The Avrum Rosensweig Show

Welcome back to Torah in Real Time, where we bring the Torah into conversation with the world we’re living in right now. This week, we enter Vayeshev, a portion that opens with a word that sounds so gentle — vayeshev, “and he settled.” But the calm barely lasts a verse. Almost immediately, the Torah pulls us into a family tearing at the seams, a teenager cast out of his home, and a world where innocence offers no protection. Joseph begins this parsha as a gifted, dreamy, maybe naïve young man — but still very much a child. And yet, like far too many young people today, he finds himself suddenly homeless through no fault of his own. His brothers strip him, betray him, and sell him away. Joseph becomes the biblical face of a tragedy we still witness in our own cities: youth pushed into the streets because of conflict, jealousy, misunderstanding, or because they simply don’t “fit” the system around them. Vayeshev asks us a piercing question: What becomes of a young soul when the very people meant to protect them send them into the wilderness? But Joseph’s fall doesn’t end there. He is wrongfully accused, imprisoned, and silenced — another victim of a broken justice system. And as we read his story, we can’t help but see reflections of the millions today who sit behind bars for crimes they didn’t commit, casualties of bias, error, or circumstance. People whose brilliance, creativity, and promise remain locked away behind someone else’s mistake. And yet — and this is where Vayeshev shines — the Torah insists that resilience can rise from the rubble. Even in confinement, Joseph becomes a leader. Even without a home, he builds community. Even when forgotten, he interprets dreams — his own and those of others — reminding us that purpose can survive even in the darkest places. So as we study Vayeshev this week, we look at Joseph not as a distant biblical figure, but as a mirror held up to our world. Whom have we cast out? Whom have we overlooked? Whom have we locked away? And perhaps most urgently — who among them carries a spark the world desperately needs? Vayeshev calls us to recognize the Josephs of today: the homeless youth sleeping in shelters and doorways, the wrongfully convicted waiting for justice, the dreamers whose hope flickers but has not gone out. May this portion remind us that greatness often begins with someone the world tried to discard — and that our work, in real time, is to bring them back into the circle of dignity, safety, and hope. ——🎧 The Avrum Rosensweig Show —— A one-of-a-kind, intimate schmooze-fest, hosted and produced by the endlessly curious veteran radio and TV personality, Avrum Rosensweig. With warmth and wit, Avrum uncovers the secrets, dreams, and innermost thoughts of people from all walks of life. From local shelf stockers, plumbers, food servers, to crossing guards, stars, public figures, and cultural icons. Join this channel to get access to perks:    / @avrumrosensweigshow   Listen to The Avrum Rosensweigh Show on: https://open.spotify.com/show/6LZFTR0... https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast... https://avrumspodcast.podbean.com/ Instagram:   / avrumrosensweigshow   TikTok:   / avrumrosensweig   #podcastcanada #storytellingmatters #jewishpodcast #jewishwisdom #jewishfaith #jewishlearning #jewisheducation #jewishcommunity #jewishheritage #jewishtradition #jewishculture #jewishcommunity #jewishhistory #jewishphilosophy #spiritualwisdom #motivationalpodcast #motivationalinterview #fascinatingpeople #engagingconversations #personalgrowth #lifelessons #leadershipstories #faithandwisdom #jewishinspirations #podcastinterview #theavrumrosensweigshow

Welcome back to Torah in Real Time, where we bring the Torah into conversation with the world we’re living in right now. This week, we enter Vayeshev, a portion that opens with a word that sounds so gentle — vayeshev, “and he settled.” But the calm barely lasts a verse. Almost immediately, the Torah pulls us into a family tearing at the seams, a teenager cast out of his home, and a world where innocence offers no protection. Joseph begins this parsha as a gifted, dreamy, maybe naïve young man — but still very much a child. And yet, like far too many young people today, he finds himself suddenly homeless through no fault of his own. His brothers strip him, betray him, and sell him away. Joseph becomes the biblical face of a tragedy we still witness in our own cities: youth pushed into the streets because of conflict, jealousy, misunderstanding, or because they simply don’t “fit” the system around them. Vayeshev asks us a piercing question: What becomes of a young soul when the very people meant to protect them send them into the wilderness? But Joseph’s fall doesn’t end there. He is wrongfully accused, imprisoned, and silenced — another victim of a broken justice system. And as we read his story, we can’t help but see reflections of the millions today who sit behind bars for crimes