Shows
OMfG podcast: jewish wisdom for unprecedented timesOn Joy in the DarknessSeason 3 Episode 4: On DarknessIt's almost Chanukah! We're counting down to the Festival of Lights, because, well- the world is kinda dark right now. The rabbis JG hope you'll join them in a different kind of holiday prep as we think about some of the earth-based traditions that coincide with Chanukah, like Tekufat Tevet. This Chanukah, we're doubling down on the fun, so grab alllllll your favorite beverages, give a listen, and share it with a friend!
2025-07-0824 minOMfG podcast: jewish wisdom for unprecedented timesThe Chanukah EpisodeNo matter how you spell it, it's Chanukah! Join the rabbis JG for a holiday warm up as we reflect on the current moment and look toward a holiday filled with light. This year, we present you with "8 awesome things" to embrace during this season of light. From the joys of this years' Chanukah/Christmas/Winter break mashup, to the beauty of a Chanukah inspired wardrobe- we've got you covered for 8 light filled nights. Tune in for some much-needed inspiration to help you find light during these unprecedented times. (Season 5, Episode 2)
2025-04-0937 minOMfG podcast: jewish wisdom for unprecedented timesThe Passover EpisodeWe know, it's been awhile. That stuck-in-the-narrow places feeling has felt like more than a metaphor lately, with the world really working overtime on those "OMfG" moments. But, it's almost Passover (and theoretically, springtime, despite the freezing gray pawl over New England) and we just knew that Jewish tradition could come in clutch at a moment like this. Join the rabbis JG for a Passover episode dedicated to the centuries of brave Jews, whose moral courage, grit and resilience can guide us today. Whether you're planning Seder for 20, or planning to DoorDash some matzoh ball soup, we hope these...
2025-04-0931 minOMfG podcast: jewish wisdom for unprecedented timesOMfG, it's shoulder season!We are kicking off season 5 of the OMfG Podcast: Jewish Wisdom for Unprecedented Times with our feet firmly planted on the bridge between summer and a new year ahead. If you've ever wondered what your rabbis are thinking about when the countdown to Rosh Hashanah is on, we're happy to pull the curtain back on all of the intention and hope (as well as the procrastination) that gets us from Elul to the final blast of the shofar.
2024-09-1030 minOMfG podcast: jewish wisdom for unprecedented timesthe kids are alrightSeason 4: Episode 4, the kids are allright
In this special episode of OMfG, the rabbis JG are thrilled to welcome to very special guest hosts, Aliza and Mia, two of the Berkshires' finest recent high school grads. Aliza and Mia share their experiences as Jewish American teens, reflecting on the challenges of their unique high school experiences , their evolving Jewish journeys, and the impact of October 7. Join us as we talk, laugh, and think out loud with Aliza and Mia as they answer questions ranging from "what do you wish adults understood about being Jewish teenagers today?" to "wh...
2024-07-0738 min
72 Miles til KentuckyChapter 8: The HolidaysWhen you’re Jewish, it seems like the holidays are always around the corner, and there always seems to be some sort of competition. Whether it’s the High Holidays just as school gets into full swing, or how Chanukah and Passover often, but confusingly not always, overlap with Christmas and Easter. There’s a lot of explaining to do, and partnerships to be built. That’s what led my mother into my elementary school classrooms, where she fried latkes and read Herschel and Chanukah Goblins for me and my Christian classmates. It’s also what led her into in...
2024-04-2230 minOMfG podcast: jewish wisdom for unprecedented timesHere we are, stuck in the middle with you.OMfG Season 4, Ep: 3 Here we are, stuck in the middle with you.
It's been more than 100 days since the horrific events of October 7, and the rabbis JG are checking in. In this terribly challenging moment, it feels like we are in the middle of a story that we wish we knew had a happy ending. This week, we're talking comfort food, comfort tv (clear eyes, full hearts, can't lose) and Jewish wisdom for making our way through tough times.
2024-01-2627 minOMfG podcast: jewish wisdom for unprecedented timesThe Israel EpisodeOMfG Season 4 Episode 2: The Israel Episode
Since the terrifying events of October 7, we've been struggling to find the words for this moment. After nearly seven weeks of watching so much pain and horror unfold, the rabbis JG got together for a long talk about what makes this moment so singularly difficult. From fragmentation to unity, or from doubt to conviction, we hope you'll join for this unique episode as we reflect on the war in Israel.
