In this episode, we sit down with award-winning sociologist, humanitarian leader, and author Dr. Georgette Bennett. In dialogue with Rabbi David Ingber, Bennett reflects on her detour-filled life as the daughter of Holocaust survivors, born into a bombed-out Hungarian apartment—a beginning that shaped her perspective on the world. She traces her winding path from a career in criminology and community policing in New York City to her transformative turn toward interreligious leadership. As the founder of the Tanenbaum Center and the Multifaith Alliance, Bennett shares how she mobilized hundreds of millions of dollars in aid for Syrian war victims by bridging divides between historical enemies, driven by the biblical mandate not to “stand idly by.” Exploring themes from her new book, Half-Jew – Full Life, the conversation dives into the extraordinary story of her cousin-in-law, Gary “Pips” Phillips, who chose to identify as Jewish as the Nazis rose to power. Together, they discuss the dangers of binary thinking and the resilience required to build a full life from the ashes of history.

Learn more about Georgette’s work https://bennettny.com/

Rabbi Ingber’s IG https://www.instagram.com/rabbiingber

92NY Bronfman Center  Events