Hashivenu

In the final episode of Hashivenu, Rabbi Deborah Waxman closes out her run as host, and thirteen years as president of Reconstructing Judaism, with her most frequent guest: incoming president Rabbi Elliott Tepperman. The two dig into what drew Tepperman to the role, tracing his path from a DIY, activist-shaped Jewish upbringing through decades of movement work alongside Waxman. Their conversation ranges from the tension between American individualism and communal life to the hard lessons of Pittsburgh and October 7th, landing on a shared conviction that a vibrant, resilient Judaism is itself the answer to antisemitism.

If you've been listening to Hashivenu from the beginning all the way back in 2017, thank you so much. It's been an honor sharing these conversations with you for so many years. If you're new to the show, welcome! It's not too late to explore our back catalogue of 60+ episodes.

We hope you stay connected with Reconstructing Judaism and follow what's next under Rabbi Tepperman's leadership. If you haven't already, sign up for our newsletter, and follow us on Facebook and Instagram.

Until next time, l'hitraot, and may we all go mihayil lehayil, from strength to strength.

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This podcast is produced by Reconstructing Judaism. Visit us at ReconstructingJudaism.org.

Special Guest: Rabbi Elliott Tepperman.

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Links:

• Learn more about Rabbi Elliott Tepperman

Just weeks before her tenure as President and CEO of Reconstructing Judaism comes to a close, Rabbi Deborah Waxman is joined by Hashivenu's longtime producer and editor Sam Wachs to look back on the podcast's evolution, from its 2017 launch and resilience-focused first season to its later exploration of covenantal community and racial equity. It's a warm, reflective, behind-the-scenes perspective on a project Rabbi Waxman calls one of the great blessings of her presidency.

@7:00 - Gratitude (11/8/2018)

@18:30 - How to become our fullest, most expressive selves? Practice, practice, practice with Yoshi Silverstein (10/24/2023)

@19:30 - Episode 1: Shabbat with Rabbi Jacob Staub (8/10/2017)

@20:00 - Humor with Rabbi Seth Goldstein (9/29/2017)

@22:00 - Hineni - Being Present with Rabbi Miriam Klotz (2/13/2018)

@23:40 - Catching Our Breath (3/24/2020)

@27:20 - The Spiritual Activist with Claudia Horwitz (7/1/2019)

@28:00 - Activism with Rabbi Sharon Kleinbaum (12/5/2017)

@28:30 - Episode 10: "You Were Strangers in Egypt": Passover and Sanctuary with Rabbi Elliott Tepperman (3/19/2018)

Reconstructionist Values, Covenantal Community and War in the Middle East with Rabbi Rachel Weiss and Rabbi Elliott Tepperman (12/4/2024)

(Rabbi Teppermans' third appearance is coming soon!)

@30:20 - S2 Ep. 1: Trauma, Healing and Resilience with Rabbi Jessica Rosenberg (3/21/2019)

@31:00 - Finding Sustenance in Covenantal Community with Rabbi Sid Schwarz (12/10/2019)

@34:40 - Being an Ally with Empathy, Humility and Courage with Rabbi Sandra Lawson (12/28/2021)

@40:00 - Why Voting for the Hatkivah Slate in the World Zionist Congress Matters: A Conversation Across Generations (4/21/2025)

Hope Is a Muscle: The Hatikvah Slate with special guest Rabbi Amichai Lau-Lavie (5/1/2025)

Rabbi Amichai Lau-Lavie returns to discuss Jewish chosenness, love, and his film Sabbath Queen (12/11/2025)

@41:00 - The Jewish Way to a Good Life: A Conversation with Rabbi Shira Stutman (1/30/2026)

The Joy of Camp With Rabbi James Greene (never aired). Follow Rabbi James' work at Jewish Family Service of Western MA

This podcast is produced by Reconstructing Judaism. Visit us at ReconstructingJudaism.org.

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What does it really mean to live a good life and how can ancient Jewish practices help us get there? Rabbi Deborah Waxman sits down with her teacher, colleague, and friend Rabbi Shira Stutman, author of The Jewish Way to a Good Life, for a wide-ranging conversation about meaning, resilience, and loving kindness. Together, they explore how Jewish wisdom offers practical tools for universal human challenges: how to love, how to mourn, how to care for our bodies, how to build justice, and how to show up for one another imperfectly but persistently. At the center of their conversation is hesed, loving kindness, which Shira describes as more than emotion: It’s the courage to show up in daunting spaces and do the hard, sustained work of caring.

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This podcast is produced by Reconstructing Judaism. Visit us at ReconstructingJudaism.org.

Special Guest: Rabbi Shira Stutman.

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• Buy Shira's book, "The Jewish Way to a Good Life"

Rabbi Deborah Waxman continues her conversation with Rabbi Amichai Lau-Lavie, founder of Lab/Shul and subject of the documentary The Sabbath Queen. They explore how to hold complexity in polarized times, discussing "both/and" thinking around Israeli and Palestinian identity, the theology of love and connection (symbolized by the Hebrew letter vav), and building strong Jewish peoplehood without chauvinism or supremacy. Their conversation weaves together personal narrative, liturgical innovation, and theological reflection, modeling nuanced dialogue about coexistence, justice, and evolving Jewish tradition to honor the dignity of all people while navigating disagreement with courage and compassion.

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This podcast is produced by Reconstructing Judaism. Visit us at ReconstructingJudaism.org.

Special Guest: Rabbi Amichai Lau-Lavie.

