Jewish Insights with Justin Pines

What Is God Really Afraid Of? The Tower of Babel with Shuli Taubes | Illuminating Torah 2 of 3

The Tower of Babel (Genesis 11:1-9) is one of the Torah's most familiar yet mysterious stories. In this episode of Jewish Insights, host Justin Pines is joined by Ms. Shuli Taubes — educator, scholar, and chair of the Jewish Thought department at SAR High School — who takes us back to Migdal Bavel and uncovers something in the text that most of us have never noticed. What is G-d actually worried about? And what does the answer reveal about the nature of the divine-human relationship?
This is Torah learning that will surprise you.
This episode is part of Jewish Insights with Justin Pines' special three-part Shavuot series Illuminating Torah, featuring Rabba Yaffa Epstein: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DsIcob5UqrM&t=310s, Ms. Shuli Taubes, and Ms. Raizi Chechik, made possible in part by Micah Philanthropies, Ann and Jeremy Pava, Trustees.
About Shuli Taubes: Shuli Taubes chairs the Jewish Thought department at SAR High School, where she also serves as the Director of Educational Programming and teaches Tanakh and Comparative Religion. She is the author of This Too is Torah, a book and curriculum on Jewish sexual ethics published through Machon Siach, the research arm of SAR. Shuli received her Master of Divinity (MDiv) from Harvard Divinity School and her BA in History from Barnard College. 
Part 2 of 3 — Illuminating Torah: A Shavuot Series
Don't miss the full series! Like, subscribe, and hit the bell so you don't miss Parts 1 & 3.
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Moses, Angels, and the Torah's Hidden Secret with Yaffa Epstein | Illuminating Torah 1 of 3

What does it really mean to receive the Torah — and is it actually designed for imperfect people? In this illuminating first installment of our special three-part Shavuot Torah series, Jewish Insights host Justin Pines sits down with Rabba Yaffa Epstein to explore two extraordinary stories from the Babylonian Talmud that reveal the behind-the-scenes drama of Moses ascending to receive the Torah at Sinai.
From Moses' epic battle with the angels (Tractate Shabbat 88b–89a) to his humbling time-travel into Rabbi Akiva's study hall (Tractate Menachot 29b), these ancient stories carry a radical and deeply human message: the Torah was not given despiteour imperfections — it was given because of them.
About Rabba Yaffa Epstein: Rabba Yaffa Epstein is Senior Scholar and Educator in Residence at the Jewish Education Project - https://www.jewishedproject.org/elevating-bold-ideas-jewish-education, with decades of experience as a teacher, scholar, and institutional leader. She previously served as Director of the Wexner Heritage Program, and as Director of Education, North America for the Pardes Institute of Jewish Studies, where she was also a faculty member. She has taught at Yeshivat Maharat and the Drisha Institute, and has partnered with organizations including the Jewish Federations of North America, UJA New York, the Covenant Foundation, Repair the World, and Hillel. A sought-after Scholar and Educator in Residence, she has lectured at Limmud events worldwide and created educational programming for communities across the denominational spectrum.
Rabba Epstein holds Orthodox Rabbinic Ordination from Yeshivat Maharat and an additional private Orthodox Ordination from Rabbi Daniel Landes. She earned a Law Degree from Bar-Ilan University and studied Talmud at Hebrew University. In 2024, she received the prestigious Covenant Award for outstanding contributions to Jewish education. Her writing has appeared in the SAPIR Journal, the Jerusalem Post, and numerous Jewish publications.
 Part 1 of 3 — Illuminating Torah: A Shavuot Series
Don't miss the full series! Like, subscribe, and hit the bell so you don't miss Parts 2 & 3.

Tal Becker on Jewish Identity, Israel, and Searching for Truth

Dr. Tal Becker — architect of the Abraham Accords, Israel's voice at the Hague, former Legal Adviser to the Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs, senior peace negotiator across multiple rounds of talks, and Vice President of the Shalom Hartman Institute (https://www.hartman.org.il/person/tal-becker/) — joins Jewish Insights with Justin Pines for a conversation about Jewish identity, how we talk about Israel, and the evolving organizing narrative of the Jewish people in a fractured moment. 
He brings to this conversation not the week's headlines, but something harder to find: wisdom.

