Podcast
Podcasts Archives - Jewish Sacred Aging
A forum for the Jewish Community with resources and texts that feature discussions on the implications of the revolution in longevity for Baby Boomers and their families.
- Episodes
- 50
- Releases
- Weekly
- Typical length
- 31 min
- On air since
- 2025
- Latest episode
- 4 days ago
Episodes
50 episodes, newest first
-
31 min
ENCORE: Finding Your Moral Compass: Jewish Values Explained, with Rabbi John Rosove – Seekers of Meaning 10/30/2026
Show notes
On this week’s encore episode of the Seekers of Meaning TV Show and Podcast, Rabbi John L. Rosove, senior rabbi emeritus of Temple Israel of Hollywood, discusses his new book, Finding Your Moral Compass: Jewish Values for the 21st Century.
About the Book
Finding Your Moral Compass places enduring Jewish values in a 21st century context, offering a thoughtful and enriching guide for those seeking ethical direction and spiritual grounding through and in Jewish tradition.
In this collection of 40 essays, Rabbi John L. Rosove explores foundational Jewish values and helps readers affirm their Jewish identity while drawing connections between Jewish teachings and universal moral principles.
Rosove combines classic scholarship, compassion, and personal experience in his reflections upon Judaism’s age-old moral and ethical traditions and Jewish identity as they have evolved over centuries and since the Holocaust and the establishment of the State of Israel.
As a thought-leader at the forefront of social justice and liberal Israel activism in North America, Rosove draws from his personal experiences to present moral clarity and an ethical compass for liberal Jews and all who are interested in contemporary Judaism. With accessible prose and heartfelt insight, this collection of essays invites liberal Jews – and anyone interested in finding moral clarity – to consider how Jewish wisdom can serve as a compass in navigating today’s world.
Seekers of Meaning TV Show and Podcast Now Available on Roku Streaming Service
You can add the Jewish Sacred Aging TV channel to your Roku streaming subscription by visiting this page: https://channelstore.roku.com/details/600964/jewish-sacred-aging.
You can also watch this week’s show in the player below. The shows now include closed-captioning for the deaf or people with a hearing loss. Click the “CC” button on the video player to activate closed-captions. If you do not see a player directly below this paragraph, you can still watch the video by clicking on this link: LINK
Listen to the Audio Podcast
You can listen to the audio podcast version in the player below, or subscribe to the podcast in one of the popular platforms by clicking one of the buttons below the player. If you do not see a player below, you can still listen to the podcast by clicking on this link: LINK
• Apple Podcasts
• YouTube
• Spotify
• Podchaser
• Amazon MusicAbout the Guest
Rabbi John L. Rosove
Rabbi John L. Rosove is Rabbi Emeritus of Temple Israel of Hollywood in Los Angeles where he served as Senior Rabbi from 1988 to 2019. He is a past National Chairman of the Association of Reform Zionists of America (ARZA) representing 1.5 million Reform Jews, a member of the International Advisory Council for the Israel Movement for Reform and Progressive Judaism (AIC), and a past national co-Chair of the Rabbinic and Cantorial Cabinet of J Street (a pro-Israel, pro-peace, and pro-democracy political organization based in Washington, D.C.).
John is the author of four books –
Finding Your Moral Compass – Jewish Values for the 21st Century – to be published by the University of Toronto New Jewish Press in April, 2026 – please check back then
From the West to the East – A Memoir of a Liberal American Rabbi (Fresno: West of West Center, 2024) – available from the publisher directly here and at Amazon.com.
Why Israel and its Future Matters – Letters of a Liberal Rabbi to the Next Generation with an Afterword by Daniel and David Rosove (New Jersey: Ben Yehuda Press, 2019 – 2nd edition, 2023) with a Foreword written after October 7, 2023 – available from the publisher and at Amazon.com.
Why Judaism Matters – Letters of a Liberal Rabbi to his Children and the Millennial Generation with an Afterword by Daniel and David Rosove (Nashville: Jewish Lights Publishing, a division of Turner Publishing Company, 2017) available at the publisher and at Amazon.com.
John is a co-editor of Deepening the Dialogue – Jewish-Americans and Israelis Envisioning the Jewish-Democratic State (New York: CCAR Press, 2020), in English and Hebrew. Available from the publisher and at Amazon.com.
John translated and edited the Hebrew biography of his Great-Granduncle – Avraham Shapira – Veteran of the Haganah and Hebrew Guard by Getzel Kressel (publ. by the Municipality of Petach Tikvah, 1955). The translation was privately published (2021).
John also translated and edited a book of Hebrew poetry, letters and writings by his Israeli cousin Michael Shapira (1933-1952) called In the Prime of his Days with an Introduction by Hebrew University Professor Yosef Yoel Rivlin, Michael’s cousin and the father of the former President of the State of Israel, Reuven Rivlin (published by Michael’s parents, Devorah and Yitzchak-Tzvi Shapira of Petach Tikvah, 1953). The volume was given to John by Michael’s parents in 1973. The translation was privately published (2022).
John was the 2002 Recipient of the World Union for Progressive Judaism International Humanitarian Award and has received special commendation from the State of Israel Bonds. In 2013 he was honored by J Street at its Fifth Anniversary Celebration in Los Angeles.
John wrote a series of 8 Jewish Life Cycle Guides. The Guide Preparing for Jewish Burial and Mourning appears on the web-site of Hillside Memorial Park and Mortuary in Los Angeles. (http://hillsidememorial.org/jewish-lifecycle-guide/).
John writes a regular blog that appears at The Times of Israel at https://blogs.timesofisrael.com/author/john-l-rosove/ and this blog – https://rabbijohnrosove.blog/. His Facebook site is http://www.facebook.com/RabbiJohnLRosove – his LinkedIn site is https://www.linkedin.com/in/rabbijohnrosove
John is married to Barbara. They are the parents of two sons – Daniel and David. Daniel is married to Marina. John and Barbara have two grandchildren and live in Los Angeles.
The post ENCORE: Finding Your Moral Compass: Jewish Values Explained, with Rabbi John Rosove – Seekers of Meaning 10/30/2026 appeared first on Jewish Sacred Aging.
-
32 min
ENCORE: Trauma and Parenting Insights from Genesis with Dr. Steven Spector – Seekers of Meaning 10/23/2026
Show notes
On this week’s encore episode of the Seekers of Meaning TV Show and Podcast, Dr. Steven Spector discusses his new book, God and the First Families: Parenting, Trauma, and Healing in the Book of Genesis. He focuses on trauma theory in Genesis, parenting styles in the Bible, and the psychological insights into biblical characters. This episode explores how ancient stories reflect human trauma and parenting dynamics, offering valuable lessons for modern life.
About the book
God and the First Families offers a novel exploration of God’s role as a parent in the book of Genesis. Compellingly, author Stephen Spector introduces Americans’ four main perceptions of God and their four most common styles of parenting as lenses through which we can reckon with God’s own methods of parenting in the first biblical book.
God begins as an authoritarian parent who demands obedience and submission to authority, but shifts in striking ways. Next, God’s parenting seems entirely benevolent. Stunningly, God reverts to authoritarianism during the near sacrifice of Isaac―but then invents a new parenting style focused on guiding the characters’ moral and emotional growth. Many psychologists consider this the most successful childrearing method. Genesis reached that conclusion two and a half millennia ago!
Throughout, Spector engages with familiar stories―sibling rivalries, family ruptures, traumas―from unexpected angles. He dramatizes how parental love in Genesis builds resilience against trauma, another idea validated by modern psychology. Surviving trauma, healing from parental favoritism, repairing broken relationships, earning forgiveness, possibly even reconciling after injury―Genesis offers wisdom on all.
Seekers of Meaning TV Show and Podcast Now Available on Roku Streaming Service
You can add the Jewish Sacred Aging TV channel to your Roku streaming subscription by visiting this page: https://channelstore.roku.com/details/600964/jewish-sacred-aging.
You can also watch this week’s show in the player below. The shows now include closed-captioning for the deaf or people with a hearing loss. Click the “CC” button on the video player to activate closed-captions. If you do not see a player directly below this paragraph, you can still watch the video by clicking on this link: LINK
Listen to the Audio Podcast
You can listen to the audio podcast version in the player below, or subscribe to the podcast in one of the popular platforms by clicking one of the buttons below the player. If you do not see a player below, you can still listen to the podcast by clicking on this link: LINK
• Apple Podcasts
• YouTube
• Spotify
• Podchaser
• Amazon MusicAbout the Guest
Stephen Spector
Stephen Spector is a professor of English emeritus at Stony Brook University. He is the author of Operation Solomon: The Daring Rescue of the Ethiopian Jews and Evangelicals and Israel: The Story of American Christian Zionism, among other volumes. Spector has taught the Bible to undergraduate and graduate students for fifty years. He has been a visiting scholar at Hebrew University and a senior research fellow at the National Humanities Center and the Wesleyan Center for Humanities.
The post ENCORE: Trauma and Parenting Insights from Genesis with Dr. Steven Spector – Seekers of Meaning 10/23/2026 appeared first on Jewish Sacred Aging.
-
26 min
Cognitive Remediation Therapy: Enhancing Daily Functioning, with Rhona Cohen — Seekers of Meaning 10/16/2026
Show notes
On this week’s episode of the Seekers of Meaning TV Show and Podcast, Rhona Cohen, a licensed speech language pathologist, discusses cognitive remediation therapy, its applications, and how it helps individuals with neurological conditions improve their daily functioning. She shares insights on therapy methods, working with different diagnoses, and the importance of practical, functional strategies.
