Podcasts about jewish future

Rabbi Wildes sits down with Shabbos Kestenbaum to talk about Jewish identity, leadership, and the growing hostility toward Israel and the Jewish people — from elite universities to global politics. They discuss Shabbos' lawsuit against Harvard, media narratives on Iran, and the importance of Jewish education rooted in values, not just victimhood. A timely and honest conversation about unity, resistance, and hope for the Jewish future.

A new study on Canadian Jewry was recently published by Robert Brym and Rhonda Lenton in Canadian Jewish Studies, an academic journal out of York University. The numbers show that intermarriage is no longer as rare as it used to be in Canada, with 30 percent of Canadian Jews marrying outside their faith. Some key takeaways: younger Jews are more likely to intermarry than older ones, and men are more likely to do so than women. There is a strong inverse correlation between Jewish community size and intermarriage rates, too: intermarriage rates are lower in large Jewish communities than they are in smaller ones. Globally, Canada's rate is in line with fellow commonwealth countries the United Kingdom and Australia, but roughly half the rate of the United States. So what do we make of this? Doomsayers have called intermarriage a "second Holocaust", but the unavoidable reality of young people moving away from religion can't be fought. Should Jewish institutions and community leaders expand their outreach, or do they tighten their grip on what it means to be a Jew? Special guest host Phoebe Maltz Bovy, host of The Jewish Angle, joins to discuss. Credits Hosts: Avi Finegold, Yedida Eisenstat, Matthew Leibl Production team: Zachary Judah Kauffman (editor), Michael Fraiman (executive producer) Music: Socalled Support The CJN Subscribe to The CJN newsletter Donate to The CJN (+ get a charitable tax receipt) Subscribe to Not in Heaven (Not sure how? Click here)