they didn’t commit, casualties of bias, error, or circumstance. People whose brilliance, creativity, and promise remain locked away behind someone else’s mistake. And yet — and this is where Vayeshev shines — the Torah insists that resilience can rise from the rubble. Even in confinement, Joseph becomes a leader. Even without a home, he builds community. Even when forgotten, he interprets dreams — his own and those of others — reminding us that purpose can survive even in the darkest places. So as we study Vayeshev this week, we look at Joseph not as a distant biblical figure, but as a mirror held up to our world. Whom have we cast out? Whom have we overlooked? Whom have we locked away? And perhaps most urgently — who among them carries a spark the world desperately needs? Vayeshev calls us to recognize the Josephs of today: the homeless youth sleeping in shelters and doorways, the wrongfully convicted waiting for justice, the dreamers whose hope flickers but has not gone out. May this portion remind us that greatness often begins with someone the world tried to discard — and that our work, in real time, is to bring them back into the circle of dignity, safety, and hope. ——🎧 The Avrum Rosensweig Show —— A one-of-a-kind, intimate schmooze-fest, hosted and produced by the endlessly curious veteran radio and TV personality, Avrum Rosensweig. With warmth and wit, Avrum uncovers the secrets, dreams, and innermost thoughts of people from all walks of life. From local shelf stockers, plumbers, food servers, to crossing guards, stars, public figures, and cultural icons. Join this channel to get access to perks:    / @avrumrosensweigshow   Listen to The Avrum Rosensweigh Show on: https://open.spotify.com/show/6LZFTR0... https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast... https://avrumspodcast.podbean.com/ Instagram:   / avrumrosensweigshow   TikTok:   / avrumrosensweig   #podcastcanada #storytellingmatters #jewishpodcast #jewishwisdom #jewishfaith #jewishlearning #jewisheducation #jewishcommunity #jewishheritage #jewishtradition #jewishculture #jewishcommunity #jewishhistory #jewishphilosophy #spiritualwisdom #motivationalpodcast #motivationalinterview #fascinatingpeople #engagingconversations #personalgrowth #lifelessons #leadershipstories #faithandwisdom #jewishinspirations #podcastinterview #theavrumrosensweigshow

I’m honored to welcome a remarkable educator, communal builder, and gifted storyteller: Solly Kaplinski. Solly’s journey stretches across continents, communities, and generations. He began his career as Headmaster of Herzlia High School in Cape Town, later leading Jewish day schools in Toronto and Vancouver — shaping thousands of students and leaving a lasting imprint on Jewish education. More than 25 years ago, he made Aliyah, where his professional path formed an extraordinary arc, touched by two institutions that sit at the very heart of the Jewish story. At Yad Vashem, working in the International Relations Department, Solly helped carry the weight of memory and meaning on behalf of Jewish communities around the world. And at the American Jewish Joint Distribution Committee (JDC), he spent 17 years as Executive Director of Overseas Joint Ventures — building partnerships, strengthening Jewish life across continents, and nurturing connections that continue to echo today. Solly is also a writer. His novella A World of Pains: A Redemptive Parable? and his two moving volumes on donors and fundraisers — all available as free downloads at journeysintothegentleheart.com — reveal yet another dimension of his commitment to Jewish story, memory, and heart. Solly lives in Jerusalem with his wife, Arleen. Their three daughters — along with their spouses and what he lovingly calls an “egalitarian minyan” of grandchildren — all make their homes in Israel. It is truly a privilege to sit with someone whose life has been dedicated to education, service, remembrance, and the quiet, powerful work of building community. Solly Kaplinski — welcome to the show. ——🎧 The Avrum Rosensweig Show —— A one-of-a-kind, intimate schmooze-fest, hosted and produced by the endlessly curious veteran radio and TV personality, Avrum Rosensweig. With warmth and wit, Avrum uncovers the secrets, dreams, and innermost thoughts of people from all walks of life. From local shelf stockers, plumbers, food servers, to crossing guards, stars, public figures, and cultural icons. Join this channel to get access to perks:    / @avrumrosensweigshow   Listen to The Avrum Rosensweigh Show on: https://open.spotify.com/show/6LZFTR0... https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast... https://avrumspodcast.podbean.com/ Instagram:   / avrumrosensweigshow   TikTok:   / avrumrosensweig   #podcastcanada #storytellingmatters #jewishpodcast #jewishwisdom #jewishfaith #jewishlearning #jewisheducation #jewishcommunity #jewishheritage #jewishtradition #jewishculture #jewishcommunity #jewishhistory #jewishphilosophy #spiritualwisdom #motivationalpodcast #motivationalinterview #fascinatingpeople #engagingconversations #personalgrowth #lifelessons #leadershipstories #faithandwisdom #jewishinspirations #podcastinterview #theavrumrosensweigshow