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Links:

• The Sabbath Queen (Film Site)

Rabbi Deborah Waxman is joined by Rabbi Amichai Lau-Lavie for a vital conversation about the complexities of Zionism, Israeli identity and progressive Jewish values. As delegates on the Hatikvah slate in the World Zionist Congress elections, Waxman and Lau-Lavie discuss the intersection of personal history, political activism, queer and feminist perspectives and Jewish theology. Each reflects on the legacy of Rabbi Mordecai Kaplan, the power of hope, and the urgency of building a Judaism that is inclusive, resilient and committed to justice for all.

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This podcast is produced by Reconstructing Judaism. Visit us at ReconstructingJudaism.org.

Special Guest: Rabbi Amichai Lau-Lavie.

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• Vote Hatikvah Slate in the World Zionist Congress Elections

In this special episode of Hashivenu, Rabbi Deborah Waxman welcomes Rabbi Jodie Siff and her son Aaron Siff-Scherr to discuss their deep personal and political commitments to progressive Zionism. Together, they reflect on how Jewish education, family experiences, and time in Israel shaped their values and why participating in the World Zionist Congress elections matters. With honesty and nuance, they explore the complexities of modern Zionism, antisemitism, and pluralism within Jewish life. This heartfelt conversation is a call to action for American Jews to raise their voices by casting their votes for the Hatikvah Slate in order to help shape a more inclusive future for the Jewish people. Vote now at http://azm.org

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This podcast is produced by Reconstructing Judaism. Visit us at ReconstructingJudaism.org.

Special Guests: Aaron Siff-Scherr and Rabbi Jodie Siff.

Support Hashivenu

Links:

• Vote Hatikvah Slate in the World Zionist Congress Elections

In preparation for Reconstructing Judaism’s December 15 movement-wide virtual convening, Rabbi Elliott Tepperman and Rabbi Rachel Weiss join Rabbi Deborah Waxman for a deeply thoughtful and nuanced conversation about the difficult and rewarding work of maintaining unity within Jewish communities that sometimes have diverse views on Israel and Palestine and the War in Gaza. Their reflections on how to cultivate spaces of growth, respect and accountability within the synagogue offer a blueprint for creating Jewish communities that are there for us during moments of joy and celebration as well as times of mourning and crisis.

This podcast is produced by Reconstructing Judaism. Visit us at ReconstructingJudaism.org.

Special Guests: Rabbi Elliott Tepperman and Rabbi Rachel Weiss.

Support Hashivenu

Links:

• Learn more about and register for Reconstructing Judaism's 12/15 event

With the High Holiday season underway, Deborah welcomes Justin Rosen Smolen, Reconstructing Judaism's Vice President for Thriving Communities and Partnerships, for a wide-ranging conversation about covenantal community. They explore how the idea of covenant, from biblical narratives to contemporary community-building, emphasizes relationships, mutual responsibility and interdependence. They consider how liberal religion can help address societal issues like loneliness and division, and advocate for conversations that build inclusive, thriving communities. Later, Deborah and Justin explore a Reconstructionist understanding of covenant, emphasizing the importance of shared values and intergenerational dialogue, and recognizing that while diverse perspectives may create tension, they also provide opportunities for growth and deeper understanding within the community.

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This podcast is produced by Reconstructing Judaism. Visit us at ReconstructingJudaism.org.

Special Guest: Justin Rosen Smolen.

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• Watch Deborah's High Holiday teaching on covenantal community

Rabbi Elyse Wechterman recently announced that she will step down from her position as CEO of the Reconstructionist Rabbinical Association (RRA) in June after leading the organization for the past nine years. Elyse stops by Deborah’s office to look back on her tenure and look ahead to what’s next. The two longtime colleagues commiserate over the day-to-day realities of leading an organization, including a friendly debate over the pros and cons of “zeroing out” one’s email inbox (4:54). Elyse explains how being willing to let some things go in order to focus on what’s important has helped her decision making as a leader (9:21). Elyse reflects on how the RRA has changed over the last nine years and on the accomplishments she’s most proud of, such as increased collaboration amongst rabbinical associations (15:30). Deborah and Elyse discuss the nature of change and how although it can be scary, it is often a positive (26:22). Finally, Elyse shares her favorite verse from the Talmud and why it’s resonating with her as she approaches this transition (34:00).

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This podcast is produced by Reconstructing Judaism. Visit us at ReconstructingJudaism.org.

Special Guest: Rabbi Elyse Wechterman.

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• Stay up on the latest from Reconstructing Judaism by signing up for our weekly Virtual Shabbat Box email

Rabbi Deborah Waxman welcomes Cheryl Cook, CEO of Avodah, for a wide-ranging conversation. The two longtime friends and hevrutah partners recall their early conversations about Israel and Palestine (3:00). They discuss the nature of leadership in general as well as their own perspectives as women in leadership (10:10). They touch on the importance of resilience in how they have been able to navigate the turbulence of the last 10 years (12:10). Cheryl lays out the mission and work of Avodah (16:30). Later, Cheryl asks Deborah to reflect on the role of gender in leadership and Deborah shares how her feminist ideals shape her approach (18:15). Cheryl talks about stepping into the role of CEO in 2015 as a mother of young children and how she is making the effort to model a different kind leadership for other women (23:00). They close by looking ahead to future generations of leaders that they hope will include not only women, but Jews of Color and people from underrepresented groups as well (33:03). At the start of the show, Deborah catches us up on all things Hashivenu and previews her upcoming 10th anniversary celebratory event “When Women Lead" (happening Wednesday, April 3rd at 7pm EDT). You can find ticket information here.

Subscribe by Email

This podcast is produced by Reconstructing Judaism. Visit us at ReconstructingJudaism.org.

Special Guest: Cheryl Cook.

Support Hashivenu

Links:

• Get tickets to Deborah's 10th anniversary virtual event, "When Women Lead"