Seekers of Meaning TV Show and Podcast Now Available on Roku Streaming Service
You can add the Jewish Sacred Aging TV channel to your Roku streaming subscription by visiting this page: https://channelstore.roku.com/details/600964/jewish-sacred-aging.
You can also watch this week’s show in the player below. The shows now include closed-captioning for the deaf or people with a hearing loss. Click the “CC” button on the video player to activate closed-captions. If you do not see a player directly below this paragraph, you can still watch the video by clicking on this link: LINK
Listen to the Audio Podcast
You can listen to the audio podcast version in the player below, or subscribe to the podcast in one of the popular platforms by clicking one of the buttons below the player. If you do not see a player below, you can still listen to the podcast by clicking on this link: LINK
• Apple Podcasts
• YouTube
• Spotify
• Podchaser
• Amazon MusicAbout the Guest
https://i0.wp.com/jewishsacredaging.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/10/CohenRhona-scaled.jpg?ssl=1
Rhona Cohen
Rhona Cohen is a licensed speech and language pathologist, specializing in cognitive remediation, with more than 40 years of experience treating adults with cognitive impairments caused by trauma, disease or ADD/ ADHD.
She worked at Magee Rehabilitation Hospital in Philadelphia in their brain injury department for six years and has been in private practice for 35 years, since then.
The treatment that she provides is individualized and is targeted towards improving daily functioning.
Patients are taught specific strategies to address daily challenges. A spouse or significant other is encouraged to participate in this process to lend their valuable support and feedback. The length and duration of treatment varies — sessions are conducted over Zoom and are scheduled once a week, initially. The overall purpose of this intervention is to facilitate improved daily functioning, to increase a feeling of productivity and purpose and to develop meaningful daily activity patterns — to establish a “new normal”.
The post Cognitive Remediation Therapy: Enhancing Daily Functioning, with Rhona Cohen — Seekers of Meaning 10/16/2026 appeared first on Jewish Sacred Aging.
-
26 min
Understanding Perinatal Loss: A Journey with NechamaComfort founder Reva Judas — Seekers of Meaning 10/9/2026
Show notes
On this week’s episode of the Seekers of Meaning TV Show and Podcast,Reva Judas shares her personal journey and the vital work of https://nechamacomfort.org, a global organization supporting families through prenatal and infant loss. This episode explores the emotional, cultural, and spiritual aspects of perinatal loss within the Jewish community and beyond.
NechamaComfort supports families who have suffered from early miscarriage through infants up to age one. Its team provides support wherever it is needed — for parents, extended family, and friends experiencing pregnancy and early infant loss. NechamaComfort collaborate with medical and hospital staff, clergy, and funeral homes to ensure families have the resources and care they need. In addition, we train professionals and communities to better understand how to offer meaningful support.
Seekers of Meaning TV Show and Podcast Now Available on Roku Streaming Service
You can add the Jewish Sacred Aging TV channel to your Roku streaming subscription by visiting this page: https://channelstore.roku.com/details/600964/jewish-sacred-aging.
You can also watch this week’s show in the player below. The shows now include closed-captioning for the deaf or people with a hearing loss. Click the “CC” button on the video player to activate closed-captions. If you do not see a player directly below this paragraph, you can still watch the video by clicking on this link: Seekers of Meaning TV Show – Reva Judas
Listen to the Audio Podcast
You can listen to the audio podcast version in the player below, or subscribe to the podcast in one of the popular platforms by clicking one of the buttons below the player. If you do not see a player below, you can still listen to the podcast by clicking on this link: Seekers of Meaning – Reva Judas
• Apple Podcasts
• YouTube
• Spotify
• Podchaser
• Amazon MusicAbout the Guest
Reva Judas
Reva Judas is the founder and Executive Director of NechamaComfort, a global organization that supports families dealing with infant and pregnancy loss. She has counseled people around the world and has trained medical staff, clergy, lay leaders, and communities in best practices for supporting grieving families.
Reva received her Chaplaincy Certification from Hackensack Medical center and is a Resolve Through Sharing (RTS) certified Infant Pregnancy Loss Facilitator. She holds a BS in Human and Child Development.
The post Understanding Perinatal Loss: A Journey with NechamaComfort founder Reva Judas — Seekers of Meaning 10/9/2026 appeared first on Jewish Sacred Aging.
-
28 min
Project SARAH: Support for Domestic Abuse Survivors – Seekers of Meaning 10/2/2026
Show notes
On this week’s episode of the Seekers of Meaning TV Show and Podcast, Rabbi Address explores the critical issue of domestic abuse within the Jewish community, focusing on the work of Project Sarah in southern New Jersey. Hilary Platt, Project SARAH co-manager at Jewish Family & Children’s Service of Southern New Jersey, shares insights on prevalence, community outreach, and resources available for victims of abuse, including elder abuse and support for men.
Project SARAH (Stop Abusive Relationships At Home) provides confidential, compassionate support for survivors of domestic abuse and their families, including counseling, case management, safety planning, and more. The program is committed to prevention, education, and raising awareness that abuse can affect anyone—regardless of their age, faith, gender, or economic background.
Seekers of Meaning TV Show and Podcast Now Available on Roku Streaming Service
You can add the Jewish Sacred Aging TV channel to your Roku streaming subscription by visiting this page: https://channelstore.roku.com/details/600964/jewish-sacred-aging.
You can also watch this week’s show in the player below. The shows now include closed-captioning for the deaf or people with a hearing loss. Click the “CC” button on the video player to activate closed-captions. If you do not see a player directly below this paragraph, you can still watch the video by clicking on this link: LINK
Listen to the Audio Podcast
You can listen to the audio podcast version in the player below, or subscribe to the podcast in one of the popular platforms by clicking one of the buttons below the player. If you do not see a player below, you can still listen to the podcast by clicking on this link: LINK
• Apple Podcasts
• YouTube
• Spotify
• Podchaser
• Amazon MusicAbout the Guest
https://i0.wp.com/jewishsacredaging.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/10/PlattHilary.jpg?ssl=1
Hilary Platt
As Project SARAH coordinator, and now co-manager and case manager, Hilary has grown the program to what it is today. This growth could not have happened without the support and encouragement of JFCS leadership.
Hilary was originally hired as a JFCS intake specialist with knowledge of domestic abuse and sexual assault.. Hilary has undertaken extensive training, including completing two courses of 40 hours of Domestic Violence Response Team Advocate training through the Camden County Women’s Center, 40 hours of Sexual Assaults Advocacy training through the Burlington County CONTACT, and earning a Polaris Certificate of Training in Human Trafficking.
Hilary was an active Domestic Violence Response Team Member with the Camden County Women’s Center, meeting victims at police stations and hospitals for eight years.
Utilizing her education in psychology and experience as a substitute teacher, the Project SARAH program has grown in the community by educating over 2000 students a year, assisting hundreds of clients with case management and support groups. Hilary is also passionate about training lay leaders and professionals in the community, including but not limited to hospital social workers and local sisterhoods.
Her dedication to supporting survivors of abuse is reflected in her tenure, having started her role on October 11, 2011.
Hilary can’t imagine a life without helping others and hopes to stay on with her JFCS family for a long time to come!
Hilary has been married to Harry for 32 years and is a proud mother of her daughter Jaclyn Isadore (husband Dylan Isadore) and her son Jacob Platt, as well as being a kvelling Mimi of grandson Samuel Asher Isadore. Hilary is grateful for her family’s unwavering support in her endeavor to advocate for the vulnerable population of domestic abuse. Hilary is appreciative of her colleagues in her Project SARAH team as well as all of her supportive colleagues at JFCS.
The post Project SARAH: Support for Domestic Abuse Survivors – Seekers of Meaning 10/2/2026 appeared first on Jewish Sacred Aging.
-
30 min
9/25/2026 ENCORE: The Art of Spiritual Care: Insights from Judith Edelman-Green – Seekers of Meaning 8/14/2026
Show notes
On this week’s episode of the Seekers of Meaning TV Show and Podcast, Rabbi Address interviews Judith Edelman-Green about her book The Well of Compassion: Reflections on the Art of Spiritual Care, exploring the art of spiritual care, the symbolism of wells, and the role of compassion and humor in healing. They discuss how personal and cultural experiences shape spiritual support, especially in diverse and challenging contexts.
About the book
An extraordinary resource drawn from decades of groundbreaking work in multifaith and multicultural settings, this book is a landmark guide to compassionate care for a world in crisis.
Covering all aspects of pastoral care and spiritual guidance, The Well of Compassion delivers a rich blend of wisdom, inspiration, and guidance for professionals and laypersons.
Whether you are a clergyperson seeking to deepen their work in a hospital or individual chaplaincy, or a friend or a relative seeking ways to be present for a loved one going through a crisis, you will find in this book tools to heal and to cope.
Seekers of Meaning TV Show and Podcast Now Available on Roku Streaming Service
You can add the Jewish Sacred Aging TV channel to your Roku streaming subscription by visiting this page: https://channelstore.roku.com/details/600964/jewish-sacred-aging.
