Jew-ish: Where Everyone Belongs

On this very special episode, Daniel Herz sits down with legendary investor Leon Cooperman and his daughter-in-law Jodi Cooperman to discuss their multi-generational approach to Jewish philanthropy and the profound impact of signing The Giving Pledge and the Jewish Future Pledge. Leon shares his journey from the southeast Bronx to Goldman Sachs, explaining his philosophy of giving away wealth whil...

Daniel Herz welcomes Ravit Steinmetz-Shemla, Director of the Jewish Federation of Northern New Jersey's Israel Office and the Federation's point person in our sister city of Nahariya, for a deeply personal conversation about life in Israel in the nearly three years since October 7th. Daniel and Ravit reflect on what it means to live, raise a family, and lead a community on Israel's northern front...

Daniel Herz welcomes Michael Kollender, Board Chair, and Sue Gelsey, CEO, of the Kaplen JCC on the Palisades as they reflect on the center's 75th anniversary. Daniel, Michael, and Sue dive into the importance of shifting the community's narrative away from focusing solely on anti-Semitism and toward joyful, positive Jewish engagement, or, what they call "Jewish joy." Learn all about the Kaplen JCC...

Daniel Herz sits down with Rep. Josh Gottheimer, the pragmatic leader representing New Jersey's 5th congressional district. Daniel and Congressman Gottheimer dive into the congressman's incredible journey, his deeply rooted Jewish values, and his lifelong passion for public service, entrepreneurship, and giving back to the community. Rep. Gottheimer shares his approach to bridging the political di...

Daniel Herz welcomes public affairs expert Matt Dikovics to explore the critical role of legislative advocacy in combating rising antisemitism. Learn all about the importance of programs like the Nonprofit Security Grant and Kosher Meals on Wheels, the ongoing fight to standardly define and combat hate by passing the IHRA definition of antisemitism, and why reaching out to your local legislator tr...

On this episode, Daniel Herz is joined by Rabbi Jeremy Ruberg, the Rabbi for Lifelong Learning at Temple Emanu-El of Closter to discuss what it means to "light the candle of engagement," for young Jews. From the complexities of raising kids in today's digital world to an explanation of Rabbi Jeremy's "Gym Theory" of Jewish life, this episode tackles a plethora of issues facing parents, youth, and...

On this episode, Daniel Herz is joined by Jason Shames, Chief Executive Officer of the Jewish Federation of Northern New Jersey for a discussion on the current state of safety, security, and solidarity within the Jewish community in New Jersey and across North America. Despite the heavy challenges presented by hate and antisemitism, Jason highlights the incredible positive impact of Federation's w...

Daniel Herz sits down with community leader Donna Weintraub for a powerful and deeply personal conversation following their recent mission to Israel as board members of the Jewish Federation of Northern New Jersey. Together, they explore what “the mission” truly means, not just as a trip but as a responsibility and a call to action. Through firsthand reflections, Daniel and Donna share unforgettab...

So this is episode one of Jew-ish: Where Everyone Belongs ! You are probably asking yourself, WHAT ARE WE DOING HERE? Well, this new Jews for NJ podcast is hosted by Chair, Board of Trustees’ of the Jewish Federation of Northern New Jersey, Daniel Herz, and in this inaugural episode, Daniel welcomes Laura Freeman, the lead of Jews for NJ and Managing Director of marketing & communications at t...