Shows
Search for Meaning with Rabbi YoshiSearch for Meaning with Professor Michal Bar-Asher SiegalIn this episode of Search for Meaning, Rabbi Yoshi Zweiback sits down with Professor Michal Bar-Asher Siegal, one of today’s leading scholars of rabbinic Judaism and early Christianity. Their conversation ranges from the ancient world to our own moment, exploring how religious traditions take shape through encounter, disagreement, and relationship.Rabbi Yoshi first encountered Michal’s work in Israel during the World Zionist Congress, where her lecture left a lasting impression. In this episode, she shares her personal and intellectual journey—from growing up in an ultra-Orthodox Jewish world, at a time when it was still rare f...
2026-02-051h 07
Search for Meaning with Rabbi YoshiSearch for Meaning with Peter Himmelman and Rabbi Steve LederIn this special episode of Search for Meaning, Rabbi Yoshi Zweiback sits down with Rabbi Steve Leder and Peter Himmelman for a wide-ranging conversation about friendship, faith, creativity, and the moment we are living in.Together, they reflect on growing up Jewish in the Midwest, the quiet experiences of childhood that shape a life, and the distinct journeys that led one of them to the rabbinate and the other to music. Along the way, Steve and Peter share moments of intimate personal reflection and extraordinary creativity, exploring how Torah and song speak to one another—and how fr...
2026-01-221h 24
Search for Meaning with Rabbi YoshiSearch for Meaning with Rabbi Steve LederIn this episode of Search for Meaning, Rabbi Yoshi Zweiback is joined by his teacher, mentor, and friend, Rabbi Steve Leder, for a wide-ranging and deeply personal conversation recorded in January 2021, in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic.Their discussion centers on Rabbi Leder’s book, The Beauty of What Remains, written after the death of his father following a long journey with Alzheimer’s. Drawing on more than three decades of rabbinic experience and his own profound loss, Rabbi Leder reflects on the non-linear nature of grief, the limitations of the “stages” model of mourning, and what he...
2026-01-0753 min
Search for Meaning with Rabbi YoshiWise Envy: Can we admire the arguments of those with whom we disagree?In this solo episode of Search for Meaning, Rabbi Yoshi Zweiback reflects on a timely and challenging question facing the Jewish community today: How do we disagree without hating one another?Prompted by recent remarks from Rabbi Elliot Cosgrove at the American Zionist Movement Biennial, Rabbi Yoshi explores the growing tensions within Jewish communal life — particularly around Israel — and the ways our conversations can become polarized, judgmental, and alienating, especially for younger Jews.Turning to Parashat Vayeshev and the story of Joseph and his brothers, the episode uncovers a subtle but powerful distinction in the Tora...
2025-12-1921 min
Search for Meaning with Rabbi YoshiSearch for Meaning with Moshe LobelRabbi Yoshi Zweiback sits down with actor Moshe Lobel, star of the groundbreaking new film SHTTL—a Yiddish-language, single-shot masterpiece set in a Ukrainian shtetl on the eve of its destruction in 1941. Filmed in 2021 but only recently released, SHTTL feels uncannily prophetic, speaking directly to the anxieties, divisions, and questions facing the Jewish world today.Moshe brings a deeply personal lens to the film. Raised in an ultra-Orthodox home in Brooklyn, with Yiddish as his first language, he eventually left the community of his childhood to pursue a different path—an experience that echoes through his portrayal of M...
2025-12-0447 min
Search for Meaning with Rabbi YoshiSearch for Meaning with Marc KasowitzVeteran trial lawyer Marc Kasowitz has taken his courtroom skills to a new front—the battle against antisemitism on America’s college campuses. In this episode, Rabbi Yoshi Zweiback talks with Kasowitz about the lawsuits he’s brought against universities like NYU and Harvard, where Jewish and Israeli students faced harassment and exclusion.Their conversation explores how the legal system can hold powerful institutions accountable, what meaningful change looks like in practice, and where Kasowitz finds hope in an era of rising hate.This thoughtful exchange offers a rare look a...
2025-11-2145 min
Search for Meaning with Rabbi YoshiSanctified for the Whole WorldIn this special episode, Rabbi Yoshi shares his 5786 Rosh Hashanah (2025) sermon, Sanctified — For the Whole World.Drawing on the wisdom of his grandfather, Jewish tradition, and the moral challenges of our time, Rabbi Zweiback explores the sacred balance between particularism and universalism — between our deep commitment to the Jewish people and our responsibility to all humanity.Through stories of family, Israel, and acts of compassion near and far, this message invites us to live inside the holy tension that defines Jewish life: to defend our people fiercely, and to love the wider world boldly.Ma...
2025-11-1427 min
Search for Meaning with Rabbi YoshiSearch for Meaning with Michael HonigsteinIn this episode of Search for Meaning, Rabbi Yoshi Zweiback sits down with Michael Honigstein, a career Foreign Service Officer who has served in countries around the world—including Sudan, Sri Lanka, and Israel—working to promote peace, democracy, and human rights.Michael reflects on his remarkable journey from an advertising career in New York to decades of diplomatic service, shaped by his Jewish upbringing and a deep sense of moral responsibility. He speaks candidly about the challenges of diplomacy, the toll of public service, and the circumstances surrounding his recent and painful forced retirement from the U.S...
2025-11-0648 min
Search for Meaning with Rabbi YoshiSearch for Meaning with Rabbi Sydney MintzIn this episode of Search for Meaning, host Yoshi Zweiback sits down with dear friend and esteemed spiritual leader Rabbi Sydney Mintz. Rabbi Mintz, longtime rabbi at Congregation Emanu-El in San Francisco and founder of the 13th Tribe community, brings her unique blend of rabbinic insight, performance art, and lived experience to the conversation.After touching on her creative work—including her one-woman show You May Think I’m Funny, But It’s Not—the discussion turns to her recent High Holy Day sermon, a deeply personal reflection on her love for Israel and the complexities of wrestlin...
2025-10-2441 min
Search for Meaning with Rabbi YoshiSearch for Meaning with Rania Fadel DeanIn this episode of Search for Meaning, Rabbi Yoshi Zweiback speaks with Rania Fadel Dean, a leader of the Druze community in Los Angeles and founder of Covenant of Blood (Brit Damim).Together they explore the unique history and religion of the Druze people, their deep integration into Israeli society, and the “covenant of blood” that binds the Druze and Jewish communities through shared sacrifice and loyalty. Rania also sheds light on the persecution of Druze communities in Syria, including the tragic violence in Sweida, and shares how her work...
2025-10-101h 00
Search for Meaning with Rabbi YoshiSearch for Meaning with Abigail Pogrebin and Rabbi Dov LinzerWhat happens when a Reform journalist and an Orthodox rabbi spend years studying Torah together? In this episode of Search for Meaning, Rabbi Yoshi Zweiback welcomes Abigail Pogrebin and Rabbi Dov Linzer to talk about their new book, It Takes Two to Torah.Drawing from very different backgrounds—Abby, the daughter of feminist thinker Letty Pogrebin, who grew up in a more assimilated Jewish home, and Dov, who was raised in a Modern Orthodox community, immersed in hours of daily Talmud study—they share how their partnership has shaped their lives, their faith, and...
