Fireside Chats, Episode 94: Judaism
Added 2019-06-19 16:01:00 +0000 UTCWe've spent a lot of time on Fireside Chats discussing the ins and outs of Christianity, but we never ventured into the territory of its sister religion -- or perhaps parent religion, more accurately -- until right now. Judaism is a fascinating point of conversation, because unlike many other global religions, it's both a religious identity and a cultural identity, many times in excess of Irish or Italian Catholics, the Russian Orthodox, and pretty much any other similar fusion (save maybe the Mormons, who are no stranger to this show). To represent the so-called Jewish Experience, please welcome Michael Shamah, a student from New York City who hails from a devoutly Jewish family and lives a devoutly Jewish life, all the while living in a place indelibly (and awesomely) influenced by its Jewish population (and I would know!). In short: What is it like growing up in a community within a community, and is it a burden or honor -- or sometimes both -- to carry thousands of years of tradition, history, and tragedy deep within?
Comments
I can respect that. Hopefully some day you can both sit down and knockout a great podcast, reminiscent of the Brian Altano episode :)
Jeremy Miller
2019-06-25 07:07:21 +0000 UTCThanks ma!
Colin Moriarty
2019-06-25 01:41:08 +0000 UTCI've welcomed him on publicly, but I doubt he'd do it, and I don't really make repeat invites. But he's welcome, sure!
Colin Moriarty
2019-06-25 01:41:01 +0000 UTCThat's what's up.
Colin Moriarty
2019-06-25 01:40:35 +0000 UTC=D
Colin Moriarty
2019-06-25 01:40:30 +0000 UTCHey, thanks!
Colin Moriarty
2019-06-25 01:40:26 +0000 UTCIndeed. As Catholicism is basically the original Christianity, it makes sense that it would be literally closest connected to Judaism.
Colin Moriarty
2019-06-25 01:40:21 +0000 UTCNice. =D
Colin Moriarty
2019-06-25 01:39:48 +0000 UTCYou're very welcome! Thanks for listening.
Colin Moriarty
2019-06-25 01:39:42 +0000 UTCThank god for delis.
Colin Moriarty
2019-06-25 01:39:27 +0000 UTCAh well. LOL.
Colin Moriarty
2019-06-25 01:39:08 +0000 UTCThank you!
Colin Moriarty
2019-06-25 01:38:59 +0000 UTCAwesome. I'm so glad to hear that.
Colin Moriarty
2019-06-25 01:38:55 +0000 UTCThank you!
Colin Moriarty
2019-06-25 01:38:48 +0000 UTCI'd love to do an Islam episode.
Colin Moriarty
2019-06-25 01:38:42 +0000 UTCThank you
2019-06-24 18:59:05 +0000 UTCThere was a mass exodus of a community in Ethiopia to Israel in the 80s and 90s. Tanakh is what Christians consider the old testament. The Talmud is a explanation and debate on the laws in the Torah. The best Hebrew English tanakh and Talmud books are ArtScroll
Michael Shamah
2019-06-24 18:42:25 +0000 UTCThanks, Michael. I have heard of those in Ethiopia. I thought some had also fled into the very general "North." Do you know if current Israel or Jews try to reconnect in any meaningful way with those in Ethiopia? If they are descended from those tribes, they're also covenant, or chosen, people. Also - do you know how/where I could get a solid translation of the Torah in English? Also - can you clarify the role of the Talmud and Tanakh in Judaism? Are there good translations of those in English? Thanks
2019-06-24 17:34:33 +0000 UTCThank you!
Michael Shamah
2019-06-23 04:25:48 +0000 UTCAfter Solomon died there was a civil war over which son should be king, and when the Jews were kicked out of Israel some had fled to Alexandria and other parts of Africa. Those people never returned back to Israel. Those people are called the “Lost Tribes”. There is a major sect located in Ethiopia. There even a theory that these people have the Holy ark. While I don’t believe that they have the ark I do believe that some if not all of the are descendants from those who fled to Africa.
Michael Shamah
2019-06-23 04:25:34 +0000 UTCThanks man!
Michael Shamah
2019-06-23 04:16:28 +0000 UTCWhat an informative, interesting conversation. I love to read and study the Old Testament. I SO enjoyed Michael’s knowledge of the Torah. Would love to pick that brain of his.And listening to his accent made me feel like I was back home. 😉💕 Thanks Guys. 👏🏻❤️
BettyAnn Moriarty
2019-06-21 23:01:03 +0000 UTC😉
BettyAnn Moriarty
2019-06-21 22:56:01 +0000 UTCHey Colin, I noticed on twitter that you and Nick Scarpino follow each other. THAT'S GREAT, he seemed like the only person who genuinely cared that you left and got teared up on several occasions. I was just wondering if you'd ever have him on Fireside Chats? I'd really love to hear him talk shop about his days before during and after IGN and what he's up to now. Thanks!
Jeremy Miller
2019-06-21 22:11:06 +0000 UTCMichael - great convo. To me, the Jewish people are very special. When I meet them I feel something similar to what others feel in the presence of celebrity or maybe royalty. Your heritage is genetically linked with Christ. Because of Abraham and his covenant all are blessed... I'm Mormon and I don't know if you knew this but our belief about Christ and being baptized is that it also is adoption into the House of Israel, and there is a point in our spiritual development in which we are assigned a specific tribe - well, Gentile converts are assigned a tribe. Jewish converts retain status as part of the Tribe of Judah. I hope you maybe see this comment, I'd love to chat you up on some things and ask additional questions: for instance current Jews' thoughts regarding the "lost tribes" of Israel... stuff like that.
