Jewish Ideas to Change the World

Rabbi Dr. Shmuly Yanklowitz interviews Dr. Tevi Troy. Dr. Tevi Troy (best-selling presidential historian - Fight House: Rivalries in the White House, from Truman to Trump, former senior Bush White House aide, Deputy Secretary of HHS, and former White House Liaison to the Jewish Community). ★ Support this podcast ★

A virtual event presentation by Rabbi Dr. Alan BrillThe event was co-sponsored by Temple Emanuel About the Event: Much has changed in the last 20 years after 9/11 regarding interfaith, especially the new landscape of accepting religious diversity and the acceptance of the dignity of difference. We will discuss finding wisdom in other religions for self-understanding. This talk will include stories from my recent time spent in Indonesia, Singapore, UAE, India, and within the diversity of the USA. About the Speaker: Rabbi Prof. Alan Brill is the Cooperman/Ross Endowed Chair for Jewish-Christian Studies at Seton Hall University, Brill is an expert on interfaith relations. He is the author of many books including Judaism and World Religions: Christianity, Islam, and Eastern Religions (Palgrave Macmillan, 2012), and Judaism and Other Religions: Models of Understanding (Palgrave Macmillan, 2010). Brill was a Fulbright Senior Scholar Award for research and teaching at Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh India. This research produced his recent volume Rabbi on the Ganges: A Jewish Hindu Encounter (Lexington Books, 2019). His forthcoming book is A Jewish View of the Trinity, Incarnation, and Salvation(Fortress Press, 2025). He has done interfaith work in Indonesia, India, UAE, Turkey, Sri Lanka, and elsewhere. ★ Support this podcast ★

A virtual event presentation by Rabbi Gershom SizomuThe event was co-sponsored by BMH-BJAbout the Event: Rabbi Sizomu will speak about the origins of Abayudaya, the challenges occasioned by the dictatorial reign of President Iddi Amin Dada, antisemitism, and living as a minority in a country that is predominantly Christian and Muslim. About the Speaker: Rabbi Gershom Sizomu is a Be’chol Lashon Rabbinic Fellow and the spiritual leader of the Abayudaya Jews of Uganda. Gershom is the current leader of the 100-year-old Abayudaya community of almost 2,000 Jews living in rural villages in Eastern Uganda. He is the grandson of community elder “Rabbi” Samson. He lives near the Moses Synagogue in the village of Nabagogye, which he and others from the community’s early 1980s “Kibbutz movement” built with their own hands. Their goal has been to gather what was left of the Abayudaya community back together after the devastating reign of Idi Amin Dada ended in 1979. As a visionary leader, Gershom’s dream was to attend a rabbinic seminary to understand ancient and modern egalitarian Judaism better and bring the Ugandan community into mainstream Jewish life. Gershom was awarded a Be’chol Lashon Fellowship in 2003 to attend the five-year Ziegler School of Rabbinic Studies at the American Jewish University in Los Angeles. He returned to Uganda in 2008 as the first native-born black rabbi in Sub-Saharan Africa. He opened a Yeshiva to train African teachers and rabbis to serve their ancient and emerging Jewish communities. In 2016, Gershom became the first Jew ever elected to Uganda’s parliament. ★ Support this podcast ★

A virtual event presentation by Dr. Yitz LandesThe event was co-hosted by Beth El CongregationAbout the Event: What is the connection between rain, the Temple, and caring for the other? In this class, we will look at the ways in which these themes connect in ancient Hebrew liturgical poems (piyyutim) written for the holiday of Sukkot. After first gaining a familiarity with the different genres of piyyutim and their liturgical and historical settings, we will read closely from some of the piyyutim for Sukkot—several of which are still recited today—to gain deeper insights into how the holiday of Sukkot has been understood and celebrated throughout history. About the Speaker: Yitz Landes is an Assistant Professor of Rabbinic Literature and Cultures at the Jewish Theological Seminary of America. His research focuses on Rabbinic Judaism, the history of the Jewish Book, and Jewish Liturgy. He received his Ph.D. in Religions of Mediterranean Antiquity from Princeton University after receiving a BA in Talmud and Halakha and Comparative Religion and an MA in Talmud and Halakha and Late Antique Studies from the Hebrew University of Jerusalem. His publications include Studies in the Development of Birkat ha-Avodah (2018) as well as several peer-reviewed articles. ★ Support this podcast ★

A virtual event presentation by Melanie GruenwaldThe event was co-sponsored by Temple IsraelAbout the Event:Dr. Brené Brown’s teachings on vulnerability, courage, worthiness and shame, will serve as the text, and Kabbalahwill serve as the commentary. We will engage together in this guide to living a whole-hearted life, weaving Dr.Brown’s research and anecdotes, with the timeless teachings of Kabbalah.About the Speaker:Executive Director of Kabbalah Experience, Melanie Gruenwald brings over 25 years of non-profit leadership and community organizing to her position. Engaged with senior citizens, families, college students, and teens, Melanie has extensive professional experience with communal leadership and informal Jewish education.Melanie is energized by building relationships, understanding people’s needs, and finding ways to connect them to one another. She loves the balance of organizational leadership and teaching which she engages in on a daily basis at Kabbalah Experience.She earned her B.S. in Psychology from Binghamton University (S.U.N.Y), and her Master in Social Work and Certificate in Jewish Communal Service from the Wurzweiler School of Social Work at Yeshiva University. Melanie has pursued additional Judaic and spiritual studies at the Pardes Institute of Jewish Studies, the Conservative Yeshiva, and most recently, the Kabbalah Experience.Melanie is married to Rabbi Salomon Gruenwald, Associate Rabbi at the Hebrew Educational Alliance, and is a mom to three children, Koby (z”l), Hannah, and Micah. ★ Support this podcast ★

A virtual event presented by Martha Anne TollThe event was co-sponsored by Congregation Or TzionAbout the Event:How does a novelist approach a historical subject as overwhelming as the Holocaust? What decisions go into jettisoning history, or the reverse, hewing closely to it, when writing a historical novel? Join our conversation with a debut novelist, Martha Anne Toll, to discuss how these considerations and more went into writing THREE MUSES.About the Speaker:Martha Anne Toll‘s debut novel, THREE MUSES, was shortlisted for the Gotham Book Prize and won the Petrichor Prize for Finely Crafted Fiction. Toll writes fiction, essays, and book reviews, and reads anything that’s not nailed down. She brings a long career in social justice to her work covering authors of color and women writers as a critic and author interviewer at NPR Books, the Washington Post, Pointe Magazine, The Millions, and elsewhere. Toll serves on the Board of Directors of the PEN/Faulkner Foundation. Her second novel, DUET FOR ONE, will be published in early 2025. ★ Support this podcast ★

A virtual event presentation by Eliyahu FreedmanAbout the Event: In this session, we will discover the plurality of Jewish groups that lived in Babylonia during the 8th to 10th centuries. Meet important personalities such as Anan Ben David, Mīshawayh al-ʿUkbarī, Saadya Gaon, and Jacob al-Qirqisani. Independent scholar Eliyahu Freeman, gets to the heart of the main issues that concerned Medieval Jews, leading to heated disagreement and conflict between them.About the Speaker: Eliyahu Freedman is an independent scholar and former Ph.D. student at The Hebrew University of Jerusalem. He studied Judeo-Arabic and is currently a freelance correspondent for Al Jazeera English and the Jewish Telegraphic Agency. Born and raised in Toronto, Canada, he has lived in Jaffa, Israel for four years since making Aliyah. While not working on research or writing research, Eliyahu is an avid practitioner of mindfulness meditation and enjoys playing guitar and watching the sunset at the beach. ★ Support this podcast ★

