Jewish Insights with Justin Pines

Dr. Noam Wasserman, incoming Ramaz Head of School, Dean of YU's Sy Syms School of Business, and author of "Life Is a Startup: What Founders Can Teach Us about Making Choices and Managing Change," joins Justin to discuss how to synthesize the Jewish and business approaches to life, how to respond to setbacks, and career choices.

Rav Judah Mischel, (Camp HASC, the Hebrew Academy for Special Children), joins Justin to discuss the transformational experiences of the campers counselors and families of Camp HASC, as well as Chanukah and the mission of the Jewish people.

Rabbi Manis Friedman, world-renowned author, counselor, lecturer and philosopher, and the most popular rabbi on YouTube joins Justin to discuss Chanukah, marriage, service and the goal of life.

Dyonna Ginsburg, CEO of OLAM, joins Justin to discuss Jewish and Israeli Tikkun Olam, the effort to not only protect and care for the Jewish people and the State of Israel, but to spread across the globe to repair the world. Why are Jews and Israelis so committed to global service, and what has been the impact on this work since October 7?

Gila Fine, author of Rabbi Sacks Book Prize winner “The Madwoman in the Rabbi’s Attic: Rereading the Women of the Talmud,” and lecturer of rabbinic literature at the Pardes Institute of Jewish Studies, shows Justin how stories in the Talmud are often not only not what they seem, but the complete opposite, using the examples of female archetypes in rabbinic literature.

Justin is joined by actor, artist and Jewish advocate Jonah Platt, host of the new weekly program on JBS, “Being Jewish with Jonah Platt,” to discuss growing up in the Platt home, sharing truth online in an age of misinformation, navigating difficult conversations, and the new Jewish series “Nobody Wants This.” Jonah has acted in Oscar nominated films like Being The Ricardos, and performed in Tony...

Rabbi Dr. Ari Lamm joins Justin to discuss how Jewish ideas have shaped world and American history, including the American government, the first Thanksgiving, and American universities. Rabbi Lamm is the Chief Executive of BZ Media, producing Israel content for young audiences outside the Jewish community.

In Part 2 of Justin’s discussion with Rabbi Irving ‘Yitz’ Greenberg, they explore what “Triumph” means in Judaism and the Jewish approach to transforming society.  Rabbi Irving "Yitz" Greenberg is a preeminent Jewish thinker, theologian, activist, president of the J.J. Greenberg Institute for the Advancement of Jewish Life, and is senior scholar in residence at Hadar. He recently released his magn...

Rabbi Irving ‘Yitz’ Greenberg, one of the most influential Jewish thinkers of the past half century, joins Justin to celebrate the release of his magnum opus, “The Triumph Of Life: A Narrative Theology of Judaism,” and shares how all of Jewish theology and practice is ultimately about choosing life. Rabbi Irving Yitz Greenberg is president of the J.J. Greenberg Institute for the Advancement of Jew...

For the majority of Americans, the economy is the number one issue in this election cycle. Justin is joined by Rabbi David Rosenn, President and CEO of the Hebrew Free Loan Society, which creates economic stability and opportunity for lower income New Yorkers within and beyond the Jewish community through interest-free loans, and is one of over 20 Jewish free loan societies across North America.

On the occasion of starting to read the Torah from the beginning this year, Justin is joined by In the Spotlight host Abigail Pogrebin and Yeshivat Chovevei Torah President and Rosh HaYeshiva Rabbi Dov Linzer to discuss their new book: “It Takes Two To Torah: An Orthodox Rabbi and Reform Journalist Discuss and Debate Their Way Through the Five Books of Moses,”  a one volume tour of the entire Tora...

No major political figure has had more recent experience trying to negotiate a two-state solution than Tzipi Livni. As we approach the Hebrew calendar anniversary of the darkest day in recent Jewish history, Tzipi Livni joins Justin to discuss her experience, her reflections after one year, and what is possible for the future of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Tzipi Livni has served in eight dif...

Dr. Erica Brown joins Justin to discuss the holiday of Sukkot and the megillah read on Sukkot, Ecclesiastes (Kohelet), and reflects on faith after October 7. Dr. Brown is the Vice Provost for Values and Leadership at Yeshiva University and the founding director of its Rabbi Lord Jonathan Sacks-Herenstein Center for Values and Leadership. She is the author of “Ecclesiastes and the Search for Meanin...

