Podcasts about Yeshiva University

Menachot 51 – Tuesday – 14 AdarBy Rabbi Dr. Jacob J. Schacter, University Professor of Jewish History and Jewish Thought, Yeshiva Universityמנחות דף נא, דף יומי

Lorraine Marchand, startup CEO, advisor to Johnson & Johnson, member of the Pharmaceutical Advisory Board at Columbia Business School, and faculty at Wharton, discusses how leaders can sustain growth through disciplined experimentation in an era shaped by AI and institutional risk aversion.  Marchand's perspective is grounded in a career that spans large corporations and entrepreneurial ventures. Early in life, she learned to treat problem solving as an experiment rather than a test of personal worth. That principle later informed her approach to innovation in complex organizations. Several practical themes emerge from the discussion: 1. Reframe failure as structured learning. Marchand's operating principle is "try, fail, learn." The key is to set explicit learning objectives before undertaking a new initiative. When leaders define what they intend to learn, not just what they intend to achieve, they reduce fear and increase resilience. This mindset is particularly critical in startups and new ventures, where there is no playbook and early missteps are inevitable. 2. Innovation requires protected investment. Drawing on research and executive interviews, Marchand highlights the value of disciplined portfolio allocation. A 70/20/10 model—70% core business, 20% adjacent opportunities, 10% new, exploratory ideas—creates room for experimentation without destabilizing the enterprise. The evidence she cites suggests that long-term growth frequently emerges from ideas that initially seemed peripheral. 3. Culture often suppresses experimentation. Organizations frequently default to "playing it safe." Marchand argues that leaders must explicitly create space for candor and reflection. Her practice of "Fail Free Friday", a structured forum to discuss what is not working without defensiveness, illustrates how small rituals can normalize learning and surface risk before it compounds. 4. AI should assist thinking, not replace it. Marchand observes both curiosity and fatigue around AI. Students and executives alike risk over-reliance, which can erode depth of analysis. Her discipline is simple: think independently first, then use AI as a research assistant to refine or challenge one's reasoning. Senior leaders remain relevant not by competing with automation, but by asking the right questions, an ability rooted in experience and judgment. 5. Integration of technology requires business judgment. Technology cannot be bolted onto processes indiscriminately. Leaders must understand workflows deeply enough to decide where automation adds value, where human ingenuity remains essential, and where both are required. This integration demands clarity about the business, not just familiarity with the tool. 6. The "who" and the "how" matter more than the "what." Late-career reflection led Marchand to conclude that outcomes achieved at the expense of people erode long-term value. Values alignment, integrity, and disciplined focus, often expressed through the willingness to say no, are strategic decisions, not personal preferences. For senior professionals, the message is direct: sustained growth depends less on bold rhetoric and more on creating disciplined environments where experimentation is safe, technology is used thoughtfully, and people are encouraged to think independently. The capacity to ask better questions, protect time for reflection, and allocate resources to uncertain but promising ideas remains a defining leadership advantage. Lorraine H. Marchand, an acclaimed author and innovator, is author of the new book NO FEAR, NO FAILURE and a leading consultant and educator on innovation with deep expertise in new product development. She has cofounded multiple start-ups, held senior roles at global companies including Bristol-Myers Squibb, Covance/LabCorp, and IBM, and advises top organizations while teaching at the Wharton School and Yeshiva University. Get Lorraine's book, No Fear, No Failure, here: https://tinyurl.com/eksdu9ks Claim your free gift: Free gift #1 McKinsey & BCG winning resume www.FIRMSconsulting.com/resumePDF Free gift #2 Breakthrough Decisions Guide with 25 AI Prompts www.FIRMSconsulting.com/decisions Free gift #3 Five Reasons Why People Ignore Somebody www.FIRMSconsulting.com/owntheroom Free gift #4 Access episode 1 from Build a Consulting Firm, Level 1 www.FIRMSconsulting.com/build Free gift #5 The Overall Approach used in well-managed strategy studies www.FIRMSconsulting.com/OverallApproach Free gift #6 Get a copy of Nine Leaders in Action, a book we co-authored with some of our clients: www.FIRMSconsulting.com/gift

In this deeply honest conversation, Shani opens up about the origins of her love for Torah, a genuine religious crisis she experienced in college, and how wrestling with philosophy ultimately widened her faith. We talk about Jewish womanhood, halacha, and why Shani wants women to stop being afraid of their own bodies and their own questions. With remarkable vulnerability, Shani reflects on the cost of a life given to community, the nights she wasn't home, and the conversation with her daughter that taught her a powerful lesson about accepting the hidden costs of our most idealistic choices. Rabbanit Shani Taragin directs and teaches in Israel and worldwide. She currently serves on the advisory committee for the Mizrachi Olami Shalhevet program, as Rosh Beit Midrash for the women in Yeshiva University's new academic program in Israel, and together with her husband, Reuven, as Educational Director for Mizrachi Olami.Join our new virtual Tanya class! We will be hosting a live, three part series on the divine soul, through Chapter 2 of the Tanya, a space to explore the text through shared study, poetry, curated illustrations, songs, and guided reflection. Link to join us here: https://humanandholy.mykajabi.com/tanyaclass* * * * * * *To inquire about sponsorship & advertising opportunities, please email us at info@humanandholy.comTo support our work, visit humanandholy.com/sponsor.Find us on Instagram @humanandholy & subscribe to our channel to stay up to date on all our upcoming conversations ✨Human & Holy podcast is available on all podcast streaming platforms. New episodes every Sunday & Wednesday on YouTube, Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and Google Podcasts.* * * * * * *TIMESTAMPS:[00:00] — Intro [00:03] — Host's intro[00:06] — Online Tanya Class Launch[00:09] — Welcome Rabbanit Shani [00:12] — How My Love of Torah Developed[00:15] — The Merging of Study and Teaching [00:18] — Torah Changes Who I Am[00:21] — Bible Criticism in the Beit Medrash[00:24] — Have You Ever Experienced Religious Doubt?[00:27] — A Personal Faith Crisis[00:30] — What is the Foundation of Faith?[00:33] — Judaism Where We Can Question While We Study [00:36] — Not Just an Ethical System, A Relationship with God[00:39] — A Love Letter to the Torah [00:42] — Ideals Put Into Daily Practice[00:45] — Women's Torah Study[00:48] — Torah and Daily Life Are Naturally Intertwined for Jewish Women[00:51] — I Want Women to Feel More Comfortable in Their Bodies[00:54] — What I'd Like to See Changed[00:57] — The Human Dimension of My Role [01:00] — The Hidden Costs of Our Choices[01:03] — A Conversation with My Daughter About Balance in Motherhood[01:06] — Communicating the Why Behind Your Choices[01:09] — Evolving in the Balance Between Family and Public Work [01:12] — Rapid Fire [01:19] — Outro

Irving I. Stone Beis Medrash Program at Yeshiva University

In the 1920s, Józef Piłsudski was a household name not just in Poland, but across Europe and across the Atlantic Ocean as well. Yet this complex and contradictory figure – a socialist and a nationalist, a clandestine agitator and a legendary military strategist, protector of Jews and other national minorities on Polish soil who was nonetheless often accused of imperialism – has eluded serious biographical treatment in English until now. Yeshiva University professor Joshua D. Zimmerman offers a nuanced, readable, and definitive account of the man who re-founded the independent state of Poland in 1918. Jozef Pilsudski: Founding Father of Modern Poland (Harvard University Press, 2022) could not be more timely, given the lessons to be learned from Piłsudski's career by today's opponents of far-right populism in Eastern Europe, and even more urgently – by English-language readers seeking to understand the imperative of preserving an independent Ukrainian state in the face of Russian aggression. Piotr H. Kosicki is Associate Professor of History at the University of Maryland, College Park. He is the author of Catholics on the Barricades (Yale, 2018) and editor, among others, of Political Exile in the Global Twentieth Century (with Wolfram Kaiser). Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/history

In the 1920s, Józef Piłsudski was a household name not just in Poland, but across Europe and across the Atlantic Ocean as well. Yet this complex and contradictory figure – a socialist and a nationalist, a clandestine agitator and a legendary military strategist, protector of Jews and other national minorities on Polish soil who was nonetheless often accused of imperialism – has eluded serious biographical treatment in English until now. Yeshiva University professor Joshua D. Zimmerman offers a nuanced, readable, and definitive account of the man who re-founded the independent state of Poland in 1918. Jozef Pilsudski: Founding Father of Modern Poland (Harvard University Press, 2022) could not be more timely, given the lessons to be learned from Piłsudski's career by today's opponents of far-right populism in Eastern Europe, and even more urgently – by English-language readers seeking to understand the imperative of preserving an independent Ukrainian state in the face of Russian aggression. Piotr H. Kosicki is Associate Professor of History at the University of Maryland, College Park. He is the author of Catholics on the Barricades (Yale, 2018) and editor, among others, of Political Exile in the Global Twentieth Century (with Wolfram Kaiser). Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/biography