What lessons can be drawn from the post-October 7 era? Amid growing isolation and antisemitism, where do opportunities for hope and resilience lie for the Jewish people? In a compelling discussion, AJC CEO Ted Deutch and Bernard-Henri Lévy—renowned French philosopher, public intellectual, and author of Israel Alone—explore these critical questions. Guest-hosted by AJC Paris Director Anne-Sophie Sebban-Bécache, this conversation offers insight into the challenges Jewish communities face and the possibilities for a brighter future. Listen – AJC Podcasts: The Forgotten Exodus: with Hen Mazzig, Einat Admony, and more. People of the Pod:  What's Next for the Abraham Accords Under President Trump? Honoring Israel's Lone Soldiers This Thanksgiving: Celebrating Service and Sacrifice Away from Home The ICC Issues Arrest Warrants: What You Need to Know Follow People of the Pod on your favorite podcast app, and learn more at AJC.org/PeopleofthePod You can reach us at: peopleofthepod@ajc.org If you've appreciated this episode, please be sure to tell your friends, and rate and review us on Apple Podcasts or Spotify. __ Transcript of Conversation with Bernard-Henri Lévy and Ted Deutch: Manya Brachear Pashman: What lessons can be drawn from the post-October 7 era? Amid growing isolation and antisemitism, where do opportunities for hope and resilience lie for the Jewish people? I'm throwing it off to AJC Paris Director Anne-Sophie Sebban-Bécache to explore these critical questions. Anne-Sophie? Anne-Sophie Sebban-Bécache:  Thank you, Manya. Welcome everyone to today's special episode of People of the Pod. I'm sitting here in our office near the Eiffel Tower for a special and unique conversation between Ted Deutch AJC CEO and Bernard-Henri Lévy, one of the most, if not the most prominent French philosopher and public intellectuals. Bonjour. Bernard-Henri Lévy:  Bonjour. Hello. Anne-Sophie Sebban-Bécache:  Today, we will speak about loneliness, the loneliness of the Jewish people in Israel, the explosion of antisemitism in Europe and the United States, the attacks on Israel from multiple fronts since October 7. We will also speak about the loneliness of Western democracies, more broadly, the consequences of the US elections and the future for Ukraine and the European continent.  Bernard-Henri Lévy:, you've recently come back from a tour in the United States where you presented your latest book titled Israel Alone. Ted, you've just arrived in Europe to sound again the alarm on the situation of Jewish communities on this continent after the shocking assault on Israeli soccer fans in Amsterdam. Israel alone, the diaspora alone, actually the Jewish people, or Am Yisrael alone. As if Israel and Jews all over the world have merged this year over a common sense of loneliness.  So I ask the question to both of you, are we alone? Bernard, let's start with you. Bernard-Henri Lévy:  I am back from a campus tour in the United States of America. I went in USC, in UCLA, in Columbia, in Ohio, University in Michigan. I was in many places, and in these places, in the campuses, it's not even a question. The loneliness is terrible. You have Jewish students, brave, resilient, who have to face every day humiliation, provocations, attacks, sometimes physical attacks. And who feel that, for the first time, the country in the world, America, which was supposed to be immune to antisemitism. You know, we knew about antisemitism in Europe. We knew about antisemitism in the rest of the world.  But in America, they discovered that when they are attacked, of course there is support. But not always from their teachers, not always from the boards of the universities, and not always from the public opinion. And what they are discovering today in America is that, they are protected, of course, but not as it was before unconditionally. Jews in America and in Europe are supposed to be protected unconditionally.  This is minimum. Minimum in France, since French Revolution, in America, since the Mayflower. For the first time, there are conditions. If you are a right wing guy, you say, I protect you if you vote for me. If you don't vote, you will be guilty of my loss, and you will be, and the state will disappear in a few years. So you will be no longer protected. You are protected under the condition that you endorse me. On the left. You have people on the left wing side, people who say you are protected under condition that you don't support Israel, under condition that you take your distance with Zionism, under condition that you pay tribute to the new dark side who say that Netanyahu is a genocide criminal and so on. So what I feel, and not only my feeling, is the feeling of most of the students and sometimes teachers whom I met in this new situation of conditional security and support, and this is what loneliness means in America.  Anne-Sophie Sebban-Bécache:  Thank you, Bernard. How about you, Ted? Ted Deutch:  Well, it's interesting. First of all, thank you Anne-Sophie, and Bernard, it's an honor to be in conversation with you. It's interesting to hear you talk about America. Your observations track very closely. The comments that I've heard since being in Europe from students in the UK, and from students here who, speaking about America, tell me that their conclusion is that whatever the challenges they face here and the challenges are real, that they feel fortunate to be in university in Europe rather than in the United States.  But the point that you make that's so important everywhere, is this sense that it's not only the Jewish community that expects to have unconditional security. For the Jewish community now, it feels as if expecting that security, the freedom to be able on college campuses, the freedom to be able to pursue their studies and grow intellectually and have different experiences.  That when that security is compromised, by those who wish to exclude Jews because they support Israel, for those who wish to tag every Jewish student as a genocidal baby killer, that when those positions are taken, it's the loneliness stems from the fact that they're not hearing from the broader community, how unacceptable that behavior is. That it's become too easy for others to, even if they're not joining in, to simply shrug their shoulders and look the other way, when what's happening to Jewish students is not just about Jewish students, but is fundamentally about democracy and values and the way of life in the U.S. and in Europe. Bernard-Henri Lévy:  Of course, except that the new thing in America, which is not bad, is that every minority has the right to be protected. Every community, every minority has the right to have a safe space and so on. There is one minority who does not have the same rights. The only minority who is not safe in America, whose safety is not granted, is the Jewish one. And this is a scandal. You know, we could live in a sort of general jungle. Okay, Jews would be like the others, but it is not the case. Since the political correctness and so on, every minority is safe except the Jewish one. Anne-Sophie Sebban-Bécache:  So if we are alone, if American Jewish students feel alone, as European Jewish students, we are probably not the only one to feel that way, right? I turn over to you, Mr. Levy, and go to another subject.  Since day one of the Russian invasion, and even before that, you have been a forceful advocate for a steadfast European and American support for Ukraine.  Is Ukraine alone today? And will it be even more during America's second Trump administration? Bernard-Henri Lévy:  I've been an advocate of Ukraine, absolutely and I really believe that the freedom for liberty, the battle for liberty, the battle for freedom today, is waged on two front lines. For the moment, it might be more, but Israel and Ukraine. I wish to make that very clear, it is the same battle. They are the same stakes, the same values, and the same enemy.  I'm not sure that every Ukrainian, every Jew, knows that they have the same enemy. The axis between Iran, Putin, China, more and more, Turkey, and the same axis of authorisation countries. So it is the same battle.  The Ukrainians have not been exactly alone. They have been supported in the last two years and half, but in a strange way, not enough. The chancellery, the West, spoke about an incremental support. Incremental support meant exactly what is not enough, what is necessary for them not to lose, but not to win. This is what I saw on the ground.  I made three documentaries in Ukraine on the field, and I could elaborate on that a lot, precisely, concretely in every spot, every trench they have exactly what is needed for the line not to be broken, but not to win. Now we enter in a new in a new moment, a new moment of uncertainty in America and in Europe, with the rise of populism. Which means the rise of parties who say: Who cares about Ukraine, who don't understand that the support of Ukraine, as the support of Israel, is a question of national interest, a question of national security for us, too. The Ukrainian ladies and gentlemen, who fight in Ukraine, they fight for the liberty. They fight for ours, French, yours, American. And we might enter in a new moment. It's not sure, because history has more imagination than the man, than mankind. So we can have surprises. But for the moment, I am really anxious on this front line too, yes. Ted Deutch:  There are additional connections too, between what's happening in Ukraine and what's happening in Israel, and clearly the fact that Iranian killer drones are being used by Russia to kill Europeans should be an alarming enough fact that jars all of us into action. But the point that you make, that I think is so important Bernard, is that Israel has in many ways, faced the same response, except with a much tighter window than Ukraine did.  Israel was allowed to respond to the attacks of October 7, that for those few days after the World understood the horrific nature of the slaughter, the rape, and the babies burning, the terrible, terrible mayhem, and recognize that Israel had a right to respond, but as with Ukraine, only to a point Bernard-Henri Lévy:  Even to a point, I'm not sure. Ted Deutch:  But then that point ended. It was limited. They could take that response. But now we've moved to the point where, just like those students on campus and in so many places around the world, where only the Jews are excluded, that's a natural line from the geopolitical issues, where only Israel is the country that can't respond in self defense. Only Israel is the country that doesn't have the right to exist. Only a Jewish state is the one state that should be dismantled. That's another reason, how these are, another way they are all tied together. Bernard-Henri Lévy:  Don't forget that just a few days after Israel started to retaliate. We heard from everywhere in the West, and United Nations, calls for cease fire, call for negotiation, call for de-escalation. Hezbollah shell Israel for one year. We never heard one responsible of the UN called Hezbollah for not escalating. The day Israel started to reply and retaliate after one year of being bombed, immediately take care to escalation. Please keep down. Please keep cool, etc, etc.  So situation of Israel is a unique case, and again, if you have a little memory, I remember the battle for Mosul. I made a film about that. I remember the battle against the Taliban in 2001 nobody asked the West to make compromise with ISIS and with al-Qaeda, which are the cousins of Hamas. Nobody asked the West not to enter here or there. No one outside the ground said, Okay, you can enter in Mazar-I-Sharif in Afghanistan, but you cannot enter in Kandahar.  Or you can enter in the western part of Mosul. But be careful. Nobody had even this idea this happened only for Israel. And remember Joe by then asking the Prime Minister of Israel about Rafa? Don't, don't, don't. At the end of the day, he's not always right and he's often wrong, but the Prime Minister was right to enter into Rafa for obvious reasons, which we all know now. Anne-Sophie Sebban-Bécache:  Ted, let me come back to you more specifically on the US. At AJC, we support democracy. This is in our DNA. Since the organization was founded 1906 we've been strong supporters of the Transatlantic Partnership since day one. We believe in the alliance of democracies in the defense of our common values. And you know here, there's a lot of anxiety about Donald Trump's re-election. So what is your take on the U.S. elections' consequences for Europe, for transatlantic relations? Ted Deutch: I've been coming to Europe for years, as I did as an elected official. Now in this capacity there is that our friends in Europe are always rightly focused on US policy and engaging the level of commitment the US makes to Europe. The election of Donald Trump, this isn't a new moment. There is history. And for four years in the last administration, the focus that the President had on questioning the ties to Europe and questioning NATO and questioning the commitment that has been so central to the transatlantic relationship rightfully put much of Europe on edge. Now, as the President will come back into power, there is this question of Ukraine and the different opinions that the President is hearing. In one side, in one ear, he's hearing from traditional conservative voices in the United States who are telling him that the US has a crucial role to play, that support for Ukraine is not just as we've been discussing, not just in the best interest of Ukraine, but that it relates directly back to the United States, to Europe. It actually will, they tell him, rightly so, I submit, that US involvement and continued support for Ukraine will help to prevent further war across the continent. In the other ear, however, he's hearing from the America first crowd that thinks that America should recognize that the ocean protects us, and we should withdraw from the world. And the best place to start is Ukraine, and that means turning our back on the brave Ukrainians who have fought so nobly against Russia. That's what he's hearing. It's imperative that, starting this weekend, when he is here at Notre Dame, that he hears and sees and is reminded of not just the importance of the transatlantic relationship, but why it's important, and why that relationship is impacted so directly by what's happening in Ukraine, and the need to continue to focus on Ukraine and to support NATO. And to recognize that with all of the challenges, when there is an opportunity for American leadership to bring together traditional allies, that should be the easiest form of leadership for the President to take. It's still an open question, however, as to whether that's the approach that you will take.  Anne-Sophie Sebban-Bécache:  Thank you, Ted.  Let me sum it up, our conversation for a minute. We said that the Jewish people feels alone, but we said that we are not the only ones. Didn't you feel that on that lonely road of this year, we've also never felt as strong as who we are, both our Jewishness. A French intellectual I know, Bernard Levy would say our Jewish being, être juif, and Jewish unity. Are they the best answers to overcome our loneliness? Let's start with our philosopher. Bernard-Henri Lévy:  I don't believe only in Jewish unity. I believe in Jewish strength. And in one of my previous books, the genius of religion, I spoke about about that Jewish strength, not military strength in Israel, but spiritual strength, and I think that this strength is not behaving so bad. I told you about the campuses. I told you the dark side.  But there is also the bright side, the fact that the students stand firm. They stand by themselves, by their position. They are proud Jews in the campuses. In Israel, come on. Israel is facing the most difficult war and the most terrible war of its history. We know all the previous wars, and alas, I have the age to have known personally and directly, a lot of them since 1960s about this war with terrorists embedded in the civilians, with the most powerful terrorist army in the world on the north, with seven fronts open with Houthis sending missiles and so on. Israel never saw that.  So the people of Israel, the young girls and young boys, the fathers, even the old men of Israel, who enlist, who are on the front, who fight bravely. They do a job that their grandfathers never had to do. So, resilience. Also in Israel. The most sophisticated, the most difficult, the most difficult to win war, they are winning it. And in Europe, I see, as I never saw, a movement of resistance and refusal to bow in front of the antisemite, which I never saw to this extent in my long life. You have groups today in France, for example, who really react every day, who post videos every day.  Anne-Sophie Sebban-Bécache:  Some are in this room.  Bernard-Henri Lévy:  Some are in this room. Pirrout is in this room, for example, every day about the so called unbound France. Mélenchon, who is a real antisemite as you know, they publish the truth. They don't let any infamy pass without reacting, and this again, is new, not completely new, but I never saw that to this extent.  Anne-Sophie Sebban-Bécache:  Thank you, Rene. How about you Ted, what do you think?  Ted Deutch:  more important than ever that as Jews, as Jewish community, As Zionists, that we don't allow our opponents to define what's happening, that the response is never to to feel defensive, that the response. Is to be bold, boldly Jewish, boldly Zionist, unapologetically Zionist. To to do exactly what those students are doing across the United States, that I've seen, the students here who have that I that I've met with that in Europe, a student in in London a few days ago, said to me, she said, when someone yells at me, when they when they scream at me and accuse me of genocide, she said it only makes me want to get a bigger Magen David. The person that that stood up at a meeting in New York a few months ago who told me that, before announced in front of a big crowd that that for years, she's been involved in all of these different organizations in her community to to help feed the hungry and to help kids to read, and all these worthy causes. She said, since October 7, she said, I am all Jewish all the time, and I want everyone to know it the and Israel is perhaps the best example of this. It's impossible to imagine the kind of resilience that we see from Israelis. The taxi driver that I had in Israel. He said, This is so difficult for all of us. We've all known people. We've lost people. It's affected all of us, but we're just never going to give up, because our history doesn't allow it. We have prevailed as a people for 1000s of years and have gotten stronger every single time. Anne-Sophie Sebban-Bécache:  Thank you, Ted. I can keep thinking about this overwhelming challenge that we face as the Jewish people today, which seems to confine us to solitude. Anyway, Jews and Israel are attacked with alternative truths, false narratives. We've witnessed how international justice, our common, universal values, have been turned upside down in the Jewish tradition, we say that we have a mission to repair the world, Tikkun Olam. But how can we make sure to recreate the common world in the first place? Bernard-Henri Lévy:  It's on process number one, continue to try to repair the world, I remind you, and you know that, and Simone Rodan knows it also, in many occurrences, in many situations of the last 30 years when real genocides happened. Real genocide, not imaginary. Real one. In Rwanda, in Srebrenica, in Darfur, when I met with in Chad, with Simone, and so on. The first whistleblowers, the first to tell the world that something terrible was happening, were not exactly Jews, but were ladies and men who had in their hearts the memory of the Shoah. And the flame of Yad Vashem. That's a fact, and therefore they reacted and what could be repaired. They contributed to repair it. Number one.  Second observation, about what Ted said, there is in Europe now, since many years, a tendency to step out, to give up to and to go to Israel. Not only by love of Zionism, but thinking that this is not a safe place any longer for them. I tell you, this tendency starts to be reversed now you have more and more Jews in Europe who say, no, no, no, no. We built this country. We are among the authors of the French social contract.  For example, we will not leave it to those illiterate morons who try to push us away. And this is a new thing. This reaction, this no of the Jews in Europe is something relatively new. And third little remark. 10 years ago in the States, I met a lot of young people who were embarrassed with Israel, who said we are liberal and there is Israel, and the two don't match really well. 10-15, years ago, I met a lot. Less and less today. You have more and more students in America who understand that Israel should be supported, not in spite of their liberal values. But because of their liberal values. And come on, this for a liberal, is a treasure, and it is unprecedented, and there is no example. Anne-Sophie Sebban-Bécache:  How about you, Ted? How do you think we can overcome the challenge of those parallel realities we feel we live in? Ted Deutch:  Those students, and I think broadly the Jewish community, after October 7, came to realize that as Hamas terrorists rolled into southern Israel, they made no distinctions about the politics of the Israelis. That great irony, of course, is that the peaceniks, or the brunt of these attacks, living along the southern edge of Israel by Gaza, they didn't make determinations on who to kill based on how they practiced, what their politics were, how they felt about Bibi.  And I think what the Jewish world, certainly it's true for young people that I talk to, came to realize is that connection between Israel and the Jewish people is not theoretical, that that ultimately, what's gone on for the past year is is an attack against Israel, Israel as the stand in for the Jewish people, and that defending Israel is really defending all of us. And I think they've come to understand that.  But going forward, I think what you described, Bernard, is new, this is what it means now to be an Or Lagoyim. This is what it means to be a light unto the nations. That in the face of all of these attacks, that Israeli democracy continues to thrive. That the conversation by those, ironically, the conversation that has attempted to demonize Israel by demonizing Bibi, has highlighted the fact that these protests have continued during the time of war. As you point out that this is this is unlike anything you would see, that what's permitted, the way democracy is thrives and is and is vibrant in Israel, is different than every place else, that this is a message that the world will see, that that the that in the face of these ongoing challenges, that the Jewish community stands not just against against these attacks against the Jews, but stands against what's happening In the streets of so many places in America. Where people march with Hezbollah flags, where they're openly supporting Hamas. It's going to take some time, but ultimately, because of the strong, because of the resilience, because of the strong, proud way that Jews are responding to this moment and to those protests, eventually, the world will realize that standing in support of Hamas terrorism is not just something that is dangerous to the Jews, but puts at risk the entire world. Anne-Sophie Sebban-Bécache:  Thank you. I'm a Sephardic Jew, so I cannot just end this conversation speaking about loneliness. How about hope? Can we find some? Bernard-Henri Lévy:  I compare the situation of the Jews today to the situation in the time of my dad, for example, there are some change, for example, the Christians and the Catholic Church. 50 years ago, a huge cultural revolution in the world. It is the change of position of the Catholic Church on anti semitism. It was the Vatican Two Council and the Nostra aetate. It seems tiny, but it is huge revolution, and it consisted in a single word, one word, the Catholic Council of Vatican Two said Jews are no longer the fathers of the Christians, as it was said before, in the best of the case, they are the brothers of the Christians.  This is a huge revelation. Of course, Catholics are not always faithful to this commitment. And popes, and especially the pope of today do not remember well the message of his ancestor, but on the whole, we have among the Christians, among the Catholics in Europe and in. Real friends in America among the new evangelical I don't know if they are friends, but they are strong allies. Abraham agreements was again another big revolution which has been underestimated, and the fact that the Abraham agreements, alliance with Morocco, Emirates, Bahrain stands, in spite of the war on seven fronts. Is a proof. It is solid. It is an ironclad alliance, and it holds.  And this is a new event, and we have in the not only in the top of the state, but in the public opinions of the Muslim world. We have a lot of people who who start to be who are more and more numerous, to believe that enough is enough. Too much war, too much misunderstandings, too much hatred, and who are really eager to make the real peace, which is the peace of hearts and the peace of souls with their other brothers, who are the Jews. So yes, there are some reasons to be optimistic.  Anne-Sophie Sebban-Bécache:  Thank you very much, Bernard. Ted? Ted Deutch:  I don't think that we can ever give up hope. And optimism is necessary, and I think justified. The things Bernard talks about, I mean, at AJC, our focus on on building democracy, our focus on interreligious work, the work we've done with the Catholic Church around Nostra aetate, now 60 years old and and continuing to build the relationship our Muslim Jewish Advisory Council always looking for opportunities to to find those voices that are tired of all of the war. And in our office, in Abu Dhabi, we've, we've continued to go to the Gulf, to the Abraham Accord states, and beyond, even through this entire war, because there is the hope of of getting to a place where, where Israel is in a more normalized position in the region, which will then change the perception and push back against the lies that those who wish to to see a world without Israel continue to espouse.  All of that is hopeful, and we work toward it. But for me, the most hopeful thing to come from this moment is, AJC works around the world and because the Jewish community now understands how connected we all are as a result of the threats that we face, the opportunity to strengthen diaspora Jewry, to help people realize that the connections between the Jewish community in Paris and the Jewish community in Mexico City and the Jewish community in Buenos Aires in Chicago, in Miami and New York, that they're interrelated and that we don't have the luxury of viewing our challenges as unique in our countries.  By standing together, we're in a much, much stronger position, and we have to continue to build that. That's why AJC's Global Forum is always the most important part of the year for us, bringing together the Jewish community from around the world. That's why the antisemitism summit that we'll be doing here with the CRIF is going to be so critical to building those relationships. We have an opportunity coming out of this incredibly dark time to take the strength and the resolve that we feel and to and to channel it in ways that that will lead the Jewish community to places that a year ago seemed absolutely impossible to imagine. Those 101 hostages need to return home. We stand together calling for them to return home. We stand together in our support of Israel as it wages the seven-front war, and ultimately, we stand together as Jewish people. That's what gives me hope every day. Anne-Sophie Sebban-Bécache:  Thank you so much. Manya Brachear Pashman: If you missed last week's episode, be sure to tune in for the conversation between my colleague Benji Rogers, AJC's director for Middle East and North Africa initiatives, and Rob Greenway, director of the Allison center for national security at the Heritage Foundation, and former senior director for Middle Eastern and North African Affairs on the National Security Council, they discuss the opportunities and challenges President-elect Trump will face in the Middle East.

