Podcasts about temple emanu el

What does a Rabbi have to teach about patient care. A lot it turns out, as this Rabbi had 2 open heart surgeries in 8 months. He shares his story of fear, anxiety, despair and ultimately healing and gratitude. Rabbi Matt Cohen of Temple Emanu El in Orange Village, Ohio joins me on the podcast.

God is always confusing. We never know what to think. But that is especially true now in this fraught theological season between commemorating the Shoah (April 24), honoring soldiers who fell in Israel's wars and victims of terrorism on Yom Hazikaron (April 30), and celebrating the birth of the State of Israel on om Ha'atzmaut (May 1). Tomorrow we are going to study a modern Jewish philosopher that we have never before studied, Rabbi Irving Greenberg, who came up with a new scheme: the Three Eras of Jewish History.It is new. It is thoughtful. It is engaging. It gives us what to talk about.But does it work? After all, the Holocaust and the founding of the State of Israel happened within three years of one another, very much in the same era.We will also look at the special insertions in our Amidah for Yom Hashoah and Yom Ha'atzmaut to see what statement they make on God's relationship to the Jewish people and to history in 1941-45 and in 1948. We will also examine an important text from the Talmud that shows our sense of God's presence or absence is very much affected by what is actually happening in the world. Spoiler alert: it's not about the answers. There are none. It's about the wrestling. One other alternative: Who needs God? Since there are no answers, since the wrestling never leads to an answer, are we better off if God is not all that important to us—which, by the way, is what the vast majority of Temple Emanuel members will say about how they actually lead their lives. “I'm not a God person. I am here for the community.” Maybe that is the wisest posture of all?

Just weeks into his second term, President Donald Trump is sending shockwaves around the world. From proposing resettling the population of Gaza to saying he wants the United States to regain control of the Panama Canal, the president is making it clear that he's not following the traditional set of rules that have guided American foreign policy for decades. Looking at Trump's plans abroad, NY1's Errol Louis recently held an in-depth discussion with veteran diplomat Richard Haass, the president emeritus of the Council on Foreign Relation. The conversation at Temple Emanuel of Great Neck, Long Island, tackled a wide range of international topics from Greenland to Ukraine to the Middle East. Join the conversation, weigh in on Twitter using the hashtag #NY1YouDecide or give us a call at 212-379-3440 and leave a message. Or send an email to YourStoryNY1@charter.com.

Theodor Herzl is the father of the modern political Zionist movement, but the centrality of his vision to the founding of the state of Israel is less understood than it might be. Herzl was living an assimilated life in late 19th-century Vienna but continually came up against brick walls blocking his professional advancement. Because he was Jewish. He quickly formed the view that the Jewish people must transform from victims to masters of their fate. Putting pen to paper, he wrote essays, plays, and even one or two novels. His writing is turgid but important as it articulates a bold and modern political ideology that, in turn, became the spark for the organized Zionist movement. Herzl's spirit animal is David Matlow, who I am proud to call a friend. A Toronto lawyer, Matlow has amassed the largest collection of Herzl-related “stuff” in the world over decades. His fascination with Herzl began when he was a young boy visiting his grandparents every summer in Israel. The objects he has found over decades bring to life the man and his extraordinary legacy. Oy. And the stories. Matlow's collection fetish really took off with the advent of the internet—which also coincided with a remarkable find in a garbage bin in Jerusalem. Matlow has a gift for telling a good tale, and he has done wonders portraying the work, life, and legacy of Theodor Herzl. Until January 23, a small selection of his collection is featured in an exhibition at the Temple Emanu-El in New York. If you can get there, it is well worth attending. Our discussion is not only informative but, like David Matlow, engaging and fun. It is the perfect indulgence for this time of year. State of Tel Aviv is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.Podcast Notes* The cardboard portrait of Herzl that was framed in the living room of David Matlow's grandparents' home in Ramat Gan.* Cards from the first seven Zionist Congress meetings held annually, beginning with the Basel meeting in 1897, when the iconic photo of Herzl on the balcony was taken. * We're Canadian. Herzl. Hockey. Because - why not? David was even kind enough to give me two pairs of socks with a hockey playing Herzl print. This figurine did not make it into the Exhibit.* The Norwegian sardines branded “Dr. Herzl.”* The locket notebook signed by “Benjamin”, as Herzl was known to his close friends. * The poster for the “All About Herzl” Exhibit at the Bernard Museum, Temple Emanu-El, New York City.* A few photographs from the exhibition. * David Matlow on one of many visits - I assume - to Herzl's grave in Jerusalem. If you look closely you will see that he is wearing the Herzl hockey socks.His brief bio is below.David Matlow practices law at Goodmans LLP in Toronto. He owns the world's largest collection of Theodor Herzl memorabilia (over 6,000 items), and his Herzl Project is designed to inform people about Herzl's work to inspire them to work to complete Herzl's dream. He is the chairman of the Ontario Jewish Archives and a director of the Center for Israel Education. In David's weekly Treasure Trove column in the Canadian Jewish News he showcases one historical item from his collection, which all together tell the story of Israel through “stuff". More information about the Herzl Project is available at www.herzlcollection.com State of Tel Aviv is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.stateoftelaviv.com/subscribe

Relax and escape from your everyday hustle and bustle with the 9th annual Colorado Matters Holiday Extravaganza! Recorded at the historic Central Presbyterian Church in Denver, this year's tradition includes headliner Kayla Marque, a Denver singer/songwriter; Joshua Danger Emerson, a Dine' Navajo comedian and regular at the Comedy Works who founded the award-winning comedy troupe and production company, DeadRoom Comedy; Scott O'Neil, former Colorado Symphony resident conductor who hosts "Behind the Baton" on CPR Classical; poet, artist and entrepreneur Confidence Omenai of Aurora; and Rabbi Joe Black of Temple Emanuel in Denver with an original song for Hanukkah. 

Relax and escape from your everyday hustle and bustle with the 9th annual Colorado Matters Holiday Extravaganza! Recorded at the historic Central Presbyterian Church in Denver, this year's tradition includes headliner Kayla Marque, a Denver singer/songwriter; Joshua Danger Emerson, a Dine' Navajo comedian and regular at the Comedy Works who founded the award-winning comedy troupe and production company, DeadRoom Comedy; Scott O'Neil, former Colorado Symphony resident conductor who hosts "Behind the Baton" on CPR Classical; poet, artist and entrepreneur Confidence Omenai of Aurora; and Rabbi Joe Black of Temple Emanuel in Denver with an original song for Hanukkah. 

Currently on display at the Herbert & Eileen Bernard Museum at New York's Temple Emanu-El, the All About Herzl Exhibition showcases a wide array of original Herzl documents, ephemera, and artifacts. The exhibition includes materials drawn from the collections of the Theodor Herzl Archive at the Central Zionist Archives in Israel, YIVO Institute for Jewish Research, and from David Matlow – holder of the world's largest private collection of Herzl memorabilia. On this special episode of IsraelCast Matlow takes Host Steven Shalowitz through a tour of the exhibit on location, from Herzl's diaries, photos, and even report cards while discussing Herzl's journey towards advocating for a Jewish State.

We finally unpack a last part of Daniel Limbaugh's founding sermon of our church from 1899 in which he said, “What shall I do with my life?  How can I make the most of it?”  They had answers to these questions, let's see if we can find some for today. This sermon is part of our Chart & Compass series – Our Unitarian Universalist faith is a beacon of hope for people seeking a religion free from “old dogmas, doctrines, and creeds.” On May 12, 1899, Mr. Daniel Limbaugh gave a talk on the Unitarian religion at Temple Emanu-El where he described such seekers as being “at sea without a chart or compass.” This sermon led to the founding of the First Unitarian Church of Dallas. In this series, we will take a closer look at Limbaugh's pivotal message and explore how Unitarian Universalism can serve as our chart and compass in modern times.  First Unitarian Church of Dallas is devoted to genuine inclusion, depth and joy, reason and spirit. We have been a voice of progressive religion in Dallas since 1899, working toward a more just and compassionate world in all of what we do.   We hope that when you come here your life is made more whole through experiences of love and service, spiritual growth, and an open exploration of the divine. Learn more at https://dallasuu.org/   New sermon every week. Subscribe here: https://tinyurl.com/1stchurchyoutubesubscribe Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/1stuchurch/ Follow us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/1stUChurch Watch the livestream on Sundays at 9:30am, 11am, & 7pm CST: https://dallasuu.org/live/ Œ

We unpack more of Daniel Limbaugh's founding sermon of our church from 1899 in which he said, “We believe God to be one, not three or more; an intelligent first cause, not an ultimate blind force… We have said that we believe God is love.”  Let's look for God in our version of faith for today through his eyes. This sermon is part of our Chart & Compass series – Our Unitarian Universalist faith is a beacon of hope for people seeking a religion free from “old dogmas, doctrines, and creeds.” On May 12, 1899, Mr. Daniel Limbaugh gave a talk on the Unitarian religion at Temple Emanu-El where he described such seekers as being “at sea without a chart or compass.” This sermon led to the founding of the First Unitarian Church of Dallas. In this series, we will take a closer look at Limbaugh's pivotal message and explore how Unitarian Universalism can serve as our chart and compass in modern times. First Unitarian Church of Dallas is devoted to genuine inclusion, depth and joy, reason and spirit. We have been a voice of progressive religion in Dallas since 1899, working toward a more just and compassionate world in all of what we do.   We hope that when you come here your life is made more whole through experiences of love and service, spiritual growth, and an open exploration of the divine. Learn more at https://dallasuu.org/   New sermon every week. Subscribe here: https://tinyurl.com/1stchurchyoutubesubscribe Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/1stuchurch/ Follow us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/1stUChurch Watch the livestream on Sundays at 9:30am, 11am, & 7pm CST: https://dallasuu.org/live/ Œ

We continue to explore Daniel Limbaugh's 1899 founding sermon for our church by finding in it kernels of interest for them and for us today.  In it he said, “Ours is not a system so much as it is a tendency.  It is embraced by the spirit rather than by any formal statement of language.  The seeking of truth, actuated by a love for it and its application to the religious nature of man is the spirit that animates us in all our investigations, statements and work.” We will unpack this for today's spiritual needs of our church. This sermon is part of our Chart & Compass series – Our Unitarian Universalist faith is a beacon of hope for people seeking a religion free from “old dogmas, doctrines, and creeds.” On May 12, 1899, Mr. Daniel Limbaugh gave a talk on the Unitarian religion at Temple Emanu-El where he described such seekers as being “at sea without a chart or compass.” This sermon led to the founding of the First Unitarian Church of Dallas. In this series, we will take a closer look at Limbaugh's pivotal message and explore how Unitarian Universalism can serve as our chart and compass in modern times.  First Unitarian Church of Dallas is devoted to genuine inclusion, depth and joy, reason and spirit. We have been a voice of progressive religion in Dallas since 1899, working toward a more just and compassionate world in all of what we do.   We hope that when you come here your life is made more whole through experiences of love and service, spiritual growth, and an open exploration of the divine. Learn more at https://dallasuu.org/   New sermon every week. Subscribe here: https://tinyurl.com/1stchurchyoutubesubscribe Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/1stuchurch/ Follow us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/1stUChurch Watch the livestream on Sundays at 9:30am, 11am, & 7pm CST: https://dallasuu.org/live/ Œ

The church was founded this day in 1899 with the words of Daniel Limbaugh who preached, “Many souls are hungering and thirsting for religious knowledge, truth and righteousness, to whom the old dogmas, doctrines and creeds appear outgrown. These persons are at sea without chart or compass, and many are making shipwreck of their religious natures.” His call was for Unitarians to gather and become a church that addressed these issues of the day. Let's look back on our history and see who we have become and why. This sermon is part of our Chart & Compass series – Our Unitarian Universalist faith is a beacon of hope for people seeking a religion free from “old dogmas, doctrines, and creeds.” On May 12, 1899, Mr. Daniel Limbaugh gave a talk on the Unitarian religion at Temple Emanu-El where he described such seekers as being “at sea without a chart or compass.” This sermon led to the founding of the First Unitarian Church of Dallas. In this series, we will take a closer look at Limbaugh's pivotal message and explore how Unitarian Universalism can serve as our chart and compass in modern times.  First Unitarian Church of Dallas is devoted to genuine inclusion, depth and joy, reason and spirit. We have been a voice of progressive religion in Dallas since 1899, working toward a more just and compassionate world in all of what we do.   We hope that when you come here your life is made more whole through experiences of love and service, spiritual growth, and an open exploration of the divine. Learn more at https://dallasuu.org/   New sermon every week. Subscribe here: https://tinyurl.com/1stchurchyoutubesubscribe Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/1stuchurch/ Follow us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/1stUChurch Watch the livestream on Sundays at 9:30am, 11am, & 7pm CST: https://dallasuu.org/live/ Œ

