Jay's 4 Questions

World-renowned Israeli chef and spice master Lior Lev Sercarz joins Jay’s 4 Questions for a riveting discussion on the important role chefs play in bridging societal gaps and how cooking with the right combination of spices can enhance your life. 

New York Times bestselling author of Maybe You Should Talk to Someone, psychotherapist, nationally recognized journalist, and weekly columnist for The Atlantic Lori Gottlieb joins Jay’s 4 Questions for a fascinating discussion on the challenge to stay connected to each other and the Jewish community in our increasingly fast-paced technological world. Jay and Lori examine modern use of devices as an escape tool and the resulting isolation and damage to our health. They explore solutions to these ever-growing problems, which include listening more intently to those we care about and making time to be present with them.

Multi-talented actress, singer, writer, and comedian Rachel Bloom joins Jay’s 4 Questions to discuss her Jewish upbringing, her blossoming career, and why Jay considers Rachel the “modern-day queen of Yiddish theater.” The conversation highlights Rachel’s early influences including Mel Brooks, her rise from YouTube viral start to Golden Globe award-winning actress, the power in vulnerability when dealing with mental health issues, and preparing to raise a Jewish child.

Rabbanit Alissa Thomas-Newborn talks about her journey from being the daughter of a Reform rabbi and student at Brentwood school to a leader in the modern Orthodox community, the role she plays as a rabbanit, and the legacy of women leaders throughout history.

Award-winning journalist and TV producer Avi Issacharoff of Haaretz, The Times of Israel, and the hit Netflix show Fauda, joins Jay’s 4 Questions podcast

For the 80th episode, the script is flipped! Our podcast host and Federation President & CEO Jay Sanderson sits down with Rob Eshman to share his thoughts on community, spirituality, religion, and food.

Nirvana manager and entertainment professional Danny Goldberg talks about religion, spirituality, his new book Serving the Servant, and more on this week’s Jay’s 4 Questions podcast.

Award-winning journalist and former CNN Chief White House Correspondent Jessica Yellin talks about her experiences covering Presidents and world leaders, the state of journalism today, and her “newsnotnoise” Instagram campaign.

Chef and baker extraordinaire Zoe Nathan of Huckleberry and Milo + Olive joins Jay’s 4 Questions to talk about food, community, and spirituality.

Creator of Jewish Insider Max Neuberger talks about his daily newsletter that covers U.S. politics, business news, and philanthropy from a Jewish angle.

“America’s Rabbi” Shmuley Boteach seems to always be in the headlines — whether because of his relationships with Roseanne Barr, Oprah, and Corey Booker, or his past with Michael Jackson. Rabbi Shmuley has helped redefine the role of the rabbi in today’s media-driven world.

Learn about the matzah ball soup that won her a spot on Bravo’s Top Chef Season 16 in Macau, China with Chef Sara Bradley. She joins Jay’s 4 Questions to talk about growing up in the very small town of Paducah KY, the connection between Paducah and Manischewitz’s gefilte fish, and the secret for the perfect Southern matzah brei.

Learn secrets to the perfect matzah brei and a plan for peace in the Middle East from actress Tovah Feldshuh on this week’s Jay’s 4 Questions. This amazing Jewish Broadway, TV, and silver screen star also talks about the extraordinary characters she has brought to life throughout her career. 

David Harris, CEO of the American Jewish Committee, joins Jay’s 4 Questions podcast to talk about the extraordinary changes from 1990 to present day in the Jewish world, his passion for Jewish activism, and what has inspired his life and life’s journey.

This week’s guest is America’s Heart-Healthy Doctor and Holistic Cardiologist, Dr. Joel Kahn. The conversation spans preventive cardiology and the importance of plant-based, clean, healthy eating.

Chef, restaurateur, and deli impresario Micah Wexler joins Jay’s 4 Questions podcast to discuss deli culture, the difference between pastrami and corned beef, and his mother’s chicken soup. The conversation highlights his childhood memories growing up in a deep, rich Jewish home and the role mentorship has played throughout his personal and professional career. 