You can also watch this week’s show in the player below. The shows now include closed-captioning for the deaf or people with a hearing loss. Click the “CC” button on the video player to activate closed-captions. If you do not see a player directly below this paragraph, you can still watch the video by clicking on this link: https://vimeo.com/1217769194
Listen to the Audio Podcast
You can listen to the audio podcast version in the player below, or subscribe to the podcast in one of the popular platforms by clicking one of the buttons below the player. If you do not see a player below, you can still listen to the podcast by clicking on this link: https://media.blubrry.com/seekersofmeaning/ins.blubrry.com/seekersofmeaning/XXX.mp3
• Apple Podcasts
• YouTube
• Spotify
• Podchaser
• Amazon MusicAbout the Guest
https://i0.wp.com/jewishsacredaging.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/EdelmanGreenRabbiJudith.jpg?ssl=1
Rabbi Judith Edelman-Green
Judith Edelman-Green is a Rabbi and Jewish educator who was ordained at Hebrew Union College in Jerusalem in 2009.
Rabbi Judith Edelman-Green has initiated and led programs designed to break down societal barriers and stereotypes, by bridging the wide divides that separate the varied religious groupings of Jews in the State of Israel. Most recently, she has devoted her time to pastoral care-giving as a Rabbi-Chaplain.
She worked as a Spiritual Caregiver in two blood-cancer wards (hematology-oncology and bone marrow transplants) of Tel HaShomer Hospital for more than five years. She has comforted, supported, and uplifted patients, families and staff of all religions and backgrounds. She teaches in-person and online courses on facing illness, death and dying, and seeking a life of meaning in varied settings. She shares wisdom gleaned from those experiences in The WELL of COMPASSION: Reflections of the Art of Spiritual Care.
In 1995, Judith founded the Bar- and Bat-Mitzvah Program for Children with Special Needs, which she directed for 10 years. The program continues as an affiliate of the Masorti Movement, and reaches thousands of children throughout Israel annually, touching and influencing constantly-widening circles in Israeli society. As an outgrowth of this work, she established Netaim, the first Israeli-Jewish camp for young people with special needs in 1999, as part of Camp Ramah-Noam. She convened national conferences on Special Needs in Jewish Education. In 2002, the Jewish Federation of Greater Los Angeles awarded her a prize for this work.
All the programs Judith has directed shatter long-held prejudices, foster a humane, tolerant approach to Israeli society, and bring the polarized Jewish state one step closer to Tikkun Olam (perfection of the world). In recognition of her accomplishments, Judith was awarded The Liebhaber Prize for the Promotion of Religious Tolerance and Cultural Pluralism in Israel in 2003. She is also a recipient of the Woman of Distinction Award given by the Women’s League for Conservative Judaism, and the Award for Outstanding Contribution to Israeli Society given by Hebrew Union College in Jerusalem (2008).
For eight years, Rabbi Judith Edelman-Green served as Rabbi at the Jewish Religious Union (Reform) in Mumbai, working with Benei Israel Jews for the High Holidays. This enabled her to build delightful, colorful, spicy and very spiritual bridges. Rabbi Judith hopes to return in 2024 and take part in the centenary celebrations of this unique community in 2025.
Rabbi Judith has been active in interfaith groups promoting interpersonal understanding between Arab and Jewish women for many years. She lives in Kfar Sava, Israel with her husband, Dr. Bernie Green. They have three adult children, Raphi, Shira and Ilana, and two grandchildren.
The post 9/25/2026 ENCORE: The Art of Spiritual Care: Insights from Judith Edelman-Green – Seekers of Meaning 8/14/2026 appeared first on Jewish Sacred Aging.
-
36 min
9/18/2026 ENCORE: Seekers of Meaning 5/31/2024: Rabbi Dalia Marx, author of “From Time to Time: Journeys in the Jewish Calendar”
Show notes
On this week’s episode of the Seekers of Meaning TV Show and Podcast, Rabbi Dalia Marx, Ph.D., the Rabbi Aaron D. Panken Professor of Liturgy and Midrash at HUC-JIR’s Taube Family Campus in Jerusalem, discusses her new book, From Time to Time, Journeys in the Jewish Calendar.
Time is fundamental to the human experience, and in Judaism it is even more—time is sanctified. Understanding the Jewish calendar is thus essential for fully comprehending Judaism. In From Time to Time, Rabbi Dalia Marx, PhD, presents a fascinating exploration of the treasures of the Jewish year. The book artfully blends traditional and contemporary perspectives on each Hebrew month and its holidays. Rabbi Marx’s insights are paired with striking illustrations; each month also features a diverse selection of poetry, prayers, and songs. Taking a distinctively Israeli, feminist, and progressive approach, From Time to Time is a comprehensive, indispensable companion you will want to return to each season.
Download a study guide from the CCAR Press website.
Seekers of Meaning TV Show and Podcast Now Available on Roku Streaming Service
You can add the Jewish Sacred Aging TV channel to your Roku streaming subscription by visiting this page: https://channelstore.roku.com/details/600964/jewish-sacred-aging.
You can also watch this week’s show in the player below. The shows now include closed-captioning for the deaf or people with a hearing loss. Click the “CC” button on the video player to activate closed-captions.
Listen to the Audio Podcast
You can listen to the audio podcast version in the player below, or subscribe to the podcast in one of the popular platforms by clicking one of the buttons below the player.
• Apple Podcasts
• YouTube
• Spotify
• Podchaser
• Amazon MusicAbout the Guest
https://i0.wp.com/jewishsacredaging.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/MarxRabbiDalia.jpeg?ssl=1
Rabbi Dalia Marx, Ph.D.
Rabbi Dalia Marx, Ph.D., is the Rabbi Aaron D. Panken Professor of Liturgy and Midrash at HUC-JIR’s Taube Family Campus in Jerusalem, and teaches in various academic institutions in Israel and Europe.
Marx, a tenth generation Jerusalemite, earned her doctorate at the Hebrew University and her rabbinic ordination at HUC-JIR in Jerusalem and Cincinnati in 2002. She is involved in various research projects and is active in promoting liberal Judaism in Israel. Marx writes for academic and popular journals and publications.
Marx is the lead editor of the Israeli Reform siddur, Tfillat HaAdam (2020). Her book From Time to Time: Journeys in the Jewish Calendar (Yeditos Sfarim 2018), was translated to several languages, and is available in English from the CCAR Press.
She is the author of When I Sleep and When I Wake: On Prayers between Dusk and Dawn (Yediot Sfarim, 2010, in Hebrew), A Feminist Commentary of the Babylonian Talmud (Mohr Siebeck, 2013, in English), About Time: Journeys in the Jewish-Israeli Calendar (Yediot Sfarim, 2018, in Hebrew) and the co-editor of a few books. See Marx’s website.
Marx lives in Jerusalem with her husband, Roly Zyblersztein, Ph.D. They have three children.
The post 9/18/2026 ENCORE: Seekers of Meaning 5/31/2024: Rabbi Dalia Marx, author of “From Time to Time: Journeys in the Jewish Calendar” appeared first on Jewish Sacred Aging.
-
30 min
High Holidays Insights: Rabbis Discuss Hope and Healing – Seekers of Meaning 9/4-11/2026
Show notes
On this week’s episode of the Seekers of Meaning TV Show and Podcast, Rabbi Address engages with Rabbis Judith Siegal and Phil Bazeley as they discuss their preparations for the upcoming High Holidays. They explore themes of hope, relationships, and the generational divide in support for Israel within the Jewish community. The conversation delves into the importance of acknowledging grief and trauma, particularly in light of recent events, and emphasizes the role of the synagogue as a space for community and healing. The rabbis share their hopes for the future and the significance of finding purpose in their spiritual leadership.
Seekers of Meaning TV Show and Podcast Now Available on Roku Streaming Service
You can add the Jewish Sacred Aging TV channel to your Roku streaming subscription by visiting this page: https://channelstore.roku.com/details/600964/jewish-sacred-aging.
You can also watch this week’s show in the player below. The shows now include closed-captioning for the deaf or people with a hearing loss. Click the “CC” button on the video player to activate closed-captions. If you do not see a player directly below this paragraph, you can still watch the video by clicking on this link: LINK
Listen to the Audio Podcast
You can listen to the audio podcast version in the player below, or subscribe to the podcast in one of the popular platforms by clicking one of the buttons below the player. If you do not see a player below, you can still listen to the podcast by clicking on this link: LINK
• Apple Podcasts
• YouTube
• Spotify
• Podchaser
• Amazon MusicAbout the Guests
https://i0.wp.com/jewishsacredaging.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/BazeleyRabbiPhilip.jpeg?ssl=1
Rabbi Philip Bazeley
Rabbi Philip Bazeley was ordained from the Hebrew Union College – Jewish Institute of Religion in 2012, which is when he began his time at Anshe Emeth Memorial Temple. Rabbi Bazeley started at AEMT as the Assistant Rabbi and was named the Senior Rabbi in 2018. While at HUC-JIR he earned a Master of Arts in Hebrew Literature as well as a Master of Arts in Religious Education.
Rabbi Bazeley serves as a member of the Core Leadership Team of The Religious Action Center- New Jersey (RAC-NJ) and serves on the local board of the American Jewish Committee of New Jersey (AJC-NJ) and is a Co-Chair of the Jewish Federation in The Heart of NJ’s Jewish Community Relations Council. One of the core pillars of Rabbi Bazeley’s rabbinate is Tikkun Olam and he has been part of many social justice initiatives in NJ, which include helping to pass solitary confinement reform, the Fair Chance in House Act, and establishing Interfaith-Rise, a refugee resettlement agency.
