Thinking Aloud with Rabbi Nolan Lebovitz

Tune in to Rabbi Nolan Lebovitz's unique and enlightening interview series

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Episode Guide & Guests:

• Episode 13 – Natasha Hausdorff

Premiered November 6, 2024
In Episode 13 of Thinking Aloud, Rabbi Lebovitz interviews Natasha Hausdorff. She is a barrister at Six Pump Court Chambers, a frequent speaker on international law, and a commentator on the Arab Israeli conflict.

In the episode, Rabbi Lebovitz and Hausdorff discuss how her life has changed since the massacre on October 7, how she measures the impact of her advocacy, and how her love for Israel has influenced her work in fighting antisemitism and misinformation.

• Episode 12 – Lihi Lapid

Premiered September 23, 2024
This past year has been a devastating one for Israeli women in particular. The sexual violence perpetrated on October 7 still lacks universal acknowledgment. We have watched too many videos of wives eulogizing their husbands and mothers eulogizing their children. It is for this reason that Rabbi Lebovitz chose an Israeli novel, On Her Own: A Novel by Lihi Lapid, for The Phyllis and Sanford Beim Yom Kippur Book Club: Lapid is an Israeli author, photojournalist, columnist, and activist who has her finger on the pulse of contemporary women’s issues. She lives in Tel Aviv with her husband Yair Lapid, the former Prime Minister of Israel, and their children.

Her fictional book is a tense and immersive psychological drama set in Tel Aviv (before October 7) about two families looking for redemption. It touches upon many themes of the High Holidays, including the transformative possibilities that our relationships offer.

• Episode 11 – Jordan B. Gorfinkel

Premiered April 17, 2024
In Episode 11 of Thinking Aloud, Rabbi Lebovitz interviews cartoonist, producer, musician, and director Jordan B. Gorfinkel (aka "Gorf"). They discuss Gorf's time working for DC comics and the Jewish values of Batman. Later, Gorf talks about teaching cartoon workshops in Israel, working with displaced families following October 7, and the Passover Haggadah Graphic Novel, which he created.

Episode 10 – Emily Feit and Dr. Robert Boostanfar

Premiered March 26, 2024
Rabbi Lebovitz interviews author (and VBS member) Emily Feit and Dr. Robert Boostanfar. They discuss the process of IVF (in vitro fertilization) and addressing other fertility issues -- including its physical, emotional, and spiritual challenges. Emily also explains the journey of publishing her new children's book about the same topic, "Before We Held You in Our Arms."

• Episode 9 – Einat Wilf

Premiered November 19, 2023
Rabbi Lebovitz interviews former Israeli Knesset member turned author, Einat Wilf, in Tel Aviv. They discuss the horrific Hamas attack on October 7, her two acclaimed books We Should All be Zionists and The War of Return: How Western Indulgence of the Palestinian Dream Has Obstructed the Path to Peace, and the future of the Israeli political liberal parties.

• Episode 8 – Daniel Gordis

Premiered October 29, 2023
Rabbi Lebovitz interviews award winning author, Daniel Gordis, in Jerusalem. They discuss the horrific Hamas attack on October 7 and the heartbreak and determination of this moment.

• Episode 7 – Dara Horn

Premiered September 18, 2023
Rabbi Lebovitz sits down with author Dara Horn to discuss her book Eternal Life. Eternal Life is the choice for this year's "Phyllis and Sanford Beim Yom Kippur Book Club," as the book deeply inspired Rabbi Lebovitz as he prepared for the High Holy Day season.

• Episode 6 – Susanna Fogel

Premiered June 20, 2023
Rabbi Nolan Lebovitz sits down with Susanna Fogel, Executive Producer and Director of the first three episodes of the miniseries "A Small Light." Based on a true story, "A Small Light" follows Miep Gies, a young, carefree secretary who hid Otto Frank and his family from the Nazis in WWII. For nearly two years, Miep and her husband Jan protected the Franks and others while she held down a day job, kept her marriage intact and shouldered more responsibility than anyone could imagine. While millions are familiar with Anne Frank’s diary and her family’s life in the Secret Annex, "A Small Light" is the lesser-known story of how an ordinary secretary showed extraordinary courage during one of the darkest moments in history. The series is now available on Disney+ and Hulu.

• Episode 5 – Rick Richman

Premiered April 24, 2023
On the State of Israel's 75th birthday, Rabbi Lebovitz is joined by Rick Richman, author of "And None Shall Make Them Afraid: Eight Stories of the Modern State of Israel." Together, they discuss the history of Israel and a new historical narrative that feels more inviting to all getting involved.

• Episode 4 – Yossi Klein Halevi with Rabbi Ed Feinstein

Premiered March 15, 2023
Special Guest Host Rabbi Ed Feinstein speaks with Yossi Klein Halevi, Senior Fellow of the Shalom Hartman Institute.

• Episode 3 – Yizhar Hess: The Declaration and the Crisis

Premiered March 2, 2023
Rabbi Lebovitz is joined with Dr. Yizhar Hess, the Vice Chairman of the World Zionist Organization. Together, they discuss the beauty and sanctity of the Declaration of the Establishment of the State of Israel and also begin to unpack some of the challenges presented within the proposed judicial reforms.

• Episode 2 – Gil Troy

Premiered November 4, 2022

• Episode 1 – Mitch Albom

Premiered September 28, 2022

To connect with Rabbi Nolan Lebovitz, follow him on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter at @RabbiNolan.