In the 1920s, Józef Piłsudski was a household name not just in Poland, but across Europe and across the Atlantic Ocean as well. Yet this complex and contradictory figure – a socialist and a nationalist, a clandestine agitator and a legendary military strategist, protector of Jews and other national minorities on Polish soil who was nonetheless often accused of imperialism – has eluded serious biographical treatment in English until now. Yeshiva University professor Joshua D. Zimmerman offers a nuanced, readable, and definitive account of the man who re-founded the independent state of Poland in 1918. Jozef Pilsudski: Founding Father of Modern Poland (Harvard University Press, 2022) could not be more timely, given the lessons to be learned from Piłsudski's career by today's opponents of far-right populism in Eastern Europe, and even more urgently – by English-language readers seeking to understand the imperative of preserving an independent Ukrainian state in the face of Russian aggression. Piotr H. Kosicki is Associate Professor of History at the University of Maryland, College Park. He is the author of Catholics on the Barricades (Yale, 2018) and editor, among others, of Political Exile in the Global Twentieth Century (with Wolfram Kaiser). Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In the 1920s, Józef Piłsudski was a household name not just in Poland, but across Europe and across the Atlantic Ocean as well. Yet this complex and contradictory figure – a socialist and a nationalist, a clandestine agitator and a legendary military strategist, protector of Jews and other national minorities on Polish soil who was nonetheless often accused of imperialism – has eluded serious biographical treatment in English until now. Yeshiva University professor Joshua D. Zimmerman offers a nuanced, readable, and definitive account of the man who re-founded the independent state of Poland in 1918. Jozef Pilsudski: Founding Father of Modern Poland (Harvard University Press, 2022) could not be more timely, given the lessons to be learned from Piłsudski's career by today's opponents of far-right populism in Eastern Europe, and even more urgently – by English-language readers seeking to understand the imperative of preserving an independent Ukrainian state in the face of Russian aggression. Piotr H. Kosicki is Associate Professor of History at the University of Maryland, College Park. He is the author of Catholics on the Barricades (Yale, 2018) and editor, among others, of Political Exile in the Global Twentieth Century (with Wolfram Kaiser). Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In the 1920s, Józef Piłsudski was a household name not just in Poland, but across Europe and across the Atlantic Ocean as well. Yet this complex and contradictory figure – a socialist and a nationalist, a clandestine agitator and a legendary military strategist, protector of Jews and other national minorities on Polish soil who was nonetheless often accused of imperialism – has eluded serious biographical treatment in English until now. Yeshiva University professor Joshua D. Zimmerman offers a nuanced, readable, and definitive account of the man who re-founded the independent state of Poland in 1918. Jozef Pilsudski: Founding Father of Modern Poland (Harvard University Press, 2022) could not be more timely, given the lessons to be learned from Piłsudski's career by today's opponents of far-right populism in Eastern Europe, and even more urgently – by English-language readers seeking to understand the imperative of preserving an independent Ukrainian state in the face of Russian aggression. Piotr H. Kosicki is Associate Professor of History at the University of Maryland, College Park. He is the author of Catholics on the Barricades (Yale, 2018) and editor, among others, of Political Exile in the Global Twentieth Century (with Wolfram Kaiser). Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this episode, we sit down with Rabbi Dr. Yosie Levine to explore the life, world, and enduring significance of Hakham Tsevi Ashkenazi, the towering early modern rabbinic figure at the center of his book Hakham Tsevi Ashkenazi and the Battlegrounds of the Early Modern Rabbinate. We begin at the very beginning: what draws a historian to write a full-scale study of Hakham Tsevi, and why his career offers such a powerful window into early modern rabbinic life and the development of halakha. Moving beyond biography, Rabbi Dr. Levine explains how Teshuvot function not only as halakhic documents but as rich historical sources that illuminate communal pressures, lived religion, and the texture of Jewish decision-making in a rapidly changing world. The conversation then turns to the political and cultural dynamics shaping Jewish communities of the period, and how these forces complicated the relationship between rabbis and their congregations. We examine Hakham Tsevi's nuanced engagement with Sefaradim and his defense of certain Sepharadi approaches to Jewish law and minhagim, challenging simplistic Ashkenazi–Sepharadi divides. Rabbi Dr. Levine also unpacks Hakham Tsevi's attitude toward Kabbala and how it manifests within his Teshuvot, revealing a careful, principled posture rather than a reactionary one. Finally, we delve into the dramatic Ḥayon Affair, tracing its significance not only as a personal crisis for Hakham Tsevi but as a defining moment in the broader battlegrounds of the early modern rabbinate.___*This episode is dedicated to the refua shelema of Sarah Miriam bat Tamar, Binyamin ben Zilpa, and our dear friend Yaakov ben Haya Sarah Malakh, and l'ilui nishmat Zehara Yehudit bat Yaakov Ezra v'Ilana Shira___• Bio: A scholar of early modern Jewish history, Rabbi Yosie Levine became the seventh rabbi of The Jewish Center in 2008, after serving there for four years as Rabbinic Intern, Assistant Rabbi, and Associate Rabbi under the mentorship of Rabbi Dr. Norman Lamm, z”l; Rabbi Dr. Jacob J. Schacter; and Rabbi Dr. Ari Berman. Prior to joining The Jewish Center, he served as educational director of the Lauder Foundation's Beit Midrash in Berlin. Rabbi Levine has played a leadership role on the issue of day school affordability, pioneering a communal model for sustaining excellent Jewish education, and he is co-chair of the Manhattan Eruv. He is active in numerous communal organizations, including AIPAC, NORPAC, and the UJA-Federation of New York, where he previously served as a board member, and his advocacy for Israel has helped make The Jewish Center a model for Israel activism within and beyond the Religious Zionist community. Rabbi Levine earned a BA in English and Comparative Literature from Columbia College, received rabbinic ordination from the Rabbi Isaac Elchanan Theological Seminary as a Wexner Graduate Fellow, and holds a PhD in Early Modern Jewish History from Yeshiva University's Bernard Revel Graduate School, where he serves as an adjunct professor and sits on the Dean's Council. His work has appeared in both scholarly and popular publications, and his book, Hakham Tsevi Ashkenazi and the Battlegrounds of the Early Modern Rabbinate (Littman Library, 2024), is the recipient of the Association for Jewish Studies' Jordan Schnitzer First Book Award.___• Get his book here: https://www.amazon.com/Ashkenazi-Battlegrounds-Rabbinate-Littman-Civilization/dp/1835536417___• Welcome to JUDAISM DEMYSTIFIED: A PODCAST FOR THE PERPLEXED | Co-hosted by Benjy & Benzi | Thank you to...Super Patron: Jordan Karmily, Platinum Patron: Craig Gordon, Rod Ilian, Gold Patrons: Dovidchai Abramchayev, Lazer Cohen, Travis Krueger, Vasili Volkoff, Vasya, Silver Patrons: Ellen Fleischer, Daniel M., Rabbi Pinny Rosenthal, Fred & Antonio, Jeffrey Wasserman, Jacob Winston, and Ariel Klainerman! Please SUBSCRIBE to this YouTube Channel and hit the BELL to can get alerted whenever new clips get posted, thank you for your support!

Menachot 23 – Tuesday – 16 ShevatBy Rabbi Dr. Jacob J. Schacter, University Professor of Jewish History and Jewish Thought, Yeshiva Universityמנחות דף כג, דף יומי

Rabbi Steven Greenberg is an Orthodox rabbi and author. Ordained at Yeshiva University, he has spent years teaching, writing, and speaking across the Jewish world about tradition, ethics, and religious change. Specifically, as co-founder of the group Eshel, he was one of the earliest voices calling for inclusion of LGBTQ individuals – gay people – within Orthodox Judaism. How do we do that? On the one hand, we must think deeply about how Torah speaks to this reality. At the same time, we must care for people living this reality right now. Rabbi Greenberg joins us to explore where Orthodoxy has been – and where it may be heading – on some of its most challenging and important questions. Here is a LINK to Eshel for more information. If you have any comments on this episode, suggestions for future episodes, or just want to chat about research in the Jewish world, please email mark@nishmaresearch.com.  

In this episode of the 18Forty Podcast, we speak with Mark Wildes, founder and director of Manhattan Jewish Experience, about Modern Orthodox outreach.In this episode we discuss:Why aren't more aspiring rabbis attracted to kiruv? How can we help people make the transition from outreach programs to the “real world”?How can we make the case for Shabbos for the masses? Tune in to hear a conversation about the “non-professional kiruv” of the Modern Orthodox community.Interview begins at 22:45.Rabbi Mark Wildes was ordained from Yeshiva University, but before becoming a rabbi, he received a JD from the Cardozo School of Law and a Masters in International Affairs from Columbia University. Since founding MJE 20 years ago, Rabbi Wildes has become one of America's most inspirational and dynamic Jewish educators. He lives with his wife Jill and their children Yosef, Ezra, Judah and Avigayil on the Upper West Side where they maintain a warm and welcoming home for all.References:Stop, in the Name of God: Why Honoring the Sabbath Will Transform Your Life by Charlie KirkThe Lonely Man of Faith by Joseph B. SoloveitchikThis Is My God by Herman Wouk“Is Modern Orthodox Kiruv Possible?” by Steven GotlibFor more 18Forty:NEWSLETTER: 18forty.org/joinCALL: (212) 582-1840EMAIL: info@18forty.orgWEBSITE: 18forty.orgIG: @18fortyX: @18_fortyWhatsApp: join hereBecome a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/18forty-podcast--4344730/support.

