Jews in Alabama, Episode #53

Pretty much a HealthCast this time, we give updates on what's been going on with Raya's dad and with Sophie, healthwise. (Warning -- discussion of hospital procedures and baby bodily fluids ensues.) We also talk about the March of Dimes WalkAmerica, and the great success of "TEAM SOPHIE." We visited an art festival in downtown Birmingham last weekend; this weekend, a million things are going on, first and foremost: Rabbi Joseph Telushkin comes to Temple Beth-El! Hopefully Sophie will be healthy enough to meet him! (47 minutes, 16 seconds).

Jews in Alabama, Episode #52

Today's show features a new (but related) Intro and Outro. Do you like? We recap Sophie's birthday party, and our trip to Chattanooga, where we visited the Tennessee Aquarium, the Creative Discovery Museum, walked over the second-longest pedestrian bridge in America, and saw the Warner Park Zoo. Pesach is coming, are you ready? Do you need a haggadah? Eric heads to Vegas next weekend, meaning his Pesach might end early!! Finally, we discuss the disturbing (and growing) relationship between American Evangelicals and Jewish Zionism. And then Sophie wakes up from her nap. 35 minutes, 14 seconds.

Jews in Alabama, Episode #51

IT'S SOPHIE'S BIRTHDAY!!!! On our first show in a month, we talk about Sophie, of course, and what she wants YOU to do for her birthday!! We also discuss our recent adventures, including Purim and a Eric's unexpected Orlando road trip. We talk about some more patrilineal descent and conversion issues, related to the recent message board thread. We digress into discussion of the Confederacy for a few moments, and then get into the ridiculous "curing homosexuality in babies" suggestion from a Southern Baptist minister. Staying on that topic, we discuss the "homosexuality is immoral" comment from the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs, and the disappointing reactions to that comment from both Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama. 51 minutes, 17 seconds.

Jews in Alabama, Episode #50

On a Shabbat morning episode, we discuss the CJLS survey [PDF link] mentioned on the last show, concerning gay rights and a little of everything else. We also talk about Raya's fabulous luck (again!) at the JEXNET conference, and the Great Cupcake Caper with our California syndicate. A new "Jewish" congregation comes to Birmingham, do we need to go undercover? Eric's mom was in town FROM Orlando last weekend, and Raya heads TO Orlando for "Yom Universal" next weekend. This weekend's been busy with Bubbe/Zayde Shabbat last night, and "Cosmic Bowling" tonight. (Sorry for the echoes, still working on our audio setup.) 46 minutes, 20 seconds.

Jews in Alabama, Episode #49

On tonight's episode, we recap our fabulous trip to California -- Captain Cupcake and his erotica photographers; Ashley & Anthony of Dixiecast fame; Anchor Brewing Company; and the Gators win ANOTHER national championship!! Oh yeah, and Eric went to MacWorld, eventually. We talk about Raya's upcoming trip to JEXNET, as well as Beth-El's centennial kickoff weekend. We discuss our impromptu New Year's Eve, a USCJ survey related to our last show, and Sophie waves goodbye to the mike. 40 minutes, 30 seconds.

Jews in Alabama, Episode #48

On the last day of Chanukah, we discuss our holiday activities and also Raya's birthday, which was the 19th. We talk about Sophie's first trip to the Birmingham Zoo, and all the animals she saw there. USCJ approves conflicting decisions on same-sex relationships and gay ordinations, and we wonder what it all means. The New York Times features a great article about Birmingham restaurants, and also an article about an uncensored (and hilarious!) SNL sketch posted to YouTube. Congress approves the "PREEMIE Act," thanks to the hard work of the March of Dimes, and we're very grateful. We close with shoutouts to our message board participants, and a short voicemail from Jen. 45 minutes, 51 seconds.

Jews in Alabama, Episode #47

We're back with an "in studio" episode with much better sound quality. We apologize for our "car cast" and then recap the week. We attended a funeral today for a sweet man who passed away, and we discuss Jewish funerals in general. We talk about the Florida Gators, playing for the national championship in football the same year they won the national basketball championship. Jimmy Carter pays a visit to Birmingham to shill for his dreadful new book. We mention last weekend's shul activities, and a discussion about a Kadima convention leads to talk about the American Hebrew Academy. Finally, we're getting ready for Sophie's first Chanukah, and Eric wants to know -- since there are USB Xmas Trees, why isn't there a decent USB Menorah (other than a prototype)? 45 minutes, 39 seconds.