Jewish Insights with Justin Pines

Ilana Kurshan, award-winning author of the memoir "If All the Seas Were Ink," joins Justin to discuss her next book, "Children of the Book: A Memoir of Reading Together," which explores her experience of reading Jewish and secular books with her children, and the cumulative impact on her and her family. You can learn more at ilanakurshan.com

What are the different models of Jewish leadership? How do leaders activate other leaders in their community while still leading their community? Rabbi Elie Weinstock joins Justin to discuss his style of leadership through generosity of spirit. Rabbi Elie Weinstock is Senior Rabbi of the Jewish Center of Atlantic Beach on Long Island, serves as a Nassau County Police Department Chaplain and is Immediate Past President of the New York Board of Rabbis.

Why is Tu B’Av—just six days after Tisha B’Av—one of the happiest days in the Jewish calendar? What do white dresses, vineyard dances, and ancient tribal unity have to teach us today? Gila Fine, award-winning author of The Madwoman in the Rabbi’s Attic, returns to to Jewish Insights with Justin Pines to explore the mysterious holiday of Tu B’Av. With her signature depth, clarity, and soul, Gila unpacks the surprising origins of Tu B’Av in the Torah, its connection to romantic and spiritual love, and its powerful message for our understanding of love today. You can learn more about Gila Fine at https://gilafine.com/ *** JBS is a non-profit, Jewish educational television and multimedia channel made possible by VIEWERS LIKE YOU! *** Discover more JBS @ https://jbstv.org Please help us sustain our programming by visiting: https://jbstv.org/jbs-donation-form Find JBS on your TV Provider, Apple TV, Fire TV, Roku by visiting: https://jbstv.org/find-us Watch Live on our website: https://jbstv.org/watch-live Download the JBS App or listen on the go wherever you get your Podcasts!

Why do we still mourn the destruction of the Temple thousands of years later? What does Tisha B’Av mean for Jews today—and how can this day of national sorrow inspire healing and hope? In this special Tisha B’Av episode of Jewish Insights, Justin Pines is joined by historian and teacher Rabbi Dr. J.J. Schacter for a powerful conversation about Jewish suffering, memory, and resilience. From the destruction of the Temples to the Holocaust to October 7th, Rabbi Schacter helps us understand why remembering is essential—and how even in our darkest moments, there is a spark of redemption. You can watch Rabbi Schacter’s full Tisha B’Av teachings at https://www.yutorah.org/tishabav You can learn more about Operation Benjamin at https://www.operationbenjamin.org/ *** JBS is a non-profit, Jewish educational television and multimedia channel made possible by VIEWERS LIKE YOU! *** Discover more JBS @ https://jbstv.org Please help us sustain our programming by visiting: https://jbstv.org/jbs-donation-form Find JBS on your TV Provider, Apple TV, Fire TV, Roku by visiting: https://jbstv.org/find-us Watch Live on our website: https://jbstv.org/watch-live Download the JBS App or listen on the go wherever you get your Podcasts!

After the Second Temple’s destruction, how did the Jewish people not only survive—but shape world history? In Part II of this epic journey through Jewish history, Rabbi Ken Spiro joins Justin to explore 2,000 years of exile, persecution, and perseverance—from Rome to the Enlightenment, from Inquisition to Zionism. A gripping look at how Jewish continuity defied the odds—and set the stage for a modern miracle, and a future unfolding. Rabbi Ken Spiro is Senior Lecturer and Researcher for Aish HaTorah in Jerusalem, a licensed tour guide in Israel, and the author of several books, including Crash Course in Jewish History: From Abraham to Modern Israel. You can learn more at https://kenspiro.com/ *** JBS is a non-profit, Jewish educational television and multimedia channel made possible by VIEWERS LIKE YOU! *** Discover more JBS @ https://jbstv.org Please help us sustain our programming by visiting: https://jbstv.org/jbs-donation-form Find JBS on your TV Provider, Apple TV, Fire TV, Roku by visiting: https://jbstv.org/find-us Watch Live on our website: https://jbstv.org/watch-live Download the JBS App or listen on the go wherever you get your Podcasts!