Rabbi David Jaffe, author of National Jewish Book Award winning “Changing the World from the Inside Out: A Jewish Approach to Personal and Social Change,” and founder of Kirva, an organization dedicated to integrating personal spiritual development with communal work for social change, leads Justin through a practical Teshuva workshop for Yom Kippur, integrating the teachings of Rabbi Nachman of B...

In this special program, Rav Daniel Kohn first discusses how to approach prayer and spirituality during challenging times, particularly after October 7, and then leads a Guided Meditation of Love and Light, followed by the singing of Isiah’s hopeful prophecy of the future: “My house will be called a house of prayer for all peoples.” Song Translation: וַהֲבִיאוֹתִ֞ים אֶל־הַ֣ר קׇדְשִׁ֗י וְשִׂמַּחְתּ...

Dr. Alan Morinis, Founder of The Mussar Institute, author of “Everyday Holiness,” among others, and a leading figure in the contemporary revival of the Mussar movement, joins Justin to share his personal journey and his reflections on Rosh Hashanah.

Indie folk-pop trio Distant Cousins join Justin to discuss the evolution of Jewish music since October 7, touring with Matisyahu, and perform their hit singles “Here and Now” and “Dimati,” from their new album Out of the Darkness. Distant Cousins band members Dov Rosenblatt led the band Blue Fringe, Duvid Swirsky was a founding member of Moshav, and influencer Ami Kozak is known both for his music...

How do we make prayer real? What are the keys to personal growth and transformation around spirituality? Justin is joined by world-renowned prayer and meditation guide, Rabbi Daniel Kohn, from Bat Ayin in the Judean Mountains of Israel, to explore the transformative and uplifting potential of prayer and expanding our consciousness. Rav Daniel is the author of "Book of Yearning: The Siddur’s Path t...

Rabba Yaffa Epstein, Senior Scholar and Educator in Residence at the Jewish Education Project, and recent recipient of the prestigious Covenant Award which recognizes exceptional Jewish educators, joins Justin to discuss the lessons learned of the past year as we prepare to educate our youth and also prepare them for the High Holidays.

The beginning of the Jewish month of Elul marks the beginning of a 40 day period with increased focus on Teshuva, repentance, leading up to the High Holidays. Shai Held, President and Dean, at the Hadar Institute joins Justin to discuss different approaches to Teshuva, including practical applications, as well as Teshuva after October 7, and navigating chronic pain from a theological perspective.

Rabbi David Ingber, Senior Director for Jewish Life at 92NY, and founding rabbi of Romemu, the largest Renewal synagogue in the United States, discusses his Jewish journey, and what he has learned from Rabbi Zalman Schachter-Shalomi, and navigating allyship as a proud Jew in Liberal circles. 

In anticipation of his upcoming concert event, “Let There Be Love,“ which premiers on Sunday, August 18 at 8pm on JBS, musical artist and song leader Noah Aronson joins Justin to discuss love, the joy of singing and leading prayer, his creative process and his spiritual journey. You can learn more about Noah and his music at www.noaharonson.com . Hinei Ma Tov theme song by Av Vachim To learn more...

Internationally renowned Torah scholar and thought leader Dr. Elana Stein Hain, of the Shalom Hartman Institute, joins Justin to use the lens of the Tisha B’Av, the Jewish national day of mourning our moments of destruction, to talk about how to live through crisis today. Elana is the host of the podcast "TEXTing," and is the author of "Circumventing the Law: Rabbinic Perspectives on Loopholes and...

Can a billboard engage Jews? Or fight antisemitism? Justin is joined by Archie Gottesman, the marketing executive behind the eye-catching Manhattan Mini Storage ads, to discuss how she is using clever ad campaigns to target disengaged Jews and seek allies to fight antisemitism through her organization, JewBelong. You can learn more at JewBelong.com To learn more about JBS, visit JBSTV.org  JBS is...

Shavuot celebrates the giving of the Torah at Mount Sinai and is traditionally a holiday of immersive text study. Reflecting on the spirit of the holiday, Justin is joined by Dr. Yehuda Kurtzer, President of the Shalom Hartman Institute, to discuss how they each relate to the Torah and how it informs the way they think today. To learn more about JBS, visit JBSTV.org  JBS is a non-profit, Jewish ed...