In late August Joshua Leifer, author of Tablets Shattered, was going to be in dialogue about his new book with a local Brooklyn rabbi. They were infamously banned from the bookstore because they are Zionists. While the employee who tossed them was fired, it is sobering that in America, in New York, in August of 2024, an author could get banned for believing that the Jewish people have a right to a homeland. The day that Josh Leifer was banned by the bookstore I called him. His mother and Shira have been the best of friends for more than forty years, since they were roommates in college. I invited him to come to Temple Emanuel, and he said yes on the spot. Josh will be talking about his book on Wednesday night, September 18. His talk will be from 8:00pm to 9:00pm, and he will sell and sign books after his talk. This book brilliantly addresses two questions that people my age ask about our children: Jews in their 20s and 30s. Why are our adult children so seemingly disconnected from their Judaism? We brought them to shul. We gave them a good Jewish education. We went on family trips to Israel. They went to Jewish summer camp. And now, they don't belong to a synagogue, and their Judaism does not seem relevant to their lives. What happened? Why the disconnect? Why are our adult children so neutral to negative to hostile towards Israel? This was a problem before October 7, and it has been exacerbated by October 7 and the subsequent almost year of war. Israel got attacked on October 7. Why can our adult children not muster empathy for fellow Jews who are literally fighting for their lives? Josh is of this generation. His book analyzes why the very pillars of 20th century post-war American Judaism have crumbled for his generation, and what to do about it so that the rising generation's commitments to the Jewish people, to Jewish practice, and to Israel can be renewed and strengthened. Josh's voice on Israel is left-of-center. He uses the word “occupation” which may make many in our congregation uncomfortable. His critique of the Israeli government for the occupation, and his sympathy for the rights of Palestinians, may make many in our congregation uncomfortable. But if we want to understand the feelings of our children and grandchildren on Israel, we have to be able listen to this point of view. Josh and his new bride are spending their first year of marriage in Israel. He votes with his feet, and we need to hear him and the views of many in his generation. If not, we will stare at our children and grandchildren with mutual incomprehension. This is a rare opportunity to hear from a major new voice.

Support Breaking Walls at https://www.patreon.com/thewallbreakers In October 1944, in conjunction with the Jewish Theological Seminary, NBC began one of the longest-running religious programs in radio history. It was called The Eternal Light. The dramatized stories from ancient Judaea, along with contemporary works like The Diary of Anne Frank. It was produced by Milton Krents. Many top New York radio actors appeared. NBC donated the air time and the Seminary paid for the show's production. As part of this second episode, which aired on Sunday, October 15th, 1944, listeners heard about the founding of Temple Emanuel, the first reform Jewish synagogue in New York. It was formed in 1845 in a rented hall near Grand and Clinton Streets in Manhattan's Lower East Side. By 1944 the congregation had moved to its current location, at 1 East 65th Street, just off Fifth Avenue, on Manhattan's Upper East Side.

The subject of autocracy is on the minds of many. We often hear about an existential threat to our democracy in the United States. But is fascism truly possible in America? Ruth Ben-Ghiat is a professor of history and Italian studies at New York University. She writes about fascism, authoritarianism, propaganda and democracy protection. Her most recent book, “Strongmen: Mussolini to the Present,” explores what modern authoritarian leaders have in common and how they can be stopped. She joined NY1's Errol Louis before a live audience at Temple Emanuel of Great Neck, New York, to discuss the book, her thoughts on how dictators rise to power and what she feels are effective weapons against strongmen. Join the conversation, weigh in on Twitter using the hashtag #NY1YouDecide, give us a call at 212-379-3440 and leave a message, or send an email to YourStoryNY1@charter.com.

Shabbat Teaching with Jake Petzold, at Temple Beth Am, Los Angeles, August 3, 2024. As our Torah calendar turns to Dvarim, we turn to reading the greatest valediction the world knows: Moses's extended set of farewell addresses as the people Israel encamped poised to enter the land of Israel. In these speeches, which almost alone comprise Deuteronomy, Moses retells Israel's story and delivers a final charge for the transformations they would experience without him. What can we learn from Moses about saying goodbye? We'll look at various farewells in history, including George Washington and Lou Gehrig. Jake Petzold is a Rabbinic Intern at Temple Emanuel of Beverly Hills. Introduced by Rabbi Rebecca Schatz. (Youtube/Zoom)

Did you or your children go to summer camp? If so, do you remember the songs you or they sang? For me, my childhood soundtrack of classic summer camp songs is filled with silly ditties like “I Said a Boom-Chicka Boom” and “Sippin' Cider through a Straw.” Throw in a “Zum Gali Gali” and a “Shalom Rav” or two, and it always made me smile that my kids are singing those same summer songs – a joyful summer soundtrack filled with ruach (spirit) and a camp legacy. Last week, I visited our Temple Emanuel kids at Camp Ramah and found them singing a very different tune. After lunch, they gathered in the middle of the dining hall, swaying in large circles, serious and spiritual. Mournfully, they belted out Acheinu, a prayer for the hostages: “As for our brethren, the whole house of Israel, who are in trouble or captivity… May the Almighty have mercy upon them, and bring them from trouble to abundance, from darkness to light, and from subjection to redemption, now speedily and soon.” My heart broke, as all our hearts break. So proud. So moved. And yet, so broken that Acheinu is this summer's camp soundtrack – that the world our kids inhabit is one where hostages have been held in Gaza now for 295 days. It was with the echo of the campers' plaintive prayers that I went this week to Washington, D.C., at the generous invitation of our Congressman, Jake Auchincloss, to hear Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's address to a joint session of Congress. I don't need to tell you the hopes, the fears, and the politics that surrounded this moment – especially taking place, as it did, in the midst of our own historic moment here in the United States.

We've had a lot of new listeners join us of the past year, so while we're hard at work on our next season, we thought we'd share some favorites you might have missed from the archives. Since this episode was first published, the Surgeon General has issued an advisory about the effects of social media on youth mental health, and, more recently, called for warning label on all social media platforms. Time with family, friends and loved ones is supposed to be at the center of the holiday season … but in our screen-dominated world, how many of us can say that's still true?Our devices are purposefully designed to monopolize our attention and make themselves hard to put down. So even though we know that spending too much time staring at screens is bad for us, the addiction can be hard to break. With the New Year almost upon us, why not try to make a new start? Join Dave as he tries to put down his phone and find a little spiritual renewal with advice from marketing professor Adam Alter and Tech Shabbat advocate Rabbi Sydney Mintz. Adam Alter is the author of Irresistible: The Rise of Addictive Technology and the Business of Keeping Us Hooked. To find out more about Adam's work, including his forthcoming book, Anatomy of a Breakthrough, visit his website. In addition to serving as the Rabbi of Temple Emanu-El in San Francisco for 25 years, Sydney Mintz is also an activist, writer, and performer. Find out more about the many projects she's involved in on her website. Find out more about the ideas behind Tech Shabbat in Tiffany Shlain's book 24/6: Giving Up Screens One Day a Week to Get More Time, Creativity, and Connection. To learn more about the spiritual aspects of Shabbat, Rabbi Mintz recommends reading The Sabbath, by Abraham Joshua Heschel.

From overturning the constitutional right to abortion to loosening long-standing gun laws, the Supreme Court ended one of its most historic and tumultuous terms in 2022. Breaking it all down is legal scholar Michael Waldman, author of “The Supermajority: How the Supreme Court Divided America.” Waldman recently joined NY1's Errol Louis at Temple Emanuel of Great Neck to discuss his book and the high court's current term. They also talked about how the Supreme Court plays an extraordinary and unusual role in the lives of millions of Americans. Join the conversation, weigh in on Twitter using the hashtag #NY1YouDecide or give us a call at 212-379-3440 and leave a message. Or send an email to YourStoryNY1@charter.com.

A discussion on how universities are – and are not – addressing antisemitism, with panelists Lawrence H. Summers (Harvard President Emeritus and former US Secretary of the Treasury), Erwin Chemerinsky (Berkeley Law), Shai Davidai (Columbia University) Rabbi Isabel de Koninck (Drexel Hillel), and Zoe Bernstein (Cornell). A program of the Temple Emanu-El Streicker Center, it was moderated by Jeff Zucker (former President of CNN) and an introduction was offered by Rabbi Joshua Davidson of Temple Emanu-El.

Today I have the pleasure to interview Marc Arginteanu about his career and advice on how to go about life and relationships. Marc is a graduate of University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine. His professional accomplishments include previously serving as President of the New Jersey Neurosurgical Society and as Chairman of Neurosurgery at Englewood Hospital. Although he has stepped away from medical practice, he continues to be a Clinical Associate Professor of Neurosurgery at Mount Sinai, New York and an Adjunct Professor of Psychology (neuroscience) at Florida International University, Miami. Dr. Arginteanu has authored several books, achieving best-selling status for his non-fiction The Mind Unlocked and winning awards for his fiction novels of Paint and Pancakes and Azazel's Public House. If you'd like to learn more about these books, or his others, check out his Goodreads Author page https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/22704585.Marc_Arginteanu (https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/22704585.Marc_Arginteanu) Dr. Arginteanu is involved in a number of early stage medical related companies as an investor and/or member of the advisory board. Dr. Arginteanu currently serves on the Boards of the Foundation of Englewood Hospital and the Jewish Home Family of Bergen County. He has previously served on the board of Temple Emanu-El, Closter. If you'd like to learn more about Dr. Arginteanu, check out his website https://marcarginteanu.com/ (https://marcarginteanu.com/)  and substack https://brain2mind.substack.com/ (https://brain2mind.substack.com/)   or contact him at tomaliventures@yahoo.com (mailto:tomaliventures@yahoo.com)

Abe and Sarah have been happily married for more than 60 years. They share children, grandchildren, great grandchildren.  One fine day, Sarah says,  Abe: I'd like a banana sundae.  Would you please go to JP Licks?  Of course! It would be my privilege! What kind of banana sundae do you want?  Abe, write it down.  A banana sundae has a lot going on.  Would you please get me three flavors: chocolate chip, Oreo, and cake batter. Then whipped cream. Lots of hot fudge. With a cherry on top.  Abe, write it down.   I don't need to write it down.  I've got it.  Off he goes. Thirty minutes later, he comes back, smiling and triumphant.   Sarah, I got you just what you wanted! A dozen hot, fresh bagels. And delicious plain cream cheese, which you always love. Abe, I told you to write it down. I told you you'd forget.  I don't want plain cream cheese.  I want cream cheese with scallions. This is an old joke that my father in love used to tell, but the older I get, the more I realize that this joke is no joke.  This joke has a deep pathos.  The pathos that Abe is not the person he used to be. The pathos that Sarah is not the person she used to be.  The pathos that their decline does not have an answer or a happy ending.  The pathos that their children, grandchildren  and caregivers are increasingly going to be called upon to help get them through their days safely.  The pathos that their life is going to be changing in ways that they would not have chosen and cannot control. Abe and Sarah's 60-year love story has complexity to it.  A lot of joy. A lot of love. A lot of rich shared history. A lot of what matters most in the world.  And a lot of pain and loss.  How do we think about the totality of their story—and of ours?  How do we make sense of not only the happy parts but also the rough patches? This morning we are trying to make sense of two things that have their own cycle, their own rhythm, their own ups and downs—and that at first blush do not seem connected but in fact deeply are.  The first is Through the Decades membership in Temple Emanuel for folks who once celebrated their Bar or Bat Mitzvah here, as an adult or as a teen, and are still connected to our community.  The second is the outburst of hatred on college campuses directed against Israel and the Jewish people.

