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The new film, ‘Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire,’ a sequel to the ‘Ghostbusters: Afterlife’ is a thing that exists. But should it? Rabbis Knopf and Olitzky have feelings. Is there something strange in the neighborhood? Are we ‘ready to believe’? Or is it just a matter of “If there’s a steady paycheck in it, I’ll believe anything you say”? And the big question: is the proper terminology “requel” or “legasequel?” Fortunately, for these rabbis, no job is too big. No fee is too big. Grab your Ecto Cooler, strap on your proton pack, and answer the call, because something’s weird, and it don’t look good.

Rabbis Michael Knopf and Jesse Olitzky are lifelong friends, pop culture fanboys, and lovers of all things Jewish. Join them every other week for a conversation about what’s going on in pop culture from a Jewish perspective and about Judaism through the lens of pop culture.

How do you listen to PopTorah? You have a lot of options you know? iTunes, Spotify, Google Play, Stitcher, RSS, it’s your choice!

This week, Brad and Steven return from their various travels and find that the Passover Seder season is upon us. They talk about Germany, lunch in Athens, the Yankees and Knicks, and they wonder if the Amen Corner will reach the magical 33 episodes of the season. Can they do it? Tune in to find out.

You can listen to The Amen Corner in lots of ways. On iTunes, Spotify, Stitcher, Google Play, or your favorite RSS aggregator.

The new AppleTV+ series ‘Manhunt’, adapted from James L. Swanson’s eponymous book, follows the 12 day search for Abraham Lincoln’s assassin, John Wilkes Booth. As the hunt for Booth unfolds, it exposes a deeper conspiracy — one aimed at restoring white men to political dominance, despite the South losing the war. In this episode, Rabbis Knopf and Olitzky talk about how we continue to experience the consequences of this history, underscoring the Jewish imperative to uphold truth and pursue justice, and how we navigate affirming those values when they seem to be in tension with the demands of peace. Spoiler alert: Booth dies. But is justice done, delayed, or denied? And what does that mean for us today?

Rabbis Michael Knopf and Jesse Olitzky are lifelong friends, pop culture fanboys, and lovers of all things Jewish. Join them every other week for a conversation about what’s going on in pop culture from a Jewish perspective and about Judaism through the lens of pop culture.

How do you listen to PopTorah? You have a lot of options you know? iTunes, Spotify, Google Play, Stitcher, RSS, it’s your choice!

This week, Brad and Steven follow up on their discussion of the Trump bible and talk about religious groups like Mormons and Chabad. They also talk about how Jews are becoming less welcome on college campuses and what happens when Jews are removed (or remove themselves) from public forums. Put on some headphones and have a listen!

You can listen to The Amen Corner in lots of ways. On iTunes, Spotify, Stitcher, Google Play, or your favorite RSS aggregator.

The rabbis are back from break and ready to talk Torah! The summer of 2024 delivered epic superhero showdowns, headline-grabbing streaming series, and some family-friendly fare. As the summer heat fades, Rabbis Knopf and Olitzky dive into the season’s biggest pop culture moments, exploring their deeper meanings and connecting the dots to Jewish values and stories. Tune in for a fun and thoughtful roundup of the movies and shows that had us talking all summer long!

Rabbis Michael Knopf and Jesse Olitzky are lifelong friends, pop culture fanboys, and lovers of all things Jewish. Join them every other week for a conversation about what’s going on in pop culture from a Jewish perspective and about Judaism through the lens of pop culture.

How do you listen to PopTorah? You have a lot of options you know? iTunes, Spotify, Google Play, Stitcher, RSS, it’s your choice!