Episode 57 of What Gives? the Jewish philanthropy podcast from Jewish Funders Network, hosted by JFN President and CEO Andrés Spokoiny. In this episode, Andrés speaks with Laura Lauder, a trailblazer in Jewish philanthropy whose work has reshaped the way communities approach innovation and impact. Laura's story is one of vision, legacy, and a deep commitment to strengthening Jewish life. As Board Chair-Elect of the San Francisco Jewish Community Federation and Endowment Fund, Laura shares her experiences tackling some of the most pressing issues facing American Jewry today, including anti-Semitism, support for Israel, and building sustainable philanthropy for future generations. Together, Andrés and Laura explore the evolving role of Federations, the transformative power of community foundations, and what it means to build a thriving Jewish future. Laura's passion and expertise shine throughout this inspiring conversation—take a listen!

An insightful discussion on the direction of American Jewry. Sinai Temple's Emeritus Rabbi David Wolpe will share his perspectives on the challenges and opportunities for the Jewish community in America.

Although recent news has led some to portray Amsterdam (and Diaspora more broadly) as inhospitable for Jewish life, it is home to a thriving Jewish community that has been charting a path toward a diasporist Jewish Future.Ben and Zach are joined by Jelle and Tori, two organizers of Oy Vey, an outward-facing, radically inclusive and unapologetically Jewish hub in Amsterdam. Drawing on hundreds of conversations with community members and Amsterdam's wider Jewish community, they have created A New Jewish Manifesto which seeks to provide a positive vision for Jewish life in Diaspora. This timely text is being launched in multiple languages at the Jewish Manifestival, a hybrid event on Thursday November 21 starting at 7:00pm (GMT +1).In this conversation, Jelle and Tori explore the work of Oy Vey, and guide us through the social and institutional context it has been built in. Alongside many other insights, they provide perspectives on the constructive relationship they have with the many other Jewish communities in the city. Subscribe to our collaborative YouTubeFollow us on InstagramIf you like the work we're doing here, please consider supporting us on Patreon!Big thank you to Aly Halpert for continuing to allow us to use her music!

So often, Jews and Palestinians are seen as separate, even diametrically opposed communities, yet what happens when we center those who hold both of these identities simultaneously?In this episode, Ben and Jordan are joined by Hadar Cohen, an Arab Jewish scholar, mystic artist and community organizer to discuss the complexities, tensions and possibilities of modern Arab-Jewish life and identity. By tying together personal, spiritual and historical perspectives, Hadar helps us illuminate the subversive power of Palestinian-Jewishness as a key component in the struggle for justice in Palestine-Israel and de-assimilation across the diverse Jewish world.Learn more about Hadar's work on her Linktree!Subscribe to our collaborative YouTubeFollow us on InstagramIf you like the work we're doing here, please consider supporting us on Patreon!Big thank you to Aly Halpert for continuing to allow us to use her music!

Send us a textThis Kol Nidrei sermon reflects on the transformative journey from the days of Golda Meir's tireless efforts to establish the State of Israel to a more personal encounter with Israel's realities. Rabbi Bernath shares a profound story of unity and resilience—both his own, as a young man in Israel during the Second Intifada, and the collective Jewish response to the recent tragedies of October 7th. The sermon underscores the powerful, unbreakable bond between diaspora Jews and their Israeli brethren. Rabbi Bernath calls upon the Jewish community to seize this moment, to step forward as leaders, and to nurture a shared future rooted in hope, responsibility, and a renewed commitment to Jewish identity. As the torchbearers of today, we must bridge our history with a future of unity, resilience, and optimism.Key Takeaways:The Legacy of Leadership and Courage Golda Meir's story inspires us to see ourselves as essential actors in the unfolding story of the Jewish people. Her example calls us to step up, embodying her courage and dedication to the survival and flourishing of the Jewish nation.Personal Connection to Israel Rabbi Bernath's firsthand experience in Israel highlights the importance of diaspora Jews feeling a personal, intimate bond with Israel—not as distant observers, but as family united by shared experiences, struggles, and purpose.Rising to the Challenge of a New Era The tragedies of recent events have fostered a new sense of connection between diaspora Jews and Israelis. Now, more than ever, we are called to action—not only through financial support but through an emotional and spiritual commitment to unity.A Call to Action for the Jewish Community Each member of the community has a role to play. We must not remain passive spectators but become active participants in shaping the future of the Jewish people. The sermon urges us to step forward, embrace our Jewish identity, and contribute to a thriving and unified global Jewish community.Embracing Optimism and Hope for the Future Despite the darkness we face, our response should be one of hope and joy. Rabbi Bernath calls us to imagine a future filled with resilience, where Jewish unity is our strength, and our communities are places of warmth, vibrancy, and growth.#YomKippur #KolNidrei #Israel #IDasporaJews #Jewish #JewishIdentity #JewishHistory #Jewishfuture Support the showGot your own question for Rabbi Bernath? He can be reached at rabbi@jewishndg.com or http://www.theloverabbi.comSingle? You can make a profile on www.JMontreal.com and Rabbi Bernath will help you find that special someone.Donate and support Rabbi Bernath's work http://www.jewishndg.com/donateFollow Rabbi Bernath's YouTube Channel https://www.youtube.com/user/ybernathAccess Rabbi Bernath's Articles on Relationships https://medium.com/@loverabbi

Rabbi Dr. Josh Joseph has served as a Rabbi, worked on Wall Street, and is now bringing those two worlds together. Don't miss out on exclusive bonus content, as well as special offers and initiatives. Join the Shtark Tank Quiet Whatsapp Group today, ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠click here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. Has Shtark Tank made even a small impact on your life? Email me at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠yaakovwolff@gmail.com ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠with feedback, questions, comments. Rabbi Dr. Josh Joseph is the Orthodox Union's Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer since September of 2020. He is the senior professional leader, responsible for all aspects of OU programs and operations, other than OU Kosher. He joined the OU from Yeshiva University where he served in a variety of roles over 16 years, ultimately rising to senior vice president. In that role, he established and implemented strategic plans, managed the university's operations, and played key roles on major initiatives such as the university's response to the coronavirus. A native of Montreal, Josh received both his Ed.D. and Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Pennsylvania. He received his rabbinical ordination from Yeshiva University's Rabbi Isaac Elchanan Theological Seminary, as well as a Master of Arts in Jewish philosophy from their Bernard Revel Graduate School. He also completed fellowships and certificates at NYU's Wagner School of Public Administration, as well as Harvard's Institute of Higher Education. Josh previously worked at a hedge fund, as a community rabbi, served as the executive director of the Orthodox Caucus, and director of social entrepreneurialism at YU's Center for the Jewish Future. He and his wife, Julie, live in Lawrence, New York and are the proud parents of Zach, Ozzie, and Marsha.

Topic: Learning from a Master   Guest: Richard M. Joel   Bio:    Richard M. Joel became Yeshiva University's fourth president on September 21, 2003, and was named Bravmann Family University Professor in April 2010. Over his tenure, President Joel built upon the illustrious tradition of this storied institution by placing a renewed emphasis on the student experience, academic excellence, Torah scholarship and communal involvement. Under his helm, Yeshiva University has built the Jacob and Dreizel Glueck Center for Jewish Study, established the Center for Jewish Future, established the Katz School of Graduate and Professional Studies, and developed programs in order to obtain an EMBA, Masters in Accounting, Masters in Quantitative Economics, Masters and PhD in Applied Mathematics, Masters in Marketing, and Masters in SLP. These initiatives have kept YU in the forefront of leading universities, along with expanding the use of technology by launching online education programs on the high school, college and graduate levels.  With his characteristic charm and wit, President Joel can often be spotted around Yeshiva's campuses engaging with students and learning about them; one of his great pleasures at Yeshiva is in serving on its faculty and teaching his weekly course. His devotion to the well-being of the students led to the establishing of new student life programs. Following his lead, the university has further developed a culture of warmth. President Joel is renowned as a charismatic leader and a captivating orator, and has traveled globally to dialogue with audiences on values-driven education, communal leadership, and Jewish identity. Just as Yeshiva University has embraced its role as the flagship institution of Modern Orthodoxy, President Joel has in many ways become more than a university president but a true spokesperson for the Jewish people.  Growing up in Yonkers, NY, Joel earned his B.A. and J.D. from New York University where he was a Root-Tilden Scholar; he has received honorary doctorates from Boston Hebrew College and Gratz College. He also served as assistant district attorney and deputy chief of appeals in the Bronx, and Associate Dean and Professor of Law at YU's Benjamin N. Cardozo School of Law. President Joel considers his greatest accomplishment marrying his best friend and partner, Esther, who holds a Ph.D. from Yeshiva's Ferkauf Graduate School of Psychology. Together, they have six children, all of whom attended Yeshiva University, and eleven grandchildren, who are the great joy of their lives. In this insightful episode we learn about an amazing career serving the Jewish community.

In Matthew Jocelyn's ideal world, audiences would look at upcoming programming from the Koffler Centre of the Arts in Toronto and ask, "Really? The Koffler is doing that?" Ruffling feathers isn't new for the artistic leader, who spent 28 years in France, where he worked in some of the nation's top opera houses and was awarded as a Knight of the Order of Arts and Letters. After returning to Canada, he took the helm at Canadian Stage, Canada's largest not-for-profit theatre company, which drew mixed reactions and a minor outcry from supporters expecting a more traditional direction for the acclaimed theatre. By 2016, a profile in Maclean's described him as "one of this country's most brilliant creative forces—and one of its most controversial." On Oct. 2, 2023, he took over full-time as the general director of the Koffler Centre, Canada's most prominent historically Jewish arts institution. How will he balance Jewish programming with the centre's broader mandate? How will he handle the inevitable calls from BDS supporters to divest from Jewish artists and funding sources? And what can visitors expect to see from the centre in the future? Jocelyn joins Culturally Jewish, The CJN's arts and culture podcast, to answer those questions and more. Jewish Futures is a conference for Toronto's Jewish artists and cultural workers exploring the future of Jewish cultural and artistic life. What future do we want to create together? How can the past and presentation of memory help to inform our present? How do we share our stories to guide our futures? Learn more and buy tickets here. Credits Culturally Jewish is hosted by Ilana Zackon and David Sklar. Our producer is Michael Fraiman, and our theme music is by Sarah Segal-Lazar. We're a member of The CJN Podcast Network. To support The CJN and receive a charitable tax receipt, please consider a monthly donation by clicking here.