A virtual event presentation by David LiebermanThe event was co-hosted by Temple Solel and BMH-BJAbout the Event: This class is about Jewish spirituality…making a palpable connection with God. Judaism teaches that we connect with God by performing the commandments, the mitzvot. Our tradition also teaches that we interpret the Torah and the mitzvot at multiple levels. The focus of this class is on the mystical level called sod. Connecting at this level may be more accessible to a wide range of Jews who might view themselves as “spiritual, but not religious.” Many of us look outside our religion for spirituality. In fact, spirituality can be found right in our own backyard. Over the millennia, there has been an evolution in how Jews connect with God. In an era we call biblical Judaism, we felt a deep connection with God through the practice of animal sacrifices. Now, in the era we call rabbinic Judaism, we make connections through prayer, acts of charity, repentance, and study.The next era may become characterized as transcendental Judaism. Through the meditative quieting of the mind, we can directly experience the “still small voice” that Elijah sensed on that mountaintop. This is not mindfulness. It’s an expansive experience of complete calm, oneness, and a sense of connection with everything around us. Many of us have fallen into that transcendental experience: while watching a sunset or holding a newborn baby. What if we were able to enter into that transcendental experience at will? This class describes how those repeated experiences heal us and influence our actions toward repairing the world.About the Speaker: David Lieberman was raised in a Reform Jewish household and began to immerse himself in the Torah in 2003. He has been an elementary school teacher, management consultant, and spiritual director, and has served on the Board of Directors of VBM. He lives in Phoenix with his wife. They have two daughters.Visit www.TranscendentalJudaism.com for links to order the book and to contact David with questions or to speak at your book club, study group or adult education class. ★ Support this podcast ★

A virtual event presentation by Dr. James BaskindThe event was co-sponsored by Congregation Or TzionAbout the Event:Although the Jewish history in Japan is relatively recent and there have never been significant numbers settled in the country, Jews loom large in the Japanese imagination, and popular books that peddle everything from fascination to fear are perennial best-sellers. An avid student of Western culture and technology since the Meiji Restoration (1868-1912), much of this Japanese interest stems from European propaganda regarding the Jews; however, not steeped in millennia of European antisemitism, the Japanese reaction, on the whole, was one more of fascination and awe. Although allies with Nazi Germany during World War II, Japan refused to turn over its Jews to the Nazis and even entertained the idea of bringing Jews to Japan in the hopes of bringing about national flourishing. This talk will examine the historical factors that have contributed to this multifaceted and unique perspective toward Jews and their culture.About the Speaker:Dr. Baskind received his Ph.D. from Yale University in 2006. His area of academic research is Japanese Buddhism and culture, with a focus on how Chinese models—represented by the Obaku School—were received in Edo-period Japan. Other areas of research and writing include Buddhist-Christian interaction in early modern Japan, as well as the Zen/Pure Land dialectic as it pertains to Japanese Buddhist discourse. His current project critically examines tea culture in East Asia, and how it became widely perceived as inextricably linked with Zen and its associated arts. Most recently he held the position of Associate Professor of Japanese Thought at Nagoya City University in Nagoya, Japan. While in Japan his research was supported by numerous grants from the Japan Society for the Promotion of Science. Apart from his academic pursuits he has also studied and practiced the tea ceremony (both sencha and matcha) as well as Brazilian jiu-jitsu, which he currently teaches. In addition, he has nearly completed a book on the cultural history of jiu-jitsu, entitled, Jiu-jitsu: A History of Soft Power. ★ Support this podcast ★

A virtual presentation by Dr. Amy-Jill Levine and Dr. Marc BrettlerThe event was co-sponsored by Beth El PhoenixAbout the Event:The Gospel of Matthew is often considered the most Jewish of the Gospels. We will explore its Jewishness by looking at how it builds upon various passages from the Tanakh (Hebrew Bible) and how it relates to later rabbinic texts.About the Speakers:Amy-Jill Levine is the Rabbi Stanley M. Kessler Distinguished Professor of New Testament and Jewish Studies, Hartford International University for Religion and Peace; University Professor of New Testament and Jewish Studies Emerita and Mary Jane Werthan Professor of Jewish Studies Emerita, Professor of New Testament Studies Emerita, Vanderbilt University.Marc Zvi Brettler is the Bernice and Morton Lerner Distinguished Professor of Jewish Studies in the Dept. of Religious Studies at Duke University, and the Dora Golding Professor of Biblical Literature Emeritus at Brandeis University.Together they have edited The Jewish Annotated New Testament, and have written The Bible With and Without Jesus: How Jews and Christians Read the Same Book Differently. ★ Support this podcast ★

A hybrid event (in-person and virtual) by Rabbi Ian PearAbout the Event:Since Israel’s founding – continuing until today – the relationship between the state’s Jewish majority and its non-Jewish minority has been fraught with challenges. Liberal Democracies, of course, have something to say about such relationships, but Israel is unique in a variety of ways, not the least of which is it was established to be the world’s lone Jewish state. Protecting that reality, while simultaneously protecting the rights of minorities, has not always been easy. A surprising source for guidance and wisdom in this field – a source that can simultaneously promote both of these seemingly conflicting values — is Jewish law itself. This class will survey more than 2000 years of global Jewish thought on the matter, comparing and contrasting Diaspora and Israeli thought, and conclude with an inspiring view of modern-day Rabbinic advice on the topic.About the Speaker:Rabbi Chaim (Ian) Pear, a Rabbi, lawyer, and social activist living in Jerusalem, is the founder of Shir Hadash, a popular Jerusalem based Synagogue, Educational Institute, and Community Center, as well as an expert in Israeli and Jewish environmental law – he worked at Israel’s premier environmental law firm, Laster and Goldman – and a leader in the Spiritual Diplomacy efforts made on behalf of Israel. A one-time aspiring standup comedian, Rabbi Pear received his ordination from Yeshiva University and holds law degrees from Hebrew University (LLM, with a focus on Mishpat Ivri) and NYU School of Law (JD, with a concentration in international law), and a degree in International Law, Politics and Security from Georgetown University’s School for Foreign Service. The author of three books, he is married to Dr. Rachel Pear and is the father of five children. ★ Support this podcast ★

A virtual event presentation by Rabbi Barbara SymonsThe event was co-sponsored by Temple Emanuel About The Event:For many Jews, the prophets’ voices are only heard during worship if even there, and then only in Hebrew. Even in English, their words are a challenge. After studying the job qualifications and tasks of a prophet and learning when and why Judaism says that prophecy ended, we will use contemporary interpretations to better hear their ancient words which often feel challenging in both form and content. Reaching beyond, we will look at alternative prophet-like voices that can inspire us to realize the words of the haftarah blessing: toward holiness, rest, honor, and glory.About The Speaker:Rabbi Barbara AB Symons graduated from the University of Michigan and was ordained by Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion in 1994. Since 2006, she has been serving Temple David in Monroeville, Pennsylvania just outside of Pittsburgh. She is thrilled to have even a small part in raising up prophetic voices through the many diverse voices included in her book Prophetic Voices: Renewing and Reimagining Haftarah (CCAR Press 2023). ★ Support this podcast ★

