Just For This

Welcome back, Just For This listeners! Each week, host Rabbi Liz P.G. Hirsch (she/her) interviews women in leadership about women and leadership. Inspired by the story of Esther, we feature powerful stories of women who stand out in their fields, who have stepped up just for this moment.

Last month, Israeli citizens showed up in record numbers to vote in this year's election. This week, after receiving recommendations from 67 of the newly elected members of Knesset, Gadi Eisenkot, leader of the Yashar party and the change bloc, was given the mandate by President Herzog to form a government. Now, Eisenkot and his partners will work to form a broad coalition across lines of difference and faith, including addressing the record turnout of Arab citizens of Israel in this election.

There will be much to unpack and learn in the days to come. That learning started with this week's guest, Shanie Reichman, Director of Strategic Initiatives and Director of IPF Atid at Israel Policy Forum. We spoke on November 2, before Eisenkot received the mandate to form a government, and discussed this current, liminal moment for Israeli politics in the context of her own leadership journey.

Shani hosts a new podcast, Disputed Territory, available wherever you listen. Follow Just For This on Instagram: @justforthispodcast

Welcome back, Just For This listeners! Each week, host Rabbi Liz P.G. Hirsch (she/her) interviews women in leadership about women and leadership. Inspired by the story of Esther, we feature powerful stories of women who stand out in their fields, who have stepped up just for this moment. Our guest this week is Talia Sommer, midfielder for Gotham FC, the National Women's Soccer League (NWSL) team for the New York/New Jersey area. She also plays for the Israeli National Football team and was the first Israeli woman to be drafted to the NWSL. We discuss Talia's journey as a professional soccer player, including her origins as the only girl on her childhood team, and the importance of embracing identity, especially when it's hard. Follow Gotham FC, and their playoff run, on Instagram: @GothamFC

Follow Just for this on Instagram: @justforthispodcast

Welcome back, Just For This listeners! Each week, host Rabbi Liz P.G. Hirsch (she/her) interviews women in leadership about women and leadership. Inspired by the story of Esther, we feature powerful stories of women who stand out in their fields, who have stepped up just for this moment. This week's guest is Jennifer Ashley Tepper, the creative and programming director of 54 Below, the acclaimed Broadway supper club and concert venue, a role she has held for more than a decade. She is also an acclaimed producer of several Broadway musicals such as Be More Chill and Godspell, and author of several books related to musical theatre. Her most recent book "Women Writing Musicals: The Legacy that the History Books Left Out" is the first-ever book about female musical theatre writers. We discuss what makes a show a Jewish show, how many female writers fought and continue to fight to make sure their ideas and stories are told on stage, and what this means for the future of gender equality in this expressive art form. "Women Writing Musicals: The Legacy that the History Books Left Out" is now available for purchase from major book publishers, or from Amazon. Follow Just For This on Instagram: @justforthispodcast

Welcome back, Just For This listeners! Each week, host Rabbi Liz P.G. Hirsch (she/her) interviews women in leadership about women and leadership. Inspired by the story of Esther, we feature powerful stories of women who stand out in their fields, who have stepped up just for this moment.

Since the overturning of Roe v. Wade in 2022, it has been up to individual states to make decisions about abortion care, ultimately deciding who has access to bodily autonomy and who does not. WRJ could not be silent as the clock was turned back 50 years and have continued to support state-based campaigns to enshrine abortion access in state constitutions.

This November, Virginia will face a similar ballot initiative. Voting yes to Question 1 on the ballot would add a fundamental right to reproductive freedom to the Virginia Constitution: the freedom to make personal decisions about prenatal care, childbirth, birth control, abortion, miscarriage management, and fertility care, without government interference or criminal punishment.

Our guest this week is Han Jones, Political Director for Planned Parenthood Advocates of Virginia and Campaign Director of Virginians for Reproductive Freedom, the coalition leading the Yes on 1 campaign. We discuss the long journey of getting this initiative on the ballot, the intersectionality of voting and reproductive rights, the stories of the women who inspire her work in reproductive justice, and the strength it took to transform grief into action after Roe v. Wade was overturned.

Learn more about the Virginians for Reproductive Freedom coalition and what it means to Vote Yes on Question One: https://va4reprofreedom.org/

Don't live in Virginia, but interested in getting involved? Join WRJ and Virginians for Reproductive Freedom virtually on Tuesday, October 20 to call Virginia voters and ask them to vote "yes" on Question 1. Never phone banked before? A short training will be provided at the beginning of each event!

Follow Just For This on Instagram: @justforthispodcast

Welcome back, Just For This listeners! Each week, host Rabbi Liz P.G. Hirsch (she/her) interviews women in leadership about women and leadership. Inspired by the story of Esther, we feature powerful stories of women who stand out in their fields, who have stepped up just for this moment.

Our guest today is Jean Meltzer, bestselling author of books like The Matzah Ball, Kissing Kosher, Magical Meet Cute, and more. Jean's commitment to uplifting Jewish stories and voices had made her a leading figure in Jewish literary advocacy.

Jean is the founder and CEO of Jewish Joy LLC, the umbrella organization to Jewish Women Talk About Romance Books, The Jewish Joy Book Club, and The Jewish Joy Box. Her work is informed by personal experience—most notably her decades-long journey with chronic illness and her background in Jewish learning and media.

