Defining Moments

(7) Never Again? Holocaust Memory After October 7th

On October 7th, Hamas terrorists hunted Jews house to house, burned families alive, and committed atrocities that immediately evoked memories of the darkest chapter in Jewish history - the Holocaust. While the systematic Nazi genocide remains uniquely incomparable in its scope and horror, the echoes of that period have haunted our collective consciousness since October 7th.Now, as we've just marked Asarah B'Tevet and approach the 80th anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz and International Holocaust Remembrance Day, the weight of these historical parallels feels particularly profound. Our guest is Shifra Malina Waxman, a Holocaust educator and experienced guide in Poland, who has dedicated her life to Holocaust education and memory.In the wake of October 7th, we find ourselves asking profound questions about the meaning of 'Never Again' in a world where Jews were once again hunted in their homes. How do we process the similarities and differences between these events? And how might this change the way we teach about and remember the Holocaust? These are some of the complex questions we'll explore today with someone who brings both scholarly expertise and deeply personal perspective as an Israeli, a mother of soldiers, and a guardian of Holocaust memory.At this crucial moment in Jewish history, her insights are more relevant than ever. Shifra, thank you for joining us today."​​​​​​​​​​​​
Produced by DABRU

(6) From American Teen to IDF Commander - A Soldier’s Journey Through October 7th

At 14, Avi Samter sparked his family's aliyah with a simple question in his mother's car. By 23, he was commanding an elite IDF counter-terrorism unit during Israel's darkest hours. In this powerful conversation, Avi shares his journey from New York's Five Towns to the frontlines of Israel's war against Hamas, offering a deeply personal account of October 7th, his multiple missions in Gaza, and the profound loss of his close friend Yona Brief. Through his thoughtful reflections on service, sacrifice, and identity, Avi provides a unique window into the generation of young soldiers defending Israel, revealing both the heavy burden they carry and the unwavering spirit that drives them forward.

(5) Orthodox Jews and Mental health: An Open Conversation with Rav Yoni Rosensweig

Mental health awareness has undergone a remarkable transformation in Jewish communities over recent years, and today's guest, Rabbi Yoni Rosensweig, has been at the forefront of this change. Through his groundbreaking work integrating mental health into a halakhic framework and his book 'Nafshi Bishe'elati,' he has helped create a new language for discussing mental health within Orthodox Judaism. While his work has taken on additional urgency in the context of the current war in Israel, Rabbi Rosensweig's mission to destigmatize mental health challenges and provide halakhic guidance for those struggling began long before, and continues to shape how Orthodox communities approach these crucial issues.

(4) A Serious Conversation About Comedy, with Avi Liberman

In an article about Jewish Comedy Sarah Groustra writes: "Arguably, the most important aspect of Jewish comedy is release. Judaism is diasporic, which brings with it a legacy of restlessness, fear, and loneliness. The diaspora leaves in its wake the stereotype of neurotic Jewish parents who instill fear of persecution in their Jewish children. Jewish comedy serves to mitigate the tension of living in a world where your background is not always accepted. Jewish comedy is a break, a chance to breathe—a release. I see it as a specific form of catharsis, the 'cleansing' or 'purging' of emotions that we feel in the wake of consuming art. Although the idea of catharsis was originally used by Aristotle to define audiences’ feelings of renewal after witnessing tragedy onstage, comedy can certainly renew us in similar ways." Comedian Avi Liberman has been making audiences laugh for decades. In the Jewish community he is well known for his comedy for Koby shows, where he brings mostly non-Jewish comics to Israel to raise funds for the Koby Mandell Foundation. Avi was in Israel on October 7th, and shortly thereafter started performing for soldiers and parents of soldiers. In this conversation, he and I discuss whether comedy is appropriate during times of tragedy, how comedy can help us cope, and even sometimes show that we won’t let those who hate us defeat us.  We also talked about how a comic develops his material, what it feels like to make people laugh, and much more.  Join us for a serious talk about comedy. Make sure you go to comedyforkoby.com to get your tickets for the October shows in Israel . All funds go to the Koby Mandell foundation, which helps bereaved mothers, fathers, widows, orphans and siblings to rebuild their lives and create meaning out of suffering.

(3) Who Are the Druze... and Why It Matters

The recent killing of 12 Druze children playing soccer in Majdal Shams by a Hezbollah missile sent shock waves throughout Israel. That’s only the most recent tragic event, as many Druze soldiers have been killed in the current war, where they have served with distinction in the Israeli army. The Druze are obviously giving and loyal members of Israeli society, and I learned this first-hand when I, along with many others, visited Majdal Shams to pay a condolence call.  But who exactly are the Druze, and how do they view the Jewish people and the State of Israel? How can we broaden our horizons in order to become better neighbors and friends with our Druze neighbors, and why should we? In this episode of Defining Moments I host Rabbi Yaakov Kermaier, a former pulpit rabbi in America who upon his Aliya founded Yakir, an organization that seeks to raise awareness about the Druze and foster greater friendship and cooperation; and Shakib Shinan, a member of the Druze community who was a member of Knesset and served in the IDF, and whose son was killed in a terror attack while trying to protect worshipers on the Temple Mount in 2017. Join me to participate in a fascinating conversation, as we take a deep dive into the Druze community.

(2) The Science of Hope: How and why we should make our lives more hopeful, with Dr. Ben Corn

Rabbi Jonathan Sacks wrote, "Hope is one of the very greatest Jewish contributions to Western civilisation, so much so that I have called Judaism 'the voice of hope in the conversation of humankind.'"  But what exactly is hope ? Is hope synonymous with optimism- that everything will turn out alright at the end?  Today we welcome to the podcast world renowned physician Dr. Ben Corn. As an oncologist at Shaarei Tzedek Medical Center, Dr. Corn has sometimes had to give people very bad news. But along with bad news, Dr. Corn also tries to give his patients hope: hope that they can live a life of meaning, and accomplish their goals despite their prognosis.  Hope is not a character trait with which we are born but rather something we can learn and develop over the course of our lives. Dr. Corn is at the forefront of the study of Hope theory - a fascinating and relatively new area of research. Join us as we discuss hope - what it is and what it isn’t, how it can give us better quality of life, and how it can even improve our health. The value of hope transcends medicine, and can be learned and utilized by anyone. Especially during these very difficult times which we are currently living through, Dr. Corn's message of hope is critically important.

(1) Title: Caring for Fallen Heroes: The Painful yet Powerful Message of Rabbi Bentzi Mann

Since October 8, Rabbi Bentzi Mann has been involved in one of the most difficult yet most meaningful roles in the IDF: identifying and caring for the bodies of the fallen. Join Rabbi David Fine for a fascinating and important behind-the-scenes look at what Rav Bentzi and his unit have been doing.(Please note that this podcast deals with a very sensitive subject, and may be triggering to some. Listener discretion is advised.)

(0) Welcome to Defining Moments!

We are living in a unique historical moment of great import, and experiencing defining moments every day. In this podcast, you will gain greater insight as to why this time in the history of Israel and the Jewish people is so significant by meeting the heroes who imbue us with pride, inspiration and optimism.