2019-06-21 21:11:33 +0000 UTCIt was awesome, bud. I learned a ton
Caleb Greer
2019-06-20 22:53:13 +0000 UTCI learned a lot
Caleb Greer
2019-06-20 22:52:13 +0000 UTCI’m glad my people got a shoutout! 😂 (Mennonites)
Trent Miller
2019-06-20 21:49:55 +0000 UTCI'm a big Bishop Barron fan, and he actually just did a whole podcast episode talking about how insanely important maintaining our Jewish roots is as Catholics. Definitely worth a listen!
Nick
2019-06-20 20:31:12 +0000 UTCI never comment on anything on patreon but this fireside chat was so good I had to let y’all know lol.
Eric D
2019-06-20 17:58:48 +0000 UTCI grew up catholic (I’m only 19 so you could argue that I’m still growing, though) and I’ve always considered the Jewish faith as a “sister religion” as it were. It’s literally part of the catholic faith, Judaism is inherently the origin of Catholicism. I don’t know how anyone catholic could deny that, or support anyone - or any country - who opposes Judaism. I’m pretty agnostic with religion, but I know my opinion on that.
GameSimp
2019-06-20 16:08:52 +0000 UTCI really enjoyed this one, the history of religion is definitely one of the most fascinating subjects
desperateLuck
2019-06-20 14:20:20 +0000 UTCThis was a fun listen for me. As part of a tiny "christian" sect loosely called "Hebrew Roots" we spend a lot of time studying the Torah, keeping Shabbat and Kashrut. I'm a big outsider in my particular area of the country, so listening to Michael for a little while made me feel much less isolated. Thank you Michael and Colin!
Jason Stafford
2019-06-20 13:57:24 +0000 UTCNo insensitivity here! Pastrami is the best!
Michael Shamah
2019-06-20 12:49:26 +0000 UTCThanks man!
Michael Shamah
2019-06-20 12:48:29 +0000 UTCGreat stuff, I love learning about Judaism. Central/Eastern Europe (where I'm from) has been pretty much devoid of all perceptible Jewish culture since WW2 so this is like rediscovering a lost piece of local history. At the risk of sounding insensitive, I have to say I'm incredibly jealous that you got all the bagels and pastrami while we have literally NONE, even though this is where they originated.
Michal Dudic
2019-06-20 11:06:17 +0000 UTCI appreciate the irony of this episode coming out on the same day that a bunch of fools with pronouns in their Twitter biographies fight in your mentions about you apparently supporting concentration camps. Never change Colin. <3
Russell Garrett
2019-06-20 11:00:14 +0000 UTCReally enjoyed this one, very interesting.
Aaron Myers
2019-06-20 09:26:28 +0000 UTCMany thanks to you both for this, great discussion. I’m finding Fireside chats as a powerful tool of gaining and refining perspectives.
2019-06-20 03:45:03 +0000 UTCGreat episode guys, love these conversations!
Ryan Taylor
2019-06-20 02:44:45 +0000 UTCSuper interesting episode guys! My family discovered we have Jewish roots a few years ago, so I love any opportunity to learn more about Judaism and Jewish culture. This and the Baptist episode are two of my favourites so far. I'm hoping you get to do an Islam episode eventually!
Phillip Guglielmo
2019-06-20 02:41:32 +0000 UTCThank you everyone for your kind words! Was a pleasure to be on the show, and I’m happy everyone is loving the episode!
Michael Shamah
2019-06-20 01:51:47 +0000 UTCThank you! Happy to be of service
Michael Shamah
2019-06-20 01:51:17 +0000 UTCMichael was great, this was very interesting. I feel like with this show not only am I being entertained but I'm learning as well.
Marcus Brown
2019-06-20 01:19:46 +0000 UTCIt's very interesting, but I actually think it reduces to hawk vs. dove, in a way.
Colin Moriarty
2019-06-20 01:01:55 +0000 UTCReally interesting episode, I especially liked the discussion around Israel. I would have liked to have gotten Michael's thoughts on why he thinks foreign policy around Israel (not just America's, but other Western countries' too) is so partisan, with the left being typicallly anti-Israel and the right typically pro-Israel. Maybe there's something obvious that I'm missing there, but I've always found it confusing.
2019-06-19 22:29:56 +0000 UTCHe was awesome, right?
Colin Moriarty
2019-06-19 22:23:03 +0000 UTCThank you!
Colin Moriarty
2019-06-19 22:22:57 +0000 UTCHahaha.
Colin Moriarty
2019-06-19 22:22:50 +0000 UTCExcellent. =)
Colin Moriarty
2019-06-19 22:22:45 +0000 UTCThank you for your kind words!
Colin Moriarty
2019-06-19 22:22:39 +0000 UTCEnjoy. =)
Colin Moriarty
2019-06-19 22:22:32 +0000 UTCGreat, interesting discussion. I really enjoyed and learned a lot. Michael was a great guest
Josh in Tampa
2019-06-19 21:32:18 +0000 UTCI went to Catholic school from kindergarten to 12th grade and I also don’t believe in God, but the religious episodes of fireside chats are always my favorite. Another great episode!
Ryan Lemieux
2019-06-19 19:36:39 +0000 UTCAlso this episode made me realize Chris might just be doing a bad New York accent during the drop 😂
Ethan Barbee
2019-06-19 19:20:10 +0000 UTCThis was the most exciting thing to come across my notifications today. Love the religious discussions =D
Prince Borutski
2019-06-19 19:17:52 +0000 UTCThis is fantastic. I’m always amazed how these seemingly random conversations inspire me to keep learning and pursuing new things. Thanks for being an inspiration, Colin.
Ethan Barbee
2019-06-19 19:15:11 +0000 UTCYesssssssssss!!!!!! These types of chats are my JAM! Super excited to listen to this one today. 😁👍
Lou & Rei Loper
2019-06-19 17:23:38 +0000 UTC