A virtual event presentation by Dr. Jonnie SchnytzerThe event was co-sponsored by Temple EmanuelAbout The Class:Our journey to come close to God is often sought out alone. Even when praying in a congregational quorum, each individual ties the words of prayer to their own private thoughts. In this class, we will learn of unique teachings which advocated genuine friendship as a prerequisite for God’s presence and ask about God’s role in a social get-together. For those wanting to discover new and perhaps unexpected ways that lead to the path of God, let’s go visit some of the most innovative and socially sensitive minds of early twentieth-century Poland.About The Speaker:Jonnie Schnytzer is probably the only Ph.D. in Jewish Philosophy, focusing on medieval kabbalah, who can say that he once beat the head of Israeli Naval Commandos in a swimming race? His dissertation focused on the scientific kabbalah of Rabbi Joseph ben Shalom Ashkenazi. Jonnie’s forthcoming book is about Ashkenazi’s Kabbalah as well as a critical edition of the Kabbalist’s majestic commentary on Sefer Yesira. Jonnie’s also the author of Mossad's thriller, The Way Back, which paints a picture of contemporary Israel. Jonnie also orchestrated the publishing of an English edition of ‘The Hitler Haggadah’, an important piece of Moroccan Jewish history from the Holocaust. Jonnie has also taken on several leadership roles in the Jewish world, including advisor to the CEO of Birthright and executive manager with StandWithUs. He lectures on a wide variety of topics relating to Judaism and Israel, especially about the untold stories and unspoken heroes of Jewish history. Jonnie is happily married, with four gorgeous little kids, lives in Israel, and thinks that Australian Rules Football is the greatest sport ever invented. ★ Support this podcast ★

A virtual event presentation by Rabbi Leila Gal BernerThe event was Co-Sponsored by Rodef ShalomAbout The Event:Having pioneered a new gateway into Torah learning called "kriat hakodesh,” (reading the holy), Rabbi Dr. Leila Gal Berner will lead us through a deep, contemplative journey through the heart of the Parsha, Vayera, helping participants to discover the profound personal meaning of the Torah text. Silence, learning about the text through midrashim, chant, deep personal questions (contemplated privately) and conversation will all be part of the experience. This approach stems from Rabbi Berner’s book, Listening to the Heart of Genesis: A Contemplative Path. About The Speaker:Rabbi Leila Gal Berner was ordained at the Reconstructionist Rabbinical College and holds a second ordination from Rabbi Zalman Schachter-Shalomi (of blessed memory). She received her doctorate in medieval Jewish history from UCLA, with expertise in the history of Jews in medieval Spain. Her dissertation, “On the Western Shores: The Jews of Barcelona during the Reign of Jaume I, ‘el Conqueridor 1213-1276” has been widely cited and she has taught about the Spanish Reconquista in many Jewish communities. She has also taught in many communities about the “Golden Age of Spanish Jewry under Muslim Rule.”Rabbi Gal-Berner served as Dean of Students of the ALEPH: Alliance for Jewish Renewal Ordination and continues to teach biblical and medieval history, feminist thought, and midrash. She has recently published Listening to the Heart of Genesis: A Contemplative Path. Dr. Gal Berner has taught in the Departments of Philosophy and Religion at American University and George Washington and Emory Universities, and in the Departments of Religion at Swarthmore and Reed Colleges. ★ Support this podcast ★

A virtual event presentation by Rabbi Joshua StantonThe Event Was Co-Hosted by Hebrew Educational AllianceAbout The Event:Our narrative of communal decline overlooks the remarkable growth of the American Jewish community, both numerically and in vibrancy. This conversation will reflect upon the social startups redefining the American Jewish landscape, of which the Valley Beit Midrash is one.About The Speaker:Rabbi Joshua Stanton is spiritual co-leader of East End Temple and Director for Leadership at CLAL – The National Jewish Center for Learning and Leadership, where he focuses on questions of religious pluralism in the United States and Israel. He likewise serves on the Board of Trustees of Interfaith America, the leading interfaith organization in America, and on the Board of Governors of the International Jewish Committee on Interreligious Consultations, which presides over Jewish-Christian relations with the Vatican and World Council of Churches. You may have already seen Rabbi Stanton on CNN or in a documentary film, or read about him in syndicated media, publications, and articles that have appeared in ten languages. ★ Support this podcast ★

A virtual, six-part series presented by Rabbi Dr. Darren KleinbergAbout the Event:In this mini-course, we welcome back Valley Beit Midrash founder, Rabbi Darren Kleinberg, for a new encounter with the Torah. Commonly understood as a book of laws and stories, Rabbi Kleinberg will unlock new ways of reading through the words of Judaism’s foundational sacred text to unlock practices that can be incorporated into our daily lives to increase insight and well-being.About the Speaker:Rabbi Darren Kleinberg, Ph.D., is a Senior Fellow with the Concentration in Education and Jewish Studies at the Stanford Graduate School of Education. In partnership with a group of visionary community leaders, Rabbi Kleinberg became the Founding Executive Director of Valley Beit Midrash in 2007. ★ Support this podcast ★

A virtual event presentation by Dr. Aaron TugendhaftThe event was co-sponsored by Temple Chai and BMH-BJAbout the Event:As anyone who has seen Hamilton knows, George Washington loved to quote the prophet Micah’s vision of humankind each sitting under their own vine and fig tree. This seminar will explore this prophetic phrase within a colonial and American revolutionary context and consider how Washington’s adept use of Micah’s image served a larger purpose of forging the religious character of the early American Republic. Special consideration will be given to Washington’s celebrated letter to the Jewish community in Newport, Rhode Island, and to that letter’s place within a broader correspondence with diverse religious communities at the moment of Washington’s first inauguration.About the Speaker:Aaron Tugendhaft studied history and philosophy at the University of Chicago, the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, and the Sorbonne. Since receiving his doctorate in Bible and Ancient Near Eastern Studies from New York University in 2012, he has taught broadly within the humanities on four continents and has become a staunch advocate of traditional liberal education as a corrective to premature professionalization, academic hyper-specialization, and political polarization. His most recent book, The Idols of ISIS: From Assyria to the Internet (University of Chicago Press, 2020), is a philosophical meditation on the political power of images and the significance of their destruction. Since 2021, he has served as History Department Chair and Director of Interdisciplinary Programs at the Ramaz School in New York City. ★ Support this podcast ★

A virtual, six-part series presented by Rabbi Dr. Darren KleinbergAbout the Event:In this mini-course, we welcome back Valley Beit Midrash founder, Rabbi Darren Kleinberg, for a new encounter with the Torah. Commonly understood as a book of laws and stories, Rabbi Kleinberg will unlock new ways of reading through the words of Judaism’s foundational sacred text to unlock practices that can be incorporated into our daily lives to increase insight and well-being.About the Speaker:Rabbi Darren Kleinberg, Ph.D., is a Senior Fellow with the Concentration in Education and Jewish Studies at the Stanford Graduate School of Education. In partnership with a group of visionary community leaders, Rabbi Kleinberg became the Founding Executive Director of Valley Beit Midrash in 2007. ★ Support this podcast ★

A virtual event presentation by Rabbi Dov Peretz ElkinsThe event was co-sponsored by Rodef ShalomAbout The Event:The Judaism of the 21st century demands that we each become compelling and thrilling storytellers. Could you imagine a world without a creation narrative that experiences order in the universe, that looks at a rainbow and sees a promise of life, stories filled with real struggles of fathers and sons, brothers, husbands, and wives? At our core is the story of slavery and liberation so powerful that it still motivates freedom fighters around the world. Suddenly, we are standing at Mt Sinai promising to be partners in a covenant, a sacred priestly nation that will transform the world in which we live. Our story takes us to the edge of the promised land described in the book of Deuteronomy, a land in which the king is just and the people righteous and caring of each other and where the widow and orphan, and stranger are protected. Our prophets motivate us to “do justice, love mercy and walk humbly with God” and comfort us in our pain, giving meaning to our suffering. Each generation added richness, a veritable treasure chest of stories. Every generation has its own stories, from Genesis to the most recent events in the 21st century.About the Speaker:Dov Peretz Elkins is a nationally known lecturer, educator, workshop leader, author, and book critic. He is a popular speaker on the Jewish circuit. Rabbi Elkins is a recipient of the National Jewish Book Award and is the author or editor of over sixty books. His Chicken Soup For The Jewish Soul was on the NY Times best-seller list. Among Rabbi Elkins’ other books is The Wisdom of Judaism: An Introduction to the Values of the Talmud, Bialik: Israel’s National Poet, The Friendship That Shaped Jewish History: Eddie Jacobson’s Role in President Harry Truman’s Recognition of the New State of Israel, A Treasury of Thought on Israel and Zionism, The Battle Between the Menorah and the Magen David, The Amazing Story of Peter Bergson The Hero Who Tried to Sav Jews During the Holocaust, (all from Mazo Publishers).Rabbi Elkins is the rabbi emeritus at The Jewish Center of Princeton NJ.Dr. Elkins lives in Jerusalem with his wife, Miryam. They have six children and twelve grandchildren.Book Recommendations: Chicken Soup for the Jewish Soul, Jewish Stories from Heaven and Earth: Inspiring Tales to Nourish the Heart and Soul, and The Book of Legends/Sefer Ha-Aggadah: Legends from the Talmud and Midrash ★ Support this podcast ★

