Podcasts about American Jewish University

Few observers are more insightful than the critic William Deresiewicz at identifying the changing landscape of American culture. In my latest conversation with Deresiewicz, best known for his book Excellent Sheep, we explore how young American men are increasingly drawn to right-wing politics while feeling socially devalued and alienated by progressive rhetoric. Deresiewicz critiques universities for embracing a censorious left-wing ideology that has become intellectually stagnant. He contrasts this with the creative ferment happening on the right, while at the same time rejecting Trump's authoritarian tactics against universities. Deresiewicz argues that art has lost its cultural significance as consumption has become disposable, and notes that a new counter-elite is attempting to destroy the established liberal elite rather than join its exclusive club.Here are the 5 KEEN ON AMERICA takeaways in our conversation with Deresiewicz: * Young men, particularly those without elite educations, are increasingly drawn to right-wing politics partly due to economic changes, dating app dynamics, and what Deresiewicz perceives as dismissive rhetoric from the progressive left.* Universities have embraced a "far left progressive ideology" that has been repeatedly rejected by voters even in traditionally liberal areas, yet Deresiewicz condemns Trump's authoritarian tactics against these institutions.* The political left has become intellectually stagnant, with creative energy now more visible on the right, while progressive spaces have become censorious and intolerant of debate.* Art has lost its cultural significance as streaming platforms and internet culture have turned creative works into disposable "content," diminishing both audience engagement and artistic seriousness.* A new counter-elite (represented by figures like Trump and Musk) isn't seeking admission to established power structures but rather aims to destroy them entirely, representing a significant shift in elite dynamics.William Deresiewicz is an award-winning essayist and critic, a frequent speaker at colleges, high schools, and other venues, and the author of five books including the New York Times bestseller Excellent Sheep: The Miseducation of the American Elite and the Way to a Meaningful Life. His most recent book is The End of Solitude: Selected Essays on Culture and Society. His current project is a historically informed memoir about being Jewish. Bill has published over 300 essays and reviews. He has won the Hiett Prize in the Humanities, the National Book Critics Circle's Nona Balakian Citation for Excellence in Reviewing, and a Sydney Award; he is also a three-time National Magazine Award nominee. His work, which has appeared in The New York Times, The Atlantic, Harper's, The London Review of Books, and many other publications, has been translated into 19 languages and included in over 40 college readers and other anthologies. Bill taught English at Yale and Columbia before becoming a full-time writer. He has appeared on The Colbert Report, Here & Now, The New Yorker Radio Hour, and many other outlets and has held visiting positions at Bard, Scripps, and Claremont McKenna Colleges as well as at American Jewish University and the University of San Diego. His previous books are The Death of the Artist: How Creators are Struggling to Survive in the Age of Billionaires and Big Tech, A Jane Austen Education, and Jane Austen and the Romantic Poets. Bill is a member of the board (directorial, editorial, or advisory) of The Matthew Strother Center for the Examined Life, a retreat and study program in Catskill, NY; The Metropolitan Review, a new literary journal; Tivnu: Building Justice, which runs a Jewish service-learning gap year and other programs in Portland, OR; the Prohuman Foundation, which promotes the ideals of individual identity and shared humanity; Circle, a group coaching and purpose-finding program for college and graduate students; and Clio's, a selectively curated, chronologically organized bookstore in Oakland.Named as one of the "100 most connected men" by GQ magazine, Andrew Keen is amongst the world's best known broadcasters and commentators. In addition to presenting the daily KEEN ON show, he is the host of the long-running How To Fix Democracy interview series. He is also the author of four prescient books about digital technology: CULT OF THE AMATEUR, DIGITAL VERTIGO, THE INTERNET IS NOT THE ANSWER and HOW TO FIX THE FUTURE. Andrew lives in San Francisco, is married to Cassandra Knight, Google's VP of Litigation & Discovery, and has two grown children.Keen On America is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit keenon.substack.com/subscribe

In this episode, Rabbi David Wolpe joins us for a thought-provoking conversation about the challenges and opportunities facing the Jewish people today. In the wake of October 7th, intra-faith dialogue is as critical as interfaith dialogue. The Jewish community must find ways to foster understanding, break down barriers, and build unity among diverse perspectives. Rabbi Wolpe reflects on the enduring influence of Maimonides, whose teachings continue to resonate across Jewish movements and explores how his philosophy shapes modern Jewish thought. We discuss the evolution of New Atheism, from Christopher Hitchens to Alex O'Connor, and what this shift means for conversations about faith within the Jewish context. The conversation also delves into culturally religious figures like Dennis Prager and Jordan Peterson, examining whether a meaningful religious message can be upheld without traditional observance. Rabbi Wolpe addresses the hardest questions raised by atheists—about evil, belief, and God's hiddenness—and shares his vision for making faith relevant and compelling in a skeptical world. This episode challenges us to think deeply about faith, unity, and the future of Judaism. Don't miss this essential conversation.---• Bio: Named The Most Influential Rabbi in America by Newsweek and one of the 50 Most Influential Jews in the World  by The Jerusalem Post, and twice named one of the 500 Most Influential People in Los Angeles by the Los Angeles Business Journal, David Wolpe is the Max Webb Emeritus Rabbi of Sinai Temple. He serves as the ADL's inaugural rabbinic fellow and a scholar in residence at the Maimonides Fund. Rabbi Wolpe has taught at Harvard, the Jewish Theological Seminary, the American Jewish University, Hunter College, and UCLA. Rabbi Wolpe has published widely, including in The New York Times, Los Angeles Times, Washington Post, Time, Newsweek and The Atlantic. He has been featured on The Today Show, Face the Nation, ABC This Morning, and CBS This Morning as well as series on PBS, A&E, History Channel, and Discovery Channel, and has engaged in widely watched public debates with Christopher Hitchens, Sam Harris, Richard Dawkins, Steven Pinker and many others about religion and its place in the world. Rabbi Wolpe is the author of eight books, including the national bestseller Making Loss Matter: Creating Meaning in Difficult Times (Riverhead). His latest is titled David, the Divided Heart (Yale U Press). It was a finalist for the National Jewish Book Awards, and has been optioned for a movie by Warner Bros.---• Welcome to JUDAISM DEMYSTIFIED: A PODCAST FOR THE PERPLEXED | Co-hosted by Benjy & Benzi | Thank you to...Super Patron: Jordan Karmily, Platinum Patron: Craig Gordon, Gold Patrons: Dovidchai Abramchayev, Lazer Cohen, Travis Krueger, Vasili Volkoff, Rod Ilian, Silver Patrons: Ellen Fleischer, Daniel Maksumov, Rabbi Pinny Rosenthal, Fred & Antonio, Jeffrey Wasserman, and Jacob Winston! Please SUBSCRIBE to this YouTube Channel and hit the BELL so you can get alerted whenever new clips get posted, thank you for your support!

Rabbi Marc Soloway discusses the legacy of Sarah and the very contrasting responses of Abraham and Isaac to her death.Rabbi Soloway has been Bonai Shalom's Spiritual Leader in Boulder, CO. since 2004, the same year that he was ordained at The Ziegler School for Rabbinic Studies at The American Jewish University in Los Angeles. His rabbinical training spanned six years in London, Jerusalem, and Los Angeles. Before that, he was an actor and storyteller in his native London, and developed and performed a spirited one-man show of Jewish stories called The Empty Chair, as well as a show for children called The Jewish Princess and Other Stories with the acclaimed Besht Tellers Theatre Company. He was also a practitioner of complementary medicine, including massage and cranial-sacral therapy. Marc is a fellow of Rabbis without Borders, an alum of the Institute of Jewish Spirituality, the former chair of Hazon's rabbinical council and was in the Forward's 2014 list of America's most influential rabbis. 

Michael Berenbaum, Distinguished Professor of Jewish Studies at American Jewish University, explores lessons learned from the transformative event of 10/7, and how these experiences are influencing the way Jews connect with, understand, and support Israel. 

On this episode, host Rockne Roll explores the foundations of Jewish early childhood education with Dr. Tamar Andrews of American Jewish University's Masor School for Jewish Education and Leadership. They discuss how Jewish communities got involved in preschool, why early childhood education is so valuable, and how to find the right preschool for your family.Learn more about AJU's programs training the next generation of Jewish educators at aju.edu/early-childhood-education. Find the details on all of Portland's High Holy Day festivities at jewishportland.org/highholydayshappenings.