On today's show we are pleased to have Rick Richman. Mr. Richman is a writer and author who has frequently penned pieces for such publications as  the New York Sun, the Jewish Press and Commentary,  to name a view. He is the author of Racing Against History: The 1940 Campaign for a Jewish Army to FIght Hitler and in 2003 starting his own blog Jewish Current Issues, articles essays, books and comments relating to Current Jewish issues. His most recent book, And None Shall Make Them Afraid: Eight Stories of the Modern State of Israel, shed's light on the life and accomplishments of 8 different Jews half of whom hail from Europe and the United States, recounting the trials and tribulations of their faith and fight to reclaim the Jewish spirit. A scholar of many hats who speaks with a singular voice and possesses an acute understanding of the relationship between history and memory,  Rick Richman sheds light on the historical intersections of Zionism and Americanism one figure at a time. Support our projects and join our community: https://linktr.ee/otdjewishistory --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/twotalljewshow/support

Gittin 35 – Tuesday – 1 Tammuz By Rabbi Dr. Jacob J. Schacter, Professor and Senior Scholar at the Center for the Jewish Future, Yeshiva University גיטין דף לה, דף יומי

Gittin 3 – Friday – 28 Iyar By Rabbi Dr. Jacob J. Schacter, Professor and Senior Scholar at the Center for the Jewish Future, Yeshiva University גיטין דף ג, דף יומי

Sotah 12 – Monday – 19 Nissan By Rabbi Dr. Jacob J. Schacter, Professor and Senior Scholar at the Center for the Jewish Future, Yeshiva University סוטה דף יב, דף יומי

Nazir 60 – Friday – 2 Nissan By Rabbi Dr. Jacob J. Schacter, Professor and Senior Scholar at the Center for the Jewish Future, Yeshiva University נזיר דף ס, דף יומי

Episode 36 of What Gives? the Jewish philanthropy podcast from Jewish Funders Network. Ari Wallach, Founder and Executive Director of Longpath Labs, talks to JFN President and CEO Andres Spokoiny about the case for presenting a positive vision of the future. We discussed the long-term goal of a vibrant and meaningful Jewish future, and spoke about working backwards to determine what steps are necessary to get there

Nazir 44 – Wednesday – 15 Adar By Rabbi Dr. Jacob J. Schacter, Professor and Senior Scholar at the Center for the Jewish Future, Yeshiva University נזיר דף מד, דף יומי Today's Daily Dose is sponsored by Daniel and Sara Berelowitz לעילוי נשמת שרה טייבא בת דוד שלמה ברלוביץ ע"ה נלב"ע י"א אדר.

Nazir 20 – Sunday – 21 Shevat By Rabbi Dr. Jacob J. Schacter, Professor and Senior Scholar at the Center for the Jewish Future, Yeshiva University נזיר דף כ, דף יומי

Nedarim 86 – Thursday – 26 Tevet By Rabbi Dr. Jacob J. Schacter, Professor and Senior Scholar at the Center for the Jewish Future, Yeshiva University נדרים דף פו, דף יומי

Rabbi Yaakov Glasser is one of the most creative and innovative rabbis and Jewish educators in America. The former Dean of Yeshiva University's Center for the Jewish Future, he now serves as the Managing Director of the Orthodox Union's Department of Communal Engagement. Join Rabbi Matanky as he speaks with Rabbi Glasser about the changes and challenges that face our community, and the opportunities we have to transform the future via innovation, creativity and a willingness to embrace new avenues of engagement.

Nedarim 73 – Friday – 13 Tevet By Rabbi Dr. Jacob J. Schacter, Professor and Senior Scholar at the Center for the Jewish Future, Yeshiva University נדרים דף עג, דף יומי

Nedarim 56 – Tuesday – 26 Kislev By Rabbi Dr. Jacob J. Schacter, Professor and Senior Scholar at the Center for the Jewish Future, Yeshiva University נדרים דף נו, דף יומי

Nedarim 38 – Friday – 8 Kislev By Rabbi Dr. Jacob J. Schacter, Professor and Senior Scholar at the Center for the Jewish Future, Yeshiva University נדרים דף לח, דף יומי

Nedarim 25 – Shabbat – 25 Marcheshvan By Rabbi Dr. Jacob J. Schacter, Professor and Senior Scholar at the Center for the Jewish Future, Yeshiva University נדרים דף כה, דף יומי

Nedarim 9 – Thursday – 9 Marcheshvan By Rabbi Dr. Jacob J. Schacter, Professor and Senior Scholar at the Center for the Jewish Future, Yeshiva University נדרים דף ט, דף יומי