How did a small tribal people become a spiritual superpower? In Part I of this epic journey through Jewish history, historian Rabbi Ken Spiro joins Justin to trace the rise of the Jewish people—from Abraham to the unification under King David to the glory of the First and Second Temples, and finally to the tightening grip of Roman rule. Discover how ancient Jewish identity was forged and what forces were already threatening it from within. Rabbi Ken Spiro is, Senior Lecturer and Researcher for Aish HaTorah in Jerusalem, a licensed tour guide in Israel, and the author of several books, including Crash Course in Jewish History: From Abraham to Modern Israel. You can learn more at https://kenspiro.com/ *** JBS is a non-profit, Jewish educational television and multimedia channel made possible by VIEWERS LIKE YOU! *** Discover more JBS @ https://jbstv.org Please help us sustain our programming by visiting: https://jbstv.org/jbs-donation-form Find JBS on your TV Provider, Apple TV, Fire TV, Roku by visiting: https://jbstv.org/find-us Watch Live on our website: https://jbstv.org/watch-live Download the JBS App or listen on the go wherever you get your Podcasts!

What do iconic Jewish women from across the centuries teach us about leadership, faith, and inner strength? Justin sits with Dr. Aliza Lavie—author, scholar, and former Member of Knesset—to explore her groundbreaking new book Iconic Jewish Women, a collection of 59 remarkable stories of Jewish heroines, from Bruriah and Sarah Schenirer to Ruth Bader Ginsburg and Doña Gracia Nasi, as well as her book. We also dive into Dr. Lavie’s work on tehinot — traditional women’s prayers — and what they reveal about the soul of Jewish spiritual life. And we hear firsthand what it was like to bring Torah values into the halls of the Israeli parliament. If you're curious about the spiritual legacy of Jewish women, the evolution of prayer, and how values translate into action, this conversation will move and inspire you. *** JBS is a non-profit, Jewish educational television and multimedia channel made possible by VIEWERS LIKE YOU! *** Discover more JBS @ https://jbstv.org Please help us sustain our programming by visiting: https://jbstv.org/jbs-donation-form Find JBS on your TV Provider, Apple TV, Fire TV, Roku by visiting: https://jbstv.org/find-us Watch Live on our website: https://jbstv.org/watch-live Download the JBS App or listen on the go wherever you get your Podcasts!

What role have Jews played in shaping America’s constitutional conversation? And how do core American values—like free speech, religious liberty, and anti-discrimination—intersect with Jewish values? In this special July 4th episode of Jewish Insights with Justin Pines, legal scholar Professor Michael (Avi) Helfand joins us for a powerful exploration of how Jews contribute to—and are shaped by—the American legal system. Avi is the Brenden Mann Foundation Chair in Law and Religion at Pepperdine Caruso School of Law, a visiting professor at Yale Law School, and a leading voice on religious liberty, church-state separation, the balance between anti discrimination laws and free speech, and the Jewish role in public legal discourse. A timely and thought-provoking conversation for Independence Day—and for anyone who cares about faith, law, and the future of American democracy. *** JBS is a non-profit, Jewish educational television and multimedia channel made possible by VIEWERS LIKE YOU! *** Discover more JBS @ https://jbstv.org Please help us sustain our programming by visiting: https://jbstv.org/jbs-donation-form Find JBS on your TV Provider, Apple TV, Fire TV, Roku by visiting: https://jbstv.org/find-us Watch Live on our website: https://jbstv.org/watch-live Download the JBS App or listen on the go wherever you get your Podcasts!

Rabbi Dr. Kenneth Brander is President and Rosh HaYeshiva of the Ohr Torah Stone network of 32 educational institutions, leadership development initiatives, outreach endeavors, women’s empowerment programs, and social action projects, with thousands of alumni who have served in the IDF.