Welcome to the debut episode of Higher Intelligence, a podcast that delivers smart takes on AI and EdTech for the next-generation campus. As our first guest, host Dr. JC Bonilla is joined by Dr. Paul Russo, Vice Provost and Founding Dean of the Katz School of Science and Health at Yeshiva University. Together, they break down AI trends reshaping the future of higher education. From autonomous agents and ambient AI to data infrastructure and institutional readiness, this episode unpacks what's hype and what's real — and what campus leaders should be doing now to avoid getting left behind. - - - -Connect With Our Co-Host:Dr. JC Bonillahttps://www.linkedin.com/in/jcbonilla/About The Enrollify Podcast Network:Generation AI is a part of the Enrollify Podcast Network. If you like this podcast, chances are you'll like other Enrollify shows too! Enrollify is made possible by Element451. Learn more at element451.com. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

What does it mean to live a Judaism that fits into our lives? David Bashevkin explores the meeting point of mysticism and modernity. The founder of 18Forty, Rabbi Dr. David Bashevkin is the director of education at NCSY as well as an instructor at Yeshiva University. He is the author of four books, and has been rejected from many prestigious fellowships and awards.Now, he joins us to answer eighteen questions with Rabbi Dr. Benji Levy on Jewish mysticism including how to embrace holiness, the purpose of prayer, and the search for meaning in an age of distraction. Here are our questions: What is Jewish mysticism?How were you introduced to Jewish mysticism?In an ideal world, would all Jews be mystics?What do you think of when you think of God?What is the purpose of the Jewish people?How does prayer work?What is the goal of Torah study?Does Jewish mysticism view men and women the same?Should Judaism be hard or easy?Why did God create the world? Can humans do something that is against God's will?What do you think of when you think about Moshiach?Is the State of Israel part of the final redemption?What is the greatest challenge facing the world today?How has modernity changed Jewish mysticism?What differentiates Jewish mysticism from the mysticism of other religions? Does one need to be religious to study Jewish mysticism?Can mysticism be dangerous?How has Jewish mysticism affected your relationships with yourself and with others?What is a Jewish teaching that you always take with you?

Whether through the lens of Tanach or Maimonides, Rabbi Kook or the Zohar, Rabbanit Shani Taragin believes that the layers of the Torah form a unified language of divine intimacy. Shani directs and teaches in Israel and worldwide. She currently serves on the advisory committee for the Mizrachi Olami Shalhevet program, as Rosh Beit Midrash for the women in Yeshiva University's new academic program in Israel, and together with her husband, Reuven, as Educational Director for Mizrachi Olami.Today, she joins us to answer eighteen questions on Jewish mysticism with Rabbi Dr. Benji Levy including teshuva and free will, the significance of the State of Israel, and prayer as both worship and catharsis.Here are our questions: What is Jewish mysticism?How were you introduced to Jewish mysticism?In an ideal world, would all Jews be mystics?What do you think of when you think of God?What is the purpose of the Jewish people?How does prayer work?What is the goal of Torah study?Does Jewish mysticism view men and women the same?Should Judaism be hard or easy?Why did God create the world? Can humans do something that is against God's will?What do you think of when you think about Moshiach?Is the State of Israel part of the final redemption?What is the greatest challenge facing the world today?How has modernity changed Jewish mysticism?What differentiates Jewish mysticism from the mysticism of other religions? Does one need to be religious to study Jewish mysticism?Can mysticism be dangerous?How has Jewish mysticism affected your relationships with yourself and with others?What is a Jewish teaching that you always take with you?

Rabbi Mark Wildes is the founder and director of the Manhattan Jewish Experience, a social, educational, and spiritual events organization for young adults that draws more than twenty thousand attendees each year to Shabbat dinners, classes, and special events and trips. He earned a law degree from the Cardozo School of Law and a master's degree in international affairs from Columbia University before being ordained from Yeshiva University. He actively blogs for the Times of Israel and Huffington Post, runs a YouTube channel, and has made appearances on HuffPost Live and Fox News. He lives in New York City.He is the author of 3 books: Beyond the Instant: Jewish Wisdom for Lasting Happiness in a Fast-Paced, Social Media World, The 40 Day Challenge: Daily Jewish Insights to Prepare for the High Holidays, and The Jewish Experience: Discovering the Soul of Jewish Thought and Practice---Please rate and review the Empowered Jewish Living podcast on whatever platform you stream it. Please follow Rabbi Shlomo Buxbaum and the Lev Experience on the following channels:Facebook: @ShlomobuxbaumInstagram: @shlomobuxbaumYouTube: @levexperienceOrder Rabbi Shlomo' books: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠The Four Elements of an Empowered Life: A Guidebook to Discovering Your Inner World and Unique Purpose⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠---⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠The Four Elements of Inner Freedom: The Exodus Story as a Model for Overcoming Challenges and Achieving Personal Breakthroughs⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ You can order a copy on⁠ Amazon⁠ or in your local Jewish bookstore.

J.J. and Dr. David Moster take a trip deep down into the tradition of our tradition in search of the true text of the Bible. If you or your business are interested in sponsoring an episode or mini-series, please reach out at  podcasts@torahinmotion.org Follow us on Bluesky @jewishideaspod.bsky.social for updates and insights!Please rate and review the the show in the podcast app of your choice.We welcome all complaints and compliments at podcasts@torahinmotion.org  For more information visit torahinmotion.org/podcastsDr. David Z. Moster is the Director of the Biblical Hebrew Program at JTS.  He is the Director of the Institute of Biblical Culture (BiblicalCulture.org) and the author of Etrog: How a Chinese Fruit Became a Jewish Symbol (Palgrave Pivot, 2018). He received his Ph.D. in Biblical Studies from Bar-Ilan University, writing on the biblical tribe of Manasseh. He also holds an M.A. in Ancient Israel and Near Eastern History from New York University and a number of degrees (B.A., M.A., M.S., Semikhah) in Hebrew Bible, Jewish Philosophy, Jewish Education, and Rabbinics from Yeshiva University.

Chaplains in healthcare settings are often called upon to work in clinical ethics. In this episode of the Neshamacast, Chaplain Karen Lieberman, Rabbi Jason Weiner and Rabbi Neal Loevinger discuss the intersection between the fields of chaplaincy and clinical ethics and challenges and opportunities that arise as a result.About the guests on this episodeChaplain Karen Lieberman, JD, MSJS, MA, BCC, serves as the Jewish Chaplain for the Midwest Region of Advocate Health. She is board-certified by NAJC and has worked in adult and pediatric hospital settings for over 15 years. Previously, Karen practiced law in both the public and private sectors and served as an adjunct law school faculty member at Marquette University. In addition to her law and Jewish studies degrees, Karen holds a master's degree in bioethics and health policy. She has served on multiple hospital ethics committees and is the immediate past co-chair of the ethics committee at Aurora Medical Center—Grafton. She has a special interest in the intersection of law, medicine, ethics and spirituality.Chaplain Lieberman is co-author of:  “The Expanding Role of United States Healthcare Chaplains in Clinical Ethics,” from the Journal of Religion and Health, M. Jeanne Wirpsa, Nina Redl, Karen Lieberman & Krys Springer. She also contributed a chapter to Karen Pugliese & Jeanne Wirpsa, Eds., Chaplains As Partners in Medical Decision-Making, Jessica Kingsley Publishers, 2020. In addition, Chaplain Lieberman has published or been featured in a number of other articles in Plainviews, The APC Forum, The Journal of Legal Medicine, The Journal of Pastoral Care and Counseling, The Stanford Law Review, and The Wisconsin Jewish Chronicle.Rabbi Dr. Jason Weiner, BCC, is the senior rabbi and executive director of the Spiritual Care Department at Cedars-Sinai in Los Angeles, where he oversees the chaplaincy team and all spiritual care services across the health system. He also serves as rabbi of Knesset Israel Synagogue of Beverlywood and as a senior consultant to Ematai.Formerly the assistant rabbi at Young Israel of Century City, Rabbi Weiner holds two rabbinic ordinations, a doctorate in clinical bioethics, a master's in bioethics and health policy from Loyola University (Chicago), and a master's in Jewish history from Yeshiva University. He completed four units of clinical pastoral education and is a board-certified chaplain.He serves on the executive committee of the Cedars-Sinai Bioethics Committee and is a past president of the Southern California Board of Rabbis. He has received chaplaincy and rabbinic leadership awards from the Rabbinical Council of America, Orthodox Union, Chabad On-Call, Chai Lifeline, and Neshama: Association of Jewish Chaplains, where he chairs their ethics committee. In 2023, he donated a kidney to a stranger.Rabbi Weiner frequently lectures nationwide as a scholar-in-residence on Jewish medical ethics, pastoral care, and wellness, and teaches hands-on Jewish medical ethics to high school students throughout Los Angeles.In addition to dozens of articles and book chapters, he is the author of Guide to Observance of Jewish Law in a Hospital (Kodesh Press), Jewish Guide to Practical Medical Decision-Making (Urim Press), cited in a Supreme Court brief, and Care and Covenant: A Jewish Bioethic of Responsibility (Georgetown University Press), a finalist for the Rabbi Jonathan Sacks Book Prize. Rabbi Dr. Neal Loevinger, BCC, is the director of Spiritual Care and the Ethics Coordinator at Vassar Brothers Medical Center, in Poughkeepsie, New York, now part of Northwell Health. He has held rabbinic positions in Toronto, Massachusetts and New  York, and has studied at both the Ziegler School of Rabbinic Studies and the Reconstructionist Rabbinical College. Neal also holds a Master of Environmental Studies from York University in Toronto, a Doctor of Ministry degree from Hartford Seminary, now called Hartford International University, and a Certificate in Clinical Ethics from Albert Einstein College of Medicine, where he is slowly working on a Master's Degree in clinical ethics. He currently also serves as the rabbi of Congregation Temple Beth-El, in Kauneonga Lake, NY, the heart of the Borscht Belt, and is the kosher supervisor for the Vassar College kosher kitchen.   About our host:Rabbi Edward Bernstein, BCC, is the executive producer and host of NeshamaCast. He serves as Chaplain at Boca Raton Regional Hospital of Baptist Health South Florida. He is a member of the Board of Neshama: Association of Jewish Chaplains. Prior to his chaplain career, he served as a pulpit rabbi in congregations in New Rochelle, NY; Beachwood, OH; and Boynton Beach, FL. He is also the host and producer of My Teacher Podcast: A Celebration of the People Who Shape Our Lives. NeshamaCast contributor Chaplain David Balto is a volunteer chaplain at Washington Hospital Center in Washington, D.C. and Western Correctional Insitution, Maryland's maximum security prison. He coordinated the annual National Jewish Healing Conference. Support NeshamaCast and NAJC with a tax deductible donation to NAJC. For sponsorship opportunities as either an individual or institution, please write to Rabbi Ed Bernstein at NeshamaCast@gmail.com Thank you to Steve Lubetkin and Lubetkin Media Companies for producing this episode. Transcripts for this episode and other episodes of NeshamaCast are available at NeshamaCast.simplecast.com and are typically posted one week after an episode first airs. Theme Music is “A Niggun For Ki Anu Amecha,” written and performed by Reb-Cantor Lisa Levine. Please help others find the show by rating and reviewing the show on Apple Podcasts or other podcast providers. We welcome comments and suggestions for future programming at NeshamaCast@gmail.com. And be sure to follow NAJC on Facebook to learn more about Jewish spiritual care happening in our communities.

