Seeking Sinai

In this deeply personal episode, Rabbi Natan reflects on returning to Dartmouth for his 25th reunion amid the post–October 7 climate on American college campuses. Through encounters with university leadership, former classmates, and old professors, he explores the difference between "safe spaces" and "brave spaces," arguing that genuine dialogue requires courage, moral clarity,...

As Rabbi Natan prepares for his 25th reunion, he reflects on antisemitic experiences in college he once dismissed—and how differently they look in today's climate. In this live conversation, Rabbi Elizabeth Behar shares her experience becoming the target of explicit antisemitic threats and her decision to pursue justice rather than remain silent. Together, they explore how antisemitism has ev...

What does it mean to speak the same language as the Torah? In this episode of Seeking Sinai , Rabbi Natan welcomes scholar Elon Gilad for a powerful conversation about Hebrew—not merely as a language, but as a living bridge across Jewish land and history. From ancient biblical texts to modern Israeli slang, they explore the astonishing continuity of Hebrew, the myths surrounding its “invention,” a...

In this special episode, we honor the life and legacy of Rabbi Emeritus Phil Kranz by sharing a powerful teaching he delivered to the Temple Sinai board just months before his passing. Through his own words, we encounter the depth of his wisdom, his love of Jewish learning, and his enduring commitment to community and tradition. Framed by personal reflections, this episode also explores the sacred...

In this episode of Seeking Sinai , Rabbi Natan sits down with Rabbi Sam Trief and Rabbi Rachael Miller and reflect on a powerful, woman-centered journey to Israel with a group of Davis Academy mothers during a moment of profound uncertainty and looming conflict. The conversation explores how shared motherhood, personal relationships with Israel, and collaborative rabbinic leadership created space...

In this emergency episode of Seeking Sinai , Rabbi Natan speaks with one of the leaders of the American Jewish Committee, Dov Wilker, about the rapidly unfolding confrontation between Israel, the United States, and Iran. Together they explore whether this moment is simply the next phase of the war that began on October 7th or a historic turning point in the region. The conversation also examines h...

This episode of Seeking Sinai begins far from punditry or protest—at a poolside playdate between two fathers navigating Jewish life after October 7th. Rabbi Natan sits down with Josh Wikoff , a former IDF paratrooper and author of Contested Land, Uncontested Truth , to explore what it means to love Israel without defensiveness, slogans, or retreat. Drawing on lived experience, military service, an...

A Mississippi synagogue is set on fire—and in the ashes, a prayer book lies open to the Shema. In this episode of Seeking Sinai , Rabbi Natan Trief is joined by Rabbi Brad Levenberg to confront the evolving face of Jew-hatred and why synagogues remain such powerful symbols of hatred as well as resilience. Together, they wrestle with fear, history, and the pressure to respond without losing our mor...

This episode with Rabbi Natan reflects on the profound and complicated joy of Israel recovering the last hostage, Ran Gvili, and what that moment revealed about Israeli society. Through Ran’s life, his parents’ words, and the extraordinary efforts to bring him home, we explore the IDF as a people’s army and the ethos of lo mafkirim chayalim ba’shetach —we do not leave soldiers behind. The episode...

Rabbi Natan reflects on Sinai's synagogue journey to Israel undertaken not as tourists, but as members of a people bound by shared history, responsibility, and hope. Through encounters in the south, the north, and Jerusalem, we witnessed resilience, complexity and connection, and the quiet ways Israelis continue to build a future amid uncertainty. Along the way, we were reminded that Jewish p...

This episode of Seeking Sinai explores the extraordinary story of Stan Andrews, a young American who left home in 1948 to fight for Israel’s survival and helped lay the foundations of the Israeli Air Force. Rabbi Natan Trief speaks with author Jeffrey Weiss, whose new book Fighting Back uncovers Andrews’s forgotten legacy and the generation of volunteers who saw Israel’s struggle as their own. Tog...

In an age of deepfakes, algorithms, and moral outrage, Zionism faces new challenges in how it’s seen and understood. In this episode, we speak with Rabbi Danny Schiff, an expert on Israel, Jewish peoplehood, and the digital age. We speak about truth, curiosity, and Jewish identity in a rapidly shifting media landscape, and together we explore how Zionism can speak meaningfully to a generation shap...