Rabbi E. Samuel Klibanoff: Israel, Grief, Joy, and Why American Jews Need to Show Up

Every year, Israel moves in a single day from its deepest grief to its greatest celebration — from Yom HaZikaron, Memorial Day for fallen soldiers, to Yom Ha'atzmaut, Independence Day. How do we hold both? And what does it mean to love Israel from across the ocean?
Rabbi Sam Klibanoff — spiritual leader of Congregation Etz Chaim in Livingston, NJ (https://www.etzchaimnj.org/about-us/clergy/), and one of the most passionate advocates for Israel in the American rabbinate — joins Jewish Insights with Justin Pines for a wide-ranging conversation about memory, resilience, solidarity, and the enduring bond between the Jewish people and the land of Israel.

The Rabbi Who Vanished: Finding the Yabloner Rebbe with Pini Dunner

How does a visionary Hasidic leader simply… vanish?
In this episode of Jewish Insights, Justin Pines sits down with historical detective and scholar Rabbi Pini Dunner to uncover a decades-old mystery, a secret identity, and a journey home. 
Discover the unbelievable life of Yechezkel Taub (The Yabloner Rebbe)—a world-renowned leader who led hundreds of pioneers from pre-Holocaust Poland to found a village in pre-state Israel, only to vanish and reappear decades later as an 80-year old secular psychology student in Los Angeles.
He didn't just leave his village; he left his identity behind. For four decades, he lived anonymously in Southern California as George T. Nagel—a real estate developer and later a volunteer in a psychiatric facility.
The secret to his "hidden years" was buried in a forgotten manuscript titled "Paradise Cove"—until Rabbi Dunner spent twenty years hunting for the truth.
In this episode, we explore:
The Visionary: The radical story of this unique "Hasidic Aliyah" and the founding of Kfar Hasidim.
The Disappearance: Why a spiritual giant chose to walk away from his crown.
The Manuscript: What a 1970s memoir about a Malibu psych ward reveals about a hidden Jewish soul.
The Return: The emotional story of how the Rebbe returned to the land of Israel to face the community he left behind.
"Each person is an entire world." Join us for a conversation about identity, the weight of leadership, and the "Jewish spark" that can never truly be extinguished.
Get the Book: "Paradise Cove: They Escaped the Cuckoo’s Nest" by George T. Nagel (Edited by Rabbi Pini Dunner) - https://www.paradisecovebook.com/
About the Guest: Rabbi Pini Dunner is the Senior Rabbi of Beverly Hills Synagogue and a world-renowned expert on the "margins" of Jewish history. He is the author of Mavericks, Mystics & False Messiahs and the host of the hit series "Rogues, Rascals and Rapscallions."

Unlocking the Entire Passover Seder in One Hour with Yakov Danishefsky

What if your Haggadah could meet you exactly where you are this year — checked out, overwhelmed, full of joy, or somewhere in between? Rabbi Yakov Danishefsky, therapist, author, and creator of the Attached Haggadah - https://www.amazon.com/Attached-Haggadah-Rabbi-Yakov-Danishefsky/dp/B0GN9NDTC1-, joins us for one of our most ambitious episodes yet: unlocking the entire Pesach Seder in one hour.
We explore the Attached framework and what it means to bring your full, authentic self to the Seder table. Yakov shares the vision behind the Attached Haggadah — a Haggadah built on dialogue between your inner world and the text — and why this is the Haggadah our generation has been waiting for. We talk about the shift from physical survival to emotional and spiritual coherence, and what it means to truly live with your mind, your marriage, your children, your fears, and your relationship with Hashem.
Then we unlock the whole thing — a lightning round through all 14 stages of the Seder, with Yakov bringing a taste of depth and meaning to each stage.
Rabbi Yakov Danishefsky, LCSW, CSAT, is a Chicago-based therapist specializing in trauma, addictions, and couples therapy. He is the author of the bestselling Attached, the newly released Attached Haggadah, and the forthcoming The Delight of Shabbos. He leads Avodas HaLev in Chicago and hosts The Attached Life Podcast. 
Learn more about Rabbi Yakov Danishefsky: https://www.attachedliving.com/