In this episode Drora Arussy speaks with historian Adam S. Ferziger about his latest book, Agents of Change: American Jews and the Transformation of Israeli Judaism (New York University Press, 2025). Ferziger, a professor at Bar-Ilan University and one of the leading voices in the study of modern religious movements, offers a compelling exploration of the transnational interactions that have reshaped Israeli Judaism and redefined the contours of religious Zionism. Agents of Change investigates how ideas, teachers, and institutions moved across the Atlantic between America and Israel, creating new hybrid forms of Jewish religious expression. Ferziger focuses on a group of North American Orthodox rabbis and educators, many of them students of Rabbi Dr. Joseph B. Soloveitchik at Yeshiva University, who immigrated to Israel between 1965 and 1983. These figures—working at the nexus of American Modern Orthodoxy and Israeli religious Zionism—introduced new educational paradigms, reimagined communal norms, and ultimately diversified the ideological landscape of Israeli Orthodoxy. The conversation delves into the shifting meaning of religious Zionism after the 1967 Six-Day War, when a movement once on the margins of Zionist politics emerged as a vital force within Israeli society. Ferziger traces how theological optimism about Israel's redemptive role led to internal debates over nationalism, messianism, and engagement with secular Israeli culture. He also shows how American-trained educators brought new emphases on intellectual openness, structured learning, and ethical responsibility that subtly reconfigured Israeli Torah study and communal life. Interwoven through the dialogue is a broader reflection on transnational educational exchange—how Jewish learning operates as both a local and global phenomenon. Ferziger emphasizes education's transformative potential: students, he argues, do not merely replicate ideas but reinterpret them within new social and cultural frames. This dynamic has fueled the growth of innovative models in contemporary Israel, from advanced programs for women's Torah study to initiatives blending religious learning with military and civic service. Arussy and Ferziger also discuss adjacent developments, including the integration of American Haredim into Israeli society, the emergence of Orthodox feminism as a transnational phenomenon, and the rise of global study networks such as Hadran, founded by Michelle Farber. Through these case studies, Ferziger illustrates how the intellectual and spiritual currents flowing between America and Israel continue to reshape what it means to live a religious Jewish life in a modern state. Throughout the interview, Ferziger reflects on the delicate balance between personal engagement and scholarly distance, underscoring the historian's task of acknowledging one's perspective while maintaining methodological transparency. His approach embodies the spirit of Agents of Change: to view Jewish history not as a story confined within national borders but as a transnational dialogue that continually evolves through exchange, adaptation, and reinterpretation. Agents of Change: American Jews and the Transformation of Israeli Judaism offers an incisive analysis of how transnational networks have redefined modern Jewish identities.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/american-studies

On this episode of CounterPunch Radio, Erik Wallenberg and Joshua Frank welcome Ellen Schrecker to discuss the legacy of McCarthyism and the current right-wing attack on academic freedom in the U.S., and why the situation is even worse today than it was in the 1950s. Ellen Schrecker is an American historian and author who has written extensively about McCarthyism and American higher education. She is the author of many books, including The Lost Promise: American Universities in the 1960s, published by the University of Chicago Press, which provides the first comprehensive analysis of American higher education's most turbulent decade. She holds a Ph.D. from Harvard, taught there and at NYU and Princeton, and later joined Yeshiva University, from which she retired as a full professor. Head over and grab some books from the best shop, Pilsen Community Books. The post Resisting Attacks on Academic Freedom / Ellen Schrecker appeared first on CounterPunch.org.

Ecclesiastes has long been viewed as the great existential work of the Hebrew Bible, containing the famous cry "Vanity of vanities, all is vanity." As part of a search for enduring meaning, it questions the nature of work, mortality, happiness, justice, goodness, and life itself. Abounding with careful observations, disappointments, and insights, Ecclesiastes is one of the richest and most complex books in all of Tanakh.  Join us as we speak with Erica Brown, whose commentary offers a fresh and hopeful look at this ancient book, as she synthesizes rabbinic commentary with modern scholarship, fine art, and poetry.  Dr. Erica Brown is the Vice Provost for Values and Leadership at Yeshiva University and the founding director of its Rabbi Lord Jonathan Sacks–Herenstein Center for Values and Leadership. Michael Morales is Professor of Biblical Studies at Greenville Presbyterian Theological Seminary, and the author of The Tabernacle Pre-Figured: Cosmic Mountain Ideology in Genesis and Exodus(Peeters, 2012), Who Shall Ascend the Mountain of the Lord?: A Biblical Theology of Leviticus(IVP Academic, 2015), and Exodus Old and New: A Biblical Theology of Redemption (IVP Academic, 2020). He can be reached at mmorales@gpts.edu. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/new-books-network

In this episode of Conversations with Alan, I'm joined by Ely Winkler, Director of Advancement for Eshel, for an honest and deeply personal conversation about faith, identity, and belonging.Ely shares his journey growing up Orthodox as the son of a rabbi, navigating the fear and uncertainty of coming out, and searching for a place where he could live authentically without abandoning his faith. He reflects on pivotal moments—from working behind the scenes on a groundbreaking panel at Yeshiva University to feeling disconnected from synagogue life, and ultimately finding his way back home.We talk about the profound impact of discovering Eshel, what it meant for Ely personally, and how his work there now helps LGBTQ+ individuals, families, rabbis, and communities build more inclusive Orthodox spaces. Ely also speaks movingly about lessons learned from his rabbi father, the power of compassion, and how change often happens quietly—one conversation at a time.This episode offers thoughtful insight, practical wisdom, and hope for anyone interested in questions of identity, tradition, and what it truly means to belong.

Ecclesiastes has long been viewed as the great existential work of the Hebrew Bible, containing the famous cry "Vanity of vanities, all is vanity." As part of a search for enduring meaning, it questions the nature of work, mortality, happiness, justice, goodness, and life itself. Abounding with careful observations, disappointments, and insights, Ecclesiastes is one of the richest and most complex books in all of Tanakh.  Join us as we speak with Erica Brown, whose commentary offers a fresh and hopeful look at this ancient book, as she synthesizes rabbinic commentary with modern scholarship, fine art, and poetry.  Dr. Erica Brown is the Vice Provost for Values and Leadership at Yeshiva University and the founding director of its Rabbi Lord Jonathan Sacks–Herenstein Center for Values and Leadership. Michael Morales is Professor of Biblical Studies at Greenville Presbyterian Theological Seminary, and the author of The Tabernacle Pre-Figured: Cosmic Mountain Ideology in Genesis and Exodus(Peeters, 2012), Who Shall Ascend the Mountain of the Lord?: A Biblical Theology of Leviticus(IVP Academic, 2015), and Exodus Old and New: A Biblical Theology of Redemption (IVP Academic, 2020). He can be reached at mmorales@gpts.edu. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/religion

Ecclesiastes has long been viewed as the great existential work of the Hebrew Bible, containing the famous cry "Vanity of vanities, all is vanity." As part of a search for enduring meaning, it questions the nature of work, mortality, happiness, justice, goodness, and life itself. Abounding with careful observations, disappointments, and insights, Ecclesiastes is one of the richest and most complex books in all of Tanakh.  Join us as we speak with Erica Brown, whose commentary offers a fresh and hopeful look at this ancient book, as she synthesizes rabbinic commentary with modern scholarship, fine art, and poetry.  Dr. Erica Brown is the Vice Provost for Values and Leadership at Yeshiva University and the founding director of its Rabbi Lord Jonathan Sacks–Herenstein Center for Values and Leadership. Michael Morales is Professor of Biblical Studies at Greenville Presbyterian Theological Seminary, and the author of The Tabernacle Pre-Figured: Cosmic Mountain Ideology in Genesis and Exodus(Peeters, 2012), Who Shall Ascend the Mountain of the Lord?: A Biblical Theology of Leviticus(IVP Academic, 2015), and Exodus Old and New: A Biblical Theology of Redemption (IVP Academic, 2020). He can be reached at mmorales@gpts.edu. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/biblical-studies

What does real success look like when you're trying to stay grounded as a Ben Torah?In this episode of Shtark Tank, I sat down with Laizer Kornwasser — CEO of DrFirst, professor at Yeshiva University, and Chairman of NCSY — for a wide-ranging conversation about ambition, pressure, leadership, and the Torah ideas that shape how we show up at work and in life.Laizer shares stories from investment banking and the C-suite, including how he learned to earn his “seat at the table” through facts, results, and humility. We talk about drawing clear lines when work clashes with Shabbos, why most people aren't cut out for investment banking, and how to define success in a way that protects your priorities.Then we shift into a deep dive on the Altar of Slabodka: Gadlus HaAdam, EQ vs IQ, gratitude, and the power of seeing each person as an individual with real potential.And yes — we get into the now-famous practice: why Laizer handwrites 1,000 New Year's cards and sends personal thank-you messages one-by-one, and what it teaches about hakaras hatov, relationships, and leadership.In this episode, we cover:Why investment banking is “not cut out for most people”What “success” really means when you're trying to grow in YiddishkeitThe importance of knowing your line in the sand (and not crossing it)A real story: a CEO tried to push Shabbos boundaries — and Laizer's response“Facts, not emotion”: how to communicate with different personalitiesThe Altar of Slabodka's approach to building people, not just teaching TorahEQ as a Jewish leadership skill, not just a business buzzwordWhy Laizer sends personal thank-yous instead of mass messagesChesed that actually changes you (not just “check-writing”)If you got value from this episode, please take 10 seconds to subscribe and leave a 5-star rating — it helps more people find the show.