2023-11-2742 minOMfG podcast: jewish wisdom for unprecedented timesElul: Warming Up for 5784 with Rabbi Taylor SwiftOmfg it's almost 5784! The Hebrew month of Elul has arrived and the rabbis JG are getting ready! But we could never get ready alone- we get by with a little help from our friends. And so, with gratitude to Rabbi Rachael Pass and Jodie's URJ Eisner Camp tzofim and Olim limud groups, we present to you a little Elul Torah of Swift. From collective effervescence to dealing with regrets, we hope you'll join us as we make our way through the end of summer into a sweet new year ahead.
2023-08-2521 minOMfG podcast: jewish wisdom for unprecedented timesOMFG: We’re at a Christian Retreat Center!OMFG: We’re at a Christian Retreat Center!
Live from Middleburg, Virginia (well, live when we recorded it…) the rabbis JG are back together again, and reflecting on themes of rest, renewal and retreat. With gratitude to our friends and teachers, join us for a different kind of episode as we think out loud about where we’ve been, and where we’re going. Happy summer to you!
2023-06-2323 min
A Dram & A DrashSeason 1:8 Rabbi Jen Gubitz talks about making Judaism accessible and engaging young adultsThis month our dram is an Old Fashioned and we're talking cocktails.Rabbi Jen Gubitz lives and works in the Boston area and specializes in working with young adults. She runs Modern JewISH Couples which supports committed partners on the pathway to marriage and beyond through essential conversations and couples retreats. Jen is the co-host of the OMfG Podcast: Jewish Wisdom for Unprecedented Times and her writing appears in the Boston Globe, OnBeing, Jewish Daily Forward, and Lilith Magazine.You can learn more about Rabbi Gubitz at http://www.jengubitz.com/L...
2023-06-1244 minOMfG podcast: jewish wisdom for unprecedented timesOn Preparing to Leave EgyptOMfG! It's almost Passover!
The rabbis JG are getting ready for Passover and hope you'll give a listen as we tackle important questions like "what spiritual chametz are you hoping to rid yourself of this year" and "how long is too long to keep matzah meal"? We're bringing in the wisdom of our rabbis as we get ready for the festival of freedom, so sit back, grab some matzah and a seltzer, and enjoy! And if you're not feeling quite ready for the festival days ahead, don't worry, we got you: there's no way everyone was ready...
2023-04-0318 minOMfG podcast: jewish wisdom for unprecedented timesa Holy OMfG Half-time ShowTu BiShevat is here, and we're here for the trees (even if they are currently covered in icicles here in the "coldest place on the planet"). Join the rabbis JG for an unexpected twist on the New Year of the Trees, a mystical moment on the Jewish calendar which we hope to make a bit less mystifying. So grab your favorite tree-grown fruit (we love a good medjool date) and give a listen. Come for the sportball references, stay for the seltzer recs.
2023-02-0326 min
Judaism UnboundEpisode 354: Remaking Jewish Weddings - Jen GubitzJen Gubitz is the founder and executive director of Modern JewISH Couples -- an organization that supports committed couples on the pathway to partnership, marriage, and beyond. She joins Dan Libenson and Lex Rofeberg for a conversation about Jewish weddings that asks a number of questions. What typically happens, and what should happen, before the wedding day? Why is it not only okay, but wonderful, when non-clergy officiate Jewish weddings? What transformation does the ritual of a wedding ceremony effect, in 2022, when many traditional understandings of what a wedding “does” no longer resonate?Inspired by what you hear...
2022-11-251h 05OMfG podcast: jewish wisdom for unprecedented timesOn Settling InHappy Cheshvan! It's that time of year again-- no major festivals, just a whole month of regular everyday life, and we are here for it. Cheshvan is a time for settling in, and taking time to just be. Our kind of month! So, sink into your favorite corner of the couch, grab a seltzer, and join the rabbis JG for what we like to call "The Torah of Nothing Special" (hint: it's actually kinda special).
2022-11-0716 minOMfG podcast: jewish wisdom for unprecedented timesOn Longing & Letting GoYou thought those holidays were over once you sunk your teeth into that first bagel at break-fast? No way! Whether you’ve got a serious sukkah in your backyard, or are scratching your head wondering “what holidays?”- this episode has it all. Join the rabbis JG as we talk Shemini Atzeret (Shemini At-what?)—— a somewhat obscure observance that might just be the ultimate Jewish goodbye.
2022-10-1320 minOMfG podcast: jewish wisdom for unprecedented timesOn PreparationThe rabbis JG are back, with a whole new season of OMfG. It's been awhile, so we're welcoming you all back with the chance to catch up and reconnect. We're excited to move through the year with all of you, as we share wit, wisdom, and poetry inspired by the Jewish calendar, with a healthy dose of snark.