2025-09-2549 min
Search for Meaning with Rabbi YoshiSearch for Meaning with Julie BrillIn this episode of Search for Meaning, Rabbi Yoshi Zweiback sits down with Julie Brill, author of Hidden in Plain Sight: A Family Memoir and the Untold Story of the Holocaust in Serbia. Julie’s book uncovers a little-known chapter of Jewish history, exploring the resilience, struggles, and heritage of the Jewish community in Serbia.Together, they discuss memory, trauma, and the ways stories from the past shape our present. Julie reflects on how the weight of history can grow as we uncover it, yet also how these stories can help us learn to manage, process, and mo...
2025-08-2938 min
Search for Meaning with Rabbi YoshiSearch for Meaning with Dr. Arnold EisenIn this special live recording from Stephen Wise Temple on May 13, 2025, Rabbi Yoshi Zweiback sits down with Dr. Arnold Eisen, Chancellor Emeritus of the Jewish Theological Seminary, for a profound and personal conversation about his new book, Seeking the Hiding God: A Personal Theological Essay. Together, they explore themes of theology, doubt, and faith—probing the mystery of God’s presence and absence in our lives.Dr. Eisen shares insights from his lifelong engagement with Jewish thought and spiritual practice, offering reflections that are both deeply intellectual and vulnerably human. Whether you're wrestling with questions of belief or s...
2025-07-161h 12
Search for Meaning with Rabbi YoshiSearch for Meaning with Ambassador Gary Grappo - Israel/Iran WarRabbi Yoshi sits down with Ambassador Gary Grappo, a former U.S. diplomat and expert on Middle Eastern affairs, for an in-depth and urgent conversation about Israel’s preemptive strike on Iranian military assets and the ensuing conflict between these countries.Drawing on his extensive diplomatic experience—including his service as U.S. Ambassador to Oman, Chief of Staff to the U.S. Special Envoy to the Middle East Quartet, and senior postings in Jerusalem, Riyadh, and Baghdad—Ambassador Grappo offers a deeply informed analysis of the current crisis, its historical roots, and the broader implications for diplom...
2025-06-1942 min
Search for Meaning with Rabbi YoshiSearch for Meaning with David SuissaIn this powerful and wide-ranging conversation, Rabbi Yoshi sits down with David Suissa—Publisher and Editor-in-Chief of Tribe Media and the Jewish Journal—to explore the deep currents shaping Jewish life today. A passionate voice in Jewish media since 2006 and a former award-winning advertising executive, David brings his characteristic insight, warmth, and eloquence to a discussion that touches on some of the most important themes of our time.Together, they reflect on the importance of sharing our culture, the transformative magic of Shabbat, and the delicate yet urgent challenge of balancing our values. Against the backdrop of risin...
2025-05-251h 13
Search for Meaning with Rabbi YoshiSearch for Meaning with Rabbi David GedzelmanIn this timely episode of Search for Meaning, Rabbi Yoshi Zweiback sits down with Rabbi David Gedzelman, President and CEO of the Steinhardt Foundation for Jewish Life.Together, Rabbi Yoshi and Rabbi Gedzelman explore the powerful intersections of Jewish identity, education, culture, and the critical role that visionary leadership plays in shaping the future of Jewish communities both in the United States and globally. They also discuss the World Zionist Organization (WZO) elections, a once-every-five-years opportunity for American Jews to have a direct voice in the future of Israel and global Jewish priorities....
2025-04-2735 min
Search for Meaning with Rabbi YoshiSearch for Meaning with Adam MansbachEpisode Title: Adam Mansbach – The Golem of BrooklynIn this episode of Search for Meaning, Rabbi Yoshi Zweiback welcomes Adam Mansbach, best-selling author and cultural provocateur, for a conversation about his latest novel, The Golem of Brooklyn — a darkly comic and fiercely relevant tale that reimagines the legendary Golem in the heart of contemporary America.Known for his sharp wit and literary range, Mansbach delves into the origin of the book, the role of folklore in shaping identity, and how humor can be both a shield and a sword in the face...
2025-04-1958 min
Search for Meaning with Rabbi YoshiSearch for Meaning with Ayelet TsabariRabbi Yoshi Zweiback speaks with acclaimed author Ayelet Tsabari about her latest book, Songs for the Brokenhearted—a moving exploration of grief, identity, and the human spirit.They also delve into Ayelet’s poignant New York Times opinion piece, where she reflects on the sacred act of cleaning the homes of those massacred on October 7, and how this intimate ritual became a form of solace and remembrance.This episode is a testament to the resilience of the human heart and the ways we find meaning in the mids...
2025-02-2646 min
Search for Meaning with Rabbi YoshiSearch for Meaning with Rabbi Elliot CosgroveRabbi Yoshi Zweiback interviews Rabbi Elliot Cosgrove of Park Avenue Synagogue about his inspiring new book, "For Such a Time as This: Being Jewish Today." Together, they dive into the challenges and opportunities of post-October 7 Judaism, the power of stepping up, showing up, and making a meaningful difference, and the enduring importance of Jewish community in these turbulent times.Don’t miss this thoughtful and timely discussion on leadership, resilience, and the bonds that unite the Jewish community. 🎧 Listen now wherever you get your podcasts.
2025-01-2936 min
Search for Meaning with Rabbi YoshiSearch for Meaning with Molly MillerIf you want to learn what it's like to be one of Los Angeles' most sought-after professional guitarists and a USC Professor all while staying true to your Jewish roots and love for Israel, you won't want to miss this latest episode!Get ready for a soulful, inspiring conversation as Rabbi Yoshi Zweiback sits down with acclaimed guitarist and Professor of Studio Guitar for USC's Thornton School of Music, Molly Miller. Tune in as they discuss creative processes, how Molly's Jewish identity weaves into her music, the challenges she's faced since October 7, and what gives her life...
2024-11-1347 min
Search for Meaning with Rabbi YoshiThe Gratitude ListRabbi Yoshi shares his Yom Kippur Yizkor sermon which honors the memory of his mother, Hermene Davis Zweiback, who died 25 years ago. A few weeks before the Jewish New Year while cleaning up around the house, Rabbi Yoshi came across the gratitude journal his mom kept in the last month of her life. The sermon is a reflection on the lessons it contains. While it's a very personal remembrance, it's also universal -- it's about the people who are dear to each of us and the meaning their lives give to ours.The outro music o...
