Episodes

Jan. 14, 2021

Dr. Elana Stein Hain on Jeremiah 28 – “Leadership with a Message of A…

Mark is delighted to welcome Dr. Elana Stein Hain to the podcast today. In addition to her role as the Director of Faculty at the Shalom Hartman Institute of North America, Elana also co-leads the Created Equal research team,...

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Jan. 13, 2021

BBYO’s Matt Grossman and Kelly Fagel on Leviticus 14:1 – 15:33 - “Aff…

Mark welcomes two special guests from BBYO, one of the Jewish community’s premier platforms for reaching and inspiring Jewish teens, to the podcast today. Kelly Fagel is a 17-year-old High School Senior who serves as the 32nd...

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Jan. 12, 2021

Boyd Matheson on 1 Samuel 17:48– “Ultimate Confidence”

Boyd Matheson, opinion editor at the Deseret News, is Mark’s very special guest on today’s episode. For over 25 years, Boyd has worked as a consultant, executive strategist and performance coach with global companies, and he ...

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Jan. 11, 2021

Michal Lemberger on Genesis 19:6-9 – “A Horrifying Crime”

Celebrated author and educator, Michal Lemberger, joins Mark for today’s podcast. Michal’s debut collection, After Abel and Other Stories, has garnered numerous awards, and her nonfiction and journalism have appeared in many ...

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Dec. 17, 2020

Abigail Pogrebin on Deuteronomy 15:7-10 – “Compassion is a Requiremen…

One of America’s most prominent thinkers and leaders, Abigail Pogrebin, joins Mark on the podcast today. Abigail has served as President of Central Synagogue, and her book, My Jewish Year: 18 Holidays; One Wondering Jew, was ...

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Dec. 17, 2020

Dr. Michael Helfand on Sotah 49b:11-14 – “The Advantages, Opportuniti…

Mark is delighted to welcome Dr. Michael Helfand to the podcast today. Michael is the Vice Dean for Faculty and Research at the Caruso School of Law, Pepperdine University, and an expert on religious law and religious liberty...

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Dec. 14, 2020

Rabbi Marc Schneier on Genesis 21:9-20 – “Opening Our Eyes to Our Ble…

Rabbi Marc Schneier, Founder of The Hampton Synagogue, one of the most dynamic synagogues in the United States, is Mark’s very special guest this week. Rabbi Schneier is also the founder of the Foundation for Ethnic Understan...

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Dec. 14, 2020

Rabbi Sergio Bergman on Genesis 1:1-5 – “Life: The Light of God”

Mark is absolutely delighted to welcome Rabbi Sergio Bergman to the podcast today. Currently the President of the World Union for Progressive Judaism, Rabbi Bergman oversees 1,275 synagogues with 1.8 million members in more t...

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Dec. 10, 2020

Rabbi Rick Jacobs on Isaiah 58:1-8 – “Living a Life of Meaning and Pu…

Mark’s delight is palpable as he welcomes Rabbi Rick Jacobs to the podcast today. As President of the Union for Reform Judaism, Rabbi Jacobs currently leads the largest and most diverse Jewish movement in North America. He is...

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Dec. 10, 2020

Rabbi Steven Weil on Genesis 23 – “The Dialectical Existence of the J…

Mark is delighted to welcome his good friend and fellow cigar aficionado, Rabbi Steven Weil, to the podcast this week. Currently the National Director and CEO of Friends of the Israel Defense Forces (FIDF), Rabbi Weil previou...

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Dec. 7, 2020

Jon Steinberg on L’chatchila Ariber – “Taking a Creative and Bold App…

Jon Steinberg, one of Mark’s favorite cigar smoking companions, is the very special guest on this week’s episode. Currently the president of Altice News and Advertising, Jon is also the founder of Cheddar, the leading Post Ca...

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Dec. 6, 2020

Rabbi Susan Silverman on Genesis 1:1-8 – “Beginning Again”

Mark is delighted to welcome Rabbi Susan Silverman to the podcast today. Rabbi Silverman is the founder of KAMOCHA: A Jewish Response to Refugees, is on the Board of Directors of Women of the Wall, and the International Counc...