On Preparation: we're kicking off season 3 asking the question "how do we prepare for transformation?" If you're feeling like all those back-to-school lists don't leave you feeling ready, then listen in- kick off Elul with a little Jewish wake...
2022-08-2818 min
OMfG podcast: jewish wisdom for unprecedented timesOMfG: Dayenu!How do we know when enough is enough, or maybe even too much when it comes to fulfilling our obligations to the world around us? As we make our way to seder tables for Passover 2022, the narrative of a perilous journey to freedom is literal for more than 2 million Ukrainian refugees around the world.Join the rabbis JG for an open and honest conversation on the Jewish ideas around obligation, and how we show up in times of crisis.
2022-04-1230 minOMfG podcast: jewish wisdom for unprecedented timesOMfG: Double the Adar, Double the FunWho needs Wrigley's Spearmint when you've got a double dose of the month of Adar to bring on the joy? Join the rabbis JG as we think out loud about how to lean toward joy, and dabble in the Torah of Compartmentalization (i.e. some ideas for the spiritual challenges of moving in and out of pandemic intensity).
2022-02-2224 minOMfG podcast: jewish wisdom for unprecedented timesThe Good Enough EpisodeThis episode is your official rabbinic permission slip- to just get through. Forget unprecedented- it's hard not to feel like the world is downright unhinged these days. Join the rabbis JG for a reminder that sometimes, one foot in front of another is all we need to do.
** This episode was recorded before the events at Beth Israel in Colleyville, TX. We are grateful for the safety of our colleague Rabbi Charlie Cytron-Walker and his congregants.
2022-01-2412 minOMfG podcast: jewish wisdom for unprecedented timesA Very OMfG Christmas (Wait, what?)It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas, and the rabbis JG are here for it. Come for the Home Alone and Chinese food references, and stay to find out which famous Jewish leader had a Christmas tree in his home, and how a Christmas tree saved the lives of one Jewish family in the 1930’s.
Shout outs to Rabbi Joshua Plaut and his book: A Kosher Christmas, the American Holocaust Museum, the Berlin Jewish Museum, and of course, our wonderful editor, Jesse Ulrich and Rant9 Productions.
2021-12-2029 minOMfG podcast: jewish wisdom for unprecedented timesThe Chanukah EpisodeNo matter how you spell it, we could all use a little light and a miracle or two as we make our way to the end of 2021. Join the Rabbis JG for a special Chanukah episode- as we "go under the hood" of the story as you might know it, and shine a light on some of the lesser known stories and customs of Chanukah. Let's just say there's plenty of salty cheese, wine and feminism to go around. Hanuká Alegré! Happy Chanukah! חנוכה שמח!
2021-11-2218 minOMfG podcast: jewish wisdom for unprecedented timesThe Anniversary EpisodeOur baby is 1 year old, and you’re invited to celebrate without the smash cake or obligation to bring a present. Join us for a look back at 1 year of OMfG!
2021-11-1020 minOMfG podcast: jewish wisdom for unprecedented timesThe Anniversary EpisodeOur baby is 1 year old, and you’re invited to celebrate without the smash cake or obligation to bring a present. Join us for a look back at 1 year of OMfG!
2021-11-1020 minOMfG podcast: jewish wisdom for unprecedented timesWhen Less Is More: The Shmita EpisodeIt's Cheshvan, the Hebrew month when rabbis heave a sigh of relief and thank God for a lighter calendar. And speaking of a lighter calendar, the rabbis JG are kicking of season 2 with a dive into the wisdom behind Shmita, the practice of a once-every-seven-years sabbatical. So, take a break (no pun intended) and join us for an energetic conversation on the holiness in doing less.
2021-10-1530 minOMfG podcast: jewish wisdom for unprecedented timesHappy New Year 5782! On Golden Threads, Mush, and Cool Ranch GlitterIts almost Rosh Hashanah 5782 and the Rabbis JG are back from a very OMfG Summer! This week we're talking about the final glimmers of summer, how Dar Williams is our Rabbi, and the Torah of Monarch Butterflies! Come for the laughter, stay for the Cool Ranch recommendation! Wishing you a happy, healthy and sweet new year!
