Best Stephen Wise Free Synagogue Podcasts (2024)

1
Columbia University 1:04:12

28d ago1:04:12

1:04:12

Embattled Columbia Business School Prof. Shai Davidai and newly minted Barnard graduate Noa Fay discuss the crisis that has been unfolding on their campus. Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/in-these-times-with-rabbi-ammi-hirsch/donationsBy Stephen Wise Free Synagogue

1
Amos Yadlin 48:32

2M ago48:32

48:32

Former Israeli military intelligence chief Maj. Gen. Amos Yadlin contextualizes the ongoing war with Hamas, evaluates Israel's strategic goals, and helps us understand the regional and international situation. Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/in-these-times-with-rabbi-ammi-hirsch/donations…

1
The Counterfeit Countess 48:19

2M ago48:19

48:19

Nazi hunter Dr. Elizabeth "Barry" White and Polish historian Dr. Joanna Sliwa set out to verify Jewish Polish mathematician Janina Mehlberg’s incredible claims that she survived the Holocaust by posing as the Countess Suchodolska and saved some 10,000 Poles from the Majdanek concentration camp... Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/in-t…

1
Bret Stephens 1:00:02

2M ago1:00:02

1:00:02

Pulitzer Prize-winning New York Times columnist Bret Stephens helps us understand the White House's attitude toward Israel, the major political currents in America that seem to be leaving Jews behind, and a new national ideology that values identity and even victimhood over character and achievement... Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.co…

1
Yasmine Mohammed 52:34

3M ago52:34

52:34

Forced to marry a man whom she later discovered was a member of Al Qaeda, Yasmine Mohammed eventually found the strength to break away from radical Islam and cut ties with her abusive, fundamentalist family. Today her story continues to inspire people around the world as she works to help free other hearts and minds. Support this podcast at — https…

1
Ritchie Torres 32:45

4M ago32:45

32:45

A true friend of both the Jewish community and the Jewish state, there's nothing in Congressman Ritchie Torres' background that would have predicted the millennial Democrat would become such an outspoken advocate for Israel. Rep. Torres challenges the narrative around what's happening with the U.S.-Israel relationship in Washington and within his p…

1
Dalia Ziada 51:52

4M ago51:52

51:52

One of the central players in Egypt's 2011 revolution, Dalia Ziada was forced to flee her homeland after voicing support for Israel in the wake of October 7th. Speaking with Rabbi Hirsch from an undisclosed location, this brave activist and analyst helps us unpack the fraught Egyptian-Israeli relationship and contextualize Arab states' proclaimed s…

1
Ora Hirsch Pescovitz 46:05

5M ago46:05

46:05

Dr. Ora Hirsch Pescovitz is the president of Oakland University and was among the first to issue a statement condemning the October 7th Hamas attack on Israel. Rabbi Ammi Hirsch's older sister helps us understand the atmosphere on American college campuses today and why so many university administrations have tolerated a deteriorating situation for…

1
Liel Leibovitz 58:05

5M ago58:05

58:05

One of the Jewish world's great thinkers, writers and podcasters, Liel Leibovitz discusses his ideological homelessness, Judaism’s life-changing potential, and the problem with American universities in the wake of October 7th. Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/in-these-times-with-rabbi-ammi-hirsch/donations…

1
Kai Bird 43:13

6M ago43:13

43:13

Celebrated biographer of J. Robert Oppenheimer, Kai Bird discusses the brilliant physicist's triumph, tragedy and legacy. Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/in-these-times-with-rabbi-ammi-hirsch/donationsBy Stephen Wise Free Synagogue

1
Ari Shavit 45:40

6M ago45:40

45:40

The massacre on October 7th was a turning point in history. Political analyst Ari Shavit discusses the immeasurable and long-lasting consequences this war will have for Israel and the Western world. Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/in-these-times-with-rabbi-ammi-hirsch/donationsBy Stephen Wise Free Synagogue

1
Adam Nagourney 34:32

7M ago34:32

34:32

New York Times national political reporter Adam Adam Nagourney discusses his new unauthorized history of The Grey Lady over the past four decades and the pursuit of truth in our turbulent times. Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/in-these-times-with-rabbi-ammi-hirsch/donationsBy Stephen Wise Free Synagogue

1
Einat Wilf and David Hazony 57:14

7M ago57:14

57:14

Alongside the shock, mourning, grief, and mobilization of war, there is also revelation. Returning guest Dr. Einat Wilf and author and editor David Hazony discuss the aftermath of October 7's "Black Sabbath" and its implications for the future of the Jewish people. Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/in-these-times-with-rabbi-ammi-hirsc…

1
Dara Horn 37:07

8M ago37:07

37:07

Acclaimed author Dara Horn explores the reasons “people love dead Jews” — and why the idea of Jewish power makes non-Jewish society so uncomfortable. Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/in-these-times-with-rabbi-ammi-hirsch/donationsBy Stephen Wise Free Synagogue