Since his ordination, Rabbi Bazeley has served as a Clinical Faculty Mentor at the HUC-JIR’s New York School of Education and has been awarded the title Reform Jewish Educator (R.J.E.) from the National Association of Temple Educators (now the Association of Reform Jewish Educators) for the work that he has done at AEMT and other institutions. Rabbi Bazeley has also been honored with the Union for Reform Judaism’s Maurice N. Eisendrath’s Bearer of Light Award for his participation in America’s Journey for Justice, where he marched with the NAACP as well as other members of the CCAR from Selma, Alabama to Washington D.C. in the summer of 2015.
Rabbi Bazeley and his wife Alyson live in Highland Park with their sons, Gavin and Matthew
Rabbi Judith Siegal
Rabbi Judith Lazarus Siegal is honored to be the senior rabbi of Temple Judea, a warm and inclusive Jewish community, which takes learning and worship seriously and engages in acts of love and kindness and social action all year long. Originally from New Orleans, Rabbi Siegal was ordained from the Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion in New York in May of 2006 with a Masters in Hebrew Literature. She also has a Masters degree in Social Work from the University of Texas in Austin. She has served as a rabbi at Temple Judea in Coral Gables, FL since her ordination, and became the senior rabbi of Temple Judea July 1, 2014.
Rabbi Siegal enjoys building relationships, leading worship, creating meaningful life cycle moments, counseling, pursuing social justice and teaching students of all ages at Temple Judea, from preschoolers in our Margaux Early Childhood School and their families to adult Torah study groups, new adult Hebrew students, and religious school students of various grade levels.
Rabbi Siegal currently serves on the Executive Committee of the Rabbinical Association of Greater Miami, on the board of the South East Area Council of the CCAR, and as the Vice President of Programming for the Central Conference of American Rabbis. She is a past chair of the Miami Coalition of Christians and Jews Interfaith Clergy Dialogue and was awarded the Clergy Silver Medallion in 2018. She has been a fellow for the Jewish Outreach Institute’s Big Tent Judaism Professional Affiliates and has studied at the Shalom Hartman Institute in Jerusalem, Yad Vashem World Holocaust Remembrance Center as well as the Mussar Institute and is always looking for new and interesting study opportunities. She received the Clergy of the Year award in 2014 and was selected as one of the 2020 Florida Influencers by the Miami Herald.
Rabbi Siegal is married to Brian Siegal, who is the Director of the American Jewish Committee of Miami and Broward, and they have three children, Ben, Josh, and Ella.
The post High Holidays Insights: Rabbis Discuss Hope and Healing – Seekers of Meaning 9/4-11/2026 appeared first on Jewish Sacred Aging.
-
The Art of Spiritual Care: Insights from Judith Edelman-Green – Seekers of Meaning 8/14/2026
Show notes
On this week’s episode of the Seekers of Meaning TV Show and Podcast, Rabbi Address interviews Judith Edelman-Green about her book The Well of Compassion: Reflections on the Art of Spiritual Care, exploring the art of spiritual care, the symbolism of wells, and the role of compassion and humor in healing. They discuss how personal and cultural experiences shape spiritual support, especially in diverse and challenging contexts.
About the book
An extraordinary resource drawn from decades of groundbreaking work in multifaith and multicultural settings, this book is a landmark guide to compassionate care for a world in crisis.
Covering all aspects of pastoral care and spiritual guidance, The Well of Compassion delivers a rich blend of wisdom, inspiration, and guidance for professionals and laypersons.
Whether you are a clergyperson seeking to deepen their work in a hospital or individual chaplaincy, or a friend or a relative seeking ways to be present for a loved one going through a crisis, you will find in this book tools to heal and to cope.
Seekers of Meaning TV Show and Podcast Now Available on Roku Streaming Service
You can add the Jewish Sacred Aging TV channel to your Roku streaming subscription by visiting this page: https://channelstore.roku.com/details/600964/jewish-sacred-aging.
You can also watch this week’s show in the player below. The shows now include closed-captioning for the deaf or people with a hearing loss. Click the “CC” button on the video player to activate closed-captions. If you do not see a player directly below this paragraph, you can still watch the video by clicking on this link: https://vimeo.com/1217769194
Listen to the Audio Podcast
You can listen to the audio podcast version in the player below, or subscribe to the podcast in one of the popular platforms by clicking one of the buttons below the player. If you do not see a player below, you can still listen to the podcast by clicking on this link: https://media.blubrry.com/seekersofmeaning/ins.blubrry.com/seekersofmeaning/XXX.mp3
• Apple Podcasts
• YouTube
• Spotify
• Podchaser
• Amazon MusicAbout the Guest
https://i0.wp.com/jewishsacredaging.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/EdelmanGreenRabbiJudith.jpg?ssl=1
Rabbi Judith Edelman-Green
Judith Edelman-Green is a Rabbi and Jewish educator who was ordained at Hebrew Union College in Jerusalem in 2009.
Rabbi Judith Edelman-Green has initiated and led programs designed to break down societal barriers and stereotypes, by bridging the wide divides that separate the varied religious groupings of Jews in the State of Israel. Most recently, she has devoted her time to pastoral care-giving as a Rabbi-Chaplain.
She worked as a Spiritual Caregiver in two blood-cancer wards (hematology-oncology and bone marrow transplants) of Tel HaShomer Hospital for more than five years. She has comforted, supported, and uplifted patients, families and staff of all religions and backgrounds. She teaches in-person and online courses on facing illness, death and dying, and seeking a life of meaning in varied settings. She shares wisdom gleaned from those experiences in The WELL of COMPASSION: Reflections of the Art of Spiritual Care.
In 1995, Judith founded the Bar- and Bat-Mitzvah Program for Children with Special Needs, which she directed for 10 years. The program continues as an affiliate of the Masorti Movement, and reaches thousands of children throughout Israel annually, touching and influencing constantly-widening circles in Israeli society. As an outgrowth of this work, she established Netaim, the first Israeli-Jewish camp for young people with special needs in 1999, as part of Camp Ramah-Noam. She convened national conferences on Special Needs in Jewish Education. In 2002, the Jewish Federation of Greater Los Angeles awarded her a prize for this work.
All the programs Judith has directed shatter long-held prejudices, foster a humane, tolerant approach to Israeli society, and bring the polarized Jewish state one step closer to Tikkun Olam (perfection of the world). In recognition of her accomplishments, Judith was awarded The Liebhaber Prize for the Promotion of Religious Tolerance and Cultural Pluralism in Israel in 2003. She is also a recipient of the Woman of Distinction Award given by the Women’s League for Conservative Judaism, and the Award for Outstanding Contribution to Israeli Society given by Hebrew Union College in Jerusalem (2008).
For eight years, Rabbi Judith Edelman-Green served as Rabbi at the Jewish Religious Union (Reform) in Mumbai, working with Benei Israel Jews for the High Holidays. This enabled her to build delightful, colorful, spicy and very spiritual bridges. Rabbi Judith hopes to return in 2024 and take part in the centenary celebrations of this unique community in 2025.
Rabbi Judith has been active in interfaith groups promoting interpersonal understanding between Arab and Jewish women for many years. She lives in Kfar Sava, Israel with her husband, Dr. Bernie Green. They have three adult children, Raphi, Shira and Ilana, and two grandchildren.
The post The Art of Spiritual Care: Insights from Judith Edelman-Green – Seekers of Meaning 8/14/2026 appeared first on Jewish Sacred Aging.
-
31 min
Unpacking Fan Fiction in the Book of Genesis with author Sarah Rosenson – Seekers of Meaning 8/7/2026
Show notes
Editor’s Note: Due to technical difficulties, this week’s Seekers of Meaning TV Show and Podcast is only available as an audio podcast. We regret any inconvenience.
On this week’s episode of the Seekers of Meaning Podcast, Rabbi Richard Address engages with Sarah Rosenson, author of Fan Fiction on the Book of Genesis.
They explore the themes of the Book of Genesis, including personal interpretations, family dynamics, the significance of silence, and the role of art in understanding biblical narratives. Rosenson shares her journey to writing the book, her unique perspective on Jewish identity, and the importance of asking questions about the text. The conversation emphasizes the fluidity of interpretation and the relevance of these ancient stories in contemporary life.
About the book
The modern phenomenon of fan fiction involves readers writing creative pieces that answer questions left open in favorite works of literature. This also describes the ancient tradition of midrash, where readers write stories filling in gaps in the Bible.
Fan Fiction on the Book of Genesis discusses the questions left open in the first book of the Bible, and includes questions for the characters in the stories, which can serve as prompts for conversations or creative writing. It is perfect for anyone interested in reading Bible stories through a new and creative lens, people who enjoy creative writing and want to challenge themselves to write fan fiction/midrash on the Bible, and people who teach classes on the Bible and want ideas for discussion topics and questions.
Seekers of Meaning TV Show and Podcast Now Available on Roku Streaming Service
You can add the Jewish Sacred Aging TV channel to your Roku streaming subscription by visiting this page: https://channelstore.roku.com/details/600964/jewish-sacred-aging.
Because of technical difficulties with this week’s recording, there is no video version of the program.
Listen to the Audio Podcast
You can listen to the audio podcast version in the player below, or subscribe to the podcast in one of the popular platforms by clicking one of the buttons below the player. If you do not see a player below, you can still listen to the podcast by clicking here.