2021-09-0119 min
OMfG podcast: jewish wisdom for unprecedented timesSpecial Episode: OMfG & The Vibe of the Tribe CrossoverIt's mid July and the Rabbis JG are special guests on JewishBoston.com's The Vibe of the Tribe Podcast, where we spend a lively 60 minutes... talking about our 30 minute podcast. Co-hosted by Miriam Anzovin and Dan Seligson, we're talking Torah cafe carts, feminist Torah super heroes, dress codes for revelation for Mt. Sinai (Desert Cocktail Recommended), and making a list of snarky merch we want to sell! We dig a bit deeper into what the "f" stands for... and, of course, offer some poignant reflection of how much we love creating OMfG!
Many thanks to Miriam, Dan a...
2021-07-1949 min
The Vibe of the TribeOMfG! Irreverent Torah With Rabbis Jen Gubitz & Jodie GordonAs a Jewish podcast, it’s only natural we want to be BFFs with other Jewish podcasts. After all, we’re a small corner of the podcast universe, and us Jewish podcasters need to stick together!
On this episode, we welcome local rabbis Jen Gubitz and Jodie Gordon, co-hosts of the new podcast “OMfG: Jewish Wisdom for Unprecedented Times,” a project that came into being from text message exchanges of ideas, fears and humor during the darkest moments of the pandemic. Their new podcast—whose title means exactly what you think it does—is lovingly irreverent, rooting our human experiences today in the...
2021-07-1249 minOMfG podcast: jewish wisdom for unprecedented timesSummer Lovin': Camp EditionGet your trunks packed and your sunscreen ready because OMfG it's time for summer camp. From the hill, to the lake, to the Gaga pit, this episode is dedicated to the magic of Jewish sleep away camp. We'll dive into the history and have the chance to reflect on this unique summer with special guests Ben Cutler and Sara Beth Berman. With gratitude to URJ Goldman Union Camp Institute and URJ Eisner Camp for shaping us!
2021-07-0934 minOMfG podcast: jewish wisdom for unprecedented timesHey Teach, THANK YOU!School's out for the summer and wow (!) are we thankful to teachers, educators, administrators, support staff, cafeteria and maintenance workers - and obviously Hebrew school teachers, too. Join the Rabbis JG as we hear from Math educator and administrator, Jenny Rittberg, about what it was like to be on the frontlines of education this past year. We're also talking favorite Jewish texts about learning, stories of mildly bad behavior in school, and wondering if excel sheets can be a spiritual practice!
2021-06-2233 minOMfG podcast: jewish wisdom for unprecedented timesSee You At SinaiThe most underrated Jewish festival is here (come on! Cheesecake and Torah?) and we're celebrating Shavuot with a trek through Torah. Join the rabbis JG as we talk Torah in all it's forms - Torah as our cornerstone for how to live a life of meaning, and Torah as a pretty special pajama party guest (you'll have to listen for more on that story!) With gratitude to our fantastic new editor, Jesse Ulrich, and a dash of music from the great Dan Nichols.
2021-05-1727 minOMfG podcast: jewish wisdom for unprecedented timesThe Big Count *Up*This week the Rabbis JG are talking about the ritual of counting the Omer, a sacred bridging of the time from Passover to Shavuot, pessimism and optimism, as well as speaking to a particular painful reckoning in the Reform Movement with regard to abuse of power. Are you a count “upper” or count “downer?” How do you sustain the time it takes to reach mountaintop moments? Featuring the beautiful music of Rabbis Yosef Goldman, Zach Fredman and Shir Yaakov Feit. For more of Yosef's music, check out his latest CD on bandcamp and the Rising Song Institute.
2021-05-0824 minOMfG podcast: jewish wisdom for unprecedented timesMisty Watercolored MemorySpring is a season of memory in the Jewish calendar. Join the rabbis JG for a reflective conversation on how we remember as Jews. We're talking Yom Hashoah (Holocaust Memorial Day), Yom Hazikaron (Israeli Memorial Day) and wondering: what does it mean to hold on to the lessons of the past while living into the future?
2021-04-1519 minOMfG podcast: jewish wisdom for unprecedented timesLet My People... Get Vaccinated! Passover 2021Spring has sprung and Passover is on the way! This week, the Rabbis JG are having a blast talking with Rabbi Jeff Stombaugh of "The Well" in Detroit about www.friendseder.com and all things Pesach. Come for a great conversation about the magic of Passover and innovating ritual and stay for a meaningful discussion about Manischewitz flavors and the merits of... dill.
Major gratitude to Leslie Gubitz for editing this podcast.
2021-03-2334 min
OMfG podcast: jewish wisdom for unprecedented timesWhat We've Learned & LostFor our 10th episode, the Rabbis JG are talking "what we've learned, what we've lost, and what we've gained" during this past year of pandemic living.
