Best Haifa Podcasts (2024)

1
Has the West Fallen? Can It be Saved? Featuring Kenneth Abramowitz | Season III: Episode 8 2:08:20

11h ago2:08:20

2:08:20

The terrorist attack on 9/11 was a pivotal point for Kenneth Abramowitz, the Founder of Save the West (savethewest.com). Though it too, was for many, Kenneth branched out from his long-term career in health care consulting to alert the public about the dangers of nefarious elements targeting Western civilization - from China to Islam to the Democra…

1
Trailblazing artist Neshama Carlebach opens up about her next spiritual goal: the rabbinate 43:59

6d ago43:59

43:59

Growing up in the Orthodox movement, Neshama Carlebach would hear it a lot: "It's a shame your father never had sons." The father in question, the acclaimed Rabbi Shlomo Carlebach, instead had two daughters—and the implication was that his legacy as a prolific songwriter, whose repertoire includes the popular 1965 folk anthem "Am Yisrael Chai", wou…

1
Taking Strong Action Against Jew Hate Featuring Rebecca Harary | Season III: Episode 7 2:01:30

12d ago2:01:30

2:01:30

It was an absolute honor to have on Rebecca Harary, who is not only the President & Founder of CASEPAC (Combating Antisemitism Everywhere PAC), but is also the Co-President of the America First Club. Rebecca is the type of person that sees a problem or a need, and finds an effective solution - from helping found a school for autism in Brooklyn, to …

1
Jesse Brown lost 9% of his supporters after he began spotlighting antisemitism. Here's why he won't stop 41:47

14d ago41:47

41:47

In the aftermath of Oct. 7, Jesse Brown—who has risen to prominence as a media critic and muckraker with his Canadaland podcast and digital media company—once again stirred up controversy online. But it wasn't a big news investigation that sparked outrage; it was a series of posts about antisemitic attacks on Canadian Jewish-aligned institutions, f…

1
The Illegality of On Campus Antisemitism Featuring Shabbos Kestenbaum 1:09:32

28d ago1:09:32

1:09:32

It was a true honor to have had on Shabbos Kestenbaum, a proud Zionist who is the bearer of many titles: a student activist and a media contributor; a lead plaintiff against Harvard University, and a lecturer on combating Jew hatred. Shabbos is an Orthodox Jew who planned on pursuing his collegiate goals of studying religion at Harvard Divinity Sch…

1
Rabbi Victor Gross is reimagining religion as a force of unity—not division 43:38

29d ago43:38

43:38

When Rabbi Victor Gross was looking for a home to grow his congregation in Boulder, CO, he knew he didn't want a dedicated building. It wasn't just the cost, but the environmental impact of operating a space that's only used a few hours a week. Instead, he looked for a church to rent out Friday evenings and Saturday mornings. He asked church leader…

1
Mary Darling reflects on conflict and division from the Baha'i headquarters in Haifa 48:57

1M ago48:57

48:57

While Israel remains on the brink of war with Lebanon in the north, one of the country's most iconic sites—the famous Baha'i Gardens and shrine—sit less than an hour away. That a religion based on unity among humankind, which views all religions and tribes as branches from the same tree, should have its headquarters so close to a warzone is tragica…

1
Jews were once embraced by progressive activists. Did Oct. 7 permanently change that? 27:51

3M ago27:51

27:51

Bernie Farber helped create the Canadian Anti-Hate Network (CAHN) in 2018, and sat as its founding chair until shortly after Oct. 7, 2023. The organization—which investigates, publicizes and works with journalists to report on hateful far-right extremist groups—was infamously silent in the weeks following the Hamas slaughter and kidnapping of 1,200…

1
Canada's last remaining faith reporter reflects the past, and future, of religion 30:33

4M ago30:33

30:33

In 2018, at a time when the faith beat in Canadian newspapers was steadily declining, John Longhurst made an unusual deal with the publisher of the Winnipeg Free Press. He wanted to help expand the paper's audience by reporting on religion, particularly within local communities: Mennonite, Indigenous, Catholic, Muslim, Jewish, whomever. The publish…

1
Jews Need New Leadership with Brandon Weaver; Passionate Zionist & Political Observer | Season III: Episode 5 2:16:21

4M ago2:16:21

2:16:21

Brandon and I get into the weeds of why both American Jewish leadership has failed Jews in America and in Israel, and why Israeli leadership needs a complete overhaul. The sorry excuse for leadership has jerked Israel down a path of capitulation to the needs of the antisemitic West, has fueled the ease of terrorism against Jews in the Jewish homela…