A virtual, six-part series presented by Rabbi Dr. Darren KleinbergAbout the Event:In this mini-course, we welcome back Valley Beit Midrash founder, Rabbi Darren Kleinberg, for a new encounter with the Torah. Commonly understood as a book of laws and stories, Rabbi Kleinberg will unlock new ways of reading through the words of Judaism’s foundational sacred text to unlock practices that can be incorporated into our daily lives to increase insight and well-being.About the Speaker:Rabbi Darren Kleinberg, Ph.D., is a Senior Fellow with the Concentration in Education and Jewish Studies at the Stanford Graduate School of Education. In partnership with a group of visionary community leaders, Rabbi Kleinberg became the Founding Executive Director of Valley Beit Midrash in 2007. ★ Support this podcast ★

A virtual event presentation by Rabbi Tali AdlerAbout the Event:What did it look like to find God in the Warsaw Ghetto? How did one man make sense of the deepest human suffering while locating himself uncompromisingly within Jewish tradition? Join us as we study the Aish Kodesh, the Piacezna Rebbe’s weekly sermons delivered each Shabbat in the Warsaw Ghetto, and attempt to uncover how his Torah might help us make sense of our lives today.About the Speaker:Rabbi Tali Adler is a member of the Hadar faculty. A musmekhet of Yeshivat Maharat and alumna of Stern College for Women, Rabbi Adler has studied at a number of institutions including Hadar, Drisha, and Midreshet HaRova. ★ Support this podcast ★

A virtual, six-part series presented by Rabbi Dr. Darren KleinbergAbout the Event:In this mini-course, we welcome back Valley Beit Midrash founder, Rabbi Darren Kleinberg, for a new encounter with the Torah. Commonly understood as a book of laws and stories, Rabbi Kleinberg will unlock new ways of reading through the words of Judaism’s foundational sacred text to unlock practices that can be incorporated into our daily lives to increase insight and well-being.About the Speaker:Rabbi Darren Kleinberg, Ph.D., is a Senior Fellow with the Concentration in Education and Jewish Studies at the Stanford Graduate School of Education. In partnership with a group of visionary community leaders, Rabbi Kleinberg became the Founding Executive Director of Valley Beit Midrash in 2007. ★ Support this podcast ★

Dr. Rabbi Shmuly Yanklowitz (Dean of Valley Biet Midrash) interviews Rabbi Alexander Goldberg in London, England.Rabbi Alex Goldberg is the Dean of Religious Life and Belief at the University of Surrey leading a team of 25 from 8 world faiths and the humanist tradition serving a community of 22,000 staff and students. He is the only rabbi within this role in Europe and serves as the campus and local community rabbi too. He is a barrister and has worked to promote good community relations in inter-governmental, governmental, and community roles.He contributes regularly to BBC Radio 2’s Pause for Thought and appears regularly on television, radio, and in print media. He is an advisor to the UK Religious Media Centre. He chairs the Football Association's Faith Network and in 2012, was an Olympic / Paralympic Chaplain where his work was recognized by the Olympic Peace Truce Centre. Nominated by the Conference of European Rabbis, he serves as a full member of the European Muslim Jewish Religious Leaders Council and was named an Interfaith Associate and partner in Christian-Jewish and interfaith dialogue by the Lord Bishop of Guildford.He founded the human rights group, René Cassin, was a founding chair of Faiths Forum for London, and was the Mayor of London's Faith Conference. He led delegations to the UN Human Rights Council for over a decade where he successfully changed international law in relation to group access to justice and went on to collaborate with the UN as a consultant on their Faith for Rights project. ★ Support this podcast ★

Rabbi Dr. Shmuly Yankolwitz (Dean of Valley Beit Midrash) interviews Rabbi Tom Cohen in Paris, France. ★ Support this podcast ★

A virtual event presentation by Dr. Nathaniel BermanThe event was co-hosted by Hebrew Educational AllianceAbout the Event:What can kabbalistic teachings contribute to a world in which rival claims to sacred land continue to cause such suffering? It is true that some kabbalistic teachings make such conflicts worse – bestowing specific sites with absolute value, making compromise impossible. Other kabbalistic teachings, however, insist that we look for true sacredness in unexpected places – strange lands, remote villages, barren deserts – rather than in official holy sites. These teachings embody the deepest kabbalistic imperative: to seek out the holiest in the most profane, whether in the world or in our own souls. We can trace the roots of such teachings too often neglected strands of biblical texts and we can see them flourishing in the writings of key Hasidic sages.About the Speaker:Nathaniel Berman is the Rahel Varnhagen Professor in Brown University’s Department of Religious Studies. He is the author of Passion and Ambivalence: Colonialism, Nationalism, and International Law (Brill 2011) and Divine and Demonic in the Poetic Mythology of the Zohar: the ‘Other Side’ of Kabbalah (Brill 2018). ★ Support this podcast ★

A virtual, six-part series presented by Rabbi Dr. Darren KleinbergAbout the Event:In this mini-course, we welcome back Valley Beit Midrash founder, Rabbi Darren Kleinberg, for a new encounter with the Torah. Commonly understood as a book of laws and stories, Rabbi Kleinberg will unlock new ways of reading through the words of Judaism’s foundational sacred text to unlock practices that can be incorporated into our daily lives to increase insight and well-being.About the Speaker:Rabbi Darren Kleinberg, Ph.D., is a Senior Fellow with the Concentration in Education and Jewish Studies at the Stanford Graduate School of Education. In partnership with a group of visionary community leaders, Rabbi Kleinberg became the Founding Executive Director of Valley Beit Midrash in 2007. ★ Support this podcast ★

A virtual event presentation by Rabbi Bezalel NaorThe event was co-hosted by Beth ElAbout the Event:Rav Abraham Isaac Kook (1865-1935) was a highly complex individual: legalist and philosopher, mystic and poet. In his role as Chief Rabbi of Eretz Israel (1921-1935), he emerged as a leader of world Jewry. Since his passing, Rav Kook’s literary legacy has exercised generations of scholars and thinkers (such as Rabbis J.B Soloveitchik, Isaac Hutner, and Jonathan Sacks, to name a few). That legacy, which contains elements of nationalism and universalism, continues to baffle his admirers and detractors. In this class, we will glimpse Rav Kook’s spiritual renaissance and his vision of humanity’s evolving consciousness.About the Speaker:Bezalel Naor is the author of many works of Jewish thought in English and Hebrew – philosophy, Kabbalah, and Hasidism – with a major concentration on the writings of the great Seer of Israel, Rav Kook. He is also the translator of Orot, Rav Kook’s seminal work.Naor’s published books include: Navigating Worlds: Collected Essays Vols. 1 & 2 (2021), The Legends of Rabbah bar Bar Hannah (2019), The Koren Rav Kook Siddur (2017), When God Becomes History: Historical Essays of Rav Kook (2016), Mahol la-Tzaddikim; The Controversy between Rabbi Moshe Hayyim Luzzatto and Rabbi Eizik Epstein of Homel Concerning the Divine Design in Creation (2015), Kana’uteh de Pinhas (2013), an analysis of the critique of Leshem Shevo ve-Ahlamah, The Kabbalah of Relation (2012), and The Limit of Intellectual Freedom: Letters of Rav Kook (2011). ★ Support this podcast ★