In this episode Drora Arussy speaks with historian Adam S. Ferziger about his latest book, Agents of Change: American Jews and the Transformation of Israeli Judaism (New York University Press, 2025). Ferziger, a professor at Bar-Ilan University and one of the leading voices in the study of modern religious movements, offers a compelling exploration of the transnational interactions that have reshaped Israeli Judaism and redefined the contours of religious Zionism. Agents of Change investigates how ideas, teachers, and institutions moved across the Atlantic between America and Israel, creating new hybrid forms of Jewish religious expression. Ferziger focuses on a group of North American Orthodox rabbis and educators, many of them students of Rabbi Dr. Joseph B. Soloveitchik at Yeshiva University, who immigrated to Israel between 1965 and 1983. These figures—working at the nexus of American Modern Orthodoxy and Israeli religious Zionism—introduced new educational paradigms, reimagined communal norms, and ultimately diversified the ideological landscape of Israeli Orthodoxy. The conversation delves into the shifting meaning of religious Zionism after the 1967 Six-Day War, when a movement once on the margins of Zionist politics emerged as a vital force within Israeli society. Ferziger traces how theological optimism about Israel's redemptive role led to internal debates over nationalism, messianism, and engagement with secular Israeli culture. He also shows how American-trained educators brought new emphases on intellectual openness, structured learning, and ethical responsibility that subtly reconfigured Israeli Torah study and communal life. Interwoven through the dialogue is a broader reflection on transnational educational exchange—how Jewish learning operates as both a local and global phenomenon. Ferziger emphasizes education's transformative potential: students, he argues, do not merely replicate ideas but reinterpret them within new social and cultural frames. This dynamic has fueled the growth of innovative models in contemporary Israel, from advanced programs for women's Torah study to initiatives blending religious learning with military and civic service. Arussy and Ferziger also discuss adjacent developments, including the integration of American Haredim into Israeli society, the emergence of Orthodox feminism as a transnational phenomenon, and the rise of global study networks such as Hadran, founded by Michelle Farber. Through these case studies, Ferziger illustrates how the intellectual and spiritual currents flowing between America and Israel continue to reshape what it means to live a religious Jewish life in a modern state. Throughout the interview, Ferziger reflects on the delicate balance between personal engagement and scholarly distance, underscoring the historian's task of acknowledging one's perspective while maintaining methodological transparency. His approach embodies the spirit of Agents of Change: to view Jewish history not as a story confined within national borders but as a transnational dialogue that continually evolves through exchange, adaptation, and reinterpretation. Agents of Change: American Jews and the Transformation of Israeli Judaism offers an incisive analysis of how transnational networks have redefined modern Jewish identities.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/new-books-network

In this episode Drora Arussy speaks with historian Adam S. Ferziger about his latest book, Agents of Change: American Jews and the Transformation of Israeli Judaism (New York University Press, 2025). Ferziger, a professor at Bar-Ilan University and one of the leading voices in the study of modern religious movements, offers a compelling exploration of the transnational interactions that have reshaped Israeli Judaism and redefined the contours of religious Zionism. Agents of Change investigates how ideas, teachers, and institutions moved across the Atlantic between America and Israel, creating new hybrid forms of Jewish religious expression. Ferziger focuses on a group of North American Orthodox rabbis and educators, many of them students of Rabbi Dr. Joseph B. Soloveitchik at Yeshiva University, who immigrated to Israel between 1965 and 1983. These figures—working at the nexus of American Modern Orthodoxy and Israeli religious Zionism—introduced new educational paradigms, reimagined communal norms, and ultimately diversified the ideological landscape of Israeli Orthodoxy. The conversation delves into the shifting meaning of religious Zionism after the 1967 Six-Day War, when a movement once on the margins of Zionist politics emerged as a vital force within Israeli society. Ferziger traces how theological optimism about Israel's redemptive role led to internal debates over nationalism, messianism, and engagement with secular Israeli culture. He also shows how American-trained educators brought new emphases on intellectual openness, structured learning, and ethical responsibility that subtly reconfigured Israeli Torah study and communal life. Interwoven through the dialogue is a broader reflection on transnational educational exchange—how Jewish learning operates as both a local and global phenomenon. Ferziger emphasizes education's transformative potential: students, he argues, do not merely replicate ideas but reinterpret them within new social and cultural frames. This dynamic has fueled the growth of innovative models in contemporary Israel, from advanced programs for women's Torah study to initiatives blending religious learning with military and civic service. Arussy and Ferziger also discuss adjacent developments, including the integration of American Haredim into Israeli society, the emergence of Orthodox feminism as a transnational phenomenon, and the rise of global study networks such as Hadran, founded by Michelle Farber. Through these case studies, Ferziger illustrates how the intellectual and spiritual currents flowing between America and Israel continue to reshape what it means to live a religious Jewish life in a modern state. Throughout the interview, Ferziger reflects on the delicate balance between personal engagement and scholarly distance, underscoring the historian's task of acknowledging one's perspective while maintaining methodological transparency. His approach embodies the spirit of Agents of Change: to view Jewish history not as a story confined within national borders but as a transnational dialogue that continually evolves through exchange, adaptation, and reinterpretation. Agents of Change: American Jews and the Transformation of Israeli Judaism offers an incisive analysis of how transnational networks have redefined modern Jewish identities.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/jewish-studies

In this episode Drora Arussy speaks with historian Adam S. Ferziger about his latest book, Agents of Change: American Jews and the Transformation of Israeli Judaism (New York University Press, 2025). Ferziger, a professor at Bar-Ilan University and one of the leading voices in the study of modern religious movements, offers a compelling exploration of the transnational interactions that have reshaped Israeli Judaism and redefined the contours of religious Zionism. Agents of Change investigates how ideas, teachers, and institutions moved across the Atlantic between America and Israel, creating new hybrid forms of Jewish religious expression. Ferziger focuses on a group of North American Orthodox rabbis and educators, many of them students of Rabbi Dr. Joseph B. Soloveitchik at Yeshiva University, who immigrated to Israel between 1965 and 1983. These figures—working at the nexus of American Modern Orthodoxy and Israeli religious Zionism—introduced new educational paradigms, reimagined communal norms, and ultimately diversified the ideological landscape of Israeli Orthodoxy. The conversation delves into the shifting meaning of religious Zionism after the 1967 Six-Day War, when a movement once on the margins of Zionist politics emerged as a vital force within Israeli society. Ferziger traces how theological optimism about Israel's redemptive role led to internal debates over nationalism, messianism, and engagement with secular Israeli culture. He also shows how American-trained educators brought new emphases on intellectual openness, structured learning, and ethical responsibility that subtly reconfigured Israeli Torah study and communal life. Interwoven through the dialogue is a broader reflection on transnational educational exchange—how Jewish learning operates as both a local and global phenomenon. Ferziger emphasizes education's transformative potential: students, he argues, do not merely replicate ideas but reinterpret them within new social and cultural frames. This dynamic has fueled the growth of innovative models in contemporary Israel, from advanced programs for women's Torah study to initiatives blending religious learning with military and civic service. Arussy and Ferziger also discuss adjacent developments, including the integration of American Haredim into Israeli society, the emergence of Orthodox feminism as a transnational phenomenon, and the rise of global study networks such as Hadran, founded by Michelle Farber. Through these case studies, Ferziger illustrates how the intellectual and spiritual currents flowing between America and Israel continue to reshape what it means to live a religious Jewish life in a modern state. Throughout the interview, Ferziger reflects on the delicate balance between personal engagement and scholarly distance, underscoring the historian's task of acknowledging one's perspective while maintaining methodological transparency. His approach embodies the spirit of Agents of Change: to view Jewish history not as a story confined within national borders but as a transnational dialogue that continually evolves through exchange, adaptation, and reinterpretation. Agents of Change: American Jews and the Transformation of Israeli Judaism offers an incisive analysis of how transnational networks have redefined modern Jewish identities.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/israel-studies

