Pop Culture Parasha
by Pop Culture Parasha
“Ever wondered what The Simpsons has to say about Bereishit? Or what Shrek can teach us about Bamidbar? Join Valerie Brown and Shoshana Gottlieb each week as they explore the parasha through iconic pop culture moments, live from the room next door to the Pardes Beit Midrash”
Episodes
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Ep 47: Shoftim x Spotlight
Shoshana's favorite movie and new favorite parashah for her birthday week!!! How Parashat Shoftim and Spotlight both warn against turning a blind eye to evils in the world.
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Ep 46: Re'eh x Fyre Festival
Valerie and Shoshana (and cat Sumi) discuss both the Netflix and Hulu documentaries featuring Billy McFarland and Fyre Festival in comparison with Parashat Re'eh. Don't worry, they don't think Moshe scammed us... Or do they? Also, Valerie weighs in on festival experiences in general and Shoshana...
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Ep 45: Eikev x Big Fish
Sorry for the late upload! It's our third week of the same old stories, via the ~Moshe Swan Song~. Val and Shoshana compare this to 2003's Big Fish (Tim Burton??). A stacked cast and yet... What's the opposite of an instant classic? But, both the parashah and the movie redeem themselves by…
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Ep 44: Vaetchanan x WALL-E
Shoshana and Valerie compare 2018's WALL-E to Parashat Vaetchanan. Stewardship of the Earth, leaving and returning to a home, and warnings about avoiding bad behavior - whether it's listening to Hashem or recycling?? We also discuss how Moshe is essentially a supercomputer a la Auto/Hal. Plus,...
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Ep 43: Devarim x Star Wars: The Force Awakens
Shoshana and Valerie collectively both agree, totally the two of them on the same page that Moshe is a cat person. That's pretty much all that's accomplished here. Also, Devarim and The Force Awakens are both just remakes of something we've seen before.
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Ep 42: Matot-Masei x Pride and Prejudice (2005)
All things Keira Knightley again this week! Does this adaptation hold up to our comparison with Zelophehad's daughters? BONUS: Preview of what's coming in Devarim!!!
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Ep 41: Pinchas x Misbehaviour
Back with what turns out to be a more serious comparison than expected: this week Shoshana and Valerie discuss 2020's Misbehaviour alongside the story of Zelophehad's daughters from Parashat Pinchas. Turns out, every generation thinks the one before it was whack and the generation after is even...
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Ep 40: Balak x Shrek
Finally!!! We've had this comparison on the docket since the founding of the podcast: it's giving talking donkeys, it's giving GirlBoss, it's giving unexpected heroes. It's 2001's Shrek and Balak! Shoshana gets vulnerable about her fears (space, the ocean, dinosaurs), and Valerie continues the...
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Ep 39: Chukat x Snakes on a Plane
For this week's parashah comparison, Shoshana and Valerie bring you the only comparison that could possibly include celebrity appearances, close contact with death, and snakes: Chukat and Snakes on a Plane. Valerie gives us the next steps on her Disney Adult journey. Bonus: where would we add...
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Ep. 38: Korach x Holes
Parashat Korach. Holes. The comparison writes itself. But Shoshana and Valerie chat for 47 minutes anyway! Bonus content: Shoshana's thoughts about cooking shows.
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Ep. 37: Shlach x A Bug's Life
It’s Shlach and we watched A Bug’s Life! Also, the best movies to watch on a plane and twin movies.
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Ep 36: Beha'alotecha x Gossip Girl S1E13
GOSSIP!!!! Shoshana and Val discuss the difference between Lashon Hara and gossip, aided by Parashat Beha'alotecha (Bamidbar 12 specifically) and Gossip Girl. They also throw in their favorite podcast Normal Gossip. Also: what DJ replaced Paris Hilton to perform for world leaders, after Paris…
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Ep 35: Naso x Easy A
Valerie dispatches live from covid quarantine! She and Shoshana compare the sotah ritual discussed in Parashat Naso with 2010's Easy A. We agree that Emma Stone is the absolute best and that all men are the worst. Plus, Valerie claims that He's Just Not That Into You and Love Actually are the…
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Ep 34: Bamidbar x The Da Vinci Code
Valerie and Shoshana compare Parashat Bamidbar to the 2007 movie interpretation of The Da Vinci Code. Timely, since the Mona Lisa got pied. Also, Shoshana professes a love of nuns.
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Ep 33: Bechukotai - High School Musical 2
Shoshana and Valerie compare Parashat Bechukotai to DCOM fav High School Musical 2. Shmittah and summer are both for rest, creativity, and Turkey from Maine. Shoshana makes the claim that HSM2 is the best one in the series. Also this movie is sort of about economics and capitalism and so is...
