Hat Radio: The Show that Schmoozes

Books do more than tell stories. They preserve memory, shape identity, challenge assumptions and help us understand our place in the world. For the Jewish people, the written word has always carried an even deeper responsibility. Books have enabled our history, values and collective memory to survive across centuries and continents. Yet even the most meaningful book needs someone who understands how to carry it beyond the page—into the hands of readers, the attention of the media and the heart of a community. I am honoured to welcome Yehudit Singer-Freud to my podcast, founder of Singer Publicity and a passionate advocate for Jewish authors, Jewish ideas and the enduring power of literature. For more than fifteen years, Yehudit has helped authors, award-winning writers and prominent Israeli personalities introduce their work to English-speaking audiences around the world. Her career began in New York at distinguished institutions including the YIVO Institute for Jewish Research and the Consulate General of Israel. At YIVO, surrounded by archives, manuscripts and antique books, Yehudit discovered that the written word does more than document history—it can safeguard the identity and memory of an entire people. Today, through Singer Publicity, she creates personalized campaigns for books exploring Jewish life, culture, history, ideas and Israel. She guides writers through the complexities of publishing, develops thoughtful publicity strategies, secures media and podcast opportunities and helps authors build lasting platforms. But Yehudit's work begins with something deceptively simple: listening. Before developing a campaign, she listens carefully to the author's story, purpose and hopes. She understands that behind every manuscript is a human being who has invested part of their soul in bringing an idea into the world. At a time when Jewish voices are too often misunderstood, marginalized or ignored, Yehudit's work has taken on even greater significance. She is not merely promoting books; she is helping preserve memory, defend truth and ensure that important Jewish stories continue to be heard. On this episode of The Avrum Rosensweig Show, we explore the changing world of publishing, the challenges confronting Jewish writers, the art of bringing a book to the public and the urgent fight to keep Jewish literature alive. Please welcome Yehudit Singer-Freud. ——

Books do more than tell stories. They preserve memory, shape identity, challenge assumptions and help us understand our place in the world. For the Jewish people, the written word has always carried an even deeper responsibility. Books have enabled our history, values and collective memory to survive across centuries and continents. Yet even the most meaningful book needs someone who understands how to carry it beyond the page—into the hands of readers, the attention of the media and the heart of a community. I am honoured to welcome Yehudit Singer-Freud to my podcast, founder of Singer Publicity and a passionate advocate for Jewish authors, Jewish ideas and the enduring power of literature. For more than fifteen years, Yehudit has helped authors, award-winning writers and prominent Israeli personalities introduce their work to English-speaking audiences around the world. Her career began in New York at distinguished institutions including the YIVO Institute for Jewish Research and the Consulate General of Israel. At YIVO, surrounded by archives, manuscripts and antique books, Yehudit discovered that the written word does more than document history—it can safeguard the identity and memory of an entire people. Today, through Singer Publicity, she creates personalized campaigns for books exploring Jewish life, culture, history, ideas and Israel. She guides writers through the complexities of publishing, develops thoughtful publicity strategies, secures media and podcast opportunities and helps authors build lasting platforms. But Yehudit's work begins with something deceptively simple: listening. Before developing a campaign, she listens carefully to the author's story, purpose and hopes. She understands that behind every manuscript is a human being who has invested part of their soul in bringing an idea into the world. At a time when Jewish voices are too often misunderstood, marginalized or ignored, Yehudit's work has taken on even greater significance. She is not merely promoting books; she is helping preserve memory, defend truth and ensure that important Jewish stories continue to be heard. On this episode of The Avrum Rosensweig Show, we explore the changing world of publishing, the challenges confronting Jewish writers, the art of bringing a book to the public and the urgent fight to keep Jewish literature alive. Please welcome Yehudit Singer-Freud. ——

There are writers who tell stories—and there are writers who use stories to explore the wounds, struggles and hopes of an entire people. Today, I am honoured to welcome Dr. Emmet Hirsch, a physician, medical researcher, former Israeli artillery officer and gifted novelist whose remarkable career has been devoted to healing the human body while exploring the deepest reaches of the human heart. Born in Chicago and raised in a deeply committed Jewish family, Emmet spent his formative years in Jerusalem after his father—a Reform rabbi, civil-rights activist and participant in the historic Selma march—became head of the World Union for Progressive Judaism. Emmet attended high school and university in Israel and later served as an artillery officer in the Israel Defense Forces. Today, he is a practising obstetrician-gynecologist in Evanston, Illinois, and a clinical professor at the University of Chicago's Pritzker School of Medicine. His research has focused particularly on premature labour, infection and inflammation, and he has authored or contributed to more than 65 scientific publications. But Dr. Hirsch's search for truth and healing extends far beyond medicine. He is the author of The Education of Doctor Montefiore, a hilarious and poignant novel about the people, institutions, vanities and moments of selflessness that shape a young physician. His newest novel, The Wolf Shall Dwell with the Lamb, is a powerful literary and historical thriller set against the turbulent birth of the State of Israel and the complex relationship between Jews and Arabs in the Middle East. At its centre is Joseph Friedmann, a Jewish child abandoned in a Catholic convent in Lebanon. There, he encounters antisemitism, betrayal and profound trauma. He eventually makes his way to Palestine, fights in Israel's War of Independence and later returns to Lebanon as an Israeli spy. Yet this is far more than a story of war and espionage. It is the story of one man's passage from abandonment to belonging, innocence to violence, secrecy to self-confrontation, and trauma toward redemption. It asks what happens when someone must conceal his true identity in order to survive—and what emotional price must be paid for living behind a mask. The novel honours the Jewish longing for safety, homeland and sovereignty while also recognizing the pain, suffering and humanity found on every side of conflict. Inspired. It raises difficult and enduring questions: Can we escape the wounds of childhood without first confronting them? Can a divided land become a shared home? And can Isaiah's prophetic vision of the wolf dwelling with the lamb ever become a reality? Please join me in welcoming the distinguished and multitalented Dr. Emmet Hirsch. ——

There are writers who tell stories—and there are writers who use stories to explore the wounds, struggles and hopes of an entire people. Today, I am honoured to welcome Dr. Emmet Hirsch, a physician, medical researcher, former Israeli artillery officer and gifted novelist whose remarkable career has been devoted to healing the human body while exploring the deepest reaches of the human heart. Born in Chicago and raised in a deeply committed Jewish family, Emmet spent his formative years in Jerusalem after his father—a Reform rabbi, civil-rights activist and participant in the historic Selma march—became head of the World Union for Progressive Judaism. Emmet attended high school and university in Israel and later served as an artillery officer in the Israel Defense Forces. Today, he is a practising obstetrician-gynecologist in Evanston, Illinois, and a clinical professor at the University of Chicago's Pritzker School of Medicine. His research has focused particularly on premature labour, infection and inflammation, and he has authored or contributed to more than 65 scientific publications. But Dr. Hirsch's search for truth and healing extends far beyond medicine. He is the author of The Education of Doctor Montefiore, a hilarious and poignant novel about the people, institutions, vanities and moments of selflessness that shape a young physician. His newest novel, The Wolf Shall Dwell with the Lamb, is a powerful literary and historical thriller set against the turbulent birth of the State of Israel and the complex relationship between Jews and Arabs in the Middle East. At its centre is Joseph Friedmann, a Jewish child abandoned in a Catholic convent in Lebanon. There, he encounters antisemitism, betrayal and profound trauma. He eventually makes his way to Palestine, fights in Israel's War of Independence and later returns to Lebanon as an Israeli spy. Yet this is far more than a story of war and espionage. It is the story of one man's passage from abandonment to belonging, innocence to violence, secrecy to self-confrontation, and trauma toward redemption. It asks what happens when someone must conceal his true identity in order to survive—and what emotional price must be paid for living behind a mask. The novel honours the Jewish longing for safety, homeland and sovereignty while also recognizing the pain, suffering and humanity found on every side of conflict. Inspired. It raises difficult and enduring questions: Can we escape the wounds of childhood without first confronting them? Can a divided land become a shared home? And can Isaiah's prophetic vision of the wolf dwelling with the lamb ever become a reality? Please join me in welcoming the distinguished and multitalented Dr. Emmet Hirsch. ——

SPONSORSHIP: The Strauss family dedicates this episode to their mother and her health and all Jews everywhere. _________________________________________________________________________________ What happens when life doesn't break you once—but seven times? On this powerful episode of The Avrum Rosensweig Show, Avrum speaks with Nir Peled, author of Beyond 100%: Rebuilding Life After It Breaks. Born and raised in northern Israel, Nir is the grandson of a Holocaust survivor, a former IDF soldier and a successful technology executive. He has also survived seven life-threatening events: a car bombing in the Sinai Desert, a severe allergic reaction that ended his military career, the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami, a violent kidnapping and robbery in the Amazon, cancer, a serious motorcycle accident and a massive stroke at age 49 that took away his speech, mobility and sense of identity. But Nir's story is not simply about what happened to him. It is about what he chose to do afterward. Beyond 100% began as Nir's private recovery journal and evolved into a deeply personal memoir and practical roadmap for anyone rebuilding after trauma, illness, loss or failure. Through his three pillars of body, mind and spirit, Nir challenges the belief that recovery means returning to “normal.” Instead, he shows how life's most painful experiences can lead us beyond who we once were—to greater strength, meaning and purpose. In this unforgettable conversation, Nir discusses survival, surrender, identity and the small, practical steps that can make an overwhelming recovery feel possible. He also shares how his Israeli upbringing, IDF service and the quiet wisdom of his Holocaust-survivor grandmother helped shape his extraordinary resilience. When life falls apart, the question is not only, “How do I get back up?” It is also, “Who can I become because I did?” Watch, subscribe and share this inspiring conversation with someone who needs strength, perspective and hope. ——

SPONSORSHIP: The Strauss family dedicates this episode to their mother and her health and all Jews everywhere. _________________________________________________________________________________ What happens when life doesn't break you once—but seven times? On this powerful episode of The Avrum Rosensweig Show, Avrum speaks with Nir Peled, author of Beyond 100%: Rebuilding Life After It Breaks. Born and raised in northern Israel, Nir is the grandson of a Holocaust survivor, a former IDF soldier and a successful technology executive. He has also survived seven life-threatening events: a car bombing in the Sinai Desert, a severe allergic reaction that ended his military career, the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami, a violent kidnapping and robbery in the Amazon, cancer, a serious motorcycle accident and a massive stroke at age 49 that took away his speech, mobility and sense of identity. But Nir's story is not simply about what happened to him. It is about what he chose to do afterward. Beyond 100% began as Nir's private recovery journal and evolved into a deeply personal memoir and practical roadmap for anyone rebuilding after trauma, illness, loss or failure. Through his three pillars of body, mind and spirit, Nir challenges the belief that recovery means returning to “normal.” Instead, he shows how life's most painful experiences can lead us beyond who we once were—to greater strength, meaning and purpose. In this unforgettable conversation, Nir discusses survival, surrender, identity and the small, practical steps that can make an overwhelming recovery feel possible. He also shares how his Israeli upbringing, IDF service and the quiet wisdom of his Holocaust-survivor grandmother helped shape his extraordinary resilience. When life falls apart, the question is not only, “How do I get back up?” It is also, “Who can I become because I did?” Watch, subscribe and share this inspiring conversation with someone who needs strength, perspective and hope. ——

There are moments that divide history into a before and an after—and there are people whose lives become forever trapped at that dividing line. My guest today is Virginia “Ginny” Buckingham, author of the deeply personal memoir, On My Watch. Before September 11, 2001, Ginny was one of Massachusetts' most accomplished young public servants. She served as chief of staff to two governors and, at just 35 years old, became the first woman to lead the Massachusetts Port Authority, which oversees Boston's Logan International Airport. Then came 9/11. American Airlines Flight 11 and United Airlines Flight 175—the two planes that struck the World Trade Center—had departed from Logan. In the anguish and confusion that followed, America searched desperately for answers. Politics searched for someone to blame. And Ginny Buckingham became a target. She was publicly condemned, politically abandoned and eventually forced to resign. Two years later, she was personally named in a wrongful-death lawsuit. The 9/11 Commission would ultimately establish that Logan's security checkpoints had operated according to the federal regulations in place at the time. But public vindication could not erase the private wounds. Ginny endured years of guilt, self-doubt and post-traumatic stress. As she writes, she was not shattered instantly, like hand-blown glass, but gradually—like a bottle cast into the sea and slowly broken apart by the relentless movement of the waves. She lost her career. She lost her sense of identity and worth. And she nearly lost her life. Yet love remained: a husband who stood beside her, children whose presence called her back from the darkness, and a faith that taught her to examine what was truly hers—but never to confess to another person's evil. On My Watch is not simply another book about September 11. It is a story about what happens when the world assigns you a story that is not true—and how you find the courage to reclaim your own life. It is about scapegoating, the dangerous human impulse to transform fear into blame. It is about learning that responsibility must be grounded in truth, not in false guilt. And it is about a different kind of resilience—not forgetting, not simply “moving on,” but moving forward and using even an unjust burden to bring light to others. Today, Virginia Buckingham stands again—on her watch, in her truth. Ginny Buckingham, welcome to The Avrum Rosensweig Show. ——

There are moments that divide history into a before and an after—and there are people whose lives become forever trapped at that dividing line. My guest today is Virginia “Ginny” Buckingham, author of the deeply personal memoir, On My Watch. Before September 11, 2001, Ginny was one of Massachusetts' most accomplished young public servants. She served as chief of staff to two governors and, at just 35 years old, became the first woman to lead the Massachusetts Port Authority, which oversees Boston's Logan International Airport. Then came 9/11. American Airlines Flight 11 and United Airlines Flight 175—the two planes that struck the World Trade Center—had departed from Logan. In the anguish and confusion that followed, America searched desperately for answers. Politics searched for someone to blame. And Ginny Buckingham became a target. She was publicly condemned, politically abandoned and eventually forced to resign. Two years later, she was personally named in a wrongful-death lawsuit. The 9/11 Commission would ultimately establish that Logan's security checkpoints had operated according to the federal regulations in place at the time. But public vindication could not erase the private wounds. Ginny endured years of guilt, self-doubt and post-traumatic stress. As she writes, she was not shattered instantly, like hand-blown glass, but gradually—like a bottle cast into the sea and slowly broken apart by the relentless movement of the waves. She lost her career. She lost her sense of identity and worth. And she nearly lost her life. Yet love remained: a husband who stood beside her, children whose presence called her back from the darkness, and a faith that taught her to examine what was truly hers—but never to confess to another person's evil. On My Watch is not simply another book about September 11. It is a story about what happens when the world assigns you a story that is not true—and how you find the courage to reclaim your own life. It is about scapegoating, the dangerous human impulse to transform fear into blame. It is about learning that responsibility must be grounded in truth, not in false guilt. And it is about a different kind of resilience—not forgetting, not simply “moving on,” but moving forward and using even an unjust burden to bring light to others. Today, Virginia Buckingham stands again—on her watch, in her truth. Ginny Buckingham, welcome to The Avrum Rosensweig Show. ——