In this episode Drora Arussy speaks with historian Adam S. Ferziger about his latest book, Agents of Change: American Jews and the Transformation of Israeli Judaism (New York University Press, 2025). Ferziger, a professor at Bar-Ilan University and one of the leading voices in the study of modern religious movements, offers a compelling exploration of the transnational interactions that have reshaped Israeli Judaism and redefined the contours of religious Zionism. Agents of Change investigates how ideas, teachers, and institutions moved across the Atlantic between America and Israel, creating new hybrid forms of Jewish religious expression. Ferziger focuses on a group of North American Orthodox rabbis and educators, many of them students of Rabbi Dr. Joseph B. Soloveitchik at Yeshiva University, who immigrated to Israel between 1965 and 1983. These figures—working at the nexus of American Modern Orthodoxy and Israeli religious Zionism—introduced new educational paradigms, reimagined communal norms, and ultimately diversified the ideological landscape of Israeli Orthodoxy. The conversation delves into the shifting meaning of religious Zionism after the 1967 Six-Day War, when a movement once on the margins of Zionist politics emerged as a vital force within Israeli society. Ferziger traces how theological optimism about Israel's redemptive role led to internal debates over nationalism, messianism, and engagement with secular Israeli culture. He also shows how American-trained educators brought new emphases on intellectual openness, structured learning, and ethical responsibility that subtly reconfigured Israeli Torah study and communal life. Interwoven through the dialogue is a broader reflection on transnational educational exchange—how Jewish learning operates as both a local and global phenomenon. Ferziger emphasizes education's transformative potential: students, he argues, do not merely replicate ideas but reinterpret them within new social and cultural frames. This dynamic has fueled the growth of innovative models in contemporary Israel, from advanced programs for women's Torah study to initiatives blending religious learning with military and civic service. Arussy and Ferziger also discuss adjacent developments, including the integration of American Haredim into Israeli society, the emergence of Orthodox feminism as a transnational phenomenon, and the rise of global study networks such as Hadran, founded by Michelle Farber. Through these case studies, Ferziger illustrates how the intellectual and spiritual currents flowing between America and Israel continue to reshape what it means to live a religious Jewish life in a modern state. Throughout the interview, Ferziger reflects on the delicate balance between personal engagement and scholarly distance, underscoring the historian's task of acknowledging one's perspective while maintaining methodological transparency. His approach embodies the spirit of Agents of Change: to view Jewish history not as a story confined within national borders but as a transnational dialogue that continually evolves through exchange, adaptation, and reinterpretation. Agents of Change: American Jews and the Transformation of Israeli Judaism offers an incisive analysis of how transnational networks have redefined modern Jewish identities.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/religion

Dr Glenn Livingston, Ph.D. was the long time CEO of a multi-million dollar consulting firm which has serviced several Fortune 500 clients in the food industry. Disillusioned by what traditional psychology had to offer overweight and/or food obsessed individuals, Dr. Livingston spent several decades researching the nature of bingeing and overeating via work with his own clients AND a self-funded research program with more than 40,000 participants. He earned his Ph.D. is in psychology from Yeshiva University in 1991. To learn more about Dr Livingston and to get a free copy of his latest e-book and other free giveaways, see defeatyourcravings.com In this podcast we address: - Overcoming Food Cravings Effectively - Understanding Brain's Role in Eating - Causes and Strategies for Overeating - Decision Fatigue and Well-being Strategies - Healthy Eating and Habit Transformation - Success Strategies and Resilience - Craving Extinction Strategies Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.

In order to study Kabbalah, argues Rav Moshe Weinberger, one must approach it with humility, holding their hands out in the form of a cup, as though they are ready to receive. Rav Moshe Weinberger has served as mashpia at Yeshiva University since 2013, and is the founding rabbi of Congregation Aish Kodesh in Woodmere, NY.Today, he joins us to answer 18 questions on Jewish mysticism, including the smallness of man, prayer as dialogue, and his transformative introduction to the world of Kabbalah. Here are our questions: What is Jewish mysticism?How were you introduced to Jewish mysticism?In an ideal world, would all Jews be mystics?What do you think of when you think of God?What is the purpose of the Jewish people?How does prayer work?What is the goal of Torah study?Does Jewish mysticism view men and women the same?Should Judaism be hard or easy?Why did God create the world? Can humans do something that is against God's will?What do you think of when you think about Moshiach?Is the State of Israel part of the final redemption?What is the greatest challenge facing the world today?How has modernity changed Jewish mysticism?What differentiates Jewish mysticism from the mysticism of other religions? Does one need to be religious to study Jewish mysticism?Can mysticism be dangerous?How has Jewish mysticism affected your relationships with yourself and with others?What is a Jewish teaching that you always take with you?

Irving I. Stone Beis Medrash Program at Yeshiva University

In this episode, Tamar and Giddy share their story - how they met, fell in love, and built a marriage shaped by multiple losses, 11 rounds of IVF, and the constant waiting that comes with not knowing what's next. They talk openly about how infertility impacts a marriage, how they learned to support each other while grieving differently, and the role therapy, creativity, faith, and community played in helping them survive the most challenging moments. Tamar also shares how their Instagram page, Tales of Tamar, became a creative outlet and source of connection during COVID — and how telling their story changed their relationship. The episode also touches on the added complexities of navigating fertility challenges in Israel, the assumptions people make about adoption and surrogacy, and what it feels like to be "hostage to infertility." Woven throughout is a conversation about emuna, doubt, and finding meaning without tidy answers. Want to be inspired by a couple who doesn't have all the answers? This episode shows how they navigate hope, loss, and the unknown while staying connected and resilient. Resources: Mercaz Panim (Rachi Hain) Bonei Olam Tahreinu Leeman Hayeled (Adoption in Israel) Bar Toov (Male Infertility) More about Tamar Ben Tzvi: Tamar Ben Tzvi is the founder of Tales Of, a social media company helping mission-driven businesses and organizations, and @talesoftamar, her Instagram page, which she started 5.5 years ago to break the ice around infertility in the Orthodox Jewish community and create a safe space for open conversation about taboo topics. Tamar and her husband, Giddy Ben Tzvi, live in Ramat Beit Shemesh, Israel, and have been happily married for over 9 years. Together, they are navigating a long and challenging fertility journey of 7.5 years. Through Tales of Tamar, Tamar runs two initiatives: a Tefillah initiative that pairs people up to daven for others going through a similar struggle, and a challah-baking initiative in which people bake as a Tefillah for those struggling with infertility. Connect with Tamar: -Check out Tamar's Instagram - View her website and connect with her via email at Tamar@tales-of.com More about Giddy Ben Tzvi: Giddy Ben Tzvi, originally from Rockville Maryland, he is a proud alum of the Melvin J.Berman Hebrew Academy (Here We go Cougars Here we go!), Yeshivat Torat Shraga, and holds a B.A. in Psychology from Yeshiva University. He works as a recruiter for UrbanRecruits, where he works to help jobseekers find gainful employment in the Israeli job market. He lives in Ramat Bet Shemesh with his incredible wife Tamar, he enjoys learning Torah, especially works of Machshava (Jewish Thought), playing a good game of basketball, going for a good run, chillin with friends, and watching some quality TV with Tamar. Connect with Giddy: - Check out his Instagram and Facebook   Connect with us: -Check out our Website -Follow us on Instagram and send us a message -Watch our TikToks -Follow us on Facebook -Watch us on YouTube -Connect with us on LinkedIn

Send us a textThe mass shooting of Jews at Babi Yar in Kiev in September 1941 was the largest open-air shooting of Jews during the Holocaust.  In some ways, it came to stand for the Einsatzgruppen killings taking place across the occupied Soviet Union.  But as it was not a camp, it left no real physical traces behind.  And this was in many ways to the liking of the Soviet government.In this episode, I talked with Shay Pilnik about the place of Babi Yar in Soviet postwar Holocaust memory.  How did the state allow/repress commemoration of the massacre?  And, in particular, how did Soviet writers, both Jewish and non-Jewish treat the Babi Yar massacre?  It's a really enlightening conversation about the Holocaust, memory, and the ways in which the authoritarian state controls commemoration.Shay Pilnik is Director of the Emil A. and Jenny Fish Center for Holocaust and Genocide Studies at Yeshiva University.Follow on Twitter @holocaustpod.Email the podcast at holocausthistorypod@gmail.comThe Holocaust History Podcast homepage is hereYou can find a complete reading list with books by our guests and also their suggestions here.

President of Israel Isaac Herzog calls into the show from NYC after receiving an honorary doctorate from Yeshiva University. Herzog congratulates Sid on being appointed to the Holocaust Memorial Museum Council, emphasizing the importance of educating the world about antisemitism and the Holocaust. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

TRADITION is pleased to share this recording of a talk by Dr. Erica Brown delivered through Yeshiva University's Sacks-Herenstein Center for Values and Leadership, commemorating the recent 5th yahrzeit of Rabbi Jonathan Sacks. Brown speaks about her contribution to TRADITION's special issue on the Intellectual Legacy of Rabbi Sacks, titled “Staying Alive: The Dangers of Leadership” (open access at TraditionOnline.org). The essay examines the theme of leadership in a variety of R. Sacks' works, exploring both his methodology and how to situate his thinking within the broader academic discipline of leadership. R. Sacks focused on how to inspire and motivate lay and professional leaders within the Jewish community. To that end, he distilled his wisdom into seven principles of leadership, which reflected the leadership dilemmas and crises he faced and during his own tenure as Chief Rabbi. Dr. Erica Brown, consulting editor at TRADITION, serves as a Vice Provost at Yeshiva University and is the founding director of its Rabbi Lord Jonathan Sacks-Herenstein Center for Values and Leadership. Watch a video recording of this session. Learn more about the special issue dedicated to Rabbi Sacks' Intellectual Legacy, and order your copy (print or for Kindle).The post Rabbi Sacks on the Joys and Dangers of Leadership first appeared on Tradition Online.