1
Rabbi Beni Wajnberg explains why you should never pay synagogue dues 34:01

4M ago34:01

34:01

Rabbi Beni Wajnberg has worked in Brazil, Argentina, Singapore, New York, Tennessee, California, Montana and beyond. When it came down to settle down with his family and put down roots, he chose Hamilton, Ont., where he's now the spiritual leader at Beth Jacob Synagogue. Throughout his travels, he's found that one thing connects all those far-flung…

1
Why writer Marsha Lederman, daughter of Holocaust survivors, feels 'less alone' on Yom HaShoah 36:15

5M ago36:15

36:15

Marsha Lederman is a catastrophizer. As the daughter of Holocaust survivors, the author and Globe and Mail columnist has gone through life worrying about everything that can go wrong, to the point that she wrote a book about things going wrong in her life. Kiss the Red Stairs, released August 2023, investigates the ramifications of intergenerationa…

1
Lone Soldiers, Politics, & Understanding the Hasidic Mindset; Featuring Lilly Schwartz 2:19:49

5M ago2:19:49

2:19:49

Lilly Schwartz, a Program & Resource Coordinator at Nevut (https://nevut.org/), was instrumental on the podcast to share the importance of lone soldiers and their role in the IDF. What motivates someone to join the army that does not have to? What are the challenges? As a former lone soldier herself, Lilly answers all these questions and much more!…

1
This Earth Day, pretend it's Shabbat—and take a break for the environment 26:22

5M ago26:22

26:22

You may not think of keeping Shabbat as environmental activism—but Jonathan Schorsch does. The founder of the Green Sabbath Project is on a mission to tackle climate change by adapting the biblical Jewish practice into something universally good for our planet. After all, in the Venn diagram of environmentalism and observant Judaism, "Not driving o…

1
Israel & America Today, through the Lens of Politics & Psychology with Daniella Bloom; Psychotherapist & best-selling author; National Ambassador of JEXIT 2:28:54

5M ago2:28:54

2:28:54

No one can make sense of the senseless that happened on October 7th. One cannot comprehend the mass murder in horrific ways of 1200 people and the taking hostage of so many innocents. Join Daniella and I as we weave through dissecting the policies and politics of both Israel and the U.S, what needs to be done to ensure safety, and what fuels Jew-ha…

1
Alan Zweig looks back on decades of filmmaking—and ahead to his pessimistic new podcast 45:02

6M ago45:02

45:02

Alan Zweig was on the road to becoming, like so many other midtown Toronto Jews, a lawyer. Instead, in his early 20s, he zigzagged off the course and wound up taking multiple lengthy trips to India, changing his perspective on life and work. He chose film school instead, propelling him into a decades-long documentary career that began all those yea…

1
The Root Causes of the October 7th Genocide: Discussing in Depth the History of Muslim Terrorism & Weak Israeli Policies with Kobi Koren, International Relations Expert 2:44:05

6M ago2:44:05

2:44:05

It was an honor to speak with Kobi Koren, who is not only an expert on International Relations, but also has extensive knowledge on the history of the Middle East, and the Jewish people. Together, Kobi and I discussed the history of Muslim terrorism going back centuries, and addressed what many others seem to miss: just 'freeing Gaza from Hamas' wi…

1
#19 The Goodbye Party | New York 11:16

6M ago11:16

11:16

BAHÁ'Í | The final episode of Stories of the Master, sharing an account of 'Abdu'l-Bahá's final days in America and His demonstration of our oneness.

1
#18 - My name is 'Abdu'l-Bahá 12:37

6M ago12:37

12:37

BAHÁ'Í | An exploration into the mysterious station of The Master

1
A new Orthodox horror novel blends Kabbalah, family drama and memories of the Holocaust 19:51

6M ago19:51

19:51

Toby Lloyd didn't grow up religious. But the British Jewish author became fascinated with Orthodoxy—how different people, even in the same family, can interpret biblical texts as either literal or metaphorical. Wanting to tap into the meaning and effects of people's belief systems, as well as reinterpreting stories from the Torah and wrapping it in…

1
#17 - Passing of The Master | Haifa 15:18

6M ago15:18

15:18

BAHÁ'Í | The final days of the earthly life of 'Abdu'l-Bahá and how He continued to be a Perfect Example until the end.

1
Season III; Episode 1 - Delving Into the Post-October 7th Genocide Reality: Featuring Naomi Reinharz, CEO of the American Society of the University of Haifa 2:11:10

6M ago2:11:10

2:11:10

162 days since the barbaric genocide against Israelis, the Jewish world is still coming to grips with our new reality. Hate coming from all directions, our very homeland in potential jeopardy of survival long-term, and the incomprehension of our missing people, stolen by Arab occupiers in Gaza. It has also been 162 days of sheer resilience of Israe…

1
#16 - The Protector of All | Akka 13:28

7M ago13:28

13:28

BAHÁ'Í | An account of the first few days of arriving in Akka and how The Master protected everyone and brought joy to all.