2024-10-3017 min
Search for Meaning with Rabbi YoshiSearch for Meaning with Geoff WinstonGeoff Winston is an Israel educator and tour guide who has worked with Rabbi Yoshi many times over more than two decades. He led Rabbi Yoshi's recent solidarity mission to Israel this past February. Learn about his path to aliya, his reflections on October 7th, and the hope he finds in this moment.https://wisela.org/wisetravel/
2024-07-1740 min
Search for Meaning with Rabbi YoshiSearch for Meaning with Princeton Hillel (CJL) LeadershipRabbi Yoshi had the opportunity to speak to three current students at Princeton University's Center for Jewish Life along with the CJL director, Rabbi Gil Steinlauf. Stephen Bartell, Davi Frank, and Seth Kahn, all current Princeton students, share their stories of navigating challenges on the Princeton Campus in the wake of the October 7 attacks.https://hillel.princeton.edu/
2024-05-0848 min
Search for Meaning with Rabbi YoshiSearch for Meaning with Naomi ZweibackJoin Rabbi Yoshi in conversation with his daughter, Naomi, who is a sophomore in a dual degree program at Barnard/Columbia and the Jewish Theological Seminary. She shares her perspective on the disturbing rise in antisemitism and anti-Israel rhetoric on the Barnard/Columbia campus.
2024-04-2526 min
Search for Meaning with Rabbi YoshiSearch for Meaning with Yasmeen OhebsionYasmeen Ohebsion, a senior at Tulane University, joins Rabbi Yoshi in conversation about antisemitism on college campuses today. Yasmeen, a leader in the Tulane Jewish community, recently testified in front of Congress about her own experiences of antisemitism at Tulane. She shares her personal insight into how antisemitism continues to impact her life and the lives of other college students, both in the classroom and around campus. https://tulanehullabaloo.com/65669/news/student-testifies-before-congress-voicing-antisemitism-issues-on-campus/
2024-04-1148 min
Search for Meaning with Rabbi YoshiSearch for Meaning with Dan SchnurProfessor, columnist, and host of "The Dan Schnur Political Report," Dan shares even-handed analysis on pressing political issues, from domestic policy to geopolitics. Rabbi Yoshi gets his take on the 2024 election, the situation in Israel, Jewish values, and the role kindness and empathy play today — no matter which "side of the aisle" you're on.
2024-01-241h 02
Search for Meaning with Rabbi YoshiSearch for Meaning with Susie LubellIn his latest "Search for Meaning" podcast, Rabbi Yoshi speaks with Susie Lubell (left), a self-taught artist and illustrator whose work has been included in galleries and private collections around the world. A friend of Rabbi Yoshi for more than 30 years, she made aliyah in 2011 and lives outside Jerusalem. They discuss her art, ketubot, and how she holds out hope despite the turbulent times.
2023-12-2145 min
Search for Meaning with Rabbi YoshiSearch for Meaning with Yitzhak SokoloffWhen this is over there will be an encyclopedia of heroism because there were thousands of heroic moments..." In his latest "Search for Meaning" podcast episode, Rabbi Yoshi speaks with Yitzhak Sokoloff, an Israeli political analyst and founder of educational travel company, Keshet. Sokoloff, a resident of Efrat in the Etzion bloc and of Yerucham, re-enlisted in the IDF at age 69 immediately after the October 7 massacre. Yitzhak speaks about the twin goals of destroying Hamas and saving the hostages — and the potential consequences if Israel can't achieve both. Rabbi Yoshi recorded this episode on his most...
2023-12-0750 min
Search for Meaning with Rabbi YoshiSearch for Meaning with Jodi RudorenRecorded in front of a live audience at Stephen Wise Temple, "Forward" Editor-in-Chief Jodi Rudoren spoke with Rabbi Yoshi Zweiback on a new episode of "The Search for Meaning" podcast. The veteran reporter, editor and digital innovator spent more than two decades at "The New York Times," including nearly four years as its Jerusalem bureau chief. A sought-after speaker, she provided insights on the war in Gaza and the importance of the Yiddish word, rachmanus – empathy.
2023-11-1644 min
Search for Meaning with Rabbi YoshiSearch for Meaning with Ambassador Gary GrappoFormer U.S. Ambassador to Oman, Gary Grappo, met Rabbi Yoshi and Jacqueline through a mutual friend when Grappo was serving as Chief of Staff of the Quartet in Jerusalem in 2010. Gary and his wife, Becky, soon became friends with Yoshi and Jacqueline. Over the years, Ambassador Grappo, a career diplomat with four decades of experience in the Middle East, has visited Stephen Wise Temple multiple times to share his insights on the Iran Deal, Russia's invasion of Ukraine, and now this most recent war between Hamas and Israel.In this episode, Ambassador Grappo shares his experience a...
2023-11-0942 min
Search for Meaning with Rabbi YoshiSearch for Meaning - Who Is Like You God?The existence of our universe is a miracle.Our own, personal existence is a miracle.This sermon celebrates creation, the Creator, and creativity.Stay tuned and be inspired.Featuring Cantor Emma Lutz and Dr. Tali TadmorArranged by Dr. Tali Tadmor, Cantor Emma Lutz, and Rabbi Yoshi ZweibackYarone Levy, guitar Larry Steen, bassJeff Stern, percussionTali Tadmor, pianoMusic to "Who is Like You God?" based on "Nobody Like You Lord" by Maranda Curtis
2023-10-1927 min
Search for Meaning with Rabbi YoshiSearch for Meaning with Lisa NiverIn this edition of his Search for Meaning podcast, Stephen Wise Temple Senior Rabbi Yoshi Zweiback hosts travel writer, author, podcaster, and Stephen Wise Temple Board member Lisa Niver, who just released her memoir, Brave-ish: One Breakup, Six Continents, and Feeling Fearless After Fifty.Lisa's memoir debuted as the top solo travel title on Amazon.com when it released on Sept. 19. Her podcast, Make Your Own Map, launched this summer and has been watched on six continents. It was a finalist for two Southern California Journalism Awards in 2023.Elected this summer...
2023-10-0546 min
Search for Meaning with Rabbi YoshiSearch for Meaning with Lauren Ullmann As we reflect during the High Holy Days on issues of life and death, Rabbi Yoshi shares an interview with Lauren Ullmann, a Stanford Business School student and former MIT varsity goaltender player whose life was saved by a donation of peripheral stem cells. Fans of the Search for Meaning podcast will know who made that donation.Determined to use her experience as a team leader and the lessons taught from seeing the whole field as a collegiate goaltender to excel in business, Ullmann interned for the prestigious Bain & Company, eventually becoming a senior associate c...
2023-09-211h 03
Search for Meaning with Rabbi YoshiSearch for Meaning with Vanessa MarshallIf you have been any kind of nerd or geek or pop culture enthusiast in the last 20 years, chances are you know the voice of Rabbi Yoshi's guest this week on the Search for Meaning Podcast: voiceover actress Vanessa Marshall.Though she has lent her voice to 226 shows, games, and movies, Vanessa is perhaps most famous for originating the role of the Rebel Alliance's Twi'lek pilot and general Hera Syndulla in the acclaimed Star Wars animated series Star Wars: Rebels, voicing the character in her subsequent appearances in the series Star Wars: The Bad Batch, and continues...