There are rabbis who teach Torah. There are scholars who study history. And there are scientists who explore the wonders of the natural world. But few have entered all three worlds—and challenged the assumptions of each—as courageously as Rabbi Dr. Natan Slifkin. Known internationally as “the Zoo Rabbi,” Rabbi Slifkin has devoted his life to understanding the animals of the Bible, the relationship between Torah and science, and the place of intellectual honesty within religious faith. As a young boy growing up in England, he dreamed of having his own zoo. People laughed. But that childhood dream eventually became the Biblical Museum of Natural History in Israel—a remarkable institution where lions, vultures, locusts, giraffes and other creatures bring the biblical world vividly to life. Yet Rabbi Slifkin's journey has involved far more than animals. His willingness to confront difficult questions about evolution, the age of the universe and the scientific knowledge of our sages placed him at the centre of one of the most explosive controversies in modern Orthodox Judaism. Several prominent ultra-Orthodox rabbis denounced and banned his books. He was accused of promoting heretical ideas. But he refused to be silenced. Rabbi Slifkin continued to write, teach and defend a rationalist Jewish tradition—one that believes sincere questions do not weaken faith, but can deepen it. In this conversation, we explore the fascinating animals of the Torah, including the surprising question of whether a giraffe is kosher. We discover how lions, vultures, olives and other elements of biblical nature preserve the Jewish people's ancient connection to the Land of Israel—and challenge the accusation that Jews are foreign colonizers in their ancestral homeland. But our discussion also enters more controversial territory. Rabbi Slifkin delivers a forceful warning about Israel's future. He speaks candidly about the Haredi community, military service, education, employment and the growing burden being placed upon those Israelis who defend the country and sustain its economy. Can Israel survive when a rapidly expanding segment of its population is discouraged from serving in the army, entering the workforce or receiving a basic secular education? Can religious conviction excuse a person from sharing responsibility for the society that protects and supports them? And what happens when preserving a community's identity becomes more important than confronting reality? This is a conversation about animals—but also about courage. It is about the courage to question, the courage to challenge authority and the courage to pursue truth even when doing so comes at a painful personal cost. Does Judaism demand that we choose between Torah and science, tradition and reason, or faith and intellectual honesty? Or can each help us understand the other—and ourselves—more deeply? It is my great pleasure to welcome the director of the Biblical Museum of Natural History, the author of The Lions of Zion, and one of contemporary Judaism's boldest and most provocative voices, Rabbi Dr. Natan Slifkin, to The Avrum Rosensweig Show. ——

There are rabbis who teach Torah. There are scholars who study history. And there are scientists who explore the wonders of the natural world. But few have entered all three worlds—and challenged the assumptions of each—as courageously as Rabbi Dr. Natan Slifkin. Known internationally as “the Zoo Rabbi,” Rabbi Slifkin has devoted his life to understanding the animals of the Bible, the relationship between Torah and science, and the place of intellectual honesty within religious faith. As a young boy growing up in England, he dreamed of having his own zoo. People laughed. But that childhood dream eventually became the Biblical Museum of Natural History in Israel—a remarkable institution where lions, vultures, locusts, giraffes and other creatures bring the biblical world vividly to life. Yet Rabbi Slifkin's journey has involved far more than animals. His willingness to confront difficult questions about evolution, the age of the universe and the scientific knowledge of our sages placed him at the centre of one of the most explosive controversies in modern Orthodox Judaism. Several prominent ultra-Orthodox rabbis denounced and banned his books. He was accused of promoting heretical ideas. But he refused to be silenced. Rabbi Slifkin continued to write, teach and defend a rationalist Jewish tradition—one that believes sincere questions do not weaken faith, but can deepen it. In this conversation, we explore the fascinating animals of the Torah, including the surprising question of whether a giraffe is kosher. We discover how lions, vultures, olives and other elements of biblical nature preserve the Jewish people's ancient connection to the Land of Israel—and challenge the accusation that Jews are foreign colonizers in their ancestral homeland. But our discussion also enters more controversial territory. Rabbi Slifkin delivers a forceful warning about Israel's future. He speaks candidly about the Haredi community, military service, education, employment and the growing burden being placed upon those Israelis who defend the country and sustain its economy. Can Israel survive when a rapidly expanding segment of its population is discouraged from serving in the army, entering the workforce or receiving a basic secular education? Can religious conviction excuse a person from sharing responsibility for the society that protects and supports them? And what happens when preserving a community's identity becomes more important than confronting reality? This is a conversation about animals—but also about courage. It is about the courage to question, the courage to challenge authority and the courage to pursue truth even when doing so comes at a painful personal cost. Does Judaism demand that we choose between Torah and science, tradition and reason, or faith and intellectual honesty? Or can each help us understand the other—and ourselves—more deeply? It is my great pleasure to welcome the director of the Biblical Museum of Natural History, the author of The Lions of Zion, and one of contemporary Judaism's boldest and most provocative voices, Rabbi Dr. Natan Slifkin, to The Avrum Rosensweig Show. ——

At a time when polarization, hatred and violence threaten to divide our communities, some people are choosing a different path—not one of silence or anger, but of courage, friendship and light. Today, I am honored to welcome the extraordinary team behind Pomegranate Fest, an inspiring celebration of the friendship between the Jewish and Iranian communities. My guests are the remarkable Jian Magen, Lynda Kraar and Saei Fard. Pomegranate Fest grew out of a deeply moving story of solidarity between Toronto's Iranian and Jewish communities. Earlier this year, Jewish Canadians stood alongside Iranian Canadians following the tragic and systematic killing of courageous Iranians who took to the streets in pursuit of freedom and a better future for their country. Later, Iranian Canadians stood alongside the Jewish community at the Walk with Israel. Through these acts of mutual support, the two communities discovered something powerful: an alliance rooted in shared values, mutual respect, human dignity and a determination to stand against hatred and extremism. That spark of friendship grew even brighter when the producers of Fiddler on the Roof in Yiddish invited 40 members of the Iranian community to attend a performance. What began as a beautiful gesture of solidarity soon became something much greater—a movement. That movement is now Pomegranate Fest, taking place on August 23 at Earl Bales Park in Toronto. Together, the Iranian and Jewish communities represent more than 200,000 people across the Greater Toronto Area. Imagine the impact they can have when their voices are united. The festival's goals are both ambitious and urgent: to strengthen relationships between the two communities; promote education, awareness and civic engagement; welcome sponsors and community partners; and affirm the right of Jewish, Iranian and allied communities to live safely and proudly in Toronto. It is also a call for our leaders and authorities to confront antisemitism, anti-Iranian hatred, intimidation and extremism—and to help lower the temperature in an increasingly hostile climate. Today, we will hear the remarkable behind-the-scenes story of how this team came together, how they transformed shared pain into purposeful action, and how they are working to replace fear with friendship and darkness with light. Please welcome the remarkable team bringing Pomegranate Fest to life ——

At a time when polarization, hatred and violence threaten to divide our communities, some people are choosing a different path—not one of silence or anger, but of courage, friendship and light. Today, I am honored to welcome the extraordinary team behind Pomegranate Fest, an inspiring celebration of the friendship between the Jewish and Iranian communities. My guests are the remarkable Jian Magen, Lynda Kraar and Sarah Fard. Pomegranate Fest grew out of a deeply moving story of solidarity between Toronto's Iranian and Jewish communities. Earlier this year, Jewish Canadians stood alongside Iranian Canadians following the tragic and systematic killing of courageous Iranians who took to the streets in pursuit of freedom and a better future for their country. Later, Iranian Canadians stood alongside the Jewish community at the Walk with Israel. Through these acts of mutual support, the two communities discovered something powerful: an alliance rooted in shared values, mutual respect, human dignity and a determination to stand against hatred and extremism. That spark of friendship grew even brighter when the producers of Fiddler on the Roof in Yiddish invited 40 members of the Iranian community to attend a performance. What began as a beautiful gesture of solidarity soon became something much greater—a movement. That movement is now Pomegranate Fest, taking place on August 23 at Earl Bales Park in Toronto. Together, the Iranian and Jewish communities represent more than 200,000 people across the Greater Toronto Area. Imagine the impact they can have when their voices are united. The festival's goals are both ambitious and urgent: to strengthen relationships between the two communities; promote education, awareness and civic engagement; welcome sponsors and community partners; and affirm the right of Jewish, Iranian and allied communities to live safely and proudly in Toronto. It is also a call for our leaders and authorities to confront antisemitism, anti-Iranian hatred, intimidation and extremism—and to help lower the temperature in an increasingly hostile climate. Today, we will hear the remarkable behind-the-scenes story of how this team came together, how they transformed shared pain into purposeful action, and how they are working to replace fear with friendship and darkness with light. Please welcome the remarkable team bringing Pomegranate Fest to life ——

There are rabbis who teach Torah—and there are rabbis who carry their people through uncertainty, fear and profound change. Today, I am deeply honoured to welcome Rabbi Daniel Korobkin, senior rabbi and Mara D'Atra of Beth Avraham Yoseph of Toronto—the BAYT—and one of the most thoughtful and respected voices in contemporary Orthodox Judaism. For sixteen years, Rabbi Korobkin has guided one of Canada's largest Orthodox congregations. He has celebrated with families in their happiest moments, comforted them in times of sorrow and led his community through COVID-19, the trauma of October 7 and the alarming rise of antisemitism across Canada. As a former president of the Rabbinical Council of America, Rabbi Korobkin's leadership has extended far beyond the walls of his synagogue. He has defended the Jewish people and the State of Israel while insisting that Jews respond to hatred with strength, confidence and dignity—never allowing their adversaries to diminish who they are. Rabbi Korobkin believes deeply in a Judaism that is intellectually courageous and spiritually faithful: one in which Torah and scholarship, tradition and modernity, can strengthen one another. He has also worked to create a welcoming Jewish community, declaring with moral clarity that no Jew is worth less because they are not Orthodox. Now, as Rabbi Korobkin begins his final year at the BAYT before making aliyah with his wife, Karen, we reflect upon his remarkable journey, his love for Jerusalem and his enduring message to the Jewish people: Stand tall. Remember who you are. Protect your dignity. Strengthen your community. And always ask: What can I do to contribute to my people? Rabbi Daniel Korobkin, welcome to The Avrum Rosensweig Show. ——

There are rabbis who teach Torah—and there are rabbis who carry their people through uncertainty, fear and profound change. Today, I am deeply honoured to welcome Rabbi Daniel Korobkin, senior rabbi and Mara D'Atra of Beth Avraham Yoseph of Toronto—the BAYT—and one of the most thoughtful and respected voices in contemporary Orthodox Judaism. For sixteen years, Rabbi Korobkin has guided one of Canada's largest Orthodox congregations. He has celebrated with families in their happiest moments, comforted them in times of sorrow and led his community through COVID-19, the trauma of October 7 and the alarming rise of antisemitism across Canada. As a former president of the Rabbinical Council of America, Rabbi Korobkin's leadership has extended far beyond the walls of his synagogue. He has defended the Jewish people and the State of Israel while insisting that Jews respond to hatred with strength, confidence and dignity—never allowing their adversaries to diminish who they are. Rabbi Korobkin believes deeply in a Judaism that is intellectually courageous and spiritually faithful: one in which Torah and scholarship, tradition and modernity, can strengthen one another. He has also worked to create a welcoming Jewish community, declaring with moral clarity that no Jew is worth less because they are not Orthodox. Now, as Rabbi Korobkin begins his final year at the BAYT before making aliyah with his wife, Karen, we reflect upon his remarkable journey, his love for Jerusalem and his enduring message to the Jewish people: Stand tall. Remember who you are. Protect your dignity. Strengthen your community. And always ask: What can I do to contribute to my people? Rabbi Daniel Korobkin, welcome to The Avrum Rosensweig Show. ——

What if Genesis is not only the story of the world's first families—but also the story of God learning how to parent? In this fascinating episode of The Avrum Rosensweig Show, distinguished scholar and author Stephen Spector discusses his thought-provoking new book, God and the First Families: Parenting, Trauma, and Healing in the Book of Genesis. Drawing upon 50 years of teaching the Bible, Spector brings Genesis into conversation with modern psychology, psychiatry and family studies. He explores God's evolving relationship with humanity—from an authoritarian parent demanding obedience to one who encourages empathy, moral responsibility and emotional growth. Together, Avrum and Stephen revisit the complicated families of Genesis: Abraham and Sarah, Isaac and Rebecca, Jacob and Esau, and Joseph and his brothers. Their conversation examines trauma, parental love, favouritism, sibling rivalry, forgiveness and the long journey toward family reconciliation. Can parents grow wiser? Can children overcome the wounds of the past? Must forgiveness be earned? And what can the Torah's first families teach us about becoming better parents—and better human beings? FIVE KEY MOMENTS: 09:03 — The lasting trauma of the Binding of Isaac “Isaac never speaks to his father again.” 10:11 — What God may have learned from the Binding “God learned something about the fragility of humans—and never treats them again so harshly.” 22:27 — Genesis anticipates modern parenting psychology “God is inventing that new style 2,500 years before the psychologists gave it a name.” 25:44 — How parental love creates resilience “Esau's father loved him, and I think that parental love builds resilience.” 39:51 — Why Joseph finally forgives his brothers “I think he comes to forgive his brothers because they earn it.” This episode is sponsored by David Nefesh Mittleman in loving memory of his beautiful parents, Emanuel and Bessie—cherished Holocaust survivors and devoted members of Detroit's Jewish community. ——