How the World Could Use a Sabbath with Rabbi Bradley S. Artson (Part 2)In the second part of this very special conversation, Ilia Delio and Rabbi Bradley Artson tackle everything from life after death, to concerns about technology and AI. Rabbi Artson shares with us how everyone could benefit from a Sabbath practice, and how Judaism offers ancient insights uncoupled from Western assumptions.ABOUT Rabbi Bradley S. Artson:“The world and God are expressions of continuous, dynamic relational change. We label that process as creativity. The mutual commitment to that process is faithfulness, which rises above any faith.”Rabbi Dr. Bradley Shavit Artson holds the Abner and Roslyn Goldstine Dean's Chair of the Ziegler School of Rabbinic Studies and is Vice President of American Jewish University. Rabbi Artson has long been a passionate advocate for social justice, human dignity, diversity and inclusion. He wrote a book on Jewish teachings on war, peace and nuclear annihilation in the late 80s, became a leading voice advocating for LGBTQ+ marriage and ordination in the 90s, and has published and spoken widely on environmental ethics, special needs inclusion, racial and economic justice, cultural and religious dialogue and cooperation, and working for a just and secure peace for Israel and the Middle East. A member of the Philosophy Department, he is particularly interested in theology, ethics, and the integration of science and religion. He mentors Camp Ramah in California in Ojai and Ramah of Northern California in the Bay Area. He is also dean of the Zacharias Frankel College in Potsdam, Germany, ordaining Conservative rabbis for Europe. A frequent contributor for the Huffington Post and for the Times of Israel, and a public figure Facebook page with over 53,000 likes, he is the author of 12 books and over 250 articles, most recently Renewing the Process of Creation: A Jewish Integration of Science and Spirit. Support the showA huge thank you to all of you who subscribe and support our show! Support for A Hunger for Wholeness comes from the Fetzer Institute. Fetzer supports a movement of organizations who are applying spiritual solutions to society's toughest problems. Get involved at fetzer.org. Support 'Hunger for Wholeness' on Patreon as our team continues to develop content for listeners to dive deeper. Visit the Center for Christogenesis' website at christogenesis.org to browse all Hunger for Wholeness episodes and read more from Ilia Delio. Follow us on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter for episode releases and other updates.

What We Mean When We Talk About “God” with Rabbi Bradley S. Artson (Part 1)In part one of their conversation Ilia Delio speaks with Rabbi Bradley S. Artson, writer and Jewish process thinker. Rabbi Artson tells us about his journey from atheism to a love for God and describes how process theology helped to reawaken his appreciation for science, shedding light on religious experience. Plus, Ilia and Brad discuss his prayer practice, and consider a more positive spin on tribalism.ABOUT BRADLEY S. ARTSON“The world and God are expressions of continuous, dynamic relational change. We label that process as creativity. The mutual commitment to that process is faithfulness, which rises above any faith.”Rabbi Dr. Bradley Shavit Artson holds the Abner and Roslyn Goldstine Dean's Chair of the Ziegler School of Rabbinic Studies and is Vice President of American Jewish University. Rabbi Artson has long been a passionate advocate for social justice, human dignity, diversity and inclusion. He wrote a book on Jewish teachings on war, peace and nuclear annihilation in the late 80s, became a leading voice advocating for LGBTQ+ marriage and ordination in the 90s, and has published and spoken widely on environmental ethics, special needs inclusion, racial and economic justice, cultural and religious dialogue and cooperation, and working for a just and secure peace for Israel and the Middle East. A member of the Philosophy Department, he is particularly interested in theology, ethics, and the integration of science and religion. He mentors Camp Ramah in California in Ojai and Ramah of Northern California in the Bay Area. He is also dean of the Zacharias Frankel College in Potsdam, Germany, ordaining Conservative rabbis for Europe. A frequent contributor for the Huffington Post and for the Times of Israel, and a public figure Facebook page with over 53,000 likes, he is the author of 12 books and over 250 articles, most recently Renewing the Process of Creation: A Jewish Integration of Science and Spirit. Support the showA huge thank you to all of you who subscribe and support our show! Support for A Hunger for Wholeness comes from the Fetzer Institute. Fetzer supports a movement of organizations who are applying spiritual solutions to society's toughest problems. Get involved at fetzer.org. Support 'Hunger for Wholeness' on Patreon as our team continues to develop content for listeners to dive deeper. Visit the Center for Christogenesis' website at christogenesis.org to browse all Hunger for Wholeness episodes and read more from Ilia Delio. Follow us on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter for episode releases and other updates.

William Deresiewicz is a leading American writer best known as the author of Excellent Sheep: The Miseducation of the American Elite and the Way to a Meaningful Life. And so, when Bill and I sat down in Portland for a KEEN ON America conversation, we discussed the crisis of a high-end university system that he, as a former professor at Yale, knows all too well. But Bill, a keen conversationalist, also talked about what it means to be both a Jew and an American in a country which simultaneously values personal reinvention and cultural identity. William Deresiewicz is an award-winning essayist and critic, a frequent speaker at colleges, high schools, and other venues, and the author of five books including the New York Times bestseller Excellent Sheep: The Miseducation of the American Elite and the Way to a Meaningful Life, which was published in a 10th-anniversary edition in May 2024. His most recent book is The End of Solitude: Selected Essays on Culture and Society. His current project is a historically informed memoir about being Jewish. Bill has published over 300 essays and reviews. He has won the Hiett Prize in the Humanities, the National Book Critics Circle's Nona Balakian Citation for Excellence in Reviewing, and a Sydney Award; he is also a three-time National Magazine Award nominee. His work, which has appeared in The New York Times, The Atlantic, Harper's, The London Review of Books, and many other publications, has been translated into 19 languages and included in over 40 college readers and other anthologies. Bill taught English at Yale and Columbia before becoming a full-time writer. He has spoken at over 170 educational and other venues and has appeared on The Colbert Report, Here & Now, The New Yorker Radio Hour, and many other outlets. He has held visiting positions at Bard, Scripps, and Claremont McKenna Colleges as well as at the University of San Diego. In 2024, he is serving as an inaugural Public Fellow at American Jewish University. His previous books are The Death of the Artist: How Creators are Struggling to Survive in the Age of Billionaires and Big Tech, A Jane Austen Education, and Jane Austen and the Romantic Poets. Bill is a member of the Board of Directors of Tivnu: Building Justice, which runs a Jewish service-learning gap year and other programs in Portland OR, of the Advisory Board of The Matthew Strother Center for the Examined Life, a live-in study program in Catskill NY, and of the Advisory Council of Project Wayfinder, which runs purpose-learning programs in schools across the US and beyond. And, since you're wondering, it's /də-REH-zə-WITS/.Named as one of the "100 most connected men" by GQ magazine, Andrew Keen is amongst the world's best known broadcasters and commentators. In addition to presenting KEEN ON, he is the host of the long-running How To Fix Democracy show. He is also the author of four prescient books about digital technology: CULT OF THE AMATEUR, DIGITAL VERTIGO, THE INTERNET IS NOT THE ANSWER and HOW TO FIX THE FUTURE. Andrew lives in San Francisco, is married to Cassandra Knight, Google's VP of Litigation & Discovery, and has two grown children.Keen On is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit keenon.substack.com/subscribe

Join Swami Padmanabha and Rabbi Bradley Artson as they engage in a profound dialogue exploring their shared perspectives on God, the world, and the self as parts of an endless process of becoming. This captivating conversation delves into the rich and progressive traditions of Judaism and Gaudiya Vaishnavism, uncovering unique insights and timeless wisdom on the path of devotion. Together, they mine the depths of spiritual understanding, offering listeners a thoughtful and transformative journey through the complexities of faith and existence. RABBI BRADLEY SHAVIT ARTSON holds the Abner and Roslyn Goldstine Dean's Chair of the Ziegler School of Rabbinic Studies at the American Jewish University, where he is Vice President. He teaches Jewish Theology and Philosophy as well as Homiletics, and is the author of over 250 articles and 12 books, most recently Renewing the Process of Creation: A Jewish Integration of Science and Spirit. He has also published and spoken widely on environmental ethics, special needs inclusion, racial and economic justice, cultural and religious dialogue and cooperation, and working for a just and secure peace for Israel and the Middle East. A member of the Philosophy Department, he is particularly interested in theology, ethics, and the integration of science and religion. + info: www.bradartson.com Watch on YouTube: hhttps://youtu.be/OzA7d7sChQo ▶ CONTINUE THE CONVERSATION: Gaudiya Reform Forum on Facebook .~ Swami Padmanabha's Channels ▶ FACEBOOK ▶ YOUTUBE ▶ INSTAGRAM ▶ WEBSITE ▶ PURCHASE RADICAL PERSONALISM: Revival Manifesto for Proactive Devotion in hardcover, paperback, and/or Kindle formats on Amazon ▶ WRITE your REVIEW of RADICAL PERSONALISM ~ Tadatmya Sangha's Channels ▶ WEBSITE ▶ FACEBOOK ▶ INSTAGRAM ▶ YOUTUBE

What kind of life do you really want to be living? What kind of life has meaning for you? And if you have children, and even, like me, have ones thinkinga about college, what kind of life should they be thinking about? This was a true privilege to speak with William Deresiewicz and hear his thoughts on these questions. William Deresiewicz is an American author and essayist who has written the New York Times bestseller Excellent Sheep: The Miseducation of the American Elite and the Way to a Meaningful Life, published May, 2024 in a 10th-anniversary edition. Some of his essays are published in his recent book The End of Solitude: Selected Essays on Culture and Society. Mr. Deresiewicz has won the Hiett Prize in the Humanities, the National Book Critics Circle's Nona Balakian Citation for Excellence in Reviewing, and a Sydney Award. He taught English at both Yale and Columbia and is currently serving as an inaugural Public Fellow at American Jewish University. Here's a link to the article that introduced me to his work.  