Ancient texts, traditional foods, and friends and family: the markers of many Passover tables across America. But what if you added something new–or rather, someone new? Marnie Fienberg founded 2ForSeder, a program to combat antisemitism and honor her mother-in-law, Joyce Feinberg, who was one of the 11 victims murdered inside Tree of Life. The initiative is simple: extend a Seder invite to two people of another faith, who have never been to a Seder before, to build bridges and spread Jewish joy. Episode Lineup:  (0:40) Marnie Fienberg Show Notes: Learn more: 2ForSeder.org Listen to AJC's People of the Pod: What the Iranian Regime's Massive Attack Means for Israel and the Region Meet Modi Rosenfeld – the Comedian Helping the Jewish Community Laugh Again A Look Back: AJC's Award-Winning “Remembering Pittsburgh” Series Jewish College Student Leaders Share Their Blueprint for Combating Antisemitism 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. Episode Transcript: Manya Brachear Pashman: A few weeks ago, we re-aired excerpts from our award winning series Remembering Pittsburgh, which marked five years since the 2018 shooting at the Tree of Life synagogue. One of our guests in that series has returned today. Marnie Feinberg founded 2ForSeder, an initiative to honor her mother in law, Joyce Feinberg, who was one of the 11 victims murdered inside Tree of Life. As we approach Passover, Marnie is with us now to share why there's no time like the present to invite first timers to the Seder table, a superb way to introduce people to the beauty of Judaism, like Joyce often did. Marnie, thank you for joining us again.  Marnie Fienberg:   Thank you so much for having me.  Manya Brachear Pashman: So we spoke a little about this project, when you joined us last fall. We have a little more time now to unpack why this initiative is such a meaningful way to preserve Joyce's legacy. Can you tell us about her Seders? Marnie Fienberg:   My mother in law as most mothers and mother in laws, she trained me on how to actually hold the Seder. So as you know, holding the Seder is almost like your second bat mitzvah, it's a rite of passage. And it's also a very important thing that, you know, not only are you trained to do it, but you have to incorporate things from, if you have a partner or from their family, you incorporate things from your own life to your family traditions. And all that kind of comes together in this wonderful magical night that is really grounded in the Haggadah.  But Joyce was of course instrumental and teaching me my mother lives kind of far away. And Joyce and I actually did Seders together for more than a decade. And they started at her house and gradually kind of came over to my house. But she really she helped me every single step of the way, to the point where when she wasn't there anymore, I almost didn't know how to do it. And I'm every time I'm thinking about the Seder and making a Seder. It's it's with her in my head as it has to be. But I still, you know, all of the traditions that she taught me we still utilize those once again, combined with the ones that I learned from my own family and she is a vise still a vibrant part of our personal Seder. Manya Brachear Pashman:   So was Joyce in your head still when you found 2ForSeder?  Marnie Fienberg:   Oh, absolutely. Well, I am a Jewish woman. And I can't sit still. I need to do something. We have tikkun olam kind of almost in our DNA. Yes. So I really wanted to not only bring her back, which I think is a natural sort of a feeling. But I also wanted to push back on all of the antisemitism that had removed her from my life.  And people were constantly coming up to me, I mean, the community in Pittsburgh and the community where I live in Northern Virginia, everybody was very supportive. But they were constantly asking me, What can we do? And it took me a little while to realize they didn't, they did mean, what can I do to help you? Of course, they did mean that. But what they really meant was, what can we do to stop this from ever happening again? I don't have the answer for that.  But I thought that the seder kind of came into my mind because I was really inspired by what Joyce always did that she brought students or faculty, you know, because she was a campus researcher, and my father in law was actually at Carnegie Mellon. He was a professor there. And they always had people who weren't Jewish at our at the table. And the discussions were always not only very interesting, but you always saw a very different perspective, when they participated in something in a ritual that you knew so well. And it really created bonds of friendship, even with people who I didn't know. Which was wonderful.  So that's what I really wanted to encourage, you know, this was 2018 when she was murdered. So 2019 was the Seder and I just wanted to encourage every Jew in America and in Canada, because Joyce was Canadian, that they, if they if they were holding the Seder, invite to people who had never been to a Seder before, start that dialogue, invite them to the intimacy of your home, and make them part of your family for that one night.  And that will really help them understand the joy of Judaism, the happiness and the reason that we are Jewish is, it's right there in the Seder. In every Seder I've ever been to, it's always there, and to share that with someone who is not Jewish, starts the dialogue to understanding about the differences between us, the similarities, all these great things, that this is a thing that combats the hate that took my mother in law. Manya Brachear Pashman:   These are uncomfortable times, they were certainly uncomfortable back in 2018, when the Tree of Life happened, but they're uncomfortable times again for the Jewish community. For everyone really? Who's watching what's been going on in Israel since October seventh. What does the Seder offer? And how do you avoid some of the pitfalls that can arise? When you do bring people perhaps have different perspectives around a dinner table? Marnie Fienberg: I'm glad you asked that question. Because my family and Joyce, you know, we feel very strongly about what's happening in Israel, we have a lot of family over there. A lot of friends, like everyone else, we all know someone in Israel. And it's a part of what's going to happen in your Seder this year, I assume almost everybody's going to do something to remind them about, you know, that the hostages are still not freed, that there are people that are starving, but are being helped. This is a difficult situation, it's not a simple, straightforward thing. And the Seder Absolutely, is a reprieve from that for a moment. I think the idea of the Seder is about reaffirming your Judaism, because it takes you on that journey from when we were a tribe, to a nation. It's that little piece in the middle. But it's when you reaffirm your Judaism every year. So it's still important to do it. It's so important to do it your way. And if you want to have a reminder of the hostages, an empty seat at the table, something on the Seder plate, there's so many different ways that you could do something. I think that all of those things would be absolutely important right now, something that reminds you that we're doing this, not just for our family, but we're going to be doing this for those families that are missing those members right now. So I think that the the Seder in general will be healing to some extent for everybody who participates. So inviting someone who's never been to a Seder before. I think it's important, not only do you explain the Seder, which you really do need to do, you have to explain it before you start. And then they can participate and feel comfortable. But also explain to them that if you are going to be doing something to remember the hostages and all the people that were lost, let them know ahead of time that that's what you're going to be doing. You don't want to surprise your guests, your other guests will know exactly what you're doing by the guests who are not Jewish. Don't assume that they know, make sure there's great communication, and everything should go very smoothly. Manya Brachear Pashman  So I appreciate you kind of mentioning some of the rituals that we can do to honor the hostages and to remind the guests that the hostages are not free. But what about guests who come to the table who have been watching what's going on and disagree. They have really strong emotions and opinions about what's going on there between Israel and Hamas. And I asked this because I know Joyce worked at the University of Pittsburgh, as you said her husband Steven was a professor at Carnegie Mellon. And they often invited students to dinners and Seders. You might have seen the dean of Berkeley Law School has an annual custom of inviting students to his home for a dinner with students. And recently a group accepted that invitation showed up, but then got up from the table and pulled out their megaphones right there in his backyard. So it's hard to believe that that level of rudeness is possible. But it does appear to be a real risk. So can you offer some tools or tips on how to avoid that kind of a response? Or how to respond if you get that kind of behavior? Marnie Fienberg: Absolutely. And, you know, it's interesting, I think that we feel a heightened sense of that this year. But it's interesting, that is one of the most asked questions that I always get: How do I ensure that my guests don't veer into politics or if they have disagreements or things along those lines? Probably not the first year so much. But the other years, we've always had questions along those lines. So my recommendation is that you lay some ground rules ahead of time. So as the leader of the Seder, you're not just the head mom or the head Dad, you are the facilitator of what's going on around your table. And while some of us will have five people around the table, some of us will have 30 people around the table, and some of us will be in the backyard with I don't know how many people that the Dean had. But regardless of any people you have, you still have to manage their expectations. It's very important. So when you lay ground rules, it's your choice. You may want to actually have a lively debate. Many Seders are a lot of fun when there's a lot of debate. And if you know the guest, and you know that that's what they're interested in talking about. And the rest of your guests would be okay with it. That is your choice and you should manage that but even with that You might want to say, look, we're going to venture into politics, we can't talk about X, Y, and Z. Or I'll let you know when we've gone too far. Or, hey, this now it's time to bring out the dessert, because that'll stop everybody from talking. I don't know, that's going to be your choice. There is the other side of the coin. And this is actually I live in Washington, DC, where politics is always quite a big deal. But other politics, right, all sorts of politics. So one of the ground rules we always have at our Passover Seder is to have no politics at all, this is a little island, we're not going to talk about the fact that you might be one party, I might be another party, he is going to be another party and y'all work for those parties. I mean, it's not like these are just opinions. So one of our ground rules is always this is a time to focus on once again, the joy of Judaism, the joy of reaffirming my beliefs, and being with my family. And really kind of feeling like this is a very, very special time. And I personally have never wanted politics at my table, because I want that joy to fall through. But when I've been to other tables, it's been very different. So my ground rules are always this is a politics free space. If you'd like to talk about politics, let's go out for drinks after Passover. Manya Brachear Pashman: So it's a great point about being in Washington. But again, there's a chance that politics will be brought up at every table, whether it's California or Nebraska, or Texas or Maine. So if it does get tense if people ignore the ground rules, for example. Any suggestions on what to do?  Marnie Fienberg: Yes, actually, we do have a couple of tools in our toolkit. So two first Seder, if you go to our website to crusader.org, we actually have two kits, when you hit the signup button, it's two free kits for you. One is for your guests to kind of set expectations about the Seder, not about politics, it doesn't touch about that. But it's still important. But the host kit actually has 20 discussion cards in it. And I would actually recommend it if you've started out with a little bit of excitement with politics, and you don't like the way it's going, or if you want to say, look, I really want to avoid it. But I know, this is a lively crew, which I mean, you know your people, right? So I would actually print them out, put the discussion cards out on the table, and actually start picking up some of them and you know, send them around the table and start having discussions about them. So they are more about the Seder. And some of them are pretty surface level, like, what do you think about the taste of matzah, and you're having a discussion about how all these things are cooked with matzah and how crazy that is and how difficult it is and what a genius your chef must be, you know, so you get to compliment the host or hostess. But on the other side of it, there's some deep waters that it goes into, to really talk about the philosophy behind the Seder in some deeper things. So you can really choose what you want. There's 20 different discussion cards. And I think when people are having a very tense discussion, if you say, look, I like where this is going. But it's just not appropriate for today. We've got an alternative here. Let's keep talking. But let's talk about these topics. It won't always work. But it tends to work me most people really, you know, they have strong opinions about many things. And that is what the Seder is for, right? We're supposed to be learning, we're supposed to be growing from each other. So if you can change the topic, if you're uncomfortable with it, the discussion cards are a wonderful tool to help kind of guide that.  Manya Brachear Pashman:  And those can be downloaded at the 2ForSeder.org site.  Marnie Fienberg: Yes, yes, exactly. There's a host toolkit. And it's the last 20 pages of the host toolkit. You Manya Brachear Pashman:  know, I'm so glad Ramadan has passed so that in a Muslim guests are able to come and enjoy these saders Without the concern of breaking their fast. But I know that a little has been written about how Jewish Muslim relations have been on edge. And honestly, I have a few Jewish acquaintances who were nervous about attending if tars during Ramadan or weren't invited to as many if tars during Ramadan this year, just because of the potential for tension. Are you hearing any concerns about or from the Muslim community? Or are you hearing that people are sadly turning down invitations for similar reasons? Marnie Fienberg: Yeah, I think that as you said, this is a very challenging year. And if you don't feel comfortable, you're not going to a particular place. And I have Muslim friends and normally I am invited to if tours across the month, and I received very few invitations this year, which was interesting. We're still friends. The friendships haven't ceased or anything like that, but the invitations were not their part. To the reason what I did ask part of the reason they felt that they shouldn't be celebrating when people are starving and Palestine so they actually toned down their celebrations out of respect which that's a longer conversation, but I respect that and I appreciate that. Would they be coming to my table? I don't know. We have a community Seder a community to for Seder that we hold every year. So most of to First Aiders about home Seders, you know, so the idea of doing it in your home that is the primary core of twofer Seder. But we've started a nice little thing on the side, where we do a community to for Seder, where everybody we actually invite interfaith groups. The spirit of twofer Seder is about building a bridge. And I hope actually in the past, if you've done too, for Seder before, thank you, but be I hope that those bridges are holding during these troubled times. And if you can't build them during a difficult time like this, you know, I'm hoping I'm praying that next year, there won't be no war, and we'll be able to mend some of these fences and you will be able to invite and accept invitations to Iftar invitations to your Seder for your Muslim friends, I think it's important to keep trying. That's one thing that we are obligated to do as Jews, that may not work, but you'd have to keep trying. Manya Brachear Pashman: One thing I've noticed over the years, and the many Seders I've attended is the diversity of traditions and the customs some families put an orange on the table and have a glass for Miriam, other stick to Elijah. So make sure the Afikoman is chocolate, others play it straight. Some change the lyrics of the songs to fit Beyonce tunes, I won't lie I've done that. But does that present a challenge to the purpose or the goal of two for Seder? You know, the goal being to teach a newcomer about Passover? How do you do that? When it's you know, the traditions can be so different. Marnie Fienberg: This is also very–well not the Beyonce piece. But that's a very common question. First of all, I want to say I would really like a copy of that, please. Manya Brachear Pashman: I'll dig it up for you.  Marnie Fienberg: Thank you. But that's the whole point that the Seder is blue door for door right we are Lincoln a chain from generation to generation and the core of the Seder the Haggadah, regardless of if you do a traditional haggadah that is, you know, four hours long starts after sunset, maybe you eat by midnight, you know, if you're doing a modern Orthodox or an orthodox Seder, or if you're doing a very, very modern said Seder, which just has the basic four pieces in it. And Tiktok you're done. I'm starving. It's been 10 minutes. Welcome to my my dad. Actually, that's the way he does his. But I've been to all different types, because you know, almost all of our Jewish families, we have a variety in our family, we have Orthodox, we have reform, we have everything in between, right? That's what it's about. It's about the magic of what you bring to your Seder. The haggadah is going to ground you, you've got the grounding story about our journey to becoming a people. That's the core, but what you do a round it, that's you, you are bringing you and your family and all the things that bring you joy, into your Judaism, into your Seder. And these things are critical. If you just read the Haggadah, and then you walked away, it wouldn't be joyous it would be yes, I was here. But the joy behind it is removed. So the idea that you know, you almost always have children at your Seder, and there's a rule for the children. Why is that? There's a role for the adults to teach the children. There's the food, there's thinking about the future when you sing Eliyahu with the door open so that your neighbors can hear you and wonder what is going on. I mean, all of these things. There's personal ways to put a stamp on those. But we're going to do those. And even if you do it to Beyonce, once again, very excited to hear that. It's really bringing that modern tinge to it. When we're going to hand the hat over to our children. When they do it. They're going to do something different and there'll be wondering who's Beyonce? That's okay, that's okay. But they're still going to do the for questions. They're still going to do the monkey, they're still going to do the Eliyahu all these pieces will still flow. I have proof of this. When I was working to create the community to for Seder. I wanted to create our own Haggadah, and I use of course haggadot.com To start off with, but I really wanted certain things that weren't in there and and I got stuck and I'm sitting here staring at the screen and my teenage daughter walks in and And she actually wanted to help me right there. I know you don't believe me, but she sat down. She said, How can I help? And I was walking through some of the more traditional lines. I don't know why they always took my heart, you know, where they say, you know, in God with an outstretched arm and outstretched hand and the old language, right? Should I keep it in the Haggadah, or should I not? And she looked at me like I was nuts. And she said, of course, you have to, you must, it won't be the Haggadah without it. And that really made me feel like this is going to pass down, at least in my family. These words are so intrinsic to who we are, somehow it gets passed down. It's amazing. Manya Brachear Pashman  My last question is, who will be coming to your site or table this year?  Marnie Fienberg: So I'm holding two Seders, although I'm going to three. The first one is the community Seder that is being held in Temple Emanu-El in South Hills right outside of Pittsburgh. And I'm gonna be sort of emceeing it. And we're going to be using the Haggadah that we talked about. And that will be I think there are three different churches that are joining and all sorts of different folks. And one of the tables is actually just teenagers. So I'm really excited because, you know, sometimes to first seders is of interest to adults, and not so much the younger set. Although at our last community Seder, we had a lot of college kids, we had a huge table of college kids, which was great. So I think that that's gonna be a wonderful Seder. The next Seder is going to be the second night we'll be at my house, my friend is holding it the first night at her house. Second night will be in my house, we're having 25 people's the current count, although, you know, it's Wednesday, so somebody's gonna have too late of a night or whatever, so they won't be able to come. But we're really excited because this is more even though there will be some family coming in. This is more of like, a friend Seders the second night for us. So it's going to be a wonderful night. Who's gonna be my two for Seder. This is once again through my daughter. She has a friend who is actually Korean, and her family is going to be joining us. I'm so excited her families, they're wonderful folks. And the one thing I'm nervous about is that they are amazing cooks, and I'm not sure if my cooking is going to stand up to their skills. So hopefully it'll all work out. But it's gonna be a lovely night as it always is. Manya Brachear Pashman: That sounds truly lovely. 25 people, Marnie, you are a brave woman, a brave hostess. Marnie Fienberg: I wish there was one more that was coming, but she will be there in spirit. Manya Brachear Pashman: Yes, absolutely. And thank you because I know it's a lot of hard work to put together a Seder. But again, so important it is such an anchor, I think for families and preserving our traditions. So thank you for all that hard work that's going into that Seder. Marnie Fienberg: It is my pleasure and I think every single person who's putting together a Seder and participating in to for Seder, if you've done it before, thank you, if you're interested in doing it again, we've got little kids to help you but just be you and it's about inviting new people every year. And that's how we're going to help really make an awareness about what it really is to be Jewish, not what you hear, you know, the negative rumors, replace those with positive Jewish joy.  Manya Brachear Pashman: Well, thank you so much, Marnie. The website to download discussion cards and toolkits, all the instructions that you need to host a Seder with a guest is at two, the number two for seder.org Marnie, thanks again for joining us. Marnie Fienberg: Thank you so much for having me. This was a great discussion.