What if Genesis is not only the story of the world's first families—but also the story of God learning how to parent? In this fascinating episode of The Avrum Rosensweig Show, distinguished scholar and author Stephen Spector discusses his thought-provoking new book, God and the First Families: Parenting, Trauma, and Healing in the Book of Genesis. Drawing upon 50 years of teaching the Bible, Spector brings Genesis into conversation with modern psychology, psychiatry and family studies. He explores God's evolving relationship with humanity—from an authoritarian parent demanding obedience to one who encourages empathy, moral responsibility and emotional growth. Together, Avrum and Stephen revisit the complicated families of Genesis: Abraham and Sarah, Isaac and Rebecca, Jacob and Esau, and Joseph and his brothers. Their conversation examines trauma, parental love, favouritism, sibling rivalry, forgiveness and the long journey toward family reconciliation. Can parents grow wiser? Can children overcome the wounds of the past? Must forgiveness be earned? And what can the Torah's first families teach us about becoming better parents—and better human beings? FIVE KEY MOMENTS: 09:03 — The lasting trauma of the Binding of Isaac “Isaac never speaks to his father again.” 10:11 — What God may have learned from the Binding “God learned something about the fragility of humans—and never treats them again so harshly.” 22:27 — Genesis anticipates modern parenting psychology “God is inventing that new style 2,500 years before the psychologists gave it a name.” 25:44 — How parental love creates resilience “Esau's father loved him, and I think that parental love builds resilience.” 39:51 — Why Joseph finally forgives his brothers “I think he comes to forgive his brothers because they earn it.” This episode is sponsored by David Nefesh Mittleman in loving memory of his beautiful parents, Emanuel and Bessie—cherished Holocaust survivors and devoted members of Detroit's Jewish community. ——

Welcome to The Avrum Rosensweig Show. What happens when one of the world's most respected universities fails to protect its Jewish students—and then refuses to investigate its own conduct? My guest is Professor Yossi Sheffi, a globally respected authority on supply-chain management, transportation, resilience and risk. For more than fifty years, MIT has been his intellectual home. He has educated generations of students, founded groundbreaking academic programs and advised governments and leading corporations around the world. But his latest book is unlike anything he has written before. In Unsafe at MIT: A Chronicle of a Campus War on the Jews, Professor Sheffi documents what Jewish and Israeli students and faculty experienced following the Hamas attack of October 7, 2023. He describes students suffering from trauma, demonstrations invading classrooms and research laboratories, areas of the campus becoming inaccessible to Jews, rules going unenforced and an administration that, in his view, repeatedly failed to respond. When MIT did not conduct the comprehensive investigation he believed was necessary, Professor Sheffi created the record himself. Writing the book left him angry, distressed and exhausted. Yet he continued because, as a scientist, he believes that science must be devoted to seeking the truth. As he declares in our conversation: “Science is about looking for the truth—and this is the truth.” In this powerful interview, we discuss institutional failure, antisemitism disguised as activism, the experiences of Jewish students and the personal cost of confronting an institution Professor Sheffi has served for more than half a century. What does a professor owe his university when loyalty to that institution conflicts with loyalty to the truth? This is an urgent, unsettling and profoundly important conversation with Professor Yossi Sheffi. 05:00 — Writing Unsafe at MIT Professor Sheffi explains why researching the experiences of traumatized Jewish students made this the most emotionally difficult book he has ever written. 17:00 — “I Owe It to the Students” Sheffi says that once 45 students overcame their fear of retaliation and shared their stories, he never considered abandoning the book—it had to be published. 29:11 — Refusing to Remain Silent Sheffi describes his reputation for speaking candidly at MIT, including challenging senior administrators when he believes their decisions are wrong. 45:37 — The Purpose Behind His Life's Work He explains that his professional mission is to improve transportation and supply chains so ordinary people can maintain a good standard of living—even amid wars, tariffs and climate change. 53:28 — Fighting the Isolation of Israeli Scientists Near the interview's conclusion, Sheffi discusses Kalaniyot, an initiative that brings Israeli researchers to universities abroad, builds lasting scientific partnerships and challenges academic boycotts. ——

Welcome to The Avrum Rosensweig Show. What happens when one of the world's most respected universities fails to protect its Jewish students—and then refuses to investigate its own conduct? My guest is Professor Yossi Sheffi, a globally respected authority on supply-chain management, transportation, resilience and risk. For more than fifty years, MIT has been his intellectual home. He has educated generations of students, founded groundbreaking academic programs and advised governments and leading corporations around the world. But his latest book is unlike anything he has written before. In Unsafe at MIT: A Chronicle of a Campus War on the Jews, Professor Sheffi documents what Jewish and Israeli students and faculty experienced following the Hamas attack of October 7, 2023. He describes students suffering from trauma, demonstrations invading classrooms and research laboratories, areas of the campus becoming inaccessible to Jews, rules going unenforced and an administration that, in his view, repeatedly failed to respond. When MIT did not conduct the comprehensive investigation he believed was necessary, Professor Sheffi created the record himself. Writing the book left him angry, distressed and exhausted. Yet he continued because, as a scientist, he believes that science must be devoted to seeking the truth. As he declares in our conversation: “Science is about looking for the truth—and this is the truth.” In this powerful interview, we discuss institutional failure, antisemitism disguised as activism, the experiences of Jewish students and the personal cost of confronting an institution Professor Sheffi has served for more than half a century. What does a professor owe his university when loyalty to that institution conflicts with loyalty to the truth? This is an urgent, unsettling and profoundly important conversation with Professor Yossi Sheffi. 05:00 — Writing Unsafe at MIT Professor Sheffi explains why researching the experiences of traumatized Jewish students made this the most emotionally difficult book he has ever written. 17:00 — “I Owe It to the Students” Sheffi says that once 45 students overcame their fear of retaliation and shared their stories, he never considered abandoning the book—it had to be published. 29:11 — Refusing to Remain Silent Sheffi describes his reputation for speaking candidly at MIT, including challenging senior administrators when he believes their decisions are wrong. 45:37 — The Purpose Behind His Life's Work He explains that his professional mission is to improve transportation and supply chains so ordinary people can maintain a good standard of living—even amid wars, tariffs and climate change. 53:28 — Fighting the Isolation of Israeli Scientists Near the interview's conclusion, Sheffi discusses Kalaniyot, an initiative that brings Israeli researchers to universities abroad, builds lasting scientific partnerships and challenges academic boycotts. ——

What does it mean to educate young people when the world around them is marked by uncertainty, tragedy, and hope? In this deeply moving conversation, Avrum Rosensweig sits down with Rabbi Jeremy "Yirmi" Stavisky, the longtime principal of Jerusalem's Himmelfarb High School, who spent more than twenty years shaping the lives of thousands of students through Torah, compassion, and moral leadership. Rabbi Stavisky reflects on the philosophy that defined his career: that education begins not with grades, but with kindness; not with achievement, but with seeing the dignity in every child. He shares why he believes "the children who struggle may have the bigger souls," and why a teacher's greatest responsibility is to create a place where every student feels safe, protected, and valued. The conversation then turns to the unimaginable grief that followed October 7, when Rabbi Stavisky lost former students like Hersh Goldberg-Polin and many others, colleagues, and his beloved son-in-law, Yinon Fleischman. With remarkable honesty, he speaks about mourning, faith, Viktor Frankl, Rav Yehuda Amital, the enduring bond between teachers and students, and the responsibility to continue choosing life in the face of profound loss. Together, they also explore his decades of leading educational journeys to Poland, the moral lessons of the Holocaust, the meaning of Religious Zionism, and why Judaism ultimately calls us to place human dignity above ritual alone. This is more than an interview about education. It is a conversation about courage, memory, compassion, faith, and the extraordinary influence one teacher can have on generations of lives. If this conversation moves you, please like, subscribe, and share to help us bring these important stories to a wider audience. 1. "The Children Who Struggle May Have the Bigger Souls" ⏱ Timestamp: 16:32 – 17:30 Why it matters: This is arguably the defining moment of the interview. Rabbi Stavisky challenges conventional ideas of success, suggesting that struggle often develops greater depth, compassion, and character. It is an unforgettable philosophy of education. 2. "The First Duty of a Teacher Is Protection" ⏱ Timestamp: 18:13 – 24:20 "My first responsibility as principal... is to make the school a safe place." 3. "What It Means to Lose Your Students to War" ⏱ Timestamp: 30:10 – 38:10 4. "It's Not About God. It's About People." ⏱ Timestamp: 47:46 – 51:47 5. "We're a School of Life, Not a School of Death" ⏱ Timestamp: 59:28 – 1:01:43 Bonus Clip (Highly Recommended) "Every Person Is Created in God's Image" ⏱ Timestamp: 11:37 – 16:30 Rabbi Stavisky explains that every human being carries a spark of God, making kindness, dignity, and respect the foundation of Judaism—not merely ritual observance. ——

What does it mean to educate young people when the world around them is marked by uncertainty, tragedy, and hope? In this deeply moving conversation, Avrum Rosensweig sits down with Rabbi Jeremy "Yirmi" Stavisky, the longtime principal of Jerusalem's Himmelfarb High School, who spent more than twenty years shaping the lives of thousands of students through Torah, compassion, and moral leadership. Rabbi Stavisky reflects on the philosophy that defined his career: that education begins not with grades, but with kindness; not with achievement, but with seeing the dignity in every child. He shares why he believes "the children who struggle may have the bigger souls," and why a teacher's greatest responsibility is to create a place where every student feels safe, protected, and valued. The conversation then turns to the unimaginable grief that followed October 7, when Rabbi Stavisky lost former students like Hersh Goldberg-Polin and many others, colleagues, and his beloved son-in-law, Yinon Fleischman. With remarkable honesty, he speaks about mourning, faith, Viktor Frankl, Rav Yehuda Amital, the enduring bond between teachers and students, and the responsibility to continue choosing life in the face of profound loss. Together, they also explore his decades of leading educational journeys to Poland, the moral lessons of the Holocaust, the meaning of Religious Zionism, and why Judaism ultimately calls us to place human dignity above ritual alone. This is more than an interview about education. It is a conversation about courage, memory, compassion, faith, and the extraordinary influence one teacher can have on generations of lives. If this conversation moves you, please like, subscribe, and share to help us bring these important stories to a wider audience. 1. "The Children Who Struggle May Have the Bigger Souls" ⏱ Timestamp: 16:32 – 17:30 Why it matters: This is arguably the defining moment of the interview. Rabbi Stavisky challenges conventional ideas of success, suggesting that struggle often develops greater depth, compassion, and character. It is an unforgettable philosophy of education. 2. "The First Duty of a Teacher Is Protection" ⏱ Timestamp: 18:13 – 24:20 "My first responsibility as principal... is to make the school a safe place." 3. "What It Means to Lose Your Students to War" ⏱ Timestamp: 30:10 – 38:10 4. "It's Not About God. It's About People." ⏱ Timestamp: 47:46 – 51:47 5. "We're a School of Life, Not a School of Death" ⏱ Timestamp: 59:28 – 1:01:43 Bonus Clip (Highly Recommended) "Every Person Is Created in God's Image" ⏱ Timestamp: 11:37 – 16:30 Rabbi Stavisky explains that every human being carries a spark of God, making kindness, dignity, and respect the foundation of Judaism—not merely ritual observance. ——

THIS EPISODE IS GRACIOUSLY SPONSORED BY MEL COHEN & CAROL PICART. WE'RE VERY GRATEFUL FOR THEIR SUPPORT! There are people who spend their lives trying not to be noticed. There are others who are noticed before they are ever truly known. And then there are those rare individuals who transform the very thing that once made them feel exposed into a source of wisdom, courage, and purpose. Today, I am deeply honoured to welcome Kris Nolan, author of Visible—a powerful memoir about identity, resilience, self-love, and what it truly means to be seen. Kris was born with a prominent port-wine stain birthmark on his face. From childhood, he learned what it meant to walk into a room and be looked at before being understood. He endured bullying, loneliness, cruel names, and the exhausting pressure of feeling different. For years, he entered spaces bracing himself for the reactions of others. But Kris's story is not simply about surviving judgment. It is about transformation. Through the love of his parents, the belonging he found among skateboarders, the relationships that helped him recognize his own worth, and the inner work that taught him to stop hiding, Kris came to see his birthmark in an entirely new way—not as an obstacle, but as a teacher. It trained his awareness. It deepened his empathy. It sharpened his ability to read people. And eventually, it gave him the courage to walk into a room, stand tall, and look back. Today, Kris no longer asks the world for permission to be visible. He uses his story to help others release shame, embrace their differences, and understand that self-love is not vanity—it is the foundation from which all other love can grow. This conversation reaches far beyond visible differences. It is for every person who has ever felt judged, overlooked, excluded, or defined by something beyond their control. Please join me in welcoming a man who turned staring into awareness, pain into empathy, and struggle into purpose—the remarkable Kris Nolan. 1. "My Birthmark Became My Teacher" ⏱ Timestamp: 43:36 – 48:22 This is the emotional and philosophical centerpiece of the interview. Kris explains how the very thing he once viewed as a burden became the greatest source of wisdom in his life. Powerful Quote: "It taught me empathy, it trained my awareness, it taught me discernment... That's when I realized my birthmark had become my teacher." 2. "Would You Choose Your Birthmark Again?" ⏱ Timestamp: 55:08 – 56:34 Perhaps the most unforgettable exchange of the entire interview. When asked whether he would choose to be born with his birthmark again, Kris answers without hesitation. Powerful Quote: "Absolutely... but only if I could choose the same parents." 3. "The Moment I Stopped Hiding" ⏱ Timestamp: 46:07 – 47:55 Kris recounts the night he walked into a nightclub and consciously chose not to brace himself against the world's judgment. Powerful Quote: "What if this time we don't brace? What if we walk in, stand tall, and look back?" 4. "Removing Fifty Years of Makeup" ⏱ Timestamp: 1:01:44 – 1:09:26 Kris tells the remarkable story of Mandy, who removed the makeup she had used to hide her birthmark every day for fifty years—live during his podcast. Powerful Quote: "She got to be a version of herself that she'd wanted to be for so long." 5. "I Would Rather Be Seen Than Hidden" ⏱ Timestamp: 49:03 – 52:44 Kris explains how he went from fearing every glance to actually welcoming people looking at him. Powerful Quote: "Now I love my birthmark being exposed... I love the looks that I get from people." ——