After more than 12 years in the U.S. House of Representatives, Ted Deutch recently stepped down to become the CEO of American Jewish Committee (AJC), the leading global Jewish advocacy organization. In this special episode, learn about the Jewish values instilled in Ted by his parents, growing up in the working-class town of Bethlehem, Pennsylvania where he was one of only three Jewish students in his high school. From his summers at Camp Ramah in the Poconos to his Jewish leadership as a student at the University of Michigan – Ted's experiences as a Jewish leader  inspired him to become a fierce advocate against antisemitism and in support of Israel in the halls of Congress. As he begins this exciting new chapter at the helm of AJC, Ted describes his commitment to enhancing the well-being of the Jewish people and Israel, and how he will help AJC build a brighter Jewish future.  ___ Episode Lineup: (0:40) Ted Deutch ___ Show Notes: 6 Things to Know About AJC CEO Ted Deutch Listen to our latest podcast episode: Synagogue Security Expert on the Importance of Volunteer-Led Protection Follow People of the Pod on your favorite podcast app, and learn more at AJC.org/PeopleofthePod You can reach us at: peopleofthepod@ajc.org If you've enjoyed this episode, please be sure to tell your friends, tag us on social media with #PeopleofthePod, and hop onto Apple Podcasts to rate us and write a review, to help more listeners find us. ____ Episode transcript MANYA BRACHEAR PASHMAN: This week, American Jewish Committee enters a new chapter with a new CEO. Ted Deutch served seven terms in Congress and during that time emerged as a powerful voice for democratic values and the Jewish people. He also became an outspoken defender of the U.S.-Israel alliance, when that defense was needed more than it ever had been. While Ted has been a guest on our podcast before, he joins us now for the first time as AJC's CEO. Ted, welcome back to People of the Pod.  TED DEUTCH: Well, thanks. MANYA: So, we have a lot to get to because we want to introduce you to our audience and really let them get to know you. So, let's launch right into it. Tell us about your upbringing.  TED: I grew up in Bethlehem. I'm the youngest of five. There is an 11 year gap between me and the next closest sibling, my sister and then my three brothers are older still, and 19 years between my oldest brother and me. I am, as my mother eventually came to refer to me, a pleasant surprise.  My father was a painting contractor. They lived in Bethlehem because after he grew up in Chicago, he enlisted in the army after he graduated from high school, was sent by the army to the army specialized training program that was at Lehigh University in Bethlehem.  He met my mother at, I think not surprisingly, at a bagel brunch at the synagogue at the JCC where I grew up, and it's a long story of what happened after. My dad went to fight in the Battle of the Bulge. My mother wound up befriending his family in Chicago and one thing led to another and he wound up moving back to Bethlehem, where he married my mother and raised our whole family.  MANYA: I imagine Bethlehem, Pennsylvania was much like the small town blue collar communities where I grew up. Describe Bethlehem for us. TED: Bethlehem is home to Bethlehem Steel, which was the company that helped make the steel that helped us win World War II, that was the way we always talked about it when I was a kid. And the steel company, it was the largest employer in Bethlehem. So many people, either their families had some connection to Bethlehem Steel or they either worked at Bethlehem Steel. In my dad's case, he was a painting contractor. He painted the offices of Bethlehem Steel, he painted the houses of Bethlehem steel execs. Had an enormous impact on the community.  Over the course of my high school years it started winding down. It was also sort of the end of a great American company which we watched happen in real time. But down Main Street, Broad street downtown, there was one movie theater downtown, there were two actually for a while. And yes, there were little shops and there was a magic shop that I used to ride my bike to after school, when I was little. It was a nice place, a nice community to grow up in. MANYA: Did Bethlehem have a sizable Jewish community?  TED: Not a large Jewish community by any stretch. There was a very close knit Jewish community that had been there for a long time, multiple generations of families. It was the old model where in one building, we had the JCC and our synagogue. So, on the first floor, where you walked in, we actually had the gym and the pool. And then the second floor were the classrooms in the auditorium and the third floor was the sanctuary. So we spent a lot of time there, between Hebrew school and basketball and Shabbat and the rest.  So it was a really nice community but definitely not large. And fortunately for me, it was a community that welcomed a new Rabbi when I was a kid, and one of the first things he decided was that the synagogue needed to send kids to Camp Ramah and it was Rabbi Judah's decision to encourage that.  And I was one of the first, I think it might have been the first to go, and that had an unbelievably significant impact on my Jewish life and the way I view the world and everything else I've done since.  My first year at Ramah, I was 12. I was not quite a Bar Mitzvah, that I know for sure, because I invited camp friends to my bar mitzvah, where I gladly sang Ramah tunes, hoping and expecting that they would all join in and found myself doing a lot of solos during my Bar Mitzvah. My friends didn't quite step up to the moment, but very good memories. MANYA: You mentioned that Bethlehem Steel helped win World War II and your father fought in the Battle of the Bulge, for which he won a purple heart, I believe. Can you talk a little about how he balanced his American patriotism and his Jewish pride?  TED: He went off and fought in World War II and fought the Nazis and, and took with him these two books, both of which I still have. One, a prayer book, the small prayer book, one, a small book of Jewish thoughts that they gave to all of the Jewish members of the armed forces in World War II. The fact that he carried those around with him, still had them and the fact that I have them now is really special.  In the siddur, there's a page where there's a small tear right down the middle. And if you look, and he explained this to me, it was torn down just so that he could have a small sheet that had a Shin on it. And this was what he taped above his bunk when he was in the army, and it was his way of having a little Mezuzah, just to reflect the fact that -- here's a Jewish soldier who was there, as an American and as a Jew. MANYA: You were telling me earlier about United States Army Specialist Daniel J. Agami, back in 2007. He did something very similar.   TED: There's a family who lost their son in recent combat, who went to war and had an Israeli flag that he hung above his bunk and refused to take down despite the fact that they were fighting in a Muslim country. I think about that some, in that straight line from my Dad's experience to this Jewish soldier and the kind of patriotism that the Jews have shown for the country that we live in for so long. MANYA: You were one of three Jews in a class of more than 2,000 students. Did you encounter antisemitism growing up?  TED: There were neighborhoods in my community that still had deed restrictions, where people weren't allowed to sell their houses to Jews. There occasional experiences I had, with people who made comments that were antisemitic. I, for a lot of people, was the only Jew that they knew. I was the Jewish kid. So it's just something that I dealt with from time to time. Which is when my father would share some of his stories. MANYA: And in addition to sharing his own experiences, what advice did your parents give you about confronting that antisemitism?  TED: That's a really good question, Manya, that I haven't been asked and haven't really thought about in a while. My father's advice was clear. Obviously we're talking a lot about my dad, but my mother, she was very smart, had a very strong Jewish identity, she was a very strong woman. And the advice from both of them was to always stand up for yourself and never let people get away with it, and to be strong and be proud and to let them know that. That's a hugely important lesson that I've taken with me my whole life. It's frankly, one of the most important things that AJC does, is to help create strong proud members of the Jewish community, who also won't simply back down and let people get away with it. MANYA: You went to the University of Michigan for undergrad as well as Law school, and it's where you met your wife, Jill. How did you end up going from Bethlehem to Ann Arbor?  TED: It's interesting, my sister went to Penn State, I loved visiting her and the big college experience. I thought I might like to do that. And everybody I talked to had only good things to say about Michigan. It was also by the way, right about the time that The Big Chill came out. Not that my life was guided by fiction, by a movie. But it was literally right at that moment we were making college decisions. And here's his movie about this group of friends that come together for a sad occasion. I don't know if you saw it or are familiar with it, but, boy do they love Michigan. It's when I heard from everyone I talked to, I had friends from my Israel trip the summer before who were going to school there. And it just became the natural destination, and everybody was right. It's an amazing place. And I had an incredible experience there. And met Jill there, which of course makes it the best of all. MANYA: You chaired the University Hillel's governing board, and you were co-editor of Consider magazine, which was launched by Hillel. And this was a magazine that made it its mission to solicit compelling arguments on multiple sides of an issue. Kind of, stoking conversation, right?   TED: I was proud to do it when I was in college, but thinking about where we are now in this time where everyone has their own social media feed that plays to the things that they're interested in passionate about, criticizes the things that they don't like. Everyone has their own, their own feed, their own cable news channel. They are more and more associated with people who believe the things that they believe we were, I think doing an important service that I don't want to overstate it. But when you look back, we could, I think, benefit from a willingness to engage a little more with people whose views are different than ours. And that's what it was about. It's interesting to think about the conversations, the debates we have today, where we always want to just make this a black and white issue. You either believe this or you believe that and as you point out, in almost every occasion there are substantially more than two sides and there's nuance and engaging in a sophisticated way, requires a lot more than then simply throwing down the gauntlet and saying I'm right and you're wrong, or as is troubling these days- I'm right and you're terrible or you're an idiot or you're evil or all of the other things that people say now instead of engaging in meaningful debate. MANYA: But I have to ask, how does that jibe with AJC's advocacy role? I mean, journalists foster conversation. But as an advocacy organization, AJC picks a side.  TED:  There are different sides on different issues. When a conversation is really appropriate, occasionally there are things that are just so clear, that it becomes paramount that you stop trying to look for some competing argument and stand on the side of what is clearly just and right, and in the best interest of a better world.  The best example is when you take the position that we should deny life-saving support to an ally in Iron Dome, the Iron Dome replenishment debate. When you say that you can't support funding for that program, which saves the lives of Israelis and Palestinians, and has prevented conflicts from escalating, and has been used to protect civilians when terrorists from Hamas and Palestinian Islamic Jihad are sending rockets, aimed indiscriminately, but meant to to kill civilians? If you can't support that, if your position is such that this particular ally, only one ally, Israel, which happens to be the only Jewish nation in the world, that if your position is that you can't even support the kind of program that saves the lives of civilians against terror attacks, then there's only so much I'm going to engage on. MANYA: Of course, you're talking about the debate about the Iron Dome funding last spring that pitted you against Rep. Rashida Tlaib.  She was actually in your own party. I want to talk about that a little more.  AJC is nonpartisan. And while you were in Congress, you earned a reputation for sometimes bucking party lines. You didn't side with Democrats on the Obama administration's Iran nuclear deal, you supported the Trump Administration's Abraham Accords. Why did you break rank like that?  TED: At a time when partisanship rages, fighting antisemitism can't, we can't allow that to fall prey to that to partisanship. And likewise, defending the US-Israel relationship and supporting Israel and in handling Israel's position in the world also shouldn't fall prey to partisanship. And that means being very clear, when people take positions that are for partisan reasons or anything else, are outside of the broad consensus that has existed and continues to exist in Congress and in America, that we should support our allies. And, then when it comes to fighting antisemitism, as we've already discussed, that we should come together for the benefit of security of the Jewish people, but also because we're ultimately protecting much more than that when we fight antisemitism. MANYA: You first went to Israel before your senior year in high school with Camp Ramah and you believe being on the ground there really is important to comprehend its significance, its complexities. I personally have not been, so I'm sincerely looking forward to AJC Global Forum in Tel Aviv next June. Since that first trip as a high school student, you've been to Israel countless times now – what memories stick with you? TED: When you have the opportunity, when you go to Israel and you go to Jerusalem and the Kotel and everything that you've done, whatever connection you've had to Judaism, it immediately comes to life. I remember the conversations that we had with Israelis while we were there, which is still something that I think is really important to do every time you visit, that it's not just about looking at sites, but to actually understand the connection that we have as Jews, with people who live in Israel. And to think that this is a place that we're praying about, hoping for, for 2000 years. And every time I go back, I walk into someone's house for Shabbat dinner and some of the shuls and various minyans. Some had already ended, some were ramping down. You could hear from everywhere you walked, people davening. You just think about how unique that is, to be in a Jewish state like that. Every time, I mean, every time that's something that I'm thinking about. MANYA: You introduced a number of your congressional colleagues –both Republican and Democrat – to the Jewish state. But I'd like for you to tell our listeners about one trip in particular that you took with fellow Floridian Ileana Ros Lehtinen – a Republican congresswoman at the time – back in 2014. While you were there, the bodies of three Israeli teenagers were found. Kidnapped and killed by Palestinian terrorists linked to Hamas. TED: Ileana and I went on an official trip together. The first time we were there, the timing was such that we were there for Jill's, my wife's cousin's son's Bar Mitzvah. So we went to this bar mitzvah dinner, and celebration. And we were there just after we had all participated in events all over the country all over the world, about the three boys that had been missing, and all these events took place, and everybody was praying for their safe return.  And it was during the bar mitzvah, that all at this one moment, everyone's phones went off. And everybody looked. It was this incredible moment where the news broke that the bodies of the boys had been discovered, and that they had been killed by terrorists, and which is what so many people had feared. And so first, there's this moment where, where people didn't know what to do, but because it's Israel, and most importantly, it's a simcha. There was almost this defiance, that even having just received this terrible news. People were more passionate about dancing the hora, and about celebrating this bar mitzvah. And that was a really powerful moment.  And then we completely rearranged our schedule for the next day, so that we could attend the funeral for the boys. And there was so much that was so powerful about it, when we pulled up and it looked like literally half of the nation of Israel was walking toward this funeral.  And, and Ileana and I had the opportunity, we were privileged to sit in the front. And the funeral itself was so powerful, the whole experience was so powerful, but then we made a shiva call.  And we had the chance, it was a of all the things I've been able to do in Israel, this was a such a powerful moment for me, because we had the opportunity to pay respects, not just because we were on this trip, but we were on an official trip and we could pay our respects, offer our condolences on behalf of the American people, on behalf of the Jewish community that had been that had been praying all over the world. And as I explained to some of the students who were there, the fellow students of those who were killed. And as I explained in the best Hebrew that I could, that I wanted them to understand that it's one thing to say that, you're not alone at this moment. But having participated in these massive events the week before in my community and in Washington. I wanted them to know that I knew exactly what I was saying and that there were people all over the world who were literally mourning with them. MANYA: You did that here as well  in the United States as well, attended shivas I mean, after the school shooting that killed 17 in Parkland.  TED: I haven't ever thought of that parallel. In both cases. I was an elected official. I was in a place that I desperately wanted to avoid, or I would, I desperately would have prayed that, that the circumstances that led me there never happened. And in both instances, and so in Florida, I went to a lot of funerals after February 14, and a lot of them were Jewish funerals. That's a moment when emotion is the rawest that it can possibly be and, in both cases, we did what we're told to do at shiva: we sat and we listened. We listened to stories about, in both cases by the way, the young lives cut short and all the things that these kids had done in their short lives, and all the things that they would have done if they hadn't been killed. There are a lot of similarities. And coming out of both of those is the rededication to the important work. MANYA: So, what's in store for AJC with you at the helm? Do you have big ideas you want to implement? TED: It's not my plan to come in and, and start to make drastic changes, I'm going to come in and I'm going to listen to everyone, and understand at a deeper level, the work that's done. But the one thing I know for sure, is that that the effort to defend the interests of the Jewish people, to create resilient Jews, wherever they live, to defend all 15 million Jews in the world, by fighting antisemitism, educating people on antisemitism, advocating because ultimately AJC is an advocacy organization, building the relationships that will help to strengthen the community, and speaking out boldly, when it's necessary to make sure people understand what's at stake here.  Those are the things that I look forward to doing. But more than anything else, there is so much work that AJC does to advocate for the Jewish community around the world. And, and to, to enhance Israel's place in the world. And to speak out for human rights, and democracy.  There's so much work that's done that people don't know about. And when you have an organization that's engaged in advocacy, that means you're advocating on a whole host of different issues. And sometimes, we forget that- not we, AJC. But the world forgets that they're all related.  And so when it comes to, to supporting Israel and standing up for the Jewish community,  to be able to know that that we are advocating for the community wherever they live, from Seattle to Chicago, to New York, Buenos Aires, Paris, Jerusalem, and to do it by building the relationships at the local level, at the federal level in Washington, with the ambassadorial corps in Washington and Consuls General around the country. At the UN, where AJC is on the ground every day, at in capitals around the world with with foreign ministers and heads of state, those relationships everywhere in the world that AJC has built that its its volunteers and leaders have spent so much time engaged in, the intergroup work that has come from from that work. All of that strengthens the Jewish community. And, and, and helps to lift up Israel and its place in the world in a way that is unique.  MANYA: You're coming from a role in Congress in which you fought for measures to slow climate change, curb gun violence, have peace with other countries, balancing the nation's budget – a plethora of issues. Here, at AJC, you'll be a little more focused on Israel and the Jewish people. But how are both jobs similar? TED: We talked earlier about Tikkun Olam. And it's important and we're all engaged in that in all of the ways that we choose to be. But when I think about AJC's work, if I'm looking to if I'm looking to our text, it's really it's it's called Kol Yisrael Arevim Ze Bazeh, right - We're all responsible one for another– it's all about Jewish peoplehood and the connections that we have, not just to our fellow Jews in our communities, but everywhere in the world. In the United States, that means making sure that we all understand where we come from, which is both all of the things that our history has provided us –the contributions that we've made to history as a whole, and the impact that history has had on us. MANYA: You are a father of three young'ns in their 20s. Very accomplished, young'ns in their own right, I should add. Why should AJC be paying more attention to their generation?  TED: AJC has this unique opportunity to take the existing program than it does for young people, early in their careers, the programming to create well-educated, passionate advocates, who are and will continue to be leaders in their respective communities, from their schools to their campus, to wherever it is they move when they graduate. That program is so exciting to me and the opportunity to see that continue to grow, so that all of these leaders can then engage in the work that we've just been discussing. For AJC, for everyone, it means not just providing lessons, it means listening, and engaging with young people who have the capacity to lead right now. And we see it on Instagram, with some of the accounts that young people have set up.  We've seen it all over social media, we see it in things that people write, we have to help build that up, meet them where they are, recognize that they're already leaders, contribute to their future growth. That's an enormous opportunity.  And I think that the way that AJC goes about its work can help do that.  Last thing I'll say is this. There are young people who have been so engaged on their campuses, on social media, sometimes feeling, and I had spoken to a number of them, sometimes feeling like they're on an island, and providing a real home for them to come together to confront these issues that they're facing. To help them understand what we can do to change the narrative by lifting up their voices. That's the moment that we're in that I think we really need to capitalize on. MANYA: After the Parkland shooting, you really raised your voice about addressing the forces and circumstances that led to this horrific act of violence. How will that experience, which I know was life changing for so many including yourself, how will that inform the direction you lead AJC? TED: I think the most important thing I learned during that whole experience was the power of young people, high school kids, who helped to start this whole movement from their dining room table and the leadership role that they play. If we're not talking about the threat, then it's going to make it a whole lot harder for all of us who want to prevent these things from happening to succeed. So, yes, we've got to be clear, as we as we talk about, as we acknowledge this rise in antisemitism, and we have to focus on it wherever it comes from, and we need to be clear that the the threats that rising antisemitism pose are threats to the entire community. I talked about this at the UN several years ago, the the fact is when there's antisemitism in the country that is festering and it affects not just the Jews, it is never just the Jews. The guy who went into that Walmart in El Paso. These are people who, so many of them at their core antisemites, you see it and what they've said and what they've written. So we should all be paying close attention to the rise in antisemitism. And we should be working with everyone we can to help educate them about the threat that it poses.  Yes, to the Jewish community, first and foremost, and so that the Jewish community understands that, that there is this recognition and that they can feel safe and and we can build resilience in the Jewish community. But also, for everyone else to understand that we're by tackling antisemitism, we're also helping to make our country and ultimately this is a worldwide phenomenon, clearly, we're helping to create a safer world for everyone. MANYA: Ted, thank you so much for joining us, in your first week on the job, no less. TED: Thanks. This is really fun by the way. MANYA: Well, it's been a pleasure getting to know you and I'm sure we'll have you back on the air again soon. TED: I look forward to it.  