What happens to love in a world of not love? Consider this past Sunday at Temple Emanuel. In the morning Shai Held was in dialogue with Marc Baker about his new book Judaism is About Love. It was a truly inspiring conversation. After their dialogue, I heard many people offer some version of the following statement which, to my mind, is the single greatest compliment any rabbi could ever earn. “Shai Held inspires me to want to be a better human being.” Totally beautiful, and totally well earned. There is only one catch. In their dialogue, there was no mention of October 7; Gaza; the hostages; the war. Their dialogue did not explicitly deal with the mess that is—and raised the question, can we deal with the mess that is, and still be inspiring? After Shai and Marc's dialogue, there was a robust TE contingent at the rededication of the wall at the home of Jeff and Miriam Kosowsky, the wall whose photos of the hostages were blacked out, faces blotted out, names blotted out, and “Free Gaza” written on their wall of hostages. What happens to love in a world of hate? Can love survive? Click here to view Chapter 11 of Shai's new book, Love in the Ruins. Three questions to guide your reading: Shai quotes a rabbinic text that after the destruction of the Temple the Jewish people's best move was to engage in acts of lovingkindness (hesed). What is the role of hesed for you now? (pg. 249) Shai talks about how the 9th of Av was the day of endless pain and destruction. And yet not six days later, on the 15th day of Av, before shiva was over, there was a day of love, renewal, blessing as the maidens of Israel would find their partners. What does this “dizzying transition” (pg. 251) say to us now? Shai quotes Rabbi Joseph Soloveitchik as teaching that when inexplicable suffering befalls us, we don't try to explain it or analyze it or understand the hidden ways of God. Rather, we try to act in helpful ways. (pg. 252-253). What does the Rav's insight teach us now? Can love survive in a world that is the opposite of loving? Can these three moves get us there?

This podcast is sponsored by the California Civil Liberties Public Education Program, a state-funded grant project of the California State Library.Because of the controversial nature of Disgraced's portrayal of Islamic Americans, L.A. Theatre Works held panel discussions following performances in Los Angeles in April 2018. We heard a remarkable range of opinions about the play from our distinguished guests.Shafiqa Amadi is an Associate Professor of Clinical Education at the Rossier School of Education, and Co-Director of the Center for Education, Identity and Social Justice at USC.Sue Obeidi is the Director of the Muslim Public Affairs Council's Hollywood Bureau. She works with studio executives, producers, directors, and writers to create authentic, accurate and humanizing portrayals of Islam and of Muslims in film, television, and on digital platforms.Rabbi Sarah Bassin is an Associate Rabbi at Temple Emanuel of Beverly Hills. Prior to joining Temple Emmanuel, Rabbi Bassin served as Executive Director of LA–based NewGround: A Muslim-Jewish Partnership for Change.Dr. Mo Shouka is a member of the Abraham Society, whose broad mission is to foster relationships of trust, understanding and mutual interest among individuals residing in Southern California who are of Jewish, Muslim and Christian backgrounds.Emel Tanis is also a member of the Abraham Society. Before moving to the US, she was a leading journalist in Turkey, and was awarded “Best Journalist of the Year” by the Turkish Journalists Association for her interview with Benazir Bhutto, the Prime Minister of Pakistan.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Alain, Jehan - Postlude Pour L'Office De Complies (EM Skinner Temple Emanu - El) by Northminster Church

I must tell you that whenever I have entered this sanctuary, I am reminded of the Starship Enterprise of Star Trek….and now I have the honor of speaking from the Control Room, And I flash to Spock communicating “Beam me up Scotty”… For me, this is a metaphor of how we use the spiritual power of this Sanctuary to create a Place For Healing. A true story. When my 40 year old son Adam Goldman-Yassen was in second grade, they brought the class to the Temple Emanuel sanctuary…and they showed them around and said of these chairs back here, “ These is where the rabbis sit. And Adam, having been brought up the the Newton Centre Minyan, the precursor of Minyan Ma'Or, A LAY-LED CONGREGATION, raised his hand and asked :“What's a Rabbi?” I share that story with you because I believe Psychotherapy is the attempt to create a secular clergy to supplement what the religious clergy can offer. We are ALL the Purveyors of Hope.

A hypothetical based on a real-world situation, not at Temple Emanuel, but at another Jewish organization: Imagine you are on the rabbinic search committee for some institution near and dear to your heart: shul, Hillel, federation. You read the resume of a candidate. Superb. Excellent education. Deep experience at Jewish summer camp. Has lived Judaism in a rich journey. Doing exceptionally well in rabbinical school. You go into the interview very favorably disposed. At the interview, you like this candidate. You feel a connectivity. Chemistry is good. Then you ask this candidate about Israel. The candidate responds: I am not anti-Zionist. I am just not into Israel. I want to teach Torah, mitzvah, Shabbat, chagim, tikkun olam, a Torah of love and bridge-building. And I can't do that with Israel. Israel is just too divisive. Israel does not build bridges. It creates rallies and counter rallies. So I am not against Israel, it's just not part of my religious identity nor will it be a part of my rabbinate. Should we hire this candidate, reject this candidate categorically, or reject this candidate with some ambivalence? Here is a lens. At the upcoming Pesach s'darim, there is that classic kneged arbaah banim, The Four Children. The voice that says “I am very into Judaism. I am training to be a Rabbi to teach Torah and mitzvah. But I am not into Israel. I am not anti-Zionist, I am just not a Zionist”—is that Wise, Wicked, Simple, or the One Who Does Not Know what to Ask? One last layer of complexity: Last year Hebrew College's Rabbinical School changed its admissions policies so that intermarried rabbis can get admitted and ordained (a move that I enthusiastically agreed with and supported). How do you think of the non-Zionist rabbi in the larger context of the fact that intermarried rabbis are now being admitted and ordained? Are you good with both? With neither? With one but not the other, and if so, how does your thinking work? Complexity. It may be coming soon to a seder table near you.

The Temple Emanuel 50-person mitzvah mission to Israel last week experienced the confusing reality that diametrically contradictory truths can both be true. Normal or not normal? Is Israel a nation in mourning, as Rachel Korazim taught? Or is Israel getting past October 7, not in mourning, trying to live a normal life, as Donniel Hartman taught? Yes, and yes. Returning the hostages? Is it absolutely essential that Israel do everything possible to bring the hostages home? Or will it undermine the success of Israel's war effort if it has to fight with one hand tied behind its back in order to secure the release of the hostages and free terrorists who will jeopardize the lives of Israelis in the future? Yes, and yes. Unity? Is Israel's unity post October 7 real, or beginning to seriously fray? Yes, and yes. Is there a diplomatic or military solution? Do Israelis believe a two-state solution is possible after the betrayal of October 7? No. Is a military solution possible meaning that war will go on and on generation after generation? No. So many Israelis have stories of Gaza civilians whom they trusted who turned out to be Hamas operatives and gave Hamas intel which they used to lethal effect on October 7. Every Israeli knows soldiers who have died. (Two people in my brother-in-law's Jerusalem minyan are fathers saying Kaddish for their sons who fell in battle. Such infinite grief is all over Israel, palpable.) Peace is not the answer. War is not the answer. What do you do when there is no answer? To be in Israel now is to experience profound contradiction. And yet, here is one more: to a person, all 50 of the TE travelers felt deeply anchored and at peace being in the Gaza envelope. Many expressed the view that they felt better in the Gaza envelope than in Newton because showing up for Israelis felt just right. 50 out of 50 were glad that they had come. Such unanimity is rare. In Talmud tomorrow we unpack what these living contradictions mean for us now.

There are a little over nine months until the 60th presidential election in November. As the primaries wrap up, it remains clear that it will be a rematch between President Joe Biden and former President Donald Trump. Michael Beschloss is an American historian specializing in the United States presidency and is the author of nine books on the topic. He joined NY1's Errol Louis for an interview hosted by Temple Emanuel in Great Neck. They discussed what we can expect from the candidates over the next nine months as the race heats up. They also touched on Trump's recent remarks regarding NATO, the current dialogue around the age of both candidates and the difficulties in how the media will go about covering the election. They also took questions from members of the congregation. Join the conversation, weigh in on Twitter using the hashtag #NY1YouDecide or give us a call at 212-379-3440 and leave a message. Or send an email to YourStoryNY1@charter.com.

Rabbi Debra J. Robbins offers insight and practice to bring the Psalms into our lives. Rabbi Debra J. Robbins is a member of the clergy team at Temple Emanu-El in Dallas, Texas, focusing on teaching, pastoral care, and spiritual practice. She was ordained in 1991 at the Hebrew Union College–Jewish Institute of Religion, and is a graduate of the University of California at Berkeley and the Institute for Jewish Spirituality Clergy Leadership Program. She is the author of Opening Your Heart with Psalm 27: A Spiritual Practice for the Jewish New Year (2019) and New Each Day: A Spiritual Practice for Reading Psalms (2023), both with CCAR Press.

