily for us, we have a strong and resolute leader in Ethan Helfand who helps us understand managing change, remembering…
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Ep. 244 - Nitzavim with Maharat Rori Picker Neiss
Can you even STAND it? We might be missing Gabe and Edon this week, but don’t worry—we have an incredible episode with two dynamic debuts! We learn about our own personal power, decision-making, and how we can lift up all voices within our communities from extraordinary friend and guide Maharat...
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Ep. 243 - Ki Tavo with Jill Zenoff
Jill Zenoff joins us for a delicious (if not overly-cheesy) episode for Parashat Ki Tavo. A friend of farms and food, Jill brings a unique perspective to our conversation about first fruits, blessings, curses, and — of course — cheese. We love cheese. How does the first harvest connect to our…
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Ep. 242 - Ki Teitzei with Jacob Stoehr
When we’ve been wandering in the desert for what seems like forever, when is the right time to check in on our organizational missions and visions, our time management, and our overall cultural design? It’s possible that this week’s guest, ADP Workforce Management Consultant Jacob Stoehr might…
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Ep. 241 - Re’eh with Rabbi Ariel Naveh
In this week’s episode, Amanda coins a new term: “nudgecator.” What’s a nudgecator? Let’s ask Rabbi Ariel Naveh! For Parashat Re’eh, Rabbi Ari talks with us about a pursuit of justice for the future by reckoning with our past. Whether it’s passages of Torah or moments in American history, we need...
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Ep. 240 - Eikev with Romina (Romi) Naparstek
“They tried to kill us, we won, let’s eat” might be a temporary tagline, but when it comes down to it, food is often the defining factor that helps us bring Judaism to the table. What makes Judaism and food so appetizing? We were lucky to have Early Childhood Academy Director and pastry chef…
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Ep. 239 - Va'etchanan with Sasha Kopp
V’ahavtah, fused glass, early childhood education… What do these things have in common? They’re all main points of conversation in this week’s episode! We had so much fun learning and playing with Sasha Kopp and Aliza Plotkin to talk about Parashat Vaetchanan and learning with the youngest…
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Ep. 238 - Pinchas with Rabbi Naamah Kelman
Would it really be a Year-in-Israel reunion episode without the Dean of the HUC Jerusalem campus Rabbi Naamah Kelman? Absolutely not! All of us have a go-to memory of learning with and being supported by Rabbi Kelman during our Year-in-Israel and we are just a small part of her legacy of teaching...
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Ep. 237 - Balak with Eliana Light
While we may need to [legally] acknowledge that Parashat Balak is NOT the same as the Shrek trilogy, we are grateful to have Eliana Light, songleader and prayerground phenomenon helping us find the Jewish joy in this week’s episode. Whether talking about the magic behind Mah Tovu or how we might...
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Ep. 236 - Chukat with Amanda K. Weiss and Gabe Snyder
What do you do when decisions that your national community are making are heartbreaking, troubling, and traumatic? You find a way to bring yourself and your issues to the Torah portion of the week. We do this with recent decisions by the US Supreme Court in this week’s episode featuring your...
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Ep. 235 - Korach with Andrew Belinfante
Bringing a worldly perspective to Parashat Korach, we are so excited to have on Andrew Belinfante. An organizer and community builder, Andrew travels the world as the Senior Director of Programs and Organizational Development at JDC Entwine. He brings to the show an excellent perspective on...
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Ep. 234 - Sh’lach L’cha with Lt. Matt Derenbacher
In Parashat Sh’lach L’cha, the Israelites are getting ready to enter and conquer the Land of Israel. In their preparation, they send out 12 scouts to go through the Land and bring back a report. And grapes. To discuss this mission, we brought in our friends and classmates, Lt. Matt Derenbacher...
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Ep. 233 - Beha'alotcha with Cantor Josh Rosenberg
In the words of this week’s guest, “The role of an educator is to facilitate other’s learning,” and we loved learning with Cantor Josh Rosenberg, educator extraordinaire! Josh talked with us about music, learning, and a love of community, all in light of Parashat B’haalot’cha. How do we balance...
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Ep. 232 - Nasso with Rabbi Andrea Weiss, Ph.D.
What do you talk about when two extraordinary rabbis join you with the gift of their presence? SO MUCH! With Rabbi Andrea Weiss, Ph.D. and Rabbi Rachael Pass, we learn how each of us have a gift to bring to the world, especially if we’re willing to be present in the moment. Grappling with our...
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Ep. 231 - B’midbar with Mariely Luengo
We may be starting a new book, but also a brand new type of episode! We welcome in a difficult look at B’midbar where we talk about data, storytelling, and what happens when the right people are doing the counting (and recording the data!). With two Wonder Women—Mariely Luengo and Rabbi Stacy...
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Ep. 230 - Bechukotai with AKW
We know that this spring’s episodes have been a bit sporadic but we wanted to make sure that we ended Leviticus with a little bit of learning and leaving into our personal and podcast-related challenges and successes! Hear a bit about what’s been going on, some of our proudest wins, and take a…
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Ep. 229 - Behar with Eric Fingerhut
What can the world look like when we take a moment to celebrate the gifts that we have (especially those that come from the ground? Eric Fingerhut, President and CEO of The Jewish Federations of North America (JFNA) reminds us to really embrace those full rest opportunities, celebrate our...
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Ep. 228 - Kedoshim with Rabbi Rebecca Rosenthal
What does it mean to be holy? What is the path to holiness? Can we have different paths within Judaism? On this episode of Drinking and Drashing: Torah with a Twist, Gabe is joined by guest co-host Agnes Valdman, an HUC cantorial student, (newly!) married to Executive Producer Edon Valdman....
About this show
Storytelling. Innovation. Jewish Values. Leadership. Midrash. Entrepreneurship. Mixology. Community. Engagement. Torah. This is a podcast about YOU. Each week we invite an incredible guest or two (or more!) to join us in conversation about the values that drive their incredible work and how a tumbler of Torah might make a magnificent mixed drink. We’re shaking—not stirring—things up with a classic twist on a millennia-old tradition. So raise the volume and your glass each week with Drinking and Drashing: Torah with a Twist. L’chayim!
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