Defining Moments

Rabbi Josh Broide - Rolling Out the Red Carpet for Jewish Unity | Ep 14

Welcome to Defining Moments. I’m Rabbi David Fine. Today’s guest is Rabbi Josh Broide, a walking contradiction in the best possible way. After 25 transformative years in Boca Raton—holding numerous important community positions—Josh made aliyah to Israel this past summer. He’s thrilled to be living his Zionist dream while remaining passionately committed to the community he served in South Florida. Josh has dedicated his life to a singular vision: bringing Jews closer to Jewish life and helping Jews of all backgrounds truly get along with one another. He’s the rabbi who literally rolls out a red carpet for first-time visitors to shul, who received the Jerusalem Unity Prize from the President of Israel for his work in bringing community together, and whose boundless warmth, energy, and creativity have touched thousands of lives.

417 Days: Yona Brief’s Battle to Choose Life

417. That’s how many days Yona Brief fought for his life after being shot 13 times on October 7th while trying to save his fallen friends in Kfar Aza. 417 days that his parents never left his side. 417 days that transformed a hospital room into a place of hope, filled with music, laughter, and an unshakeable will to live. 417 blood donation units collected in his memory on what would have been his 24th birthday.**
Yona was defined as the most severely wounded soldier of the Iron Swords War. Yet in Room 11 of Sheba Medical Center - which the staff still calls “Yona’s room” - this 23-year-old combat medic with an infectious smile and boundless שמחת חיים taught everyone around him what it means to choose life, even when everything is collapsing. The doctors say they changed their protocols because of him and saved other soldiers because of what his battle taught them.
Today, David and Hazel Brief share the story of their son - a fighter, a peacemaker, and a young man whose legacy teaches us all what it means to truly live. This is Defining Moments with Rabbi David Fine.

When the Tower Calls: From Pilot Dreams to Guiding Communities Through Turbulence

In this episode I have the honor to speak with my Rav and Barkai partner, Rav Shlomo Sobol. We spoke just before Rosh Hashana, a very busy time for rabbis. We spoke about his own path to the rabbinate, his shlichut in Detroit which led to his envisioning Barkai, his time at Merkaz HaRav and the importance of Rav Kook’s Torah for our generation amongst many other topics.הפקה: DABRU לפרסום ושיתופי פעולה צרו קשר במייל- info@dabru.biz

Defining Moments | Matthew Miller | ep 12

Welcome to the Defining Moments podcast. Today we’re joined by Matthew Miller, publisher of Koren Publishers Jerusalem, one of the world’s leading Jewish publishing house. After growing up in a non-observant household and running a British multinational corporation, Matthew made aliyah in 1999. He later acquired Koren Publishers and transformed it from a company publishing just a handful of titles into a publishing powerhouse releasing new works every week. Under Matthew’s leadership, Koren has become synonymous with intellectual rigor and beautiful design, bringing us game-changing works like the Koren Sacks Siddur and the groundbreaking Koren Talmud Bavli. Today, we’ll get a behind-the-scenes look at Jewish book publishing. We’ll hear about working with Rabbis Sacks and Steinsaltz, learn how Koren differs from ArtScroll, discover why aesthetics matter in prayer, and explore Matthew’s remarkable journey from secular corporate executive to the publisher who has fundamentally changed how Modern Orthodox and Religious Zionist communities learn and pray.
 
produced by DABRU

Rabbi Hayim Navon | ep 11

Welcome to “Defining Moments.” Today I’m honored to be joined by Rabbi Hayim Navon, a distinguished Israeli rabbi, philosopher, and writer whose work has profoundly influenced modern Jewish thought. Rabbi Navon has recently published a deeply moving book titled “מעשה בצדיק ואלונקה” – “A Tale of a Righteous Man and a Stretcher.” This powerful work commemorates the students and graduates of Hesder yeshivas who fell in the first year of the war, documenting their lives, values, and extraordinary commitment to Torah study, Chessed, their hobbies, and the defense of Israel.We’ll explore what the significantly higher casualty rate among Hesder students reveals about religious Zionism today, and discuss how these young men heard the call of history and divine purpose in their service - a calling that some other sectors of religious society have responded to differently. And finally, we’ll touch on the unique contributions of the Anglo community in Israel and some of the challenges it faces, particularly regarding deeper integration with broader Israeli culture and society. Rabbi Navon’s book stands as a memorial and an inspiration, capturing the essence of these young men who embodied the highest ideals of religious Zionism. Rabbi Navon, thank you for joining us today to discuss this important work.produced by DABRU
 

Community Resilience in Crisis: Gila Tolub on Healing Israel's Collective Trauma

Don't miss our riveting new Defining Moments podcast featuring Gila Tolub, the visionary Executive Director of ICAR Collective! In response to October 7th's profound impact, ICAR coordinates experts across medicine, psychology, and public health to address Israel's trauma crisis where 60% of Israelis have experienced symptoms of PTSD. Our conversation explores both ICAR's vital work aligning hundreds of fragmented organizations and fascinating research on what truly drives recovery—including the surprising power of community structures and spiritual leadership in trauma healing. Gila shares insights on how coordinated clinical services combined with strong community networks create the most effective path to resilience. Join us for this essential discussion on addressing national trauma through integrated approaches that might not only heal wounds but potentially transform crisis into an opportunity for collective growth and renewed strength.​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​

Beyond the Headlines: The Unseen Journey of a Wounded Soldier's Family​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​

In this powerful episode, we meet Roni Bluth, whose life changed dramatically when her husband was severely wounded in combat on Israel's northern border. The bullet missed his brain stem by just one millimeter, beginning a journey that countless families of wounded soldiers face. From explaining to her eight-year-old daughter why dad couldn't speak with his jaws wired shut to eventually putting on a uniform herself to serve in the reserves, Roni's story reveals both the intense challenges these families endure and the remarkable resilience they discover in the face of trauma.​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​
produced by DABRU

Strength in Community: A Rabbi's Journey Through Wartime Loss

Since October 7th, communities across Israel have faced unprecedented challenges, with religious leaders like Rabbi Zev Rosenfeld at the forefront of offering emotional and spiritual support. In this episode of Defining Moments, Rabbi Rosenfeld, the Chief Rabbi of Talmon, shares his experiences and unique perspective as an Anglo-Rabbi leading an Israeli yeshuv.
Talmon, which has tragically lost four soldiers in the current war, is a community where nearly every family is intertwined with the military. Rabbi Rosenfeld's leadership extends beyond the synagogue, as he supports bereaved families, tends to soldiers' loved ones, and guides the community’s youth through trauma.
Join us to explore how Rabbi Rosenfeld navigates the challenges of war, loss, and resilience, offering insight into the vital role of religious leaders in helping their communities endure and grow stronger.
 
produced by DABRU

(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.