THIS EPISODE IS GRACIOUSLY SPONSORED BY MEL COHEN & CAROL PICART. WE'RE VERY GRATEFUL FOR THEIR SUPPORT! There are people who spend their lives trying not to be noticed. There are others who are noticed before they are ever truly known. And then there are those rare individuals who transform the very thing that once made them feel exposed into a source of wisdom, courage, and purpose. Today, I am deeply honoured to welcome Kris Nolan, author of Visible—a powerful memoir about identity, resilience, self-love, and what it truly means to be seen. Kris was born with a prominent port-wine stain birthmark on his face. From childhood, he learned what it meant to walk into a room and be looked at before being understood. He endured bullying, loneliness, cruel names, and the exhausting pressure of feeling different. For years, he entered spaces bracing himself for the reactions of others. But Kris's story is not simply about surviving judgment. It is about transformation. Through the love of his parents, the belonging he found among skateboarders, the relationships that helped him recognize his own worth, and the inner work that taught him to stop hiding, Kris came to see his birthmark in an entirely new way—not as an obstacle, but as a teacher. It trained his awareness. It deepened his empathy. It sharpened his ability to read people. And eventually, it gave him the courage to walk into a room, stand tall, and look back. Today, Kris no longer asks the world for permission to be visible. He uses his story to help others release shame, embrace their differences, and understand that self-love is not vanity—it is the foundation from which all other love can grow. This conversation reaches far beyond visible differences. It is for every person who has ever felt judged, overlooked, excluded, or defined by something beyond their control. Please join me in welcoming a man who turned staring into awareness, pain into empathy, and struggle into purpose—the remarkable Kris Nolan. 1. "My Birthmark Became My Teacher" ⏱ Timestamp: 43:36 – 48:22 This is the emotional and philosophical centerpiece of the interview. Kris explains how the very thing he once viewed as a burden became the greatest source of wisdom in his life. Powerful Quote: "It taught me empathy, it trained my awareness, it taught me discernment... That's when I realized my birthmark had become my teacher." 2. "Would You Choose Your Birthmark Again?" ⏱ Timestamp: 55:08 – 56:34 Perhaps the most unforgettable exchange of the entire interview. When asked whether he would choose to be born with his birthmark again, Kris answers without hesitation. Powerful Quote: "Absolutely... but only if I could choose the same parents." 3. "The Moment I Stopped Hiding" ⏱ Timestamp: 46:07 – 47:55 Kris recounts the night he walked into a nightclub and consciously chose not to brace himself against the world's judgment. Powerful Quote: "What if this time we don't brace? What if we walk in, stand tall, and look back?" 4. "Removing Fifty Years of Makeup" ⏱ Timestamp: 1:01:44 – 1:09:26 Kris tells the remarkable story of Mandy, who removed the makeup she had used to hide her birthmark every day for fifty years—live during his podcast. Powerful Quote: "She got to be a version of herself that she'd wanted to be for so long." 5. "I Would Rather Be Seen Than Hidden" ⏱ Timestamp: 49:03 – 52:44 Kris explains how he went from fearing every glance to actually welcoming people looking at him. Powerful Quote: "Now I love my birthmark being exposed... I love the looks that I get from people." ——

SPONSORSHIP: FROM DR. GORD ARBESS: Mazel Tov to Josh Arbess and Georgia Gardner on their upcoming wedding. And to Sharon Neiss-Arbess on her latest book "How I learned to pee in the Forest" available at Indigo, Type Books and on Amazon. https://www.amazon.ca/How-Learned-Pee-Forest-life-changing/dp/B0FY5ML1K6 ELI RUBENSTEIN: 'Thank you to my synagogue, Congregation Habonimi, for being so supportive of efforts that also benefit the wider community." DR. MICHAEL SILVERMAN: For Marcy Silverman who always had a wonderful sense of adventure, courage and bravery to follow her dreams." _____________________________________________________________________ Hello, and welcome to The Avrum Rosensweig Show. There are scholars who preserve history by writing about it. There are adventurers who search the world for hidden treasures. And then there are those extraordinary individuals who do both—turning ancient mysteries into living reality and ensuring that entire chapters of Jewish civilization are never forgotten. Today, I am deeply honored to welcome Dr. Ari Greenspan. By profession, he is a dentist. By calling, an educator. But by passion, he is something far more unusual: what he describes as a halachic adventurer. For more than four decades, Dr. Greenspan has crossed deserts, climbed mountains, explored forgotten synagogues, scuba-dived beneath the Mediterranean, and traveled to some of the world's most remote Jewish communities—from Morocco and Yemen to Ethiopia, India, Portugal, Tunisia, Central Asia, and beyond. He has searched for disappearing customs before they vanish forever, preserved ancient kosher traditions, documented endangered Jewish communities, and helped revive one of Judaism's greatest mysteries: the rediscovery of the biblical techelet, the sacred blue dye absent from Jewish life for nearly 1,300 years. As co-founder of the Ptil Tekhelet Association, Dr. Greenspan has combined Torah scholarship with archaeology, biology, chemistry, linguistics, and history to breathe new life into commandments many believed had been lost forever. Dr. Ari is also a mohel, a shochet, a sofer, an international lecturer, and the creator of legendary kosher dinners featuring birds and traditions preserved from Jewish communities scattered across the globe. His personal museum houses artifacts collected over forty years of travel—each one telling a story of a people who refused to disappear. During today's conversation, you'll hear astonishing stories from Ethiopia, where he trained Jewish communities in kosher slaughter; from Croatia, where ancient menorahs hidden in stone still whisper of forgotten Jewish craftsmen; from Portugal, where Crypto-Jewish traditions survived centuries of persecution; and from the depths of the Mediterranean, where the search for the elusive chilazon became one of the most remarkable adventures in modern Jewish history. Yet beneath every journey lies a deeper question. As Dr. Greenspan himself has shown through his life's work: Every forgotten synagogue, every ancient manuscript, every disappearing custom asks the same question: "Will anyone remember us?" 1. 00:04:45 – Dr. Greenspan's Extraordinary Mission in Ethiopia "Teaching a Jewish Community to Keep Kashrut Alive" Dr. Greenspan recounts returning to Ethiopia to teach Jewish leaders the ancient laws of shechitah and nikur (removing forbidden fats and the sciatic nerve), ensuring that isolated Jewish communities could once again prepare kosher meat according to halachah. 2. 00:15:52 – The Emotional Bond with Jews Across the Centuries "I Feel Like They Were My Brothers" One of the interview's most moving moments. Dr. Greenspan explains how handling centuries-old manuscripts, praying in forgotten synagogues, and retracing the journeys of medieval Jewish travelers creates a profound connection with Jews who lived hundreds of years ago. 3. 00:39:38 – Rediscovering the Lost Blue Thread of the Torah "The Search for Techelet After 1,300 Years" Dr. Greenspan tells the remarkable story of scuba diving for the elusive chilazon snail and helping revive the biblical techelet—one of Judaism's greatest lost mitzvot after thirteen centuries. ——

SPONSORSHIP: FROM DR. GORD ARBESS: Mazel Tov to Josh Arbess and Georgia Gardner on their upcoming wedding. And to Sharon Neiss-Arbess on her latest book "How I learned to pee in the Forest" available at Indigo, Type Books and on Amazon.  https://www.amazon.ca/How-Learned-Pee-Forest-life-changing/dp/B0FY5ML1K6 ELI RUBENSTEIN: 'Thank you to my synagogue, Congregation Habonimi, for being so supportive of efforts that also benefit the wider community." DR. MICHAEL SILVERMAN: For Marcy Silverman who always had a wonderful sense of adventure, courage and bravery to follow her dreams." _____________________________________________________________________ Hello, and welcome to The Avrum Rosensweig Show. There are scholars who preserve history by writing about it. There are adventurers who search the world for hidden treasures. And then there are those extraordinary individuals who do both—turning ancient mysteries into living reality and ensuring that entire chapters of Jewish civilization are never forgotten. Today, I am deeply honored to welcome Dr. Ari Greenspan. By profession, he is a dentist. By calling, an educator. But by passion, he is something far more unusual: what he describes as a halachic adventurer. For more than four decades, Dr. Greenspan has crossed deserts, climbed mountains, explored forgotten synagogues, scuba-dived beneath the Mediterranean, and traveled to some of the world's most remote Jewish communities—from Morocco and Yemen to Ethiopia, India, Portugal, Tunisia, Central Asia, and beyond. He has searched for disappearing customs before they vanish forever, preserved ancient kosher traditions, documented endangered Jewish communities, and helped revive one of Judaism's greatest mysteries: the rediscovery of the biblical techelet, the sacred blue dye absent from Jewish life for nearly 1,300 years. As co-founder of the Ptil Tekhelet Association, Dr. Greenspan has combined Torah scholarship with archaeology, biology, chemistry, linguistics, and history to breathe new life into commandments many believed had been lost forever. Dr. Ari is also a mohel, a shochet, a sofer, an international lecturer, and the creator of legendary kosher dinners featuring birds and traditions preserved from Jewish communities scattered across the globe. His personal museum houses artifacts collected over forty years of travel—each one telling a story of a people who refused to disappear. During today's conversation, you'll hear astonishing stories from Ethiopia, where he trained Jewish communities in kosher slaughter; from Croatia, where ancient menorahs hidden in stone still whisper of forgotten Jewish craftsmen; from Portugal, where Crypto-Jewish traditions survived centuries of persecution; and from the depths of the Mediterranean, where the search for the elusive chilazon became one of the most remarkable adventures in modern Jewish history. Yet beneath every journey lies a deeper question. As Dr. Greenspan himself has shown through his life's work: Every forgotten synagogue, every ancient manuscript, every disappearing custom asks the same question: "Will anyone remember us?" 1. 00:04:45 – Dr. Greenspan's Extraordinary Mission in Ethiopia "Teaching a Jewish Community to Keep Kashrut Alive" Dr. Greenspan recounts returning to Ethiopia to teach Jewish leaders the ancient laws of shechitah and nikur (removing forbidden fats and the sciatic nerve), ensuring that isolated Jewish communities could once again prepare kosher meat according to halachah. 2. 00:15:52 – The Emotional Bond with Jews Across the Centuries "I Feel Like They Were My Brothers" One of the interview's most moving moments. Dr. Greenspan explains how handling centuries-old manuscripts, praying in forgotten synagogues, and retracing the journeys of medieval Jewish travelers creates a profound connection with Jews who lived hundreds of years ago. 3. 00:39:38 – Rediscovering the Lost Blue Thread of the Torah "The Search for Techelet After 1,300 Years" Dr. Greenspan tells the remarkable story of scuba diving for the elusive chilazon snail and helping revive the biblical techelet—one of Judaism's greatest lost mitzvot after thirteen centuries. ——

Welcome to The Avrum Rosensweig Show. There are politicians who simply occupy office. There are politicians who shape legislation. And then there are those uncommon leaders who choose conviction over convenience—who speak when silence would be easier, who defend principle when compromise would be politically safer, and who understand that leadership is measured not by applause, but by courage. Today, I am honoured to welcome Melissa Lantsman—Member of Parliament, Deputy Leader of the Conservative Party of Canada, and one of the most influential voices in Canadian public life. Melissa's story is, in many ways, the Canadian story. She is the daughter of Jewish immigrants who fled the oppression of the Soviet Union in search of liberty, opportunity, and a nation where freedom was not merely promised—it was protected. Raised in Thornhill, Ontario, by parents whose sacrifices shaped every opportunity she would later receive, Melissa learned early that democracy is precious, freedom is fragile, and success is never handed to you—it is earned. Today, she stands at the highest levels of Canadian politics, becoming the first openly lesbian woman and the first Jewish woman ever elected as a Conservative Member of Parliament—a milestone that reflects not only her own determination, but the remarkable promise of Canada itself. Inside Parliament, Melissa has become one of the country's most outspoken advocates on affordability, public safety, individual liberty, and democratic accountability. Following the horrific Hamas terrorist attacks of October 7, she emerged as one of Canada's clearest voices in condemning terrorism, defending Israel's right to exist, and confronting the disturbing rise of antisemitism that has appeared on our streets, university campuses, and even outside Jewish schools and synagogues. At a time when Canada's political landscape continues to evolve, questions surrounding freedom of expression, social cohesion, public safety, and the protection of minority communities have become increasingly urgent. Recent decisions by the federal government—including the creation of a new Ministerial Advisory Council on Rights, Equality and Inclusion to address rising antisemitism and other forms of hate—have sparked significant national discussion about the best way to confront this growing challenge. But this conversation goes far beyond politics. It is about family. It is about faith. It is about identity. It is about the responsibility of public service. And ultimately, it is about what it means to lead when the stakes are high and the pressures are greater than ever. Today, we will discuss Canada's future, the Conservative movement, affordability, democracy, leadership, the rise of antisemitism, Israel, public service, and the values that continue to guide Melissa Lantsman's remarkable career. Ladies and gentlemen, please join me in welcoming one of Canada's most compelling political leaders— Member of Parliament, Deputy Leader of the Conservative Party of Canada, and a powerful voice for conviction, courage, and public service... Melissa Lantsman. ——

Welcome to The Avrum Rosensweig Show. There are politicians who simply occupy office. There are politicians who shape legislation. And then there are those uncommon leaders who choose conviction over convenience—who speak when silence would be easier, who defend principle when compromise would be politically safer, and who understand that leadership is measured not by applause, but by courage. Today, I am honoured to welcome Melissa Lantsman—Member of Parliament, Deputy Leader of the Conservative Party of Canada, and one of the most influential voices in Canadian public life. Melissa's story is, in many ways, the Canadian story. She is the daughter of Jewish immigrants who fled the oppression of the Soviet Union in search of liberty, opportunity, and a nation where freedom was not merely promised—it was protected. Raised in Thornhill, Ontario, by parents whose sacrifices shaped every opportunity she would later receive, Melissa learned early that democracy is precious, freedom is fragile, and success is never handed to you—it is earned. Today, she stands at the highest levels of Canadian politics, becoming the first openly lesbian woman and the first Jewish woman ever elected as a Conservative Member of Parliament—a milestone that reflects not only her own determination, but the remarkable promise of Canada itself. Inside Parliament, Melissa has become one of the country's most outspoken advocates on affordability, public safety, individual liberty, and democratic accountability. Following the horrific Hamas terrorist attacks of October 7, she emerged as one of Canada's clearest voices in condemning terrorism, defending Israel's right to exist, and confronting the disturbing rise of antisemitism that has appeared on our streets, university campuses, and even outside Jewish schools and synagogues. At a time when Canada's political landscape continues to evolve, questions surrounding freedom of expression, social cohesion, public safety, and the protection of minority communities have become increasingly urgent. Recent decisions by the federal government—including the creation of a new Ministerial Advisory Council on Rights, Equality and Inclusion to address rising antisemitism and other forms of hate—have sparked significant national discussion about the best way to confront this growing challenge. But this conversation goes far beyond politics. It is about family. It is about faith. It is about identity. It is about the responsibility of public service. And ultimately, it is about what it means to lead when the stakes are high and the pressures are greater than ever. Today, we will discuss Canada's future, the Conservative movement, affordability, democracy, leadership, the rise of antisemitism, Israel, public service, and the values that continue to guide Melissa Lantsman's remarkable career. Ladies and gentlemen, please join me in welcoming one of Canada's most compelling political leaders— Member of Parliament, Deputy Leader of the Conservative Party of Canada, and a powerful voice for conviction, courage, and public service... Melissa Lantsman. ——