Welcome to Our Jewish Futures, a new series within Adapting hosted by The Jewish Education Project's Dr. Samantha Vinokor- Meinrath! In this series, Samantha speaks with educators and thought leaders from in and outside the world of Jewish education to envision the Jewish Future. Join us for this exciting new journey! New episodes will be released about once a month in the Adapting podcast feed. Our Jewish Futures is hosted and produced by Dr. Samantha Vinokor Meinrath, The Jewish Education Project's Senior Director, Knowledge, Ideas and Learning.  This episode was engineered and edited by Nathan J. Vaughan of NJV Media.  If you enjoyed the show please leave us a 5-star rating on Apple Podcasts or even better, share it with a friend. Be sure to subscribe wherever you listen to podcasts and be the first to know when new episodes are released.To learn more about The Jewish Education Project visit jewishedproject.org where you can find links to our Jewish Educator Portal and learn more about our mission, history, and staff. We are a proud partner of UJA-Federation of New York. 

March 5, 2022

Mike Leven discusses his ethics in his career as an executive and philanthropic leader. He joins Gary S. Cohn of Painted Rock Advisors to reveal his book, Can't Do It Yourself: How Commitment to Others Leads to Personal Prosperity, as well as his proudest milestone, The Jewish Future Pledge. ------------ GUEST: Mike Leven | Buy his book HERE: https://www.amazon.com/Cant-Do-Yourself-Commitment-Prosperity/dp/1642251623 HOST: Gary S. Cohn | Painted Rock Advisors | (510) 402 - 8877 | paintedrockadvisors@gmail.com ------------ This is a Mr. Thrive Media production | email: Chaz@MrThrive.com | stay connected on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

A Boomer and a Millennial go at it-- and sparks fly. In the kickoff episode of Season 4 of the David Suissa Podcast, titled "Conversations with Shanni," David and his twentysomething daughter wonder why the world seems to be going out of control, and whether sweat pants are the biggest threat to the Jewish future.   Follow David Suissa on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram & Shanni Suissa on Instagram, Twitter and TikTok. 

In this episode Rabbi Wildes speaks with Rabbi Dr. Jacob Schacter. Rabbi Shacter is arguably the most important scholar and spokesperson for modern orthodoxy today. He holds a Ph.D. in Near Eastern Languages from Harvard and received rabbinic ordination from Yeshiva Torah Vodaas. The other hat Rabbi Schacter wears, and wears well, is that of scholar extraordinaire. He has authored dozens of important scholarly articles and books that have become the mainstay of modern orthodox thought and he lectures worldwide to sellout crowds wherever he speaks. He is Senior Scholar and University Professor at Yeshiva University's Center for the Jewish Future.

Kehaillat Israel High Holy Days 5782

Rabbi Cantor Chorny sits down with Chancellor Shuly Rubin Schwartz of the Jewish Theological Seminary of America to explore life in that flagship institution and beyond, as it swirls in the wake of pandemic. Shuly Rubin Schwartz, Irving Lehrman Research Professor of American Jewish History, a groundbreaking scholar of American Jewish history, and a visionary institutional leader, is the eighth chancellor of The Jewish Theological Seminary. She is the first woman to serve in this role since JTS was founded in 1886. Chancellor Schwartz is devoted to building on JTS's unique strengths as a Jewish institution of higher learning that trains future leaders through deep study—with both head and heart—of Jewish texts, ideas, and history. In JTS's thriving community, students develop the creative ability to imbue others with the intellectual, cultural, and religious sustenance that our tradition offers, and they enrich every community of which they are a part. Previously, Dr. Schwartz played a central role in shaping and strengthening JTS's academic programs, while teaching and mentoring countless students. From 1993 to 2018, she served as dean of the Albert A. List College of Jewish Studies, JTS's undergraduate dual-degree program with Columbia University and Barnard College. In 2010, she was also named dean of the Gershon Kekst Graduate School. In 2018, she assumed the provostship, while continuing as dean of the Kekst School. Chancellor Schwartz was one of the first women on the JTS faculty and played an instrumental role in introducing Jewish gender studies into the curriculum. As a scholar, she brings to light previously overlooked contributions of women to Jewish life and culture over the centuries and continually expands our understanding of American Judaism. Among her publications is the award-winning book, The Rabbi's Wife, a penetrating examination of the role of rabbis' wives in the development of American Jewish life.

Wouldn't you like to predict the future?  Dan Libenson, gets up each and every day and does just that – for the Jewish world.  Dan Libenson is founder and president of the Institute for the Next Jewish Future, co-host of the popular Judaism Unbound podcast, and co-creator of jewishLIVE, where he co-hosts the weekly live-streaming video series “The Oral Talmud” with Benay Lappe. He's also the co-creator of “Text People,” a new project making Jewish texts maximally accessible to a broad audience through short videos and other media. Dan translated The Orchard by renowned Israeli novelist Yochi Brandes, a novel about the early days of Rabbinic Judaism, and was the translation editor of The Secret Book of Kings by the same author, a radical retelling of the stories of the early kings of Israel. He spent over a decade working with Jewish students on campus, at Harvard and at the University of Chicago, for which he received numerous awards, including Hillel's Exemplar of Excellence Award and an AVI CHAI Fellowship. Dan is a graduate of Harvard College and Harvard Law School and spent five years as a law professor. He lives in Chicago. Links: http://nextjewishfuture.org/ (The Institute for the Next Jewish Future). Founded by Dan Libenson, the Institute is a hub for ideas, education, and action dedicated to accelerating bold innovation in Jewish life. The official Judaism Unbound podcast https://www.judaismunbound.com/ (website). Co-hosted by Dan Libenson and Lex Rofeberg, Judaism Unbound is a project of the Institute for the Next Jewish Future that catalyzes and supports grassroots efforts by “disaffected but hopeful” American Jews to re-imagine and re-design Jewish life in America for the 21st century.  Listen to Judaism Unbound on https://open.spotify.com/show/1FScyC3zoOUl1Kvhy7Xw7O?si=DWJQ8pWCQV27ExqAg8so9w (Spotify) Check-out https://www.jewishlive.org/ (jewishLIVE), a portal to curated, inspiring live (and recorded) Jewish experiences. Listen to https://www.jewishlive.org/oraltalmud (The Oral Talmud), a weekly lie-streaming video series co-hosted by Dan Libenson and Benay Lappe. Check out https://www.jewishlive.org/textpeople (Text People), a new project co-created by Dan Libenson which makes Jewish texts accessible to a broad audience through short videos and other media. https://www.amazon.com/Orchard-Yochi-Brandes/dp/9652299308 (Buy) The Orchard by Yochi Brandes https://www.amazon.com/Secret-Book-Kings-Novel/dp/1250076986/ref=pd_sim_1?pd_rd_w=JCOXU&pf_rd_p=2c7d128c-1b41-40a0-9d1a-7b24bc3170b4&pf_rd_r=GS36NJRHS6VR518APZ9J&pd_rd_r=7ea5fd92-d95d-4615-a372-2d92f092475c&pd_rd_wg=aHc6O&pd_rd_i=1250076986&psc=1 (Buy) The Secret Book of Kings by Yochi Brandes Dan Libenson on Twitter, https://twitter.com/danlibenson?lang=en (@danlibenson) Dan Libenson on https://www.facebook.com/dlibenson (Facebook) As always, make sure to subscribe to Jewanced on https://open.spotify.com/show/6984NiP7H1ULW9lJeVt8Ie?si=6LouGFFLTsq7N2bKJhLXRw (Spotify), https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/jewanced/id1522195382 (Apple Podcasts), or wherever you get your podcasts and subscribe to our YouTube https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC7r6xLC1K4Zf29i9ttxbNFg/ (channel). For more information, visit us at http://www.jewanced.com/ (http://www.jewanced.com)