I’m honored to welcome a remarkable educator, communal builder, and gifted storyteller: Solly Kaplinski. Solly’s journey stretches across continents, communities, and generations. He began his career as Headmaster of Herzlia High School in Cape Town, later leading Jewish day schools in Toronto and Vancouver — shaping thousands of students and leaving a lasting imprint on Jewish education. More than 25 years ago, he made Aliyah, where his professional path formed an extraordinary arc, touched by two institutions that sit at the very heart of the Jewish story. At Yad Vashem, working in the International Relations Department, Solly helped carry the weight of memory and meaning on behalf of Jewish communities around the world. And at the American Jewish Joint Distribution Committee (JDC), he spent 17 years as Executive Director of Overseas Joint Ventures — building partnerships, strengthening Jewish life across continents, and nurturing connections that continue to echo today. Solly is also a writer. His novella A World of Pains: A Redemptive Parable? and his two moving volumes on donors and fundraisers — all available as free downloads at journeysintothegentleheart.com — reveal yet another dimension of his commitment to Jewish story, memory, and heart. Solly lives in Jerusalem with his wife, Arleen. Their three daughters — along with their spouses and what he lovingly calls an “egalitarian minyan” of grandchildren — all make their homes in Israel. It is truly a privilege to sit with someone whose life has been dedicated to education, service, remembrance, and the quiet, powerful work of building community. Solly Kaplinski — welcome to the show. ——🎧 The Avrum Rosensweig Show —— A one-of-a-kind, intimate schmooze-fest, hosted and produced by the endlessly curious veteran radio and TV personality, Avrum Rosensweig. With warmth and wit, Avrum uncovers the secrets, dreams, and innermost thoughts of people from all walks of life. From local shelf stockers, plumbers, food servers, to crossing guards, stars, public figures, and cultural icons. Join this channel to get access to perks:    / @avrumrosensweigshow   Listen to The Avrum Rosensweigh Show on: https://open.spotify.com/show/6LZFTR0... https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast... https://avrumspodcast.podbean.com/ Instagram:   / avrumrosensweigshow   TikTok:   / avrumrosensweig   #podcastcanada #storytellingmatters #jewishpodcast #jewishwisdom #jewishfaith #jewishlearning #jewisheducation #jewishcommunity #jewishheritage #jewishtradition #jewishculture #jewishcommunity #jewishhistory #jewishphilosophy #spiritualwisdom #motivationalpodcast #motivationalinterview #fascinatingpeople #engagingconversations #personalgrowth #lifelessons #leadershipstories #faithandwisdom #jewishinspirations #podcastinterview #theavrumrosensweigshow #sollykaplinski

This week on the podcast, TORAH IN REAL TIME WITH RABBI SHLOMO GEMARA, we step into PARSHAT VAYISHLACH — a portion alive with tension, courage, and the pounding heart of a man walking straight into his destiny. Jacob is no longer the young fugitive who once fled his brother’s fury. He is a husband, a father, a shepherd, a survivor. But there is one thing he has avoided for twenty long years: facing Esau. And now, he must. The portion opens with a chilling message: Esau is approaching. With four hundred men. The desert itself seems to hold its breath. Jacob divides his camp, sends gifts, whispers desperate prayers. The past he ran from is no longer behind him — it’s charging toward him. And then comes the night. Jacob, alone by the riverbank, is seized by a mysterious figure — part man, part angel, part reflection of his own soul. They wrestle until dawn in a battle of flesh and faith. When the sun rises, Jacob limps… but he is transformed. He receives a new name: Israel — the one who wrestles and does not let go. By morning, the long-awaited encounter arrives. Yet instead of violence, Jacob meets an unexpected miracle: a brother’s embrace. But Vayishlach doesn’t end there. We witness the tragedy of Dinah, the fall of Shechem, the death of Rachel on the road, and Isaac’s final breath. These are moments that scar families and shape the future of a nation. Vayishlach is raw drama — a story about the wounds we carry, the fears we finally face, and the moments that rename us. It asks each of us: What from our past still follows us? What must we confront to move forward? And when we struggle — truly struggle — who do we become? ——🎧 The Avrum Rosensweig Show —— A one-of-a-kind, intimate schmooze-fest, hosted and produced by the endlessly curious veteran radio and TV personality, Avrum Rosensweig. With warmth and wit, Avrum uncovers the secrets, dreams, and innermost thoughts of people from