1
In her new solo show, Diane Flacks tackles divorce, motherhood and the intergenerational power of Jewish guilt 24:56

7M ago24:56

24:56

Diane Flacks has always felt the power of Jewish guilt. But when when she decided she wanted a divorce, that guilt grew to a whole new level. She constantly questioned the process, even while she was going through it, thinking about whether it was the right move or not. To process these thoughts and emotions, the theatre artist decided to transform…

1
#15 - Learn like Lua | New York 17:20

7M ago17:20

17:20

BAHÁ'Í | The story of Lua Getsinger, who walked the path of service with a humble posture of learning.

1
#14 - Travelling with class | Naples 11:07

7M ago11:07

11:07

BAHÁ'Í | A reflection on moderation, humility and justice based on how The Master travelled on ship, train and horse.

1
Mark Breslin on the value of Jewish comedy and identity in an increasingly antisemitic world 44:34

7M ago44:34

44:34

Last month, the flagship Yuk Yuk's location in downtown Toronto hosted a stand-up comedy fundraiser for Friends of the Israel Defense Forces. Predictably, anti-Israel protesters swarmed it. The club's founder and owner, Mark Breslin—who organized the event—tried to get in through a back entrance, only to find more protesters waiting there for him a…

1
#13 - The Servant and the Knight | Haifa 13:18

7M ago13:18

13:18

BAHÁ'Í | A story of generosity, service and heroism on a level we have never discussed before. This episode has it all.

1
#12 - Never Give Up | Akka 12:00

8M ago12:00

12:00

BAHÁ'Í | A story of perseverance in the pursuit of being of service to others, no matter how difficult and large the obstacle.

1
'Some bearded person sitting on a throne in the sky is a kindergarten God': Rabbi Zelig Golden explains earth-based Judaism 43:43

8M ago43:43

43:43

Rabbi Zelig Golden likes to describe Judaism as a religion of deep roots, interconnectivity, compassion and feminine divinity, reminding the world that Adam came from the adamah. It's this philosophy that inspired Wilderness Torah, an organization based in California that promotes "healing, belonging and resilience," in an attempt to reshape how Je…

1
#11 - The Master of Gratitude | Tehran 11:44

8M ago11:44

11:44

BAHÁ'Í | What does it mean to be grateful? Can we be grateful if we don't have a lot and are experiencing hardship? Find out, from this story of The Master.

1
#10 - Sacrifice in service | Constantinople 11:45

8M ago11:45

11:45

BAHÁ'Í | This episode contains two stories of 'Abdu'l-Bahá and His ability to sacrifice His own comfort in service to others.

1
Rabbi Yonatan Neril: How spirituality can help us solve the climate crisis 32:21

8M ago32:21

32:21

The climate crisis is the fault of no single person or country, but rather a widespread ideology of materialism and overwhelming lack of compassion for the natural world. What's worse—the crisis is intensifying each year. These are some of the themes espoused by Rabbi Yonatan Neril, the founder and director of the Interfaith Center for Sustainable …

1
#9 - Making 'Abdu'l-Bahá Laugh | Haifa 12:15

8M ago12:15

12:15

BAHÁ'Í | A story about friendship between 'Abdu'l-Bahá and His dear friend, Fujita.

1
#8 - Father of the Poor | Akká 9:54

9M ago9:54

9:54

BAHÁ'Í | A series of short stories of how 'Abdu'l-Bahá served the poor and sick during his time in the prison-city of Akká.

1
#7 - Trusting a thief | Green Acre 10:49

9M ago10:49

10:49

BAHÁ'Í | A story about having faith in the capacity of every individual to improve themselves. In this story, 'Abdu'l-Bahá meets a career criminal who wishes to change his ways.

1
#6 - The Mother of the Temple | Chicago 12:38

9M ago12:38

12:38

BAHÁ'Í | Back-to-back demonstrations of the equality of men and women centred around the story of Hand of the Cause of God, Corinne True.

1
#5 - The Golden Hearted Lawyer | Washington DC 12:05

9M ago12:05

12:05

BAHÁ'Í | A demonstration on how Bahá'ís can advocate for racial unity from 'Abdu'l-Bahá's visit to Washington DC.

1
#4 - ‘Abdu’l-Bahá and the Prince | France 10:07

9M ago10:07

10:07

BAHÁ'Í | An encounter between 'Abdu'l-Bahá and the Prince of Persia. This story demonstrates how we can forgive others, the same way that God forgives us.

