In this spoiler-filled episode of PopTorah, we dive into Project Hail Mary, a sci-fi space adventure starring Ryan Gosling. What begins as a desperate mission to save humanity becomes something far more intimate — a story about unlikely friendship and courageous faith. Join us as we discuss what Project Hail Mary has to say about bridging difference, about choosing connection over fear, and about the quiet, radical bravery of not going it alone.

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!

Bad and Steven are back at it this week, talking about tea, loyalty and fandom, Steven’s interaction with a guy wearing a shirt with the flag of Iran on it, the Hulk Hogan documentary and how to properly pronounce the name, “The Iron Sheik,” and Graham Platner’s senatoral candidacy. 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.

Brad and Steven are back at it this week, wondering if the Strait of Hormuz is opened or closed and thinking about how some people are making lots of money off of oil futures these days. they also talk about Viktor Orban’s defeat in Hungary, JD Vance taking on the Pope, how the midterms could be messed with, and Steven’s Big Jim doll, er, action figure. Have a listen and enjoy!

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

In this episode of PopTorah, we break down Hulu’s Paradise — a gripping, twist-filled series about a so-called perfect society that quickly reveals its cracks. With full spoilers, we explore how Paradise wrestles with power, control, and the moral cost of creating order out of chaos. Drawing on Jewish tradition, we unpack the dangers of manufactured perfection and why utopia so often turns into dystopia. Because sometimes… “paradise” isn’t what it seems.

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 are back at it, talking about chocolate bunnies and chocolate matzoh, Seders on the subway, the rapper Kosha Dillz, eating in Montreal, and our unhinged president. Have a listen and have a Joyous Easter, Happy Passover and  good whatever else you want to celebrate!

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

Brad and Steven are back at it this week, talking about the beginning of the baseball season and the NCAA tournament, the war/not war in Iran, and ICE at the airport. They also ask the timeless question: if you had to choose, would you pick the Olive Garden or sex?  Have a listen and enjoy!

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

In this special Oscars episode of PopTorah, we dive into two of the most talked-about films of the year: Sinners and One Battle After Another. Both films wrestle with big questions about morality, power, violence, and the stories people tell to justify their actions. What does it mean to be called a “sinner”? Are we trapped in cycles of conflict—one battle after another—or is transformation actually possible? Through a spoiler-filled conversation, we explore how these films grapple with guilt, redemption, justice, and the messy complexity of human nature, drawing surprising connections to Jewish ideas about sin, repentance, and moral responsibility.

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!

In this episode of PopTorah, we dive into Marvel’s newest Disney+ series, “Wonder Man.” This isn’t just another superhero origin story. The show explores the tension between public image and inner truth, the seduction of fame, discovering your purpose and finding your people, and the difficulty of balancing safety and freedom. It’s a meta Hollywood sendup, a buddy comedy, and a political commentary — with a lot of heart. Join us as we wander in wonder about this wonder-ful marvel of a show.

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!

Brad and Steven are back this week, talking about, what else, the war/non-war with Iran. The guys talk about the various justifications that the administration has given for the “special military action,” and wonder what “imminent” really means. They also talk about Kristi Noem’s firing, Stephen Miller’s incorruptibility, and Brad’s solo weekend. 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.

This week, Brad and Steven talk about their preparations for Snowmageddon 2026, even though it’s going to hit New York City much harder than it will suburban Maryland. The guys also talk about the life of dogs, shoveling snow, and the US Olympic hockey win and the “Miracle on Ice” (again). Have a listen and enjoy!

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

In this episode of PopTorah, Rabbis Knopf and Olitzky talk about Mel Brooks: The 99 Year Old Man!, the HBO Max documentary celebrating Mel Brooks and a lifetime of unapologetic comedy. From The Producers to Blazing Saddles, Brooks never hid what he was doing or why — using laughter to mock power, puncture tyranny, and refuse the demand for Jewish silence or decorum. Join us as we explore how Mel Brooks turned Jewish memory, trauma, and chutzpah into laughter, resilience, and resistance.

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!