Welcome back to Just For This, a new podcast. Each week, host Rabbi Liz P.G. Hirsch (she/her) interviews women in leadership about women and leadership. Inspired by the story of Esther, we feature powerful stories of women who stand out in their fields, who have stepped up just for this moment.  This week's guest is Rabbi Tarlan Rabizadeh, Vice President for Jewish Engagement and Director of the Miller Intro to Judaism Program at American Jewish University. We speak about welcoming and inclusion within the Jewish community and beyond. We reflect on trailblazing as a leader, and modeling for future generations. View the transcript here.  We're off next week for Memorial Day - catch our next episode on June 3. If you're enjoying Just For This, be sure to rate and review us wherever you listen to your podcasts. Follow Just For This on instagram: @justforthispodcast justforthispodcast.com

As we have followed the campus protests over America's role in Israel's war against Hamas, it has called into question the way we conduct educational debate and thinking in our country. Perhaps we as a country have become too focused on grade-based education, which depends on getting the "right" answer. While in subjects like math, this is essential for proficiency, we seem to lack the ability to live in the nuance of discussion, and are chasing the one, certain, answer. Rabbi Carrie Vogel is the director for undergraduate initiatives for the American Jewish University, and joins Boyd to talk about the nuance missing from our national discussions.

Welcome back to Just For This, a new podcast. Each week, host Rabbi Liz P.G. Hirsch (she/her) interviews women in leadership about women and leadership. Inspired by the story of Esther, we feature powerful stories of women who stand out in their fields, who have stepped up just for this moment.  This week's guest is award-winning author Rabbi Danya Ruttenberg (she/her), whose books includes On Repentance and Repair and Nurture the Wow. She writes regularly at lifeisasacredtext.com.  We speak accountability, justice, abortion access, and collective power. You can read more about Rabbi Ruttenberg's just for this moment in the recent coverage of investigations of gender-based misconduct at the Ziegler School of Rabbinic Studies at American Jewish University. We also discuss the Jewish values underpinning an abortion access case before the Supreme Court, Idaho v. United States.  View the transcript here.  If you're enjoying Just For This, be sure to rate and review us wherever you listen to your podcasts. Follow Just For This on instagram: @justforthispodcast justforthispodcast.com

Today's question is truly “not so silly.” In fact, it's one of the most serious questions we've ever asked and answered on this podcast- “what is happening with antisemitism on college campuses?”Schools are meant to provide an education and a safe space for students to exchange ideas, and expand and challenge their thinking. You're supposed to learn how to think, not what to think. At least that's how we would answer our own rapid fire question. For the most part, we see ourselves as objective facilitators and we keep things professional. But this episode is more personal and reflects both our pride in our identity as Jews and also our concern for rising levels of antisemitism on college campuses. A focal point of our mission is to provide information that allows parents to make informed decisions for their children, and we think that having a perspective on the culture on college campuses right now, is relevant to share. More on Rabbi David Wolpe:David Wolpe is an American rabbi. He is a Visiting Scholar at Harvard Divinity School and the Max Webb Emeritus Rabbi of Sinai Temple in Los Angeles. He previously taught at the Jewish Theological Seminary of America in New York, the American Jewish University in Los Angeles, Hunter College, and UCLA. Wolpe was named the most influential Rabbi in America by Newsweek in 2012, and among the 500 most influential Angelinos in 2016 and 2018. Wolpe now serves as the Inaugural rabbinic fellow for the ADL, and a Senior Advisor for the Maimonides Fund.

Did you ever think, in your wildest imagination, that the events of October 7 would lead to an all out culture war that would involve every sector of American intellectual and academic life? Me neither. And yet, here we are -- with the result that many American Jews are now questioning the role of the university in their lives, and in the life of the Jewish community. To help us discern the depths of the university and the Jews, check out the podcast -- a conversation with Mark Oppenheimer. He has been writing about American religion for more than 25 years. From 2010 to 2016, he wrote the “Beliefs” column, about religion, for "The New York Times," and he created "Unorthodox," the world's most popular podcast about Jewish life and culture, with over 7 million downloads to date. He is the author or editor/co-editor of five books, including "The Newish Jewish Encyclopedia: From Abraham to Zabar's and Everything In Between" and "Squirrel Hill: The Tree of Life Synagogue Shooting and the Soul of a Neighborhood." He holds a Ph.d in religious studies from Yale University; has taught there, at Stanford University, Wesleyan University, and New York University, and currently serves as the vice-president of open learning at American Jewish University, We have a wide-ranging conversation -- most of which is about the experience of Jews in the Ivy League. 

In this episode of the 18Forty Podcast, we talk to Harvard Divinity School visiting scholar Rabbi David Wolpe, MIT PhD student Talia Khan, and Harvard professor Steven Pinker about the new reality for Jews in higher education.Since Simchas Torah, the hostile discourse regarding Israel has become something that no Jewish student can ignore. Jewish families have been asking: Is it even worth it to send our sons and daughters to these colleges? In this episode we discuss:Is it better for Jews to change the system from within, or without?What has changed about the Jewish experience at American colleges since Oct. 7?What is the way forward regarding free speech and Jewish rights on campus?Tune in to hear a conversation about how we might work toward a reimagined and refocused higher education.Interview with David Wolpe begins at 4:27.Interview with Talia Khan begins at 29:30.Interview with Steven Pinker begins at 1:05:12.Named The Most Influential Rabbi in America by Newsweek and one of the 50 Most Influential Jews in the World by The Jerusalem Post, David Wolpe is a visiting scholar at Harvard Divinity School and the Max Webb Rabbi Emeritus of Sinai Temple, a Conservative shul in Los Angeles. Rabbi Wolpe previously taught at the Jewish Theological Seminary of America in New York, the American Jewish University in Los Angeles, Hunter College, and UCLA. He is the author of eight books, including the national bestseller Making Loss Matter: Creating Meaning in Difficult Times. His new book is titled David, the Divided Heart.Talia Khan is an MIT graduate student in mechanical engineering, the president of the MIT Israel Alliance, and a Fulbright Brazil alumna.Steven Pinker is the Johnstone Family Professor in the Department of Psychology at Harvard University. He conducts research on language, cognition, and social relations, writes for publications such as the New York Times, Time and The Atlantic, and is the author of twelve books, including The Language Instinct, How the Mind Works, The Blank Slate, The Stuff of Thought, The Better Angels of Our Nature, The Sense of Style, Enlightenment Now, and Rationality: What It Is, Why It Seems Scarce, Why It Matters.References:“On the Hatred of Jews” by David J. WolpeIsrael: An Echo of Eternity by Abraham Joshua Heschel O Jerusalem! by Larry Collins and Dominique Lapierre “When Calls for Jewish Genocide Can Cost a University Its Government Funding” by Michael A. Helfand“A five-point plan to save Harvard from itself” by Steven PinkerThe Coddling of the American Mind by Greg Lukianoff and Jonathan HaidtThe Canceling of the American Mind by Greg Lukianoff and Rikki Schlott The Constitution of Knowledge by Jonathan Rauch

Share this episode: https://www.samharris.org/podcasts/making-sense-episodes/348-the-politics-of-antisemitism Sam Harris speaks with Rabbi David Wolpe about the global response to the atrocities of October 7th, 2023. They discuss the difference between Israeli and diaspora Jews, the history and logic of antisemitism, the role of conspiracy theories, Great Replacement Theory, reasons for Jewish success, right-wing antisemitism, left-wing antisemitism, the response of Harvard to October 7th, the college presidents’ testimony before Congress, the future of DEI and civil discourse, the BDS movement, antisemitism vs anti-Zionism, Jewish acceptance at Ivy League universities, the antisemitism endemic to Islam, foreign funding of US universities, and other topics. David Wolpe is a Visiting Scholar at Harvard Divinity School, a Rabbinic Fellow at The Anti-Defamation League, a Senior Advisor to the Maimonides Fund, and the Emeritus Rabbi at Sinai Temple in Los Angeles. Rabbi Wolpe previously taught at the Jewish Theological Seminary of America in New York, the American Jewish University in Los Angeles, Hunter College, and UCLA. He is the author of eight books, including the national bestseller Making Loss Matter: Creating Meaning in Difficult Times and  David, the Divided Heart. Website: www.facebook.com/RabbiWolpe Twitter: @rabbiwolpe

