Ask a Jew

Ben Kawaller is a writer and journalist who you may know from his video series “Ben Meets America” in the Free Press, and from the Reflector podcast series “Strange Bedfellows” about how the LGBT movement went slightly off the rails.
We discuss coming out as a writer late in life, going to Korea for illegal spa treatments that include salmon sperm injections to the face, and whether Adam (the one from Adam & Eve) was into some kinky animal stuff… HAPPY PRIDE!
Interview starts around minute 40.
Follow Ben on X, Instagram.
BUT FIRST!
40 minutes of catching up from your favorite Jews: Chaya Leah had a big party, Yael had a big crash. We celebrate both. Also we crown a winner fo the Challah giveaway, so listen carefully as you may be the lucky recepient.
Mazal tov the Chaya Leah’s son and his soon-to-be wonderful bride!! Thank you to her parents who listened to a few episodes and still allowed her to marry into this family.



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In the criminal justice system, the people are represented by two separate yet equally important groups: the judges who rule on justice, and the clueless podcasters who interrogate them.
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Today we are honored to welcome Judge Roy K. Altman, a United States Judge for the Southern District of Florida, and author of the new book: “Israel on Trial: Examining the History, the Evidence, and the Law”, a #1 Bestseller in Foreign & International Law. We talk about what it’s like to defend Israel in the court of public opinion, the drama of federal judge email chains, how the IDF is run by a bunch of Jewish lawyers, and what happens when you call the Mahjong hotline.
Watch this episode on YouTube:
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Also:
* Objection: this judge is way too young.
* An American-Israeli-Romanian-Venezuelan-Mexican-Polish judge naturalizes new citizens.
* The verdict: turns out some people are crazy.
* Wait, what is a judge and can we become one?
* The Mahjong hotline is the ultimate arbiter of justice.
* Do NOT Reply All to a federal judge email chain.
* Who needs to go to Disneyland when you can visit a civil war battlefield?
* How did we get here after 1,200 people were butchered?
* The good news: most of what the haters believe is wrong, and we have evidence.
* An army of international legal scholars are running this war in real time.
* The Jews have been asleep at the wheel.
* There’s a Jewish federal judge in Arkansas??
* Americans believe in a society that follows the rules.
* Falafel Night on campus ain’t gonna cut it.
* It’s the US, Israel and Ukraine against the world.
* What can you do? Bring people to Israel to see for themselves.



This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit askajew.substack.com/subscribe

It’s 9:04 in New York and we finally reached boss level. Today’s guest is Dan Senor of the “Call Me Back” podcast, bestselling co-author of “Start-Up Nation” and “The Genius of Israel”, and all-around great guy.
We chain him to the chair for a good 90 minutes for our version of a serious interview, which included the Halachic case for rooting for the New York Knicks, who despises Brad Lander more, Dan or Yael (close call), why people who hate Israel usually also hate America, what Dan’s favorite conspiracy theory is, and what’s the one question Dan’s wife never wants to hear, ever again.
If you enjoyed this episode please consider rating and reviewing us on Apple Podcasts and Spotify and leaving a comment. It really helps us grow! And watch this episode on Youtube as well later today!



This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit askajew.substack.com/subscribe

Batya (!) Ungar-Sargon needs no introduction, but if you insist: she’s the host of of “Batya!” on News Nation (Saturday at 7PM & Sunday at 11AM EST), host of the YouTube show “Prove It! With Batya”, and author of the brand new book, The Jews and the Left, which comes out tomorrow, is already a bestseller, and you should buy it immediately!
Are you coming to happy hour tonight?? Or are you an antisemite? Why not both??
Monday, June 1st
6pm
Spring Street Lounge
48 Spring St, New York, NY 10012
Chaya Leah, Yael, some special guests, and this just in - SWAG! See you there.
Here’s what we cover with Batya:
* Hot gossip about Leo frank
* No bagel and lox parade
* What kind of Jews should we blame for antisemitism?
* Brad Lander, and the case of the “I got nothing else going for me” politician.
* The right wing hates Israel just because of foreign aid?
* Is Batya still a leftie? Yes, and so is Trump.
* I’m still a Democrat, I just don’t vote for them anymore.
* Batya is looking out for Trump.
* Psychoanalyzing JD Vance.
* Americans are hungry, for actual food.
* Turn off your damn phone.
* Get us more Jews over here!
* Is fighting antisemitism worth our time?
* Jews are getting the white treatment…and that’s ok?
* Meeting Jew-lovers at Trader Joe’s.
* Antisemitism is not a big deal.
* Jews are not a minority group.
* Do your feelings get hurt?
* We need Jewish Balls, not Jewish Joy.
* The Jews need to take back improv!
* Graham Platner better not misgender someone!



This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit askajew.substack.com/subscribe

Are you in or around New York City??
Mark your calendars for Monday, June 1st at 6pm!! Come have a drink with ChayaLeah and Yael!
Spring Lounge
48 Spring St, New York, NY 10012
Comment if you plan to attend! Special guests may make an appearance…
Good for the Jews is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.

Thank you so much to everyone who has already filled out the Ask a Jew survey! We are genuinely so grateful for the feedback and reading your comments, suggestions, and extremely passionate opinions has been the highlight of our week.
If you haven’t filled it out yet, PLEASE DO SO ASAP. The survey is super short, hugely helpful for us as we grow the podcast, and makes us feel important and data-driven.
Also: homemade baked goods from ChayaLeah are still on the line.

This week on Ask a Jew, we were thrilled to welcome bestselling author and Jewish rom-com queen Jean Meltzer to the podcast.

Jean is the author of The Matzah Ball, Mr. Perfect on Paper, and Kissing Kosher. We enjoyed a funny, heartfelt, and surprisingly deep conversation about Jewish identity, chronic illness, love stories, and the very specific chaos of writing unapologetically Jewish characters in modern publishing.
We talked about:
* How Jean accidentally became one of the biggest names in Jewish romance fiction
* Why Jewish representation in books matters (especially when the Jewish character isn’t just someone’s anxious accountant uncle)
* The rise of the Jewish rom-com industrial complex
* Chronic illness, vulnerability, and writing from real life
* What makes a “Jewish love story” feel distinctly Jewish

Jena is the Founder and CEO of Jewish Joy LLC and of the Jewish Joy Book Club.
Find more info at JeanMeltzer.com



This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit askajew.substack.com/subscribe