Professor Paul Finlayson was one of Canada's most respected marketing professors. Today, he is at the center of one of the country's most controversial debates over free speech, academic freedom, and the cost of speaking one's conscience. After publicly condemning Hamas following the October 7 terrorist attacks and expressing support for Israel, Finlayson says his career changed overnight. A professor for fifteen years with outstanding student evaluations and multiple textbooks to his name, he was suspended, investigated, and ultimately dismissed from the University of Guelph-Humber. In this powerful and deeply personal conversation, Paul shares his story for nearly an hour—describing what he says happened behind closed doors, the emotional and financial toll of losing his career, and why, despite everything, he has never regretted taking a public stand. Together, we discuss the growing tensions surrounding free expression on university campuses, the resurgence of antisemitism, the responsibilities of educators, and the moral courage required to defend deeply held convictions when the personal cost is enormous. Whether you agree with Paul's conclusions or not, this interview raises profound questions every Canadian should consider: What is the price of speaking your conscience? If universities are meant to be places of open inquiry, what happens when controversial opinions carry professional consequences? And perhaps most importantly: What would you do if telling the truth cost you everything? Five Riveting Moments 1. 12:30 — The LinkedIn Post That Changed Everything Paul explains why he responded to a Pakistani academic following October 7 and how a single social media comment ultimately led to complaints against him. 2. 18:19 — Suspension, Gag Orders, and Public Humiliation Paul describes being removed from campus, prohibited from speaking with students or colleagues, and learning that damaging rumours were allegedly spreading about him. 3. 26:55 — "Kafkaesque": The Human Cost One of the interview's most emotional moments, as Paul discusses the psychological impact on himself and his family, describing sleepless nights, betrayal, and the collapse of the career he loved. 4. 41:35 — "I'm Just Some Stubborn Irish Guy" Despite being compared to prominent defenders of Israel, Paul rejects the label of hero and explains why he simply refused to apologize for condemning terrorism. 5. 47:35 — "I've Never Had Regret" The interview reaches its emotional peak as Paul recalls visiting Dachau as a young man, reflects on the victims of October 7, and explains why—even if given the chance—he would never take back what he said. This conversation is about much more than one professor. It is about freedom, conscience, moral courage, and whether democratic societies still make room for people who refuse to remain silent. ——

Professor Paul Finlayson was one of Canada's most respected marketing professors. Today, he is at the center of one of the country's most controversial debates over free speech, academic freedom, and the cost of speaking one's conscience. After publicly condemning Hamas following the October 7 terrorist attacks and expressing support for Israel, Finlayson says his career changed overnight. A professor for fifteen years with outstanding student evaluations and multiple textbooks to his name, he was suspended, investigated, and ultimately dismissed from the University of Guelph-Humber. In this powerful and deeply personal conversation, Paul shares his story for nearly an hour—describing what he says happened behind closed doors, the emotional and financial toll of losing his career, and why, despite everything, he has never regretted taking a public stand. Together, we discuss the growing tensions surrounding free expression on university campuses, the resurgence of antisemitism, the responsibilities of educators, and the moral courage required to defend deeply held convictions when the personal cost is enormous. Whether you agree with Paul's conclusions or not, this interview raises profound questions every Canadian should consider: What is the price of speaking your conscience? If universities are meant to be places of open inquiry, what happens when controversial opinions carry professional consequences? And perhaps most importantly: What would you do if telling the truth cost you everything? Five Riveting Moments 1. 12:30 — The LinkedIn Post That Changed Everything Paul explains why he responded to a Pakistani academic following October 7 and how a single social media comment ultimately led to complaints against him. 2. 18:19 — Suspension, Gag Orders, and Public Humiliation Paul describes being removed from campus, prohibited from speaking with students or colleagues, and learning that damaging rumours were allegedly spreading about him. 3. 26:55 — "Kafkaesque": The Human Cost One of the interview's most emotional moments, as Paul discusses the psychological impact on himself and his family, describing sleepless nights, betrayal, and the collapse of the career he loved. 4. 41:35 — "I'm Just Some Stubborn Irish Guy" Despite being compared to prominent defenders of Israel, Paul rejects the label of hero and explains why he simply refused to apologize for condemning terrorism. 5. 47:35 — "I've Never Had Regret" The interview reaches its emotional peak as Paul recalls visiting Dachau as a young man, reflects on the victims of October 7, and explains why—even if given the chance—he would never take back what he said. This conversation is about much more than one professor. It is about freedom, conscience, moral courage, and whether democratic societies still make room for people who refuse to remain silent. ——

Welcome to The Avrum Rosensweig Show. There are stories that belong to history books. There are stories that belong to families. And then there are those rare stories that bridge both worlds—stories that help us understand not only where we come from, but who we are. Born in the Landsberg Displaced Persons Camp in Germany shortly after the Holocaust, Ettie's life began where one of history's darkest chapters was ending. Her parents survived ghettos, concentration camps, death marches, and unimaginable loss. Yet they also carried forward something equally powerful: the determination to rebuild, to love, to create family, and to ensure that memory would never die. In this compelling conversation, we discuss the intergenerational transmission of trauma—the fears, anxieties, and emotional burdens that can travel across generations. But we also examine something equally profound: the transmission of resilience, courage, gratitude, perseverance, and an unwavering commitment to life. Drawing from her own experiences as a second-generation child of survivors, her work interviewing survivors for the USC Shoah Foundation, and her acclaimed book A Holocaust Memoir of Love & Resilience: Mama's Survival from Lithuania to USA, Ettie offers extraordinary insight into how memory shapes identity, purpose, and responsibility. This is a conversation about trauma. This is a story about a remarkable person, Etti Zilber. 00:14:28 — Born in Landsberg Displaced Persons Camp Ettie reflects on how being born in a displaced persons camp after the Holocaust shaped her identity and life mission. 00:16:31 — How Trauma Travels Across Generations The conversation turns to intergenerational trauma and how Holocaust survivors passed fear, anxiety, strength, and memory to their children. 00:20:44 — The Many Faces of Holocaust Survival Ettie explains that there is no single “profile” of a Holocaust survivor, and that survival took many different forms. 00:23:21 — Growing Up as a Child of Survivors Ettie shares how her parents' Holocaust memories entered family life, sometimes through conversation, sometimes through silence, and often through stories overheard as a child. 00:30:20 — The Legacy of Resilience Beyond trauma, Ettie discusses the gifts survivors passed on: courage, education, perseverance, family loyalty, gratitude, and Jewish continuity. 00:58:21 — Teaching the Warning Signs of History Ettie explains how Holocaust education helps students understand that hatred develops step by step, beginning with words, separation, laws, and silence. ——

Welcome to The Avrum Rosensweig Show. There are stories that belong to history books. There are stories that belong to families. And then there are those rare stories that bridge both worlds—stories that help us understand not only where we come from, but who we are. Born in the Landsberg Displaced Persons Camp in Germany shortly after the Holocaust, Ettie's life began where one of history's darkest chapters was ending. Her parents survived ghettos, concentration camps, death marches, and unimaginable loss. Yet they also carried forward something equally powerful: the determination to rebuild, to love, to create family, and to ensure that memory would never die. In this compelling conversation, we discuss the intergenerational transmission of trauma—the fears, anxieties, and emotional burdens that can travel across generations. But we also examine something equally profound: the transmission of resilience, courage, gratitude, perseverance, and an unwavering commitment to life. Drawing from her own experiences as a second-generation child of survivors, her work interviewing survivors for the USC Shoah Foundation, and her acclaimed book A Holocaust Memoir of Love & Resilience: Mama's Survival from Lithuania to USA, Ettie offers extraordinary insight into how memory shapes identity, purpose, and responsibility. This is a conversation about trauma. This is a story about a remarkable person, Etti Zilber. 00:14:28 — Born in Landsberg Displaced Persons Camp Ettie reflects on how being born in a displaced persons camp after the Holocaust shaped her identity and life mission. 00:16:31 — How Trauma Travels Across Generations The conversation turns to intergenerational trauma and how Holocaust survivors passed fear, anxiety, strength, and memory to their children. 00:20:44 — The Many Faces of Holocaust Survival Ettie explains that there is no single “profile” of a Holocaust survivor, and that survival took many different forms. 00:23:21 — Growing Up as a Child of Survivors Ettie shares how her parents' Holocaust memories entered family life, sometimes through conversation, sometimes through silence, and often through stories overheard as a child. 00:30:20 — The Legacy of Resilience Beyond trauma, Ettie discusses the gifts survivors passed on: courage, education, perseverance, family loyalty, gratitude, and Jewish continuity. 00:58:21 — Teaching the Warning Signs of History Ettie explains how Holocaust education helps students understand that hatred develops step by step, beginning with words, separation, laws, and silence. ——

There are Holocaust stories that leave us heartbroken. There are others that leave us inspired. And then there are those rare stories that somehow accomplish both at once—stories that remind us of the depths of human evil, but also of the extraordinary courage, resilience, and determination of the human spirit. Today, I am deeply honored to welcome Dr. Mark Olsky and Dr. Hana Berger Moran. Their lives are living miracles. Their remarkable story is chronicled in the New York Times bestselling book, 'Born Survivors', by acclaimed author Wendy Holden. It is the astonishing true account of three pregnant Jewish women who concealed their pregnancies from the Nazis while imprisoned in Auschwitz and other concentration camps. Against every conceivable odd, they survived long enough to give birth—and their babies survived as well. Those babies were Mark Olsky, Hana Berger Moran, and Eva Clarke (My interview with Eva can be found in a previous podcast). In this unforgettable conversation, we explore not only the unimaginable courage of their mothers, but also what it means to carry such a profound legacy into the modern world. We discuss survival, memory, faith, gratitude, family, and the triumph of life over death. Five Riveting Moments from This Interview: 07:37 — The Last Goodbye Hanahana recounts the final conversation between her parents through the barbed wire of Auschwitz as her father pleaded, “Just think good thoughts.” Days later, he was murdered. 12:04 — A Warm Bath in a Concentration Camp After her pregnancy was discovered, Hana's mother made a remarkable request of the guards: “I've been standing ten hours a day. I would love a warm bath for my feet.” What happened next is astonishing. 16:00 — Born on a Cattle Train Mark describes the unimaginable conditions under which his mother gave birth to him on a seventeen-day transport train packed with over one hundred prisoners. 19:25 — Do You Believe in Miracles? Mark reflects on surviving when so many others perished and offers a deeply moving perspective on luck, loss, and the meaning of survival. 35:35 — Meeting the Man Who Saved His Life Hana shares the emotional story of meeting one of the American liberators who rescued her as a newborn—and why she called him “Daddy Pete.” This is more than a Holocaust story. It is a story about mothers who refused to surrender hope. It is a story about babies who became witnesses to history. And it is a story about the enduring power of life, even in humanity's darkest hour. Please join me for this extraordinary conversation with Dr. Mark Olsky and Dr. Hana Berger Moran. ——

There are Holocaust stories that leave us heartbroken. There are others that leave us inspired. And then there are those rare stories that somehow accomplish both at once—stories that remind us of the depths of human evil, but also of the extraordinary courage, resilience, and determination of the human spirit. Today, I am deeply honored to welcome Dr. Mark Olsky and Dr. Hana Berger Moran. Their lives are living miracles. Their remarkable story is chronicled in the New York Times bestselling book, 'Born Survivors', by acclaimed author Wendy Holden. It is the astonishing true account of three pregnant Jewish women who concealed their pregnancies from the Nazis while imprisoned in Auschwitz and other concentration camps. Against every conceivable odd, they survived long enough to give birth—and their babies survived as well. Those babies were Mark Olsky, Hana Berger Moran, and Eva Clarke (My interview with Eva can be found in a previous podcast). In this unforgettable conversation, we explore not only the unimaginable courage of their mothers, but also what it means to carry such a profound legacy into the modern world. We discuss survival, memory, faith, gratitude, family, and the triumph of life over death. Five Riveting Moments from This Interview: 07:37 — The Last Goodbye Hanahana recounts the final conversation between her parents through the barbed wire of Auschwitz as her father pleaded, “Just think good thoughts.” Days later, he was murdered. 12:04 — A Warm Bath in a Concentration Camp After her pregnancy was discovered, Hana's mother made a remarkable request of the guards: “I've been standing ten hours a day. I would love a warm bath for my feet.” What happened next is astonishing. 16:00 — Born on a Cattle Train Mark describes the unimaginable conditions under which his mother gave birth to him on a seventeen-day transport train packed with over one hundred prisoners. 19:25 — Do You Believe in Miracles? Mark reflects on surviving when so many others perished and offers a deeply moving perspective on luck, loss, and the meaning of survival. 35:35 — Meeting the Man Who Saved His Life Hana shares the emotional story of meeting one of the American liberators who rescued her as a newborn—and why she called him “Daddy Pete.” This is more than a Holocaust story. It is a story about mothers who refused to surrender hope. It is a story about babies who became witnesses to history. And it is a story about the enduring power of life, even in humanity's darkest hour. Please join me for this extraordinary conversation with Dr. Mark Olsky and Dr. Hana Berger Moran. ——