2023-09-0656 min
Search for Meaning with Rabbi YoshiSearch for Meaning with Brian HerschIn this 66th edition of his Search for Meaning podcast, Stephen Wise Temple Senior Rabbi Yoshi Zweiback hosts board game designer Brian Hersch.Taboo. Outburst. Super Scattergories. Have you played any of these modern classics at family game night? You have Brian Hersch to thank.Now a General Partner at Hersch and Company, with over $850 million in sales under his belt, Brian didn't set out to design games. His first career was in real estate development, where he honed a keen sense for business.Then came Trivial Pursuit. When the trivia...
2023-08-1747 min
Search for Meaning with Rabbi YoshiSearch for Meaning with Orly Erez-LikhovskiIn this edition of his Search for Meaning podcast, Stephen Wise Temple Senior Rabbi Yoshi Zweiback hosts Orly Erez-Likhovski, Executive Director of the Israel Religious Action Center. Erez-Likhovski is an expert in the Israeli judicial system and the reasonableness doctrine, which have been the target of a massive reform push by the far-right current ruling government.Erez-Likhovski helps listeners understand the controversy surrounding judicial reform, which has fueled massive protests and a historic level of civil unrest in the Jewish state over the last seven months.Having graduated from the Faculty of Law...
2023-08-1042 minSearch for Meaning with Rabbi YoshiSearch for Meaning with Suzanne HorwichIn this edition of his Search for Meaning podcast, Stephen Wise Temple Senior Rabbi Yoshi Zweiback hosts artist and educator Suzanne Horwich.Horwich, who hails from Rabbi Yoshi's hometown of Omaha, is the founder of Artists Giving Back, a program she started to bolster the spirits of Ukrainian refugees who have fled their warn-torn country for Poland.Horwich has long been drawn to the Syrian refugee crisis, but felt helpless as the world turned a blind eye to the horrors wrought by the Assad regime. When Russia invaded Ukraine...
2023-08-0331 minSearch for Meaning with Rabbi YoshiSearch for Meaning with Ben M. FreemanIn this edition of his Search for Meaning podcast, Stephen Wise Temple Senior Rabbi Yoshi Zweiback hosts Ben M. Freeman, author, educator, and founder of the modern Jewish Pride movement.Born in Scotland, Freeman rose to prominence during the Corbyn Labour Jew-hate crisis and quickly became one of his generation's leading voices against anti-Jewish racism. In February of 2021, he published Jewish Pride: Rebuilding a People, which became known as the Jewish Pride manifesto. In October of 2022, he followed that book up with Reclaiming Our Story: The Pursuit of Jewish Pride, the second in what will...
2023-07-131h 03Search for Meaning with Rabbi YoshiSearch for Meaning with Rabbi Dr. Michael MarmurIn this edition of his Search for Meaning podcast, Stephen Wise Temple Senior Rabbi Yoshi Zweiback hosts writer, educator, and human rights advocate Rabbi Michael Marmur, Ph.D. Until 2018, Rabbi Marmur served as the Jack, Joseph and Morton Mandel Provost at Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion. Before that, he served as Dean of HUC-JIR's Jerusalem campus, where he hired Rabbi Yoshi to be the Director of HUC-JIR's Year-in-Israel Program in 2009.Rabbi Marmur was born and raised in England, the son of two Polish immigrants by way of Sweden. His father, Rabbi Dov Marmur, was p...
2023-06-2843 minSearch for Meaning with Rabbi YoshiSearch for Meaning with Rabbi Zoë Klein MilesIn this edition of his Search for Meaning podcast, Stephen Wise Temple Senior Rabbi Yoshi Zweiback hosts old friend Rabbi Zoë Klein Miles of Temple Isaiah, author of the new book, Candle, Feather, Wooden Spoon (CCAR Press, 2023). Rabbi Klein Miles serves Temple Isaiah in West Los Angeles, where she brings her unique blend of innovation, tradition, creativity, and wisdom. The two speak about the lost art of letter writing, the process of authoring a book, Jewish symbols and holidays, storytelling, homiletics, and Rabbi Klein Miles' childhood as the daughter of a studio artist. Possessed of a...
2023-06-1542 minSearch for Meaning with Rabbi YoshiSearch for Meaning with Josh KlausnerIn this edition of his Search for Meaning podcast, Stephen Wise Temple Senior Rabbi Yoshi Zweiback hosts Josh Klausner, who, in addition to being Rabbi Yoshi's college roommate, is a screenwriter, playwright, and director.Klausner's writing credits include Wanderland (2018), Date Night (2010), and Shrek Forever After (2010). He's also worked as a second unit director on Dumb and Dumber (1994), Kingpin (1996), There's Something About Mary (1998), Me, Myself, and Irene (2000), Shallow Hall (2001), and Green Book (2018).While Klausner aspired to be an actor, his early interest in poetry and his dissatisfaction with the plays he read during his...
2023-06-0157 minSearch for Meaning with Rabbi YoshiSearch for Meaning with Carol Mabeya, Dr. Debbie Matityahu, and Ariela Zweiback of Beyond FistulaIn this edition of his Search for Meaning podcast, Stephen Wise Temple Senior Rabbi Yoshi Zweiback hosts Carol Mabeya, gynecologist Dr. Debbie Matityahu, and Ariela Zweiback of Beyond Fistula. During his sabbatical, Rabbi Yoshi spent two weeks in Eldoret, Kenya working with Beyond Fistula, a non-profit charity that aids women and girls in Africa who have recently undergone surgical repair for fistulas, helping them rebuild their lives through education and vocational skills training. It was a transformative experience for Rabbi Yoshi and his family, including Ariela.Beyond Fistula got its start d...
2023-05-171h 06Search for Meaning with Rabbi YoshiSearch for Meaning with Ariela CohenIn this edition of his Search for Meaning podcast, Stephen Wise Temple Senior Rabbi Yoshi Zweiback hosts Ariela Cohen, founder of aliyah resource Your Soft Landing, for a discussion about Israel, from military service to current events.Why should making aliyah be so difficult? That’s the question Cohen asked herself after moving to Israel by herself at 17. Her answer was to create Your Soft Landing, a resource for those looking to make the move to Israel, and for those who have already moved, but still need some help in an unfamiliar place....
2023-04-2646 minSearch for Meaning with Rabbi YoshiSearch for Meaning with Rabbi Josh WeinbergIn this edition of his Search for Meaning podcast, Stephen Wise Temple Senior Rabbi Yoshi Zweiback hosts Rabbi Josh Weinberg for a discussion about the current situation in Israel.Rabbi Weinberg serves as the Vice President for Israel and Reform Zionism for the Union for Reform Judaism. On Wednesday, March 29, Rabbi Weinberg gave a Zoom briefing (co-sponsored by Wise) on the state of Israeli democracy. Rabbi Yoshi and Rabbi Weinberg met at the URJ headquarters in Manhattan this week to speak about the evolving crisis gripping the country.In...