Join Rabbi Natan for a special episode where he reflects on some of the groundbreaking significance of this recent hostage deal and release. The consequences are far-reaching and there are many takeaways with which the Jewish People, both near and far, must grapple. 

We continue our conversation with ethics and teshuva expert Professor Louis Newman as he sits down with Rabbis Brad, Sam, and Natan, as well as Bunzl Family Cantorial Chair Beth Schafer for a live podcast recording on the evening of Selichot. What happens when sorry isn't enough? When do we absolve ourselves of our responsibility and how do we best enter the New Year with our best selves. Joi...

Dr. Louis Newman , renowned author and expert on teshuva, will share brief reflections on cheshbon ha’nefesh (soul accounting) and prepare us for the season ahead. 

Rabbi Natan sits down with Bunzl Family Cantorial Chair Beth Schafer to discuss the upcoming High Holy Days through the lens of music, gratitude, and hope. In this special episode that blends new musical pieces with prayerful words, we learn how Jewish hope breeds resilience and how this message is more resonant and relevant than ever before.

Join Rabbi Natan for a passionate conversation with Rabbi Jonathan Blake, senior rabbi of Westchester Reform Temple and an inspirational voice for Zionism since October 7th. The conversation centers around the challenges of the current moment in Gaza, the humanitarian situation, the assault on Zionism, and the conflicting priorities of Judaism relating to universalism and particularism. 

Join Rabbi Natan for an inspiring conversation with Rabbi Tarlan Rabizadeh, a Persian-American rabbi and educator. Her voice is strong and clear, and ever since the 12 day war with Iran, she has used it in many platforms to spread the truth about the ongoing conflict in the Middle East.

Join Rabbi Natan for a provocative conversation with the highly accomplished scholar, author and rabbi, Yitz Greenberg. At the age of 90+ he just released his magnum opus, "The Triumph of Life," a sweeping and highly readable book that encapsulates the whole trajectory of Jewish life, history, and wisdom. In particular, we discuss the Jewish insistence on life in a time of war and the im...

Dr. Mia Bloom, author and professor at Georgia State University sits down with Rabbi Natan for a discussion on the impact of terrorism and the evolving threat that it poses to Israel and free societies everywhere. Dr. Bloom is the author of the recently published book Veiled Threats: Women and Global Jihad, and has also published several recent articles on gender-based violence on October 7th as w...

As we find ourselves on the precipice of our Festival of Liberation, join us for some refreshing voices of what freedom means in our current moment. In addition to Rabbi Natan and Beth Schafer, we have highlighted several other voices from across the congregation and beyond. May we all have a happy Passover and may our 59 hostages see freedom very soon.

Join Rabbis Ron Segal and Natan Trief for a deep dive into the "most important election you have never heard of." Elections for the World Zionist Congress are in full swing and there are many profoundly important issues at stake. Rabbi Segal will discuss his recent trip to Israel and the conversation veers toward Jewish unity and the importance of civility even among profound and passion...

Rabbi Sam joins the podcast to discuss some of her profound takeaways from her recent trip to Israel. We talk about the release of the hostages, the resilience to rebuild, the spirituality infused in Israeli society now, and we even venture into political territory on both sides of the ocean. We end by discussing something concrete that each and every person can do to get more involved. 

Join Rabbi Natan for an inspiring conversation with Sally Poolat, the director of the Southeast U.S. for Leket, Israel's National Food Bank. How has the war impacted the neediest families within Israel? In times of urgent crisis, how does Israel uphold the biblical mandate to feed the hungry and care for the vulnerable? As a new hostage deal has just been announced and as the needs within Isr...

Join Rabbis Ron and Natan for a special Hanukkah episode as they discuss the meaning of the holiday in light of the current conflict in Israel. How do we focus on light even in a time of darkness? How do we show Jewish pride in a time of rising antisemitism? Together, they break down the various miracles of Hanukkah and how we can see them playing out in modern day Israel. A joyful and light-fille...