This Shabbat, I'm going to share a personal story very different from the kinds of sermons I used to give when I worked in a congregation. I want to be clear it is my story. I recognize that in this room there are Autistic people and family members who have their own perspectives that may differ from mine. They are just as important and valid. We are a large and diverse community.   Three years ago, a neuropsychologist assessed our then 3-year-old son and called a few weeks later to tell us that was Autistic. I was so relieved. Our son was verbally precocious, made intense eye contact, and was very charismatic and social. He also loved being read a wall calendar or a Hebrew/English dictionary as a bedtime story, struggled with transitions and unpredictable meltdowns, and ran in circles around his preschool classroom here in Temple Emanuel, seeking sensory input he wasn't getting. Bedtime could take 2 manic hours. Like our ancestors in this week's parasha, my family was in an unknown wilderness, and we were ready to receive some Torah. Except the Torah the doctor delivered to us didn't seem right. Instagram: @rabbishoshana Web: https://www.rabbishoshana.com/

I have been thinking a lot about something that many of us—not all, but many—have in common: brothers and sisters.  I have been in a deep brother and sister place this week for two reasons. I am the youngest of six children.  My five older siblings live in different places. Two live in Los Angeles, one in New Jersey, one in Denver, and my sister Jill and I live in Newton.  This past Monday night, for a brief, incredibly sweet, totally-to-be-cherished nano second, we were all in the same place together, Brooklyn, for the wedding of Jill and Steve's son Ari to his wife Esther.  Between geographical challenges, health challenges, Covid, and life, the six of us don't get a chance to see one another altogether in the same place nearly as much as we would like.  The last time all six of us were together was at another nephew's wedding in Denver before the pandemic.  So it felt incredibly special, and rare. And, just as we were dancing at Ari and Esther's wedding, my brothers on Shira's side of the family, Ari in Jerusalem, Daniel in Atlanta, and I were concluding saying Kaddish for our father after the 11 months.  Every morning, and every evening, in Jerusalem, Atlanta, and Temple Emanuel, we said Kaddish for our father, and it was deeply meaningful that we were doing so together in our respective cities.  This past Tuesday we said our last Kaddish.   Sharing the wedding and the Kaddish with brothers and sisters made me think about the special blessing, and special challenge, of brothers and sisters. A deep paradox lies at the heart of the sibling relationship.

Wisdom. We could all use it now. Many of us had hoped and prayed for a better 2024, a happier 2024, a more peaceful 2024. But now that we are in 2024, we are faced with the same stubborn challenges of 2023, deepened. The election cycle in America. The ongoing war in Israel and Gaza and the simmering threat of war with Hezbollah.  Ongoing tensions on our college campuses, including one five miles from Temple Emanuel. In the face of all this complexity, what might wisdom look like, and where could we get it?  Today we examine two classic Jewish stories on wisdom: Solomon, who urges splitting the baby down the middle, in response to two women who each claim to be the mother, and Joseph, who plans for the lean years during the years of abundance. Both the Bible itself, and the rabbinic tradition, link these stories. What is the relationship between Solomon's wisdom and Joseph's wisdom, and what does each offer us now?

In this episode, recorded before the attacks by Hamas on Israel and the devastating response by the Israeli Military in Gaza, Rabbi Joe, from Temple Emanuel in Denver, Colorado, shares his family story. His father's family fled persecution in the late 19th century to find safety in the U.S. After the terror of Kristallnacht, the night of the broken glass, his mother's family fled to the U.S. Rabbi Joe shares how the legacy of seeking refuge and ensuring ‘never-again' lives in him. You don't want to miss Rabbi Joe's song for his mother at the end of the episode, Salty Taste of Tears.  Guest Bio & linksRabbi Black has been the Senior Rabbi of Temple Emanuel since 2010, previously serving as rabbi of Congregation Albert in Albuquerque, New Mexico from 1996-2010. He served as Assistant and then Associate Rabbi at Temple Israel in Minneapolis, Minnesota from 1987-1996. He received his Bachelor's degree in Education from Northwestern University in 1982 and his Master's degree and rabbinic ordination from the Hebrew Union College – Jewish Institute of Religion (HUC-JIR) in Cincinnati, Ohio in 1987. In 2012 he received an honorary Doctorate of Divinity from HUC-JIR.Website: https://www.emanueldenver.org/about/clergy#RabbiBlack Want to Learn More?Holocaust Encyclopedia – KRISTALLNACHThttps://encyclopedia.ushmm.org/content/en/article/kristallnachtHolocaust Encyclopedia –  Pogrom is a Russian word meaning “to wreak havoc, to demolish violently.” https://encyclopedia.ushmm.org/content/en/article/pogroms?gclid=CjwKCAiA9dGqBhAqEiwAmRpTC0Hm5LWaL36azOTif9FgHWyCrPG3hIeaO4ZiPVO6vhCajIMc9yWVqBoCRDQQAvD_BwE“ADL Records Dramatic Increase in U.S. Antisemitic Incidents Following Oct. 7 Hamas Massacre”  https://www.adl.org/resources/press-release/adl-records-dramatic-increase-us-antisemitic-incidents-following-oct-7 Want to Take Action?Donate – “By donating to ADL today, you'll ensure we are well positioned to disrupt the spread of antisemitism, anti-Zionism, conspiracy theories and all forms of hate online …”  https://support.adl.org/give/174715/?gad_source=1&gclid=CjwKCAiA9dGqBhAqEiwAmRpTC40oq1U92ujPFS4Z9w4vNotO-PEl9zd6yEKDgtRYVMI1hb4uZgdFMRoCwcQQAvD_BwE#!/donation/checkout?utm_source=paidsearch&utm_medium=googlepaid&utm_campaign=Evergreen&c_src=evergreen&c_src2=googlepaidMonitor – Act – Educate: https://americansaa.org/?gclid=CjwKCAiA9dGqBhAqEiwAmRpTC8c9_WKBVWvPxB0OFzn3-2jPaae0qm3pb5NW3oZeAW_I1f9_F6KT5RoCVWUQAvD_BwE Sign up for Complexified Newsletter: https://complexified.substack.com/Help Make Complexified Happen - Donate here https://interland3.donorperfect.net/weblink/weblink.aspx?name=E345509&id=75Contact us: email complexified@iliff.eduComplexified Website: https://www.complexified.org/

Let's play "Put A Finger Down". Put a finger down if you've had to unfriend people from your life for only listening to one side of the conflict. Put a finger down if you've gotten into arguments in the comments section. Put a finger down if the buzzwords "ethnic cleansing" and "genocide" have polluted your content. Put a finger down if your friends still don't understand why commenting "free Palestine" is antisemitic. Put a finger down if you've been accused of committing genocide. Jews are not only targeted in the war happening in Israel. Jews are caught up in 3 wars right now: There's the literal war, the spiritual war, and the informational war. Fighting on the frontlines of the informational war is Izzy Salant of Jewish News Syndicate. Salant joins host Chaz Volk, to explain the lack of nuance and the importance of vetting information given during such a chaotic time. Izzy and Chaz bond over the shared traumas of being in a constant defense while giving helpful advice on how to navigate the world of news, social media, trolls, and more. About Izzy Salant: Isaac "Izzy" Salant is a digital marketing manager and journalist for Jewish News Syndicate, with years of experience doing social media and marketing for the Jewish and non-profit world. He is the former Director of Digital Marketing at Lost Tribe, and served as a Jewish educator for Temple Emanuel of Beverly Hills and Hillel at UCLA. He is a graduate of the University of Massachusetts Amherst, with BAs in Journalism and Theater. He is also a playwright, actor, and magician. Connect with Izzy: LI: Izzy Salant www.JNS.org Connect with Bad Jew: https://linktr.ee/badjew BadJewPod@gmail.com Ig @BadJewPod TikTok @BadJewPod

Rundown -   Victor Mitchell - 31:30   Rabbi Steven Foster - 53:07   Troubadour Dave Gunders - 02:03:08   "Love Has a Way (Song for Deb)" by Dave Gunders - 02:08:47   Three Great Speeches by Joe Biden in Support of the Jewish State of Israel - 02:13:14   Wartime show delivers an opening monologue explaining the Tokyo Rose (Tehran Pete) characters on Colorado's radio dial. Peter Boyles says war between Hamas and Israel is “too morally ambiguous” to take sides. We have the sound. Host vehemently disagrees.   Show takes time to salute the criminal law enforcement achievements of NY AG Tish James, Fulton County DA Fani Willis and Judge Tanya Chutkin. Convictions are being obtained and prospects of justice for Trump, Jenna Ellis and other Colorado accomplices are improving.   Former Colorado State Representative Victor Mitchell, a top 2018 Republican contender for Governor, joins the podcast again, this time from Israel, where he and his wife have flown to help. Listen to the remarkable back story of this proud Jewish success story. Find out what motivates Vic Mitchell now.   Rabbi Steven Foster has served his entire 53-year rabbinate at Temple Emanuel in Denver, CO until he retired in 2010. He is an accomplished author and now rabbi emeritus for the congregation and also works as the Jewish chaplain for The Denver Hospice. http://www.therabbiandsenatorsleeptogether.com/about-the-fosters-2/   Rabbi Foster founded the Temple Emanuel Preschool and Kindergarten and the Denver Jewish Day School (formerly known as the Theodore Herzl Jewish Day School and Rocky Mountain Hebrew Academy). Additionally, Foster founded a program for interfaith families called Stepping Stones to a Jewish Me. He explains the Foster way of interpreting Jewish law. Bacon mentioned.   Rabbi Foster is a wise leader whose collected works are valued at CU-Boulder. When Colorado passed a law bigoted against gays, Rabbi Foster led the charge to get Amendment Two changed – and he succeeded. https://www.colorado.edu/innovationsinjewishlifecollections/steven-e-foster-papers   Learn how this learned leader feels about Palestinians and Hamas now. He's outspoken and honest with a profound knowledge of Judaism. Most of all, Rabbi Foster is an advocate for freedom and all of G-d's people. https://www.amazon.com/Rabbi-Senator-Sleep-Together-Marrying/dp/0692510532   Rabbi Foster asked profound questions at the Memorial Service (Yizkur) portion of the last Yom Kippur service, “Where are we Hashem?” He talks about the role of hope for the Jewish people. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gDZR5NsX8VA   Rabbi Foster knows politics and key political figures. Find out about Senator Bennet's Jewish background and the histories of Denver's most famous politicians and rabbis. A Milwaukee native who attended rabbinical school in Cincinnati, Rabbi Foster also has a famous political wife, Senator Joyce Foster. https://www.amazon.com/Rabbi-Senator-Sleep-Together-Marrying/dp/0692510532   Host and guest talk about being Jews, and the way Jew haters killed Denver talk radio host Alan Berg, the Israeli Olympic team in Munich and recently, the massacre by Hamas against the Jews of Israel on Sabbath/Simchat Torah. Rabbi Foster's warns of divisions among Jews. And Americans. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YBatV-6r2Fk   Denver's Temple Emanuel hosted the Colorado memorial for people mourning Hamas' attacks on Jews, on the post-Hamas massacre Monday night. Find out the history of this oldest Colorado congregation. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NLcYD-F4tkk   Show Troubadour Dave Gunders brings optimism with his sweet song, Love Has a Way. We have to rebuild but it is hard with 230 hostages still missing. We are grateful for the return of hostages Judith and Natalie Ranaan. We explain our bike ride to last Sunday's pro-Israel rally at State Capitol.   We salute stalwart friend of Israel, President Joe Biden, who made a brave condolence call to Israel and we play in their entirety his amazing three pro-Israel and anti-Hamas speeches on October 10 (White House), 18 (Israel) and 19 (Oval Office). We ask why MAGA AM radio won't do the same. We know the sad MAGA answer.

