5 Towns Jewish Times Podcast

In this episode of Between the Lines with Larry Gordon, Larry and Esta are joined by contributing editor Baila Sebrow to discuss how the world of dating has evolved in the digital age. From WhatsApp matchmaking lists and social media to changing expectations and increased outside pressures, today's dating landscape looks very different from when Baila first began setting up couples years ago....

Larry and Esta are joined by Esther Schonfeld and Ali Weaderhorn, partners at The Schonfeld Law Group for an in-depth discussion on divorce in the orthodox community. They look at the causes, remedies, and alternatives to divorce, the implications for families and their children, the involvement of rabbis and batei din in the process, and the importance of lawyers to the process of resolving confl...

Larry and Esta are joined by Elliot Auerbacher, Founder and CEO of Grilling for Israel. The non-profit organization has been running barbecues and events for chayalim in Israel several years, providing hot meals and morale boosts for soldiers in the field and on base. Elliot walks us through the needs, complexities and rewards of feeding the chayalim defending the State of Israel.

Larry and Esta do a catch-up show with a bit of everything, including a look at the latest attacks on Israel by Iran, President Trump's approach to resolving the situation, and a few odds & ends including the price of Knicks tickets for the NBA Finals.

Larry and Esta sit down with Norm Kaish, Founder of Wall of Tears Foundation. The foundation is dedicated to fighting antisemitism through education and outreach, particularly among young people on college campuses. Norm is working to bring the first of their educational installations, a 16-foot wide wall highlighting vital history of the Holocaust to Cedarhurst Park. The granite wall contains fac...

Larry and Esta are joined by their longtime friend, author Rabbi Dr. Bernie Kastner for a fascinating look at what happens in the afterlife. Looking at various sources, Dr. Kastner has explored deep into the Torah's understanding of how the neshama and the body work together as a person's nears the end of their life.

Larry and Esta sit down with local Shadchanit Altchie Pelcovitz for a look at the dating world and the work of a volunteer shadchan. 5TJT has seen a real spike in readership for stories on dating and relationships, and we look at the state of things in today's environment.

In this episode of Between the Lines, Larry & Esta Gordon sits down with IDF Lieutenant Colonel Eliav Dikshtein for a powerful and wide-ranging conversation. They discuss Dikshtein’s role in Israel’s elite commando forces, his experiences in Gaza and Lebanon, and where he was on October 7th. The conversation explores Israel’s ongoing security challenges, the threat of Hezbollah, and the comple...

In this episode of Between the Lines, Larry and Esta take a look at the stories shaping the Jewish community and beyond. They discuss powerful and emotional topics, including the lasting pain of families who have lost children, reflections on recent tragedies, and the importance of keeping memories alive. The conversation also highlights the vital role of Hatzalah and community support, along with...

Larry and Esta sit down with Fleur Hassan-Nahoum, Co-Founder of Campus Israel, a new advocacy group encouraging students from around the world to go to college in Israel. They discuss the value for students studying in Israeli universities and the opportunities an Israeli degree provides for the future. This wide-ranging conversation also covers Fleur's time as Deputy Mayor of Jerusalem, the o...

Larry sits down with Moshe Fundo, author of the powerful new book "From Baptism to Brit Milah."In this fascinating conversation, Moshe shares his extraordinary journey—from growing up with elite status in the Soviet Union, to becoming a Messianic minister, and ultimately embracing Torah observance in America. They dive into:* His life and experiences in the Soviet Union* The spiritual turning poin...

Larry and Esta are joined by Yehuda Kohn, director of Bet Elazraki, a unique organization in Israel providing a home for at-risk kids. Over the 30+ years they've been with the organization Yehuda and his wife Riki have served as parents for thousands of kids, offering the support and love the kids need to succeed in life.

Larry and Esta catch us up on their Pesach experience, and look ahead to sefira and Shavuot.

Esta and Larry sit down with their grandsons Nison Gordon and Dovid Hirsch to learn about the long trip they had to get home for Pesach from their yeshivot in Israel. The boys managed an odyssey to get from Jerusalem through Sharm El Shiekh and Cairo to make it back.

Esta and Larry welcome Yehuda Honickman, onetime New Yorker and now resident in Tekoa in the Shomron. Yehuda has written a letter to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu that will be printed in this week's edition of the 5TJT.The wide-ranging conversation covers Yehuda's outlook on the current war with Iran and the goals the Israelis & the US should pursue, as well as the state of...

Esta and Larry are joined by their neighbor and friend David Bodenheim who had a major adventure getting back to New York from Israel. David was in Israel for a wedding with plans to get back before Purim when the fighting started, and with the help of a concierge in Israel was able to travel home. We hear about his Jerusalem to Newark (via Sharm El Sheikh and Istanbul) odyssey.

Larry and Esta talk with Jamie Geller from her home in Beit Shemesh, Israel about the complications for everyone, particularly the seminary/yeshiva students in getting out of Israel for their Pesach break. They discuss ways people have managed to travel, the complications and the outlook as the fighting in Iran continues.

Larry and Esta sit down with Alan Mazurek, MD to talk about a project he's working on to improve access, security and the experience of visiting the Har HaZeitim cemetery in Jerusalem. Alan has a long history of working in Jewish communal affairs, and he's joined many others on this project which is beginning with a new visitors center, digitized listings of the graves on Har HaZeitim, and...

Larry sits down with longtime Jewish leader Steve Savitsky, whose decades of service to the Jewish community span numerous leadership roles and initiatives. In this conversation, Steve shares the vision behind Mitzvah Opportunities, a project he founded to raise targeted funds each week for individuals and families in need throughout the Five Towns area. Through a growing WhatsApp network of more...

Larry is joined by local business owner and weather prognosticator Dovi Wachsler, who's had an interest in snowstorms and the weather since he was a child. Dovi's reading of the weather data last week convinced him a major storm was on the way to the Northeast and he had it very right. Larry and Dovi also talk about Dovi's business importing and distributing salt to customers up and do...

In our first repeat guest on the podcast, J. Philip Rosen, Chairman of the World Jewish Congress - American Section returns to talk about the ongoing issues facing Jews around the world. Phil talks about the state of the relationship between Saudi Arabia and Israel, the political outlook in the US and other countries and its impact on the Jewish community, and the need for Jews and Jewish organiza...

Larry and Esta sit down for a conversation with IDF Reservist and Israel Advocate Adi Karni. In this far-ranging conversation, they talk about Adi's service in Gaza, the fallout of physical and mental injuries, and the importance of his generation in shaping the future of Israel. Adi also talks about his recent efforts to stand up for Israel as a speaker and advocate and the response from coll...

Larry and Esta have a few things on the agenda this week, including the upcoming Super Bowl and the definite thoughts about the halftime show. New England Patriots owner Robert Kraft has a new commercial for the game, highlighting the enormous rise in antisemitism, particularly among young people. We also look at a recent congressional hearing where Missouri Senator Josh Hawley tried repeatedly to...

Larry and Esta sit down with Dr Alex Sternberg - doctor of public health, published author and karate expert and teacher. In this wide ranging discussion they look at Alex's youth in Hungary, his early efforts to defend himself and others against antisemitism, and his discovery of karate. He soon began to teach self defense to others in his adopted Brooklyn, and developed a reputation as an ex...

Larry and Esta are joined by Israel correspondent Ron Jager, a 25 year IDF veteran and mental health professional to look at the political and social situation in Israel. Ron explains the current attitudes of Israelis and their mental health in the wake of the 2 year war against Hamas in Gaza, the outlook of the region's delicate balance, and the potential for regime change in Iran.