Internationally renowned Torah scholar and thought leader Dr. Elana Stein Hain, of the Shalom Hartman Institute, joins Justin to discuss her experience of living in Israel during the current war between Israel and Iran, sharing her reflections and offering ways to connect to what’s happening on the ground. *** JBS is a non-profit, Jewish educational television and multimedia channel made possible by VIEWERS LIKE YOU! *** Discover more JBS @ https://jbstv.org Please help us sustain our programming by visiting: https://jbstv.org/jbs-donation-form Find JBS on your TV Provider, Apple TV, Fire TV, Roku by visiting: https://jbstv.org/find-us Watch Live on our website: https://jbstv.org/watch-live Download the JBS App or listen on the go wherever you get your Podcasts!

Rabbi Herzl Hefter joins Jewish Insights with Justin Pines to explore the profound and often provocative teachings of the Ishbitzer Rebbe, Rabbi Mordechai Yosef Leiner. Drawing from the Ishbitzer’s seminal work Mei HaShiloach, Rabbi Hefter unpacks ideas about Divine Providence, free will, inner truth, and spiritual authenticity that continue to challenge and inspire today. Rabbi Herzel Hefter is the founder and dean of Beit Midrash Har’el, in Memory of Belda Kaufman Lindenbaum, in Jerusalem. *** JBS is a non-profit, Jewish educational television and multimedia channel made possible by VIEWERS LIKE YOU! *** Discover more JBS @ https://jbstv.org Please help us sustain our programming by visiting: https://jbstv.org/jbs-donation-form Find JBS on your TV Provider, Apple TV, Fire TV, Roku by visiting: https://jbstv.org/find-us Watch Live on our website: https://jbstv.org/watch-live Download the JBS App or listen on the go wherever you get your Podcasts!

In this powerful and timely conversation, Congressman Josh Gottheimer (D-NJ) joins Justin to discuss his role as the representative for Edan Alexander, the American-Israeli hostage who recently returned home. Gottheimer shares what it means to be a Jewish member of Congress at a time of rising antisemitism, how he’s working across the aisle in today’s polarized climate, and how Jewish values shape Gottheimer’s service. A moving, deeply personal, and nationally important conversation you won’t want to miss. *** JBS is a non-profit, Jewish educational television and multimedia channel made possible by VIEWERS LIKE YOU! *** Discover more JBS @ https://jbstv.org Please help us sustain our programming by visiting: https://jbstv.org/jbs-donation-form Find JBS on your TV Provider, Apple TV, Fire TV, Roku by visiting: https://jbstv.org/find-us Watch Live on our website: https://jbstv.org/watch-live Download the JBS App or listen on the go wherever you get your Podcasts!

Rabbi Moshe Weinberger, founding rabbi of Congregation Aish Kodesh, shares his passionate vision of a Judaism that speaks to the soul, exploring powerful insights from Chassidut, on connecting with God, living with purpose, navigating the challenges facing the Jewish people, and insights for Shavuot.

Rebbetzin Rochie Pinson, challah master and author of the international bestseller Rising: The Book of Challah, joins Justin to discuss the hidden power of the mitzvot traditionally unique to woman, including baking challah, lighting Shabbat candles and the mikvah, and how they each can serve as catalysts for an an elevated and meaningful life. To follow Rochie’s challah journey, or to contact Rochie for your next event, whether corporate, charity or personal, find her on www.therisinglife.net or on instagram @rochiepinson *** JBS is a non-profit, Jewish educational television and multimedia channel made possible by VIEWERS LIKE YOU! *** Discover more JBS @ https://jbstv.org Please help us sustain our programming by visiting: https://jbstv.org/jbs-donation-form Find JBS on your TV Provider, Apple TV, Fire TV, Roku by visiting: https://jbstv.org/find-us Watch Live on our website: https://jbstv.org/watch-live Download the JBS App or listen on the go wherever you get your Podcasts!

