Jews You Should Know

SPECIAL ANNOUNCEMENT I am thrilled to announce the launch of my new podcast, in concert with The Iyun Institute (formerly Tikvah Israel): "The Iyun Podcast: On Chareidim, Israel and the Jewish People." Iyun will explore the many dynamics of chareidim in relation to the broader context of Israeli society and beyond. Episodes are now available on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, You Tube, and wherever else...

Arnon Shorr is a comic book author and graphic novelist, as well as a screenwriter, director and producer of remarkable films, often with meaningful Jewish messaging. Arnon's website: https://www.arnonshorr.com/ Arnon on IMDB: https://www.imdb.com/name/nm2601747/ Wayfarers on Kindle Vella: https://www.amazon.com/kindle-vella/episode/B0C758RNCN JEWCE: https://jewce.org/index.php/arnon-schorr/

We are saddened to hear of the passing of Joseph Lieberman, z'l, a great American patriot, and even greater member of the Jewish People. We interviewed Senator Lieberman in 2017, in one of our first episodes ever in this podcast. In tribute to his extraordinary life, we present this #TBT rebroadcast from the archives. May his memory be for a blessing!! ------------------ ABOUT THIS EPISODE Longtim...

ABOUT THIS EPISODE Ruth Wisse is one of the great modern scholars of Yiddish literature. A distinguished career at McGill and Harvard Universities has now led to her current engagement with Tikvah , a Jewish-conservative think tank and educational outfit. Professor Wisse has authored many books, and written widely on political affairs in addition to her native areas of scholarly expertise. Her ext...

ABOUT THIS EPISODE Alexandra ("Alex") Fleksher is a multi-talented content creator and Jewish "influencer" in contemporary culture. She is the founder and creative director of the " Faces of Orthodoxy " Instagram (and other social media) presense:  Along with co-host Rivki Silver, Alex also hosts the Deep Meaningful Conversations (DMC) podcast, covering topics of interest to observant (and all) Je...

Merle Saferstein is a longtime educator with an expertise in Holocaust studies. In her early thirties, she discovered the cathartic pleasure of journaling, and in nearly 50 years since, has filled over 380 notebooks (!) with her chronciles and musings. Already a published author, Merle eventually decided to excerpt many of these journals and present them to the public, as part of her legacy journa...

Uri Alon is a pioneering farmer and lover of the land of Israel. Like so many in the South, on 10/7/23 he suffered many personal losses. He also is unable currently to welcome guests to The Salad Trail , an oasis of beauty and Israeli ingenuity in the depths of the desert. The farm requires support - both financial and physical - during this difficult time. Please consider donating to Uri's fund b...

In honor of host Ari Koretzky's recent kidney donation, we are re-releasing this "blast from the past" episode, #145, from February of 2021, featuring Renewal founder Mendy Reiner. Renewal is a premier facilitator of live donor kidney transplants within the North American Jewish community, supporting both prospective donor and recipient along this amazing, life-altering journey. Please consider fu...

Sharon Koifman is a business owner - founder of Distant Job - and expert on remote hiring. He is also an extremely passionate advocate for Israel, integrating cutting edge AI tools and the science of persuasion to craft a new model of making the case for the Jewish Homeland. Sharon's venture, Israel Activists , is poised to reshape the way young Jews and non-Jews alike debate Zionism and Jewish Pe...

Enjoy this special bonus CROSSOVER episode - Ari Koretzky's appearance on the "On Principle" podcast, part of the IDT podcast network .

Welcome to a special 200th episode of Jews You Should Know. After a long summer hiatus, host Ari Koretzky returns, but in a different role, as the guest, interviewed by 18Forty podcaster extraordinaire Rabbi Dr. Dovid Bashevkin. We cover a variety of topics, including the interview process and goals for the podcast. But most vitally, we take a critical look at Jews You Should Know itself, thinking...

Summer 2023 Update

ABOUT THIS EPISODE Rabbi Dr. Ari Berman has been a longtime scholar, pulpit rabbi and Jewish communal leader. In his latest role, as President of Yeshiva University, he is guiding this flagship bastion of higher learning into a bold and dynamic future, by building on the values and personalities of our illustrious past. -------------------- ABOUT THIS PODCAST Jews You Should Know introduces the br...