The Shabbat Effect: Transforming Your Life with Jewish Wisdom | Alan Morinis

What if the 25 hours of Shabbat weren't just a break from your week, but the very engine of your spiritual growth?
Host Justin Pines sits down with Dr. Alan Morinis — founder of the Mussar Institute and a leading voice in the contemporary revival of Mussar, the Jewish tradition of character refinement — to explore his new book, The Shabbat Effect: Jewish Wisdom for Growth and Transformation.
Together they dive into how practicing Shabbat with conscious intention creates lasting change — not just on the seventh day, but across the six days that follow.
In this episode:
The Wine and the Cup — Why spiritual depth requires the structure of religious practice
Mussar and Shabbat — How the lens of character refinement transforms weekly rest
Hitlamdut (Self-Reflexive Learning) — How to treat your own life as your greatest teacher
Complete vs. Temporary Rest — Why a true Shabbat should leave you a different person by Havdalah
Joy, Trust & Peace — A deep dive into three of the core traits that Shabbat cultivates
Whether you're a lifelong observer or simply curious how ancient wisdom can enhance modern life, this conversation offers a genuinely fresh lens on a 3,000-year-old practice.

Zusha: How Two Friends are Reimagining Ancient Soul Music

How do you turn 2,000-year-old prayers into modern hits?
For the 100th episode of Jewish Insights, Justin sits down with the world-renowned Hasidic folk-rock duo, Zusha. Shlomo Gaisin and Zachariah Goldschmiedt open up about their journey from wordless niggunim to electronic soundscapes, and the "idol smashing" required to keep their art authentic.
In this episode:
The Creative Process: How Zusha bridges the gap between the ancient and the modern.
The Evolution: Moving from folk melodies to atmospheric electronic music.
God's Voice: Bringing God into their lyrics.
Soulful Performance: Exclusive live versions of "Don’t Leave Me On My Own" and "Pull Me Through."
Visit the band on Instagram:  https://www.instagram.com/zushamusic/

Sharing Our Story: Alana Rifkin Gelnick on Teaching the "Four Sons" Today

In this episode of Jewish Insights, Justin Pines welcomes Alana Rifkin Gelnick, founder and CEO of Dreamearly, for a deep dive into the "pedagogy of the Seder." As we navigate rising antisemitism and global uncertainty, Alana explores how the ancient rituals of Passover - from the Ma Nishtana to the Four Sons - provide a timeless framework for modern parenting and education, and healthier relationships in general.
Together, they discuss why "kids do well if they can," the power of modeling emotional regulation, and how to meet every type of learner exactly where they are. Whether you are preparing for your family Seder or looking for tools to help the children in your life thrive, this conversation offers tangible takeaways for building confidence, creativity, and care.
Alana Rifkin Gelnick is a recognized leader in Jewish education and the host of the Stream of Dreamearly podcast -  https://dreamearly.co/podcast/   Her organization, Dreamearly, supports parents and educators through creative coaching and thoughtful content designed to help every child thrive - https://dreamearly.org/
Prior to creating Dreamearly, Alana was the Associate Principal of the Early Learning Center (ELC) at SAR Academy in Riverdale, NY. She is the recipient of the Pomegranate Prize from the Covenant Foundation, recognizing emerging leaders in Jewish education, and the Jewish Education Project’s Robert M. Sherman Young Pioneers Award.

David Ruderman: A Life in Jewish Scholarship

In this episode of Jewish Insights, Justin Pines sits down with one of the most celebrated Jewish historians of our time — Professor David B. Ruderman, the Joseph Meyerhoff Professor Emeritus of Modern Jewish History at the University of Pennsylvania and former founding Director of the Herbert D. Katz Center for Advanced Judaic Studies — for a rich and deeply personal conversation about a remarkable 50-year career, from growing up as a rabbi's son to building Jewish Studies programs at Yale and Penn and teaching across a dozen European cities.
At the heart of the conversation is Professor Ruderman's lifelong passion for biography — rescuing lesser-known, unconventional Jewish figures from historical obscurity, what he movingly describes as a kind of tichyat hametim, a revival of the dead. His latest book, The Making of an Anglo-Jewish Scholar, brings to life Solomon Yom Tov Bennett, a defiant intellectual in 19th-century London, as a window into the enduring complexity of Jewish-Christian relations and the power of encounter with the wider world to deepen, rather than diminish, Jewish identity.
Together, they also confront the urgent challenges facing Jewish Studies today — the decline of the humanities, the rise of campus antisemitism, and a global retreat from Jewish scholarship — as Professor Ruderman reflects honestly on both the golden era he helped build and his hopes for its renewal.
Professor David B. Ruderman is the Joseph Meyerhoff Professor Emeritus of Modern Jewish History at the University of Pennsylvania. Learn more about his work at https://www.history.upenn.edu/people/faculty/david-b-ruderman