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Dec. 3, 2020

Jonathan Goldstein on Genesis 18 – “A Divine Interruption”

Mark is delighted to welcome Jonathan Goldstein to today’s episode. Jonathan is the Chief Executive and Founder of the private investment firm, ]( http://www.cainint.com/ )[Cain International, the Chairman of the Jewish Leade...

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Nov. 30, 2020

Apostle Dwayne Hardin on Psalms 119:89 and Joshua 1:6-9– “Learning an…

Mark is delighted to welcome Apostle Dwayne Hardin to the podcast this week. Apostle Hardin is the founder and lead pastor of The Embassy Church and The Millennium Masters Inc, a global organization designed to effectively co...

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Nov. 30, 2020

Dr. Yehuda Kurtzer on Jonah 4 – “An Education in Universalism”

Dr. Yehuda Kurtzer, President of the Shalom Hartman Institute of North America, is Mark’s very special guest on the podcast this week. Yehuda is a leading thinker and author on the meaning of Israel to American Jews, on Jewis...

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Nov. 30, 2020

Rabbi Joshua Davidson on Genesis 18 and Genesis 22 – “Abraham: Our Co…

Mark is delighted to welcome Rabbi Joshua Davidson to the podcast today. A graduate of Princeton, and, like Mark’s wife, a graduate of Hebrew Union College as well, Rabbi Davidson is currently the Senior Rabbi of Congregation...

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Nov. 26, 2020

Solomon Choi on Leviticus 25 – “The Divine Importance of How You Cond…

Solomon Choi, Founder and CEO of 16 Handles, NYC’s largest frozen dessert franchise, is Mark’s guest on the podcast today. Solomon has worked in Food and Beverage and Foodservice management for more than 15 years as an execut...

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Nov. 23, 2020

A.J. Jacobs on Psalms 35:18 – “The Power of Gratitude”

Master of immersion journalism, A.J. Jacobs, joins Mark on the podcast today. Through his work, A.J. has immersed himself in topics ranging from the Bible to the family, to his most recent topic, gratitude, which he recounts ...

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Nov. 23, 2020

US Air Force Chaplain, Major General Steven Schaick, on II Samuel 9-1…

Mark is both delighted and highly honored to welcome Chaplain (Maj. Gen.) Steven A. Schaick, the US Air Force Chief of Chaplains, to the podcast this week. In his role, Chaplain Schaick is the senior pastor for more than 685,...

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Nov. 23, 2020

Pastor Jesse Bradley on The Book of Haggai – “Hope and Rebuilding”

This week, Mark is delighted to welcome Pastor Jesse Bradley to the podcast. After graduating from Dartmouth College, Jesse went on to become a professional soccer goalkeeper in Zimbabwe, Aberdeen, and Minnesota, before a lif...

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Nov. 20, 2020

Rabbi Angela Warnick Buchdahl on Deuteronomy 29:9-11– “Who We Are as …

Mark is delighted to welcome Rabbi Angela Warnick Buchdahl to the podcast today. Rabbi Buchdahl is the first woman to serve as the Senior Rabbi of Central Synagogue in New York City in its 180-year history, and she is also …

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Nov. 19, 2020

Rabbi Efrem Goldberg on Exodus 12:1-3 – “Lech Lecha: Going to Seek th…

Joining Mark on the podcast today is Rabbi Efrem Goldberg, Senior Rabbi of Boca Raton Synagogue (BRS), the largest Orthodox Synagogue in the Southeast United States. In addition to his role at BRS, Rabbi Goldberg also serves ...

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Nov. 16, 2020

Pat Boone: From Exodus to Elvis to Jerusalem: Reflections on a Lifelo…

Mark is deeply honored to welcome living legend, Pat Boone, to the podcast today. Pat is obviously one of the most successful singers in history, but he is also an actor, TV host, producer, songwriter, author, motivational sp...

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Nov. 16, 2020

Noam Weissman on Genesis 18 and 22 – “Abraham’s Journey to Becoming a…

Senior Vice President of OpenDor Media (formerly Jerusalem U), Noam Weissman, joins Mark on the podcast today. Noam is also the host of the podcast ‘Unpacking Israeli History’, and prior to his current roles, he was the Princ...

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