Finding Our Why

What role do the books, music, film, and the paintings on our walls play in enhancing our Jewish identity? 

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Books mentioned in this episode include:

As a Driven Leaf, Milton Steinberg

The Amen Effect, Sharon Brous

The Heart of a Stranger, Angela Buchdahl 

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Music Featured in this episode:
Olivia Rodrigo Adon Olam (Stupid Song) - Covered by Ittay and Charlotte Eizenberg  

Dolly Parton 9-5 in Yiddish - by Lea Kalisch

Dolly Parton Joellene in Hebrew - by Edut Eish Yemmini

Hineni Band - Bashana Habaa

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Ittay’s Top 10 Favourite Hebrew Songs Playlist

https://open.spotify.com/playlist/0SiQNOyooNQrva82SwI6ef?si=lPeQ-zg5Q-20w3Wf0iAc8A&utm_source=copy-link&pi=397kbsHfRiCUz

Finding meaning through Hebrew music 

https://fathomjournal.org/my-israeli-music-ittay-flescher/

Why is our religion so centred on arguments? Is this a weakness or a strength? 

In what way do arguments help us find meaning in troubled times?  What does it mean to “argue well”?

The book discussed is Beyond Dispute: Rediscovering the Jewish art of constructive disagreement by Daniel Taub 

Full conversation between Rabbi Sharon Brous and Rabbi David Ingber on the Jonah Platt podcast on the subject of “To criticise publicly or privately.”

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4CvgpxlqnUo 

Feedback on this episode is welcome at [email protected]

Music: This episode features a live performance of Both Sides Now by Elizabeth Riordan, recorded at the Malvern Town Hall in February 2025.  

Why do we travel, and what happens to our sense of identity when we leave our comfort zones? In this episode, we unpack the transformative power of journeys and ask whether we hit the road simply to see new places or to see ourselves differently.

From camping trips in Australia to formative journeys across Malaysia and Kenya, we examine why so many foundational Jewish stories are rooted in wandering and exile. Is there a uniquely Jewish lesson in learning through travel?  

Looking through the lens of pop culture like The White Lotus and the poetry of Yehuda Amichai, Ittay and Courtney explore how journeys force us to confront who we really are and ultimately reshape our understanding of home. 

Feedback on this episode is welcome at [email protected]

Music: Halicha LeKeysaria by the Hineni Band. 

As we approach the High Holy Days, we ask: What is the purpose of Jewish rituals? 

We explore the complex link between belief and practice, debating whether our traditions offer deep personal meaning or just a sense of inherited obligation. Tune in as we celebrate the rituals we cherish and get honest about the ones that challenge our identity. 

Feedback on this episode is welcome at [email protected]

Music: This episode features the Shira choir singing Lecha Dodi and the Hineni Band singing Kol Ha’Olam Kulo - A Narrow Bridge. 

Like religion and politics, grief is often treated as a taboo topic in everyday conversation. We stay quiet to spare those who are hurting, but what if our silence actually makes the pain worse?

In this episode, we sit down with special guest Ruby Kraner-Tucci to explore what happens when we break the silence around loss, how to navigate the awkwardness of grief, and why talking about death is essential to finding meaning.

Read Ruby’s writing:

https://www.heraldsun.com.au/health/mental-health/my-dad-died-suddenly-but-the-silence-that-followed-felt-like-losing-him-again/news-story/f26ec17fa633e99aa8b7d17497f64663

"My dad died suddenly, but the silence that followed felt like losing him again"

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We’d love to hear your thoughts on this episode. Send your feedback to [email protected]

For emotional support, contact Griefline, which provides free and confidential counselling, resources and information to people experiencing grief and loss across Australia. Call 1300 845 745

This episode explores several questions about faith and meaning.

Do people who believe in a higher power and prayer have more meaning in their lives?

Can someone fully experience the richness of Jewish ritual and festival observance without belief in God and Halacha? 

Is it appropriate to adapt sacred texts, such as rewriting the Shema, to better reflect contemporary values?

Who is ultimately responsible for the good and bad in our world?

Feedback on this episode is welcome at [email protected]

The episode features the beautiful words of Avinu Malkeni sung by The Shvesters 

What is the difference between Jewish education that simply passes along information and learning that truly stays with you for a lifetime?

In this episode, we address a critical question facing our community: Should we focus our resources on fighting antisemitism, or invest them in strengthening Jewish literacy and engagement?

We wrap up with a traditional, chavruta-style Talmud study, examining how Ben Zoma’s teachings in Pirkei Avot (4:1) offered a new framework for Jewish continuity after the fall of the Second Temple.

Feedback on this episode is welcome at [email protected]

Listeners are welcome to enjoy Ittay’s ‘Finding Our Why - Shabbat playlist at:

https://open.spotify.com/playlist/5dIphpo9dqi1Ed1HdGofGV?si=gaDCu-3MRdGOO-O19bngmQ 

In Episode 2 of Finding Our Why, we tackle the tension between fear and love, obligation and inspiration, asking what truly sustains Jewish identity today - "Oy vs. Joy."

Along the way, we reflect on parenting, rituals, and the challenge of creating a meaningful Jewish life that people are drawn to - not because they have to, but because they genuinely want to. 

Feedback on this episode is welcome at

[email protected]

In the debut episode of 'Finding Our Why’, co-hosts Courtney Winter-Peters and Ittay Flescher introduce a new podcast from The Jewish Independent that shifts the conversation from communal survival and safety to the enduring joy and meaning of Jewish life. 

Broadcasting from the Gold Coast and Jerusalem, the co-hosts open up about their personal journeys; how growing up in the heart of the Melbourne Jewish community shaped their early understanding of Judaism, and how living on opposite sides of the world has challenged them to consciously choose what being Jewish means to them today. 

The episode sets the stage for a series of honest conversations full of questions about beliefs, traditions, and values that continue to shape Jewish identity in a changing world. 

Feedback on this episode is welcome at [email protected]

At a time when being Jewish often involves a fight, Finding our Why with Ittay Flesher and Courtney Winter-Peters explores what drives us to be Jewish, asking not what we are fighting against but what we are advocating for. 

Join them to discover the drivers that makes us dig in and embrace the joy of being Jewish. 

Listener feedback is welcome at:

[email protected]