Rundown -    Intro with Troubadour Dave Gunders - 00:35   "Ain't No Way You're Coming Home" by Dave Gunders - 13:36   Rabbi Bruce Dollin - 19:39   When Jews experience problems and boy do we have problems with Hamas now, it is helpful to know what a wise Rabbi, well versed in the Torah, has to say. We have that here.   For nearly three decades, Bruce Dollin was Senior Rabbi at the legendary Hebrew Educational Alliance in Denver. Rabbi Dollin provides valuable knowledge, advice and predictions in the aftermath of last Saturday's bloodthirsty attack by Hamas on Israel.   Rabbi Dollin explains how Colorado's community can best respond. There was an outpouring of love and support last Monday night at Denver's Temple Emanuel and Rabbi Dollin recalls what moved that crowd to give Denver Mayor Mike Johnston a standing ovation.   The long simmering nature of the Hamas - Israel conflict is explained with the wise Rabbi providing many Mosaic Law references to proper Jewish responses during dire wartime circumstances. Jewish law demands certain prayers and procedures when captives are taken.   Discussed are the Amalek and their Jew-hating allies unalterably opposed to Jewish people existing in Israel, or anywhere. The charter of Hamas boldly states its Jew hatred and Israel can no longer tolerate this terror group next door – or anywhere. The roles of Iran, Qatar and Russia are also considered.   The performances this week of President Joe Biden and Secretary of State Tony Blinken are reviewed, and praised. The complicated Bibi Netanyahu situation is analyzed – including memories of the infamous Iran Nuke Deal and Netanyahu's forceful Biden-boycotted 2015 Capitol speech in opposition.   The world is significantly changed given the barbarity and severity of the Hamas attack on the Jewish State of Israel. Rabbi Dollin is confident that Israel and her allies will beat back these enemies. Rabbi Dollin knows Israel.   Rabbi Dollin has long fought anti-Israel indoctrination on college campuses. Dollin organized a memorable protest in 2002 at Colorado College against Hanan Ashrawi, an advocate of terror against Israel. College campus anti-Jew hatred remains problematic for Israel now.   https://www.nytimes.com/2002/08/30/us/invitation-to-palestinian-draws-protest-at-colorado-college.html   The significance of the (10/7) day of Hamas' shameful ambush (Shabbat/Simchat Torah) gets analyzed. Fascists cannot abide human freedom, the type embodied by Torah and the Jewish people. Jews value life here on Earth. Israelis must now fight back, through their tears.   Troubadour Dave Gunders has a rare sad song appropriate for this week titled "Ain't No Way You're Coming Home." Ominous current situation is reviewed. Ain't no way to sugarcoat it. We've got the blues. https://music.youtube.com/watch?v=9tkJZPVyGTA

Suzanne Colucci has the afternoon's top local stories from the WCBS newsroom.

Ambassador Deborah Lipstadt, the U.S. Special Envoy to Monitor and Combat Antisemitism, joins us to discuss how she's settled into her new role and shares insights on the development of the new U.S. National Strategy to Counter Antisemitism, for which AJC has long advocated. Lipstadt, a renowned Holocaust historian and one of Time Magazine's Most Influential People of 2023, also delves into the ways in which the Abraham Accords have contributed to the fight against antisemitism in the Middle East. Additionally, she provides an insider's look into the challenges and progress associated with addressing antisemitism and how the National Strategy factors in.  *The views and opinions expressed by guests do not necessarily reflect the views or position of AJC.  Episode Lineup:  (0:40) Deborah Lipstadt Show Notes: Go Deeper:  Test your knowledge of the National Strategy to Counter Antisemitism  Read: Everything You Need To Know About The U.S. National Strategy To Counter Antisemitism And AJC's Task Force Honoring International Antisemitism Envoys AJC David Harris Award Listen: People of the Pod: Hear from America's New Antisemitism Envoy Deborah Lipstadt 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. __ Transcript of Interview with Deborah Lipstadt: Manya Brachear Pashman:   Deborah Lipstadt, US Special Envoy to Monitor and Combat Antisemitism is a renowned Holocaust historian, recognized earlier this year as one of Time Magazine's Most Influential People of 2023. She has written eight books, and four years ago, advised the United Nations on its unprecedented report on global antisemitism. In fact, she joined us on this podcast shortly after the report's release. Since then, she has joined the US State Department in a role that for the first time carries the rank of Ambassador. She joins us again this time in our popup Tel Aviv studio. Ambassador, welcome to People of the Pod. Deborah Lipstadt: Thank you. Manya Brachear Pashman:   America's National Strategy to Counter Antisemitism was adopted in May. Your job primarily deals with US Foreign policy to combat antisemitism. But how does this new domestic strategy affect your work? Deborah Lipstadt: Well, it affects our work and that certainly I was consulted and worked closely with the White House in the shaping of it, my team played a part in helping to shape it people to reach out to and things like that. And there are over 24 agencies involved including the State Department, we're now looking at all the other national strategies to see best practices, what America could possibly adopt. And of course, informally, I'm the administration's most knowledgeable person on antisemitism. So they turned to me quite often for advice, for ideas, etc. Manya Brachear Pashman:   Okay. All right. Well, so as I said, your role is more international. Do you need a domestic counterpart? Does the United States need a domestic antisemitism czar? Deborah Lipstadt: I'm not sure. It's a lot on–the strategy is really run out of the Domestic Policy Council, which until about a week ago, was headed by Ambassador Susan Rice, who was greatly responsible for seeing this thing come to fruition. And we'll see how it works. It's up to them to decide how they want to do it. But I think it's also good that each agency from the usual suspects, as I like to say, homeland security, education, FBI, law enforcement, are involved, but so are so many others. Small Business Administration, Veterans Affairs, Smithsonian, all looking at ways to counter antisemitism, make sure there aren't barriers that are there, whether because of antisemitism or just ignorance. Manya Brachear Pashman:   And second gentleman Doug Emhoff has been certainly-- Deborah Lipstadt: Even before I was sworn in, after I was confirmed, I was in Washington and he asked me if I would come in and visit with him. We had a wonderful visit. We're in touch all the time. And he really feels this very deeply. And I give him great credit because he could easily have said, Look, I'm the first Jew in this position. First second gentleman. We put up a mezuzah for the residence. We have a Hanukkah party. We have a Seder. We do other things. Don't ask me to take the lead on this. But he's taken the lead. He's traveled all over, he traveled with me to Poland and Germany, where I coordinated a meeting for him with other special envoys, just to give him a sense of what other countries were doing.  And I think when he and his staff and other people in the White House who were with us saw that, it sort of energized them to say, my God, other countries have taken this really seriously. They're way ahead of us. We have to do something serious as well. Manya Brachear Pashman:   You know, with that in mind, I mean, if you think about it, your predecessors in this position have kind of made it their business to monitor, sound the alarm about antisemitism in Europe, elsewhere around the world. AJC helped convene that group of envoys at the White House. And so in many ways, the table's turned a little bit in terms of, you know, instead of the United States monitoring and sounding the alarm, these envoys came and advised the United States. Has this kind of mutual mission actually improved the relationship with some of these countries?  Deborah Lipstadt: It's improved the relationship tremendously. We really work as a team, not as a team–each one has its own you know, position, certain things one can get involved in certain things. You know, I lurk and watch what's going on, but I'm not involved in it. But one of the first things I did in fact, it was the same day as last year's AJC Global Forum, which was in New York, I think, at Temple Emanuel. And I was on the stage with Katrina von Schnurbein, the amazing EU envoy on Countering Antisemitism and Enhancing Jewish Life. And then she and I left the meeting with Mr. Lottenberg, Fernando Lottenberg, who's the OAS Special Envoy, and we met with a group of us of special envoys met to talk about how we could work together.  And so we've been meeting and convening. Katrina convened something that the EU others have convened, and then we meet, you know, sometimes we'll meet through the auspices, let's say, we'll be meeting here because many have come for AJC. But it is a government to government when we meet, it's not, convened by someone else. But it's people who speak for their governments coming together, which is quite amazing.  I've had great predecessors in this job. They're all terrific. And were strong supporters of me taking the position, very excited about it from both sides of the aisle. And I'm very grateful for that. But there are differences. First of all, Congress elevated the position to an ambassador before I was in the picture.  So it wasn't for me. And that carries weight in the world of protocol. That means you speak for the President. I see what weight it carries. In fact, I was just in conversation with a Republican senator, around the time of the rollout, because I was briefing him about the national strategy.  And he had been one of those who had pushed for the elevation of it to be an ambassador. And I said, you know, when I first heard you were doing this, I said, Oh, doesn't really matter. I said, I was wrong, you were right. It really enhances the importance, and it shows how America takes this seriously. But my predecessors, certainly amongst the earlier ones, we were the first country to have a position like this. So when something happened in France, and Belgium and Germany, whatever, they would go, and they would say to the government, you know, we take this very seriously, and we think you should take it seriously. Or if they were taking it seriously, we take this very seriously, and what can we do to help you take it seriously, and say, you have a problem, we've got to address it. And now first of all, I go and I said, we have a problem, because we have acknowledged that exists in our country. And sometimes I don't have to go racing as they might have had to, because there's someone else there. There's a local person, there's a national person there, too. So the fight has become much more coordinated, enhanced, and really raised to a government level in a way that it hadn't been previously. Manya Brachear Pashman:   Are there particular lessons that you can recall from any of your predecessors? Any of the envoys that you've taken to heart and realized. Deborah Lipstadt: I spoke to virtually all of them before I took the position. And they each had different advice, and I won't say one or the other, etc. But one the reasons–and I've only been in the job a year, but – building alliances in the State Department. And I'm worried a little bit not because of anything anybody tells me, just natural inclination to worry to be a pessimist so that we can be happily surprised when good things happen or the bad stuff doesn't happen.  But, would I find compatriots in the State Department, would people see me as you know, an add-on, a niche? Would I be operating off by myself? And that hasn't happened. And it's really been quite amazing. Partially thanks to the advice I've gotten, partially, I think, my own interpersonal connections, but I have built really strong alliances. And I'm not saying I have personally, but people in other offices with other portfolios, see this not as a niche issue. But as a central element of American foreign policy. Manya Brachear Pashman:   We hear a lot of statistics of incidents of hate crimes each month each year. And I'm curious if that's what matters most. In other words, does the perception of a community also matter whether it's a Jewish community or any other minority community, if that community perceives a rise in hatred against it? Is that enough to amplify our response? Deborah Lipstadt: The perception of a community is important, perception of an individual. Sometimes, any community, any individual can see things more dire than they are. But I think if anything, the Jewish community has become more aware of certain incidents and more aware of certain things. Give you an example, New York. I think there were a lot of Jews in New York who didn't take seriously some of the antisemitism encountered by Haredi, Hasidic Jews in Brooklyn, you know, who would walk down the street, get their hat knocked off, or get spat upon. And you could say, Okay, what's the big deal?  Well, if you're walking down the street, especially walking with your kids and your hat gets knocked off, suddenly you're looking at your father, or your mother gets a little nervous because she's in, you know, other people that she sees people come in and might be dangerous or whatever. And I think now they take that much more seriously. Have that been happening on the Upper West or East Side. We would have been quicker to respond. Manya Brachear Pashman:   Do you think that that is enough for a government, for example, to amplify a response? Deborah Lipstadt: Well, certainly a local government, this was happening in New York, but as it became more national, and there's something else in the strategy addresses this. That government can't really deal with, but it can call out. And that's the normalization of antisemitism. And the strategy speaks very directly in the beginning, when it's something I'm paraphrasing, when politicians, when actors, when rap stars, when sports figures engage in anti semitism and amplifies it in a way that it hasn't been before. Government can't stop them. We have that pesky thing called the First Amendment and we all treasure it.  Even though sometimes it can make us gnash our teeth, the good comes with the bad, or the bad comes with the good. But the normalization, so with the strategy. And when the strategy was rolled out, I spoke from the podium of the White House, one of the things I said: government can do a lot.  Congress is already doing a lot and is willing to do more. But it calls for an all hands on deck and it has to be a public, the broader society has to be involved in this fight, not just because of protecting fellow American Jews, fellow citizens, but because as I think as listeners to People of the Pod know well, antsemitism is a threat to democracy. I've been talking about it now someone even said to me, the cliche, and I realized that I had been the one to really popularize it, as the canary in the coal mine of democracy. But it's a warning, it's a warning. Manya Brachear Pashman:   You began your tenure with a tour of the Middle East. Saudi Arabia, Israel, United Arab Emirates, Abu Dhabi, right? Deborah Lipstadt: And Dubai. The first stop was Riyadh. Manya Brachear Pashman:   Oh, right. Okay. And in fact, you were just in Abu Dhabi again just a few days ago. Deborah Lipstadt: I was for a second time, right. And where I encountered an AJC's delegation. But AJC has been present in Abu Dhabi in the Emirates for a very long time. Manya Brachear Pashman:   I want to talk a bit about those visits and the Abraham Accords, which is another circumstance that has changed. I mean, your immediate predecessor got to benefit a little bit from the Abraham Accords. But I'm curious if those Accords are removing barriers, helping foster relationships. And you know, that will only continue to improve the relationship between Israel and Muslim majority countries but also, their receptiveness to your message for combating antisemitism.  Deborah Lipstadt: The Abraham Accords are of prime importance. And they've been wholly embraced by the State Department, this administration, and not only embrace, but I've been encouraged to build on them, in part because we see them as a good thing in terms of fostering relations in the region between Israel and these other Muslim majority countries, but also because we see them as enhancing the Middle East enhancing the economy. I mean, it's a great thing when we all go into Ben Gurion Airport and we look up and there's the flight to Atlanta and right in front of it's a flight to Abu Dhabi, you know, or the flight to Detroit, Dubai , you know, it's some people say it's Mashiach, it's the time of the Messiah in that sense.  The Abraham house in Abu Dhabi, which is a mosque, a church and synagogue is magnificent, of course, that's not part of the Abraham accords. So that wasn't, that was generated in 2018, with a visit of Pope Francis to Abu Dhabi, who said, Let us build the church and a mosque, and it was the leadership of the Emirates that said, let's build a synagogue, to make it a complex of the Abraham House, of the Abrahamic faith. So and then of course, Morocco, which refers to its normalization because it's been doing this for quite a while, Morocco that expects 400,000 Israeli tourists this year. I think last year it had 225,000. And then it's just you know, everywhere. And all those things are good things. And then there are countries which are not yet and I've used not yet euphemistically, part of these things, but see them as working and see them as operating. And I think they're very important. Manya Brachear Pashman:   And do you do feel that they are perhaps more receptive to your message and to listening to what you have to say?  Deborah Lipstadt: Yes, of course, I mean, I think even you know, when I went to Riyadh, to Saudi Arabia, I had meetings with high ranking officials, now you can show up and you can meet with the Minister of, I don't know, keeping the paint dry or something like that. Or you can meet with higher level ministers and I met with high level ministers, very productive meetings. And one of my messages was, look, there is a geopolitical crisis in this region, we're well aware that, my country is well aware of it. I work for a government that has hundreds of people actively engaged in addressing this issue.  But that's something in many respects separate and apart from prejudice, and from hatred. And the example, I had this interesting encounter in either Riyadh and Jeddah with an older imam who knew what was meeting with me and he knew what my, what my status was on my remit, was my portfolio was and he said, If Israel solved the Palestinian crisis, there'd be no antisemitism.  So there was a part of me that thought, I think there was antisemitism before there was a Palestinian crisis, I think there was antisemitism, for those in Israel, I think there was antisemitism, Zionism, you need to go back and back and back. But I didn't think that was going to get me anywhere, you know, putting it on my professorial hat, my mortar board as we do at graduation and lecturing him on that. So instead, I said to him, after 9/11, in my country, there was a surge, not of Islamophobia, but Islamic hatred. And as you will remember, I'm sure, there was an attempt at one point to build a Muslim community center, opposite Ground Zero, where the World Trade Center had been.  And in fact that the group that was building it consulted with the Jewish community center of Manhattan, you know, how, what's your experience? What room? Did you build enough? Should we have a gym, swimming pool, you know, et cetera, et cetera. And whatever body whether it was the city council or whatever in New York. New York, the polyglot capital of the United States, refused permission, because they said to build the Muslim community center, adjacent to Ground Zero, when it was Muslims that had destroyed the buildings and murdered the people there, would be an insult. And many of us thought that was wrong. That was prejudice. And I said, why should Muslims in lower Manhattan, a woman who wants a good place for her children to learn about their tradition, or to have an Iftar or whatever it might be a man to go to pray or whatever?  Why should they be denied that right, because other Muslims had destroyed and attacked the buildings? And the man said to me, you're absolutely right. It was prejudice. I said, well, to say that antisemitism is solely dependent on what Israel does or doesn't is the same thing. And he got very quiet. I don't think I changed his mind. But he stopped arguing.  Manya Brachear Pashman:   Do you see any progress toward people understanding it more as a territorial conflict? Deborah Lipstadt: I think so. I hope so. I think it's a continuing, it's not like you get to a point and then well, we're at this point. Now we get to the next point, you know, like I used to lift 20 pounds, I can lose 30 pounds, you know, it goes back and forth. It goes back and forth, depending on the situation. It's a volatile process. Manya Brachear Pashman:   Do you think that getting them to understand it as a territorial conflict would actually fulfill part of your role in terms of combating antisemitism? Deborah Lipstadt: Yes, absolutely. But I think it's also necessary not to do things that are going to aggravate or not to do things that are going to make it harder for some of these countries to follow through with the Abraham Accords, so it cuts both ways. Manya Brachear Pashman:   In May, you and Ambassador Hood attended the annual Lag Ba'omer Festival at the El Ghriba synagogue. Deborah Lipstadt: In Djerba, Tunisia. Manya Brachear Pashman:   The island of Djerba. Tunisia is one of dozens of Arab countries where Jews were forced out and displaced. And I'm curious if you could reflect a little on the situation of Jews in the Middle East and North African countries. Deborah Lipstadt: Tunisia is a different story than Morocco, different story than the Emirates, then Bahrain. In that it does have a very small Jewish community. I think there are 1300 Jews in Djerba, been there, hundreds, thousands you know, years. And it's much more a community in Tunis than in a number of other places. But this festival has been going on for quite a while. And it was really reasserting itself after COVID, after an attack about 20 years ago on the festival. And it was so promising. And when I heard that Ambassador Hood, our American ambassador in Tunis was going, I said, you want company, he said, I'd love it. So we went together.  We visited the school there that is funded by and supported by the Joint American Jewish joint distribution committee, the joint, the JDC, one of the little students showed them how to draw an aleph. It's was very poignant. And we had a wonderful time. And then we went to the festival that night. And it was joy. The night before the deputy minister from the government catered a kosher meal for us, a kosher feast for many of the foreign representatives who were there. And we went to the festival and it was just joyous and we just loved it. We were so happy and meeting people and seeing people and meeting old friends and etc.  And people are the American ambassadors here, which was very exciting. And we stood in a place and I noticed that our security guards were pretty tight security because of course Americans and back to two ambassadors and personnel from American Embassy in Tunis. We're getting nervous I said, it should relax. 24 hours later precisely in that same place, there was a shooting and two guards were killed. Two Jewish one French, Tunisian and once one Israeli Tunisian, were murdered. So it's very sober. Very, very sobering. And Tunisia was that in the beginning, what we say reluctant to acknowledge this as an anti semitic act they talked about as criminality, they talked about it as terrorism. So Ambassador Hood and I together, not together with, but also with president Macron, and the German Foreign Minister, all said this is antisemitism plain and simple. Manya Brachear Pashman:   And swayed them, turned? Deborah Lipstadt: Oh, well, I don't know if we swayed them, but we got them to, he met with the President and met with the chief rabbi. And they changed a little bit, but sometimes it's criminality. Sometimes someone gets mugged on the street, and doesn't matter what they are who they are. But when this guy shot, he was on guard at a naval base. He shot his fellow guard, took a car and drove half hour across the island, to the synagogue, to attack the synagogue. And he didn't say, Oh, they're a crowd of people. I mean, he knew where he was going. And he knew what he was doing. Manya Brachear Pashman:   My last question is, some listeners might not realize that there is actually a separate Special Envoy for Holocaust issues. Deborah Lipstadt: That's right, Ellen Germain. Manya Brachear Pashman:   Your colleague Ellen Germain. Given the rise of Holocaust distortion, trivialization, your candidate, the loss of survivors, how much of what you do now intersects with her work? Deborah Lipstadt: Well, we're very careful. I mean, she's really handling Holocaust reparations issues, property reparations, not that we get directly involved, but in urging countries to address these things. But there's not that much overlap. But there's a great deal of cooperation with us, you know, times traveling together, working together, the more the more. Manya Brachear Pashman:   Are their priorities that you can see for implementing the National Strategy since we started talking about it. Deborah Lipstadt: I think there are so many things in there that can be done large and small. I urge people to download it. Maybe you can put the link on your website. It's downloadable. It's 60 pages, read the whole thing. thing. I have to tell you, I knew it as it was emerging. But at one point when I saw a draft of it, and they asked me to go over it, I was abroad doing it in another country. So complicated. But of course, as I began to read it without going into the specifics even have different issues. I was deeply moved.  Because I don't like to correct my boss, otherwise known as the President of the United States. But when he spoke about it at the White House, he called it the most momentous comprehensive plan the American government has ever addressed and he was wrong. It was the first comprehensive plan that the American government has ever addressed.  Of course, when there've been tragedies and presidents from both sides of the aisle, from all perspectives have condemned, have responded, America has responded. Law enforcement has responded. But this is the first time that the United States government is taking the bull by the horns and saying, What can we do to address this scourge?  And as I said, from the podium of the White House when it was rolled out, probably making history because it's the first time a mishna was quoted from the White House or talmud was quoted from the White House. I quoted from the verse from ethics of the elders, pirkei avot – lo aleicha hamlacha ligmor, v'lo ata ben chorin livatel mimenu. You're not obligated to complete the task, but you're not free from starting, from engaging in it. The United States government has now seriously engaged in it. Manya Brachear Pashman:   Well, thank you so much, Ambassador. Deborah Lipstadt: Thank you. 