Rabbi Dr. Jay Michaelson is a writer, journalist, meditation teacher, and professor. He is the author of ten books, most recently The Secret That is Not a Secret, a collection of ten interlocking tales of mysticism, queerness, and magic. Jay's previous book, The Heresy of Jacob Frank: From Jewish Messianism to Esoteric Myth, won the 2022 National Jewish Book Award.As a journalist, Jay regularly appears on CNN and in Rolling Stone, The Daily Beast, The Forward, and other publications, and won the 2023 New York Society for Professional Journalists Award for Opinion Writing. For ten years, he worked as an LGBTQ activist, and is the author of the bestselling God vs. Gay? The Religious Case for Equality. Jay is also a meditation teacher in Buddhist and Jewish traditions and serves on the leadership team of the New York Insight Meditation Center.In the academic world, Dr. Michaelson a public fellow at American Jewish University and a field scholar at the Emory Center for Psychedelics and Spirituality. He holds a PhD in Jewish Thought from Hebrew University, a JD from Yale Law School, and nondenominational rabbinic ordination. He lives outside New York City.  In this interview we cover many topics including Jay giving an introduction to what Jewish Mysticism is all about. We also explore the nuggets of queer spirituality found within traditional religious beliefs. We cover some of the stark differences between spirituality and religion and the tension they create. Inspired by a story from his newly released book of stories, The Secret that is not a Secret, I share about my first erotic experience with a guy which happened in a hot tub. I then ask Jay about how his experiences in spaces like radical faeries gathering and Burning Man have impacted his spirituality and the way he communes with spirit. And, Jay shares a story that helped him realize that our full expression as sexual beings contributes to, is informed by and enriches our full expression as spiritual beings. Please enjoy this thought provoking and fun interview with my friend, Jay Michelson. Subscribe to Jay's Substack here- https://jaymichaelson.substack.com/  Grab Jay's new book, The Secret that is not a Secret, here- https://www.jaymichaelson.net/books/the-secret/  Connect with Wil Fisher here- https://www.wil-fullyliving.com/contactSupport the show

With war raging in the Middle East between Israel and Hamas, historian Rick Richman wants people to know the back story of how Israel came to be and why IDF soldiers know they're fighting for the very survival of the Jewish state. In his book, "And None Shall Make Them Afraid," Richman, a resident scholar at American Jewish University in Los Angeles, highlights the lives of eight individuals with different backgrounds and talents, that helped bring about the creation of Israel. From Viennese journalist Theodore Herzel, to a Supreme Court Justice, and even a Hollywood screenwriter. They became passionate about the creation of a Zionist state, as the world was becoming more and more radically antisemitic. On this episode of Lighthouse Faith podcast, Richman talks about how the creation of modern day Israel actually begins in 1895 and that the Balfour Declaration in 1917 was a dream that became a reality through the work of Jews who realized their very existence was being threatened. 00:00:00-The Historical Context of Israel's Creation 00:18:04-The Balfour Declaration and Golda Meir 00:25:10-Challenges in Israeli Leadership With Golda Meir 00:36:01-Israel and Jewish Army Books Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Nate Looney is an American Jewish University alum and a social entrepreneur. A US Army veteran and an urban farmer, Nate has a broad range of experience across multiple disciplines. He wears numerous hats such as a diversity strategist and currently serves as the Director of Community Safety and Belonging on the Jewish Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion (JEDI) team at Jewish Federations of North America. Having served in the Task Force Gator after Hurricane Katrina and deployed to Iraq for Operation Iraqi Freedom, Nate brings a wealth of experience in safety, security and critical problem-solving. Presently, he focuses on building community and spearheading change in safety and security, antisemitism, LGBTQ+ inclusion, and racial justice. Matthew Nuriel is a member of JIMENA - Jews Indigenous to the Middle East and North Africa and serves as their Community Engagement Director. As an activist with Iranian Jewish heritage based in Los Angeles, California, Matthew works relentlessly for numerous causes close to their heart including LGBTQ+ rights, equality within the Iranian and Jewish communities, the fight against antisemitism, and their active support of the Women Life Freedom movement for a free Iran. Furthermore, Matthew is a passionate advocate and a digital influencer who uses social media to amplify their voice around these issues. Besides, Matthew engages with audiences through panel discussions and speaking engagements across the country and has had their articles featured in various publications.

EPISODE 1835: In this KEEN ON show, Andrew talks William Deresiewicz, author of THE DEATH OF THE ARTIST, about the fate of the creative artist when , in our digital economy, the price of content has been driven down to zero William Deresiewicz is an award-winning essayist and critic, a frequent speaker at colleges, high schools, and other venues, and the author of five books including the New York Times bestseller Excellent Sheep: The Miseducation of the American Elite and the Way to a Meaningful Life. His latest book is The End of Solitude: Selected Essays on Culture and Society. Bill has published over 300 essays and reviews. He has won the Hiett Prize in the Humanities, the National Book Critics Circle's Nona Balakian Citation for Excellence in Reviewing, and a Sydney Award; he is also a three-time National Magazine Award nominee. His work, which has appeared in The New York Times, The Atlantic, Harper's, and many other publications, has been translated into 19 languages and anthologized in 39 college and scholastic readers. Bill taught English at Yale and Columbia before becoming a full-time writer. He has spoken at over 160 educational and other venues and has appeared on The Colbert Report, Here & Now, The New Yorker Radio Hour, and many other outlets. He has held visiting positions at Bard, Scripps, and Claremont McKenna Colleges as well as at the University of San Diego. In 2024, he will serve as an inaugural Public Fellow at American Jewish University. His previous books are The Death of the Artist: How Creators are Struggling to Survive in the Age of Billionaires and Big Tech, A Jane Austen Education, and Jane Austen and the Romantic Poets. Bill is a member of the Board of Directors of Tivnu: Building Justice, a Jewish social-justice gap year in Portland, Oregon, and of the Advisory Council of Project Wayfinder, which runs purpose-learning programs in schools across the United States and beyond. And, since you're wondering, it's /də-REH-zə-WITS/.Named as one of the "100 most connected men" by GQ magazine, Andrew Keen is amongst the world's best known broadcasters and commentators. In addition to presenting KEEN ON, he is the host of the long-running How To Fix Democracy show. He is also the author of four prescient books about digital technology: CULT OF THE AMATEUR, DIGITAL VERTIGO, THE INTERNET IS NOT THE ANSWER and HOW TO FIX THE FUTURE. Andrew lives in San Francisco, is married to Cassandra Knight, Google's VP of Litigation & Discovery, and has two grown children.

Jayne Amelia speaks with the powerhouse founder of Kids in The Spotlight, Tige Charity.  In Tige's words:  As a visionary with a strong faith & a passion for serving others, I have devoted my career to empowering young people in foster care to address and overcome trauma through the power of storytelling. In 2009, I founded Kids in the Spotlight, Inc. (KITS), a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization that provides year-round 10-week script-to-screen workshops to train youth in foster care to write, cast, & star in their own short films telling their stories their way. We provide an outlet & platform for these young people to be seen, heard, validated, celebrated, & employed.I have a degree in Accounting from Oral Roberts University & an MBA in Nonprofit Management from American Jewish University. In addition, I have been a fellow in the prestigious City Scholars Fellowship Foundation's CEO Leadership Program since 2017 & a new member of the Women Presidents Organization. My board officers & I have also completed the Annenberg Alchemy for Black-led Organizations, the flagship Annenberg Alchemy, & the Alchemy+ nonprofit capacity building & leadership development programs.Throughout my career, I have received recognition for my contributions to the community, including the Community Service Award from the Black Women Lawyers Association of Los Angeles & the Ubuntu Award from The Africa Channel, inspired by the legacy of Nelson Mandela. I have also been honored alongside Kareem Abdul-Jabbar by then Los Angeles County Supervisor Michael Antonovich for our community service at the county's annual "All For The Love Of Kids" event. In addition, my work has been recognized by Supervisor Holly Mitchell, Mayor Eric Garcetti, & various government officials. I have also received several awards, including the David Lieber Leadership Award, the L.O.V.E Award, the Whispers from Children's Hearts Foundation Legacy Award, & the Vessels of Honor CODE of Honor Award.KITS has been featured in prominent media outlets such as "The Kelly Clarkson Show," "NBC4 Live", "The Jim Jefferies Show," CBS "Entertainment Tonight" & "The Insider," KTLA Morning News, Telemundo, & Wireimage.com., L.A. Times, Hollywood Reporter, Golden Globes, Vibe Magazine, L.A. Sentinel, Pasadena Weekly, Celebrity Society Magazine, & others.My mission is to offer hope, healing, and a sense of accomplishment to youth in foster care throughout the country. I am passionate about motivating, educating, and leading a team of change agents who understand the power of teamwork, community, and giving back. I share my insights and experiences in my book, "Not Your 9-to-5 Girl," available on Amazon and Barnes & Noble.Kids In The Spotlight I Know Why The Caged Bird Sings by Maya AngelouMaya AngelouSee bonusbabies.org to learn more about what we are doing and please donate to support us by making a 100% tax-deductible contribution. EVERY PENNY OF YOUR CONTRIBUTION GOES TO RECORDING AND PLATFORMING THESE STORIES. Yeah!IG@bonusbabiespodcastTW@BonusBabiesPodFB@BonusBabiesPodcast

