EPISODE 3: For Heaven's Sake

In Episode 3, Shofar, So Good! host Kate Mishkin delves into havruta learning, the Jewish tradition of studying Torah in pairs. The goal of this paired endeavor: arguing "for the sake of heaven." Kate explores what exactly that means, teaches us about Jewish history's most famous study partners, and learns how AI is changing havruta learning. Then, Kate and her dad become havrutas.

Further reading and resources:

• Havruta: Learning in Pairs (My Jewish Learning)

• Project Zug

• Whole and Broken Tablets: Aging in Rabbinic Literature (Project Zug)

• Beit Midrash Research Project (Brandeis University)

• Words as Weapons: The Story Of Rabbi Yochanan And Resh Lakish (Exploring Judaism)

• AI on Sefaria

• Ohrbit.ai

Credits:

• Writer/producer: Kate Mishkin

• Story producer: Gabrielle Birkner

• Fact-checking: Rachel Scheinerman

• Sound design/mixing: Jonathan Shifflett of Studio Phonic

• Interstitial music: Nan Schwartz

• Art direction: Grace Yagel

• Outro music: "Swirls & Eddies," written and performed by Grace Corsi

Shofar, So Good! is a podcast from My Jewish Learning, a division of 70 Faces Media. Ami Eden is the CEO of 70 Faces Media, and Rebecca Phillips is the publisher.

This podcast was originally developed in the Jewish Writers Institute Digital Storytellers Lab and produced with support from Maimonides Fund. Special thanks to Rebecca Friedman.