The Third Opinion Uncensored

In the very first episode of Beyond the Bima, a show built on the idea that there’s more than one way to be Jewish, Eva and Amira sit down with Rabbi Shneur Reti-Waks, who led Melbourne’s Ark Centre in East Hawthorn for close to a decade, building it into a Modern Orthodox community known for being open, warm and welcoming.

Rabbi Shneur shares the thoughtful approach to Judaism that has defined his rabbinate, one that some have considered controversial, but which he grounds in reason rather than dogma. It’s a conversation about faith and critical thinking, where tradition should hold firm, and where it should make room for questioning, curiosity and different ways of being Jewish.

He also talks about his current chapter, Neshama, meaning “soul”, the independent community he founded under the banner “Tradition With Soul.” As an independent rabbi, he guides families through the important moments of Jewish life, including bar and bat mitzvahs, weddings, baby namings and funerals.

Find out more about Neshama at neshama.org.au.

Music runs through it all, reflecting his belief that melody can reach the soul as powerfully as any sermon.

He also hosts family-friendly High Holidays in South Caulfield, addressing a challenge at the heart of this first episode: how do we draw people back and deepen Jewish engagement at a time when so many feel increasingly distant from their community?

For Rabbi Shneur, part of the answer is simple: open spiritual doors rather than shutting people out.

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Kian came to Australia from Iran 10 years ago. In this podcast, he shares his life growing up under the Islamic Republic, explains the current protests, crackdowns, and regime chaos, and shows how Iran’s extremist Muslim ideology is now spreading to other countries. He urges us to look beyond media spin and see the real threat. Kian also stresses how vital US and Israel interventions are to help Iranians win back democracy.

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Emmanuel Santos is a Filipino-Australian photographer whose lens captures the spirit of humanity across cultures, faiths, and migrations. Born in Bulacan, Philippines in 1957, he began his career with the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), documenting the lives and journeys of displaced people before settling in Melbourne in the early 1980s. His work has since evolved into a deeply humanistic visual record of ritual, resilience, and belonging — spanning continents from Australia to Greece, the Philippines, and Israel. Best known for his long-term photographic studies of Jewish communities and the broader diaspora, Santos blends ethnographic observation with poetic empathy. His images, held in collections such as the National Gallery of Victoria and Israel’s Museum of the Jewish People, reveal the quiet dignity of tradition and the endurance of cultural identity in a changing world.

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Yaacov Travitz, founder of Lions of Zion, shares his vision and reflects on the success of the Rally Against Terrorism held on July 6, 2025. The rally united 15 organizations nationwide, drawing thousands of participants across four major Australian cities and capturing international media attention. Travitz speaks to the urgent need for the Jewish community to cultivate unity, courage, and pride in response to the alarming rise in antisemitic attacks in Australia. He puts out a call for action and collaboration, urging individuals and organizations across the community to stand together, strengthen connections, and work collectively to build a more resilient and empowered future.

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Shane Shmuel, a finance professional and writer for The Spectator Australia, joins us to discuss his support for Tim Wilson and the Liberal Party in the upcoming federal election. Amid rising antisemitism in Australia, Shane shares his insights and advocacy for action.

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Shane Shmuel, a finance professional and writer for The Spectator Australia, joins us to discuss his support for Tim Wilson and the Liberal Party in the upcoming federal election. Amid rising antisemitism in Australia, Shane shares his insights and advocacy for action.

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