The lights are twinkling, the playlists are relentless, and somehow everyone knows the words except us. This seasonal episode of Let’s Kvetch welcomes special guest Howie Shapiro, longtime community member and expert-level kvetcher, to join Rabbi Leban and Howard Wedgle for a December-themed riff on awkward greetings, nonstop Christmas music, and that familiar feeling of being gracious… while slightly out of step. Gentle kvetching, great stories, and the comforting reminder that kvetching together still counts as community.

A Hanukkah special recorded over corned beef, latkes, and parve sour cream, where the oil flows freely and so do the kvetches. From cleaning menorahs to gift-card side-eye to the eternal question of how many K’s are in Hanukkah, this episode proves you can celebrate miracles and complain responsibly at the same time.

Kvetching in Cars Eating Pizza?!

In this very special episode, Howard and Rabbi Leban take the show on the road—literally—as they kvetch their way through Denver traffic on a quest for Brooklyn Pizza. Between debating sunglasses, gas mileage, and Colorado weather flexing on Boca, they dive into listener feedback on friendships, boundaries, and when (and how) to gracefully step back from a relationship… or offer honest feedback instead.

Kosher pizza, constructive criticism, and classic kvetching—what more could you want?🍕🚗

Listen now to Kvetching in Cars Eating Pizza: Let’s Kvetch Episode 16.

In this laugh-filled episode, Rabbi Raphael Leban and Howard Wedgle dive into Parshat Noach — kvetching about what it must’ve smelled like in the Ark, the endless rain, and those poor two worms. From there, they tackle a real listener's question: how do you politely step back from a friendship that just isn’t working anymore without hurting the other person’s feelings? The result is a mix of humor, honesty, and heartfelt insight about maintaining shalom — even when it’s a little, well, discordant.

After a High Holiday episode full of congregational kvetching, Rabbi Raphael Leban and Howard Wedgle head to BMH-BJ to hear the other side of the story — from the people who make synagogue life actually happen. Their guest, Executive Director Ilene Rosen, pulls back the curtain on the chaos, joy, and occasional coughing fits that come with hosting hundreds of Jews on the holiest days of the year. How do you keep smiling when everyone’s complaining about the temperature? Tune in for this special behind-the-scenes look at the art of staying gracious through the greatest of kvetches.

Rosh Hashanah is around the corner—Rabbi Raphael Leban and Howard Wedgle dive into the ultimate holiday kvetching session: temperature wars, synagogue seating drama, fashion critiques, marathon sermons, shofar bloopers, and more. With humor and heart, they remind us the Days of Awe are about blessings, not complaints.

This week Rabbi Leban & Howard sit down with Denver’s own barber, community leader, and Shabbat House founder Abo Simonov.

From hysterical moments at the Wine & Cheese Gala (priceless, but not that priceless), to the unique challenges of navigating politics, personal kvetches, and respect in the barbershop chair—this episode is full of laughter, stories, and insights. Abo shares his journey from Tajikistan to Israel to America, how he holds space for all kinds of people in his shop, and the powerful message that respect can go “not 100%, but a million percent.”

Kvetch responsibly—because even in a haircut, there’s wisdom (and humor) to be found.

Tune in now—this cut’s worth the kvetch! 🎧

In this special episode of Let’s Kvetch, Rabbi Raphael Leban and Howard Wedgle welcome Avi Abelow, CEO of the Twelve Tribe Films Foundation and host of Pulse of Israel. From his life in Israel to his daily mission of peeling back headlines, Avi shares why he believes the Jewish people are living in times of redemption, how to balance respectful dialogue with truth-telling, and why kvetching only matters when it leads to growth. A spirited and thought-provoking conversation about faith, media, resilience, and the art of kvetching responsibly.