In the 15th episode of the rapidly growing new Yiddish podcast “Teef Teef”, host Shloime Zionce sat down with Rabbi Elkanah Shmotkin, Director of Jewish Educational Media (JEM), to discuss the Rebbe, JEM’s evolution, and the Rebbe’s approach to Shleimus Haaretz.

Zionce, who is recognized for his unique background as a White House Correspondent for Ami Magazine, a world-renowned traveler, and a self-titled “Ambassador to the Chassidishe Community,” recently launched his new Yiddish-language podcast. 

His episode with Rabbi Shmotkin premiered Wednesday night and has already made a significant impact, particularly within the Polish and Hungarian Chassidic communities.

The fascinating discussion covers a wide range of topics, starting with a comprehensive history of all the Rebbe’s videos and Farbrengens. 

It then details the evolution of JEM, what it has transformed into today with its many departments and divisions, and its over $5 million dollar budget. 

Finally, the two discussed JEM’s newest project, “Enduring Peace,” and the Rebbe’s strong opinion and approach to dealing with the complex but solvable situation in Eretz Yisroel.

The Teef Teef Podcast is a pioneering long-form conversation series conducted entirely in Yiddish. It is one of the first modern podcasts to use Yiddish as the primary language for deep and contemporary dialogue.

The show features a wide range of guests from across the Jewish world, with past Lubavitcher guests including Reb Sholom Mordechai Rubashkin, who shared his life story and personal journey, and Reb Zalman Duchman, who discussed the huge project and long history of Colel Chabad.

Teef Teef’s goal is to preserve Yiddish while giving a platform to voices and stories that deserve to be heard. It’s approachable, authentic, and designed for listeners who want depth and genuine conversation.

WATCH