WE ARE GRATEFUL TO: JOEY FRIED CORP AND FOGLER, RUBINOFF FOR THEIR GENEROUS SPONSORSHIP! Welcome to The Avrum Rosensweig Show. There are some books that inform. There are others that inspire. And then there are those rare books that have the power to change the way we see other people—and ourselves. In this moving and deeply personal conversation, Avrum Rosensweig sits down with renowned educator, speaker, and author Michal Horowitz to discuss her remarkable new book, 'Abled: Living With a Disability, A Torah View.' Born and raised in Toronto and trained as an audiologist, Michal began experiencing severe hearing loss as a young adult. What could have become a story defined by limitation instead became a life of extraordinary purpose, faith, resilience, and Torah teaching. Together, Avrum and Michal explore what it means to live in a hearing world while navigating profound hearing impairment, how Judaism understands disability and human dignity, and why every person—regardless of ability—reflects the image of God. This is a conversation about courage. It is a conversation about faith. And ultimately, it is a conversation about what it truly means to live an abled life. Riveting Moments from This Interview 08:35 — "I felt like my body had betrayed me." Avrum shares the emotional aftermath of his first heart attack, leading to a profound discussion about illness, loss, and identity. 15:40 — The Moment Michal Realized She Was Losing Her Hearing Michal recounts the frightening early signs of hearing loss and the long journey toward diagnosis and acceptance. 24:15 — What Hearing People Don't Understand About Hearing Loss A powerful conversation about loneliness, stigma, exclusion, and the hidden struggles of living with hearing impairment. 36:50 — Can Disability Become a Spiritual Gift? Michal explains how Torah transformed her understanding of suffering, purpose, and human dignity. 49:20 — The Cochlear Implant Debate Michal speaks candidly about her son's success with cochlear implants and why she remains hesitant to undergo the procedure herself. In This Episode • Living with severe hearing loss • The emotional realities of disability • Torah perspectives on dignity and inclusion • Faith, resilience, and personal growth • Tinnitus and speech discrimination • Cochlear implants and medical technology • Parenting, teaching, and inspiring others • Seeing God's image in every human being If you enjoyed this conversation, please Like, Subscribe, and Share. #MichalHorowitz #HearingLoss #Disability #AbleBook #Torah #Judaism #Faith #HumanDignity #CochlearImplants #AvrumRosensweigShow #MichalHorowitz #HearingLoss #HearingImpairment #DisabilityAwareness #DisabilityInclusion #CochlearImplants #HumanDignity #JewishLife #TorahWisdom #Judaism #FaithAndResilience #SpiritualGrowth #JewishAuthor #JewishEducation #InvisibleDisability #LivingWithDisability #InspirationalStories #ImageOfGod ——

WE ARE GRATEFUL TO: JOEY FRIED CORP AND FOGLER, RUBINOFF FOR THEIR GENEROUS SPONSORSHIP! Welcome to The Avrum Rosensweig Show. There are some books that inform. There are others that inspire. And then there are those rare books that have the power to change the way we see other people—and ourselves. In this moving and deeply personal conversation, Avrum Rosensweig sits down with renowned educator, speaker, and author Michal Horowitz to discuss her remarkable new book, 'Abled: Living With a Disability, A Torah View.' Born and raised in Toronto and trained as an audiologist, Michal began experiencing severe hearing loss as a young adult. What could have become a story defined by limitation instead became a life of extraordinary purpose, faith, resilience, and Torah teaching. Together, Avrum and Michal explore what it means to live in a hearing world while navigating profound hearing impairment, how Judaism understands disability and human dignity, and why every person—regardless of ability—reflects the image of God. This is a conversation about courage. It is a conversation about faith. And ultimately, it is a conversation about what it truly means to live an abled life. Riveting Moments from This Interview 08:35 — "I felt like my body had betrayed me." Avrum shares the emotional aftermath of his first heart attack, leading to a profound discussion about illness, loss, and identity. 15:40 — The Moment Michal Realized She Was Losing Her Hearing Michal recounts the frightening early signs of hearing loss and the long journey toward diagnosis and acceptance. 24:15 — What Hearing People Don't Understand About Hearing Loss A powerful conversation about loneliness, stigma, exclusion, and the hidden struggles of living with hearing impairment. 36:50 — Can Disability Become a Spiritual Gift? Michal explains how Torah transformed her understanding of suffering, purpose, and human dignity. 49:20 — The Cochlear Implant Debate Michal speaks candidly about her son's success with cochlear implants and why she remains hesitant to undergo the procedure herself. In This Episode • Living with severe hearing loss • The emotional realities of disability • Torah perspectives on dignity and inclusion • Faith, resilience, and personal growth • Tinnitus and speech discrimination • Cochlear implants and medical technology • Parenting, teaching, and inspiring others • Seeing God's image in every human being If you enjoyed this conversation, please Like, Subscribe, and Share. #MichalHorowitz #HearingLoss #Disability #AbleBook #Torah #Judaism #Faith #HumanDignity #CochlearImplants #AvrumRosensweigShow #MichalHorowitz #HearingLoss #HearingImpairment #DisabilityAwareness #DisabilityInclusion #CochlearImplants #HumanDignity #JewishLife #TorahWisdom #Judaism #FaithAndResilience #SpiritualGrowth #JewishAuthor #JewishEducation #InvisibleDisability #LivingWithDisability #InspirationalStories #ImageOfGod ——

In this powerful and deeply personal episode of THE AVRUM ROSENSWEIG SHOW, Avrum sits down with his dear friend HARVEY BROWNSTONE — Canada's first openly gay judge, celebrated interviewer, proud Jew, and author of the extraordinary memoir Without Prejudice: My Life as a Gay Judge. Harvey's story is one of remarkable courage. From a bullied child and rejected young man to a pioneering lawyer, distinguished judge, national bestselling author, and beloved media personality, his life is a testament to resilience, truth, ambition, forgiveness, and the refusal to disappear. In this conversation, Harvey speaks with humour, honesty, and moving vulnerability about the pain of parental rejection, the drive that came from being underestimated, the mentors who saved him, the barriers he faced as an openly gay man in the legal world, and the extraordinary second act that made him one of the most respected interviewers on the internet. This is not only an interview about law, celebrity, identity, or success. It is a conversation about becoming fully oneself after years of being told to hide. It is about turning rejection into fuel, pain into purpose, and personal truth into public courage. Six poignant moments in the interview: 00:03:25 — Avrum introduces Harvey's life as a story of courage, truth, resilience, and what becomes possible when a human being refuses to hide who they are. 00:12:45 — Harvey explains how writing his memoir forced him to relive painful memories, and why telling the story required taking the reader back into the most difficult moments of his life. 00:14:00 — Harvey describes recording the audiobook as a cleansing, cathartic, and redemptive experience — saying his story out loud allowed him to feel a new level of healing. 00:15:43 — Harvey reflects on “success as the best revenge,” explaining that the people who bullied, rejected, and underestimated him were never going to apologize — so he chose to validate himself through achievement. 00:18:40 — Harvey speaks powerfully about the two gifts his parents gave him: self-esteem and rejection. One gave him strength; the other gave him drive. 00:32:40 — Harvey remembers Mrs. Jarrett, the teacher who protected him from bullies, believed in him, and helped change the direction of his life. In the fall, a feature film about Harvey will be released called "Without Prejudice", a Hollywood biographical drama adapted from his memoir, 'Without Prejudice: My Life as a Gay Judge'. The film chronicles his turbulent, tempestuous, and often triumphant journey from being a severely bullied child and a rejected outcast to becoming Canada's first openly gay judge, a landmark civil rights champion, and a celebrated celebrity interviewer. David Arquette stars as Harvey in his later adult life, while David Mazouz plays the young adult. Through it all, Harvey Brownstone emerges as a person of extraordinary wit, toughness, sensitivity, and heart. His story reminds us that a life can be wounded and still become magnificent, that rejection does not have to define us, and that sometimes the very thing meant to break us becomes the force that carries us forward. ——

In this powerful and deeply personal episode of THE AVRUM ROSENSWEIG SHOW, Avrum sits down with his dear friend HARVEY BROWNSTONE — Canada's first openly gay judge, celebrated interviewer, proud Jew, and author of the extraordinary memoir Without Prejudice: My Life as a Gay Judge. Harvey's story is one of remarkable courage. From a bullied child and rejected young man to a pioneering lawyer, distinguished judge, national bestselling author, and beloved media personality, his life is a testament to resilience, truth, ambition, forgiveness, and the refusal to disappear. In this conversation, Harvey speaks with humour, honesty, and moving vulnerability about the pain of parental rejection, the drive that came from being underestimated, the mentors who saved him, the barriers he faced as an openly gay man in the legal world, and the extraordinary second act that made him one of the most respected interviewers on the internet. This is not only an interview about law, celebrity, identity, or success. It is a conversation about becoming fully oneself after years of being told to hide. It is about turning rejection into fuel, pain into purpose, and personal truth into public courage. Six poignant moments in the interview: 00:03:25 — Avrum introduces Harvey's life as a story of courage, truth, resilience, and what becomes possible when a human being refuses to hide who they are. 00:12:45 — Harvey explains how writing his memoir forced him to relive painful memories, and why telling the story required taking the reader back into the most difficult moments of his life. 00:14:00 — Harvey describes recording the audiobook as a cleansing, cathartic, and redemptive experience — saying his story out loud allowed him to feel a new level of healing. 00:15:43 — Harvey reflects on “success as the best revenge,” explaining that the people who bullied, rejected, and underestimated him were never going to apologize — so he chose to validate himself through achievement. 00:18:40 — Harvey speaks powerfully about the two gifts his parents gave him: self-esteem and rejection. One gave him strength; the other gave him drive. 00:32:40 — Harvey remembers Mrs. Jarrett, the teacher who protected him from bullies, believed in him, and helped change the direction of his life. In the fall, a feature film about Harvey will be released called "Without Prejudice", a Hollywood biographical drama adapted from his memoir, 'Without Prejudice: My Life as a Gay Judge'. The film chronicles his turbulent, tempestuous, and often triumphant journey from being a severely bullied child and a rejected outcast to becoming Canada's first openly gay judge, a landmark civil rights champion, and a celebrated celebrity interviewer. David Arquette stars as Harvey in his later adult life, while David Mazouz plays the young adult. Through it all, Harvey Brownstone emerges as a person of extraordinary wit, toughness, sensitivity, and heart. His story reminds us that a life can be wounded and still become magnificent, that rejection does not have to define us, and that sometimes the very thing meant to break us becomes the force that carries us forward. ——

There are some interviews that inform. And then there are interviews that leave a permanent imprint on the soul. In this profoundly emotional episode of The Avrum Rosensweig Show, I sit down with acclaimed journalist, author, and cultural commentator Danielle Crittenden for one of the most intimate and moving conversations I have ever had. Danielle speaks with breathtaking honesty about the sudden death of her beloved 32-year-old daughter, Miranda, and the unbearable journey through grief that followed. Drawing from her extraordinary memoir Dispatches from Grief: A Mother's Journey Through the Unthinkable, Danielle opens the deepest chambers of motherhood, loss, memory, marriage, Jewish ritual, and the enduring power of love. This is not simply an interview about death. It is an exploration of what it means to remain human after devastation. Together, we discuss the surreal reality of losing a child, the sacred wisdom within Jewish mourning rituals, the transformation of marriage under grief, and the mysterious ways love continues even after death. Danielle's courage, vulnerability, and wisdom make this one of the most powerful conversations ever featured on this channel. ⸻ MAJOR MOMENTS IN THIS INTERVIEW: 00:01:16 — Danielle speaks about the sudden death of her daughter Miranda and how life permanently split into “before” and “after.” 00:07:13 — Danielle explains why she began writing Dispatches from Grief as a reporter documenting her own unimaginable pain from inside what she calls an “alternative universe.” 00:14:53 — Danielle recounts the devastating moment she saw Miranda after her passing and recognized her instantly by the crown of her head — the place she kissed throughout her life. 00:23:24 — Danielle shares the powerful advice her husband David Frum gave her: “We cannot disappear into different silos of grief.” 00:31:23 — A profound discussion about Jewish mourning rituals, Shiva, parental grief, and the Torah's timeless understanding of loss. ⸻ CONCLUSION: This conversation is ultimately about love — the kind of love that survives even death itself. Danielle Crittenden does not offer easy answers, clichés, or simple healing. What she offers instead is something far rarer: truth. Raw, painful, beautiful truth. In speaking openly about grief, motherhood, memory, marriage, Judaism, and the unbearable ache of losing a child, she gives voice to countless people suffering silently around the world. There are moments in this interview that will break your heart. There are moments that may leave you in tears. But there are also moments of extraordinary humanity, tenderness, courage, and spiritual depth. If you have ever loved deeply… if you have ever lost… if you have ever wondered how human beings continue after tragedy… this conversation will stay with you long after it ends. Thank you for watching The Avrum Rosensweig Show. Please subscribe, share this interview, and leave a comment below. Your support helps bring meaningful human conversations into the world. #DanielleCrittenden #DispatchesFromGrief #AvrumRosensweig #Grief #Motherhood #JewishLife #Loss #DavidFrum #MirandaFrum #Shiva #Judaism #Healing #Podcast #TheAvrumRosensweigShow #DanielleCrittenden #DispatchesFromGrief #AvrumRosensweig #TheAvrumRosensweigShow #Grief #Motherhood #LossOfAChild #JewishLife #Shiva #DavidFrum #MirandaFrum #Healing #Podcast #JewishPodcast #MentalHealth #LoveTranscendsDeath #Parenting #TraumaAndHealing #Humanity #PowerfulConversations ——