2023-03-291h 12Search for Meaning with Rabbi YoshiSearch for Meaning with Beata PoźniakIn this International Women's Day edition of his Search for Meaning podcast, Stephen Wise Temple Senior Rabbi Yoshi Zweiback hosts Beata Poźniak, a multitalented Polish-born filmmaker and artist who helped convince the United States Congress to officially recognize International Women's Day in the United States, celebrated every March 8.In this special episode, Poźniak discusses the immigrant experience and struggle with identity, the impact of growing up under Soviet rule during the Cold War, the recent Russian invasion of Ukraine, the power of symbolism, mandatory school visits to Auschwitz, and her success as...
2023-03-081h 04Search for Meaning with Rabbi YoshiSearch for Meaning with Rabbi Matthew GewirtzIn the latest edition of his Search for Meaning podcast, Stephen Wise Temple Senior Rabbi Yoshi Zweiback hosts friend, colleague, collaborator, and author Rabbi Matthew Gewirtz, who has just published his memoir: "To Build a Brave Space: The Making of a Spiritual First Responder."The senior rabbi at Congregation B'nai Jeshurun in New Jersey, Rabbi Gewirtz had finished a manuscript just before the COVID-19 pandemic, but the outbreak forced him to re-frame (and in truth, re-write) the entire book. He did that while guiding his synagogue through unprecedented challenges and tending to the health and...
2023-02-1647 minSearch for Meaning with Rabbi YoshiSearch for Meaning with Matan KochIn the latest edition of his Search for Meaning podcast, Stephen Wise Temple Senior Rabbi Yoshi Zweiback hosts Matan Koch, the Senior Vice president for Strategic Change at RespectAbility, a nonprofit organization fighting stigmas and advancing opportunities so people with disabilities can fully participate in all aspects of community. Born 11 weeks premature with cerebral palsy and confined to a wheelchair for his entire life, Koch graduated from Yale and took his law degree from Harvard Law School, and has been a lifelong advocate for those with disabilities. He joins Rabbi Yoshi as we celebrate Jewish Disability Awareness...
2023-02-0153 minSearch for Meaning with Rabbi YoshiSearch for Meaning with Zack BodnerIn the latest edition of his Search for Meaning podcast, Stephen Wise Temple Senior Rabbi Yoshi Zweiback hosts Zack Bodner, CEO of the Oshman Family Jewish Community Center and author of "Why Do Jewish? A Manifesto for 21st Century Jewish Peoplehood."The founder of the Z3 Project, which fosters renewed conversation on world Jewry and Israel relations, Bodner has spent his career serving the Jewish community. Before taking over OFJCC, he spent 14 years as the Pacific Northwest Regional Director of AIPAC. During his time heading the OFJCC, he oversaw the launch...
2023-01-1840 minSearch for Meaning with Rabbi YoshiSearch for Meaning with Veronica ZweibackWARNING: This episode of Search for Meaning with Rabbi Yoshi contains some explicit language.In the latest edition of his Search for Meaning podcast, Stephen Wise Temple Senior Rabbi Yoshi Zweiback hosts singer-songwriter Veronica Zweiback, who talks about her journey in music, as well as her journey of self-discovery in terms of gender identity.Rabbi Yoshi's niece comes from a musical family. Not only are her uncle a talented guitarist, but father plays the guitar, bass, and drums. Her mother Kimberly Marshall is a world-renowned...
2023-01-0546 minSearch for Meaning with Rabbi YoshiSearch for Meaning With Julia Mintz In the latest edition of his Search for Meaning podcast, Stephen Wise Temple Senior Rabbi Yoshi Zweiback hosts Julia Mintz, the director of acclaimed Holocaust documentary "Four Winters," a story of Jewish resistance against the Nazis now playing at the Lumiere Cinema in Beverly Hills for a limited engagement. You can purchase TICKETS HERE, and watch the trailer HERE.Awarded the "Human Rights Award" at Hamptons Doc Fest, "Best Documentary" at the Toronto Jewish Film Festival, and an official contender for "Best Documentary Feature" at the 95th Academy Awards, "F...
2022-12-1429 minSearch for Meaning with Rabbi YoshiSearch for Meaning with Rabbi Ken ChasenIn the latest edition of his Search for Meaning podcast, Stephen Wise Temple Senior Rabbi Yoshi Zweiback hosts his friend of 40 years, Rabbi Ken Chasen.The Ordination Seminar instructor at HUC-JIR's Skirball Campus, Rabbi Chasen is also the Senior Rabbi at Leo Baeck Temple, which partners with Wise's Center for Youth Engagement and currently hosts our Aaron Milken Center Parenting Center during construction of our transformational new facility.Before he became a rabbi, Rabbi Chasen wrote music and edited scores for film and television. His love of music—he st...
2022-12-071h 07Search for Meaning with Rabbi YoshiSearch for Meaning with Romy RosenIn the latest edition of his Search for Meaning podcast, Stephen Wise Temple Senior Rabbi Yoshi Zweiback hosts 9-year-old actress Romy Fay Rosen, who is currently playing the roles of Young Sally and Mimi in the acclaimed Broadway production of "Leopoldstadt."The play, which follows a Viennese Jewish family from 1899 through 1955, grapples with the aftermath of the pogroms, assimilation, civil liberties, infidelity, Bolshevism, the rise of the Third Reich, and the devastation wrought by the Shoah. Together, Romy and Rabbi Yoshi—who attended college with Romy's father, officiated her parents' wedding, and attended her baby na...
2022-11-161h 05Search for Meaning with Rabbi YoshiSearch for Meaning with Rabbi Josh KnobelIn the latest edition of his Search for Meaning podcast, Stephen Wise Temple Senior Rabbi Yoshi Zweiback hosts Stephen Wise Temple's Center for Youth Engagement director, Rabbi Josh Knobel. From the finer points of the classic summer camp game of gaga (which may very well have a Hebrew origin) to "the Army way," to the invasion of Iraq, to the lessons Rabbi Knobel teaches to our youth and to the congregation, the two cover a wide range of topics in their hourlong discussion.When he was a boy, Rabbi Knobel went to Jewish day school a...
2022-10-181h 05Search for Meaning with Rabbi YoshiSearch for Meaning: “Letting Go - To Grow,” Rabbi Yoshi Zweiback’s Yom Kippur 2022 SermonIn the latest edition of his Search for Meaning podcast, Stephen Wise Temple Senior Rabbi Yoshi Zweiback delivers his 2022 (5783) Yom Kippur sermon, entitled, “Letting Go - To Grow.” You can view the full video here.The full transcript follows:Last month, Jacqueline and I dropped our youngest daughter off at college.This was our third time so we knew the drill: the first order of business after helping shlep their luggage to their dorm rooms is the journey to Bed, Bath, and Beyond.This wasn’t a thing when I...
2022-10-0720 minSearch for Meaning with Rabbi YoshiSearch for Meaning: "Circles of Concern," Rabbi Yoshi Zweiback's Rosh Hashanah 2022 SermonIn the latest edition of his Search for Meaning podcast, Stephen Wise Temple Senior Rabbi Yoshi Zweiback delivers his 2022 (5783) Rosh Hashanah sermon, entitled, "Circles of Concern." You can view the full video here.The full transcript of Rabbi Yoshi's Rosh Hashanah sermon is below:At the end of the movie, "Schindler’s List," Yitzhak Shtern, played by Ben Kingsley, presents Oskar Schindler with a ring. On it, he explains, are engraved words from the Talmud that say: "Whoever saves one life saves the world entire."Schindler, played by Liam Ne...