Today I have the immense honor and privilege to speak with Ellen Schrecker, who has been referred to as “the dean of the anti-anti-Communist historians.”  Well known for her classic studies of McCarthyism, today Schrecker explains how much worse Trump's regime is than what we saw in the 1950s and 60s.  A fierce defender of democracy, Ellen explains the central role education plays in creating a public culture and in maintaining democracy.  Our conversation takes many paths, including an indictment of Capitalism, of the dominance of economistic thinking and values, of the ways university leaders are bending a knee to Trump.  We talk about the value of the humanities, the importance of autonomous forms of education and mutual support such as we saw in the pro-Palestinian encampments, and one of the most remarkable differences between the days of McCarthyism—the phenomenon of mass protests like #NoKingsDay. I know you will treasure this conversation as much as I do.Ellen Schrecker is an American historian known for her research on McCarthyism, political repression, and American higher education. Among her books are The Right to Learn: Resisting the Right-Wing War on Academic Freedom (2024) edited with Valerie C. Johnson and Jennifer Ruth, (2024) winner 2025 Frederick Ness Book Award. American Association of Colleges and Universities; The Lost Promise: American Universities in the 1960s (2021); Many Are the Crimes: McCarthyism in America (1998); and No Ivory Tower: McCarthyism and the Universities (1986). A retired history professor from Yeshiva University, she is active in the American Association of University Professors and now serves on its Committee A on Academic Freedom and Tenure. 

Rabbi Jonathan Sacks believed that, out of the science of positive psychology, and in conversation with cognitive behavioral therapy, a new Musar movement could be established. In this episode of the Tradition Podcast, Tamra Wright and Mordechai Schiffman begin to unpack what this might mean in light of their co-authored essay “Radical Resilience: Hope, Agency and Community,” from TRADITION's recent special issue on the intellectual legacy of Rabbi Jonathan Sacks. They are joined for the conversation by that volume's co-editor, Samuel Lebens. Together, our three guests explore the relationship between hope, agency, and community; they consider whether Rabbi Sacks was unduly harsh on optimists; and discuss why he placed more faith upon philosophically inspired psychology than upon the main contemporary schools of academic philosophy. What does it mean for Torah to be in conversation with a science like psychology? What does it mean for students of a rabbi to turn their critical gaze towards their late teacher, who now becomes an object of their ongoing research? Watch a video recording of this conversation. See details of the special double-issue of TRADITION and order your copy. Rabbi Dr. Mordechai Schiffman is an assistant professor at Yeshiva University's Azrieli Graduate School and the associate rabbi at Kingsway Jewish Center. Dr. Tamra Wright is a Senior Research Fellow at the London School of Jewish Studies. Rabbi Dr. Samuel Lebens is an associate professor of philosophy at the University of Haifa. The post Radical Resilience: Hope, Agency and Community first appeared on Tradition Online.

Sarah Ottensoser is a certified and licensed speech-language pathologist with over two decades of experience working in school settings. For the past 16 years, she has specialized in executive function coaching, supporting students in building the skills they need to thrive academically and personally. In addition to her direct work with students, Sarah partners closely with families to address executive function challenges at home and leads workshops for both parents and educators. Alongside her school-based work, Sarah also maintains a private practice where she works with children, teens, and adults. She lives in Baltimore with her family and enjoys reading, swimming, and spending time with her grandchildren.  Peninah Taragin Gershman worked as a geriatric speech-language pathologist for 10 years. After that she worked at the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid services as a health policy analyst. She is now pursuing a Master of Arts degree in Holocaust and Genocide studies at Yeshiva University. She is very involved in Eshel, an organization that supports Orthodox LGBTQ people and their families. She serves on the board of the organization and is a parent volunteer and mentor. She has three young adult children and lives in Silver Spring, MD with her husband Greg. CONNECT WITH DVORA ENTIN: Website: https://www.dvoraentin.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dvoraentin YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@misconceptionspodcast  

As part of the Tradition Today Summit, held on November 9, 2025, convened by Yeshiva University's Azrieli Graduate School of Jewish Studies and TRADITION's publisher the Rabbinical Council of America, we hosted a community wide public Keynote Address by Rabbi Dr. Jacob J. Schacter on “Historical Realities and Educational Methodologies: Then and Now.” This was the capstone to a daylong closed conference exploring “Educating Our Children to Be Ovdei Hashem in a Modern World: Challenges and Opportunities.” Evening Keynote Address Program Greetings: R. Jeffrey Saks, Editor, TRADITION R. Chaim Strauchler, Rinat Yisrael & TRADITION R. Menachem Penner, Executive Vice-President, RCA Lecture: R. Dr. Jacob J. Schacter, Yeshiva University Respondents: R. Dr. Michael Berger, Dean, Azrieli Graduate School Ms. Miriam Krupka Berger, Associate Principal, Ramaz Upper School Rabbi Dr. Jeffrey Kobrin, Rosh Yeshiva & Head of School, North Shore Hebrew Academy View the lecture's accompanying source packet. The Tradition Today Summit was hosted at Congregation Rinat Yisrael, in Teaneck, NJ, and supported by Henry and Golda Reena Rothman The post Historical Realities and Educational Methodologies first appeared on Tradition Online.

On Sunday, November 9th, 75 Jewish educators, rabbis, lay-leaders, and thought leaders gathered for the second Tradition Today Summit, convened together with Yeshiva University's Azrieli Graduate School of Jewish Education and TRADITION's publisher, the Rabbinical Council of America, on “Educating Our Children to Be Ovdei Hashem in a Modern World: Challenges and Opportunities.” Together we considered what we can do as a community to educate the next generation of committed Ovdei Hashem? How can students be guided to engage deeply with Jewish life and learning while navigating the challenges of a rapidly changing world? Questions such as these define the landscape of contemporary Jewish education. This second Tradition Today Summit explored how we confront these issues in different contexts: from the New York area to so-called “out-of-town” communities; from American gap-year programs in Israel to local schools and synagogues. Classical Jewish sources, Hasidic thought, and ideas from general educational teachings provide valuable perspectives for addressing these concerns. Central issues to be considered include the role of technology in the classroom and students' lives more broadly, strategies for supporting different types of students, and models for fostering genuine spirituality. The discussion will highlight the range of approaches within Modern Orthodoxy and the broader challenges facing Jewish education today. View the program schedule. The conference proceedings will appear in an upcoming special issue of TRADITION. Listen to the opening remarks of the assembly with Rabbi Jeffrey Saks (Editor of TRADITION), Rabbi Etan Tokayer (President, RCA), and Rabbi Dr. Ari Berman (President, Yeshiva University).The post Tradition Today Summit first appeared on Tradition Online.

One of the driving forces behind the American Soviet Jewry freedom movement were college students. In 1964, the activist Jacob Birnbaum arrived in New York City, and soon became inspired by the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee to start his own student group dedicated to the plight of Soviet Jews. Birnbaum, who had himself fled persecution as a child when the Nazis rose to power in his native Germany, convened a group of concerned students from Columbia University, Queens College, Yeshiva University, and the Jewish Theological Seminary to help organize a rally in support of the refuseniks. He named the group the Student Struggle for Soviet Jewry, which became instrumental in igniting a nationwide movement. Narrated by Rebecca Naomi Jones and featuring Dr. Amy Fedeski. Image: Union of Councils for Soviet Jews Bumper Stickers, Buttons, Prisoner of Conscience Medals, P-906. The Wreckage is made possible by funding from the Ford Foundation. Additional funding is provided through the American Jewish Education Program, generously supported by Sid and Ruth Lapidus.

In American Judaism today, Orthodoxy is the fastest growing movement. However, Orthodoxy is anything but monolithic. Living in Both Worlds: Modern Orthodox Judaism in the United States, 1945–2025 by Lawrence Grossman explores a piece of the Orthodox story, that of Modern Orthodoxy. For those who may be unfamiliar, Modern Orthodoxy affirms the traditional tenets and practices of Orthodox Judaism while at the same time maintaining an openness to contemporary cultural and intellectual developments. Beginning in the post-World War II era, Living in Both Worlds shows how a fledgling Modern Orthodoxy carved out an identity separate and apart from unacculturated ultra-Orthodoxy to its right and Conservative Judaism to its left, and follows its development through the first quarter of the twenty-first century as new, divisive issues such as feminism, LGBTQ rights, and the spread of academic biblical scholarship challenged its coherence, and a rejuvenated ultra-Orthodoxy contested its religious legitimacy. This is a book that not only records history but challenges us to think deeply about question about how modernity and tradition intersect and explores the delicate dance to have fidelity to both the past and the present moment. Rabbi Lawrence Grossman worked at the American Jewish Committee for close to 40 years, serving as director of publications and editor of the American Jewish Year Book. He earned BA and MHL degrees and rabbinical ordination from Yeshiva University, and a PhD in history from the City University of New York Graduate Center. Rabbi Marc Katz is the Senior Rabbi at Temple Ner Tamid in Bloomfield NJ. He is the author of Yochanan's Gamble: Judaism's Pragmatic Approach to Life (JPS) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/american-studies

In American Judaism today, Orthodoxy is the fastest growing movement. However, Orthodoxy is anything but monolithic. Living in Both Worlds: Modern Orthodox Judaism in the United States, 1945–2025 by Lawrence Grossman explores a piece of the Orthodox story, that of Modern Orthodoxy. For those who may be unfamiliar, Modern Orthodoxy affirms the traditional tenets and practices of Orthodox Judaism while at the same time maintaining an openness to contemporary cultural and intellectual developments. Beginning in the post-World War II era, Living in Both Worlds shows how a fledgling Modern Orthodoxy carved out an identity separate and apart from unacculturated ultra-Orthodoxy to its right and Conservative Judaism to its left, and follows its development through the first quarter of the twenty-first century as new, divisive issues such as feminism, LGBTQ rights, and the spread of academic biblical scholarship challenged its coherence, and a rejuvenated ultra-Orthodoxy contested its religious legitimacy. This is a book that not only records history but challenges us to think deeply about question about how modernity and tradition intersect and explores the delicate dance to have fidelity to both the past and the present moment. Rabbi Lawrence Grossman worked at the American Jewish Committee for close to 40 years, serving as director of publications and editor of the American Jewish Year Book. He earned BA and MHL degrees and rabbinical ordination from Yeshiva University, and a PhD in history from the City University of New York Graduate Center. Rabbi Marc Katz is the Senior Rabbi at Temple Ner Tamid in Bloomfield NJ. He is the author of Yochanan's Gamble: Judaism's Pragmatic Approach to Life (JPS) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/new-books-network