Rabbi Tamar Elad-Appelbaum, founding rabbi of the Zion community in Jerusalem and co-founder and head of the Israeli Rabbinic Seminary at the Hartman Institute, joins Justin to continue our exploration of Pnimiyut HaTorah—the hidden wisdom of Torah, the inner dimension of Jewish spirituality that speaks to the soul and calls us to transformation, with a focus on Zion and Jerusalem, as we also prepare to celebrate Yom Yerushalayim, Jerusalem Day, an Israeli national holiday that commemorates the reunification of East Jerusalem (including the Old City) with West Jerusalem following Israel’s miraculous victory of self-defense in the Six-Day War of 1967. *** JBS is a non-profit, Jewish educational television and multimedia channel made possible by VIEWERS LIKE YOU! *** Discover more JBS @ https://jbstv.org Please help us sustain our programming by visiting: https://jbstv.org/jbs-donation-form Find JBS on your TV Provider, Apple TV, Fire TV, Roku by visiting: https://jbstv.org/find-us Watch Live on our website: https://jbstv.org/watch-live Download the JBS App or listen on the go wherever you get your Podcasts!

Rabbi Beryl Gershenfeld, Founder and President of Meor and a co-founder and Rosh Yeshiva of Machon Yaakov and Machon Shlomo in Har Nof in Israel, joins Justin to discuss his unique approach to educating young adults on college campuses, the transformative power of the hidden wisdom of Torah, and how that wisdom can inspire and elevate us all. You can find out more at Meor.org Presented in partnership with Share.Fund ( https://share.fund ) — enriching modern lives through ancient Jewish wisdom. Subscribe for more soulful Jewish content as we journey toward Shavuot. *** JBS is a non-profit, Jewish educational television and multimedia channel made possible by VIEWERS LIKE YOU! *** Discover more JBS @ https://jbstv.org Please help us sustain our programming by visiting: https://jbstv.org/jbs-donation-form Find JBS on your TV Provider, Apple TV, Fire TV, Roku by visiting: https://jbstv.org/find-us Watch Live on our website: https://jbstv.org/watch-live Download the JBS App or listen on the go wherever you get your Podcasts!

Why Rebbe Nachman Still Speaks to Us, with Rabbi Zev Reichman (Hidden Wisdom of Torah Part 1) As we count the Omer and prepare for Shavuot, we begin a new series on Pnimiyut HaTorah—the inner, hidden wisdom of Torah. In this first episode, Rabbi Zev Reichman returns to Jewish Insights with Justin Pines to help us understand why the Omer is such a powerful time for inner growth, how Pnimiyut HaTorah can transform our spiritual lives, and why the teachings of Rebbe Nachman of Breslov still speak so powerfully to our souls today. Rabbi Reichman, a beloved teacher and spiritual leader in Englewood, NJ, shares the depth and relevance of Rebbe Nachman’s radical joy, personal prayer, and enduring hope—especially in a world full of noise, doubt, and distraction. 🎙️ Presented in partnership with Share.Fund ( https://share.fund ) — enriching modern lives through ancient Jewish wisdom. 🔔 Subscribe for more soulful Jewish content as we journey toward Shavuot. *** JBS is a non-profit, Jewish educational television and multimedia channel made possible by VIEWERS LIKE YOU! *** Discover more JBS @ https://jbstv.org Please help us sustain our programming by visiting: https://jbstv.org/jbs-donation-form Find JBS on your TV Provider, Apple TV, Fire TV, Roku by visiting: https://jbstv.org/find-us Watch Live on our website: https://jbstv.org/watch-live Download the JBS App or listen on the go wherever you get your Podcasts!