1
Yaakov Katz 37:30

8M ago37:30

37:30

The Jerusalem Post's military correspondent for nearly a decade and its editor-in-chief for seven years, Yaakov Katz helps us understand how Israel ended up in this war and what might happen next... Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/in-these-times-with-rabbi-ammi-hirsch/donationsBy Stephen Wise Free Synagogue

1
Israel at War 10:32

9M ago10:32

10:32

With Israel at war, Rabbi Ammi Hirsch delivers a blunt yet uplifting message answering the question on all our minds: "What can we do?" Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/in-these-times-with-rabbi-ammi-hirsch/donationsBy Stephen Wise Free Synagogue

1
Daniel Gordis 42:02

9M ago42:02

42:02

The civil unrest in Israel — centering around the judicial overhaul — is an unprecedented existential crisis that threatens to tear the country apart. Daniel Gordis has been one of Israel's most unabashed advocates. But today, he's calling on diaspora Jews to get involved in ways he never has before... Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.co…

1
Re-CHARGING Reform Judaism 39:10

1y ago39:10

39:10

In this special episode, we air Rabbi Ammi Hirsch's keynote speech from Re-CHARGING Reform Judaism, a historic grassroots gathering of some 300 Reform leaders at Stephen Wise Free Synagogue to address the key challenges facing the movement. Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/in-these-times-with-rabbi-ammi-hirsch/donations…

1
Wesley K. Clark 36:30

1y ago36:30

36:30

Retired General Wesley K. Clark is a warrior and a scholar. Amid a rising tide of authoritarianism washing across the globe, the former NATO supreme allied commander helps us understand the defining global conflicts of our times — and how democracy can prevail. Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/in-these-times-with-rabbi-ammi-hirsch/do…

1
Alana Newhouse 45:37

1y ago45:37

45:37

Tablet Magazine Editor-in-Chief Alana Newhouse believes the real debate today is not between the left and the right, but rather between those who think there's something fundamentally broken in America and those who do not. Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/in-these-times-with-rabbi-ammi-hirsch/donations…

1
Jason D. Greenblatt 44:44

1y ago44:44

44:44

One of the main architects of the Abraham Accords, Jason D. Greenblatt discusses his appointment by President Trump as special envoy for the Middle East and how the failed Israeli-Palestinian peace plan gave way to a different kind of peace for the region. Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/in-these-times-with-rabbi-ammi-hirsch/donatio…

1
Ted Deutch 34:20

1y ago34:20

34:20

During his six terms in Congress, Ted Deutch saw so much effort being poured into performative and pugnacious politics at the expense of the greater good. Now, as the new CEO of the American Jewish Committee, he's committed to building a strong center that strengthens us all. Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/in-these-times-with-rabbi…

1
Einat Wilf 45:15

1y ago45:15

45:15

Why is a solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict so elusive? Dr. Einat Wilf thinks the answer is simple, but that we've been unwilling to accept it. Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/in-these-times-with-rabbi-ammi-hirsch/donationsBy Stephen Wise Free Synagogue

1
Ken Burns 43:07

1y ago43:07

43:07

The best-known documentary filmmaker in the world, Ken Burns is a master storyteller — and a patriot in the truest sense. His 35 films on subjects such as baseball, jazz, Mark Twain, the Civil War, and now the U.S. and the Holocaust see our country not only for what it is, but what it could be... Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/in-t…

1
Eric Fingerhut 36:15

1+ y ago36:15

36:15

As the head of the Jewish Federations of North America, former U.S. Congressman Eric Fingerhut bears the responsibility of working with partners who often don't see eye to eye. He views that cooperation as key to the success of the Jewish community in America. (This interview was recorded in November 2022, before the latest developments in Israel.)…

1
Michelle Goldberg 50:08

1+ y ago50:08

50:08

Michelle Goldberg has her finger on the pulse of the progressive left. The New York Times columnist sits down with our Rabbi Ammi Hirsch to discuss American politics, COVID-19 policies and Israel. Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/in-these-times-with-rabbi-ammi-hirsch/donationsBy Stephen Wise Free Synagogue

1
Peter J. Hotez 40:03

1+ y ago40:03

40:03

Perhaps today’s most prominent advocate for COVID-19 vaccines, Dr. Peter J. Hotez is struggling to untangle politics, anti-science and antisemitism — and save lives. Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/in-these-times-with-rabbi-ammi-hirsch/donationsBy Stephen Wise Free Synagogue

1
Stephen J. Dubner 56:19

1+ y ago56:19

56:19

Raised Catholic, Stephen J. Dubner discovered his family's Jewish past later in life — and Judaism called to him from within. That same inquisitive spirit implores the "Freakonomics" co-author and radio host to explore "the hidden side of everything." Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/in-these-times-with-rabbi-ammi-hirsch/donations…