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Ep 32: Behar - The Simple Life
Shoshana and special guest host Claire Abramovitz blow our entire royalties budget for the season immediately upon the opening of this episode. After discussing Jerry Seinfeld, Zac Efron, Kendall Jenner, and Shoshana’s pranks on our teachers, the compare 2003's The Simple Life starring Paris…
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Ep 31: Emor - When Harry Met Sally
Shoshana and Valerie watch the best romcom of all time, When Harry Met Sally and find impressive ways to connect it to Parshat Emor. We discuss the premise of this movie - can men and women be friends? - which doesn't really hold up because queer people?? Also, how the Cohanim force Rashi to…
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Ep 30: Kedoshim x Glee S2E18
On this week’s episode, Valerie indulges Shoshana talking about Glee for quite literally the whole time (and yet somehow she doesn’t even make it to the gay stuff.) We promise there IS parasha comparison and discussion but also we discuss why Will Schuester is the worst teacher in the world and…
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Ep 29: Achrei Mot - Twilight
In this week’s episode, Valerie tries to kill Shoshana with information about Is It Cake, and Shoshana reveals her embarrassing levels of Twilight appreciation. Does Twilight have anything to do with parashat Achrei Mot? The answer may surprise you!!!
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SPECIAL Passover Ep: Prince of Egypt!!!
Shoshana and Val are back b'aretz in time to discuss THE PRINCE OF EGYPT before Pesach ends! Our take on this 1998 classic plus our favorite plagues and the usual jibber jabber. Chag kasher v'sameach y'all!
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Ep 27: Tazria - Goodnight Mummy
Shoshana and Valerie welcome special guest Rachel Fauber to discuss a baby photography venture, Kim Kardashian conspiracy theories, Unsolved Mysteries... and also Tazria alongside Austrian horror film Goodnight Mummy. Shoshana tries to convince Rachel that she needs to make a contingency plan in...
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Ep 26: Shemini - Bridge to Terebithia
On this week's poddy, we have a surprisingly deep conversation about loss by comparing Shemini to Bridge to Terabithia. Valerie admits to having never seen it, both discuss former sweaty teen heartthrob Josh Hutcherson and the universal experience of being in love with a teacher.
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Ep 25: Tzav - Waitress
Valerie and Shoshana discuss Parashat Tzav as compared to 2007’s Waitress. Also on the table? The social dynamics of the Cohanim, our recent target acquisitions, student teaching anecdotes, a dog named Bissli, the musical version of Waitress… Irreverent text discussion at its best. xoxo, Gossip...
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Ep 24: Vayikra - Ratatouille
Shoshana and Val discuss how the recipe for sacrifices given in Vayikra mimics Remi's take on recipes in 2007's Ratatouille. Shoshana tries to convince Valerie to eat food made by rats. The two also discuss ice skating and various types of hockey, what foods they would offer in the Beit…
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Ep 23: Pekudei - Smart House and 2001: A Space Odyssey
We did it big for the last parasha of Shemot: Valerie and Shoshana watch Disney Channel Original (a podcast first!!!!) Smart House and 2001: A Space Odyssey for maximum Mishkan versus AI comparison. The Simpsons also gets an honorable mention. Overall, some pretty deep thoughts for your Shabbat...
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Ep 22: Vayakhel - Toy Story 3
shoshana and valerie reminisce about toy story 3, this weeks parasha, and what we’d take from barbies dream house and put in the mishkan. also discussed: wise hearted artisans, uncut gems, and the woody/buzz/jessie love triangle.
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Ep 21: Ki Tisa - Cheaper By The Dozen
Valerie and Shoshana discuss Ki Tisa alongside 2003's Cheaper By The Dozen. Meat soaked underwear as anointing oils/washing before the receiving of the Ten Commandments, the descent of the family/Israelites into chaos without Mom/Dad/Moshe/Nora, and a happy ending... Plus Valerie pushes reading...
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Ep 20: Tetzaveh - The Devil Wears Prada
Shoshana and Valerie tackle all time classic The Devil Wears Prada and discuss how Miranda Priestly would feel about the Cohen Gadol's fit. Will Shoshana and Val agree on how to pronounce any words at all? Will Valerie find her "Barack of Love" shirt? Will we remember to post the photos we spent...
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Ep 19: Terumah - The Lego Movie
Shoshana and Valerie talk about how the Mishkan is just giant Lego and what it takes to be a Master Builder. Also discussed: Cake Tik Tok, Choni the Circle Drawer and the fact Valerie has never seen Holes.
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Ep 18: Mishpatim - Trial of the Chicago 7
Shoshana and Valerie find a way to connect Mishpatim to The Trial of the Chicago 7, we promise! We also introduce our new fancy sound engineer and Shoshana gets mad about Duolingo again.
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Ep 17: Yitro - The Path
Shoshana and Valerie discuss divine revelation and why cults are weird. Also discussed: reasons why Moshe Rabbeinu should be Queer Eyed, and what they would do if their friends were prophets.
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Ep 16: Beshalach - Chicken Run
Shoshana and Valerie watch comedy classic Chicken Run, and discuss how it’s sort of super similar to the end of the Exodus narrative. Also Shoshana gets hung up on its holocaust vibes.