Rabbi Rick Jacobs, President of the Union for Reform Judaism, joins Jay’s 4 Questions, to discuss how the Jewish community must and will transform itself in order to engage the next generation of young Jews. He discusses the vibrancy of the community, his passion for his work, and the need to focus on Jewish content. 

This week’s guest is the legendary Dr. Steve Nasatir, President of The Jewish United Fund/Jewish Federation of Metropolitan Chicago. This episode takes a stroll through history as the conversation highlights how Dr. Nasatir has been a part of some of the most important and memorable moments in Jewish History — from the Six Day War to Operation Exodus to Operation Moses.  

This week’s episode highlights Amanda Berman, Executive Director and Co-Founder of Zioness, in a conversation that spans her political activism and love of Israel.  

This week on Jay’s 4 Questions, former NASA Astronaut and first Jewish crew member at the International Space Station Garrett Reisman joins us for an out-of-this-world episode!

The Accidental Talmudist joins Jay’s 4 Questions to discuss all things spiritual, Talmudic, and community.

This week’s Jay’s 4 Questions guest is Phil Rosenthal, Somebody Feed Phil host. Hot topics: comedy and food, two of the Jewish people’s greatest gifts to mankind.

This week’s podcast guest is Tali Levanon, Co-Founder and Executive Director of the Israel Trauma Coalition (ITC). She discusses her trauma and resiliency work in Israel, Pittsburgh, Los Angeles, and around the world and how people deal differently with traumas from natural and man-made disasters.     

Rabbi Yoshi Zweiback, Senior Rabbi of Stephen Wise Temple and Wise School, joins Jay’s 4 Questions to discuss the importance of community, Jewish education, and Jewish summer camp.

David Broza, extraordinary musical performer, singer, and songwriter, joins Jay’s 4 Questions podcast for the second time to discuss Israel, music, conflict resolution, coexistence, and One Million Guitars — a program that provides stipends for guitar lessons and uniquely designed guitars for underprivileged kids around the world.  

This week, Jay Sanderson hosts media personality, author, innovator, and rabbi Irwin Kula, the co-president of Clal — the National Jewish Center for Learning and Leadership.

Roni Saslove, the new face of Israeli wine, joins Jay Sanderson on this week’s episode of Jay’s 4 Questions to discuss mindful wine tasting, how wine triggers memories, and more! 

Rabbi Amy Bernstein, Senior Rabbi of Kehillat Israel in Pacific Palisades and the incoming Chair of the Southern California Board of Rabbis, joins Jay’s 4 Questions podcast to discuss her journey from Atlanta to Duluth to Southern California, why synagogues need to be more nimble, and how to access our spiritual best selves.

Founder & CEO of Unplug Meditation Suze Yalof Schwartz teaches Jay how to disconnect and unwind in this episode. She also shares mind-clearing and energy-raising techniques.

This week’s guest is Isaac “Bougie” Herzog, the Chairman of the Executive of the Jewish Agency and descendant of Israeli royalty.

This week’s guest is Gene Block, Chancellor of UCLA, ranked No. 13 “Best Global University” by U.S. News & World Report. Block talks science, research, and chancellor life.

TV personality, chef, and world explorer Andrew Zimmern joins Jay’s 4 Questions to talk about travel, spirituality, and the culinary scenes of L.A., Israel, and Minnesota. 

Gidi Grinstein, the founder of Reut Group and one of the Jewish world’s great thinkers and authors, joins Jay Sanderson to discuss the intersection between “Israeliness” and Jewishness — and how the world’s biggest problems are always opportunities.

Shelley Zalis, the innovative powerhouse behind The Female Quotient and Girls’ Lounge, joins Jay’s 4 Questions to discuss bringing emotion to the boardroom and giving back.

This week, Jay speaks with Oscar®-nominated, Emmy®-winning, Peabody-winning documentary filmmaker Amy Ziering about her life, experiences, and films — The Invisible War, The Hunting Ground, and The Bleeding Edge.