• Apple Podcasts
• YouTube
• Spotify
• Podchaser
• Amazon MusicAbout the Guest
https://i0.wp.com/jewishsacredaging.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/RosensonSarah567x629.jpg?ssl=1
Sarah Rosenson
Sarah Rosenson has a B.A. from Georgetown University, a J.D. from the University of Pennsylvania, and an M.A. in Jewish Studies from the Spertus Institute. She practiced law for a decade, and then taught classes on ethics, philosophy, the Bible, and world religions at a private high school. She currently teaches adults both in-person and online for various institutions around the country.
Classes Sarah has created and taught include Artistic Depictions of the Bible from Michelangelo to Chagall, Difficult Stories of Women in the Bible, Children’s Bible Stories for Adults, Ethics Thought Experiments, Ethics in Modern Life, Ethics and Sports, Jane Austen and Philosophy, and The Hobbit and Philosophy, among other topics.
You can find her website at www.sarahsclass.net.
The post Unpacking Fan Fiction in the Book of Genesis with author Sarah Rosenson – Seekers of Meaning 8/7/2026 appeared first on Jewish Sacred Aging.
-
32 min
Trauma and Parenting Insights from Genesis with Dr. Steven Spector – Seekers of Meaning 7/31/2026
Show notes
On this week’s episode of the Seekers of Meaning TV Show and Podcast, Dr. Steven Spector discusses his new book, God and the First Families: Parenting, Trauma, and Healing in the Book of Genesis. He focuses on trauma theory in Genesis, parenting styles in the Bible, and the psychological insights into biblical characters. This episode explores how ancient stories reflect human trauma and parenting dynamics, offering valuable lessons for modern life.
About the book
God and the First Families offers a novel exploration of God’s role as a parent in the book of Genesis. Compellingly, author Stephen Spector introduces Americans’ four main perceptions of God and their four most common styles of parenting as lenses through which we can reckon with God’s own methods of parenting in the first biblical book.
God begins as an authoritarian parent who demands obedience and submission to authority, but shifts in striking ways. Next, God’s parenting seems entirely benevolent. Stunningly, God reverts to authoritarianism during the near sacrifice of Isaac―but then invents a new parenting style focused on guiding the characters’ moral and emotional growth. Many psychologists consider this the most successful childrearing method. Genesis reached that conclusion two and a half millennia ago!
Throughout, Spector engages with familiar stories―sibling rivalries, family ruptures, traumas―from unexpected angles. He dramatizes how parental love in Genesis builds resilience against trauma, another idea validated by modern psychology. Surviving trauma, healing from parental favoritism, repairing broken relationships, earning forgiveness, possibly even reconciling after injury―Genesis offers wisdom on all.
Seekers of Meaning TV Show and Podcast Now Available on Roku Streaming Service
You can add the Jewish Sacred Aging TV channel to your Roku streaming subscription by visiting this page: https://channelstore.roku.com/details/600964/jewish-sacred-aging.
You can also watch this week’s show in the player below. The shows now include closed-captioning for the deaf or people with a hearing loss. Click the “CC” button on the video player to activate closed-captions. If you do not see a player directly below this paragraph, you can still watch the video by clicking on this link: LINK
Listen to the Audio Podcast
You can listen to the audio podcast version in the player below, or subscribe to the podcast in one of the popular platforms by clicking one of the buttons below the player. If you do not see a player below, you can still listen to the podcast by clicking on this link: LINK
• Apple Podcasts
• YouTube
• Spotify
• Podchaser
• Amazon MusicAbout the Guest
Stephen Spector
Stephen Spector is a professor of English emeritus at Stony Brook University. He is the author of Operation Solomon: The Daring Rescue of the Ethiopian Jews and Evangelicals and Israel: The Story of American Christian Zionism, among other volumes. Spector has taught the Bible to undergraduate and graduate students for fifty years. He has been a visiting scholar at Hebrew University and a senior research fellow at the National Humanities Center and the Wesleyan Center for Humanities.
The post Trauma and Parenting Insights from Genesis with Dr. Steven Spector – Seekers of Meaning 7/31/2026 appeared first on Jewish Sacred Aging.
-
27 min
Novelist Barbara Viniar’s Journey: From Family Roots to Fiction – Seekers of Meaning 7/24/2026
Show notes
On this week’s episode of the Seekers of Meaning TV Show and Podcast, Rabbi Richard Address interviews novelist Barbara Viniar about her book ‘Little Bird,’ exploring themes of immigrant history, women’s independence, and personal transformation. Discover how her family history inspired her storytelling and the insights into Jewish-American life across generations.
Barbara shares how a family photograph sparked years of research into her grandmother’s past, and how the space between documented history and imagination became the heart of the novel. Their conversation explores immigration, Jewish identity, women’s independence, family secrets, and the creative process of turning inherited stories into fiction.
They also discuss the novel’s central character, Fanny, whose journey from obligation toward self-determination reflects both an immigrant experience and a deeply personal search for agency.
About the Book
https://i0.wp.com/jewishsacredaging.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/LitttleBirdCover.jpg?ssl=1
In 1910, fearing escalating violence against the Jews in Russia, Feige’s father arranges for her to marry a wealthy cousin in New York City.
She will no longer be her parents’ adored “little bird.” As she adapts to life in America, she goes from being an obedient daughter to a dutiful wife, even allowing her new husband to change her name to Fannie. Longing to make her own decisions, her husband’s cruelty finally pushes her to risk leaving him. She parlays her embroidery skills into a job and finds the man she believes is the love of her life. When he betrays her, she refuses to forgive him, disregarding advice to overlook men’s lapses. Finally, she meets a man who both loves and respects her. Can she give up her hard won independence? Little Bird is the story of a girl who finds the courage to forge her own path to womanhood.
Seekers of Meaning TV Show and Podcast Now Available on Roku Streaming Service
You can add the Jewish Sacred Aging TV channel to your Roku streaming subscription by visiting this page: https://channelstore.roku.com/details/600964/jewish-sacred-aging.
You can also watch this week’s show in the player below. The shows now include closed-captioning for the deaf or people with a hearing loss. Click the “CC” button on the video player to activate closed-captions. If you do not see a player directly below this paragraph, you can still watch the video by clicking on this link: LINK
Listen to the Audio Podcast
You can listen to the audio podcast version in the player below, or subscribe to the podcast in one of the popular platforms by clicking one of the buttons below the player. If you do not see a player below, you can still listen to the podcast by clicking on this link: LINK
• Apple Podcasts
• YouTube
• Spotify
• Podchaser
• Amazon MusicAbout the Guest
https://i0.wp.com/jewishsacredaging.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/ViniarBarbara-scaled.jpg?ssl=1
Barbara Viniar
Barbara Viniar was born and raised in the Bronx, New York. After 40 years of leadership in public higher education, including two community college presidencies, she retired to the Berkshires in 2018. At various times in her career, she taught English and Women’s Studies as an adjunct at the undergraduate and graduate levels. Her doctoral dissertation was “Women’s Moral Development in Contemporary Fiction.”
In retirement, Viniar turned to blogging and writing a daily Haiku. During COVID, a chance discovery about her grandmother compelled her to imagine the story that became her debut historical novel, Little Bird, published by Sibylline Press in August 2025.
Viniar is currently working on her second novel.
Author page: https://www.barbaraviniar.com
Substack : @barbaraviniar
Facebook: barbara.viniar.9
Instagram: @barbaraviniar
The post Novelist Barbara Viniar’s Journey: From Family Roots to Fiction – Seekers of Meaning 7/24/2026 appeared first on Jewish Sacred Aging.
-
31 min
Finding Your Moral Compass: Jewish Values Explained, with Rabbi John Rosove – Seekers of Meaning 7/17/2026
Show notes
On this week’s episode of the Seekers of Meaning TV Show and Podcast, Rabbi John L. Rosove, senior rabbi emeritus of Temple Israel of Hollywood, discusses his new book, Finding Your Moral Compass: Jewish Values for the 21st Century.
About the Book
Finding Your Moral Compass places enduring Jewish values in a 21st century context, offering a thoughtful and enriching guide for those seeking ethical direction and spiritual grounding through and in Jewish tradition.
In this collection of 40 essays, Rabbi John L. Rosove explores foundational Jewish values and helps readers affirm their Jewish identity while drawing connections between Jewish teachings and universal moral principles.
Rosove combines classic scholarship, compassion, and personal experience in his reflections upon Judaism’s age-old moral and ethical traditions and Jewish identity as they have evolved over centuries and since the Holocaust and the establishment of the State of Israel.
As a thought-leader at the forefront of social justice and liberal Israel activism in North America, Rosove draws from his personal experiences to present moral clarity and an ethical compass for liberal Jews and all who are interested in contemporary Judaism. With accessible prose and heartfelt insight, this collection of essays invites liberal Jews – and anyone interested in finding moral clarity – to consider how Jewish wisdom can serve as a compass in navigating today’s world.
Seekers of Meaning TV Show and Podcast Now Available on Roku Streaming Service
You can add the Jewish Sacred Aging TV channel to your Roku streaming subscription by visiting this page: https://channelstore.roku.com/details/600964/jewish-sacred-aging.