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Ep 15: Bo - Gilmore Girls S2E9
Shoshana repeatedly disappoints Valerie by not liking Gilmore Girls and slandering Lorelai and Paris. We compare teenagers to capitalism and also to God? Also parasha content etc. etc.
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Ep 14: Vaera - Jumanji
Shoshana and Valerie wonder if experiencing any of the plagues was sort of like playing Jumanji (but the 2017 version.) Also Valerie torments Shoshana with images of a rat king, and Shoshana loves Jack Black. Is Shoshana’s cough back? Tune in to find out!!!!
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Ep 13: Shemot - The Princess Diaries
Shoshana and Valerie start Sefer Shemot with an absolute classic. Things discussed: Anne Hathaway’s eyebrows, Julia Andrew’s being God, and so much more.
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Ep 12: Vayehi - Stardust
Shoshana and Valerie are joined by their favorite (and only) guest star Rachel as they reminisce on the past Sefer, and talk about how Stardust is the perfect movie to finish out Bereishit. We also wrap up talking about Yosef and his brothers, and Shoshana drops a bombshell about Nick Jonas.
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Ep 11: Vayigash - Inglourious Basterds
Shoshana and Valerie chat about revenge fantasies, B.J. Novak, and begrudgingly enjoying Quentin Tarantino films. Obviously, we also discuss Yosef and his brothers as we wrap up their story -- it's the penultimate episode of Sefer Bereishit!!!!
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Ep 10: Miketz - A Cinderella Story
Shoshana and special guest host Rachel argue over whether A Cinderella Story is a cinematic masterpiece, and how it has surprising parallels to Parashat Miketz. We also worship Jennifer Coolidge and, obviously, drag Tom Hanks into it.
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Ep 9: Vayeshev - Mamma Mia! 1 + 2
Valerie and Shoshana compare camp movie Mamma Mia! and its sequel Mamma Mia: Here We Go Again to the campest parasha: Vayeshev. Important fashion moments, questionable parentage, dreams, and the power of three: this parasha and movie combo really has it all. Plus, our plans for Taylor Swift to...
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Ep 8: Vayishlach - Game of Thrones
For Vayishlach, Shoshana and Valerie watch Game of Thrones S3: E9 - The Rains of Castamere and butcher the show …like the Red Wedding and Shechem??... Discussions include male anatomy, fantasy literature, She Said, and also the parasha.
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Ep 7: Vayetse - The Handmaids Tale
Valerie and Shoshana watch The Handmaid's Tale Season 1, episodes 1 and 6 to draw connections about the subjugation of women in the show to experiences of the Jewish foremothers. Yay inherited trauma! Also included: Kourtney K's chaotic Instagram and the Star Wars versus Batman debate that no one...
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Ep 6: Toledot - The Parent Trap
Parashat Toldot: Shoshana and Valerie have a healthy debate about the intricacies of being a preteen twin as portrayed in 1998's seminal hit, The Parent Trap. Also they mention the parasha.
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Ep 5: Chayei Sarah - Crazy Rich Asians
Parashat Chayei Sarah: Shoshana and Valerie talk about culture clashes and what gifts we'd demand from our mega-wealthy partners when comparing Crazy Rich Asians (2018) to this week's parasha. (Also Freud's Bar Mitzvah Parasha is Tazria-Metzorah and Shoshana's Bat Mitzvah Parasha is Ki Teitzei…
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Ep 4: Vayera - Hocus Pocus
Parashat Vayera: Shoshana and Valerie try to convince you, the listener, that Hocus Pocus (1993) thematically parallels Parashat Vayera. Thank you for listening! Make sure to follow us on Facebook, Instagram, and your Podcast app of choice! Questions? Concerns? Suggestions? DM us!
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Ep 3: Lekh Lekha - Stepmom
Parashat Lekh Lekha: Shoshana and Valerie watch Stepmom (1998), and compare the parenting conflicts of Julia Roberts and Susan Sarandon (and Ed Harris) to Sarai and Hagar (and Avram). We've improved the sound issues! Thank you for your patience as we find our footing in this new adventure!
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Ep 2: Noah - Evan Almighty
Parashat Noah: Shoshana and Valerie watch Evan Almighty (2007) and see how it compares to the real deal.
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Ep 1: Bereishit - The Simpsons Season 10 Episode 18
Parashat Bereishit: Shoshana and Valerie compare humanity's first sin (and depictions of Eden itself!) as it appears both in Tanakh and The Simpsons Season 10 Episode 18.
About this show
“Ever wondered what The Simpsons has to say about Bereishit? Or what Shrek can teach us about Bamidbar? Join Valerie Brown and Shoshana Gottlieb each week as they explore the parasha through iconic pop culture moments, live from the room next door to the Pardes Beit Midrash”
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Pop Culture Parasha
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