Dr. Mia Bloom, author and professor at Georgia State University sits down with Rabbi Natan for a discussion on the impact of terrorism and the evolving threat that it poses to Israel and free societies everywhere. Dr. Bloom is the author of the recently published book Veiled Threats: Women and Global Jihad, and has also published several recent articles on gender-based violence on October 7th as well as the LGBTQ+ community's relationship with the Israeli Palestinian conflict. 

As we find ourselves on the precipice of our Festival of Liberation, join us for some refreshing voices of what freedom means in our current moment. In addition to Rabbi Natan and Beth Schafer, we have highlighted several other voices from across the congregation and beyond. May we all have a happy Passover and may our 59 hostages see freedom very soon.

Join Rabbis Ron Segal and Natan Trief for a deep dive into the "most important election you have never heard of." Elections for the World Zionist Congress are in full swing and there are many profoundly important issues at stake. Rabbi Segal will discuss his recent trip to Israel and the conversation veers toward Jewish unity and the importance of civility even among profound and passionate disagreements.

Rabbi Sam joins the podcast to discuss some of her profound takeaways from her recent trip to Israel. We talk about the release of the hostages, the resilience to rebuild, the spirituality infused in Israeli society now, and we even venture into political territory on both sides of the ocean. We end by discussing something concrete that each and every person can do to get more involved. 

Join Rabbi Natan for an inspiring conversation with Sally Poolat, the director of the Southeast U.S. for Leket, Israel's National Food Bank. How has the war impacted the neediest families within Israel? In times of urgent crisis, how does Israel uphold the biblical mandate to feed the hungry and care for the vulnerable? As a new hostage deal has just been announced and as the needs within Israel continue to mount, we focus on learning about, supporting, and fulfilling our Jewish mandate for tikkun olam, repairing the world, starting with those in our own extended family of "am yisrael."

Join Rabbis Ron and Natan for a special Hanukkah episode as they discuss the meaning of the holiday in light of the current conflict in Israel. How do we focus on light even in a time of darkness? How do we show Jewish pride in a time of rising antisemitism? Together, they break down the various miracles of Hanukkah and how we can see them playing out in modern day Israel. A joyful and light-filled Hanukkah to all!

Join us for a conversation with Dr. Jeremy Schube as we discuss Zionism, antizionism, Jewish pride, and how we are raising our own kids to be proud Jews and lovers of Israel. Jeremy's voice is an important one and a refreshing one as a product of Jewish day schools and formative experiences in Israel before deciding to start a family. 

We are back with the second part of this special episode with Noa Fay and others. Join us for a fascinating panel discussion on antisemitism on college campus as we continue to hear from Noa and her perspectives on varied topics such as intersectionality, taking back the term Zionism, the future of higher education for young Jews, among many other timely topics. In addition to Noa, we will be in conversation with Abi Streger, a current high school senior who has become very involved in these issues, and Rabbi Larry Sernovitz, CEO of Hillel of Georgia. 

Join us for the first part of this two-part episode! Noa Fay, a recent college student whose efforts have garnered respect from teens all over the country,  was a Jewish student leader at Columbia University, the epicenter of the anti-Israel protest movement that unfolded on American college campuses this past spring. Pro-Hamas, antisemitic, and anti-Israel demonstrators occupied academic buildings, set up overnight tent encampments, and staged demonstrations, all while Jewish students faced increased threats, antisemitism, and violence.

Noa will share her first-hand perspective, a perspective experienced by many high school and college students, on what it was like to be Jewish on campus during that time and offer insights into both what to look for when considering schools and how to respond should something similar happen on your campus.

Welcome!