2021-03-1316 min
OMfG podcast: jewish wisdom for unprecedented timesPurim: the Mandatory Fun EpisodeWhat could be better than a holiday with not one but two heroines, and a mandate to eat, drink and be merry? Join the rabbis JG for some mandatory fun as we talk Purim, and welcome our very first ever guest to the podcast, Rabbi Leah Berkowitz, author of this year's breakout hit, "Queen Vashti's Comfy Pants".
2021-02-2525 min
OMfG podcast: jewish wisdom for unprecedented timesLove, Love, Love!Love is in the air! This week we're talking about love in all it's forms, from our besties to work spouses to neighbors to self-love. Join the rabbis JG as we wonder out loud together "what's Jewish about Valentine's Day?" (hint: it was never about roses and chocolate. Not that we're opposed to chocolate!)
2021-02-1429 min
OMfG podcast: jewish wisdom for unprecedented timesThe Soundtrack of Our LivesWhat's our favorite "F" word? This week it's Friedman, as in Debbie Friedman, of blessed memory. As we enter into Shabbat Shira (an entire Shabbat dedicated to song and music), we're remembering the melodies and moments of our Jewish lives, from when "we" stood at the sea, to the soundtracks and playlists that accompany our lives today.
2021-01-2922 min
OMfG podcast: jewish wisdom for unprecedented timesNew Beginnings & TransformationHow many times since the pandemic started have you thought to yourself “well, after xyz happens things will change- and get better?" What do we do when we're just in the waiting place, and those new beginnings aren't quite cutting it? Join the rabbis JG for some winter-time wisdom, about how we begin over and over again, and the power of rituals of transformation.
2021-01-1823 min
OMfG podcast: jewish wisdom for unprecedented timesGiving it a restJoin the rabbis JG for a deep dive on one of our favorite topics: rest! This week we're breaking it down, thinking out loud together about the value of rest. Are rest and sleep synonymous? What if a quick snooze won't fix the bone deep tiredness you're feeling? New year, new nap plan? We sure hope so, because like you, we're exhausted.
2021-01-0127 min
OMfG podcast: jewish wisdom for unprecedented timesWonder of wonder, miracle of miracles!You thought Taylor Swift's album drop was your Chanukah gift? Get excited-- we've got episode 4 ready for you just in time. It's Chanukah--- the festival of lights, and the celebration of miracles! Join the rabbis JG as we discuss everything from the miracle of life, to the miracle of making it through another day. From surviving a lion falling on top of you, to noticing how much you have to be grateful for, our Jewish tradition has a thing or two to say about miracles.
2020-12-1126 min
OMfG podcast: jewish wisdom for unprecedented timesWhat are you grateful for?This week we're talking about gratitude and its Jewish roots, or how can gratitude transcend a one day event to become spiritual practice? Special shoutouts to our musical guest Elana Jagoda, the wisdom of Maria Sirois, incredible audio editing by Leslie Gubitz, and a big happy and healthy 40th to Jodie!
2020-11-2624 min
OMfG podcast: jewish wisdom for unprecedented timesWhat's your spiritual mantra?Join the rabbis JG for the episode #2 of the OMfG Podcast!This week we're talking about spiritual mantras, or how do we move through all the hard parts of being human with patience, and perseverance.? Special shoutouts to our musical guests, singer-songwriter Elana Arian, and the inimitable, Charlene Gubitz.
2020-11-1823 min
OMfG podcast: jewish wisdom for unprecedented timesWhat's your metaphor?Join Rabbi Jen Gubitz and Rabbi Jodie Gordon for the very first episode of OMfG-- recorded just days before the 2020 Election, as we ask "what's your metaphor for this moment?"
2020-11-0219 min
Temple Israel of Boston's Clergy Corner"Netflix, Torah and Chill: Finding Strength in Uncertain Times" Rabbi Jen Gubitz, 01/10/20Support the show
2020-01-1409 minTemple Israel of Boston's Clergy Corner"Provocative Kugel: a.k.a. What will I make of my life today?" Rabbi Jen Gubitz, Riverway Project Kol Nidre 2019/5780Support the show
2019-10-1016 minTemple Israel of Boston's Clergy Corner"Grief and Memory Hold Hands" Rabbi Jen Gubitz, Yom Kippur Yizkor 2019/5780Support the show
2019-10-1009 minTemple Israel of Boston's Clergy Corner"Living By the Moon: Making Jewish Choices in Today's World" Rabbi Jen Gubitz, Yom Kippur Family Service 2019/5780Support the show
2019-10-1011 min