Hi! I’m happy to be back with a second season of OJT. Here, in Episode 0, I have a few words about the "why”of the podcast and some thoughts on this season in the short S2 E0 audio. And let me tease Episode 1–we start out with a great conversation with VT Senator Kesha Ram-Hinsdale. I’ve been asked a few times why I’m doing this podcast and I'd be glad to tell you. I felt from the beginning of the Gaza War that I needed a better connection with other Jews. I had been part of the Upper Valley Jewish community, and then I wasn't. And it was, and still is, such a fraught time and so confusing with the rise in antisemitism, the rise in pro-Palestinian sentiment, and no end to conflict in sight. I was trying to sort out my own history and my own feelings, and I started going back to the UVJC and what I realized was that it wasn't just me–a lot of people just really needed to sort things out.And it’s not because there is a shortage of analysis and expertise. There's great stuff online, really knowledgeable people from a historical perspective, theological, social perspective.But I feel that it isn’t just the experts who need to have these conversation–it’s also us ordinaryJews. More on this topic, including online resources, with a soon-to-be-linked Substack. Happy listening, and please, do, subscribe! Thank you.