There are some interviews that inform. And then there are interviews that leave a permanent imprint on the soul. In this profoundly emotional episode of The Avrum Rosensweig Show, I sit down with acclaimed journalist, author, and cultural commentator Danielle Crittenden for one of the most intimate and moving conversations I have ever had. Danielle speaks with breathtaking honesty about the sudden death of her beloved 32-year-old daughter, Miranda, and the unbearable journey through grief that followed. Drawing from her extraordinary memoir Dispatches from Grief: A Mother's Journey Through the Unthinkable, Danielle opens the deepest chambers of motherhood, loss, memory, marriage, Jewish ritual, and the enduring power of love. This is not simply an interview about death. It is an exploration of what it means to remain human after devastation. Together, we discuss the surreal reality of losing a child, the sacred wisdom within Jewish mourning rituals, the transformation of marriage under grief, and the mysterious ways love continues even after death. Danielle's courage, vulnerability, and wisdom make this one of the most powerful conversations ever featured on this channel. ⸻ MAJOR MOMENTS IN THIS INTERVIEW: 00:01:16 — Danielle speaks about the sudden death of her daughter Miranda and how life permanently split into “before” and “after.” 00:07:13 — Danielle explains why she began writing Dispatches from Grief as a reporter documenting her own unimaginable pain from inside what she calls an “alternative universe.” 00:14:53 — Danielle recounts the devastating moment she saw Miranda after her passing and recognized her instantly by the crown of her head — the place she kissed throughout her life. 00:23:24 — Danielle shares the powerful advice her husband David Frum gave her: “We cannot disappear into different silos of grief.” 00:31:23 — A profound discussion about Jewish mourning rituals, Shiva, parental grief, and the Torah's timeless understanding of loss. ⸻ CONCLUSION: This conversation is ultimately about love — the kind of love that survives even death itself. Danielle Crittenden does not offer easy answers, clichés, or simple healing. What she offers instead is something far rarer: truth. Raw, painful, beautiful truth. In speaking openly about grief, motherhood, memory, marriage, Judaism, and the unbearable ache of losing a child, she gives voice to countless people suffering silently around the world. There are moments in this interview that will break your heart. There are moments that may leave you in tears. But there are also moments of extraordinary humanity, tenderness, courage, and spiritual depth. If you have ever loved deeply… if you have ever lost… if you have ever wondered how human beings continue after tragedy… this conversation will stay with you long after it ends. Thank you for watching The Avrum Rosensweig Show. Please subscribe, share this interview, and leave a comment below. Your support helps bring meaningful human conversations into the world. #DanielleCrittenden #DispatchesFromGrief #AvrumRosensweig #Grief #Motherhood #JewishLife #Loss #DavidFrum #MirandaFrum #Shiva #Judaism #Healing #Podcast #TheAvrumRosensweigShow #DanielleCrittenden #DispatchesFromGrief #AvrumRosensweig #TheAvrumRosensweigShow #Grief #Motherhood #LossOfAChild #JewishLife #Shiva #DavidFrum #MirandaFrum #Healing #Podcast #JewishPodcast #MentalHealth #LoveTranscendsDeath #Parenting #TraumaAndHealing #Humanity #PowerfulConversations ——

here are musicians. And then there are musicians who carry an entire civilization in their voice. On this episode of The Avrum Rosensweig Show, Avrum sits down with the extraordinary Mark Rubin — bassist, folk singer, storyteller, defender of Jewish dignity, and the self-described “Jew of Oklahoma.” This is not simply a conversation about music. It is a journey through Jewish identity in the American South, generational memory, anti-Semitism, bluegrass culture, Native American solidarity, Yiddish resistance songs, and the moral courage required to stand openly as a Jew in a changing world. Mark speaks candidly about growing up Jewish in Oklahoma, swastikas painted on his family home, his father's warnings about history repeating itself, and the shocking anti-Semitism he encountered inside the bluegrass world that ultimately redirected his life toward Yiddish music and Jewish cultural activism. Woven throughout the interview is music itself — as resistance, memory, survival, humor, and defiance. A deeply soulful, provocative, funny, painful, and inspiring conversation. Major Moments in the Interview 03:17 — Mark explains his identity as a Southern American Jew and the unique fusion of Oklahoma roots culture and Jewish consciousness. 13:42 — A powerful discussion about Oklahoma, Native American history, genocide, and how Mark's father connected Holocaust consciousness to Indigenous suffering in America. 21:19 — Mark shares the haunting lesson his father taught him: “Every hundred years or so, the world turns its back on the Jews.” 34:01 — Mark recounts the devastating anti-Semitic moment inside the bluegrass world that changed the course of his musical life forever. 42:08 — Mark explains why he created “The Jew of Oklahoma” and why he refuses to surrender either his Jewish identity or his Southern roots. 44:32 — A moving conversation about Yiddish poet Mordechai Gebirtig, Holocaust memory, and the role of Jewish music as prophecy, warning, and resistance. Watch this fascinating interview with a very special Jew from Oklahoma, who stands courageously with our people. Am Yisrael Chai. The Nation of Israeli Lives!!! ——

On this episode of The Avrum Rosensweig Show, Avrum sits down with the extraordinary Mark Rubin — bassist, folk singer, storyteller, defender of Jewish dignity, and the self-described “Jew of Oklahoma.” This is not simply a conversation about music. It is a journey through Jewish identity in the American South, generational memory, anti-Semitism, bluegrass culture, Native American solidarity, Yiddish resistance songs, and the moral courage required to stand openly as a Jew in a changing world. Mark speaks candidly about growing up Jewish in Oklahoma, swastikas painted on his family home, his father's warnings about history repeating itself, and the shocking anti-Semitism he encountered inside the bluegrass world that ultimately redirected his life toward Yiddish music and Jewish cultural activism. Woven throughout the interview is music itself — as resistance, memory, survival, humor, and defiance. A deeply soulful, provocative, funny, painful, and inspiring conversation. Major Moments in the Interview 03:17 — Mark explains his identity as a Southern American Jew and the unique fusion of Oklahoma roots culture and Jewish consciousness. 13:42 — A powerful discussion about Oklahoma, Native American history, genocide, and how Mark's father connected Holocaust consciousness to Indigenous suffering in America. 21:19 — Mark shares the haunting lesson his father taught him: “Every hundred years or so, the world turns its back on the Jews.” 34:01 — Mark recounts the devastating anti-Semitic moment inside the bluegrass world that changed the course of his musical life forever. 42:08 — Mark explains why he created “The Jew of Oklahoma” and why he refuses to surrender either his Jewish identity or his Southern roots. 44:32 — A moving conversation about Yiddish poet Mordechai Gebirtig, Holocaust memory, and the role of Jewish music as prophecy, warning, and resistance. Watch this fascinating interview with a very special Jew from Oklahoma, who stands courageously with our people. Am Yisrael Chai. The Nation of Israeli Lives!!! ——

There are few works in the history of theatre that have entered the emotional bloodstream of humanity quite like Fiddler on the Roof. More than a beloved Broadway musical, it is a profound meditation on family, faith, exile, resilience, identity, love, and the fragile balancing act between tradition and change. Since its debut in 1964, the story of Tevye the milkman, his wife Golde, and their daughters in the tiny shtetl of Anatevka has transcended culture, religion, language, and geography — because beneath its deeply Jewish story lies something universally human: the longing to hold onto one another while the world shifts beneath our feet. Now, in a remarkable and internationally celebrated production presented by the Harold Green Jewish Theatre Company, Fiddler on the Roof returns to the language and cultural heartbeat from which it was born — Yiddish. Performed entirely in Yiddish with English subtitles, this historic production arrives at Toronto's legendary Elgin Theatre from May 25 to June 7 under the direction of Tony and Academy Award winner Joel Grey. What began in New York as a six-week theatrical experiment became an 18-month sensation, earning major awards, standing ovations, and more than 500 performances. Critics called it revelatory. Audiences described it as hauntingly beautiful, deeply human, and emotionally transformative. At the center of this extraordinary artistic achievement stands Zalmen Mlotek — one of the world's foremost authorities on Yiddish theatre and song, Artistic Director of the National Yiddish Theatre Folksbiene, and one of the great guardians of Jewish cultural continuity. Born into one of the most important Yiddish cultural families in North America, Mlotek grew up immersed in the language, music, and memory of Ashkenazi Jewish civilization. His father, Joseph Mlotek, edited the legendary Forverts (Yiddish Forward), while his mother, Eleanor Chana Mlotek, became one of the great archivists of Yiddish folk music. Zalmen himself studied at Juilliard and worked under the legendary Leonard Bernstein before dedicating his life to preserving and revitalizing Yiddish culture through theatre and song. Under his artistic leadership, the National Yiddish Theatre Folksbiene — founded in 1915 and the world's longest continuously operating Yiddish theatre company — has become internationally celebrated for reviving classic Yiddish works and bringing Jewish theatrical history into the modern cultural imagination. Tonight, on The Avrum Rosensweig Show, we explore the enduring power of Fiddler on the Roof, the emotional resonance of hearing it performed in Yiddish, and why this language still carries what Joel Grey calls “history, humour, sorrow and resilience all at once.” For centuries, Yiddish became the emotional heartbeat of Jewish life — the language of storytelling, humour, commerce, lullabies, argument, heartbreak, and survival. Together, we also explore the great Yiddish literary and theatrical tradition shaped by figures such as Sholem Aleichem, I.L. Peretz, Isaac Bashevis Singer, Theo Bikel, Sheldon Harnick, and Itzhak Perlman — and how Yiddish theatre helped shape Broadway itself. But perhaps most importantly, this conversation asks why Fiddler on the Roof continues to unite audiences across generations, faiths, and backgrounds. Why a story rooted in one tiny Jewish village somehow speaks to all humanity. This is not merely an interview about theatre. It is a conversation about memory. About identity. About exile and belonging. About resilience. About family. And about the extraordinary power of language, music, and storytelling to keep a civilization alive. Ladies and gentlemen — Zalmen Mlotek. ——

There are few works in the history of theatre that have entered the emotional bloodstream of humanity quite like Fiddler on the Roof. More than a beloved Broadway musical, it is a profound meditation on family, faith, exile, resilience, identity, love, and the fragile balancing act between tradition and change. Since its debut in 1964, the story of Tevye the milkman, his wife Golde, and their daughters in the tiny shtetl of Anatevka has transcended culture, religion, language, and geography — because beneath its deeply Jewish story lies something universally human: the longing to hold onto one another while the world shifts beneath our feet. Now, in a remarkable and internationally celebrated production presented by the Harold Green Jewish Theatre Company, Fiddler on the Roof returns to the language and cultural heartbeat from which it was born — Yiddish. Performed entirely in Yiddish with English subtitles, this historic production arrives at Toronto's legendary Elgin Theatre from May 25 to June 7 under the direction of Tony and Academy Award winner Joel Grey. What began in New York as a six-week theatrical experiment became an 18-month sensation, earning major awards, standing ovations, and more than 500 performances. Critics called it revelatory. Audiences described it as hauntingly beautiful, deeply human, and emotionally transformative. At the center of this extraordinary artistic achievement stands Zalmen Mlotek — one of the world's foremost authorities on Yiddish theatre and song, Artistic Director of the National Yiddish Theatre Folksbiene, and one of the great guardians of Jewish cultural continuity. Born into one of the most important Yiddish cultural families in North America, Mlotek grew up immersed in the language, music, and memory of Ashkenazi Jewish civilization. His father, Joseph Mlotek, edited the legendary Forverts (Yiddish Forward), while his mother, Eleanor Chana Mlotek, became one of the great archivists of Yiddish folk music. Zalmen himself studied at Juilliard and worked under the legendary Leonard Bernstein before dedicating his life to preserving and revitalizing Yiddish culture through theatre and song. Under his artistic leadership, the National Yiddish Theatre Folksbiene — founded in 1915 and the world's longest continuously operating Yiddish theatre company — has become internationally celebrated for reviving classic Yiddish works and bringing Jewish theatrical history into the modern cultural imagination. Tonight, on The Avrum Rosensweig Show, we explore the enduring power of Fiddler on the Roof, the emotional resonance of hearing it performed in Yiddish, and why this language still carries what Joel Grey calls “history, humour, sorrow and resilience all at once.” For centuries, Yiddish became the emotional heartbeat of Jewish life — the language of storytelling, humour, commerce, lullabies, argument, heartbreak, and survival. Together, we also explore the great Yiddish literary and theatrical tradition shaped by figures such as Sholem Aleichem, I.L. Peretz, Isaac Bashevis Singer, Theo Bikel, Sheldon Harnick, and Itzhak Perlman — and how Yiddish theatre helped shape Broadway itself. But perhaps most importantly, this conversation asks why Fiddler on the Roof continues to unite audiences across generations, faiths, and backgrounds. Why a story rooted in one tiny Jewish village somehow speaks to all humanity. This is not merely an interview about theatre. It is a conversation about memory. About identity. About exile and belonging. About resilience. About family. And about the extraordinary power of language, music, and storytelling to keep a civilization alive. Ladies and gentlemen — Zalmen Mlotek. ——

Watch/listen to this fascinating interview with Phyllis Karas, New York Times bestseller, who speaks about her latest book, 'THE CURSE OF THE BLUMENTHALS', a book about tragedy and violence that struck this Jewish family, and how love was able to stop the curse. 1. Jewish Families Often Buried Painful Secrets Timeline: 04:35 – 06:45 Karas discusses how Jewish immigrant families frequently concealed shameful or painful truths. Divorce, alcoholism, crime, prison, and violence were hidden from children and outsiders. She describes uncovering long-buried family secrets through research and writing. Major revelations: She discovered her mother had been previously divorced Family never discussed who caused the fatal crash Relatives whispered about crime and prison in secrecy 2. Writing the Book Became an Act of Truth-Telling and Healing Timeline: 08:07 – 10:00 and 32:35 – 36:30 Karas explains that writing Curse of the Blumenthals required courage. She feared hurting relatives or exposing painful family wounds. Yet the book ultimately became an attempt to preserve memory, honor the dead, and confront truths honestly. Important themes: Librarians and archives helped reconstruct hidden history Cousins encouraged her to publish the story She rejected family shame and secrecy 3. Generational Trauma Defined the Family Story Timeline: 13:55 – 23:40 One of the central themes is the catastrophic 1935 drunk-driving crash that killed six members of the Blumenthal family, including children. Karas explains her family history was psychologically divided into “before the accident” and “after the accident.” The trauma shaped generations afterward. Key moments: Six family members killed instantly in 1935 Drunk driver served less than a year Family members never emotionally recovered 4. Ronnie Blumenthal's Murder Case Haunted Everyone Timeline: 25:05 – 32:15 The interview's darkest section centers on Ronnie Blumenthal, who at age 18 murdered a seamstress connected romantically to his father. Karas explains how the family minimized the crime for years, calling it “the incident” rather than a murder. Critical points: Ronnie strangled and brutally killed the woman Family continued loving and supporting him No one directly asked Ronnie if he committed the murder Ronnie later claimed he “took the wrap” for his father” This section explores guilt, ambiguity, denial, and moral complexity. See www.pylliskaras.com The book is available at Amazon.com and all major book outlets ——

Watch/listen to this fascinating interview with Phyllis Karas, New York Times bestseller, who speaks about her latest book, 'THE CURSE OF THE BLUMENTHALS', a book about tragedy and violence that struck this Jewish family, and how love was able to stop the curse. 1. Jewish Families Often Buried Painful Secrets Timeline: 04:35 – 06:45 Karas discusses how Jewish immigrant families frequently concealed shameful or painful truths. Divorce, alcoholism, crime, prison, and violence were hidden from children and outsiders. She describes uncovering long-buried family secrets through research and writing. Major revelations: She discovered her mother had been previously divorced Family never discussed who caused the fatal crash Relatives whispered about crime and prison in secrecy 2. Writing the Book Became an Act of Truth-Telling and Healing Timeline: 08:07 – 10:00 and 32:35 – 36:30 Karas explains that writing Curse of the Blumenthals required courage. She feared hurting relatives or exposing painful family wounds. Yet the book ultimately became an attempt to preserve memory, honor the dead, and confront truths honestly. Important themes: Librarians and archives helped reconstruct hidden history Cousins encouraged her to publish the story She rejected family shame and secrecy 3. Generational Trauma Defined the Family Story Timeline: 13:55 – 23:40 One of the central themes is the catastrophic 1935 drunk-driving crash that killed six members of the Blumenthal family, including children. Karas explains her family history was psychologically divided into “before the accident” and “after the accident.” The trauma shaped generations afterward. Key moments: Six family members killed instantly in 1935 Drunk driver served less than a year Family members never emotionally recovered 4. Ronnie Blumenthal's Murder Case Haunted Everyone Timeline: 25:05 – 32:15 The interview's darkest section centers on Ronnie Blumenthal, who at age 18 murdered a seamstress connected romantically to his father. Karas explains how the family minimized the crime for years, calling it “the incident” rather than a murder. Critical points: Ronnie strangled and brutally killed the woman Family continued loving and supporting him No one directly asked Ronnie if he committed the murder Ronnie later claimed he “took the wrap” for his father” This section explores guilt, ambiguity, denial, and moral complexity. See www.pylliskaras.com The book is available at Amazon.com and all major book outlets ——