Earlier this year, we were fortunate to interview holocaust historian, curator and American Jewish University professor Dr. Michael Berenbaum. He joined Coffee with Closers to preview the opening of “Auschwitz. Not long ago. Not far away.” This world-renowned traveling exhibition is currently at the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library in Simi Valley California. In light of the recent atrocities in Israel, we've decided to re-air the episode. Dr. Berenbaum sheds light on the significance of educating people of all ages about one of humanity's darkest chapters and the profound lessons it holds for our present times.Due to overwhelming demand, “Auschwitz. Not long ago. Not far away.” was extended through January 28, 2024 at the Reagan Library. 

In this episode, Minister Paula talks with Minister Terri McFaddin-Solomon. Minister Terri is a Jesus-Lover, ordained minister, author of four books, and a two-time Grammy-winning songwriter. She holds a Master's degree in Theology from Fuller Seminary, studied at American Jewish University, and teaches at two Bible Colleges. She is also a certified chaplain. Terri is in love with her husband Charles Solomon. They reside in Southern California. Her greatest joy is her children and grandchildren who love and serve Jesus Christ. You are in for a treat as you listen to her minister about the Seven Pillars of Wisdom! “If you want the quality of life, if you want the quanity of life you must follow Godly wisdom.” Terri McFaddin Solomon Connect with Minister Terri •Website: https://www.terribooksandblogs.org/ •Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/terri.m.solomon?mibextid=LQQJ4d •YouTube: https://youtube.com/@apassionateheart?si=loEhZIoyl-Ie6ptu •Purchase Books on Amazon: The Fallen Stone: Purpose is often found at rock bottom https://a.co/d/igxUszP Only A Woman https://a.co/d/dcwVtmO Sapphires and Other Precious Jewels: Discover and Celebrate the Beauty of Women of African Descent https://a.co/d/23ETo1u

Today's Episode Dr. Raj talks with Dr. Khankhanian about how Chiropractic and Neurology have intertwined in his medical practice, the unique challenges that come up with each phenotype of concussion, and how holistic and Western medicine coexist in his own practice to find non-traditional ways of treating Post-Concussion Syndrome.  Today's Guest  Dr. Joseph Khankhanian was born and raised in the suburbs of Los Angeles, California, where he completed and received his Bachelor of Arts degree in Biology/BioEthics from American Jewish University. Dr. Khankhanian has always been passionate about natural medicine and holistic approaches to managing health. This is why he decided to continue his education and complete his graduate studies at Life Chiropractic College West in the San Francisco Bay Area. There, he received his Doctorate in Chiropractic and decided to continue his postdoctoral studies at the Carrick Institute. He further specialized in Clinical Neuroscience and received his Diplomate of the American Chiropractic Neurology Board (DACNB). He has taken over 400 hours of coursework on neurological rehabilitation and Functional Medicine/Nutrition, and is currently in pursuit of a Fellowship in Clinical Neurochemistry and Nutrition (FABNN). With his extensive doctorate and post-doctorate training, Dr. Khankhanian has helped many patients return to or find their optimal selves without drugs or surgery. He has worked through many challenging cases and has achieved remarkable results with his patients. He specializes in Traumatic Brain Injury, Migraines & Headaches, Dizziness & Vertigo, Developmental Disorders, Chronic Pain, and Autoimmune & Metabolic Illnesses. As a "Root Cause" clinician, his only goal is to help his patients find the source of their issues and to fix it permanently. Every patient is unique, and by using the latest research-grade technology, he is able to create a care plan that is tailored to each patient. Instead of taking the batteries out of the smoke alarm, Dr. Khankhanian looks to put out the fire. Dr. Khankhanian's core belief is that holistic care is the future of medicine. His mission is to share his knowledge and practices of this life changing medicine with his patients. When he's not in the office, Dr. Khankhanian enjoys playing golf, singing, riding bikes, watching NBA, playing board games, and working out. He loves dogs and has a Maltipoo of his own named Oscar. About Dr. Raj Dr Raj is a quadruple board-certified physician and associate professor at the University of Southern California. He was a co-host on the TNT series Chasing the Cure with Ann Curry, a regular on the TV Show The Doctors for the past 7 seasons and has a weekly medical segment on ABC news Los Angeles. Want more Dr. Raj? Check out the Beyond the Pearls lecture series! The Ultimate High Yield Bundle: The complete review of high-yield clinical medicine topics necessary for graduate medical education board exams including NBME, USMLE Steps 1/2/3, ITE and ABIM Boards. You can also listen to the Beyond the Pearls podcast. Check out our other shows: Physiology by Physeo Step 1 Success Stories The InsideTheBoards Study Smarter Podcast The InsideTheBoards Podcast Produced by Ars Longa Media To learn more about us and this podcast, visit arslonga.media. You can leave feedback or suggestions at arslonga.media/contact or by emailing info@arslonga.media. Produced by: Christopher Breitigan and Erin McCue. Executive Producer: Patrick C. Beeman, MD The information presented in this podcast is intended for educational purposes only and should not be construed as professional or medical advice. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Episode 58: The value of poker, mahjong, and other games for making friends and getting closer with the friends you already have.I'm a longtime fan today's guest, author and podcaster, Mark Oppenheimer, who spoke with me about the value of participating in a regular game with friends. In Mark's case, he has a longstanding poker game. I talked about mahjong. Bridge was a big part of my parents' social lives. There is something about a game with a regular group of players that is different from other ways we get together with friends. I'm excited that Mark, who recently wrote about his poker group, is here to talk about this topic with me. And Mark's next major book project is one I cannot wait to read. Judy Blume chose him to write her official biography. The story of how that came to be is in our episode. It's a sweet friendship story—don't miss it!Show notes are HERE.Meet Mark OppenheimerMark Oppenheimer is head of open learning at American Jewish University. He received his Ph.D. in religious studies from Yale, covered religion for The New York Times for six years, has taught at Yale, NYU, Wellesley, and Stanford, and is the author of five books, most recently Squirrel Hill: The Tree of Life Synagogue Shooting and the Soul of a Neighborhood. He created the most downloaded American Jewish podcast ever, Unorthodox, with 7 million listens from 2015-2023, and also wrote and hosted Gatecrashers, a podcast about the history of Jews in the Ivy League. He is now writing the definitive biography of Judy Blume. He lives in Connecticut with his wife, five children, and two dogs.Topics We Covered:Para-social friendships (I was in one with Mark until this episode. But now we might be friends!)How Mark became Judy Blume's official biographerMark's piece for his Substack, Oppenheimer, titled “Men Playing Poker: A Manifesto”Why men might be attracted to pokerThe special ritual of getting together for a game with friendsThe importance of spending time with friends in-person, on a regular basis.The joy of mahjongWhat happened to bridge?ChessWhy my reading list is 90% female writersWhy we both read more nonfiction than fiction Let's connect over all things friendship! Here's my Substack newsletter about friendship & more Instagram Twitter JOIN the Dear Nina Facebook group Ask an anonymous question Next Virtual Book Club Meetings