2022-10-0318 minSearch for Meaning with Rabbi YoshiSearch for Meaning with Alan NikuIn the latest edition of his Search for Meaning podcast, Stephen Wise Temple Senior Rabbi Yoshi Zweiback hosts writer, filmmaker, linguist, and self-described "nerdy Indiana Jones" Alan Niku, who may or may not moonlight as a vigilante superhero.The Berkeley-educated Niku has a unique background, coming from an Iranian Jewish family. That background spurred his lifelong love of language and a deep and abiding sense of curiosity.That curiosity led Niku—who grew up speaking Farsi—to delve into the language his Kurdish grandfather spoke. The more he learned, the more he realized that...
2022-09-211h 06Search for Meaning with Rabbi YoshiSearch for Meaning with Rabbi Sari LauferIn the latest edition of his Search for Meaning podcast, Stephen Wise Temple Senior Rabbi Yoshi Zweiback hosts Wise's Chief Engagement Officer, Rabbi Sari Laufer. The wide-ranging talk between two colleagues covers Israel, summer camps, sign language, their respective Torah portions, authenticity, and the recent Supreme Court decision to restrict reproductive freedoms in Dobbs v. Jackson.The topic of Rabbi Sari's early Jewish learning brings up the subject of gender equity and representation.A tangent about how New Yorkers use hands to talk—Rabbi Sari just finished reading "True Biz," a no...
2022-09-011h 05Search for Meaning with Rabbi YoshiSearch for Meaning with Rabbi Susan SilvermanIn the latest edition of his Search for Meaning podcast, Stephen Wise Temple Senior Rabbi Yoshi Zweiback hosts Rabbi Susan Silverman, the founder of Second Nurture, a nonprofit dedicated to supporting a path from foster care to adoption."I grew up in a family that fostered kids, so I saw that up close," Rabbi Silverman says. "Also, I'm a rabbi, and I really believe strongly in the power of community, so I put the two together."In 2016, after meeting hundreds of people in dozens of cities across North America while touring...
2022-07-2635 minSearch for Meaning with Rabbi YoshiSearch for Meaning with the leadership of Rwanda's Agahozo-Shalom Youth VillageIn the latest edition of his Search for Meaning podcast, Stephen Wise Temple Senior Rabbi Yoshi Zweiback hosts Jean-Claude Nkulikiyimfura, Shiri Sandler, and Fabrice Mpozenzei, the leadership team for the Agahozo-Shalom Youth Village in Rwanda.In 2005, while attending a talk about the genocide against the Tutsi, Anne Heyman (z"l) learned that Rwanda had no systemic solution to support the well-being and development of its 1.2 million orphans. Recognizing the parallels to the orphan crisis spawned by the Holocaust, Heyman looked to Israel for a solution: After the Shoah, Israel...
2022-07-141h 12Search for Meaning with Rabbi YoshiSearch for Meaning with Matthew WaksmanIn the latest edition of his Search for Meaning podcast, Stephen Wise Temple Senior Rabbi Yoshi Zweiback hosts Matthew Waksman, a brand strategy partner at Ogilvy in Great Britain, one of the top marketing agencies in the world.Having experienced antisemitism as a young man growing up in London, Waksman wrote a stirring article about anti-Zionism and antisemitism in December of 2021: "When it comes to social justice and inclusive marketing, Jews don't count."The piece was inspired by attacks on Jewish students and Jewish symbols in central London at Hanukkah time, which was...
2022-06-2851 minSearch for Meaning with Rabbi YoshiSearch for Meaning with Dr. Afshine EmraniNote: This episode was recorded in February, 2022.In the latest edition of his Search for Meaning podcast, Stephen Wise Temple Senior Rabbi Yoshi Zweiback hosts cardiologist Dr. Afshine Emrani.Just 12 years old when the Revolution swept Iran, Dr. Emrani and his family moved to England, where he had a doorstep bar mitzvah, courtesy of the local Chabad. After three years, the family moved to Los Angeles.From humble beginnings dissecting chickens his mother would bring home for dinner, Dr. Emrani went into medicine to help improve patients' lives. That's...
2022-06-021h 07Search for Meaning with Rabbi YoshiSearch for Meaning with Betsy BornsIn the latest edition of Search for Meaning, Stephen Wise Temple Senior Rabbi Yoshi Zweiback hosts comedy writer Betsy Borns, best known for her work on hit television shows "Rosanne" and "Friends."Author of "Comic Lives: Inside the World of Stand-Up Comedy," Borns is also the creator of the sitcom "All of Us," produced by Jada Pinkett Smith and Will Smith, which ran for four seasons.From getting kicked out of Hebrew school for telling a dirty joke during as an 8-year-old in Indianapolis, to her rise as a writer and producer in Hollywood, Borns...
2022-05-1047 minSearch for Meaning with Rabbi YoshiSearch for Meaning with Ken LindnerIn the latest edition of Search for Meaning, Stephen Wise Temple Senior Rabbi Yoshi Zweiback hosts Ken Lindner, a super-agent and author.In this wide-ranging discussion, Lindner—author of the recently-released book "Aspire Higher"—delves into his childhood struggle with weight and self esteem. He and Rabbi Yoshi examine how that struggle shaped not only Lindner's amateur athletic career, but his ascendance as an agent to some of the top news personalities in the United States.Lindner details how his father's long work weeks led him to develop feelings of insecurity and un-love-ability, which in turn...
2022-04-181h 02Search for Meaning with Rabbi YoshiSearch for Meaning with Rabbi Tarlan RabizadehIn celebration of Nowruz, the Persian New Year, Rabbi Yoshi Zweiback welcomes the first female native Farsi speaker to become a rabbi, Rabbi Tarlan Rabizadeh.A leader, a brilliant educator, and a trailblazer as a Persian female rabbi, Rabbi Rabizadeh began both her educational and professional journey at Wise. The daughter of Iranian immigrants, she grew up at what was then Stephen S. Wise Temple Elementary School. When she matriculated across the freeway to Milken Community High School, she was unsure of what she wanted to do with her life. She was good at art, but didn't w...
2022-03-2453 minSearch for Meaning with Rabbi YoshiSearch for Meaning with Elana Arian and Cantor Emma LutzAfter her soulful performance during Stephen Wise Temple's Friday-night Shabbat services, singer, songwriter, and composer Elana Arian joins Senior Rabbi Yoshi Zweiback and Senior Cantor Emma Lutz for this edition of "Search for Meaning" to discuss her musical journey.From cassette recordings of four-part harmonies with her musical family during her days as a "faculty brat" at the URJ Kutz Camp, Elana has morphed from a classical musician to a secular folk singer to now one of the preeminent voices in modern Jewish music. When she sits down and riffs with Emma, the two buzz with energy...