It seems the goal-post of how we reach and teach the next generation is always moving. As parents, grandparents, educators, and a community who cares, how do we get it right? How can we move the next generation toward an indelible connection to Judaism now and for generations to come? Rabbi Ravid Tilles has been the Director of Jewish Life and Learning at Schechter Boston since 2017. Schechter Boston is a Jewish Day School in Newton for students from 15 months to 8th grade. He and his family are also members of the Temple Emanuel community. Before moving to Newton, Rabbi Tilles was the Associate Rabbi at the Merrick Jewish Centre in Merrick, Long Island and has served multiple communities in various educational/pastoral capacities. He received ordination from the Jewish Theological Seminary in 2013 where he also earned a masters degree and certificate in Pastoral Care.

How does a gay man raised in a Southern Black church end up the Executive Director of Washington DC's LGBTQA synagogue, Bet Mishpachah? Growing up attending the African Methodist Episcopal Zion Church, Josh Maxey always had a relationship with God and religion, but after hearing his pastor talking about how gay people are destined for hell, he started pulling away from Christianity. As a religious studies minor, many routes for exploring his spirituality were available. He found his connection to Judaism during a chance encounter with the legendary Temple Emanu-El in New York City, established in 1845, when a loving stranger invited him to sit and pray, and he found himself in tears, and at peace. Josh says that in Judaism, he found a home, where he could be 100% authentic, live his values, and follow his purpose, surrounded by diverse people and their diverse beliefs and ways of being Jewish in the world. We talk about the importance of diversifying leadership and the continual efforts needed to create a fair and equitable space, and the relationship between American Black and Jewish communities. Josh's story is more than an enlightening conversation; it is a testament to the beauty of diversity within the Jewish community and the power of authenticity in faith. Join us for a refreshing viewpoint on faith, race, and identity.GLOSSARY: Mishpachah: the Hebrew word for “family”.Siddur: the Hebrew word for prayerbook, derived from the root meaning “order”, as in, the order of the words and prayers in the service.Tikkun Olam: meaning “world repair,” is a concept that all human beings are responsible for one another and the world, and for repairing harm and damage through their actions, big or small.Hadassah: meaning “myrtle tree” in Hebrew, it is a relatively common Jewish girl's name and the Hebrew name of Queen Esther from the Purim story.Kvetch: Yiddish for “complain,” meaning both to complain, and what a person who complains is called.  Halachically/halakha: Jewish law code based on the Talmud, which is the central text of Rabbic Judaism Hebrew Israelites: Commonly called “Black Jews” until the mid-1960s, the Hebrew Israelite movement gained a following in the late 1800s and comprises people of color, primarily African Americans, “who view the biblical Israelites as their historic ancestors.” Some may not necessarily identify as Jews, and the larger group should not be confused with the “Radical Black Israelites” which the SPLC identifies as an antisemitic hate group. More:Temple Emanu-El is the first Reform Jewish synagogue in the United States and an architectural landmark in the Lower East Side. Bet Misphachah, founded in 1975, is DC's only LGBTQA synagogue. Join them for services on Fridays and the 2nd and 4th Saturdays.The Jewish Federation of Greater Washington is a community organization that provides support for the Jewish community through social action, impact grants and other connecting and educational activities. Support the showLike the show? Support it! Or don't, that's cool too. Just glad you're here! https://www.buzzsprout.com/2196108/supporters/new