In preparation for Yom Hazikaron, Israel’s Remembrance Day, and Yom Ha’atzmaut, Israel’s Independence Day, Justin is joined by Dr. Daniel Gordis—renowned author, thinker, and Koret Distinguished Fellow at Shalem College, whose work has profoundly shaped our understanding of Israel’s history, identity, and challenges - to reflect on the meaning of these important dates on the Jewish calendar this year, particularly after October 7. ** JBS is a non-profit, Jewish educational television and multimedia channel made possible by VIEWERS LIKE YOU! *** Discover more JBS @ https://jbstv.org Please help us sustain our programming by visiting: https://jbstv.org/jbs-donation-form Find JBS on your TV Provider, Apple TV, Fire TV, Roku by visiting: https://jbstv.org/find-us Watch Live on our website: https://jbstv.org/watch-live Download the JBS App or listen on the go wherever you get your Podcasts!

Chiune Sugihara, known as the "Japanese Schindler," risked everything to save thousands of Jews during the Shoah (Holocaust) by issuing life-saving visas against his government's orders. Now, in this powerful Yom HaShoah conversation on Jewish Insights with Justin Pines, his grandson, Chihiro Sugihara, meets Rabbi Avram Mlotek, the grandson of Yosl Mlotek and great-nephew of Avram Mlotek, two of the many Jews Sugihara saved. Justin, whose own grandfather was saved by Oskar Schindler, guides this deeply personal and emotional conversation about bravery, memory, and the bonds forged in the face of history’s darkest moments. Chihiro Sugihara served for 12 years as the chairman of the non-profit organization Chiune Sugihara Visas For Life, and travels the world sharing his grandfather’s story. Rabbi Avram Mlotek is the co-creator and librettist of Amid Falling Walls, a musical featuring Yiddish songs written during the Holocaust, which had its world premiere at the Museum of Jewish Heritage - A Living Memorial to the Holocaust in Fall 2023 and which won the 2024 Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Revue. *** JBS is a non-profit, Jewish educational television and multimedia channel made possible by VIEWERS LIKE YOU! *** Discover more JBS @ https://jbstv.org Please help us sustain our programming by visiting: https://jbstv.org/jbs-donation-form Find JBS on your TV Provider, Apple TV, Fire TV, Roku by visiting: https://jbstv.org/find-us Watch Live on our website: https://jbstv.org/watch-live Download the JBS App or listen on the go wherever you get your Podcasts!

What was it like to learn from Rabbi Yosef Dov Soloveitchik, one of the greatest Jewish thinkers of the 20th century? On the occasion of Rabbi Soloveitchik’s yahrzeit, Rabbi Hershel Reichman—renowned scholar, author, and devoted student of the Rav for several decades — shares rare insights into Rabbi Soloveitchik’s teachings, philosophy, and lasting impact. In addition to serving as Rosh Yeshiva at Yeshiva University's Rabbi Isaac Elchanan Theological Seminary for over 50 years, Rabbi Reichman has written eight books, entitled Reshimos Shiurim, based on the notes of the Talmud classes of Rabbi Soloveitchik. *** JBS is a non-profit, Jewish educational television and multimedia channel made possible by VIEWERS LIKE YOU! *** Discover more JBS @ https://jbstv.org Please help us sustain our programming by visiting: https://jbstv.org/jbs-donation-form Find JBS on your TV Provider, Apple TV, Fire TV, Roku by visiting: https://jbstv.org/find-us Watch Live on our website: https://jbstv.org/watch-live Download the JBS App or listen on the go wherever you get your Podcasts!

Rabbi Judah Mischel joins Jewish Insights with Justin Pines for a powerful conversation on the meaning of Passover. He explores baderech—the path to redemption—accepting your higher self, and the beauty of Jewish rituals leading up to the holiday. In a time of rising antisemitism, Rabbi Mischel reminds us of the strength and joy found in proudly living Jewishly. *** JBS is a non-profit, Jewish educational television and multimedia channel made possible by VIEWERS LIKE YOU! *** Discover more JBS @ https://jbstv.org Please help us sustain our programming by visiting: https://jbstv.org/jbs-donation-form Find JBS on your TV Provider, Apple TV, Fire TV, Roku by visiting: https://jbstv.org/find-us Watch Live on our website: https://jbstv.org/watch-live Download the JBS App or listen on the go wherever you get your Podcasts!