A virtual, six-part series presented by Rabbi Dr. Darren KleinbergAbout the Event:In this mini-course, we welcome back Valley Beit Midrash founder, Rabbi Darren Kleinberg, for a new encounter with the Torah. Commonly understood as a book of laws and stories, Rabbi Kleinberg will unlock new ways of reading through the words of Judaism’s foundational sacred text to unlock practices that can be incorporated into our daily lives to increase insight and well-being.About the Speaker:Rabbi Darren Kleinberg, Ph.D., is a Senior Fellow with the Concentration in Education and Jewish Studies at the Stanford Graduate School of Education. In partnership with a group of visionary community leaders, Rabbi Kleinberg became the Founding Executive Director of Valley Beit Midrash in 2007. ★ Support this podcast ★

A virtual event presentation by Rabbi Jonathan Spira-SavettThe event was co-sponsored by Congregation Or Tzion & BMH-BJ About The Event:One of the most nuanced recent explorations of teshuvah is a television show that has been described as “the smartest, dumbest show on TV.” The Good Place follows four human beings whom we meet in a “neighborhood” of the afterlife supervised by two eternal beings. (This description will try not to spoil the show for those who haven’t watched it, but the session will definitely have spoilers!) One of the humans is a professor of ethical philosophy, and another quickly reveals to him that she has been sent there by mistake. Together, they get to work keeping her from being expelled to the “bad place”, by studying ethics and applying the concepts to working on her character. In the course of four seasons, the show explicitly teaches concepts in ethical philosophy and portrays their application to moral self-improvement. There is almost no specific religious reference in the show, beyond the gestures to “heaven” and “hell.” But what has intrigued Jewish educators are moves that seem like midrashim on teshuvah in a Maimonidean sense and on the book of Esther, and echoes of many core Jewish ethical concepts. The Tov! podcast began with the idea of just juxtaposing each episode’s theme against Jewish teaching — hardly a sophisticated educational methodology. But the further we went, the more alive certain texts become for me, particularly those about teshuvah. And the more I have been surprised at realizations about the moral significance of things like time, friendship, and theology. In the session, we’ll watch and hear some tastes from the TV show and the podcast along with my own story, and hopefully, you’ll be intrigued to watch the show on your own, or re-watch it with a new lens!About the Speaker:Jon Spira–Savett has served for nearly fifteen years as rabbi of Temple Beth Abraham in Nashua, New Hampshire, and is co-host of Tov! A Podcast About “The Good Place” and Jewish Ideas Jon has taught social ethics, bioethics, and environmental ethics in Jewish day schools, supplementary programs, teen philanthropy projects, and wider community adult education projects, and he serves on the ethics committee of Southern New Hampshire Medical Center in Nashua. Jon’s general writings and recordings about Torah and current events are on his blog at rabbijon.net. He is the immediate past president of the Nashua Area Interfaith Council, co-convener of the Greater Nashua Housing Justice Group, and co-founder of “How To Be President”, an initiative to transform how we learn about candidates by asking better questions. Jon was ordained and received his M.A. in Jewish education from the Jewish Theological Seminary of America, and is an active alum of the Wexner Graduate Fellowship. He did his undergraduate studies at Harvard College. Jon grew up in St. Paul, Minnesota, and is a proud alum of the Talmud Torah of St. Paul, to which he owes his interest in ethical philosophy, text study, and Hebrew language. To find more information about Jon and his podcast you can go to his website at tovgoodplace.com ★ Support this podcast ★

A virtual event presentation by Dr. Jonnie SchnytzerThe event was co-sponsored by Congregation Or TzionAbout the Event:The words of the Jewish prayer may be described as a confluence of the most personal of moments and the story of an entire nation. Diving into its pages we will learn of moments of faith and fears, moments of indescribable ecstasy and sheer suffering – moments that created prayer. Leafing together through its pages, we will come to discover, not only historic moments which led to canonized prayer but also, what our inner prayer book might look like as well.About the Speaker:Jonnie Schnytzer is probably the only Ph.D. in Jewish Philosophy, focusing on medieval kabbalah, who can say that he once beat the head of Israeli Naval Commandos in a swimming race? His dissertation focused on the scientific kabbalah of Rabbi Joseph ben Shalom Ashkenazi. Jonnie’s forthcoming book is about Ashkenazi’s Kabbalah as well as a critical edition of the Kabbalist’s majestic commentary on Sefer Yesira. Jonnie’s also the author of Mossad's thriller, The Way Back, which paints a picture of contemporary Israel. Jonnie also orchestrated the publishing of an English edition of ‘The Hitler Haggadah’, an important piece of Moroccan Jewish history from the Holocaust. Jonnie has also taken on several leadership roles in the Jewish world, including advisor to the CEO of Birthright and executive manager with StandWithUs. He lectures on a wide variety of topics relating to Judaism and Israel, especially about the untold stories and unspoken heroes of Jewish history. Jonnie is happily married, with four gorgeous little kids, lives in Israel, and thinks that Australian Rules Football is the greatest sport ever invented. ★ Support this podcast ★

Rabbi Dr. Shmuly Yanklowitz (President and Dean of Valley Beit Midrash) interviews Rabbi Dr. Donniel Hartman. ..Rabbi Dr. Donniel Hartman is president of the Shalom Hartman Institute and holds the Kaufman Family Chair in Jewish Philosophy. He is the author of the highly regarded 2016 book, Putting God Second: How to Save Religion from Itself, and is the host of “For Heaven’s Sake,” one of the most popular Jewish podcasts in North America. Donniel is the founder of some of the most extensive education, training, and enrichment programs for scholars, educators, rabbis, and religious and lay leaders in Israel and North America. He is a prominent essayist, blogger, and lecturer on issues of Israeli politics, policy, Judaism, and the Jewish community. He has a Ph.D. in Jewish philosophy from Hebrew University, an M.A. in political philosophy from New York University, an M.A. in religion from Temple University, and a Rabbinic ordination from the Shalom Hartman Institute. Is the author of The Boundaries of Judaism, co-author of Spheres of Jewish Identity, and co-editor of Judaism and the Challenges of Modern Life. His new book entitled Who Are The Jews and Who We Can Become, will be published by JPS in the fall of 2023. He is married to Adina and is the father of three children and five grandchildren. ★ Support this podcast ★

A hybrid event (in-person and virtual) by Rabbi Dr. Donniel HartmanThe event was co-hosted by Temple SolelAbout the Event: Israel did not only establish the homeland of the Jewish people. It established the Jewish people as a people of power. This power, which enabled Israel’s survival, and was a primary source of attraction and identification with Israel, is increasingly becoming a source of criticism and at times alienation. For Zionism to play a central role in contemporary Jewish life we need to develop a new narrative of power. How do we understand power? Is it a value? What is its role in 21st-century Jewish life?About the Speaker:Rabbi Dr. Donniel Hartman is president of the Shalom Hartman Institute and holds the Kaufman Family Chair in Jewish Philosophy. He is the author of the highly regarded 2016 book, Putting God Second: How to Save Religion from Itself, and is the host of “For Heaven’s Sake,” one of the most popular Jewish podcasts in North America.Donniel is the founder of some of the most extensive education, training, and enrichment programs for scholars, educators, rabbis, and religious and lay leaders in Israel and North America. He is a prominent essayist, blogger, and lecturer on issues of Israeli politics, policy, Judaism, and the Jewish community.He has a Ph.D. in Jewish philosophy from Hebrew University, an M.A. in political philosophy from New York University, an M.A. in religion from Temple University, and a Rabbinic ordination from the Shalom Hartman Institute. Donniel is the author of The Boundaries of Judaism, co-author of Spheres of Jewish Identity, and co-editor of Judaism and the Challenges of Modern Life. His new book entitled Who Are The Jews and Who We Can Become, will be published by JPS in the fall of 2023.He is married to Adina and is the father of three children and five grandchildren. ★ Support this podcast ★