2022-03-031h 01Search for Meaning with Rabbi YoshiSearch for Meaning with Dara Horn After a thought-provoking community read at Stephen Wise Temple last week, celebrated author Dara Horn sits down with Senior Rabbi Yoshi Zweiback to discuss her latest book, "People Love Dead Jews."Regarding the book's popularity, Horn tells Rabbi Yoshi, “I wished people liked it a little less, because what I’ve discovered is that I was more right than I thought I was.”Join Rabbi Yoshi for his discussion with Horn that includes some of the disturbing conversations the book has inspired, the insidiousness of Holocaust inversion, and the recent alarming rise in antisemitism.
2022-02-1655 minSearch for Meaning with Rabbi YoshiSearch for Meaning with Jonathan ShapiroJoin Rabbi Yoshi for a conversation with Emmy and Peabody Award winning writer Jonathan Shapiro. After representing the United States as a prosecutor in the US Attorney's Office, then working in private practice and politics, Shapiro sent a script to David E. Kelly for consideration on one of his favorite shows, The Practice. Shapiro has collaborated with Kelly ever since, most recently on Goliath staring Billy Bob Thorton. Learn about Shapiro's journey and what brings him meaning in his life.
2021-12-171h 02Search for Meaning with Rabbi YoshiSearch for Meaning with Mario M. MullerNot many spiritual communities boast their own artist-in-residence but Stephen Wise Temple is truly fortunate to have Mario M. Muller in that special role. In the latest Search for Meaning, Mario sits down with Rabbi Yoshi to discuss art, creativity, life, vision, and so much more. Check it out and be sure to visit MarioMuller.com to see Mario's inspiring work!
2021-06-291h 00Search for Meaning with Rabbi YoshiSearch for Meaning with Rabbi Dr. Leon Wiener DowSearch for Meaning with Rabbi Dr. Leon Wiener Dow and Rabbi Yoshi In a thought-provoking, inspiring, and joyful discussion with old friend and classmate Rabbi Dr. Leon Wiener Dow, Rabbi Yoshi probes the scholar and teacher on a number of subjects: Jewish philosophical takes on love and family; pluralism in Israel; personal growth and evolution during the pandemic; and much, much more. Tune in to this episode of Search for Meaning to listen in on dear friends as they share poignant moments of reflection as well as some laughs.
2021-04-211h 14Search for Meaning with Rabbi YoshiSearch for Meaning with Tiffany HarrisIn the latest episode of "Search for Meaning," Rabbi Yoshi speaks with Moishe House's Chief Program Officer Tiffany Harris about building Jewish community and identity at any age, her time living and working in Israel, and about growing up Black and Jewish in America.
2021-03-1052 minSearch for Meaning with Rabbi YoshiSearch for Meaning with Mark FeuersteinListen in on a friendly, lively conversation between old pals as Rabbi Yoshi sits down with college friend Mark Feuerstein, an actor and writer known for "Royal Pains," "Power," "Prison Break," and many more. Together they reflect on what inspired them down their respective paths during their formative years; the nature of creativity in a Jewish space; and their own Jewish journeys throughout the years. It's a conversation full of great stories, laughs, and more than a few surprising insights.
2021-02-0358 minSearch for Meaning with Rabbi YoshiSearch for Meaning with Donna DubinskyDonna Dubinsky is an American business leader who played an integral role in the development of personal digital assistants (PDAs) serving as CEO of Palm, Inc. and co-founding Handspring with Jeff Hawkins in 1995. She is also a Fellow of the Yale Corporation and is a Trustee of the Computer History Museum—in short, she knows more than a little something about leadership and vision. In the latest episode of Search for Meaning, Rabbi Yoshi speaks with Ms. Dubinsky about those values, the science behind how the brain works, the power of critical thinking, and how all of these concepts ar...
2021-01-1357 minSearch for Meaning with Rabbi YoshiSearch for Meaning with Gary RudorenGary Rudoren is an actor and writer, known for A Really Lapsed Catholic (comedy special) (2020), Comedy by the Numbers (2009) and Brainwarp: The Baby Eater (1993). In the latest episode of Search for Meaning, he chats with Rabbi Yoshi about comedy, theatre, his time in Israel, and much more.
2020-12-1655 minSearch for Meaning with Rabbi YoshiSearch for Meaning with Rabbi Jonah Dov PesnerRabbi Jonah Dov Pesner is the Director of the Religious Action Center of Reform Judaism - as such, he is the leading voice in our movement for tikkun olam, social justice, and for creating a better world. In a meaningful pre-High Holy Days discussion, Rabbi Pesner spoke with Rabbi Yoshi about Israel and the UAE, racial justice and engagement with Jews of color, voting rights in America, and so much more.
2020-09-1644 minSearch for Meaning with Rabbi YoshiSearch for Meaning with Jodi RudorenJodi Rudoren, Editor-in-Chief of the Foward, spent 20 years with the New York Times -- some of that time as the Jerusalem bureau chief. In her discussion with Rabbi Yoshi she discusses her time there as a journalist; her transition to and the transformation of the Forward; and managing coverage of the COVID-19 pandemic.
2020-08-1150 minSearch for Meaning with Rabbi YoshiSearch for Meaning with Jonathan KaufmanIn a fascinating, wide-ranging discussion on race in America, China and its Jewish history, and much more, Rabbi Yoshi speaks with Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist Jonathan Kaufman, author of The Last Kings of Shanghai and Director of the Northeastern University School of Journalism.
2020-07-2850 minSearch for Meaning with Rabbi YoshiSearch for Meaning with Jeremy Ben-AmiJeremy Ben-Ami, President of J Street, recently spoke with Rabbi Yoshi for a fascinating discussion about finding common ground among American Jewry when it comes to Israel. Together they cover the current, evolving landscape of Israeli politics and how Jews can come together no matter where they stand.
2020-06-1845 minSearch for Meaning with Rabbi YoshiSearch for Meaning with Naomi ZweibackRabbi Yoshi continues his shelter-in-place series of interviews with members of his family. This week he chats with his daughter Naomi on her first forays into politics, her musical aspirations, and her experiences with the Pad Project that led to the Oscar-winning documentary Period. End of Sentence.
2020-05-2830 minSearch for Meaning with Rabbi YoshiSearch for Meaning with Dr. Dan UslanRabbi Yoshi Zweiback chats with Dr. Dan Uslan, UCLA Health's Co-Chief Infection Prevention Officer, covering many of your frequently asked questions about the current crisis and how we can support health workers in their life-saving work.
2020-05-0332 minSearch for Meaning with Rabbi YoshiSearch for Meaning with Ariela ZweibackAs part of an ongoing quarantine-inspired series, Rabbi Yoshi searches for meaning with members of his own family. This week's guest is his daughter Ariela Zweiback, who speaks with him about her recent time in Kenya with Beyond Fistula, a nonprofit organization that helps Kenyan women who have survived obstetric fistula rebuild their lives after surgery through counseling, vocational training, and scholarships. In a thoughtful interview, she discusses how this experience has shaped her life and future.