On this episode of Jewish Insights with Justin Pines, Rabbi Avi Weiss delves into the deep symbolism of Passover, exploring its connection to Israel and our relationship with God. He also shares insights from his new book, Haggadah Yehi Ohr: Let There Be Light, offering a fresh perspective on the holiday’s themes of faith, freedom, and redemption. Don’t miss this enlightening conversation on JBS! Listen now and subscribe for more Jewish wisdom! #JewishInsights #RabbiAviWeiss #Passover #HaggadahYehiOhr #LetThereBeLight #JBS #jewishtradition *** JBS is a non-profit, Jewish educational television and multimedia channel made possible by VIEWERS LIKE YOU! *** Discover more JBS @ https://jbstv.org Please help us sustain our programming by visiting: https://jbstv.org/jbs-donation-form Find JBS on your TV Provider, Apple TV, Fire TV, Roku by visiting: https://jbstv.org/find-us Watch Live on our website: https://jbstv.org/watch-live Download the JBS App or listen on the go wherever you get your Podcasts!

On this episode of Jewish Insights, host Justin Pines sits down with Eli Beer, founder of United Hatzalah, to discuss the lifesaving work of his volunteer-based emergency response organization. They explore the concept of Kiddush Hashem—sanctifying God's name through acts of kindness—and the power of a communal approach to helping others in times of crisis. Don’t miss this inspiring conversation about unity, compassion, and making a difference.

Justin is joined by Yehuda Kohn, longtime director of Bet Elazraki Children’s Home in Netanya, and Mishel Marchasin, a former resident & Presidential Medal of Excellence recipient, about the home’s transformative impact on at-risk children in Israel.

Rabbi David Fohrman, Founder and Lead Scholar at Aleph Beta, one of the most innovative interpreters of Tanach (the Jewish biblical canon), and author of The Queen You Thought You Knew: Unmasking Esther’s Hidden Story, joins Justin to reveal a new understanding of the Purim story and how it sheds light on the Torah more broadly.

Justin is joined by scholar warrior Dr. Rachel Fish, co-founder and president of Boundless, a think-action tank partnering with community leaders across North America to revitalize Israel education and take bold collective action to combat Jew-hatred, to discuss the rise of Jew hatred on college campuses and strategies to eradicate it.

Internationally renowned comedian Modi Rosenfeld joins Justin to discuss Jewish humor, the purpose of comedy and spreading joy on the occasion of the new month of Adar leading up to the holiday of Purim.

Dr. Elana Stein Hain joins Justin to discuss her experience of living in Israel as an American this year, including insights about Purim, Diaspora, Jewish identity and Religious Zionism. Elana Stein Hain is Rosh Beit Midrash and Senior Fellow at the Shalom Hartman Institute.

On the occasion of Tu B’Shvat, the new year for trees, rabbi and mathematician Dr. Elie Feder joins Justin to discuss our relationship with nature, the cosmos and creation. How do recent discoveries in physics shape our understanding of God’s existence, and how is Judaism in conversation with evolution? Rabbi Dr. Elie Feder, received rabbinic ordination from Rabbi Yisrael Chait, and a PhD in Mathematics from the CUNY graduate center. He is the author of Gematria Refigured (2022) and Happiness in the Face of Adversity (2024). He is also a co-host of the podcast “Physics to God” and the host of the podcast “Simply Deep.”

Rachel Jacoby Rosenfield, CEO of the Shalom Hartman Institute of North America, joins Justin to share her approach to creating culture and fostering purpose as an individual and as a leader of a family and large organization.

Rabbi Dr. Shlomo Brody executive director of Ematai, an organization dedicated to helping Jews navigate dilemmas regarding aging, and end-of-life treatment with Jewish wisdom, joins Justin to discuss confronting mortality, living wills, and physician-assisted suicide through a Jewish lens.