Rabbi Dr. Donniel Hartman is president of the Shalom Hartman Institute and holds the Kaufman Family Chair in Jewish Philosophy. He is the author of the highly regarded 2016 book, Putting God Second: How to Save Religion from Itself, and is the host of “For Heaven’s Sake,” one of the most popular Jewish podcasts in North America. Donniel is the founder of some of the most extensive education, training, and enrichment programs for scholars, educators, rabbis, and religious and lay leaders in Israel and North America. He is a prominent essayist, blogger, and lecturer on issues of Israeli politics, policy, Judaism, and the Jewish community. He has a Ph.D. in Jewish philosophy from Hebrew University, an M.A. in political philosophy from New York University, an M.A. in religion from Temple University, and a Rabbinic ordination from the Shalom Hartman Institute. He is the author of The Boundaries of Judaism, co-author of Spheres of Jewish Identity, and co-editor of Judaism and the Challenges of Modern Life. His new book entitled Who Are The Jews and Who We Can Become, will be published by JPS in the fall of 2023. He is married to Adina and is the father of three children and five grandchildren. *Source Sheet: https://docs.google.com/file/d/1QkrbKZygfbNUnmprCTCQU5tPkxELn7dp/edit?filetype=msword ★ Support this podcast ★

A virtual event presentation by Dr. Russ LindenThe event was co-sponsored by Rodef ShalomAbout the Event:We Jews like to debate and argue – with each other, with our teachers, even with God. Indeed, Rabbi Jonathan Sacks ZT”L wrote that “God loves those who argue.”* Why? Because we mortals can’t see the entirety of an issue, so we need to hear another side. However, it’s one thing to debate and argue, and quite another to do so persuasively. How do we speak our truth so that those in power can consider it? In this session, we’ll learn from Abraham, Moses, and the five daughters of Zelophehad, who were able to help God see “another side” and change course.*Rabbi Sacks’ essay is at: https://www.rabbisacks.org/covenant-conversation/shemot/god-loves-those-who-argue/About the Speaker:Russ is a management educator and author of six books. Since the mid-1980s he has taught public and nonprofit executives and managers about leadership, collaboration, the human side of change, resilience, crisis leadership, and related topics. His latest book is Loss and Discovery: What the Torah Can Teach Us about Leading Change. He has been an adjunct faculty member at the University of Virginia and the Federal Executive Institute for over 35 years. In 2003 he was the Williams Distinguished Visiting Scholar at the State University of New York (Fredonia) School of Business. He has consulted with numerous government agencies and elected officials, as well as nonprofits in the U.S. and Israel.Russ is a former president of his congregation, where he sometimes gives the d’var Torah during Shabbat services. He was the president of the local Jewish federation and served on the University of Virginia Hillel board. Russ has Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees from the University of Michigan. He has a Ph.D. in organizational leadership from the University of Virginia. His volunteer activities include leading an organization that works to make the community more open and welcoming for refugees and immigrants. He and his wife live in Charlottesville. They have two adult children and three grandchildren. ★ Support this podcast ★

Rabbi Dr. Shmuly Yanklowitz (President and Dean of Valley Beit Midrash) interviews Rabbi Mike Feuer. Rav Mike Feuer is an educational entrepreneur, content creator, and spiritual counsellor who uses the power of story to teach and inspire. He is the host of the Jewish Story history podcast, co-author of The Age of Prophecy biblical fantasy series, and offers narrative therapy to people around the world. No matter how Rav Mike is engaged, his mission is always the same – telling a story of the past to uphold an identity in the present equipped to build the future of which we dream. ★ Support this podcast ★

A hybrid event (in-person and virtual) by Rabbi Mike FeuerThe event was co-sponsored by Temple ChaiAbout the Event:Zionism was initially a small element of Jewish life in America, running at times counter to the mainstream. Israel’s independence forced a revolution on American Jews as well, and a new covenant with the state was stuck which placed Zionism at the base of American Jewish life. This class will explore the nature of the relationship between American Jewry and Israel and the role Zionism has played in its evolution. A look at the past and present will serve as a foundation for asking the pressing questions of the future. What lies ahead for Israel and American Jewry, and what role will Zionism play between them?About the Speaker:Rav Mike Feuer is an educational entrepreneur, content creator, and spiritual counsellor who uses the power of story to teach and inspire. He is the host of the Jewish Story history podcast, co-author of The Age of Prophecy biblical fantasy series, and offers narrative therapy to people around the world. No matter how Rav Mike is engaged, his mission is always the same – telling a story of the past to uphold an identity in the present equipped to build the future of which we dream. ★ Support this podcast ★

A virtual event presentation by Rabbi Dr. Joshua Garroway The event was Co-Hosted by Temple Emanuel Denver About the Event: Ancient Jewish and Christian admirers of Plato struggled to reconcile the philosopher’s concept of creation with Genesis 1. This class explores how the Jewish philosopher, Philo, the Christian Gospel of John, and the midrash, Genesis Rabbah, understand creation in nearly identical ways. Guaranteed: You’ll never read Genesis 1:1 the same way again! About the Speaker: Rabbi Joshua Garroway is the Sol and Arlene Bronstein Professor of Judaeo-Christian Studies at the Hebrew Union College – Jewish Institute of Religion in Los Angeles. Raised in Rochester, New York, Rabbi Garroway earned a BA in Religion from Duke University in 1998, rabbinical ordination from the Hebrew Union College – Jewish Institute of Religion in 2003, and a Ph.D. in New Testament Studies from the Religious Studies department of Yale University in 2008. While his academic books and articles focus on the origins of Christianity, and specifically the life and writings of Paul, his teaching and popular writing deal with Jewish texts and history more broadly. Professor Garroway lectures widely in synagogues, churches, and other public venues. He is also engaged in several interfaith ventures, including the Los Angeles area InterSem program and the Jewish-LDS Academic Dialogue. Rabbi Garroway currently lives in Pasadena, California, with his wife, Professor Kristine Henriksen Garroway, and their three t(w)eenage boys. For fun, he enjoys chess, tennis, opera, period pieces, and taking his kids to Dodgers games. ★ Support this podcast ★

A virtual event presentation by Rabbi Will FriedmanThe event was Co-Hosted by Temple SolelAbout the Event:The Jewish phrase “because of repairing the world” has become a widespread slogan for a commitment to a broad array of social justice causes. But many scholars and activists have cautioned that a phrase that can advocate anything can end up meaning nothing. A careful reappraisal of the rabbinic usage of the term, however, reveals something more: that “repairing the world” was code for public policy that considered the full range of potential consequences for the vulnerable people it meant to protect.*Source Sheet: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1lZ5M5ygRpvMdZfbtgIKlp6NAwqa7bBRR/viewAbout the Speaker:William Friedman is a doctoral candidate in Ancient Judaism at Harvard University, writing a dissertation on reasons for laws in the ancient near east. He also has rabbinic ordination from Rabbi Daniel Landes (Yashrut) and was a Kogod Research Fellow at the Shalom Hartman Institute of North America. He has studied and taught at a wide variety of Jewish institutions, including Pardes, YCT, JTS, and Hebrew College. He lives in Chicago with his spouse, Rabbi Sarah Mulhern, and two children, where he is the rabbinic spouse (rebbetzin) of Base LNCLN, welcoming college students and young adults for learning, service, and Jewish experiences. ★ Support this podcast ★

