Hevruta: Jewish texts and their influence on our lives

Philip Graubart and Ali Viterbi

About

Ali Viterbi and Philip Graubart interview great teachers, scholars, artists and writers, who share with us their favorite Jewish text.

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27 episodes

Ann Goldstein: The Art of Translation

This month, Ali and Phil interview Ann Goldstein, a former editor at The New Yorker and the translator of works by, among others, Elena Ferrante and Primo Levi. We discuss Primo Levi's novel "The Truce" and the unique challenges of translating Holocaust narratives.

55m
Mar 27
Back to Asher Lev

This month, Ali and Phil teach each other their (current) favorite Jewish texts. Ali teaches the opening paragraph of Chaim Potok's "My Name is Asher Lev," and Rabbi Graubart discusses Esau's embrace with his brother (Genesis 33:4). You can find the Jesse Green article Ali mentions here https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2023/11/29/t-magazine/jewish-theater-antisemitism-maestro.html.

57m
Feb 19
Rabbi Yael Vurgan: I Believe

This month, Ali and Phil interview Rabbi Yael Vurgan, the Rabbi of Kehillat Sha'ar HaNegev, the regional community of the Israel Reform Movement in San Diego’s sister city. In this emotional conversation, we discuss Israeli poet Shaul Tchernichovsky's poem "I Believe" and what spiritual counseling looks like in Israel since October 7.

1h 7m
Jan 30
Ray and Rhona Fink: So You Do Not Forget

This month, Ali and Phil interview Doctors Rhona and Ray Fink, prominent lay leaders in the San Diego Jewish community, who were in Israel on October 7. In this emotional conversation, we discuss Deuteronomy 4:9, Genesis 28:10-21, and what it's been like in Israel since the terrorist attack on October 7.

56m
Dec 14, 2023
Maia Ifrah: Where is God's Mercy?

This month, Ali and Phil interview Maia Ifrah, the director of international relations for Sha'ar HaNegev, San Diego's sister city in Israel. In this emotional conversation, we discuss Yehuda Amichai's poem "God has mercy on kindergarten children" and the terrorist attack on October 7. You can listen to our other conversations about Israel, including our episode with David Horovitz, the founding editor of the Times of Israel, and our most recent episode with Rabbi Yael Ridberg. All previous episodes can be found on our website https://www.jewishinsandiego.org/our-community/hevruta and wherever you listen to podcasts. You can also follow this link https://50300-prd-bbis.jfusa.concourse.host/Israel-emergency-fund to donate to the Jewish Federation of San Diego's Israel Emergency Fund to support our community in Sha'ar HaNegev.

47m
Nov 16, 2023
Rabbi Yael Ridberg: What Sustains Us

This month, Ali and Phil interview Rabbi Yael Ridberg. We discuss the October 7 terrorist attack in Israel, and the "dapim" we must find to sustain us. Follow this link https://50300-prd-bbis.jfusa.concourse.host/Israel-emergency-fund to donate to the Jewish Federation of San Diego's Israel Emergency Fund to support our community in Sha'ar HaNegev.

47m
Oct 19, 2023
Beth Sirull: With All Your Possessions

Shanah Tovah! This month, Ali and Phil interview Beth Sirull, the CEO of the San Diego Jewish Community Foundation. We discuss how to conduct ourselves ethically in business according to Jewish tradition and text. How do we “love the Lord our G-d" with all our heart, all our soul, and all our ? You can read Beth's article in the Forward here: https://forward.com/life/428133/i-should-not-have-to-check-my-jewish-values-at-the-synagogue-door/

53m
Sep 12, 2023
Michael Hopkins: Open Your Hand

This month, Ali and Phil interview Michael Hopkins, the CEO of Jewish Family Service of San Diego. We discuss Deuteronomy 15: 11 and our responsibility to open our hands to "the poor and needy kin in our land."

50m
Jul 20, 2023
David Horovitz: The Rest is Interpretation

This month, Ali and Phil interview David Horovitz, the founding editor of The Times of Israel. David teaches us about Hillel, journalism, and the current state of Israeli politics. You can check out our new website at the Jewish Federation of San Diego: https://www.jewishinsandiego.org/our-community/hevruta

53m
Jun 19, 2023
Karen Parry: Imposter Syndrome

Welcome back to the third season of Hevruta: Jewish texts and their influence on our lives, now a podcast by the Jewish Federation of San Diego. This month, we learn from Karen Parry, the executive director of Hillel of San Diego. Karen teaches us about Moses, humility, and struggling with impostor syndrome. You can check out our new website at the Jewish Federation of San Diego: https://www.jewishinsandiego.org/our-community/hevruta

39m
May 31, 2023
Special announcement!

...We're back for season 3 of Hevruta! Talk to you next week!