EPISODE 1495: In this KEEN ON show, Andrew talks to the author of AND NONE SHALL MAKE THEM AFRAID, Rick Richman, about why he believes "Americanism" and "Zionism" , represented by figures as diverse as Benjamin Netanyahu and Louis Brandeis, are the most successfully "isms" of the 20th century RICK RICHMAN graduated with honors from Harvard College and NYU Law School. He has written for Commentary, The Jewish Press, Mosaic Magazine, The New York Sun, PJ Media, The Tower Magazine, and his own blog, Jewish Current Issues, created in 2003. He wrote the chapter on Louis Brandeis in What America Owes the Jews, What Jews Owe America (Mosaic Books: 2016) and appeared in the documentary film, “Body and Soul: The State of the Jewish Nation” (DocEmet Productions: 2014). He is a member of the Board of Directors of American Jewish University in Los Angeles and in 2016 received Sinai Temple's Burning Bush Award for leadership and service to the Jewish community in America and Israel. Named as one of the "100 most connected men" by GQ magazine, Andrew Keen is amongst the world's best known broadcasters and commentators. In addition to presenting KEEN ON, he is the host of the long-running How To Fix Democracy show. He is also the author of four prescient books about digital technology: CULT OF THE AMATEUR, DIGITAL VERTIGO, THE INTERNET IS NOT THE ANSWER and HOW TO FIX THE FUTURE. Andrew lives in San Francisco, is married to Cassandra Knight, Google's VP of Litigation & Discovery, and has two grown children. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Joining us on this week's episode of Coffee with Closers is Holocaust historian, curator and American Jewish University professor Dr. Michael Berenbaum.Dr. Berenbaum previews “Auschwitz. Not long ago. Not far away.” This world-renowned traveling exhibition is now open at the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library in Simi Valley, California.  Through more than 700 original artifacts, this powerful and moving exhibit chronicles what was one of the greatest crimes and darkest chapters in all of humanity-the horrors and atrocities that took place at the Auschwitz concentration camp during the Second World War. 

On today's episode, Ari spoke with American Jewish University resident scholar Rick Richman about the land, people and polity of Israel in Hollywood's imagination. What does Hollywood storytelling about Israel—from Exodus in 1960, to Top Gun: Maverick in 2022—tell us about America's perspective on the Holy Land, and perhaps more strikingly, America's perspective on itself. In a wide-ranging discussion, Ari and Rick talked about Exodus (1960); Munich (2005); Top Gun: Maverick (2022); Dara Horn's “People Love Dead Jews”; Brooklyn-based Judaism in American cinema; the effect of American racial discourse on its view of the Near East; Montesquieu's “Persian Letters”; the spouses of great political leaders; and much more! Good Faith Effort is a production of Bnai Zion and SoulShop

This week Maureen Taylor, The Photo Detective, is joined by Rosie Grant, a part-time digital librarian at the American Jewish University, who recently went viral for her work with finding recipes on gravestones. The two discuss Rosie's TikTok account ghostlyarchive and how these recipes imprinted on gravestones help continue to tell the story of someone who has long passed, as well as keep their special recipes alive for generations to come.Related Episodes:Episode 105: Women in the Dark with Katherine Manthorne Episode 49: Women Patriots with Mary TedescoLinks:GhostlyArchiveSign up for my newsletter.Watch my YouTube Channel.Like the Photo Detective Facebook Page so you get notified of my Facebook Live videos.Need help organizing your photos? Check out the Essential Photo Organizing Video Course.Need help identifying family photos? Check out the Identifying Family Photographs Online Course.Have a photo you need help identifying? Sign up for photo consultation.About My Guest:Rosie Grant is a part-time digital librarian at the American Jewish University in Los Angeles and full-time Outreach and Communications Manager for the CSW Women's Center at UCLA. Follow her on TikTok @ghostlyarchive or message on Instagram @ghostly.archive. Fellow taphophiles and cemetery lovers are welcome to connect and share any favorite graves or cemetery recommendations.About Maureen Taylor:Maureen Taylor, The Photo DetectiveÒhelps clients with photo-related genealogical problems. Her pioneering work in historic photo research has earned her the title “the nation's foremost historical photo detective” by The Wall Street Journal and appearances on The View, The Today Show, Pawn Stars, and others.   Learn more at Maureentaylor.comDid you enjoy this episode? Please leave a review on Apple PodcastsI'm thrilled to be offering something new. Photo investigations. These collaborative one-on-one sessions. Look at your family photos then you and I meet to discuss your mystery images. And find out how each clue and hint might contribute to your family history. Find out more by going to maureentaylor.com and clicking on family photo investigations. Thank you for joining me for this week's episode of The Photo Detective podcast - I'm Maureen Taylor, The Photo Detective. Recently, I'm partnered with Audible to offer a free 30-day trial for my listeners. All you need to do is go to www.audibletrial.com/pd to sign up or click the link in the show notes. As this is a partnership, I do receive a small commission if you sign up. Support the show

Some people take their recipes to the grave, others put them on their gravestones. On this week's PreserveCast, join us as we talk with Rosie Grant about her journey recreating gravestone recipes. Rosie documented her journey of making recipes of Spritz, Fudge, and everything in between on TikTok. Listen in as we hear how all of this started. Rosie Grant is a part time digital librarian at the American Jewish University in Los Angeles and full time Outreach and Communications Manager at UCLA.  Follow her on TikTok @ghostlyarchive or message on Instagram @ghostly.archive. Fellow taphophiles and cemetery lovers are welcome to connect and share any favorite graves or cemetery recommendations. Learn more: https://www.tiktok.com/@ghostlyarchive?lang=en

Dr. Rotem Rozental dives into the treasure of the Jewish National Fund's pre-state photographic archive. Rotem Rozental, Ph.D, is the Executive Director of the Los Angeles Center of Photography. Between 2016-2022, she served as Chief Curator at American Jewish University, where she was also Assistant Dean of the Whizin Center for Continuing Education and Senior Director of Arts and Creative Programming. Her upcoming book, Pre-State Photographic Archives and the Zionist Movement is in press with Routledge Publishers, and was named recipient of the Jordan Schnitzer First Book Award by the Association for Jewish Studies. Rotem is a lecturer at USC Roski School of Art and Design Critical Studies Department, and teaches seminars about photo-theory at the Brooklyn Institute for Social Research. She mentors artists worldwide and contributes regularly to magazines, journals and exhibition catalogues. Her writings about contemporary art and image-based media, as well as Jewish and Israeli art, were published in Artforum.com, Photographies, Jewish Currents, Tablet and Forward, among other outlets. Photo Credit: Roy Regev

Join CEO Jennifer Grossman on the 134th episode of The Atlas Society Asks where she interviews American scholar, professor, rabbi, writer, and filmmaker Michael Berenbaum. Specializing in studying the Holocaust, Michael Berenbaum is the author of over 20 books, scores of scholarly articles, and hundreds of journalistic pieces, including "A Promise to Remember: The Holocaust in the Words and Voices of Its Survivors." Michael Berenbaum is the director of the Sigi Ziering Institute: Exploring the Ethical and Religious Implications of the Holocaust and a Professor of Jewish Studies at the American Jewish University.

On this Episode of #WeNeedToTalk, Malynda chats with the President and CEO of The Jewish Federation of Greater Los Angeles. They chat about compassion for the Jewish community, his resonsibility as a leader, Black and Jewish Unity, antisemitism, the holocausts and more. This is a beautiful conversation that addresses many of the tropes and stereotypes plaguin the Jewish community today. Listen for understanding, education and awareness. Rabbi Noah Farkas serves as the Federation's President & Chief Executive Officer. Named by The Forward as one of America's most inspiring rabbis, Noah served from 2008 to 2021 as a clergy member of Valley Beth Shalom, the largest Jewishcongregation in the San Fernando Valley, where he led successful innovations in synagogue life through social action, mental health, and next-generation spiritual initiatives. Previously, Noah served Congregation Beth Israel in Biloxi, Mississippi, where he helped rebuild the Gulf Coast Jewish community after Hurricane Katrina. Noah is a proven civic leader in Southern California. In addition to his work as an appointed commissioner and former Chair of the Los Angeles Homelessness Services Authority over a two-year campaign, he mobilized a broad coalition of synagogues, churches, and other organizations to pass historic legislation that invested over $5 billion into housing and services for the vulnerable. Noah is also a third-generation veteran and served as a United States Navy Reserve chaplain during Operation Iraqi Freedom. Noah's core values include that the Federation support the entirety of Jewish life bycreating foundations for Jewish learning, supporting Jewish social welfare, protecting Jews from antisemitism, and standing with Israel. Additionally, Noah believes Jewse verywhere must be inclusive and commit to building bridges to other communities,join and convene diverse coalitions, and raise up the flag for social justice. A prominent voice helping to define the next generation of American Jewish leadership, Noah has served for several years as scholar-in-residence of the Federation's Rautenberg New Leaders Project and a close partner to the Board of Rabbis. He founded Netiya, an interfaith organization fighting hunger in Los Angeles, as well as the Seminary Leadership Project, which has trained hundreds of Jewish clergy nationwide to create social change. Noah is also a founding board member of Zioness, a pro-Israel organization fighting antisemitism – including anti-Zionism – with the same clarity and intensity used to combat other forms of bigotry. His writing on millennial engagement, spirituality, and Jewish innovation has been published widely and his work has been quoted or featured in the LA Times, The New York Times, Associated Press, Reuters, TIME Magazine, Newsweek, and on NPR. Noah was ordained at the Jewish Theological Seminary of America and earned a BA in Jewish Studies at the University of Judaism (now American Jewish University). He lives in Encino with his wife Sarah and four children. He is on Twitter at @RabbiNoah

