Behind the Bima - podcast cover

Behind the Bima

Rabbi Efrem Goldbergbehind-the-bima.simplecast.com
Rabbis Efrem Goldberg, Philip Moskowitz, and Josh Broide, from Boca Raton Synagogue, shmooze about contemporary issues. Every week features an unscripted and lively discussion, special guests, and a behind-the-scenes look at leading a large and dynamic Jewish community.
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Episodes

Bonus Episode: Out of the Shadows - A Jewish Approach to Mental Health

Introducing the first episode of Out of the Shadows: A Jewish Approach to Mental Health. Subscribe to the monthly podcast and let us know if you have any feedback. --- There are problems that affect so many and yet so few talk about them, which is why R. Efrem Goldberg and Moshe Yachnes bring you OUT OF THE SHADOWS: A Jewish Approach to Mental Health, hosted by the Boca Raton Synagogue and Onward Living's Adopt Initiative. Rabbi Goldberg and Moshe speak to leaders in the field and discuss contem...

Sep 18, 20221 hr 33 minEp. 103

Special Guest - Shlomo Katz

Shlomo Katz (Hebrew: שלמה כץ) is a contemporary religious Jewish singer in Israel. Shlomo Katz was born in New Jersey, the son of Chazan Avsholom Katz. His father was an Argentine immigrant from Buenos Aires, and was named for his uncle Avshalom Haviv. His family moved to Israel when he was nine years old and he has subsequently moved back and forth between Los Angeles and Israel. While studying in a Raanana yeshiva, Katz was introduced to the music and teachings of Rabbi Shlomo Carlebach. Katz ...

Sep 15, 20221 hr 17 minEp. 102

Celebrating the 100th Episode and Special Eitan Katz

This episode celebrates 100 episodes of the show! From Coffee Talk to Behind the Bima, a lot has changed, but so much has stayed the same. Tune in to hear about your favorite episodes and moments from this podcast. We were thrilled to be joined by Jewish musician Eitan Katz. A member of an extremely musical family, Eitan Katz discovered that he had not just a love of music, but the talent as well. Spending his childhood moving back and forth between Los Angeles and Israel, Eitan was exposed to a...

Sep 08, 20221 hr 48 minEp. 101

Special Guest - Dr. Jonathan Donath, Founder of Daily Giving

Daily Giving's mission is to enable every Jew to easily perform the mitzvah of tzedaka every single day, and to disperse those funds to deserving Jewish non-profit organizations around the world on a daily basis. www.DailyGiving.org. Just as drips of water over millennia can carve out caves and canyons, one small mitzvah multiplied several times over can move mountains as well. That’s the belief of Dr. Jonathan Donath, a chiropractor in White Plains, New York, who got an epiphany in 2018 while d...

Sep 01, 20221 hr 20 minEp. 100

Special Guests - Bat-Galim & Ofir Shaer

Bat Galim Shaer is an educator and public figure, married to Ofir and mother to 5 daughters and one son - the late Gil-ad z’’l - who was murdered by Hamas terrorists in Gush Etzion in the summer of 2014 along with his friends Naftali Frenkel and Eyal Yifrach. With over 20 years of experience in various educational frameworks, Bat Galim has presented lectures and initiated conferences to promote and foster unity within Israeli society. She is one of the creators of Israel’s "Unity Day" project wh...

Aug 04, 20221 hr 20 minEp. 99

Special Guest - Dan Grunfeld

Daniel Leslie Grunfeld is an American professional basketball player, who last played as a small forward for Bnei Herzliya in the Israeli Basketball Premier League. He played briefly for Hapoel Holon, but left the team due to its financial problems, and signed a two-year contract with Hapoel Jerusalem starting at the beginning of November 2011. He is the son of former New York Knicks guard, and former Washington Wizards executive, Ernie Grunfeld. In high school, he averaged 23.9 points per game ...

Jul 28, 20221 hr 9 minEp. 98

Special Guest - Chava Willig Levy

Chava Willig Levy is an award-winning author and an advocate for individuals with disabilities. As a person who gets around in a motorized wheelchair, she has shattered many stereotypes about people with disabilities in the workplace, in the community, in the classroom and on the college campus. An internationally known motivational speaker famous for her humor, passion and compassion, Chava has captivated audiences ranging in size from 50 to 3,500. Millions of people have read Chava’s articles,...