Marc Schneier, Founding Senior Rabbi of The Hampton Synagogue, author of "Shared Dreams: Martin Luther King, Jr. and the Jewish Community," and President of the Foundation for Ethnic Understanding, joins Justin to discuss the strong relationship between Dr. King and the Jewish people, Torah and the State of Israel, and lessons for today.

Emmy-award winning Joanna Stern, the Wall Street Journal’s senior personal technology columnist, and Rabbi Danny Nevins, Head of School at Golda Och Academy and author of “Torah & Technology: Circuits, Cells and the Sacred Path,” join Justin to discuss navigating technological trends through a Jewish and moral lens, including the use and creation of artificial intelligence, end of life/after life, self-driving vehicles, and Shabbat.

Dr. Noam Wasserman, incoming Ramaz Head of School, Dean of YU's Sy Syms School of Business, and author of "Life Is a Startup: What Founders Can Teach Us about Making Choices and Managing Change," joins Justin to discuss how to synthesize the Jewish and business approaches to life, how to respond to setbacks, and career choices.

Rav Judah Mischel, (Camp HASC, the Hebrew Academy for Special Children), joins Justin to discuss the transformational experiences of the campers counselors and families of Camp HASC, as well as Chanukah and the mission of the Jewish people.

Rabbi Manis Friedman, world-renowned author, counselor, lecturer and philosopher, and the most popular rabbi on YouTube joins Justin to discuss Chanukah, marriage, service and the goal of life.

Dyonna Ginsburg, CEO of OLAM, joins Justin to discuss Jewish and Israeli Tikkun Olam, the effort to not only protect and care for the Jewish people and the State of Israel, but to spread across the globe to repair the world. Why are Jews and Israelis so committed to global service, and what has been the impact on this work since October 7?

Gila Fine, author of Rabbi Sacks Book Prize winner “The Madwoman in the Rabbi’s Attic: Rereading the Women of the Talmud,” and lecturer of rabbinic literature at the Pardes Institute of Jewish Studies, shows Justin how stories in the Talmud are often not only not what they seem, but the complete opposite, using the examples of female archetypes in rabbinic literature.

Justin is joined by actor, artist and Jewish advocate Jonah Platt, host of the new weekly program on JBS, “Being Jewish with Jonah Platt,” to discuss growing up in the Platt home, sharing truth online in an age of misinformation, navigating difficult conversations, and the new Jewish series “Nobody Wants This.” Jonah has acted in Oscar nominated films like Being The Ricardos, and performed in Tony-winning musicals like Wicked, and is currently producing his first feature film, "The Mensch," in which he will co-star alongside Ginnifer Goodwin.

Rabbi Dr. Ari Lamm joins Justin to discuss how Jewish ideas have shaped world and American history, including the American government, the first Thanksgiving, and American universities. Rabbi Lamm is the Chief Executive of BZ Media, producing Israel content for young audiences outside the Jewish community.

In Part 2 of Justin’s discussion with Rabbi Irving ‘Yitz’ Greenberg, they explore what “Triumph” means in Judaism and the Jewish approach to transforming society. Rabbi Irving "Yitz" Greenberg is a preeminent Jewish thinker, theologian, activist, president of the J.J. Greenberg Institute for the Advancement of Jewish Life, and is senior scholar in residence at Hadar. He recently released his magnum opus, “The Triumph of Life: A Narrative Theology of Judaism.”

Rabbi Irving ‘Yitz’ Greenberg, one of the most influential Jewish thinkers of the past half century, joins Justin to celebrate the release of his magnum opus, “The Triumph Of Life: A Narrative Theology of Judaism,” and shares how all of Jewish theology and practice is ultimately about choosing life. Rabbi Irving Yitz Greenberg is president of the J.J. Greenberg Institute for the Advancement of Jewish Life, and is senior scholar in residence at Hadar.

For the majority of Americans, the economy is the number one issue in this election cycle. Justin is joined by Rabbi David Rosenn, President and CEO of the Hebrew Free Loan Society, which creates economic stability and opportunity for lower income New Yorkers within and beyond the Jewish community through interest-free loans, and is one of over 20 Jewish free loan societies across North America.