In this Conversation on Race, Ilana Kaufman, executive director of the Jews of Color Initiative shares her experience and perspective as an African-American Jew. Her work has been featured in books on Black Power, Jewish politics, and moral resistance, and spiritual authority. She's been featured in “The New York Times” and has published articles in the "The Forward", "Jewish Philosophy", and the “Foundation Review”.   Key Topics: The Jews of Color Initiative – was founded three years ago to create some infrastructure for Jews of Color inside the Jewish community. “We wanted to answer the questions how do we respond as Jews of Color, and how do we center Jews of color in all of our conversations?”. Results of research and survey to count Jews of Color in the US. Focus on Jewish people who self-identify as Jews of Color The impact of racism outside the Jewish community, and within the Jewish community from white Jewish people. How you can be a white Jew and be racist even having been oppressed as a Jewish person One oppression doesn’t cancel out the other The complex makeup of the Jewish community, and the diversity of Jewish people in the US and the world Why everyone’s liberation is tied together How the US invented the concept of whiteness to enslave, and force people into labor who were Black and Brown, Indigenous, and Asian in this country Different perspectives on race, racism, Israel, colonialism, amongst Jewish people based on age and direct relationship to the holocaust How the trauma of the holocaust is passed down and its impact on safety and behavior for Jewish people The increasing racial diversity of younger Jewish people How the Black Power movement was the foundation for the movement to free Soviet Jews Jews of Color have to deal with racism amongst white Jews and both racism and antisemitism outside the Jewish community.   About Ilana Kaufman Ilana Kaufman is the Director of the Jews of Color Field Building Initiative, a national project housed at the Leichtag Foundation. The initiative, inspired by a team of racially diverse Jewish community leaders and motivated funders, informed by racial equity and justice, and anchored by the voices and experience of Jews of Color is focused on grant making, research and field building, and community education. As a guest on NPR’s Code Switch, with pieces featured in eJewish Philanthropy and The Foundation Review, and an Eli Talk titled Who Counts, Race and the Jewish Future with 16,000 views, Ilana is passionate about all things at the intersection of Jewish Community/Racial Justice/Jews of Color/Education/Philanthropy. Prior to joining the Jews of Color Field Building Initiative Ilana was the Public Affairs and Civic Engagement Director, East Bay for the San Francisco, Bay Area Jewish Community Relations Council. Ilana, a Schusterman Fellow who is always searching Jewish Text for discussion of equity and justice received her B.A. in Sociology from California State University-Humboldt, and her M.A. in Educational Pedagogy from Mills College.   Contact Info: Website Newsletter LinkedIn Facebook Twitter

Topic: The Jewish Future Pledge   Guests: Mike Leven & Amy Holtz   Bios:    Mike Leven is a legendary business executive and visionary philanthropist. Inspired by Warren Buffet’s and Bill Gates’ Giving Pledge, Mike co-founded the Jewish Future Pledge to carry on his family’s commitment to Judaism.     Mr. Leven currently serves on the boards of The Marcus Foundation; AEPi Fraternity Foundation; Birthright Israel Foundation; Board of Advisors of Prager University; HERSHA Hospitality Trust; Independent Women’s Voice; Turning Point USA Board of Advisors and SESTRA Group.    Professionally, Mike ended his tenure in 2019 as the chairman and chief executive officer of the Georgia Aquarium to devote more time to charitable endeavors like the Jewish Future Pledge. In the past, he has served as president and chief operating officer of the Las Vegas Sands Corporation, the chairman and chief executive officer of US Franchise Systems, the president and chief operating officer of Holiday Inn Worldwide, and the president of Days Inn of America.    Mr. Leven is a co-founder of the Asian American Hotel Owners Association (AAHOA), an organization that has more than 19,000 members owning more than 40,000 hotels.    Amy Holtz is a passionate advocate for the Jewish community and the State of Israel. In 2016, she was named one of the 50 most influential Jews by The Jerusalem Post.    Amy is a visionary leader and strategist with more than two decades of experience leading and growing businesses and nonprofits. In addition to working on the Jewish Future Pledge, Amy is CEO of Traction Specialists, which empowers entrepreneurs and non-profit leaders to build their businesses and reach their personal potential by implementing the Entrepreneurial Operating System (EOS).    From 1994 to 2007, Amy co-owned and operated a chain of 25 Party City stores. She previously served as Chief Executive Officer of Mosaic United and President of OpenDor Media (formerly Jerusalem U).       In this wide ranging interview, we cover:   1. The Hotel Industry 2. Passover Programs 3. Conquering Insecurities 4. Reading Biographies 5. Talking to the Next Generation about Philanthropy 6. Sharing Values & Vision 7. Life Purpose & Meaning   And so much more!

In this wide ranging conversation, Rabbi Cantor Hillary Chorny talks with Rabba Melissa Scholten-Gutierrez, an engaging Jewish educator, dynamic programmer, and passionate community builder. Rabba Melissa works to ensure that our Jewish communal organizations are more intentional - more intentionally Jewish, more intentionally diverse, more intentionally equitable. Rabba Melissa currently serves as the Manager of the Jewish Camp Initiative at the Jewish Federation of Greater Atlanta and the Clergy Advisory Chair for MACoM (Metro Atlanta Community Mikvah). She was also amongst the first cohort of women in the Jewish Women’s Fund of Atlanta’s ACT: Agents of Change Training fellowship and is now a trustee of the fund. (Rabba Melissa is also involved in a number of other local, regional, and national projects.) Rabba Melissa received semikha (rabbinic ordination) from Yeshivat Maharat in 2018 and a Masters in Social Work from the University of Illinois in 2006. She has also learned intensively at Nishmat and Pardes in Jerusalem and worked for JEWISHcolorado, JCC Manhattan, Hillel International, and Global Day of Jewish Learning.

In this wide ranging conversation, Rabbi Cantor Hillary Chorny talks with Senator Joe Lieberman an American politician, lobbyist and attorney who served as a United States Senator from Connecticut from 1989 to 2013. A former member of the Democratic Party, he was its nominee for Vice President of the United States in the 2000 election. Senator Lieberman describes himself as an "observant" Jew. Since the death in 1967 of his grandmother, a deeply religious immigrant, he found renewed interest in religious observance. Senator Lieberman refers to himself as "observant", as opposed to Orthodox, because he doesn't follow the strict Orthodox code and doesn't want to offend the Orthodox. He and his wife keep a kosher home and observe Shabbat.

In this wide ranging conversation, Rabbi Cantor Hillary Chorny talks with Abigail Pogrebin, the author of three books including the most recent, “My Jewish Year: 18 Holidays, One Wondering Jew,” which was a finalist for a National Jewish Book Award. She is also the author of “Stars of David: Prominent Jews Talk About Being Jewish,” for which she interviewed everyone from Ruth Bader Ginsberg to Steven Spielberg about their Jewish identity — a book that was adapted for the Off-Broadway stage. A former producer for 60 Minutes, Abby anchors her own interview series at the JCC in Manhattan (she’s interviewed Sec. of State Madeline Albright, Malcolm Gladwell, Nora Ephron, Roxane Gay, Jonathan Safran Foer, and many others) and also moderates conversations for The Streicker Center, Shalom Hartman Institute, and UJA Federation. She is the Immediate Past President of Central Synagogue in New York City, whose senior rabbi, Angela Buchdahl, is the first Asian-American to be ordained in America.

Join Rabbi Matanky for a great discussion with Rabbi Yaakov Glasser, Rabbi of the Young Israel Passaic Clifton and Dean of the Center for the Jewish Future

In this wide ranging conversation, Rabbi Cantor Hillary Chorny talks with Chava Mirel an internationally touring singer, guitarist, composer, recording artist, spiritual leader and activist. Performing in Folk, World Music, Jazz and other genres, Chava imbues her music with the universal themes of hope, caring, connection, inclusion, and womens and environmental issues. An award-winning Jewish music composer, Chava provides outstanding artist-in-residence services at congregations from coast to coast. She has been featured on the Plenary Stage at Union of Reform Judaism Biennial Convention, and her compositions have been included in compilations and songbooks throughout the Jewish world. She is a recent alumnus of Hadar Institute’s Rising Song Fellowship, and her voice has been featured on multiple recordings by other Jewish musical artists that have gained popularity across denominations.

In this wide ranging conversation, Rabbi Cantor Hillary Chorny talks with Jodi Berman, Associate Executive Director at Wilshire Boulevard Temple, a large Reform synagogue in Los Angeles, where she has served for 6 and a half years. Jodi Berman is a consultant, professional trainer, and development coach and has presented and delivered keynote addresses at multiple leadership conferences. She is a certified trainer of the Myers Briggs Type Indicator and other leadership growth tools and has conducted leadership training and Board development for multiple groups around the United States including private companies, Federations, synagogues, non profit agencies, schools and camps, and partners with many of these organizations with regard to their leadership and development needs.

In this wide ranging conversation, Rabbi Cantor Hillary Chorny talks with Sara Shapiro-Plevan. Sara Shapiro-Plevan is all about relationships. Her essential focus: understanding the way relationships influence our ability to improve our practice, understand our work, and engage effectively with others as we build sustainable networks, communities and workplaces. She is the co-founder of the Gender Equity in Hiring in the Jewish Community Project (GEiHP), which works to transform the endemic culture of gender bias that continues to keep women from senior staff positions within Jewish organizations. The GEiHP supports organizations as they ensure that their systems, processes and hiring practices reflect the Jewish values of equity and fairness. By strengthening organizations’ awareness of gender bias and helping them to respond, the GEiHP hopes to see more women rise to positions of leadership. Sara is also the founder of Rimonim Consulting, where she consults primarily with Jewish organizations, schools, congregations, and foundations to develop a networked, collaborative culture. She believes powerfully in our human capacity for dialogue and partnership, and in that vein, works to support shifts from hierarchical structures to relational, flatter, networked relationships. Sara will complete her doctorate in education from the Davidson School of The Jewish Theological Seminary in 2021, and her research aims to enable individuals, teams and communities to understand how they best work in relationship so that they might begin to shift their capacity to work in productive, connected ways to realize their--and their communities'--hopes and dreams.

In this wide ranging conversation Rabbi Cantor Hillary Chorny talks with Joey Weisenberg. A virtuosic multi-instrumental musician, singer, and composer, Joey has devoted himself to opening up the sounds of people singing together in community. The founder and director of Hadar’s Rising Song Institute, which aims to cultivate the grassroots musical-spiritual creativity of the Jewish people, Joey works to educate and train communities around the world to unlock their musical-spiritual potential and make music a vibrant, joy-filled force in Jewish life. Joey is the author of Building Singing Communities, a practical guide to bringing people together in song, as well as The Torah of Music, a treasury of Jewish teachings and insights about the spiritual nature of music, which received the National Jewish Book Award in 2017. A devoted student and teacher of ancient and traditional Jewish melodies, Joey also composes new nigunim that have moved and inspired Jews around the world. He has released seven albums with the Hadar Ensemble, most recently Nigunim Vol. VII: Songs of Ascent (2019).

We are excited to kick off 2021 by having a conversation with Mike Leven, who most recently was CEO of the Georgia Aquarium, after a distinguished career in the hospitality industry. He'll share about the Jewish Future Pledge (jewishfuturepledge.org) and the Leven Family Jewish Identity Institute at The Temple, just two ways he is using philanthropy to ensure Judaism's strength for our children and generations to come. And, we'll hear about his recent book, Can't Do It Yourself: How Commitment to Others Leads to Personal Prosperity.

  New David Suissa Podcast Every Tuesday and Friday. The head of the Jewish Federation of Greater L.A. discusses how the Jewish communal world can rise from the pandemic. How do we manage our lives during the coronavirus crisis? How do we keep our sanity? How do we use this quarantine to bring out the best in ourselves? Tune in and share your stories with podcast@jewishjournal.com. Listen on Apple Podcasts Listen on Spotify Listen on Stitch Follow David Suissa on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. 

In this conversation with Rabbi Cantor Hillary Chorny, Rabbi Adam Greenwald talks about life as non-pulpit clergy in Los Angeles, reflecting on this past year’s journey in spirituality, parenting, and leading a global introduction to Judaism network. He reflects on the dearth of spontaneity in this environment, and the ache that we all have to be missed when we’re not present. We wonder together: what does it even mean to pray these days without the true presence of community to surround you? Rabbi Adam Greenwald is Vice President for Jewish Engagement at American Jewish University, where he oversees the Maas Center for Jewish Journeys and the Miller Introduction to Judaism Program. He also serves as a Lecturer in Rabbinics at the Ziegler School of Rabbinic Studies. Rabbi Greenwald is the editor of On One Foot an introduction to Judaism textbook in wide use across the United States. In 2016, he received the Covenant Foundation's Pomegranate Prize in Jewish Education. Rabbi Greenwald is married to Anne Hromadka, a curator and arts educator, and they are the proud parents of Gracie.