Jul 21, 20221 hr 10 minEp. 97

Special Guest - R' Moshe Meir Weiss

Rabbi Moshe Meir Weiss is a prolific speaker and a student of Rav Moshe Feinstein. He served as a rabbi in Staten Island for decades and currently lives and teaches in Lakewood. 00:00 - Intro 19:58 - Interview 1:18:16 - Outro Rabbi Efrem Goldberg: Rabbi, Boca Raton Synagogue (BRS). Rabbi Philip Moskowitz: Associate Rabbi, BRS. Rabbi Josh Broide: Outreach Rabbi, BRS.

Jul 14, 20221 hr 50 minEp. 96

Special Guest - Hillel Fuld

Hillel Fuld is an American Israeli technology blogger, vlogger, business advisor, and international speaker. Fuld's work focuses on the Israeli high tech industry, guidance for startup companies, and marketing tips for growing a business or personal brands. Fuld has been recognized as one of the most influential people in the Israeli tech industry, and has been ranked in the top ten of global technology bloggers. In 2018, he was the keynote speaker at the Touro College Division of Graduate Studi...

Jul 07, 20221 hr 8 minEp. 95

Special Guests - Dovi Safier & Yehuda Geberer

Dovi Safier is a business professional who enjoys researching unexplored chapters of Jewish history, with a primary focus on the yeshivos of the interwar period. Yehuda Geberer (https://yehudageberer.com/) is a researcher of Jewish History and a popular tour guide of Jewish Historical sites in Europe. He spends much of his time conducting group and private tours around Europe as well as Israel, for families, groups and institutions from a variety of background and ages. Tours to Europe and Israe...

Jun 30, 20221 hr 31 minEp. 94

Special Guest - Saul Blinkoff, Animator

Our Guest: Saul (https://saulblinkoff.com/) began his career as an animator for the WALT DISNEY STUDIOS working on the hit films Pocahontas, The Hunchback of Notre Dame, Mulan, & Tarzan. He made his directorial debut with the hip action-adventure series Spy Groove for MTV. Shortly thereafter, he re-joined DISNEY, directing the films Winnie the Pooh: Springtime with Roo & Kronk's New Groove- starring Eartha Kitt & David Spade. Notes: •IMBD Parent Guide can be helpful to find out how a...

Jun 16, 20221 hr 27 minEp. 93

Special Guest - Elisheva Liss, LMFT

Elisheva Liss, LMFT is a psychotherapist in private practice, an author, lecturer, and digital educator. Her book, Find Your Horizon of Healthy Thinking, teaches how to use a narrative therapy technique she developed for managing challenging thoughts, feelings, and circumstances. Her primary digital course is: Sacred, Not Secret: A Religious Parent's Guide to Healthy, Holy Sexuality Education. Some of her other courses are: Private Practice Pro-Tips, How to Make the Most of Your Therapy Experien...

Jun 09, 20221 hr 14 minEp. 92

Special Guest - R' Berel Wein

Rabbi Berel Wein, the founder and director of the Destiny Foundation since 1996, has, for over 25 years, been identified with the popularization of Jewish history through his more than 1,000 lectures heard world-wide on CD and now as downloadable MP3s, his 15 books, history courses, educational tours and, most recently, dramatic and documentary films. Rabbi Wein is a graduate of the Hebrew Theological College and Roosevelt College in Chicago. He received his Juris Doctor Degree from De Paul Univ...

Jun 02, 20221 hr 18 minEp. 91

Special Guest - Rabbi Mark Wildes

Rabbi Mark Wildes was ordained from Yeshiva University, but before becoming a rabbi, he received a JD from the Cardozo School of Law and a Masters in International Affairs from Columbia University. Since founding MJE 20 years ago, Rabbi Wildes has become one of America’s most inspirational and dynamic Jewish educators. He lives with his wife Jill and their children Yosef, Ezra, Judah and Avigayil on the Upper West Side where they maintain a warm and welcoming home for all. He is a hard core Beat...

May 26, 20221 hr 23 minEp. 90

Special Guest - Sam Ron, Holocaust Survivor

Sam Ron and Jack Waksal were prisoners in the Holocaust together and recently united after 79 years. Connect with Rabbi Efrem Goldberg: Website: https://rabbiefremgoldberg.org/ Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/efrem.goldberg Twitter: http://twitter.com/rabbigoldberg Rabbi Efrem Goldberg: Rabbi, Boca Raton Synagogue (BRS). Rabbi Philip Moskowitz: Associate Rabbi, BRS. Rabbi Josh Broide: Outreach Rabbi, BRS....