On the occasion of starting to read the Torah from the beginning this year, Justin is joined by In the Spotlight host Abigail Pogrebin and Yeshivat Chovevei Torah President and Rosh HaYeshiva Rabbi Dov Linzer to discuss their new book: “It Takes Two To Torah: An Orthodox Rabbi and Reform Journalist Discuss and Debate Their Way Through the Five Books of Moses,” a one volume tour of the entire Torah through the medium of one challenging, instructive, irreverent and animated conversation

No major political figure has had more recent experience trying to negotiate a two-state solution than Tzipi Livni. As we approach the Hebrew calendar anniversary of the darkest day in recent Jewish history, Tzipi Livni joins Justin to discuss her experience, her reflections after one year, and what is possible for the future of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Tzipi Livni has served in eight different cabinet positions under three prime ministers: Ariel Sharon, Ehud Olmert, and Benjamin Netanyahu. Her positions have included Vice Prime Minister, Minister of Foreign Affairs, and Minister of Justice. She has also been the official Leader of the Opposition. As foreign minister, Tzipi Livni led negotiations with the Palestinian Authority; she was a key government figure during Israel’s disengagement from Gaza and during Hamas’ subsequent takeover of Gaza. She was foreign minister during Israel’s Second Lebanon War and during Israel's operation to take out Syria’s nuclear reactor. She is widely regarded as one of the most influential women in Israel since Golda Meir.

Dr. Erica Brown joins Justin to discuss the holiday of Sukkot and the megillah read on Sukkot, Ecclesiastes (Kohelet), and reflects on faith after October 7. Dr. 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. She is the author of “Ecclesiastes and the Search for Meaning,” and “Morning Has Broken - Faith After October 7.”

Rabbi David Jaffe, author of National Jewish Book Award winning “Changing the World from the Inside Out: A Jewish Approach to Personal and Social Change,” and founder of Kirva, an organization dedicated to integrating personal spiritual development with communal work for social change, leads Justin through a practical Teshuva workshop for Yom Kippur, integrating the teachings of Rabbi Nachman of Breslov and the Mussar Movement.

In this special program, Rav Daniel Kohn first discusses how to approach prayer and spirituality during challenging times, particularly after October 7, and then leads a Guided Meditation of Love and Light, followed by the singing of Isiah’s hopeful prophecy of the future: “My house will be called a house of prayer for all peoples.” Song Translation: וַהֲבִיאוֹתִ֞ים אֶל־הַ֣ר קׇדְשִׁ֗י וְשִׂמַּחְתִּים֙ בְּבֵ֣ית תְּפִלָּתִ֔י עוֹלֹתֵיהֶ֧ם וְזִבְחֵיהֶ֛ם לְרָצ֖וֹן עַֽל־מִזְבְּחִ֑י כִּ֣י בֵיתִ֔י בֵּית־תְּפִלָּ֥ה יִקָּרֵ֖א לְכׇל־הָעַמִּֽים׃ "I will bring them to My sacred mount And let them rejoice in My house of prayer. Their burnt offerings and sacrifices Shall be welcome on My altar; For My House shall be called A house of prayer for all peoples.”

Dr. Alan Morinis, Founder of The Mussar Institute, author of “Everyday Holiness,” among others, and a leading figure in the contemporary revival of the Mussar movement, joins Justin to share his personal journey and his reflections on Rosh Hashanah.

Indie folk-pop trio Distant Cousins join Justin to discuss the evolution of Jewish music since October 7, touring with Matisyahu, and perform their hit singles “Here and Now” and “Dimati,” from their new album Out of the Darkness. Distant Cousins band members Dov Rosenblatt led the band Blue Fringe, Duvid Swirsky was a founding member of Moshav, and influencer Ami Kozak is known both for his music, as well as his comedy and advocacy, emerging as a key voice since October 7.