2020-04-2330 minSearch for Meaning with Rabbi YoshiSearch for Meaning with Isa ZweibackIn the first of a series, Rabbi Yoshi searches for meaning with members of his own family. His first guest is his daughter Isa Zweiback, who shares a little bit about her recent experience becoming a bone marrow donor and takes a few trips down memory lane to her early years in Israel.
2020-04-1627 minSearch for Meaning with Rabbi YoshiSearch for Meaning with Bob KleinThis week Bob Klein, noted advocate of stem cell therapies and cures, joins Rabbi Yoshi. Learn about Bob's work and about the new ballot initiative he's working on. Visit CA for Cures for more info on how you can support the initiative and save lives: https://caforcures.com/help-us-qualify/
2020-04-0823 min
Search for Meaning with Rabbi YoshiSearch for Meaning with Marra GadIn her recent memoir "The Color of Love," author Marra Gad reflects on her upbringing as a mixed-race Jewish girl in Chicago, frankly addressing the hurt and stigmas cast upon her while also depicting the joy and love she has found in her Jewish faith. In this episode of Search for Meaning, Marra speaks with Rabbi Yoshi about the challenge of overcoming our implicit biases and perceived differences; the changing nature of racism and bigotry; and their hopes for a better, more connected Jewish community that welcomes and includes Jews of all backgrounds.
2020-03-121h 08Search for Meaning with Rabbi YoshiSearch for Meaning with Sarah HurwitzFollowing up on her Stephen Wise Temple Center for Jewish Life appearance last fall, former Obama White House Speechwriter Sarah Hurwitz connected with Rabbi Yoshi in the latest episode of his podcast Search for Meaning. Hurwitz is the author of Here All Along, a critically-acclaimed account of her journey to deepening her connection to Judaism. In the podcast, she and Rabbi Yoshi have a fascinating discussion of the many ways that Jews in the hectic contemporary world can find meaning and spiritual value in the millennia-old Jewish tradition.
2020-02-2739 min
Search for Meaning with Rabbi YoshiSearch for Meaning with Mark SpitzLegendary Olympic Swimmer Mark Spitz met with Rabbi Yoshi to discuss his amazing story of perseverence and hard work that led to his becoming an icon for generations of athletes (and many more). From his childhood to his swimming career and his present work in documenting Holocaust stories, Spitz discusses his heritage and its impact on everything he has accomplished.
2020-01-2347 min
Search for Meaning with Rabbi YoshiSearch for Meaning with Charlie FoxIt's hard to pinpoint what songwriter and composer Charlie Fox is best known for: his TV theme songs have been household presences for decades ("Happy Days," "Laverne and Shirley," "The Love Boat"), "Killing Me Softly" is a legendary, iconic hit for Roberta Flack, and his orchestral music has been performed all over the world. For Wise, he has composed an incredible number of pieces that will be an everlasting part of the Wise musical legacy. In this wide-ranging discussion, he and Rabbi Yoshi discuss the art of composing, the deep connection Charlie feels with his Jewish heritage, and the...
2020-01-0954 minSearch for Meaning with Rabbi YoshiSearch for Meaning with Victor PinedaDocumentarian Dr. Victor Pineda spoke with Rabbi Yoshi about his incredible story traveling the world as an activist and advocate for disability rights—he has 12 bends in his body due to a yet-unnamed muscular disorder. In the film "12 Bends," and in his discussion with Rabbi Yoshi, Dr. Pineda speaks about navigating a world that was not built for him or those like him.
2019-12-1233 minSearch for Meaning with Rabbi YoshiSearch for Meaning with Robert ShapiroAfter the tragic loss of their son Brent in 2005, Robert and Linell Shapiro decided that they could not sit idly by: instead, they formed the Brent Shapiro Foundation for Drug Prevention to help thousands of families avoid the pain that they had suffered. In the latest episode of Search for Meaning, Rabbi Yoshi talks with Robert about the Foundation's mission and increasing success in helping kids remain drug-free into adulthood.
2019-11-2139 minSearch for Meaning with Rabbi YoshiSearch for Meaning with Amanda Maddahi & Arya MarvazyWhen Rabbi Yoshi met Amanda Maddahi and Arya Marvazy of JQ International, Los Angeles' premier LGBTQ+ Jewish organization, he knew he wanted to learn more about their stories. Listen in as they discuss their friendship, advocacy for the LGBTQ+ community in LA, and how creating an inclusive, welcoming, supportive environment can truly change the world one person at a time.
2019-11-0759 minSearch for Meaning with Rabbi YoshiTranscendence Now: Rabbi Yoshi's Yom Kippur SermonIn his Yom Kippur sermon, "Transcendence Now," Rabbi Yoshi Zweiback teaches us the many ways we can respond to antisemitism; reminds us of the importance of friends and allies within our community and also outside of it; and inspires us to know that together, we can all unite to end not only antisemitism but bigotry and hatred in all of its forms.
2019-10-2929 min
Search for Meaning with Rabbi YoshiSearch for Meaning with Saba SoomekhIt has been 40 years since the Iranian Revolution that changed the landscape in both Iran and the United States--even more particularly in Los Angeles. Rabbi Yoshi and UCLA Professor Saba Soomekh sit down to discuss the cultural impact of the Persian community on Los Angeles (and vice-versa) in advance of their upcoming three-part course on the topic.
2019-10-2451 minSearch for Meaning with Rabbi YoshiSearch for Meaning with Daniel WordsworthDaniel Wordsworth, CEO of Alight (formerly American Refugee Committee), sits down with Rabbi Yoshi for a conversation about how an abundance of human kindness can truly reshape the world. In this inspiring discussion, Daniel recounts numerous stories of how he has witnessed individuals making a difference by helping others: and how we can tap into that same extraordinary power ourselves.
2019-10-1044 min
Search for Meaning with Rabbi YoshiSearch for Meaning with Cantors Nathan Lam & Emma LutzCantor Nathan Lam had an ambitious dream: create a new machzor (High Holy Days prayer book) that would be unique and special to the Stephen Wise Temple community. Once Wise Senior Rabbi Yoshi Zweiback and Cantor Emma Lutz became parts of the equation, the inspiring trio made great happen. Hear the story, trials, tribulations, and triumphs that led to Sha'ar HaShamayim ("Gates of Heaven") becoming a reality.
2019-09-2426 minSearch for Meaning with Rabbi YoshiSearch for Meaning with Artie ButlerLegendary songwriter Artie Butler wrote or arranged some of your absolute favorite hits from the past six decades of rock n' roll... and lucky for us, he sat down with his close friend Rabbi Yoshi Zweiback to talk about his thrilling career and how he almost became a chazzan!
2019-09-1726 minSearch for Meaning with Rabbi YoshiSearch for Meaning with Rabbi Joseph TelushkinIn preparation for the High Holy Days, Rabbi Yoshi speaks with noted scholar Rabbi Joseph Telushkin about spirituality and the power of ritual and making meaning in our daily lives.
2019-09-1245 min