Apr 28, 20221 hr 23 minEp. 89

Special Guest - Coach Bruce Pearl

Bruce Alan Pearl (born March 18, 1960) is an American college basketball coach, and the head coach of the Auburn Tigers men's basketball program. A video of Pearl (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6_nRO8KEEFo) went viral in which he said at a press conference: "My Hebrew name is Mordecai, and I think my family gave me that name for this reason. Mordecai talked to Esther the queen and said, 'Look, Esther, you might survive this for a little while, but you won't survive this. He's really going to k...

Apr 07, 20221 hr 1 minEp. 88

Special Guest - Naomi Nachman

As cooking has always been her passion, in 2004, Naomi started her own kosher personal chef business, The Aussie Gourmet, to pursue cater weekly and Shabbat/Yom Tov meals for families and individuals within The Five Towns and neighboring communities and beyond — including Alaska and Israel. Naomi is often sought after to give cooking demonstrations and produce kosher Chopped competitions throughout the New York/New Jersey Metropolitan as well as across the country, where she shares her immense e...

Mar 31, 20221 hr 17 minEp. 87

Special Guests - Rabbi Yechiel Levitansky (Ukraine) and Rabbi Yaakov Gibber (BJC)

R. Yechiel Slomo Levitansky was born in Los-Angeles in 1974. He lives at present in Sumy, Ukraine with his wife and 6 children. As a rabbi his activity is the restoration of the Jewish in Sumy and the Sumy region. Since 5 years he studied in religious yeshiva school in L.A. and N.Y., USA. After finishing yeshiva he had practice in 1994-1995 in Kharkov, Ukraine and helped the local rabbi. Rabbi Yaakov Gibber became the Rabbi and Spiritual Leader of The Boca Jewish Center/Shaaray Tefilla in August...

Mar 24, 20221 hr 29 minEp. 86

Special Guests - Rabbis & Staff of BRS: BRS Global Campaign Marathon Episode

Partner with us at www.brsonline.org/global. A marathon episode, running for over 3.5 hours, celebrating the great talent behind BRS. Hosts Rabbis Efrem Goldberg and Josh Broide speak to: Rebbetzin Yocheved Goldberg Rabbi Rael and Rebbetzin Aliza Blumenthal (BRS West) Jeffrey Goldberg (COO) Talia Borenstein (Director of Member Engagement) Rabbi Eli Zians (Teen Rabbi) Rabbi Kevin Rhine (Youth Rabbi) Matthew Miller (Behind the Bima Productions) Plus special guests Simcha Leiner, Esty and Yitzi Wol...

Mar 10, 20223 hr 41 minEp. 85

Special Guests - R' Eli Stefansky, With an Update from Ukraine with Refael Kruskal of Odessa

Show your support for BRS and donate to our BRS Global campaign at www.brsonline.org/global. Rabbi Eli Stefansky was raised in New York and Bnei Brak. A graduate of some of the finest yeshivos both in Israel and the States, he learned for a while after his marriage, before successfully entering the real estate business. His Daf Yomi shiurim are streamed live every morning and is watched by participants around the globe, who write in with questions and comments. Refael Kruskal is the Chief Execut...

Mar 03, 20222 hr 6 minEp. 84

Special Guest - R' Dovid Bashevkin

R' Dovid Bashevkin is the director of education for NCSY, the youth movement of the Orthodox Union, and an instructor at Yeshiva University, where he teaches courses on public policy, religious crisis, and rabbinic thought. He completed rabbinic ordination at Yeshiva University’s Rabbi Isaac Elchanan Theological Seminary, as well as a Master’s degree at the Bernard Revel Graduate School of Jewish Studies focusing on the thought of Rabbi Zadok of Lublin under the guidance of Dr. Yaakov Elman. He ...

Feb 24, 20221 hr 31 minEp. 83

Special Guest - Ilana Toweg, Farmer Observing Shmitah

American-born and Canadian-raised, Ilana moved to Israel when she was 18, only taking on the agricultural life after her marriage 25 years ago to her third-generation farmer husband. Connect with Rabbi Efrem Goldberg: Website: https://rabbiefremgoldberg.org/ Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/efrem.goldberg Twitter: http://twitter.com/rabbigoldberg Rabbi Efrem Goldberg: Rabbi, Boca Raton Synagogue (BRS). Rabbi Philip Moskowitz: Associate Rabbi, BRS. Rabbi Josh Broide: Outreach Rabbi, BRS....

