Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 37:51 — 26.0MB)

We discuss the Torah and Persian sources for the name of Israel’s recent Iran operation.  Asher describes how the Diaspora can advocate for Israel when the going gets tough, getting more strident than during his anti-foie gras days.  Speaking of advocacy, John requests a summer “get out of shul free” card, but Asher isn’t buying it.  After a refresher on Tisha B’Av, John extracts Asher from an uncharacteristic funk by invoking the tradition that Moshiach, and the messianic era, will be born on that saddest day in the Jewish calendar.