You can also watch this week’s show in the player below. The shows now include closed-captioning for the deaf or people with a hearing loss. Click the “CC” button on the video player to activate closed-captions. If you do not see a player directly below this paragraph, you can still watch the video by clicking on this link: LINK
Listen to the Audio Podcast
You can listen to the audio podcast version in the player below, or subscribe to the podcast in one of the popular platforms by clicking one of the buttons below the player. If you do not see a player below, you can still listen to the podcast by clicking on this link: LINK
• Apple Podcasts
• YouTube
• Spotify
• Podchaser
• Amazon MusicAbout the Guest
Rabbi John L. Rosove
Rabbi John L. Rosove is Rabbi Emeritus of Temple Israel of Hollywood in Los Angeles where he served as Senior Rabbi from 1988 to 2019. He is a past National Chairman of the Association of Reform Zionists of America (ARZA) representing 1.5 million Reform Jews, a member of the International Advisory Council for the Israel Movement for Reform and Progressive Judaism (AIC), and a past national co-Chair of the Rabbinic and Cantorial Cabinet of J Street (a pro-Israel, pro-peace, and pro-democracy political organization based in Washington, D.C.).
John is the author of four books –
Finding Your Moral Compass – Jewish Values for the 21st Century – to be published by the University of Toronto New Jewish Press in April, 2026 – please check back then
From the West to the East – A Memoir of a Liberal American Rabbi (Fresno: West of West Center, 2024) – available from the publisher directly here and at Amazon.com.
Why Israel and its Future Matters – Letters of a Liberal Rabbi to the Next Generation with an Afterword by Daniel and David Rosove (New Jersey: Ben Yehuda Press, 2019 – 2nd edition, 2023) with a Foreword written after October 7, 2023 – available from the publisher and at Amazon.com.
Why Judaism Matters – Letters of a Liberal Rabbi to his Children and the Millennial Generation with an Afterword by Daniel and David Rosove (Nashville: Jewish Lights Publishing, a division of Turner Publishing Company, 2017) available at the publisher and at Amazon.com.
John is a co-editor of Deepening the Dialogue – Jewish-Americans and Israelis Envisioning the Jewish-Democratic State (New York: CCAR Press, 2020), in English and Hebrew. Available from the publisher and at Amazon.com.
John translated and edited the Hebrew biography of his Great-Granduncle – Avraham Shapira – Veteran of the Haganah and Hebrew Guard by Getzel Kressel (publ. by the Municipality of Petach Tikvah, 1955). The translation was privately published (2021).
John also translated and edited a book of Hebrew poetry, letters and writings by his Israeli cousin Michael Shapira (1933-1952) called In the Prime of his Days with an Introduction by Hebrew University Professor Yosef Yoel Rivlin, Michael’s cousin and the father of the former President of the State of Israel, Reuven Rivlin (published by Michael’s parents, Devorah and Yitzchak-Tzvi Shapira of Petach Tikvah, 1953). The volume was given to John by Michael’s parents in 1973. The translation was privately published (2022).
John was the 2002 Recipient of the World Union for Progressive Judaism International Humanitarian Award and has received special commendation from the State of Israel Bonds. In 2013 he was honored by J Street at its Fifth Anniversary Celebration in Los Angeles.
John wrote a series of 8 Jewish Life Cycle Guides. The Guide Preparing for Jewish Burial and Mourning appears on the web-site of Hillside Memorial Park and Mortuary in Los Angeles. (http://hillsidememorial.org/jewish-lifecycle-guide/).
John writes a regular blog that appears at The Times of Israel at https://blogs.timesofisrael.com/author/john-l-rosove/ and this blog – https://rabbijohnrosove.blog/. His Facebook site is http://www.facebook.com/RabbiJohnLRosove – his LinkedIn site is https://www.linkedin.com/in/rabbijohnrosove
John is married to Barbara. They are the parents of two sons – Daniel and David. Daniel is married to Marina. John and Barbara have two grandchildren and live in Los Angeles.
The post Finding Your Moral Compass: Jewish Values Explained, with Rabbi John Rosove – Seekers of Meaning 7/17/2026 appeared first on Jewish Sacred Aging.
-
32 min
Explore Jewish Cinema with Neil Friedman — Seekers of Meaning 7/10/2026
Show notes
On this week’s episode of the Seekers of Meaning TV Show and Podcast, Neil Friedman, co-founder of Jewish movie and TV show streaming service https://www.chaiflicks.com/, talks about the platform’s mission, content, and impact on the Jewish community. In conversation with Rabbi Richard Address, Neil explores the evolution of Jewish film and TV, the importance of storytelling, and how ChaiFlicks serves as a cultural and educational resource.
Seekers of Meaning TV Show and Podcast Now Available on Roku Streaming Service
You can add the Jewish Sacred Aging TV channel to your Roku streaming subscription by visiting this page: https://channelstore.roku.com/details/600964/jewish-sacred-aging.
You can also watch this week’s show in the player below. The shows now include closed-captioning for the deaf or people with a hearing loss. Click the “CC” button on the video player to activate closed-captions. If you do not see a player directly below this paragraph, you can still watch the video by clicking on this link: LINK
Listen to the Audio Podcast
You can listen to the audio podcast version in the player below, or subscribe to the podcast in one of the popular platforms by clicking one of the buttons below the player. If you do not see a player below, you can still listen to the podcast by clicking on this link: LINK
• Apple Podcasts
• YouTube
• Spotify
• Podchaser
• Amazon MusicAbout the Guest
https://i0.wp.com/jewishsacredaging.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/Neil-Friedman-Headshot.jpg?ssl=1
Neil Friedman
Neil Friedman, Founder and President of Menemsha Films, possesses an incomparable talent for unearthing the undiscovered masterpiece. Neil Friedman is the President of Menemsha Films, a U.S.-based distribution and international sales company.
Menemsha, founded by Friedman in 1998, set a record by representing five Academy Award nominees, five years in a row: Divided We Fall (Czech Republic), Son of the Bride (Argentina), Zelary (Czech Republic), Prisoner of Paradise (Canada), and Story of the Weeping Camel (Germany).
Menemsha is most recently known as the U.S. distributor of the British comedy “Dough” starring Jonathan Pryce, which grossed over $1.2 million at the U.S. box office. Prior successes include the German film “Gloomy Sunday,” which grossed $1.5 million and broke foreign-language box office records previously set by “Cinema Paradiso” (as well as records for the longest-running film release at 70 weeks), and the acclaimed documentary “The Rape of Europa,” which grossed $1.2 million at the U.S. box office.
Neil’s years of experience as Vice President of New Line Cinema, President and C.O.O. of the Pressman Company, and Co-chair of William Morris’ Independent Feature division gave him unparalleled skills and expertise.
The post Explore Jewish Cinema with Neil Friedman — Seekers of Meaning 7/10/2026 appeared first on Jewish Sacred Aging.
-
32 min
ENCORE: Finding Yourself in the Bible: Insights from Rabbi Josh Franklin – Seekers of Meaning 7/3/2026
Show notes
On this week’s encore presentation of the June 19, 2026 Seekers of Meaning TV Show and Podcast, Rabbi Josh Franklin discusses his new book, Where Are You? Finding Yourself in the Bible, exploring spiritual geography, the meaning of Eden, and the ongoing revelation of Torah. This episode offers deep insights into biblical themes, Hebrew language, and personal spiritual growth.
The question God asks Adam—Where are you?—still echoes across generations. This book explores the biblical world as a mirror of the human heart, charting a path through the emotional geographies of Torah: beginnings, wandering, revelation, rupture, exile, and return. Rabbi Josh Franklin weaves text, midrash, psychology, and personal story to show that places in Scripture chart the lifescape of human experience. More than a book about the Bible, this is an invitation to locate oneself—spiritually, morally, and emotionally—in the stories of Scripture.
Seekers of Meaning TV Show and Podcast Now Available on Roku Streaming Service
You can add the Jewish Sacred Aging TV channel to your Roku streaming subscription by visiting this page: https://channelstore.roku.com/details/600964/jewish-sacred-aging.
You can also watch this week’s show in the player below. The shows now include closed-captioning for the deaf or people with a hearing loss. Click the “CC” button on the video player to activate closed-captions. If you do not see a player directly below this paragraph, you can still watch the video by clicking on this link: https://vimeo.com/1202809311?share=copy&fl=sv&fe=ci
Listen to the Audio Podcast
You can listen to the audio podcast version in the player below, or subscribe to the podcast in one of the popular platforms by clicking one of the buttons below the player. If you do not see a player below, you can still listen to the podcast by clicking on this link: Podcast
• Apple Podcasts
• YouTube
• Spotify
• Podchaser
• Amazon MusicAbout the Guest
https://i0.wp.com/jewishsacredaging.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/josh-franklin.jpg?ssl=1
Rabbi Josh Franklin
Rabbi Josh Franklin is the Senior Rabbi of the Jewish Center of the Hamptons in East Hampton, where for the past nine years he has helped revitalize and grow the Jewish community through engaging programming, transformative learning, inspiring worship, and expansive community outreach. Each summer, hundreds gather weekly for Shabbat on the Beach, an innovative and spiritually resonant prayer experience that has become a hallmark of Jewish life on the East End. Year-round, Rabbi Franklin draws people to the synagogue for learning, reflection, and meaningful communal connection.
Beyond the synagogue, Rabbi Franklin is deeply involved in the broader Hamptons community. He co-authors a bi-monthly column in Dan’s Papers titled “Hamptons Soul,” exploring questions of spirituality, ethics, and justice. His civic engagement has included service on the East Hampton Police Reform Committee and the Adolescent Mental Health and Substance Use Task Force. He also serves on the board of L’Arche Long Island, supporting adults with developmental disabilities. In recognition of his leadership, Rabbi Franklin was named to the 2021 Schneps Media Powerlist and was honored by Dan’s Papers as one of its 2022 “People of the Year: East Enders Who Made the World a Better Place.”