I love that old song by Player: “Baby Come Back” — especially when the singer says: “I was wrong…” It is not that easy to say. But, we do. Because we must. In late July, the Sunday New York Times devoted an entire section to that topic – “I Was Wrong.” The editors of the New York Times invited a cadre of their op-ed writers – among them, as pictured above, Farhad Manjoo, Paul Krugman, Bret Stephens, and Gail Collins – to describe how they had been wrong about what they had once thought, and about what they had once written. It was dazzling — an evocation of one of the themes of the High Holy Day season. “I was wrong.” I asked several of my friends and colleagues — all of them, veteran thought leaders in the American Jewish community — to describe those moments in their careers when they were wrong, didn't get it, or didn't see something coming. My guests: Rabbi Dan Freelander, one of the senior leaders of the Reform movement – who has held many positions within the Reform Jewish world, and is retired from his position as president of the World Union for Progressive Judaism, and is a popular singer of Jewish music, with Kol B'Seder.  Rabbi Laura Geller, one of the first woman rabbis in North America; former Hillel director, director of Los Angeles office of the American Jewish Congress, and rabbi emerita of Temple Emanuel in Beverly Hills. She, along with her late husband Richard Siegel, is the author of Getting Good at Getting Older.  Rabbi Sherre Hirsch, a rabbi and author who currently serves as the Chief Innovation Officer for American Jewish University. Rabbi Karyn Kedar, rabbi emerita of Congregation B'nai Joshua Beth Elohim in Deerfield, Illinois, and author

About Rabbi Michael GotliebMichael has taught at the School of Christian Learning and shares Thanksgiving Service with BPC.  He was ordained at the Jewish Theological Seminary in 1990 where he also earned his Masters Degree in Jewish Studies. He completed his rabbinic internship at Columbia University. Before coming to KM, he served a congregation in North County San Diego for 5 years.In addition to his congregational activities, Rabbi Gotlieb has served as president of the Rabbinical Assembly Southwest Region and is a member of the Southern California Board of Rabbis. He also volunteers at Santa Monica College Hillel and St. John's Hospital.Rabbi Gotlieb teaches courses at the American Jewish University and his editorials and commentaries have been published nationally.The Rabbi's wife, Jill, is a registered nurse and they make their home in Santa Monica. They have three children, Alissa (married to Zach Fierstadt), Jason, and Aaron, and a grandson Leo.Rabbi Gotlieb has been the rabbi of Kehillat Ma'arav since arriving in Los Angeles in 1995.Support the show

Gender is one of the most contentious topics in the United States today, conversations about gender in education have even been the targets of so-called “divisive concepts” laws in states like Iowa, New Hampshire, and Alabama. The Alabama “divisive concepts” law, for example, would ban any discussion in K12 schools around the idea that Alabama and the United States are “inherently racist or sexist: ” that anyone should be assigned bias “solely on the basis of their race, sex, or religion;” and that anyone should be asked to accept “a sense of guilt, complicity, or a need to work harder” because of their race or gender.However, schools are as much as any other social institution a place where our constructed biases, expressions, and expectations about the performance of gender, leadership, the perceived attributes of students, and our response to student behaviors deeply influence not only the academic outcomes of school but the lifelong outcomes of students themselves. The focus of my conversation today, The Gender Equation in Schools: How to Create Equity and Fairness for All Students, is not a book directed at the culture war's so-called “divisive concepts”, but rather a book for educators and parents desiring a framework for understanding the gendered construction of schooling and its impacts as informed by experience, social science, and neuroscience alike.Joining me today is the book's author, Jason Ablin. Jason Ablin has served as a teacher, department chair, principal, and head of school. He holds national certification in leadership coaching and mentoring from the National Association of School Principals and has been supporting and mentoring new leaders throughout the country for over ten years. At American Jewish University and in school-based teacher workshops, he trains teachers to create gender aware classrooms and has taught year-long courses to teams of educators in graduate level seminars regarding the relationship between cognitive neuroscience and education. He is also the founder and director of AJU's Mentor Teacher Certification Program.GUESTSJason Ablin is a former teacher, department chair, principal, and head of school. He now works at the American Jewish University to train teachers on gender-aware classrooms, and is the founder and director of AJU's Mentor Teacher Certification Program.RESOURCESJason Ablin's TwitterAblin EducationThe Gender Equation in Schools by Jason Ablin Our GDPR privacy policy was updated on August 8, 2022. Visit acast.com/privacy for more information.

This is just a preview of our Patreon exclusive bonus episode, you can hear the episode in its entirety by becoming a member at: www.patreon.com/indoctrination In this very special bonus episode, Rachel speaks with her beloved friend and longtime Rabbi, Ed Feinstein. Rabbi Ed Feinstein serves the Valley Beth Shalom community as a teacher, pastor, and visionary leader. He serves on the faculty of the Ziegler Rabbinical School of the American Jewish University, the Wexner Heritage Program, and the Shalom Hartman Institute in Jerusalem and lectures widely across the United States. He is the author of several books, including Tough Questions Jews Ask – A Young Adult's Guide to Building a Jewish Life, (Jewish Lights, 2003), which was chosen for the American Library Association's Top Ten Books on Religion for Young Readers and a finalist for the National Jewish Book Award. An engaging lecturer and storyteller, Rabbi Feinstein unites the ancient Jewish love of ideas with the warmth of Jewish humor. He takes this opportunity to discuss with Rachel the circumstances that allow the ideologies of violent hate groups to fester and the societal indoctrination that entraps so many people within its hateful grips. Thanks to our Patrons for making this episode possible!

Our schools, public or private, primary or secondary, rich or poor are in tumult. They were already institutions that semi-unintentionally bred dominance hierarchies and reinforced unhealthy gender roles, but now the fake controversies around curriculum and teaching are inhibiting the kinds of conversations that can actually make schools safer, more welcoming AND can actually improve test scores. In this episode, Mark and I have a virtual sit-down with “faculty whisper” and school culture expert Jason Ablin. Jason Ablin is the author of The Gender Equation in School: How to Create Equity and Fairness for All Students. With over thirty years in education and educational leadership, he has served as a teacher, department chair, principal, and head of school. As an instructor at American Jewish University's graduate programs for teacher training he helps teachers to create gender aware classrooms and has taught year-long courses to teams of educators in graduate level seminars regarding the relationship between cognitive neuroscience and education. Jason consults with schools across the country to help them create positive culture by: Getting staff on same page with mission and vision, Working on their own adult implicit bias and gender ideas Getting back to putting kids first, building relationships, and having meaningful, caring conversations. Jason, Mark, and I also talk about Three main groups of boys and how they often interact to perpetuate dominance, bullying and harassment. The differential suicide rate and how man box masculinity perpetuates it What steps adults can take to make school better for all kids. Jason Provides a vision for how schools can build cultures and structures that empowers adults and nurtures kids, in particular boys. Although this is a podcast for adult men we know we all have a role to play in healing, morning or taking accountability for our own childhood AND making it better for current and future generations of kids. Listening to this podcast can be a part of that adult adventure. Link to Jason's book on Amazon: The Gender Equation in Schools: How to Create Equity and Fairness for all Students Website: Ablin Education Blog Link: Educating Gender Join the conversation on Twitter!! @jasonablin

Fascinating case studies on weighing competing Jewish values in difficult, real-world situations. 2021 National Jewish Book Award Finalist for Con­tem­po­rary Jew­ish Life and Practice, The Jewish Family Ethics Textbook Judaism offers us unique—and often divergent—insights into contemporary moral quandaries. How can we use social media without hurting others? Should people become parents through cloning? Should doctors help us die? The first ethics book to address social media and technology ethics through a Jewish lens, along with teaching the additional skills of analyzing classical Jewish texts, The Jewish Family Ethics Textbook guides teachers and students of all ages in mining classical and modern Jewish texts to inform ethical decision-making. Both sophisticated and accessible, the book tackles challenges in parent-child relationships, personal and academic integrity, social media, sexual intimacy, conception, abortion, and end of life. Case studies, largely drawn from real life, concretize the dilemmas. Multifaceted texts from tradition (translated from Hebrew and Aramaic) to modernity build on one another to shed light on the deliberations. Questions for inquiry, commentary, and a summation of the texts' implications for the case studies deepen and open up the dialogue. In keeping with the tradition of maḥloket, preserving multiple points of view, “We need not accept any of our forebears' ideas uncritically,” Rabbi Neal Scheindlin explains. “The texts provide opportunities to discover ideas that help us think through ethical dilemmas, while leaving room for us to discuss and draw our own conclusions.” Rabbi Neal Scheindlin is an adjunct lecturer in Rabbinics and biblical commentaries at Hebrew Union College–Los Angeles and the Ziegler School at American Jewish University. For eighteen years he taught and developed curriculum in Jewish law and ethics at Milken Community Schools. H received an M.A. and rabbinic ordination from the Jewish Theological Seminary of America.