Feb 17, 20221 hr 12 minEp. 82

Special Guest - R' Eli Mansour

Rabbi Mansour is currently the Rabbi of The Edmond J Safra Synagogue in Brooklyn, New York. He started his Yeshiva education at Magen David Yeshiva, which was founded by the Rabbi’s great uncle, the esteemed Mr. Isaac Shalom A"H. There he studied Torah and absorbed the richness of our heritage from noted Rabbis such as Rabbi David Bitton A"H, and Rabbi Moshe Greenes A”H. However, the figure who had the most significant impact on the Rabbi’s development was Rabbi Baruch ben Haim A"H. Rabbi Mansou...

Feb 10, 20221 hr 3 minEp. 81

Special Guest - Myron Sugerman

Myron Sugerman was born in Newark, New Jersey, in 1938, and at the age of twenty-one he followed his father's footsteps into the family business--Coin-operated amusements. Like his father, Barney "Sugie" Sugerman, Myron sold and operated slot machines, jukeboxes, cigarette machines, and anything else that accepted coins and entertained people in bars, nightclubs, and other hangouts around the world. The vocation took him all over the world's six habitable continents--to everywhere but Antarctica...

Feb 03, 20221 hr 28 minEp. 80

Special Guest - R' Yitzchak Adlerstein

R. Yitzchak Adlerstein is the co-founder of Cross-Currents, an online journal of Orthodox Jewish thought, and regularly contributes to that site. He also on the editorial board of Klal Perspectives, an online journal of issues facing the Orthodox community. R. Adlerstein serves as the director of Interfaith Affairs for the Simon Wiesenthal Center. Connect with Rabbi Efrem Goldberg: Website: https://rabbiefremgoldberg.org/ Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/efrem.goldberg Twitter: http://twitter.c...

Jan 20, 20221 hr 15 minEp. 79

Special Guest - Bob Diener, Co-Founder of Hotels.com

Bob Diener is the co-founder and President of getaroom.com, and co-founder and past President of hotels.com. After receiving his law degree from Cornell where he was an editor of the Cornell Law Review, Bob practiced securities and corporate law with the firm of Gibson Dunn. As a leading travel industry expert, he is a frequent source for many major news organizations as well as a recurrent guest on many television and radio stations including NBC, CNN and Fox News. Bob has been featured on KGO ...

Jan 13, 20221 hr 12 minEp. 78

Special Guest - Nissim Black

Nissim Baruch Black (born Damian Jamohl Black; December 9, 1986) is an American rapper, songwriter, and record producer. He retired in 2011 to focus on his conversion to Orthodox Judaism, but soon returned under his new Hebrew name Nissim Black (Nissim means 'miracles' in Hebrew) and began writing from a more religious standpoint. He appeared on Shtar's song "Rabbit Hole" (2012). He has since released a mixtape called Miracle Music (2013) and the studio albums Nissim (2013), Lemala (2017), and G...

Jan 06, 20221 hr 26 minEp. 76

Special Guests - YU Macs Coach Steinmetz & Ryan Turell

Yeshiva University announced Elliot Steinmetz as its head men's basketball coach on April 28, 2014. Steinmetz, a 2002 graduate of YU's Sy Syms School of Business who lettered on YU's basketball team for three seasons from 1999-02, is responsible for overseeing all aspects of the men's basketball program while ensuring the academic success of its student-athletes. He has served with distinction as head coach of the varsity basketball team at North Shore Hebrew Academy High School and of the gold ...

Dec 30, 20211 hr 13 minEp. 75

Special Guest - Joseph Gitler, Founder of Leket

Joseph Gitler is a graduate of Yeshiva University and Fordham University Law School. After making aliyah in 2000, he worked for three years as Director of International Sales & Development for a family software business. He founded Leket Israel in 2003 after witnessing significant food wastage in Israel at a time of rising poverty. Joseph’s vision and steady hand have led the organization from a simple, one-man operation to Israel’s largest food rescue organization. He is married to Leelah, ...

Dec 23, 20211 hr 18 minEp. 74
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