1
Beatrice Weber 46:58

1+ y ago46:58

46:58

After she left her turbulent arranged marriage of more than 20 years, her ultra-Orthodox community shunned her. Now Beatrice Weber is fighting to place her youngest son in a yeshiva that teaches more than 90 minutes of math and English a day — and for the right of all New York's Hasidic children to receive a basic education. Support this podcast at…

1
Matti Friedman 42:08

1+ y ago42:08

42:08

Since arriving in Israel as a teenager, journalist Matti Friedman has spent his life and career trying to make sense of the Jewish state — and why it receives such outsized coverage. Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/in-these-times-with-rabbi-ammi-hirsch/donationsBy Stephen Wise Free Synagogue

1
Ronald S. Lauder 30:59

1+ y ago30:59

30:59

A successful businessman, a generous philanthropist and one of the Jewish world's most important leaders, Ronald S. Lauder wasn't involved in Jewish life until his experience as ambassador to post-war Austria changed him. Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/in-these-times-with-rabbi-ammi-hirsch/donations…

1
David Horovitz 36:17

1+ y ago36:17

36:17

In a special episode just ahead of the expected announcement of Israel's most far-right governing coalition in history, Times of Israel's founding editor David Horovitz unpacks the elections and their potential consequences for Israel and its relationship with American Jews. Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/in-these-times-with-rabbi-…

1
Letty Cottin Pogrebin 38:16

1+ y ago38:16

38:16

Feminist icon Letty Cottin Pogrebin discusses her new book "Shanda," delving into the secrets and feelings of shame that defined her Jewish upbringing, celebrating the strides women have made, and framing the fight for the future of reproductive rights. Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/in-these-times-with-rabbi-ammi-hirsch/donations…

1
Batya Ungar-Sargon 40:43

1+ y ago40:43

40:43

Does it feel like everything you read in the news is somehow slanted? Newsweek's Batya Ungar-Sargon presents her carefully researched history of American journalism and where she believes it started to go seriously wrong. Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/in-these-times-with-rabbi-ammi-hirsch/donations…

1
Amanda Berman 38:44

1+ y ago38:44

38:44

There are some people who'd have you believe it's impossible to support liberal causes and be a Zionist. But as founder and executive director of Zioness, Amanda Berman is fighting as hard as she can to reclaim progressive spaces for Jews. Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/in-these-times-with-rabbi-ammi-hirsch/donations…

1
Yehuda Kurtzer 38:27

1+ y ago38:27

38:27

Being Jewish has always been complicated. Listen as Rabbi Ammi Hirsch and Shalom Hartman Institute’s “Identity/Crisis” podcast host Dr. Yehuda Kurtzer examine how the success of assimilation has made negotiating our modern Jewish identities more complex. Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/in-these-times-with-rabbi-ammi-hirsch/donations…

1
Julia Jassey 35:43

2y ago35:43

35:43

Julia Jassey didn’t set out to lead the charge against antisemitism on college campuses, but a brush with casual Jew-hatred her freshman year changed the course of her life. Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/in-these-times-with-rabbi-ammi-hirsch/donationsBy Stephen Wise Free Synagogue

1
Yossi Klein Halevi 37:15

2y ago37:15

37:15

An eloquent advocate for peace and coexistence, Yossi Klein Halevi didn't start out that way. Hear how this former militant Jewish extremist is reaching across the divide to model a new kind of conversation between Jewish Israelis and Palestinians. Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/in-these-times-with-rabbi-ammi-hirsch/donations…

1
Rachel Fish 38:50

2y ago38:50

38:50

What happens when universities prioritize the pursuit of social justice theories over the search for truth? Hear from scholar/warrior Dr. Rachel Fish, who has spent her career studying the decline of critical thought on American campuses and empowering students and faculty to fight against the pressure to conform. Support this podcast at — https://…

1
Jonathan Greenblatt 47:40

2y ago47:40

47:40

What would make a wildly successful entrepreneur switch gears and devote himself entirely to battling antisemitism? Hear how Jonathan Greenblatt went from Starbucks and the West Wing to the helm of the world’s leading anti-hate organization — the Anti-Defamation League — during these most challenging times for Jews in America. Support this podcast …

1
Eve Barlow 34:13

2y ago34:13

34:13

Eve Barlow was living her dream as one of the world's top music journalists when one simple tweet in support of Israel turned her world upside-down. Hear Eve's inspiring story of courage in the face of overwhelming hate — and learn how you can fight antisemitism and anti-Zionism online. Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/in-these-times…

1
Natan Sharansky 31:07

2y ago31:07

31:07

He sought passage to Israel and he paid the price: nine years of hard labor in a Soviet prison. But the gulag only hardened his resolve. Hear Natan Sharansky's legendary story of Jewish resistance and his take on Russia's war against Ukraine. Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/in-these-times-with-rabbi-ammi-hirsch/donations…

Podcasts Worth a Listen

Stephen Wise Free Synagogue Podcasts

Podcasts Worth a Listen

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