Rabbi Benjamin Berger, Vice President for Jewish Education and Experience Rabbi Ben Berger oversees Jewish and Israeli education at Hillel International, including three major priority areas: student experiences, educator development, and movement culture. Together these pillars of Hillel’s work center are Jewish learning and powerful Jewish experiences with the goal of growing the skills, knowledge, connections, and confidence of students and professionals. Ben has many years of experience at several campus Hillels including Cornell University, the University of Michigan, and The Ohio State University. He was formerly the director of the Wexner Heritage Program, which has the mission to expand the vision, deepen the knowledge, and build the confidence of Jewish volunteer leaders throughout the North American Jewish community. Ben was ordained by Yeshivat Chovevei Torah Rabbinical School. He, his wife Rachel, also a Hillel International professional, and their four daughters live in Washington, DC. Hillel website: https://www.hillel.org/ ★ Support this podcast ★

A virtual event presentation by Rabbi Adina LewittesEvent Co-Sponsored by Temple EmanuelAbout the Event:Cultural and environmental trends of the 21st century are raising important challenges to long-accepted notions of Kevod Hamet (“respect for the deceased”) in the way we handle bodies after death. Are our assumptions around the requirements for burial grounded in our sacred texts? Is burial really a mitzvah? Is cremation absolutely prohibited? Can alternatives to traditional practices live within a halakhic (Jewish legal) framework?*Source Sheet: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1fRFOJ32L_f7aW1PpEU_dear17_ylEB-X/view?ts=6425874cAbout the Speaker:Rabbi Adina Lewittes founded Sha’ar, a northern NJ/NYC-based, values-driven Jewish community oriented around the call to societal, environmental, and spiritual sustainability. For nearly twenty years, Sha’ar provided multiple gateways into Jewish life exemplified by a commitment to inclusiveness, diversity, innovation, scholarship, excellence, and collaboration.Adina recently served as the Scholar in Residence at Congregation B’nai Jeshurun in NYC, a synagogue renowned for its commitment to social justice and spiritual activism. Adina is also a member of the senior rabbinic faculty of the Shalom Hartman Institute, and she sits on the Board of Trustees of the Abraham Joshua Heschel School and on the Board of Keshet. She also serves as an adjunct faculty member of the Rabbinical School at JTS where she teaches contemporary Jewish Law.Previously, Adina served as the Assistant Dean of the Rabbinical School at JTS, and founded a synagogue in Englewood, New Jersey, modeling shared leadership and collective communal responsibility. Adina regularly enjoys speaking engagements in the US and Canada and publishing essays on topics including Jewish identity, modern Jewish law, leadership, Jewish innovation, sexual/gender diversity, multifaith/multiheritage marriage and engagement, and contemporary Jewish spirituality. She is married to Andi Lewittes and has four children, two stepchildren, and one incredible dog. ★ Support this podcast ★

A virtual event presentation by Dr. Jonnie SchnytzerEvent Co-Hosted by BMH-BJAbout the Event:Is evil manmade or divine? Do evil things happen due to our own faulty actions or are there forces of evil constantly trying to disrupt the divine plan? This class does not attempt to answer these questions. Rather, we shall go on a textual journey through the bustling port city of Alexandria through to the lavender blossoming fields of medieval Provance, to see how Jewish intellectual giants grappled with these questions.About the Speaker:Jonnie Schnytzer is probably the only Ph.D. in Jewish Philosophy, focusing on medieval kabbalah, who can say that he once beat the head of Israeli Naval Commandos in a swimming race? His dissertation focused on the scientific kabbalah of Rabbi Joseph ben Shalom Ashkenazi. Jonnie’s forthcoming book is about Ashkenazi’s Kabbalah as well as a critical edition of the kabbalist’s majestic commentary on Sefer Yesira. Jonnie’s also the author of Mossad's thriller, The Way Back, which paints a picture of contemporary Israel. Jonnie also orchestrated the publishing of an English edition of ‘The Hitler Haggadah’, an important piece of Moroccan Jewish history from the Holocaust. Jonnie has also taken on several leadership roles in the Jewish world, including advisor to the CEO of Birthright and executive manager with StandWithUs. He lectures on a wide variety of topics relating to Judaism and Israel, especially about the untold stories and unspoken heroes of Jewish history. Jonnie is happily married, with four gorgeous little kids, lives in Israel, and thinks that Australian Rules Football is the greatest sport ever invented. ★ Support this podcast ★

A virtual event presentation by Professor Ari KelmanEvent Co-Hosted by Hebrew Education AllianceAbout the Event:The place of American Jews in higher education is a complicated story. It is at once a story that is central to American Jewish class mobility, yet it is also undercut by evidence of antisemitism at some of the United States’ most revered institutions. The story of antisemitic exclusion at many of the Ivy League schools in the early decades of the 20th century has been well-documented. What is less known is the story of other schools which also engaged in exclusionary practices in the decades following World War II. In this presentation, Professor Kelman will examine one such instance of systematic exclusion in admissions. It is a story of administration, admissions, and antisemitism.About the Speaker:Professor Kelman’s research focuses on the forms and practices of religious knowledge transmission. He holds a specific research interest in American Jewry and writes broadly about the American Jewish experience. Recently, his focus has landed on questions of how American Jews come to understand themselves as a distinct community, and how social science methods reveal and conceal dimensions of American Jewish life including, most significantly, the racial and ethnic identities of American Jews.He is the author of Shout to the Lord: Making Worship Music in Evangelical America (NYU 2018) and Station Identification: A Cultural History of Yiddish Radio (California, 2009). He is also the co-editor (with Jon Levisohn) of Beyond Jewish Identity (2019: Academic Studies Press), the editor of Is Diss a System?: A Milt Gross Comic Reader (NYU, 2010), co-author of Sacred Strategies: Transforming Synagogues from Functional to Visionary (Alban Institute, 2011). Together with research partners at Stanford and elsewhere, he maintains an active research agenda and publishes regularly in venues both scholarly and popular. He serves as the chairperson of the Network for Research in Jewish Education. He is also an editor of Jewish Social Studies and serves on the executive board of the Association for Jewish Studies. ★ Support this podcast ★

In-Person event presentation by Ilan Kogan About the Event:We will be looking at several verses from the Book of Esther and seeing what questions could be gleaned from those verses. Several verses in the Book of Esther utilize double language, missing or additional letters, and sometimes what seems to be contradictory information. After discussing possible questions that could be found in those verses, we will look at the commentary on each of those verses that answered at least one question from each verse. We will be able to see that the Rabbis were not dismissive of these "abnormalities" in the text, but in fact, recognized their importance and attempted to explain them.About the Speaker:Ilan Kogan is a first-year student at Yeshivat Chovevei Torah. Ilan is from Queens, NY. He has a B.A. in Psychology with a minor in Philosophy from CUNY Queens College. In addition to spending his time studying at YCT, he also runs a Tik Tok account detailing his life as a Rabbinical Student, as well as containing humorous content about Judaism and questions and answers about Yiddishkeit. Ilan currently lives on the Upper West Side in New York City.Link to Sefaria Source Sheet: https://www.sefaria.org/sheets/467850.10?lang=he ★ Support this podcast ★