In American Judaism today, Orthodoxy is the fastest growing movement. However, Orthodoxy is anything but monolithic. Living in Both Worlds: Modern Orthodox Judaism in the United States, 1945–2025 by Lawrence Grossman explores a piece of the Orthodox story, that of Modern Orthodoxy. For those who may be unfamiliar, Modern Orthodoxy affirms the traditional tenets and practices of Orthodox Judaism while at the same time maintaining an openness to contemporary cultural and intellectual developments. Beginning in the post-World War II era, Living in Both Worlds shows how a fledgling Modern Orthodoxy carved out an identity separate and apart from unacculturated ultra-Orthodoxy to its right and Conservative Judaism to its left, and follows its development through the first quarter of the twenty-first century as new, divisive issues such as feminism, LGBTQ rights, and the spread of academic biblical scholarship challenged its coherence, and a rejuvenated ultra-Orthodoxy contested its religious legitimacy. This is a book that not only records history but challenges us to think deeply about question about how modernity and tradition intersect and explores the delicate dance to have fidelity to both the past and the present moment. Rabbi Lawrence Grossman worked at the American Jewish Committee for close to 40 years, serving as director of publications and editor of the American Jewish Year Book. He earned BA and MHL degrees and rabbinical ordination from Yeshiva University, and a PhD in history from the City University of New York Graduate Center. Rabbi Marc Katz is the Senior Rabbi at Temple Ner Tamid in Bloomfield NJ. He is the author of Yochanan's Gamble: Judaism's Pragmatic Approach to Life (JPS) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/history

In American Judaism today, Orthodoxy is the fastest growing movement. However, Orthodoxy is anything but monolithic. Living in Both Worlds: Modern Orthodox Judaism in the United States, 1945–2025 by Lawrence Grossman explores a piece of the Orthodox story, that of Modern Orthodoxy. For those who may be unfamiliar, Modern Orthodoxy affirms the traditional tenets and practices of Orthodox Judaism while at the same time maintaining an openness to contemporary cultural and intellectual developments. Beginning in the post-World War II era, Living in Both Worlds shows how a fledgling Modern Orthodoxy carved out an identity separate and apart from unacculturated ultra-Orthodoxy to its right and Conservative Judaism to its left, and follows its development through the first quarter of the twenty-first century as new, divisive issues such as feminism, LGBTQ rights, and the spread of academic biblical scholarship challenged its coherence, and a rejuvenated ultra-Orthodoxy contested its religious legitimacy. This is a book that not only records history but challenges us to think deeply about question about how modernity and tradition intersect and explores the delicate dance to have fidelity to both the past and the present moment. Rabbi Lawrence Grossman worked at the American Jewish Committee for close to 40 years, serving as director of publications and editor of the American Jewish Year Book. He earned BA and MHL degrees and rabbinical ordination from Yeshiva University, and a PhD in history from the City University of New York Graduate Center. Rabbi Marc Katz is the Senior Rabbi at Temple Ner Tamid in Bloomfield NJ. He is the author of Yochanan's Gamble: Judaism's Pragmatic Approach to Life (JPS) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/jewish-studies

What mattered most for survivors of the Holocaust, indeed, what made their survival possible, was not only that the Allies had better ideas about democracy and civilization, though of course Britain, America, and the other Western Allies did. It was that they actually won the war. They defeated the Germans on the field of battle—on sea, land, and air, in the hills and in the streets. It's not enough for us to rest contentedly on the superiority of our ideas. We also have to fight. But at this moment, the fundamental political fact of the last 80 years—that it was an indispensable and untarnishable achievement for the Allies to have destroyed the Third Reich—is itself under revisionist assault. The Internet talk-show host Tucker Carlson last year promoted the podcaster Darryl Cooper, calling him “America's most honest historian,” and airing his claim that Winston Churchill was the “chief villain” of World War II who “escalated” what Hitler supposedly intended to be a limited conflict. As one of this episode's guests reports in the Wall Street Journal, when the Holocaust-denying podcaster Jake Shields polled his social-media followers about who they thought was “the biggest villain of World War II,” 40.3 percent chose Churchill over Hitler (25.3 percent) or Stalin (25.9 percent). Darryl Cooper or Jake Shields are teaching a new generation of Americans a grotesquely distorted view of our own history. To understand why that is, what can be done about it, and what's at stake for Jews and America, Mosaic's editor Jonathan Silver sat down Rabbi Meir Soloveichik and Andrew Roberts. Roberts is a distinguish historian and the author of more than twenty books. His 2018 biography of Churchill, Walking with Destiny, was the rare work that deserved all of the glowing praise it received, and there is perhaps no person living who knows more about the 20th century's greatest man than Roberts. On November 1, 2022, he was elevated to a peerage as Baron Roberts of Belgravia. Rabbi Soloveichik is the religious leader of Congregation Shearith Israel, the director of the Straus Center for Torah and Western Thought and Yeshiva University, and vice-chair of the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom. This conversation took place at a private event held for members of the Tikvah Society. You can learn more about its activities and how to join here.

Send us a textIn honor of Elul and Rosh Hashanah, we're re-releasing one of the most cherished conversations ever recorded on From the Inside Out Podcast, our 2019 interview with Rabbi Lord Jonathan Sacks זצ״ל. This was not only one of our very first episodes, it was also Rabbi Sacks' final recorded interview before his passing.[Watch the extended video podcast here: https://youtu.be/QO9LPKJvnYU] What began as a conversation about Jewish identity, morality, and mentorship, became a masterclass in faith, leadership, and the quiet power of humility. From the Rebbe's influence to his love story with Elaine, from confronting self-doubt to transforming the “I” generation into a “we” — this episode is packed with spiritual insight and deeply personal reflections.Whether you're hearing it for the first time or returning for another listen, may Rabbi Sacks' timeless wisdom inspire you in this season of renewal.Topics include:How the Rebbe changed Rabbi Sacks' lifeThe hidden strengths of self-doubtThe surprising power of WhatsApp over the pulpitElaine Sacks' role in shaping Rabbi Sacks' leadershipThe shift from an “I” to “we” societyWhy the question “Why do bad things happen to good people?” has no answerElul as a time of clearing space, not piling on resolutionsHow spiritual gifts increase when shared

This series is sponsored by Mira and Daniel Stokar.In this episode of the 18Forty Podcast, we speak with Rachel Tova Ebner, translator of a new volume of the teachings of Rav Kook, about what the spirituality of Rav Kook adds to our Jewish practice and to our understanding of ourselves.As we approach Rav Kook's yahrzeit (3 Elul), we're directing our attention to the spiritual dimension of Yiddishkeit outlined in his works. In this episode we discuss:What does Rav Kook teach us about our yearning for God?What is the role of feelings in our inner work? What does it mean for us to change as the Torah stays the same? Tune in to hear a conversation about the paradox inherent in trying to “change the past” via teshuva. Interview begins at 14:57.Rachel Tova Ebner grew up in Manhattan and made Aliyah to Jerusalem with her family in 1982. She is linguist and lyricist, a teacher and translator, with a Master's degree in Hebrew from the Bernhard Revel Graduate School of Yeshiva University. Her most recent professional endeavor was to participate in the translation of the new Koren Tanach. She has three children and eleven grandchildren.Chapters (Produced by Sofer.AI):Teshuvah 0:14Re‑examining Our Bullseye: The Conceptzia Idea 3:38Lakewood Yeshiva's Future and Community Burnout 6:50Generational Mission Shifts and Klal Yisrael 8:37Introducing Rav Kook's Torah of Tomorrow 11:52Translator Rachel Tova Ebner on Her Father's Influence 15:00Early Memories of Learning with Rabbi Bernstein 16:15Limits on Naming and Speaking About God 21:32The Classic Child's Question: Is God in the Toilet? 22:46Ikveta d'Mishicha: The Era of Messianic Footsteps 25:18Rav Kook's Call for New Spiritual Consciousness 26:18Direct Encounter with God—Beyond Rabbis and Texts 28:01Rav Kook's Historical Context and Practical Inner Work 43:28Compassion and Inner Work with the Soul 45:36Rav Kook on Teshuva and Cosmic Will 47:30Personal Metaforms: Smoking as Spiritual Symbol 50:32Rav Kook's Vision for Secular Israelis 52:32Calling Artists of the Sacred in Modern Times 55:00The Summons to Holy Consciousness Excerpt 57:01Choosing a Rav Kook Translation for Study 62:23Evolution as Cosmic Optimism in Rav Kook 64:13Finding a Spiritual Path Beyond Halacha 67:08Critique of Galut and Return to Eretz Yisrael 68:17Personal Sleep Habits: A Goyish Schedule 70:06Rav Kook's Vision: Renewing the Old, Sanctifying the New 73:27Intuition and Faith in Personal Spiritual Direction 75:09Despair as Catalyst for Renewal in Orot Hateshuva 76:56Closing Remarks and Sponsor Acknowledgments 80:49Traditional Closing Prayer and Song 81:50References:18Forty Podcast: “Rav Judah Mischel: A Change in Progress”The Torah of Tomorrow: OneSong by Rachel Tova EbnerRenewing the Old, Sanctifying the New: The Unique Vision of Rav Kook by Marc B. Shapiro18Forty Podcast: “Marc B. Shapiro: Where Does Orthodox Judaism Come From?”Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/18forty-podcast--4344730/support.