On hiatus.

Hello JIA? listeners. Although our podcasting schedule has been hit-or-miss over the last 15 months (gee, wonder why?), you may have noticed a longer-than-usual absence, even for us. Here's what's going on.

Yesterday, Raya was diagnosed with minimal change disease, a kidney disorder. This is the primary cause of a condition she's been suffering for the past 3-4 weeks called nephrotic syndrome. Basically, she's got an inordinate amount of swelling in her feet, legs, and abdomen. This is caused by a malfunction in the kidneys that causes them to leak protein into the urine, rather than transfer it to the blood where it belongs.

However, the diagnosis of MCD was very good news. As her nephrologist put it yesterday, this is the "most treatable condition" which she could have had. He has started her on a course of steroids, along with some other medication. She will hopefully get some relief from the symptoms soon, and the condition itself should clear up within a few months. Future recurrences are possible, but she'll be able to recognize the symptoms much quicker if this ever happens again.

MCD is much more common in kids than adults; her doctor said that there was only a 5-10% chance that an adult's nephrotic syndrome would be caused by MCD. There are many other, scarier conditions that can cause nephrotic syndrome, such as diabetes, lupus, and some kidney-specific ailments. Also, the biopsy showed no signs of scarring or other permanent damage to the kidney tissue. So again, we feel very fortunate.

She had the biopsy last Friday, and so that combined with her swelling makes her pretty uncomfortable right now. There's just not any chance we're going to sit in front of the computer and record a podcast for a couple of weeks. We'll hope to get back in the saddle by July 27, which is the two-year anniversary of this show.

So, that's our update. Think happy thoughts for Raya, and we'll talk to you all as soon as we can!

Jews in Alabama, Episode #55

6/8/07 9:45 PM: New MP3 (JIA055-fixed.mp3) uploaded; audio quality fixed. Sorry about that!!

On tonight's episode we wrap up our trip to Florida, including a late-night hospital visit and a trip to Disney's Animal Kingdom. (Plus, we got to see a movie!) Eric heads to San Francisco next week for WWDC; is another visit with the Cupcakes in the cards? In sports news, Florida loses, then regains, their basketball coach. We briefly talk about Israeli politics and gay rights, and a couple of ridiculous bills making their way through the Knesset. Birmingham reaches #4 on a very worrisome list. Finally, we plug a couple of new podcasts -- the BoulderFaD Podcast with Rick and Eliana, and the Jumping Monkeys podcast.

Jews in Alabama, Episode #54

On this episode, we spend lots of time talking about Humanistic Judaism, the local Birmingham affiliate, and the b'nai mitzvah we attended last weekend. We also discuss Al Gore's new book, and the reasons he should run for president (but probably won't). We also talk about Tammy Faye Bakker briefly, and of course the usual Sophie updates! We discuss Raya's boyfriend, Senator Jeff Sessions, and how he may have a meaningful challenger in 2008. Finally, we're getting ready for a trip to Florida -- don't touch our stuff while we're gone!! 59 minutes, 37 seconds.

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.