We are back after a post-Passover break with our first full episode this year! We hope you will enjoy it, and tell your friends about it!

In this episode of Sacred Realms, Canon and Creativity - The Parallels of Midrash and Fan Fiction, Rabbis Andrew and Lindsey talk about the human drive to embrace canons of myths and narratives and then to creatively develop and expand those worlds.

We begin with this month’s She’lah / The Question of the Month: If you could write fan fiction in any sci-fi or fantasy realm, which one would you choose? Then on to what we have been watching or reading lately. Then we delve into this episode’s main topic: Canon and Creativity, the parallels between fan-created fiction and rabbinic midrash (creative filling of biblical narrative or expanding those narratives).

Lastly, we pull out an old favorite From the Genzia, talking about Dreamworks’ The Prince of Egypt.

Contact us with any questions, comments or suggestions at sacredrealmspodcast@gmail.com

Episode Chapters:

• Introduction (0:00)
• She’elah / The Question of the Month (0:01:05)
• What we have been reading/watching lately (0:07:38)
• Our Main Topic: Canon and Creativity (0:18:23)
• From the Geniza 01:10:33)
• Conclusion (1:14:50)

In this special episode of Sacred Realms, Rabbis Andrew and Lindsey talk about one year since the beginning of this podcast. They look over its beginnings, the original intent, and where things have organically taken the podcast up to now and into the next year. You can contact us with any questions, comments or suggestions (general, suggestions for a She'elah / Question of the Month, or episode theme) at sacredrealmspodcast@gmail.com

In this twelfth episode of Sacred Realms, “From Sarah to Sarah Connor - Heroines in Tanakh, Sci-Fi and Fantasy.” Rabbis Andrew and Lindsey talk about female characters in the Hebrew Bible, Science Fiction and Fantasy. We begin with this month’s She’lah / The Question of the Month: “Who is your favorite heroine?” Then on to what we have been watching or reading lately. Then we delve into this episode’s main topic. Lastly, we pull out some material From the Genzia, talking about the sci-fi show “Fringe.” You can contact us with any questions, comments or suggestions at sacredrealmspodcast@gmail.com

Segments of this episode:

• Introduction (0:00)
• She’elah / The Question of the Month (0:00:49)
• What we have been reading/watching lately (0:07:44)
• Our Main Topic: From Sarah to Sarah Connor (0:20:26)
• From the Geniza (1:08:31)
• Conclusion (1:13:10)

In this eleventh episode of Sacred Realms, “Just My Type,” Rabbis Andrew and Lindsey talk about competing and conflicting narratives in Sci-fi, Fantasy and Judaism. We begin with this month’s She’lah / The Question of the Week: “When have you felt like you were living a scene from the Tanakh?” Then on to what we have been watching or reading lately. Then we delve into this episode’s main topic: “Just My Type.” Lastly, we pull out some material From the Genzia, talking about the Prydain Chronicles by Lloyd Alexander and the new Wonka movie. You can contact us with any questions, comments or suggestions at sacredrealmspodcast@gmail.com

Segments of this episode:

• Introduction (0:00)
• She’elah / The Question of the Month (0:00:47)
• What we have been reading/watching lately (0:05:22)
• Our Main Topic: Just My Type (0:23:50)
• From the Geniza (1:07:05)
• Conclusion (1:15:26)

In this tenth episode of Sacred Realms, “Clash of the Narratives,” Rabbis Andrew and Lindsey talk about competing and conflicting narratives in Sc-fi, Fantasy and Judaism. We begin with this month’s She’lah / The Question of the Week: “How did you negotiate among conflicting narratives?” Then on to what we have been watching or reading lately. Then we delve into this episode’s main topic: “Clash of the Narratives.” Lastly, we pull out some material From the Genzia, talking about the 1983 Sci-fi/Fantasy cult classic Krull. You can contact us with any questions, comments or suggestions at sacredrealmspodcast@gmail.com

Segments of this episode:

• Introduction (0:00)
• She’elah / The Question of the Month (0:00:53)
• What we have been reading/watching lately (0:07:48)
• Our Main Topic: Clash of the Narratives (0:19:13)
• From the Geniza (1:02:32)
• Conclusion (1:05:26)

In this ninth episode of Sacred Realms, “Living in the Grey: Beyond Good and Evil,” Rabbis Andrew and Lindsey talk about the moral clarity of narratives that have stark contrasts between Good and Evil, and ones where the line is blurry and even non-existent. We begin with this month’s She’lah / The Question of the Month: “Who is your favorite morally ambiguous villain?” Then on to what we have been watching or reading lately. Then we delve into this episode’s main topic: “Living in the Grey: Beyond Good and Evil.” Lastly, we pull out some material From the Geniza, talking about Bill Pullman’s "His Dark Materials," and Piers Anthony’s "Incarnations of Immortality."

You can contact us with any questions, comments or suggestions at sacredrealmspodcast@gmail.com

Segments of this episode:

• Introduction (0:00)
• She’elah / The Question of the Month (0:00:49)
• What we have been reading/watching lately (0:04:58)
• Our Main Topic: Living in the Great: Beyond Good and Evil (0:14:42)
• From the Geniza (1:17:49)
• Conclusion (1:26:27)

In this eighth episode of Sacred Realms, “At Journey’s End,” Rabbis Andrew and Lindsey talk about the classic motif of the journey, and how the Torah’s narratives and some sci-fi and fantasy subvert our expectations at the end of the “Hero’s Journey.” We begin with this month’s She’lah / The Question of the Month: “What has been an important journey in your life?” Then on to what we have been watching or reading lately, including Ahsoka (Disney+), Invasion (AppleTV), Foundation (AppleTV) and Dimension 20 (Drop Out), a role-playing series with some unconventional settings and stories. Then, we have some Jewish sci-fi and fantasy news, in particular about the upcoming portrayal of Sabra, an Israeli superhero, in the MCU. Then we delve into this episode’s main topic: “At Journey’s End.” Lastly, we pull out some material From the Genzia, talking about Terminator, The Matrix and Alien. You can contact us with any questions, comments or suggestions at sacredrealmspodcast@gmail.com

Segments of this episode:

• Introduction (0:00)
• She’elah / The Question of the Month (0:00:43)
• What we have been reading/watching lately (00:11:50)
• Jewish Sci-fi Fantasy News (00:23:18)
• Our Main Topic: It’s All About the Journey (00:32:16)
• From the Geniza (1:21:00)
• Conclusion (01:30:05)

• Introduction (0:00)
• She’elah / The Question of the Week (0:01:05)
• What we have been reading/watching lately (00:13:00)
• Jewish Sci-fi Fantasy News (00:25:04)
• Our Main Topic: From Ruin to Renewal (00:33:55)
• From the Geniza (1:38:00)
• Conclusion (1:44:57)