Internationally renowned Torah scholar and thought leader Dr. Elana Stein Hain, of the Shalom Hartman Institute, joins Justin to use the lens of the Tisha B’Av, the Jewish national day of mourning our moments of destruction, to talk about how to live through crisis today. Elana is the host of the podcast “TEXTing,” and is […]
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Shavuot celebrates the giving of the Torah at Mount Sinai. Reflecting on the spirit of the holiday, Justin is joined by Dr. Yehuda Kurtzer, President of the Shalom Hartman Institute, to discuss how they each relate to the Torah and how it informs the way they think today. 0
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Why do most Jewish communities read the book of Ruth on Shavuot, and why is this story about one Jewish family so important? Justin is joined by international Bible scholar Dr. Yael Ziegler, who is the author of “Ruth: From Alienation to Monarchy” to explore the meaning of the story and its relevance today. 3
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Rabbi Yitz Greenberg joins Justin to discuss the life and legacy of Rabbi Israel Salanter , founder of the Mussar movement . Together, Rabbis Greenberg and Pines created a translation of and commentary on Rabbi Salanter’s seminal work, “Ohr Yisrael and Other Writings” . 1
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Dr. Nehama Leibowitz was one of the most influential scholars and commentators on the Torah, and shaped the trajectory of Bible study. Justin is joined by Professor Smadar Rosensweig, a world-renowned Jewish educator and lecturer in Tanakh from Stern College for Women at Yeshiva University to explore Leibowitz’ personality, impact and legacy. 2
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Lag B’Omer commemorates the yahrtzeit of Rabbi Shimon Bar Yochai, traditionally considered the author and primary subject of the Zohar, the masterpiece of Kabbalah, Jewish mysticism. Justin is joined by scholar and educator Dr. Daniel Matt, who spent 18 years creating the definitive award-winning translation of the Zohar. 1
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Rabbi Abraham Isaac Kook, the leading thinker of religious Zionism, was one of the most influential figures in Israeli history. Justin is joined by Rabbi Zev Reichman, the leader of East Hill Synagogue in Englewood, NJ, for an exploration of the thought and influence of Rav Kook and how so many of his ideas were […]
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Enjoy part two of a full-ranging interview on Avi Weiss’ childhood, Israel, activism, legacy, and family changes. Rabbi Avi Weiss is founder of the Hebrew Institute of Riverdale, Yeshivat Chovevei Torah and co-founder of Yeshivat Maharat. He is the author of many books, including the newly released, “Torat Ahava – Loving Torah,” a thematic commentary […]
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Rabbi Yosef Yitzchak Jacobson grew up at the feet of the Lubavitcher Rebbe, and has since become one of America’s premier Jewish scholars in Torah and Jewish mysticism, and one of the most sought after speakers in the Jewish world today, Rabbi YY shares what he learned from the rebbe, as well as insights […]
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How might the future of technology shape Jewish life, and how might Jewish life shape the future? Justin is joined by scholar and futurist David Zvi Kalman, a leading thinker on the intersection of Jewish history and the history of technology, and of Judaism and artificial intelligence. Dr. Kalman is a research fellow at the […]
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