Watch the full episode here!

In this episode of The Rabbi & the Other Guy, Dr. Matt Schocket and Rabbi Daniel Septimus sit down with Rabbi Mara Nathan, Senior Rabbi at Temple Beth-El in San Antonio. Rabbi Nathan is the lead plaintiff in a lawsuit against the state of Texas challenging a new law that would require public schools to post the Ten Commandments in classrooms.

She discusses why the separation of church and state is vital to protecting both religious freedom and public education, how morality can be taught without religious doctrine, and what inspired her to take up this cause. It’s a powerful conversation about conviction, courage, and the ongoing fight to preserve religious liberty in Texas and beyond.

Watch the full episode here!

In this episode of The Rabbi & the Other Guy, Rabbi Daniel A. Septimus and Dr. Matt Schocket sit down with Amy Kritzer Becker—founder of ModernTribe, cookbook author, and creator of the beloved blog What Jew Wanna Eat. Amy shares how she infuses Jewish culture with a modern twist through food, design, and humor.

From reimagining traditional recipes to building a vibrant online community, Amy celebrates Jewish joy in creative, accessible, and delightfully delicious ways. It’s a conversation filled with laughter, nostalgia, and plenty of love—for food, family, and Jewish life.

In this episode of The Rabbi & the Other Guy, Dr. Matt Schocket and Rabbi Daniel A. Septimus learn from Prof. Ariela Gordon-Shaag, the President of Jerusalem Multidisciplinary College. Ariela discusses JMC's integrated form of education, where Jewish and Arab students learn alongside each other and challenge the world’s preconceived notions of Jerusalem.

She also discusses how the school teaches dealing with people undergoing trauma, how to care for those displaced after October 7th, and JMC’s workshops aimed at decreasing tension. She also highlights two interesting students as examples of the school’s success.