We discuss how all of her stories about Jewish life also involve Jewish holidays, what it means to hold on to faith when it feels impossible, and the importance of Jewish stories with happy endings, especially after the last few years in the Jewish world.

Jean's books are available for purchase from major book distributors and on her website. Follow Just For This on Instagram: @justforthispodcast

Welcome back, Just For This listeners! Each week, host Rabbi Liz P.G. Hirsch (she/her) interviews women in leadership about women and leadership. Inspired by the story of Esther, we feature powerful stories of women who stand out in their fields, who have stepped up just for this moment. Our guest today is Maggie Siddiqi, Senior Advisor of the Interfaith Alliance. Maggie is an expert in faith-based advocacy for social change, coalition-building across lines of difference, and public policy on religious freedom and standing up against hate. She recently concluded her appointment to the Office of the U.S. Secretary of Education under the Biden-Harris administration, where she served as Director of the Center for Faith-Based and Neighborhood Partnerships. We discuss the importance of coming together, even and especially when it's hard, how a love of religion led to a career in interfaith organizing, and what has changed about the coalitions between the Muslim and Jewish communities in the wake of October 7, 2023, and the subsequent Gaza war. Follow Just For This on Instagram: @justforthispodcast

Welcome back, Just For This listeners! Each week, host Rabbi Liz P.G. Hirsch (she/her) interviews women in leadership about women and leadership. Inspired by the story of Esther, we feature powerful stories of women who stand out in their fields, who have stepped up just for this moment.

Our guest today is Shira Berkovits, President and CEO of Sacred Spaces. She has worked with Jewish communities across five continents to prevent, handle, and heal from institutional abuse. Bringing a uniquely Jewish lens, Shira partners with leaders to build healthy and accountable institutions, whose culture and daily operations foster sacredness and reduce the risk of harassment, abuse, and other forms of interpersonal harm.

We talk about curiosity, the importance of community and self-care in this heavy profession, and the ways that we shift our work as professionals to meet the moment.

Follow Just For This on Instagram: @justforthispodcast

Welcome back, Just For This listeners! Each week, host Rabbi Liz P.G. Hirsch (she/her) interviews women in leadership about women and leadership. Inspired by the story of Esther, we feature powerful stories of women who stand out in their fields, who have stepped up just for this moment.

Our guest today is Shelley Niceley Groff, chair of the North American Board of the Union for Reform Judaism (URJ). Reform Judaism is the largest, most diverse Movement in North American Jewish life.

We talk about different paths into Jewish leadership and involvement, oftentimes outside of a congregational setting, and ways to broaden our tent.

Some terms that may be unique to URJ insiders include:

• Scheidt Seminar - convenes congregational presidents and president-elects to learn, network, build relationships, and enhance leadership skills
• Youth Summer Immersives – URJ operates 14 summer camps, multiple Israel programs, and NFTY: The Reform Youth Movement, engaging more than 50,000 young adults this summer.
• Every Voice, Every Vote – the Religious Action Center's 2026 campaign that organizes participation in phone and text bank opportunities to join in community with others while ensuring that all eligible voters can exercise their right to vote.

We also discuss the upcoming WRJ Fried Women's Summit and URJ Biennial this December in Philadelphia. Make sure to sign up by September 30 for an early bird discount! You can register for either or both conferences at: https://events.urj.org/event/2026Biennial

Just For This will be off next week for observance of Yom Kippur.

Follow Just For This on Instagram: @justforthispodcast

Welcome back, Just For This listeners! Each week, host Rabbi Liz P.G. Hirsch (she/her) interviews women in leadership about women and leadership. Inspired by the story of Esther, we feature powerful stories of women who stand out in their fields, who have stepped up just for this moment.

Our guest today is Sara Loffman, co-founder and CEO of Challah Back Girls, an organization that braids together a love of challah baking with social activism. Sara started Challah Back Girls with her three siblings during the start of the COVID-19 pandemic first to support frontline workers, and then to act as a fundraiser and social media amplifier for various social justice organizations dedicated to equity and justice.

We discuss thinking globally and acting locally, the experience of sharing a challah with loved ones, and intergenerational connections that appear when baking together.

Make sure to place your last-minute Rosh Hashanah orders or learn how to plan a challah baking program within your community at: https://challahbackgirls.org

Follow Just For This on Instagram: @justforthispodcast

Welcome back, Just For This listeners! Each week, host Rabbi Liz P.G. Hirsch (she/her) interviews women in leadership about women and leadership. Inspired by the story of Esther, we feature powerful stories of women who stand out in their fields, who have stepped up just for this moment.

Season 6 kicks off with Jewish singer-songwriter Michelle Citrin. Michelle will soon serve as the musician-in-residence at Women of Reform Judaism's Fried Women's Summit, December 9-10 in Philadelphia.

All those who identify as women, nonbinary, or genderfluid are welcome to attend this special gathering grounded in sisterhood, spirituality, and social justice. Make sure to register before September 30 to secure an early bird rate! Special young adult rates and scholarships are also available.

Fried Women's Summit will immediately precede Union for Reform Judaism's Biennial, the Reform Movement's largest gathering of Jews in North America, where Michelle will also help led the group in music.

In today's episode, we talk about celebrating Jewish identity through joy and humor, how to model authenticity coupled with vulnerability, and the differences between vertical and horizontal connections.

Follow Just For This on Instagram: @justforthispodcast