Some conversations entertain. Others inform. And every so often, a conversation opens a window into an entire generation — into culture, identity, memory, and the evolving story of a people. Welcome to The Avrum Rosensweig Show. Today's guest is Ralph Benmergui — one of Canada's most recognizable broadcasters, interviewers, and cultural voices. For decades, Ralph lived in the public square — first through the halls of the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation, and later through the warm, intimate airwaves of JazzFM91. But what made Ralph unforgettable was never simply his talent. It was something rarer. Humanity. Curiosity. Vulnerability. Soul. He was not merely a broadcaster asking questions. He became a voice Canadians trusted to ask them honestly. But behind the microphone is a deeper story. The story of a Jewish boy growing up in Toronto. The son of Moroccan Jewish immigrants. A man shaped by questions of belonging, creativity, ambition, spirituality, and identity. Over the years, Ralph has spoken openly about success and struggle, about mental health. cancer and reinvention, about fame, fatherhood, aging, and what it means to remain emotionally awake in a world that often rewards performance over authenticity. This is not merely a conversation about media. It is a conversation about what happens to a person who spends a lifetime listening deeply to others — and then turns inward to ask difficult questions of himself. We will explore his powerful memoir, I Thought He Was Dead — a title as haunting as it is revealing. We'll schmooze about spirituality, Jewish Renewal, his work as a Mashpi'ah, his ordination as a spiritual director, and his deeply thoughtful approach to God — not as a fixed object, but as a verb… a flow that never stops creating. Today, Ralph serves as Executive Director of Aleph Canada, guiding individuals through spiritual coaching and leading Aging to Sageing workshops that ask one of life's most difficult questions: How do we grow older without growing smaller? Today's conversation explores broadcasting, Jewish identity, Canada, culture, creativity, pain, resilience, masculinity, memory, and the search for meaning in a noisy age. This is a conversation about voice. And perhaps even more importantly — about finding one's own. Welcome to my conversation with husband, father of four boys, citizen of Hamilton, broadcaster, spiritual seeker, and storyteller — Ralph Benmergui. ——

Some conversations entertain. Others inform. And every so often, a conversation opens a window into an entire generation — into culture, identity, memory, and the evolving story of a people. Welcome to The Avrum Rosensweig Show. Today's guest is Ralph Benmergui — one of Canada's most recognizable broadcasters, interviewers, and cultural voices. For decades, Ralph lived in the public square — first through the halls of the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation, and later through the warm, intimate airwaves of JazzFM91. But what made Ralph unforgettable was never simply his talent. It was something rarer. Humanity. Curiosity. Vulnerability. Soul. He was not merely a broadcaster asking questions. He became a voice Canadians trusted to ask them honestly. But behind the microphone is a deeper story. The story of a Jewish boy growing up in Toronto. The son of Moroccan Jewish immigrants. A man shaped by questions of belonging, creativity, ambition, spirituality, and identity. Over the years, Ralph has spoken openly about success and struggle, about mental health. cancer and reinvention, about fame, fatherhood, aging, and what it means to remain emotionally awake in a world that often rewards performance over authenticity. This is not merely a conversation about media. It is a conversation about what happens to a person who spends a lifetime listening deeply to others — and then turns inward to ask difficult questions of himself. We will explore his powerful memoir, I Thought He Was Dead — a title as haunting as it is revealing. We'll schmooze about spirituality, Jewish Renewal, his work as a Mashpi'ah, his ordination as a spiritual director, and his deeply thoughtful approach to God — not as a fixed object, but as a verb… a flow that never stops creating. Today, Ralph serves as Executive Director of Aleph Canada, guiding individuals through spiritual coaching and leading Aging to Sageing workshops that ask one of life's most difficult questions: How do we grow older without growing smaller? Today's conversation explores broadcasting, Jewish identity, Canada, culture, creativity, pain, resilience, masculinity, memory, and the search for meaning in a noisy age. This is a conversation about voice. And perhaps even more importantly — about finding one's own. Welcome to my conversation with husband, father of four boys, citizen of Hamilton, broadcaster, spiritual seeker, and storyteller — Ralph Benmergui. ——

Some lives follow a straight line. Others move through worlds—searching, questioning, breaking, and rebuilding. Dyan Liora's journey is one of those rare paths. Born in the Philippines and raised Catholic, she began asking difficult questions early—questions that led her away from organized religion and into a deep, often turbulent search for truth. From yoga practiced with urgency, to Kundalini spirituality, to a period of immersion in Islam, her path took her across spiritual traditions and into radically different ways of living—from the Amazon jungle to a hippie commune. But this wasn't just a search for meaning. It was a journey inward. As Dyan herself reflects through a Native teaching often attributed to the Sioux tradition: “The longest journey you will ever take is from your head to your heart.” Along the way, surrounded by voices that were deeply critical of Israel, she absorbed those views almost by default—never imagining they would one day be challenged. Until a moment she couldn't ignore. A man she deeply respected broke down in tears while speaking about Israel. That moment cracked something open. It triggered a wave of cognitive dissonance—and a relentless pursuit of truth. Dyan began researching. Studying history. Listening—deeply—to voices on all sides. And slowly, the narrative she once accepted began to unravel. What emerged was a radically different understanding: a small nation of Jews, living under constant threat in a complex and often hostile region. A reality far more layered—and far more human—than she had been led to believe. Then came October 7th. From Mexico, she watched in shock as people in her own circles didn't just criticize—but, at times, justified or even celebrated violence. In that moment, everything converged: her spiritual search, her commitment to truth, and her willingness to stand apart from the crowd. She began to speak. Today, Dyan Liora is a quantum healer, a former Sufi, and a guide for those seeking what she calls soul sovereignty—helping people break free from limiting beliefs and inherited narratives. Her work challenges not only spiritual assumptions, but also political ones—especially where history is blurred, simplified, or reshaped through ideology. Her voice has brought backlash. Suspensions. And controversy. But it has also drawn something else: People searching for clarity. For nuance. For truth. Having traveled to Israel herself, she describes a society far more complex and open than many imagine—a place where diversity, tension, freedom, and contradiction all exist side by side. Through it all, Dyan continues to ask the question that defines her journey: What happens when you are willing to question everything you thought you knew? Ladies and gentlemen— Dyan Liora. ——

Some lives follow a straight line. Others move through worlds—searching, questioning, breaking, and rebuilding. Dyan Liora's journey is one of those rare paths. Born in the Philippines and raised Catholic, she began asking difficult questions early—questions that led her away from organized religion and into a deep, often turbulent search for truth. From yoga practiced with urgency, to Kundalini spirituality, to a period of immersion in Islam, her path took her across spiritual traditions and into radically different ways of living—from the Amazon jungle to a hippie commune. But this wasn't just a search for meaning. It was a journey inward. As Dyan herself reflects through a Native teaching often attributed to the Sioux tradition: “The longest journey you will ever take is from your head to your heart.” Along the way, surrounded by voices that were deeply critical of Israel, she absorbed those views almost by default—never imagining they would one day be challenged. Until a moment she couldn't ignore. A man she deeply respected broke down in tears while speaking about Israel. That moment cracked something open. It triggered a wave of cognitive dissonance—and a relentless pursuit of truth. Dyan began researching. Studying history. Listening—deeply—to voices on all sides. And slowly, the narrative she once accepted began to unravel. What emerged was a radically different understanding: a small nation of Jews, living under constant threat in a complex and often hostile region. A reality far more layered—and far more human—than she had been led to believe. Then came October 7th. From Mexico, she watched in shock as people in her own circles didn't just criticize—but, at times, justified or even celebrated violence. In that moment, everything converged: her spiritual search, her commitment to truth, and her willingness to stand apart from the crowd. She began to speak. Today, Dyan Liora is a quantum healer, a former Sufi, and a guide for those seeking what she calls soul sovereignty—helping people break free from limiting beliefs and inherited narratives. Her work challenges not only spiritual assumptions, but also political ones—especially where history is blurred, simplified, or reshaped through ideology. Her voice has brought backlash. Suspensions. And controversy. But it has also drawn something else: People searching for clarity. For nuance. For truth. Having traveled to Israel herself, she describes a society far more complex and open than many imagine—a place where diversity, tension, freedom, and contradiction all exist side by side. Through it all, Dyan continues to ask the question that defines her journey: What happens when you are willing to question everything you thought you knew? Ladies and gentlemen— Dyan Liora. ——

Welcome to The Avrum Rosensweig Show. Some lives are shaped by ideas. Others by moments. And then there are the rare lives shaped by decision — by a refusal to drift, by the choice to live with intention. This is one of those stories. This is the story of Eliav Dickstein — a man who asks not, what can Israel do for me, but what can I do for Israel? But his story doesn't begin on a battlefield. It begins in a small wooden treehouse in Ra'anana… Where a sixteen-year-old boy sat alone, looking out over a eucalyptus tree — and wrote down three dreams: To walk the length of the Land of Israel. To serve in one of its most elite units. And to step beyond its borders… to understand the world. Most people dream. Very few live their dreams forward. Eliav did. His path would take him from that quiet treehouse… into the heart of one of Israel's most elite undercover counterterrorism units — the Duvdevan Unit. A life of pressure. Of split-second decisions. Of leadership under fire. And then — a moment almost impossible to comprehend: He helped coordinate the rescue of a wounded soldier… Only to discover later — it was his own brother. What does that do to a person? How does it change the way you love… the way you fear… the way you lead? But this conversation doesn't stop at war. Because after years of service, something shifts. The soldier begins to ask new questions: Not only what have I done? — but what still needs to be built? Eliav steps into a new arena — as an entrepreneur, a philanthropist, the builder of a political party… still driven by that same force: Movement. Pressure. Purpose. “I need to be in constant motion,” he says. “Like an odometer on a bike.” So today, we go deep. Into the mind of a man who thrives under pressure. Into the story of a brother saved in war. Into the evolution — from fighter to visionary. This is not just a journey. It's a calling. Ladies and gentlemen… a father of four, a man of courage, and an Israeli through and through — Eliav Dickstein. ——

Welcome to The Avrum Rosensweig Show. Some lives are shaped by ideas. Others by moments. And then there are the rare lives shaped by decision — by a refusal to drift, by the choice to live with intention. This is one of those stories. This is the story of Eliav Dickstein — a man who asks not, what can Israel do for me, but what can I do for Israel? But his story doesn't begin on a battlefield. It begins in a small wooden treehouse in Ra'anana… Where a sixteen-year-old boy sat alone, looking out over a eucalyptus tree — and wrote down three dreams: To walk the length of the Land of Israel. To serve in one of its most elite units. And to step beyond its borders… to understand the world. Most people dream. Very few live their dreams forward. Eliav did. His path would take him from that quiet treehouse… into the heart of one of Israel's most elite undercover counterterrorism units — the Duvdevan Unit. A life of pressure. Of split-second decisions. Of leadership under fire. And then — a moment almost impossible to comprehend: He helped coordinate the rescue of a wounded soldier… Only to discover later — it was his own brother. What does that do to a person? How does it change the way you love… the way you fear… the way you lead? But this conversation doesn't stop at war. Because after years of service, something shifts. The soldier begins to ask new questions: Not only what have I done? — but what still needs to be built? Eliav steps into a new arena — as an entrepreneur, a philanthropist, the builder of a political party… still driven by that same force: Movement. Pressure. Purpose. “I need to be in constant motion,” he says. “Like an odometer on a bike.” So today, we go deep. Into the mind of a man who thrives under pressure. Into the story of a brother saved in war. Into the evolution — from fighter to visionary. This is not just a journey. It's a calling. Ladies and gentlemen… a father of four, a man of courage, and an Israeli through and through — Eliav Dickstein. ——

Welcome to The Avrum Rosensweig Show. Every so often, we meet someone whose life forces us to confront uncomfortable questions — about truth, about identity, and about the quiet pressures that shape what we are allowed to believe… and what we are not. This conversation does exactly that. This is the story of Charlotte Carmel Geva — a woman who did not simply cross borders, but who crossed lines most people are too afraid to even acknowledge. Born in Frankfurt, educated in the language of ideas — political science, Semitic studies — Charlotte could have remained in the safety of theory. Instead, she stepped into the real world, into Yemen, into the fragile, often dangerous reality of the Middle East — working with youth, with women, with communities living on the edge of uncertainty. And then, history moved. When the Arab Spring erupted, Charlotte was forced out — evacuated, displaced — yet she chose not to walk away. She stayed engaged, committed to human dignity in a region unraveling in real time. But the deepest rupture in her life did not come from war zones. It came from something quieter… and in many ways, more disturbing. In 2018, Charlotte was pushed out of her work — not because she failed, but because she was seen as too aligned with Israel in environments where antisemitism, often unspoken, shaped professional and social boundaries. That moment — painful, disorienting — could have silenced her. Instead, it clarified everything. What followed was not just a move. It was a transformation. Charlotte chose to go to Israel. She chose to convert to Judaism. She chose to align her outer life with her inner truth — at a cost that many would not be willing to pay. And that is where this conversation begins. Because this is not just a story about geography. It is a story about courage. About the tension between belonging and exclusion. About what happens when your values are no longer theoretical — when they demand something of you. Today, Charlotte continues her humanitarian work, bringing together Jewish ethical tradition and global responsibility — but her journey raises questions that reach far beyond her own life: What does it mean to stand firm when the world pushes back? What does it mean to choose identity — rather than inherit it? And what is the true cost of living honestly? This is not an easy conversation. But it is an important one. Please welcome… Charlotte Carmel Geva. ——