New episodes Tuesday and Friday. A conversation with educator Noam Weissman on some of the urgent and timeless issues in Jewish world. How do we manage our lives during the Coronavirus crisis? How do we keep our sanity? How do we use this quarantine to bring out the best in ourselves? Tune in and share your stories with podcast@jewishjournal.com. Follow David Suissa on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

Sit down with author, writer, and Torah-spreader Sal Litvak as Rabbi Cantor Chorny enters her first “Are You Coming Back?” conversation with a congregant. Learn how Sal sees each of the multi-faceted connections with the Jewish community having transformed under COVID, from tiny neighborhood prayer gatherings to spiritual connections in his own family. This wide-ranging conversations covers everything from golf to guns to Gemara, all on the way to the final question - Are you coming back? Sal Litvak is an author, filmmaker, and spiritual leader. He was born in Santiago, Chile and moved to New York at age five. Sal graduated from Harvard College, NYU Law, and UCLA Film. His first movie, the raucous and inspiring When Do We Eat?, became a cult hit and Passover tradition. His next film, the historical epic Saving Lincoln, explored the 16th president’s crisis of faith as he leads the nation through its darkest hours. The film pioneered a new visual style called CineCollage that places actors within a world crafted from authentic period photography. Sal created both films with his wife and writing partner, Nina Davidovich Litvak. A pair of miracles propelled Sal on his faith journey, leading him to become the Accidental Talmudist. He and Nina share daily posts on Jewish wisdom, history, and humor with over one million followers in 70 countries.

Rabbi Chorny sits down with Carrie Bornstein to explore life in quarantine and what’s coming next. They explore some of the trickier questions of life in Jewish community at this juncture, like: What was going right in Jewish community, and wrong, before this all began? How can we care for our kids’ mental health during this challenging era? And what will need to be rebuilt when all this is over and we can gather again? Carrie Bornstein is Executive Director at Mayyim Hayyim Living Waters Community Mikveh and Education Center outside of Boston, Massachusetts. She first joined as a volunteer Mikveh Guide and, since 2012, has transitioned the organization from a robust start-up to a sustainable grown-up, also spearheading the creation of its Rising Tide Open Waters Mikveh Network. Carrie spent many summers at URJ Eisner Camp and was named one of the 18 most influential young adults in Boston by Combined Jewish Philanthropies in 2013. A cum laude graduate of Skidmore College, Carrie received her M.A. in Social Work from Boston University with a focus on Macro Practice, participated in the first cohort of DeLeT (Day School Leadership through Teaching) at Brandeis and spent a year at the Pardes Institute of Jewish Studies in Jerusalem. Carrie practices improv in her spare time and lives in Sharon with her husband, Jamie, and their three children.

Rabbi Hillary Chorny asks Dr. Yehuda Kurtzer to share his take on synagogue life in the pandemic and beyond. What have you always loved about shul (and therefore miss)? What have you discovered about shul during COVID, and spiritual practice (or lack thereof), and what are your religious and communal bright lights in this time? What you think are the new horizons in general when it comes to the burgeoning radical equity of synagogue life in an era when a Jew in Portland, Oregon and a Jew on 5th Ave. in NY can practically, but not quite, have the same Jewish experiences? Dr. Yehuda Kurtzer is the President of the Shalom Hartman Institute of North America. He is a leading thinker and author on the meaning of Israel to American Jews, on Jewish history and Jewish memory, and on questions of leadership and change in American Jewish life. He is the host of Hartman’s Identity/Crisis podcast which can be found at identitycrisispod.com. He is also the author of Shuva: The Future of the Jewish Past, which offers new thinking to contemporary Jews on navigating the tensions between history and memory; and the co-editor of The New Jewish Canon, a collection of the most significant Jewish ideas and debates of the past two generations. This episode was recorded on October 29, 2020 and it is the first in a series of weekly conversations with Jewish thought-leaders across the country.

New episodes Tuesday and Friday. A conversation with entrepreneur Mike Leven on his Jewish Future Pledge initiative.  How do we manage our lives during the Coronavirus crisis? How do we keep our sanity? How do we use this quarantine to bring out the best in ourselves? Tune in and share your stories with podcast@jewishjournal.com. Follow David Suissa on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

Malcom Cohen, Rabbi at Temple Sinai in Las Vegas, Nevada

Episode 12 of What Gives? The Jewish philanthropy podcast from Jewish Funders Network.Guest: Jay Sanderson, President and CEO of the The Jewish Federation of Greater Los Angeles.Music credits:"Believer" by Silent Partner"Ex Boxer" by Riot"Panda Clan" by DJ Williams"Unknown Longing" by Asher Fulero"Heartland" by Silent Partner"Blue Skies" by Silent Partner"Clover 3" by Vibe Mountain"Follow the Shadows" by the 126ers"Rainy Sundays" by the 126ers

Tune in as Rabbi Michelle Robinson interviews Jonathan Ornstein, Executive Director of the Jewish Community Centre of Krakow. We look forward to hearing Jonathan speak at Temple Emanuel on Tuesday, March 17th. Follow this link to learn more https://www.templeemanuel.com/event/building-a-jewish-future-in-krakow/

The Jews have been called “the ever-dying people.” Each generation is convinced it is the last. Yet we are still here and, like our ancestors, we must answer new challenges. Balancing continuity and change is a Jewish tradition and a key to Jewish survival. As is hope.[iTunes] Subscribe to the Podcast directly in iTunes.[RSS MP3] Add the Kol Hadash Podcast feed (in MP3 format)Listen (MP3)

This week's Seekers of Meaning Podcast features a conversation with Edmund Case, author of Radical Inclusion: Engaging Interfaith Families for a Thriving Jewish Future, which is published by the Center for Radically Inclusive Judaism, an advocacy non-profit he founded in 2018. The post SOM: Edmund Case, Author of Radical Inclusion: Engaging Interfaith Families for a Thriving Jewish Future appeared first on Jewish Sacred Aging.

This week's Seekers of Meaning Podcast features a conversation with Edmund Case, author of Radical Inclusion: Engaging Interfaith Families for a Thriving Jewish Future, which is published by the Center for Radically Inclusive Judaism, an advocacy non-profit he founded in 2018. The post SOM: Edmund Case, Author of Radical Inclusion: Engaging Interfaith Families for a Thriving Jewish Future appeared first on Jewish Sacred Aging.

"Create meaning in Judaism or face extinction," says Tal Keinan, author of "God is in the Crowd," in a lively podcast on the Jewish future. This episode is sponsored by Yeshiva University's Wurzweiler School of Social Work. Please visit them here.   Follow David Suissa on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. 

In Parashat Chayei Sarah, Eliezer sets off on a journey to find a wife for Isaac. Of course, because Isaac is part of the first Jewish family, Eliezer knows that the wife he finds for Isaac might not be Jewish—and that isn’t in conflict with a strong Jewish future. In this episode of On the Other Hand, Rabbi Jacobs discusses why the Reform Movement is committed to inclusion and acceptance.

Inside the subtle mind of Rabbi Dr. Ari Berman, new President of Yeshiva University, who shares his insights on the pressing issues of modern-day Judaism.

Rabbi Dr. Sid Schwarz, Senior Fellow at Hazon (https://hazon.org/) o presents his Valley Beit Midrash (www.valleybeitmidrash.org) lecture "Jewish Megatrends: Charting the Course of the American Jewish Future" before an audience at Temple Chai (www.templechai.com/) in Phoenix, AZ. ABOUT THIS LECTURE: The American Jewish community is riddled with doubts about the viability of the institutions that well served the Jewish community of the 20th century. Synagogues, federations, and Jewish membership organizations have yet to figure out how to meet the changing interests and needs of the next generation. This talk will look at the social norms that are shaping the habits and lifestyles of younger American Jews and suggest four guiding principles that can actually lead to a renaissance in Jewish life. DONATE: bit.ly/1NmpbsP For more info, please visit: www.facebook.com/valleybeitmidrash/ twitter.com/VBMTorah www.facebook.com/farmforward www.facebook.com/RabbiShmulyYanklowitz/ www.facebook.com/temple.chai Music: "Watercolors" by John Deley and the 41 Players, a public domain track from the YouTube Audio Library

Dr. Brian Klug, a senior research fellow in Philosophy at St. Benet’s Hall, University of Oxford, discusses his new book Words of Fire: Ahad Ha'am and the Jewish Future, a collection of essays by the maverick early 20th-century Zionist theorist, and analyzes his relevance to today's Israel. This season of the Tel Aviv Review is made possible by The Van Leer Jerusalem Institute, which promotes humanistic, democratic, and liberal values in the social discourse in Israel.

"It’s all about relationships,” says Dr. Wolfson. From Chabad to Disney, Dr. Wolfson explores how synagogues can build stronger ties within their communities. Ron Wolfson, Ph.D. is the Fingerhut Professor of Education in the Graduate Center for Education. He joined the AJU faculty in 1975 as an Acting Professor. During his 40-plus year career at AJU, he has served as Director of the Education Department, founding Director of the Whizin Center for the Jewish Future, Director of the Ramah Academy, Dean of the Fingerhut School of Education, Special Assistant to the President, and Vice President of the University. Dr. Wolfson is a frequent scholar-in-residence for synagogues and communities, speaking on a wide range of topics in Jewish life, co-founder of Synagogue 3000 with Rabbi Larry Hoffman, and a pioneer in the field of Jewish family education. He is the author of fourteen books on Jewish life, including Relational Judaism: Using the Power of Relationships to Transform the Jewish Community and The Best Boy in the United States of America: A Memoir of Blessings and Kisses (both Jewish Lights imprints from Turner Publishing).

Our Jewish Future - Rabbi Jonathan Singer Sermon July 29, 2016 by Congregation Emanu-El

Research shows that grandparents have an extraordinary ability to influence the Jewish future of their grandchildren. Check out this episode to learn how.

CSP: Solomon - The Jewish Future in One Hour

On this episode of JM in the AM, Nachum got the latest news from the West Side Institutional Synagogue and their Major Super Bowl plans, he checked in with Yeshiva University's Center for the Jewish Future and he interviewed Rabbi Yossi Kanelsky about the latest Center for Jewish Life in Marlboro, NJ. All that, along with great Jewish music, Morning Chizuk with Rabbi Dovid Goldwasser and news from Israel made for another amazing edition of JM in the AM.

On our recent OMJCC Jewish cultural journey to Warsaw, Krakow and Berlin, we had the opportunity to visit JCC Krakow and speak with its director, Jonathan Ornstein. A transplanted New Yorker who had made Aliyah, Ornstein moved to Krakow and found his calling. Providing a meeting place for the older Jewish community and a central address for young people newly discovering their Jewish roots is both a challenge and a privilege. Ironically enough, the JCC was built with initial funding from Prince Charles of Wales.

Ed I Koch on the Prime Ministers meeting with Jewish Leaders; Also: Rabbi Kenny Brander of the Center for the Jewish Future at Yeshiva University.