If you're a YJP (Young Jewish Professional), chances are your life is awesome. You may be hit up to go bowling with some friends. Guess what? It's a Moishe House event and it's free of charge! You may later sign up for a young adult retreat through NuRoots to tap into Torah Study while exploring the great outdoors. You will likely run into that old friend from BBYO whom you enjoyed Hebrew school with at your local synagogue. You may host a Shabbat event and even more amazing: The price of that meal will be subsidized by OneTable (CEO and Founder Aliza Kline was on this podcast). The possibilities for Jews are endless! You don't have to be in your 20s to enjoy these programs. You can be a recent parent, a senior citizen, or even a newborn. There is a guarantee that a Jewish non-profit impacted your life one way or another. Why is this network so strong? Gary S. Cohn of Painted Rock Advisors is a non-profit and philanthropic advisor. He helps organizations run smoothly while helping entrepreneurs and philanthropists allocate their wealth to the right organizations. With these contributions, Cohn has impacted the Jewish and non-Jewish world in numerous ways. Chaz Volk, host of Bad Jew, interviews Cohn to understand why it's more than just money that makes these non-profits run. Volk, having produced Cohn's Podcast, The Road to Philanthropy, is aware of his passion and drive, helping Gary showcase his talents to the Bad Jew community. About Gary S. Cohn: Gary brings over thirty years of non-profit and development experience to his work as a trusted advisor. Gary became the Executive Director of Temple Emanu-El in San Francisco from 1991-2007. Temple Emanu-El is one of the leading congregations in Reform Judaism with over 2,000 families founded in 1850. There he managed all business aspects of the congregation plus membership services and program. Gary was responsible for an annual budget of $15 million and an endowment equities and real estate of over $40 million. In 2008 he became the Regional Director of American Technion Society in the Pacific Northwest (Silicon Valley to Seattle) raising about $15-$20 million a year to support the Technion-Israel Institute of Technology. From 20015 until 2020 Gary held Senior Vice President/Major Gift roles at Alzheimer's Association and the Jewish Agency for Israel. In 2020, Gary founded Painted Rock Advisors. Painted Rock Advisors provides services to the philanthropic and non-profit communities. His podcast, The Road to Philanthropy debuted in 2021 and now has over 6,000 listeners. Gary serves on the Board of Directors of Hillel 818 and Safe Parking Los Angeles where he is Chair of Governance at both non-profits. Previously served on the Board of Directors of the American Red Cross-Bay Area, the San Francisco Food Bank and Bentley School. He was on the Advisory Board of City National Bank in Northern California from 2000-2007. Gary is a graduate of California State University at Long Beach and received his BS from the College of Business. He was honored as Alumnus of the Year for the College of Business in 2009. Gary lives in Woodland Hills with his partner, Paula and has a daughter, Erica, who works in the entertainment industry. Connect with Gary S. Cohn: https://linktr.ee/RoadToPhilanthropy www.paintedrockadvisors.com Connect with Bad Jew: Join our online community HERE: https://linktr.ee/badjew BadJewPod@gmail.com Ig @BadJewPod TikTok @BadJewPod

Dan is a board member of Repair the World (Jewish engagement through service) and the Friends of the Arava Institute (bringing Arabs and Jews together in Israel to address environmental and climate issues). He is a long-time member of Temple Emanuel and has, over the years, volunteered with other Jewish organizations, including Combined Jewish Philanthropies, JCDS, the Newton Centre Minyan, and Our Generation Speaks. In his free time, Dan created a software package for calculating income tax, as well as software to help attorneys and individuals with the financial aspects of divorce.

When the history of twentieth-century Jewry is written, I believe that one of the most important, impactful, influential thinkers will be Rabbi Harold Kushner, who was laid to his eternal rest this past Monday. I do not know of a rabbi whose teaching had a broader reach or a bigger impact.  It is not just that his books sold millions of copies.  Not just that his books were translated into many languages.  Not just that his work was read by Jews and non-Jews alike.  Rabbi Harold Kushner did something else virtually miraculous: he talked about God in a way that landed for ordinary people who do not usually talk about God. What was his secret sauce? How did he make God real and relatable for millions of people, Jews and non-Jews alike? Now that he has passed, how can his Torah on God connect with you?   May Rabbi Harold Kushner rest in peace. May his Torah deepen our relationship with God, with Torah, with mitzvah, and with the very special community we are blessed to have at Temple Emanuel.

My guest today is Gary Cohn. Gary brings over thirty years of non-profit and development experience to his work as a trusted advisor. He began his work as a middle market banker from 1977-1992. After being trained in credit, he led a sales and marketing team for several large California banks leaving in 1992 to move into the non-profit sector.   Gary became the Executive Director of Temple Emanu-El in San Francisco. Temple Emanu-El, founded in 1850, is one of the leading congregations in Reform Judaism, with over 2,000 families. Gary was responsible for an annual budget of $15 million and endowment equities and real estate of over $40 million.   In 2008 he became the Regional Director of the American Technion Society in the Pacific Northwest, raising funds to support the Technion-Israel Institute of Technology. From 20015 until 2020, Gary held Senior Vice President/Major Gift roles at the Alzheimer's Association and the Jewish Agency for Israel.   In 2020, Gary founded Painted Rock Advisors. Painted Rock Advisors provides services to the philanthropic and non-profit communities. His podcast, The Road To Philanthropy, debuted in 2021 and now has over 4,500 listeners.   Gary previously served on the Board of Directors of the American Red Cross-Bay Area, the San Francisco Food Bank, and Bentley School. He currently serves on the Board of Directors of Hillel 818 and Safe Parking Los Angeles and is Chair of Governance at both nonprofits.   Gary attended California State University at Long Beach, where he received his BS from the College of Business. He was honored as Alumnus of the Year for the College of Business in 2009.   Gary lives in Woodland Hills with his partner, Paula, and has a daughter, Erica, who works in the entertainment industry.   Here's what to expect during the episode: What does leadership mean? What are the role and responsibilities of an executive director? How can you ensure board effectiveness? Why is it essential to conduct self-evaluation? What is the role of the board chair? Why is communication important in an organization? Connect with Gary Cohn! Website: https://www.paintedrockadvisors.com/ Emails: mzt8877@gmail.com | paintedrockadvisors@gmail.com   Get 6 Steps You Must Know to Unleash the Potential of Your Nonprofit Board, go here: https://hilandconsulting.org/6stepsreport.    Mary's book is available on Amazon or wherever books are sold: Love Your Board! The Executive Directors' Guide to Discovering the Sources of Nonprofit Board Troubles and What to Do About Them.   Be sure to subscribe to Inspired Nonprofit Leadership so that you don't miss a single episode, and while you're at it, won't you take a moment to write a short review and rate our show? It would be greatly appreciated!     Let us know the topics or questions you would like to hear about in a future episode. You can do that and follow us on Facebook.   Connect with Mary! LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/maryhiland Inspired Nonprofit Leadership Facebook Group: https://tinyurl.com/inspirednonprofitleadership Company Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/hilandconsulting Website: https://www.hilandconsulting.org

On Episode 2 of The Holy Sparks Podcast, I get to interview my good friend and colleague Rabbi Joe Black. Rabbi Joe dives into his journey through his rabbinate. We talk songwriting, what it actually looks like to be a Senior Rabbi of a big shul ( 2000+ families) , the future of the Rabbinate, and Limmericks! Rabbi Joseph Black has served as Senior Rabbi of Temple Emanuel in Denver, CO since July, 2010 - previously serving as Rabbi of Congregation Albert in Albuquerque, New Mexico from 1996-2010. He served as Assistant and then Associate Rabbi at Temple Israel in Minneapolis, Minnesota from 1987-1996. He received his Bachelor's degree in Education from Northwestern University in 1982 and his Master's degree and Rabbinic Ordination from the Hebrew Union College – Jewish Institute of Religion (HUC-JIR) in Cincinnati, Ohio in 1987. In 2012 he received an honorary Doctorate of Divinity from HUC-JIR. Rabbi Black serves as a Chaplain in the Colorado House of Representatives and is Past President of the Rocky Mountain Rabbinical Council. An award-winning songwriter and nationally recognized musician, he has recorded 7 albums of original Jewish music and published two songbooks. He also is an accomplished writer and poet. Rabbi Black has published several poems and articles in leading national literary and academic journals. He has been honored by American Songwriter Magazine for his music. He is a frequent contributor to anthologies and collections of Jewish writing. He has recorded seven critically-acclaimed albums of original music, a songbook, and two videos. Two of his songs, Boker Tov and The Afikoman Mambo have been made into Children's books and distributed by the PJ Library. His most recent book, There Once Was A Man From Canaan: The Five Books of Limerick, is a collection of Limericks based on each torah portion. This past September, he released two new Albums or original music: Praying With Our Feet – a collection of Jewish and spiritual songs, and Wire and Wood - his first foray into secular recording. He has performed his original music in many communities around the world and has received numerous honors for his performance and composition. As a musician, Rabbi Black is known for his guitar virtuosity, soaring voice and lyrics that are at the same time, funny, inspirational and thought-provoking. His music is an extension of his Rabbinate. Find him here: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?...For more info on The Holy Sparks Podcast go to www.holysparks.tvstreaming everywhere!

Time with family, friends and loved ones is supposed to be at the center of the holiday season… but in our screen-dominated world, how many of us can say that's still true? Our devices are purposefully designed to monopolize our attention and make themselves hard to put down. So even though we know that spending too much time staring at screens is bad for us, the addiction can be hard to break. With the New Year almost upon us, why not try to make a new start? Join Dave as he tries to put down his phone and find a little spiritual renewal with advice from marketing professor Adam Alter and Tech Shabbat advocate Rabbi Sydney Mintz. Adam Alter is the author of Irresistible: The Rise of Addictive Technology and the Business of Keeping Us Hooked. To find out more about Adam's work, including his forthcoming book, Anatomy of a Breakthrough, visit his website. In addition to serving as the Rabbi of Temple Emanu-El in San Francisco for 25 years, Sydney Mintz is also an activist, writer, and performer. Find out more about the many projects she's involved in on her website. Find out more about the ideas behind Tech Shabbat in Tiffany Shlain's book 24/6: Giving Up Screens One Day a Week to Get More Time, Creativity, and Connection. To learn more about the spiritual aspects of Shabbat, Rabbi Mintz recommends reading The Sabbath, by Abraham Joshua Heschel.

Looking back with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on his new book, “BiBi: My Story”. Also looking forward to his next government's approach to Saudi Arabia (could we see an expansion of the Abraham Accords?); Israel's position in the Russia-Ukraine war (will Israel's posture change under his leadership?); and what he sees as the implications of events on the streets of Iran. We spoke at an event hosted by The Streicker Cultural Center at Temple Emanu-El: https://streicker.nyc/

In the second episode of their New York City private school series, Ellie and Carrie move on from the dreamland of Spence lower school to the hell scape of middle school materialism and accelerated adolescence. We start with the joys and horrors of Knicker Bocker, where we, white-gloved, danced with tiny boys who, to us, were gods. Where are Pierre (FKA Peter of New Jersey) and "the lovely Ms. Yvonne" now? With our first-ever guest Jess, we hear about her transition from a city public school to a private school in the Bronx that ushered in a brief obsession with Uggs. Plus, musings on the "fast girls" from a certain all-girls' school who still occupy an indelible place in the imagination (for a certain subsect of Manhattan girls who were 12-14 around 2009). What did Blair Waldorf, seen in birds-eye view from the Spence staircase, do to our lexicons and capacity for kindness? Hervé Leger at Temple Emanu-El? Ninth graders at Riff Raff (rip)? Sure, why not! But ages 12 and up at Spence were not all bad, it turns out. The saving grace was namely the dance program's welcome overhaul under the fearless direction of Mr. Redacted and his leather bracelets. The image of sixth graders throbbing in a pile to the beat of Ramalama (Bang Bang) on the Symphony Space stage will stand the test of time. We speak to former Spence dancer and our dear friend Elizabeth, who says the beloved Mr. Redacted brought joy and laughter to her adolescence while normalizing queerness within the school for the first time.

Temple Emanu-El, home to New York's first Reform Jewish congregation and the largest synagogue in the city, sits on the spot of Mrs. Caroline Astor's former Gilded Age mansion. Out with the old, in with the new.The synagogue shimmers with Jazz Age style from vibrant stained-glass windows to its Art Deco tiles and mosaics. When its doors opened in 1929, the congregation was making a very powerful statement. New York's Jewish community had arrived.This story begins on the Lower East Side with the first major arrival of German immigrants in the 1830s. New Jewish congregations splintered from old ones, inspired by the Reform movement from Europe and the possibilities of life in America.Congregation Emanu-El grew rapidly, moving from the Lower East Side to Fifth Avenue in 1868. Their beautiful new synagogue reflected the prosperity of its congregants who were nonetheless excluded from mainstream (Christian oriented, old moneyed) high society.Why did they move to the spot of the old Astor mansion? What does the current synagogue's architecture say about its congregation? And where in the sanctuary can you find a tribute to the congregation's Lower East Side roots?PLUS Greg visits Temple Emanu-El and chats with Mark Heutlinger, administration of the congregation, and Warren Klein of the Herbert and Eileen Bernard Museum of Judaica. FURTHER READING FURTHER READINGStephen Birmingham / Our CrowdStephen Birmingham / The Rest of UsMichael A. Meyer / Response to Modernity: A History of the Reform Movement in JudaismDeborah Dash Moore / Jewish New York: The Remarkable Story of a City and a PeopleMarc Lee Raphael / Judaism In AmericaSteven R. Weisman / The Chosen Wars: How Judaism Became An American ReligionThe Jewish Metropolis: New York City from the 17th Century to the 21st Century / Edited by Daniel SoyerFURTHER LISTENINGAfter listening to this week's episode on Temple Emanu-El, dive back into past episodes which intersect with his story:The Miracle on Eldridge Street: The Eldridge Street SynagogueWelcome to Yorkville: German Life on the Upper East SideThe Real Mrs. Astor: Ruler or Rebel?