Rabbi Franklin was ordained at Hebrew Union College after graduating magna cum laude from Clark University, where he earned both a B.A. and an M.A. in History. He holds additional master’s degrees in Jewish Education and Hebrew Literature and was a recipient of the Daniel and Bonnie Tisch Fellowship, a selective rabbinical program focused on congregational leadership, personal theology, and contemporary religion in North America. Prior to his tenure in the Hamptons, he served on the clergy team at Temple Beth Elohim in Wellesley, Massachusetts.
In the summer of 2026, Rabbi Franklin will relocate to Palm Beach Gardens, Florida, where he will begin a new role as Co-Senior Rabbi of Temple Judea. He lives with his wife, Stephanie, and their two children, Lilah and Amelia.https://www.linkedin.com/in/josh-franklin-38751a54http://www.facebook.com/1749217671957223http://instagram.com/joshafranklinhttps://www.rabbijoshfranklin.com/home/whereareyou
The post ENCORE: Finding Yourself in the Bible: Insights from Rabbi Josh Franklin – Seekers of Meaning 7/3/2026 appeared first on Jewish Sacred Aging.
-
32 min
The Wholeness of a Broken Heart: Healing Through Jewish Spirituality, with Rabbi Amy Grossblatt Pessah – Seekers of Meaning 6/26/2026
Show notes
On this week’s episode of the Seekers of Meaning TV Show and Podcast, Rabbi Amy Grossblatt Pessah discusses her upcoming book, The Wholeness of a Broken Heart, exploring resilience, renewal, and the spiritual journey through grief and loss. She shares personal stories, insights on faith, community, and the power of rituals in healing.
https://amzn.to/4b2z5hdhttps://amzn.to/4b2z5hd
This book shares a lived experience of loss, hope, meaning, and spiritual courage in Judaism. Pessah’s book is rooted in honesty and compassion, emphasizing the need to meet life as it is—without denial—while cultivating meaning, connection, and joy.
All humans will experience trials, tribulations, or traumas, and Pessah tells the story of losing her twenty-year-old son to brain cancer. While some of us will have more intense challenges than others, there is no doubt that being human is hard, always. This book addresses this universal human condition from the perspective of Jewish spirituality.
Through Jewish texts and teachings, Rabbi Amy engages with the big questions—suffering, responsibility, purpose, and God—with depth, accessibility and emotional intelligence. Full of personal anecdote, as well as lessons learned from the lived experiences of others, The Wholeness of a Broken Heart honors brokenness as part of the human experience and helps the reader to find joy, meaning, purpose, and connection.
Seekers of Meaning TV Show and Podcast Now Available on Roku Streaming Service
You can add the Jewish Sacred Aging TV channel to your Roku streaming subscription by visiting this page: https://channelstore.roku.com/details/600964/jewish-sacred-aging.
You can also watch this week’s show in the player below. The shows now include closed-captioning for the deaf or people with a hearing loss. Click the “CC” button on the video player to activate closed-captions. If you do not see a player directly below this paragraph, you can still watch the video by clicking on this link: LINK
Listen to the Audio Podcast
You can listen to the audio podcast version in the player below, or subscribe to the podcast in one of the popular platforms by clicking one of the buttons below the player. If you do not see a player below, you can still listen to the podcast by clicking on this link: LINK
• Apple Podcasts
• YouTube
• Spotify
• Podchaser
• Amazon MusicAbout the Guest
Rabbi Amy Grossblatt Pessah
Rabbi Amy Grossblatt Pessah is a spiritual leader, educator, and author with more than 35 years of experience in Jewish education and spiritual counseling. She is a trusted voice on resilience, renewal, grief, and sacred living — and a sought-after speaker for synagogues, conferences, podcasts, and media.
The post The Wholeness of a Broken Heart: Healing Through Jewish Spirituality, with Rabbi Amy Grossblatt Pessah – Seekers of Meaning 6/26/2026 appeared first on Jewish Sacred Aging.
-
32 min
Finding Yourself in the Bible: Insights from Rabbi Josh Franklin – Seekers of Meaning 6/19/2026
Show notes
On this week’s episode of the Seekers of Meaning TV Show and Podcast, Rabbi Josh Franklin discusses his new book, Where Are You? Finding Yourself in the Bible, exploring spiritual geography, the meaning of Eden, and the ongoing revelation of Torah. This episode offers deep insights into biblical themes, Hebrew language, and personal spiritual growth.
The question God asks Adam—Where are you?—still echoes across generations. This book explores the biblical world as a mirror of the human heart, charting a path through the emotional geographies of Torah: beginnings, wandering, revelation, rupture, exile, and return. Rabbi Josh Franklin weaves text, midrash, psychology, and personal story to show that places in Scripture chart the lifescape of human experience. More than a book about the Bible, this is an invitation to locate oneself—spiritually, morally, and emotionally—in the stories of Scripture.
Seekers of Meaning TV Show and Podcast Now Available on Roku Streaming Service
You can add the Jewish Sacred Aging TV channel to your Roku streaming subscription by visiting this page: https://channelstore.roku.com/details/600964/jewish-sacred-aging.
You can also watch this week’s show in the player below. The shows now include closed-captioning for the deaf or people with a hearing loss. Click the “CC” button on the video player to activate closed-captions. If you do not see a player directly below this paragraph, you can still watch the video by clicking on this link: https://vimeo.com/1202809311?share=copy&fl=sv&fe=ci
Listen to the Audio Podcast
You can listen to the audio podcast version in the player below, or subscribe to the podcast in one of the popular platforms by clicking one of the buttons below the player. If you do not see a player below, you can still listen to the podcast by clicking on this link: Podcast
• Apple Podcasts
• YouTube
• Spotify
• Podchaser
• Amazon MusicAbout the Guest
https://i0.wp.com/jewishsacredaging.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/josh-franklin.jpg?ssl=1
Rabbi Josh Franklin
Rabbi Josh Franklin is the Senior Rabbi of the Jewish Center of the Hamptons in East Hampton, where for the past nine years he has helped revitalize and grow the Jewish community through engaging programming, transformative learning, inspiring worship, and expansive community outreach. Each summer, hundreds gather weekly for Shabbat on the Beach, an innovative and spiritually resonant prayer experience that has become a hallmark of Jewish life on the East End. Year-round, Rabbi Franklin draws people to the synagogue for learning, reflection, and meaningful communal connection.
Beyond the synagogue, Rabbi Franklin is deeply involved in the broader Hamptons community. He co-authors a bi-monthly column in Dan’s Papers titled “Hamptons Soul,” exploring questions of spirituality, ethics, and justice. His civic engagement has included service on the East Hampton Police Reform Committee and the Adolescent Mental Health and Substance Use Task Force. He also serves on the board of L’Arche Long Island, supporting adults with developmental disabilities. In recognition of his leadership, Rabbi Franklin was named to the 2021 Schneps Media Powerlist and was honored by Dan’s Papers as one of its 2022 “People of the Year: East Enders Who Made the World a Better Place.”
Rabbi Franklin was ordained at Hebrew Union College after graduating magna cum laude from Clark University, where he earned both a B.A. and an M.A. in History. He holds additional master’s degrees in Jewish Education and Hebrew Literature and was a recipient of the Daniel and Bonnie Tisch Fellowship, a selective rabbinical program focused on congregational leadership, personal theology, and contemporary religion in North America. Prior to his tenure in the Hamptons, he served on the clergy team at Temple Beth Elohim in Wellesley, Massachusetts.
In the summer of 2026, Rabbi Franklin will relocate to Palm Beach Gardens, Florida, where he will begin a new role as Co-Senior Rabbi of Temple Judea. He lives with his wife, Stephanie, and their two children, Lilah and Amelia.https://www.linkedin.com/in/josh-franklin-38751a54http://www.facebook.com/1749217671957223http://instagram.com/joshafranklinhttps://www.rabbijoshfranklin.com/home/whereareyou
The post Finding Yourself in the Bible: Insights from Rabbi Josh Franklin – Seekers of Meaning 6/19/2026 appeared first on Jewish Sacred Aging.
-
30 min
Understanding Aging and Estate Planning in Israel with Elder Law Attorney Mirit Hoffman – Seekers of Meaning 6/12/2026
Show notes
On this week’s episode of the Seekers of Meaning TV Show and Podcast, Rabbi Address interviews elder care attorney Mirit Hoffman from Israel to explore the legal, cultural, and societal aspects of aging, estate planning, and elder care in Israel compared to the United States. They discuss the importance of proactive planning, legal documents, and cultural attitudes towards aging and family responsibilities.
Seekers of Meaning TV Show and Podcast Now Available on Roku Streaming Service
You can add the Jewish Sacred Aging TV channel to your Roku streaming subscription by visiting this page: https://channelstore.roku.com/details/600964/jewish-sacred-aging.