For Video Edition, Please Click and Subscribe Here: https://youtu.be/Hu6UFQVMBwg BARBARA MINKUS began her show business career in NYC in Julius Monk's review, Bits and Pieces. She went on to receive rave reviews touring as Fanny Brice in Funny Girl throughout the United States. She played Lucy Van Pelt in the original NY recording cast of You're a Good Man Charlie Brown. On Broadway, Barbara starred in The Education of Hyman Kaplan, directed by the great George Abbott. On television, she was a regular for six seasons on Love, American Style, played Gittel the Witch in ABC's Curiosity Shop, and was the voice of Ms. Pac Man in the ABC cartoon series, Pacman. She had numerous television appearances over the years on The Danny Kaye Show, The Tonight Show, and made a record 20 appearances on The Merv Griffin Show. After taking time out to raise her family, Barbara returned to the stage at The Santa Monica playhouse to appear in Funny, You Don't Look Like A Grandmother. She then brought Picon Pie to the Playhouse, playing Molly Picon – a role she helped research – and later reprised the role Off-Broadway. In both LA and Florida, she starred as Jennie Grossinger in the musical Saturday Night at Grossinger's. Barbara presented From This Moment On – Minkus Sings Porter at the American Jewish University in Los Angeles, and returned to present The Songs of Irving Berlin. Other musical theatre performances include Miss Lynch in Grease at the Muni Theatre in St. Louis, as well as Yente in Fiddler on the Roof at both the Muni and the Starlight Theatre in Kansas City. She also starred in the LA and Off-Broadway musical, Don't Leave It All to Your Children. Along with frequent collaborator Susan Morgenstern.  

Batsheva Fankel is a former teacher and administrator turned podcast host, educational consultant, author, and entrepreneur. She received her bachelor's degree from NYU and her Masters of Arts in Teaching from The American Jewish University. Currently, she is the host of Overthrowing Education, an edgy yet entertaining show that addresses the revolutionary changes that are happening to create more meaningful education. Batsheva is the author of The Jewish Educator's Companion and creator of The Lenses of Questioning kit. To connect with Batsheva on LinkedIn, click here. To view her website, click here. To connect with Gabby on LinkedIn, click here.

Michael Berenbaum, PhD and rabbi, is the Director of the Sigi Ziering Institute: Exploring the Ethical and Religious Implications of the Holocaust and a professor of Jewish Studies at the American Jewish University in Los Angeles. He is the author of several nonfiction books about the Holocaust, and for those of you who watch documentaries about the Holocaust and antisemitism, he is a familiar interviewee, including in Evelyn's documentary NEVER AGAIN IS NOW.

In this episode, we talk to author, Jason Ablin. His book, The Gender Equation in Schools: How to Create Equity and Fairness for all Students will be published in June 2022 and features many tools for teachers to use in beginning to create classrooms where all students feel empowered to be their best selves. Jason shares some of these tools and we hear stories of how he has worked with schools around the world on gender-aware teaching practices.Links:Twitter: @jasonablinFacebook: @jasonablin.educationInstagram: jasonablinLinkedin: Jason AblinLink to Jason's book on Amazon: The Gender Equation in Schools: How to Create Equity and Fairness for all Students Link to the book on Routledge (Discounted!): The Gender Equation in Schools: How to Create Equity and Fairness for all Students Website: Ablin EducationBlog Link: Educating GenderBio: With over thirty years in education and educational leadership, Jason Ablin has served as a teacher, department chair, principal, and head of school. He holds national certification in leadership coaching and mentoring from the National Association of School Principals and has supported and mentored new leaders throughout the country for over ten years. As an instructor at American Jewish University's MA in Education and in school-based teacher workshops, he trains teachers to create gender aware classrooms and has taught year-long courses in the relationship between cognitive neuroscience and education. He is the founder and director of AJU's Mentor Teacher Certification Program and consults with schools across the country supporting their efforts to become more gender aware and gender fair. Jason Ablin lives in Los Angeles for over thirty years with his wife and two daughters.IB Matters website

Marissa Streit- Bio: A Los Angeles native, Marissa moved to Israel at a young age, where she completed her primary education and served in military intelligence unit 8200 of the Israeli Defense Force. She returned to Los Angeles to earn her bachelor's degree in Business and Economics from UCLA, and her master's degree in Education and Non-Profit Management from American Jewish University. Over the next decade, she gained valuable experience both as an educator, a school administrator, and the director of a philanthropic institute. An innovative leader in the conservative movement, Marissa joined PragerU in 2011. Under her dynamic leadership, PragerU has grown quickly into one of the most respected, go-to resources for conservative ideas. Her experience in business, education, social media, and the non-profit sector has enabled PragerU to more than double its audience each year, making it the fastest-growing conservative organization in the world.

A virtual event presentation by Dr. Ron Wolfson ABOUT THE EVENT: When you get to heaven, what questions do you think you'll be asked about how you lived your life on earth? In the Talmud and through the centuries, rabbis have imagined what these questions might be. In this challenging, poignant and humorous presentation, we'll study text, share stories, and explore the concept of cheshbon ha-nefesh, a spiritual accounting of the soul. ABOUT THE SPEAKER: DR. RON WOLFSON is the Fingerhut Professor of Education at American Jewish University in Los Angeles, where he has been on the faculty for forty-six years and president of the Kripke Institute. He is the author of seventeen books on Jewish life, including Shabbat, Passover, Hanukkah, God's To-Do List, The Seven Questions You're Asked in Heaven, The Spirituality of Welcoming, Relational Judaism, The Relational Judaism Handbook, a memoir, The Best Boy in the United States of America, and his latest book with Dr. Bruce Powell, Raising A+ Human Beings: Crafting a Jewish School Culture of Academic Excellence and AP Kindness. -- DONATE: www.bit.ly/1NmpbsP​​​​​​​ For podcasts of VBM lectures, GO HERE: www.valleybeitmidrash.org/learning-library/ www.facebook.com/valleybeitmi...​ Become a member today, starting at just $18 per month! Click the link to see our membership options: www.valleybeitmidrash.org/become-a-member/

This week, guest host Dana Steiner, director of AJC ACCESS Global, American Jewish Committee's young professional division, sat down with Jake Cohen, food writer and author of New York Times bestseller Jew-ish: A Cookbook: Reinvented Recipes from a Modern Mensch, to discuss the convergence between food and Judaism, the antisemitism he has faced throughout his career, and how sharing recipes and their connected stories from across the Jewish world is his form of advocacy. Then, Manya Brachear Pashman, Dana Steiner, and Dan Pashman, host of The Sporkful podcast and who also spoke to Jake Cohen this week, dig into their Rosh Hashanah menus. _____ Episode Lineup: (0:40) Jake Cohen (20:21) Manya Brachear Pashman, Dana Steiner, and Dan Pashman ____ Show notes: The State of Jewish Life on College Campuses: last week's episode with University of Michigan's Tilly Shemer and American Jewish University's Dr. Jeffery Herbst The Rice Cooker That Changed Jake Cohen's Life: The Sporkful episode with Jake Cohen, hosted by Dan Pashman

As students head back to campus, Tilly Shemer, Executive Director of University of Michigan Hillel, joins guest host Meggie Wyschogrod Fredman, Director of AJC's Alexander Young Leadership Department, to discuss the difficult realities, as well as the wealth of opportunities, that are awaiting American Jews on campus.  Then, Dr. Jeffrey Herbst, President of American Jewish University, shares his advice on how universities can combat antisemitism on campus.  _____ Episode Lineup: (0:55) Tilly Shemer    (24:15) Jeffrey Herbst   (35:54) Manya Brachear Pashman and Meggie Wyschogrod Fredman _____ Show Notes: Fighting Campus Anti-Semitism Before It Explodes: Op-ed by Jeff Herbst