all walks of life. From local shelf stockers, plumbers, food servers, to crossing guards, stars, public figures, and cultural icons. Join this channel to get access to perks:    / @avrumrosensweigshow   Listen to The Avrum Rosensweigh Show on: https://open.spotify.com/show/6LZFTR0... https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast... https://avrumspodcast.podbean.com/ Instagram:   / avrumrosensweigshow   TikTok:   / avrumrosensweig   #podcastcanada #storytellingmatters #jewishpodcast #jewishwisdom #jewishfaith #jewishlearning #jewisheducation #jewishcommunity #jewishheritage #jewishtradition #jewishculture #jewishcommunity #jewishhistory #jewishphilosophy #spiritualwisdom #motivationalpodcast #motivationalinterview #fascinatingpeople #engagingconversations #personalgrowth #lifelessons #leadershipstories #faithandwisdom #jewishinspirations #podcastinterview #theavrumrosensweigshow #TORAHINREALTIME #VAYISHLACH #YAAKOV

This week on the podcast, TORAH IN REAL TIME WITH RABBI SHLOMO GEMARA, we step into PARSHAT VAYISHLACH — a portion alive with tension, courage, and the pounding heart of a man walking straight into his destiny. Jacob is no longer the young fugitive who once fled his brother’s fury. He is a husband, a father, a shepherd, a survivor. But there is one thing he has avoided for twenty long years: facing Esau. And now, he must. The portion opens with a chilling message: Esau is approaching. With four hundred men. The desert itself seems to hold its breath. Jacob divides his camp, sends gifts, whispers desperate prayers. The past he ran from is no longer behind him — it’s charging toward him. And then comes the night. Jacob, alone by the riverbank, is seized by a mysterious figure — part man, part angel, part reflection of his own soul. They wrestle until dawn in a battle of flesh and faith. When the sun rises, Jacob limps… but he is transformed. He receives a new name: Israel — the one who wrestles and does not let go. By morning, the long-awaited encounter arrives. Yet instead of violence, Jacob meets an unexpected miracle: a brother’s embrace. But Vayishlach doesn’t end there. We witness the tragedy of Dinah, the fall of Shechem, the death of Rachel on the road, and Isaac’s final breath. These are moments that scar families and shape the future of a nation. Vayishlach is raw drama — a story about the wounds we carry, the fears we finally face, and the moments that rename us. It asks each of us: What from our past still follows us? What must we confront to move forward? And when we struggle — truly struggle — who do we become? ——🎧 The Avrum Rosensweig Show —— A one-of-a-kind, intimate schmooze-fest, hosted and produced by the endlessly curious veteran radio and TV personality, Avrum Rosensweig. With warmth and wit, Avrum uncovers the secrets, dreams, and innermost thoughts of people from all walks of life. From local shelf stockers, plumbers, food servers, to crossing guards, stars, public figures, and cultural icons. Join this channel to get access to perks:    / @avrumrosensweigshow   Listen to The Avrum Rosensweigh Show on: https://open.spotify.com/show/6LZFTR0... https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast... https://avrumspodcast.podbean.com/ Instagram:   / avrumrosensweigshow   TikTok:   / avrumrosensweig   #podcastcanada #storytellingmatters #jewishpodcast #jewishwisdom #jewishfaith #jewishlearning #jewisheducation #jewishcommunity #jewishheritage #jewishtradition #jewishculture #jewishcommunity #jewishhistory #jewishphilosophy #spiritualwisdom #motivationalpodcast #motivationalinterview #fascinatingpeople #engagingconversations #personalgrowth #lifelessons #leadershipstories #faithandwisdom #jewishinspirations #podcastinterview #theavrumrosensweigshow #TORAHINREALTIME #VAYISHLACH #YAAKOV

I’m honoured to welcome a man whose life has been defined by service, mentorship, and an extraordinary commitment to Canadian boxing: Peter Wylie. Peter was born in Toronto in 1946 and went on to serve nearly two decades as a Toronto police officer, later working as a sheriff’s officer and small-business owner. But his story — and his impact — extend far beyond any single career path. In 1972, Peter founded the Cabbagetown Youth Centre (CYC), a place that would become a second home for thousands of young people. He led the Centre for a decade and remained closely tied to it for generations, eventually being named Honourable Patron in 2022. But Peter’s greatest legacy lives inside the ring. For 50 years, he served as the head boxing coach at the CYC, shaping a program that produced athletes, leaders, and countless stories of perseverance. His coaching career spanned the globe — from the 1980 Olympic boycott year, to the 1984 Los Angeles Games, to the Commonwealth Games, World Championships, and later his leadership of Canada’s women’s national boxing team from 2003 to 2007. In 1982, Peter was named Canada’s Amateur Coach of the Year, and over the decades he stepped into