In The Spotlight with Abigail Pogrebin

In the Spotlight: Rabbi Joanna Samuels

The new CEO of the Marlene Meyerson JCC Manhattan, Rabbi Joanna Samuels, describes what it was like taking the reins of a major New York Jewish institution in the middle of a pandemic, when she joins Abigail Pogrebin for her first in-depth conversation.

In the Spotlight: Joseph Rosenstein on Pirkei Avot

Jewish ethics suddenly feel clear and contemporary in the hands of Joseph Rosenstein, who shares with Abigail Pogrebin how he spent the pandemic unpacking the ancient rabbinic texts of Ethics of the Fathers for his new book, "Reflections on Pirkei Avot."

In the Spotlight: Annie Polland- NYC Tenement Museum

Public historian, author, former Executive Director of the American Jewish Historical Society, and current President of the Tenement Museum in New York City, Annie Polland, discusses the rich history of Jews on the Lower East Side, and more with Abigail Pogrebin.

In the Spotlight: Matti Friedman on Leonard Cohen

Acclaimed Canadian-Israeli author Matti Friedman joins Abigail Pogrebin to discuss Who By Fire: Leonard Cohen in the Sinai, his book that tells the little-known story of Cohen’s concert tour to the front lines of the Yom Kippur War in 1973.

In the Spotlight: David Harris

Long-time American Jewish Committee CEO David Harris holds court with Abby as they discuss the state of affairs of the Jewish people, from persistent anti-Semitism in the U.S. to young American Jews' support of Israel (or lack thereof), as well as the refugee situation in Ukraine and the AJC's recent commemoration of the new memorial at Babi Yar before the arrival of war.  Harris also reflects on his illustrious tenure at the AJC as he stands on the brink of retirement and prognosticates about the future of the Israeli-Palestinian peace process, the growing toxicity of the American political scene, and the Sisyphean task of countering Jew-hatred on social media.

In the Spotlight: Amy Bloom - "Love and Loss"

Amy Bloom discusses with Abigail Pogrebin her latest book In Love: A Memoir of Love and Loss about her husband’s battle with Alzheimer’s and the courageous way the two faced the challenges of this disease and how together decided on the final way to part.

In the Spotlight: Rabbi Justin Pines- "Hitkansut"

Abigail Pogrebin is joined by Rabbi Justin Pines, the Director of Youth & Young Adult Initiatives at the Shalom Hartman Institute of North America, to discuss the pioneering new idea of a standardized ritual for Yom HaShoah, known as Hitkansut.

In the Spotlight: Jewish Musicians

Abigail Pogrebin is joined by musicians Elana Arian, Joey Weisenberg and Noah Aronson for conversation in the JBS Studios in Times Square.   They discuss themes regarding their positions as music makers in the Jewish world, such as the link between prayer and music, the potential redesign of synagogues to make room for freedom of musical expression, and methods for drawing out reluctant participants to reach their full musical potential during worship.  The three guests also showcase some of their past performances on video and offer analysis and commentary on these songs.

In the Spotlight: Stuart Weitzman

Legendary shoe impresario Stuart Weitzman talks about the Jewish museum he saved, why his designs were groundbreaking, and how Aretha Franklin changed his business, with Abigail Pogrebin from the JBS Studios in Times Square.

In the Spotlight: The Women of Maharat

In this special episode, author, journalist and JBS favorite Abigail Pogrebin sits down with three dynamic women from the Maharat Yeshiva: Rabba Sarah Hurwitz, the Co-Founder and President of Maharat, the first institution to ordain Orthodox Jewish women as clergy; Rabbanit Devora Zlochower Academic Dean and Rosh Kollel at Maharat; and Rabbi Dr. Erin Leib Smokler, Dean of Students at Maharat. These three fascinating women discuss the creation of Maharat, the institution that they all have ties to, and how it has proved revolutionary for Orthodox women seeking leadership roles in their Jewish communities. They discuss power dynamics in Jewish communal life, and how challenging it has been for women to make headway with the all-male establishment that rules Judaism. When knowledge equals power, as it almost always does with regards to rabbinic authority, and women are cut off from knowledge, it completely curtails the possibility of women attaining any semblance of control over their own lives or what is taught in the community. But over the last forty years, these tides have been turning, and these three extraordinary women explain how their progress came to pass. They talk about their new titles ("Rabba," "Rabbanit"), as well as how they consider themselves feminists, and what they do when they encounter misogny in real life, or even within halachah itself.