ABOUT THIS EPISODE Dan Grunfeld is a former professional basketball player and author of the book "By the Grace of the Game: The Holocaust, a Basketball Legacy, and an Unprecedented American Dream."  We discuss Dan's father, Ernie Grunfeld, and legendary career as a player and executive, as well as his family's Holocaust story. LINKS : Dan's website: https://www.dangrunfeld.com/ Amazon book link:...

ABOUT THIS EPISODE Rabbi Gershon Schusterman was a young Chabad shaliach (emissary) in his late 30's, running a school in California, when his wife tragically passed away, leaving behind 11 orphans. Decades later, he has written a book addressing the topics of loss and grief from a traditional Jewish perspective, called "Why G-d Why: How to Believe in Heaven When it Hurts Like Hell." Amazon book l...

ABOUT THIS EPISODE Dr. Sheila Nazarian is a board-certied plastic surgeon residing in Los Angeles, CA. In this wide-ranging conversation, we cover her family's daring escape from post-Revolution Iran, her celebrated medical career, her starring in a popular Netflix series ("Skin Decision: Before and After"), her social media Israel advocacy, her forthcoming memoir, and more!   LINKS Dr. Nazarian's...

ABOUT THIS EPISODE Rayna Rose Exelbierd is a motivational speaker, author and founder and CEO of "The Rose Grows." Her infectious enthusiasm insires young women and all who absorb her message. LINKS The Rose Grows: https://www.therosegrows.com/ The Girl Who Said Hello to Everyone (book): https://thegirlwhosaidhellotoeveryone.com/ -------------------- ABOUT THIS PODCAST Jews You Should Know introdu...

ABOUT THIS EPISODE Jonathan Donath is a renowned chiropractor by day, but in his "spare time" founded DailyGiving.org, an incredible organization that collects $1 a day from thousands of people worldwide, and distributes them each day to a different vetted charity. Link: DailyGiving.org -------------------- ABOUT THIS PODCAST Jews You Should Know introduces the broader community to interesting and...

ABOUT THIS EPISODE Asher Halberstam, scion of a dynastic chassidic family, has become a go-to expert in genealogy, making it both accessible and beautiful, to the Jewish and broader communities. Learn about his personal story, and his precious mission, on this episode! LINK: Treemily.com -------------------- ABOUT THIS PODCAST Jews You Should Know introduces the broader community to interesting an...

ABOUT THIS EPISODE Michal Oshman is a longtime tech executive specializing in leadership development and inclusion initiatives. Her that work, and her personal life experience, she dealt extensively with issues of anxiety and personal performance. Michal's new book, "What Would You Do If You Weren't Afraid," employs Jewish wisdom to tackle this pervasive challenge in today's society. LINKS Michal'...

ABOUT THIS EPISODE Mark Trencher, a retired corporate strategist who spent decades studying data, founded Nishma to provide the Jewish community with high-quality, empirical feedback. Through comprehensive surveys, he has furnished community leaders and stakeholders with a firm basis upon which to execute meaningful change. Mark himself is a Jewish community leader, father and grandfather, for who...

ABOUT THIS EPISODE Rabbanit Chana Henkin is a pioneer in women's Jewish education, founder of Nishmat and progenitor of the Yoa'tzot Halahca program. She is also the mother of Rav Eitam Henkin, H"yd, who along with his wife Naama was murdered by terrorists on Succot of 2015/5776. Rav Eitam was an exceptional scholar whose literary output by his death at 31 already was prodigious. Posthomously, the...

ABOUT THIS EPISODE Rabbi Dr. Jacob J. Schacter is an iconic rabbi, historian, author and most recently, founder of Operation Benjamin, aimed at restoring gravesites of mislabeled Jewish American service-members killed in WWII. Learn more about his work, both current and past: Operation Benjamin: https://www.operationbenjamin.org/ Torah U'Madda Journal Archives: https://www.jstor.org/journal/toraum...

ABOUT THIS EPISODE Enrique Sultan is the president of the Venezuelan Sephardic Jewish community. In this interview, we learn all about his background, and the rich Jewish heritage of this struggling-but-proud South American country. -------------------- ABOUT THIS PODCAST Jews You Should Know introduces the broader community to interesting and inspiring Jewish men and women making a difference in...

ABOUT THIS EPISODE Mark Wildes was well on his way to joining his father, a renowned immigration attorney, when he found his life's calling: reaching out to unaffiliated young professional Jews in Manhattan, and innovating for decades in the outreach space. Unique as a proudly Modern Orthodox practitioner, Rabbi Wildes offers a different perspective, which we discuss and evaluate in this episode....