1m
May 24, 2023
Rabbi Wayne Dosick: Inside of the Insides

In our final episode of Season two of Hevruta, Ali and Rabbi Graubart discuss Exodus 33: 17-23 with Rabbi Wayne Dosick.

43m
Jun 17, 2022
Live Show in Commemoration of Yom HaShoah

In this episode we partner with the Jewish Federation of San Diego for our first live podcast! As part of our community's Yom Hashoah commemoration, we interview Dr. J. Luke Wood, Vice President of San Diego State University and chief diversity officer, and high school activist (and rising SDSU student) Anna Maya. Our theme is "Never Again. . . But How?"

26m
May 03, 2022
In Every Generation and the Problem of Evil

In this month's episode, Ali and Phil teach each other their (current) favorite Jewish texts. Ali discusses a line from the Pesach Haggadah, and her play of the same name. Phil discusses the dual nature of God, and the problem of evil. 

48m
Mar 21, 2022
Tammy Gillies: Scary Times

In this month's episode we learn from Tammy Gillies, head of San Diego's ADL. She shares with us texts that bring inspiration during genuinely frightening times. We dedicate this episode to the memory of Morris Casuto, Tammy's predecessor at the ADL, who passed away the day after we recorded this. Morris was a giant, and Tammy is a worthy successor. 

40m
Feb 14, 2022
Rabbi Richard Agler: The Tragedy Test

In this episode, Rabbi Richard Agler discusses his book "The Tragedy Test" - a theology he developed after the tragic loss of his young adult daughter.

40m
Jan 18, 2022
Zalmen Mlotek, Brothers in Pain

This month, Ali and I learn from Zalmen Mlotek. Zalmen is an internationally recognized authority on Yiddish folk and theater music as well as a leading figure in the Jewish theatre and concert worlds. He is the  Artistic Director of the National Yiddish Theatre Folksbiene. His vision brought the critically acclaimed award-winning ( in Yiddish ) directed by Joel Grey, for which he served as music director, to Broadway.  The link to Chana Gonshor's beautiful rendition of Zalmen's text can be found here https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sc69OOtmXg0. 

48m
Dec 09, 2021
Betzy Lynch: The Two Pockets

In this month's episode we learn from Betzy Lunch, CEO of the San Diego Jewish Community Center. Betzy teaches us a Hasidic story about humility and pride, and we discuss the challenges of building community - in general, and in our COVID era.

40m
Nov 11, 2021
Heidi Gantwerk: Wisdom, Happiness, and Wealth

Welcome back to the second season of Hevruta: Jewish texts and their influence on our lives. This month we learn from Heidi Gantwerk, Interim President and CEO of the Jewish Federation of San Diego County, and board President of the San Diego Jewish Academy. Heidi takes us through a text from Pirkei Avot offering radical understandings of wisdom, happiness, and wealth.

47m
Oct 04, 2021
Rabbi David Frank: Everything Has Its Place

In this episode, Ali and I learn with Rabbi David Frank, former Senior Rabbi at Temple Solel in Cardiff, and Chief Jewish Officer at the San Diego Jewish Academy.

43m
Jun 10, 2021
Smashing Barriers with Todd Salovey

This month we learn with theatre director Todd Salovey, associate artistic director of the San Diego Repertory Theatre, and founding director of the Lipinsky Family San Diego Jewish Arts Festival. Todd teaches us S. Anksy's masterpiece "The Dybbuk," as well as some Talmud. 

51m
Apr 25, 2021
Notes from the Narrow Place

In this episode, Ali and Phil interview each other about our (current) favorite Jewish texts. We discuss Tony Kushner, Bob Dylan, Psalms, and the Narrow Place.

47m
Mar 30, 2021
Charlene Seidle: Don't Make Yourself Afraid

Ali and Phil interview Charlene Seidle, Executive Vice President of the Leichtag Foundation, and one of the most interesting, influential, and innovative Jewish leaders in America. Charlene teaches us a famous phrase from Rebbe Nahman of Bratzlav.

41m
Feb 28, 2021
SDJA Head of School Zvi Weiss

New SDJA Head of School Zvi Weiss joins Ali and Phil, and teaches a text about transmitting the tradition. Special treat: original music by Yale Strom!

44m
Jan 29, 2021
Yale Strom and Elizabeth Schwartz: Justice, Justice

Ali and Phil interview klezmer superstars Yale Strom and Elizabeth Schwartz from Hot Pstromi. They teach us their favorite texts and discuss their brilliant music, concerts, films and books.

58m
Dec 28, 2020
Hevruta Pilot: Ray Fink

Hevruta: Jewish Texts and their Influence on our Lives. A podcast by the San Diego Jewish Academy. Our pilot episode.

41m
Nov 16, 2020
Amelia Glaser, Dark Times

Ali and Phil interview Dr. Amelia Glaser, Head of Jewish Studies at the University of California in San Diego.

49m
Nov 16, 2020