nearly every role the sport could offer: referee, judge, trainer, manager, promoter — and even an actor in boxing-related film and television productions. Married since 1968, with three children and five grandchildren, Peter is officially “retired,” but the truth is his influence is still everywhere — in the gyms he built, the athletes he shaped, and the communities he helped uplift. Today, we talk about boxing, community, and the lessons learned over a lifetime in and around the ring. Peter also speaks so beautifully about the Jewish people, the respect he has for them and his sadness in the current spread of anti-Semitism throughout the world. Enjoy. Please comment and subscribe. ——🎧 The Avrum Rosensweig Show —— A one-of-a-kind, intimate schmooze-fest, hosted and produced by the endlessly curious veteran radio and TV personality, Avrum Rosensweig. With warmth and wit, Avrum uncovers the secrets, dreams, and innermost thoughts of people from all walks of life. From local shelf stockers, plumbers, food servers, to crossing guards, stars, public figures, and cultural icons. Join this channel to get access to perks:    / @avrumrosensweigshow   Listen to The Avrum Rosensweigh Show on: https://open.spotify.com/show/6LZFTR0... https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast... https://avrumspodcast.podbean.com/ Instagram:   / avrumrosensweigshow   TikTok:   / avrumrosensweig   #podcastcanada #storytellingmatters #jewishpodcast #jewishwisdom #jewishfaith #jewishlearning #jewisheducation #jewishcommunity #jewishheritage #jewishtradition #jewishculture #jewishcommunity #jewishhistory #jewishphilosophy #spiritualwisdom #motivationalpodcast #motivationalinterview #fascinatingpeople #engagingconversations #personalgrowth #lifelessons #leadershipstories #faithandwisdom #jewishinspirations #podcastinterview #theavrumrosensweigshow #peterwylie #boxing #cabbagetown #CYC

I’m honoured to welcome a man whose life has been defined by service, mentorship, and an extraordinary commitment to Canadian boxing: Peter Wylie. Peter was born in Toronto in 1946 and went on to serve nearly two decades as a Toronto police officer, later working as a sheriff’s officer and small-business owner. But his story — and his impact — extend far beyond any single career path. In 1972, Peter founded the Cabbagetown Youth Centre (CYC), a place that would become a second home for thousands of young people. He led the Centre for a decade and remained closely tied to it for generations, eventually being named Honourable Patron in 2022. But Peter’s greatest legacy lives inside the ring. For 50 years, he served as the head boxing coach at the CYC, shaping a program that produced athletes, leaders, and countless stories of perseverance. His coaching career spanned the globe — from the 1980 Olympic boycott year, to the 1984 Los Angeles Games, to the Commonwealth Games, World Championships, and later his leadership of Canada’s women’s national boxing team from 2003 to 2007. In 1982, Peter was named Canada’s Amateur Coach of the Year, and over the decades he stepped into nearly every role the sport could offer: referee, judge, trainer, manager, promoter — and even an actor in boxing-related film and television productions. Married since 1968, with three children and five grandchildren, Peter is officially “retired,” but the truth is his influence is still everywhere — in the gyms he built, the athletes he shaped, and the communities he helped uplift. Today, we talk about boxing, community, and the lessons learned over a lifetime in and around the ring. Peter also speaks so beautifully about the Jewish people, the respect he has for them and his sadness in the current spread of anti-Semitism throughout the world. Enjoy. Please comment and subscribe. ——🎧 The Avrum Rosensweig Show —— A one-of-a-kind, intimate schmooze-fest, hosted and produced by the endlessly curious veteran radio and TV personality, Avrum Rosensweig. With warmth and wit, Avrum uncovers the secrets, dreams, and innermost thoughts of people from all walks of life. From local shelf stockers, plumbers, food servers, to crossing guards, stars, public figures, and cultural icons. Join this channel to get access to perks:    / @avrumrosensweigshow   Listen to The Avrum Rosensweigh Show on: https://open.spotify.com/show/6LZFTR0... https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast... https://avrumspodcast.podbean.com/ Instagram:   / avrumrosensweigshow   TikTok:   / avrumrosensweig   #podcastcanada #storytellingmatters #jewishpodcast #jewishwisdom #jewishfaith #jewishlearning #jewisheducation #jewishcommunity #jewishheritage #jewishtradition #jewishculture #jewishcommunity #jewishhistory #jewishphilosophy #spiritualwisdom #motivationalpodcast #motivationalinterview #fascinatingpeople #engagingconversations #personalgrowth #lifelessons #leadershipstories #faithandwisdom #jewishinspirations #podcastinterview #theavrumrosensweigshow #peterwylie #boxing #cabbagetown #CYC