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Wayward Children: Jewish Monsters, Magic, and the Stories We Tell

Wayward Children: Jewish Monsters, Magic, and the Stories We Tell

By: Jack Zaientz & John Baltisberger
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According to Jewish tradition, the world around us is filled with demons, ghosts, giants and angels, and creatures of all types. But Judaism today tends to downplay and rationalize them away, to the point where they’re just forgotten dusty metaphors. But for millenia, Jews have lived with these creatures and have had practical means for coping with them.

Join Jack Zaientz a scholar of all things Jewish folklore and mythology and John Baltisberger, the award-winning author of Jewish horror and fantasy as they explore the topics of mythic Judaism and discuss it's survival and use in modern day culture both pop and otherwise.

© 2025 Wayward Children: Jewish Monsters, Magic, and the Stories We Tell Judaism Social Sciences Spirituality
Episodes
  • Don't Go Chasing Water Demons

    Don't Go Chasing Water Demons
    May 16 2025

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    Jack and John are back in the water horse saddle again! Riding those Sheydim across the sunset and into the river! That's right this week we discuss WATER DEMONS! Well... not so much water demons as water AND demons. Demons in water? Look, here's the thing... bathrooms are dangerous y'all.

    Here's a link to the rabbinic essays Jack talks about: https://t.co/CbdARQtbuQ

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    • Find Jack on Twitter or his Website
    • Find John on Twitter or his Website or his Patreon
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    • Intro and outro music ‘Skin and Bones’ composed by Yoshie Fruchter and performed by Pitom, on Tzadik records
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    59 mins
  • Omens and Portents of Future Past

    Omens and Portents of Future Past
    Feb 7 2025

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    This week we talk about Omens!

    Hilariously this episode was supposed to go up before Hannukah but John has been through the ringer. ALSO hilariously Jack talks about how its okay that John is not good about hitting posting deadlines. But here's your episode!

    Do not take this as an Omen that John will miss the next episode deadline!

    -----------------------------------------------------

    • Find Jack on Twitter or his Website
    • Find John on Twitter or his Website
    • GET OUR READING LIST!
    • GET THE WAYWARD CHILDREN SHIRT!
    • Shop Aggadah Try It Books
    • Intro and outro music ‘Skin and Bones’ composed by Yoshie Fruchter and performed by Pitom, on Tzadik records
    Show More Show Less
    1 hr and 7 mins
  • I Wish the Goblin King Would Come and Take this Menorah!

    I Wish the Goblin King Would Come and Take this Menorah!
    Dec 24 2024

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    This week we discuss CHANNUKAH! That's right, the reason for the season is latkes, dreidels, candles, and of course goblins!

    But what are goblins in the Jewish tradition? Why are they involved in Channukah? Why is Channukah a punk rock and metal holiday?

    All this and more in this very special CHANNUKAH EPISODE of Wayward Children!

    -----------------------------------------------------

    • Find Jack on Twitter or his Website
    • Find John on Twitter or his Website
    • GET OUR READING LIST!
    • GET THE WAYWARD CHILDREN SHIRT!
    • Shop Aggadah Try It Books
    • Intro and outro music ‘Skin and Bones’ composed by Yoshie Fruchter and performed by Pitom, on Tzadik records
    Show More Show Less
    1 hr and 2 mins

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