1
#3 - Protecting His half brother | Akká 10:40

10M ago10:40

10:40

BAHÁ'Í | In this second episode on the topic of forgiveness, we explore how 'Abdu'l-Bahá shows compassion to His half brother who committed awful acts towards Him.

1
#2 - The greatest act of forgiveness | Akká 8:37

10M ago8:37

8:37

BAHÁ'Í | This episode shows us how 'Abdu'l-Bahá forgave and showed love to a man who was so cruel to His family and tried to harm them multiple times.

1
#1 - Seeing the good in others | New York 9:47

10M ago9:47

9:47

BAHÁ'Í | In this episode, 'Abdu'l-Bahá meets an arms dealer in New York who tries to convince Him on the merits of war. Want to know how The Master responds?

1
#0 - Welcome to Stories of the Master 4:06

10M ago4:06

4:06

BAHÁ'Í | A brief introduction to the podcast and the Master, himself, 'Abdu'l-Bahá. This podcast is an individual initiative and does not formally represent the Bahá’í Faith, its followers or its insitutions. It’s just a service that I wanted to exist in the world and I hope you like it.

1
Coping during difficult times: Lynda Fishman and Dr. Barbara Landau on communal trauma in the wake of war 46:07

11M ago46:07

46:07

If you're feeling anxious and afraid, you should know: you're not alone. Tensions are high everywhere across the Jewish community right now as Hamas and Israel engage in a violent war with ramifications across the world. But instead of doom-scrolling social media, finding horrible images and hate-filled comments, it's important to find time to step…

1
The return of Ralph Benmergui: Not That Kind of Rabbi is back 1:30

12M ago1:30

1:30

Welcome to the newest season of Not That Kind of Rabbi! Ralph's spiritual deep-dive podcast is back, now joining The CJN Podcast Network. After more than three years and 80 guests, we'll be focusing on Jewish Canadians, exploring the inner lives of public figures. To kick things off, we're hosting a special live taping on Tuesday, October 17, 2023,…

1
Persian Jewish Pride: From Babylonian Times to Post-Iranian Revolution; Featuring Sharon Nik | Season II: Episode 8 1:12:31

1y ago1:12:31

1:12:31

The audience is in for an in-depth look at Persian Jewry as shared by Jewish Iranian community leader & activist, Sharon Nik, whose family on both sides spans thousands of years in Iran. Jews first came to Iran as part of the Babylonian Exile, and it was Cyrus the Great who later freed all slaves in Persia, including Jews, and established the Persi…

1
Yemenite Jews: A Strong & Enduring Presence in the Gulf; Featuring Matan Zimman & Tuvia Sulami | Season II: Episode 7 1:31:15

1y ago1:31:15

1:31:15

It was an absolute honor having on Matan and his family friend, Tuvia, a Yemenite Jew whose family arrived back in Israel in 1925. One of the greatest misconceptions in circulation is that Yemenite Jews are all converts. Nothing could be further from the truth. Just like Ashkenaz Jews are not Khazars. Many Jews left Israel after the destruction of …

1
Syrian Jewry: Jewish Strength from the Second Temple Era to Israeli Liberation; Featuring Adela Cojab | Season II: Episode 6 1:00:12

1y ago1:00:12

1:00:12

It was an honor to speak with Jewish activist Adela Cojab about the very deep history of Syrian Jews. A proud Diaspora community first emerged in Syria after the destruction of the First Temple. After the Crusaders first invaded Israel, one of every three residents of Damascus were Jews. The oldest synagogue in the world is located in Syria and was…

1
Bukharian Jews: The Journey from Israel to Iran, and the Silk Road; Featuring David Milov | Season II: Episode 5 1:06:59

1y ago1:06:59

1:06:59

Bukharian Jews have a fascinating history - from their journey to the Persian Empire from Israel, and all along the Silk Road, until ending up not just in Uzbekistan, but throughout other parts of Central Asia such as Tajikistan and Dagestan. Please join the guest of honor, David Milov, as he shares the rich history of his community, the unique cus…

1
Jewish Chutzpah: The Ashkenaz Journey from Russia to Argentina and China; Featuring Barbara Krystal | Season II: Episode 4 1:30:53

1y ago1:30:53

1:30:53

I am thrilled to have on Barbara Krystal, Taking Back the Narrative's Director of Educational Outreach. Barbara poignantly shares her family's history of how they immigrated from Russia to Argentina. Members of my family ended up in Argentina due to the Czar's pogroms in the beginning of the 20th century, and thanks to Barbara, we learn about the m…

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