A virtual presentation by Rabbi Avi WeissEvent Co-Sponsored by Congregation Or TzionAbout the Event:Learn with Rabbi Avi Weiss about the transformative potential of Jewish spirituality. How can prayer, meditation, learning, and even activism sustain our inner flame? How wisdom have the Hasidic masters left us on how to live a life that is soulful?About the Speaker:Rabbi Avi Weiss founded Yeshivat Chovevei Torah in 1999. He is also the founding rabbi of the Hebrew Institute of Riverdale-the Bayit, a congregation of 850 families in the Bronx, New York, founder of Yeshivat Maharat, and the co-founder of the International Rabbinic Fellowship (IRF). Rav Avi served as National Chairman of the Student Struggle for Soviet Jewry (SSSJ) from 1982 to 1991 and subsequently as the National President of AMCHA – the Coalition for Jewish Concerns, raising a voice of moral conscience on behalf of the Jewish people and humankind throughout the world. He is the author of Women at Prayer: A Halakhic Analysis of Women’s Prayer Groups, Spiritual Activism: A Jewish Guide to Leadership and Repairing the World, Open Up the Iron Door: Memoirs of a Soviet Jewry Activist, and Journey to Open Orthodoxy. His new book, Torat Ahavah: Loving Torah will be published this year. ★ Support this podcast ★

A virtual event presentation by Dr. Joseph BenatovEvent Co-Sponsored by Temple EmanuelAbout the Event:Join us for a dynamic interactive trip through Bulgaria’s rich Jewish heritage. Our virtual tour will make stops in Sofia and Plovdiv, Bulgaria’s largest cities, and will take us inside the sumptuous Neo-Moorish Sofia synagogue. Other highlights along the way include the medieval capital, the grand Rila Monastery, and the mountain town of Samokov, home to the affluent Arie dynasty. You will have a chance to learn about the history and culture of the Bulgarian Sephardic Jews. We will discuss the historical details surrounding both the deportation to Treblinka of nearly 11,400 Greek and Macedonian Jews as well as the survival of all 50,000 Bulgarian Jews during the Holocaust. We will note some of the most prominent politicians, clergymen, and intellectuals who stood up for their Jewish neighbors. Our final destination will be Jaffa, Israel, where large numbers of Bulgarian Jews settled between 1948 and 1952.About the Speaker:Joseph Benatov holds a doctorate in comparative literature from the University of Pennsylvania, where he teaches Hebrew. He has written on competing national narratives of the saving of the Bulgarian Jews during World War II; Jewish identity politics in Philip Roth’s early fiction; and the sensationalism of U.S. representations of life behind the Iron Curtain. He has translated fiction, poetry, and drama, including several plays staged to wide acclaim in Sofia, Bulgaria. He is also the English translator of the contemporary Bulgarian novel Zift. Every summer Dr. Benatov leads Jewish heritage trips to the Balkans. ★ Support this podcast ★

A hybrid event (in-person and virtual) by Dara HornPresented in partnership with: Scottsdale Arts and Congregation Beth Israel About The Event: Is there any connection between recent antisemitic attacks and recent controversies about public Holocaust education? Actually, yes, and it’s built into a strange historic bargain struck between Jews and non-Jewish societies, including here in the United States. Here are the parameters of that bargain, and the reasons why we all should opt-out.About The Speaker:Dara Horn is the award-winning author of six books, including the novels In the Image (Norton 2002), The World to Come (Norton 2006), All Other Nights (Norton 2009), A Guide for the Perplexed (Norton 2013), and Eternal Life (Norton 2018), and the essay collection People Love Dead Jews (Norton 2021). One of Granta magazine’s Best Young American Novelists, she is the recipient of two National Jewish Book Awards, the Edward Lewis Wallant Award, the Harold U. Ribalow Award, and the Reform Judaism Fiction Prize, and she was a finalist for the JW Wingate Prize, the Simpson Family Literary Prize, and the Carnegie Medal for Excellence in Fiction. Her books have been selected as New York Times Notable Books, Booklist’s Best 25 Books of the Decade, and San Francisco Chronicle’s Best Books of the Year, and have been translated into eleven languages. Her nonfiction work has appeared in The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, The Washington Post, The Atlantic, Smithsonian, and The Jewish Review of Books, among many other publications, and she is a regular columnist for Tablet. Horn received her doctorate in Yiddish and Hebrew literature from Harvard University. She has taught courses in these subjects at Sarah Lawrence College and Yeshiva University and has held the Gerald Weinstock Visiting Professorship in Jewish Studies at Harvard. She has lectured for audiences in hundreds of venues throughout North America, Israel, and Australia. She lives in New Jersey with her husband and four children. ★ Support this podcast ★

Rabbi Dr. Shmuly Yanklowitz (President and Dean of Valley Beit Midrash) interviews Dara Horn. ------------------ Stay Connected with Valley Beit Midrash: • Website: https://www.valleybeitmidrash.org • Donate: https://www.valleybeitmidrash.org/donate • Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ValleyBeitMidrash • Become a Member: https://www.valleybeitmidrash.org/become-a-member/ • Follow Rabbi Shmuly: https://www.facebook.com/RabbiShmulyYanklowitz ★ Support this podcast ★

A virtual event presentation by Jordan B. GorfinkelEvent Co-Sponsored by Rodef ShalomAbout The Event:An interview and discussion with Jordan B. Gorfinkel—Gorf—about Esther the Graphic Novel and the history of the original female superhero!About The Speaker:Jordan B. Gorfinkel—Gorf—is a veteran Batman Editor working in graphic novels, film, and TV (www.gorfy.com). He created the #1 bestselling Passover Haggadah Graphic Novel and is launching the non-profit Jewish Graphic Novel Initiative. His studio Avalanche Comics Entertainment produces corporate storytelling. He draws @JewishCartoon weekly. As a musician, he pioneered professional Jewish A Cappella (www.KolZimra.com). And he travels the world to speak and give workshops, spreading the message: Make Judaism Your Superpower! ★ Support this podcast ★

A virtual event presentation by Rabbi Dr. Nathan Lopes CardozoEvent Co-Sponsored by BMH BJAbout The Event:This shiur (session) deals with the questions of whether the kelalot (curses) in the Torah are applicable to the Holocaust and the different shitot (theories) concerning the Holocaust.About The SpeakerRabbi Dr. Nathan Lopes Cardozo is the Founder and Dean of the David Cardozo Academy and the Bet Midrash of Avraham Avinu in Jerusalem. A sought-after lecturer on the international stage for both Jewish and non-Jewish audiences, Rabbi Cardozo is the author of 13 books and numerous articles in both English and Hebrew. Rabbi Cardozo heads a Think Tank focused on finding new Halachic and philosophical approaches to dealing with the crisis of religion and identity amongst Jews and the Jewish State of Israel. Hailing from the Netherlands, Rabbi Cardozo is known for his original and often fearlessly controversial insights into Judaism. His ideas are widely debated on an international level on social media, blogs, books, and other forums.Written by NLC and Ilana Sinclair ★ Support this podcast ★

A virtual event presentation by Rabbi Dr. Mira Neshama WeilEvent Co-Sponsored by Rodef ShalomAbout The Event:At a time in winter where we’re invited to trust the silent work of nature under the earth before the explosion of spring, this session is an opportunity to revisit the idea of faith (emunah) in the Jewish tradition. Not just to check in with where we are at with our own emuna and relationship (or not ) with ‘God,’ but also to explore our idea of faith. What if it was other than what we took it to be? Looking at some Jewish texts and familiar prayer, In this session, we’ll play with the idea of seeing faith, a sometimes loaded topic, in a different light.About The Speaker:Rabbi Dr. Mira Neshama Weil is a student of Life, Torah, and Meditation. Born in Paris, she earned a Ph.D. in Sociology of Religion at Ecole de Hautes Etudes en Sciences Sociales in Paris (EHESS) and received orthodox smicha from Rav Dr. Daniel Sperber at Beit Midrash Har’El in Jerusalem. A certified Jewish Experiential Educator (Pardes Institute of Jewish Studies), Yoga instructor (Sira, RYT 200), and Mindfulness Teacher (Institute for Jewish Spirituality, Mindfulness Training Institute) Mira is on the Faculty of Or Ha Lev, Applied Jewish Spirituality and the Romemu yeshiva, and she teaches internationally organizations and individuals about Jewish wisdom and contemplative practice. ★ Support this podcast ★