You can also watch this week’s show in the player below. The shows now include closed-captioning for the deaf or people with a hearing loss. Click the “CC” button on the video player to activate closed-captions. If you do not see a player directly below this paragraph, you can still watch the video by clicking on this link: LINK
Listen to the Audio Podcast
You can listen to the audio podcast version in the player below, or subscribe to the podcast in one of the popular platforms by clicking one of the buttons below the player. If you do not see a player below, you can still listen to the podcast by clicking on this link: LINK
• Apple Podcasts
• YouTube
• Spotify
• Podchaser
• Amazon MusicAbout the Guest
https://i0.wp.com/jewishsacredaging.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/HoffmanMirit.jpg?ssl=1
Mirit Hoffman
Mirit Hoffman is an attorney with 25 years of experience. Her specialty is estate planning and elder law, including the complexities of interfamilial and intergenerational ties, as well as the preparation of enduring powers of attorney, wills, and trusts.
Mirit believes that people work very hard to accumulate their wealth and deserve to decide who benefits from their hard-earned assets, and how. She believes they have earned the right to self-determination and the ability to age with dignity. Various legal tools can help clients accomplish these goals, including an Enduring Power of Attorney and Advance Medical Directives.
Mirit is trained and experienced in U.S. and Israeli tax law, allowing her to view complex estate matters involving dual citizenship in their entirety. This includes U.S. gift planning, alternative tax-efficient investment vehicles, and the creation of international trusts, while considering each client’s particular and complex needs.
Mirit is a member of the Global Society of Trust and Estate Practitioners (STEP) and lectures regularly on the importance of estate planning and enduring powers of attorney. She writes a column on the relationship between children and their adult parents on various Hebrew news sites, as well as a blog in The Times of Israel. She strongly believes in the wisdom of elders and their contribution to the community, and on her Facebook Business Page she offers a variety of complementary value-added videos featuring professionals who work with and empower senior citizens.
On a personal note, Mirit is a mother of three and is addicted to dark chocolate and running.
Mirit tries to live her life by implementing her favorite quote: “The Secret to Living is Giving” (Tony Robbins).
The post Understanding Aging and Estate Planning in Israel with Elder Law Attorney Mirit Hoffman – Seekers of Meaning 6/12/2026 appeared first on Jewish Sacred Aging.
-
31 min
Understanding Elder Care Challenges: Exclusive Interview with Author Iris Waichler – Seekers of Meaning 6/5/2026
Show notes
On this week’s episode of the Seekers of Meaning TV Show and Podcast, Iris Waichler discusses her book, Role Reversal: How to Take Care of Yourself and Your Aging Parents, and delves into the complexities of caregiving, including planning, emotional challenges, and the impact of technology. The conversation offers practical advice for caregivers and insights into the societal and financial aspects of elder care.
About the Book
Designed to help caregivers understand how to cope with and overcome the overwhelming challenges that arise while caregiving for a loved one—especially an aging parent—Role Reversal is a comprehensive guide to navigating the enormous daily challenges faced by caregivers. In these pages, Waichler blends her personal experience caring for her beloved father with her forty years of expertise as a patient advocate and clinical social worker. The result is a book offering invaluable information on topics ranging from estate planning to grief and anger to building a support network and finding the right level of care for your elderly parent.
Seekers of Meaning TV Show and Podcast Now Available on Roku Streaming Service
You can add the Jewish Sacred Aging TV channel to your Roku streaming subscription by visiting this page: https://channelstore.roku.com/details/600964/jewish-sacred-aging.
You can also watch this week’s show in the player below. The shows now include closed-captioning for the deaf or people with a hearing loss. Click the “CC” button on the video player to activate closed-captions. If you do not see a player directly below this paragraph, you can still watch the video by clicking on this link: LINK
Listen to the Audio Podcast
You can listen to the audio podcast version in the player below, or subscribe to the podcast in one of the popular platforms by clicking one of the buttons below the player. If you do not see a player below, you can still listen to the podcast by clicking on this link: LINK
• Apple Podcasts
• YouTube
• Spotify
• Podchaser
• Amazon MusicAbout the Guest
https://i0.wp.com/jewishsacredaging.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/WaichlerIris.jpg?ssl=1
Iris Waichler
Iris Waichler has been a well known patient advocate and licensed clinical social worker for the last 40 years. She began her career working with geriatric patients who experienced catastrophic illness and counseled them and their families about adapting to these medical problems. She helped them understand their medical condition and counseled them about how to cope with the disease and its impact on their lives.
She continued to work on a rehabilitation unit in a large Chicago teaching hospital with patients who had suffered traumatic brain injuries, strokes, cancer, amputations, burns, and neurological diseases like multiple sclerosis and parkinson’s disease. Ms. Waichler also covered the emergency room for 13 years seeing patients of all ages with a variety of medical problems. In addition she worked with kids who had been victims of child abuse.
Her long term hospital work gave her insights into how overwhelming it was for patients and families who suddenly found themselves in a hospital setting feeling helpless and alone. This prompted her to write her first book, Patient Power: How to Have a Say in Your Hospital Stay. She understood that if people knew what questions to ask and where to go for support, it would help empower them and assist them in coping with their medical conditions and the resulting life changes.
She used these insights to supervise social work students, and teach medical students, interns, residents, and nurses about patient rights, ethics, and to help them become more empathetic and effective in their day to day patient and family care.
Ms. Waichler found herself in the role of a patient when she battled infertility for many years. The feelings of loss and helplessness she personally experienced were profound. She promised herself if she was successful in having a child she would do everything she could to help other people fighting infertility.
She authored a second award winning book, Riding the Infertility Roller Coaster: A Guide to Educate and Inspire. This book won 2 best book of the year awards and 2 additional book awards. The response was so great she began doing individual and group counseling with people who had infertility. She volunteered for RESOLVE, a national infertility group, and went on to do a series of radio interviews, magazine articles, workshops, and speeches designed to inform and support men and women with infertility.
In writing her new book, Role Reversal: How to Take Care of Yourself and Your Aging, Ms. Waichler has come full circle. Her experience in caring for her beloved father, who died at age 97, triggered her passion in reaching out to others who suddenly find themselves in a caregiver role and are uncertain about what to do or where to go for help. In this book she shares her father’s inspiring story and her personal and professional experience in assuming the challenges that come with being a caregiver for an aging loved one. Role Reversal won 8 major book awards
Iris has been doing freelance writing for the last 20 years. The focus of her work has been on health related topics and assisting her readers gain knowledge that helps them feel less alone and empowers them in significant new ways.
Ms. Waichler lives in Chicago with her husband, Steve, her daughter, Grace, and mini Golden Doodle, Brandi.. She loves to travel whenever she can and to spend time with friends and family.
The post Understanding Elder Care Challenges: Exclusive Interview with Author Iris Waichler – Seekers of Meaning 6/5/2026 appeared first on Jewish Sacred Aging.
-
29 min
Impact of Hadassah’s Work in Israel and the U.S. with Randi Freeman, Philadelphia Region Leader – Seekers of Meaning 5/29/2026
Show notes
On this week’s episode of the Seekers of Meaning TV Show and Podcast, Randi Freeman, regional coordinator for Hadassah, This interview explores the impactful work of Hadassah in Israel and the United States, highlighting its history, medical achievements, and ongoing advocacy efforts, especially in the context of recent conflicts and societal challenges.
Seekers of Meaning TV Show and Podcast Now Available on Roku Streaming Service
You can add the Jewish Sacred Aging TV channel to your Roku streaming subscription by visiting this page: https://channelstore.roku.com/details/600964/jewish-sacred-aging.
You can also watch this week’s show in the player below. The shows now include closed-captioning for the deaf or people with a hearing loss. Click the “CC” button on the video player to activate closed-captions. If you do not see a player directly below this paragraph, you can still watch the video by clicking on this link: LINK
Listen to the Audio Podcast
You can listen to the audio podcast version in the player below, or subscribe to the podcast in one of the popular platforms by clicking one of the buttons below the player. If you do not see a player below, you can still listen to the podcast by clicking on this link: LINK
• Apple Podcasts
• YouTube
• Spotify
• Podchaser
• Amazon MusicAbout the Guest
https://i0.wp.com/jewishsacredaging.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/FreemanRandi.png?ssl=1
Randi Freeman, MSN, RN
After spending twenty-five years in retail management, Randi decided to make a major career change and go into nursing. Randi earned a BSN from Penn State University. After spending her first five years in the ED, she then moved into management in various capacities. It was during this time, that Randi went back to school to receive her MSN in leadership from Wilmington University. Since obtaining this degree, she has moved into nursing administration. Randi was the Nurse Manager for the Geriatric Behavioral Health unit at Redeemer health, and is currently a Nurse Manager for Fairmount Behavioral Health.
Randi has been a member of Hadassah for the past 18 years, is a life member and a keeper of the gate. Hadassah is the largest women’s Zionist organization in America and raises money for two Hadassah hospitals in Israel as well as for youth at risk. Randi was Region President for the Greater Philadelphia area from 2020-2023 and is currently the Region Leader. She has 11,000 women under her guidance throughout Philadelphia and into Wilmington Delaware.
Randi is also a classical cellist, having earned her first Bachelor’s degree for Music Performance many years ago from the University of the Arts. Randi is a member of two community orchestras and free lances whenever time permits. In her free time, Randi and her spouse enjoy traveling here and abroad and stop to antique where ever they visit. Their home inside and out reflects their many collections and interests.
The post Impact of Hadassah’s Work in Israel and the U.S. with Randi Freeman, Philadelphia Region Leader – Seekers of Meaning 5/29/2026 appeared first on Jewish Sacred Aging.
Judaism lists
More Judaism shows picked out from the charts
More in Judaism
Placed highest on Apple Podcasts' Judaism chart right now