James Beard Award-Winning Best Chef Michael Solomonov joins Jay’s 4 Questions podcast to discuss his restaurants Zahav, Dizengoff, and Federal Donuts, his new cookbook Israeli Soul, tattoos and tefillin, and the intersection between Judaism and food.

Anat Hoffman, outspoken and dynamic Israeli activist, joins Jay’s 4 Questions to talk about her passion for justice, why she fights for an Israel for all Jews, and her lifelong pursuit to make the best possible Kosher eggs benedict.

This week’s guest is the incredibly talented producer/director Ben Winston from The Late Late Show with James Corden and Fulwell 73 Productions. Ben joins Jay’s 4 Questions to talk about his success in Hollywood, his deep Jewish roots, and Carpool Karaoke.

Richard Sandler, Chair of the Board of The Jewish Federations of North America, joins Jay Sanderson on Jay’s 4 Questions podcast to discuss the intersection between his family life, professional life, and life as a lay leader and philanthropist. He also shares the challenges and opportunities he has seen facing the Jewish community over the past years.

Rabbi Melissa Weintraub, Co-Executive Director of Resetting the Table, joins Jays 4 Questions to discuss the blurred lines between religion and politics, the power and consequences of our voices, and the importance of dialogue.

Comedian, writer, actor, and producer Elon Gold joins Jay’s 4 Questions to discuss his passion for comedy, his Judaism and the role it has played in his life and career, and his commitment to the community.

This week on Jay’s 4 Questions, host Jay Sanderson has a deep conversation with Rabbi Elazar Muskin, Senior Rabbi of Young Israel of Century City and the President of the Rabbinical Council of America. They talk about the power of inspiration and the importance of a 15-minute sermon.

On Jay’s 4 Questions, Dr. Beth Karlan, one of the leading gynecologic oncologists in America at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, talks about cancer, her research and work, the BFOR breast cancer gene mutation study, and the power of healing.

This week’s guest on Jay’s 4 Questions is comedian and writer Carol Leifer. From Catch a Rising Star to The Tonight Show with Johnny Carson and Jay Leno, to Seinfeld and to next season’s Curb Your Enthusiasm, Carol speaks with Jay about her professional experiences, her childhood and upbringing, and her deep commitment to her Jewishness and to The Jewish Federation.  

Pulitzer Prize-Winning Columnist Bret Stephens joins Jay for a thoughtful conversation about his journey from The Wall Street Journal to The Jerusalem Post, back to The Wall Street Journal, and finally to The New York Times today. They talk about his Jewish identity and his commitment to Israel, which began in Mexico City and has taken him around the world.

This week on the podcast, Federation President & CEO Jay Sanderson talks to Eric Goldstein, CEO of UJA-Federation NYC, the Los Angeles Federation’s East Coast cousin. They speak about the role of the Federation today, the difficulties they face during challenging times, and what we need to do to bring our Jewish communities together.

This week on Jay’s 4 Questions, host Jay Sanderson has a good old Hollywood chit-chat with Billy Harris, fundraiser extraordinaire, dinner host, and major food celebrity, about his journey from Brooklyn to Hollywood and beyond!

Uri D. Herscher, Founding President & CEO of the Skirball Cultural Center, joins Jay Sanderson on Jay’s 4 Questions to discuss identity, Jewish tradition, and the mission and role of the Skirball in creating a safe space for all.

This week, host Jay Sanderson speaks with Faye Kellerman, one of America’s most beloved mystery writers. They discuss how her love for Judaism always accompanied her on her journey from dentistry to writing — and remains a fixture in her everyday life. She also shared that her keen listening skills and vivid imagination have played key roles in her long-term success!

This week on Jay’s 4 Questions, James Beard Award-Winning Chef Alon Shaya joins Jay Sanderson for a lively conversation about how food led him on a journey of self-exploration and how cauliflower can be a “gateway drug.”

This week’s guest is Rabbi Angela Buchdahl, Senior Rabbi at New York City’s Central Synagogue. Born in Seoul, Korea, tune in to hear her journey to become a leader at one of the largest reform congregations in America and how she focuses on breaking down barriers, a subject deeply rooted in her life and work.