What Is God Really Afraid Of? The Tower of Babel with Shuli Taubes | Illuminating Torah 2 of 3

Auschwitz Holocaust Survivor Tova Friedman (Part 2)

Auschwitz survivor Tova Friedman,  author of the New York Times bestseller The Daughter of Auschwitz [link], recounts her arrival and experiences at the Auschwitz-Birkenau extermination camp and surviving a Nazi gas chamber. Tova shares the arduous journey of rebuilding her life and humanity after World War II. Later, she is joined by her grandson, Aron Goodman, to discuss "TovaTok"—their viral TikTok channel dedicated to Holocaust education and preserving her history for the next generation. https://www.tiktok.com/@tovafriedman?_r=1&_t=ZP-9804AVbZ8bm [https://www.tiktok.com/@tovafriedman?_r=1&_t=ZP-9804AVbZ8bm]

Auschwitz Holocaust Survivor Tova Friedman (Part 1)

Holocaust survivor Tova Friedman, author of the New York Times bestseller The Daughter of Auschwitz [link], shares her harrowing story of survival. In Part 1, Tova details her family's life before World War II and the unimaginable experience of surviving a Jewish ghetto and a Nazi labor camp as a young child. She also opens up about the complex role of faith and wrestling with God in the face of profound tragedy. https://www.tiktok.com/@tovafriedman?_r=1&_t=ZP-9804AVbZ8bm [https://www.tiktok.com/@tovafriedman?_r=1&_t=ZP-9804AVbZ8bm]

Mijal Bitton: Is the American Jewish Golden Age Over? Dr. Mijal Bitton Has an Answer

American Jews have lately been sensing the end of their Golden Age — and asking whether the next century will be as kind to them and their children as the last one was. Dr. Mijal Bitton thinks we're asking the wrong question. A sociologist, spiritual leader, and public intellectual, Mijal is Scholar in Residence at the Maimonides Fund, Rosh Kehilla of the Downtown Minyan in New York City, co-host of the podcast Wondering Jews and author of the Substack newsletter Committed.  She recently published the landmark essay "The Future Is Sephardic," [https://sapirjournal.org/aspiration-ii/2026/the-future-is-sephardic/ [https://sapirjournal.org/aspiration-ii/2026/the-future-is-sephardic/]] published in Sapir journal [https://sapirjournal.org/ [https://sapirjournal.org/]] on the past and future of American Jewish life. In this conversation, we dig into what the Middle Eastern and North Africa Sephardic model — rooted in family, communal boundaries, an embodied spiritual life, and a confidence that doesn't depend on outside approval — can teach all American Jews as we reimagine our place in America's next century.

The First Salute: The Untold Jewish History of America's Founding

Happy 250th Birthday, America! To celebrate this massive milestone, Jewish Insights with Justin Pines goes on location to Philadelphia to uncover a foundational, untold story most Americans have completely forgotten: Jewish Americans have been fighting for, supporting, and shaping this nation since the very beginning. Located at the literal crossroads of freedom, just steps from the Liberty Bell and Independence Hall, the Weitzman National Museum of American Jewish History and the historic Congregation Mikveh Israel sit at the very heart of the story of America and Jewish America, which are inextricably intertwined. In this special July 4th episode of Jewish Insights with Justin Pines, we take you inside Weitzman's groundbreaking new exhibit, "The First Salute" and to Congregation Mikveh Israel. We trace the steps of the nation’s earliest Jewish communities—reminding us that Jewish roots in America are not recent, but stretch back to the original Sephardic arrivals who sought, fought for, and helped build a society anchored in multi-faith religious liberty and immigrant grit. Discover the incredible, high-impact individuals who put everything on the line for George Washington's army, and learn why every American Jew should stand incredibly proud of our role in the birth of the United States. 🏛️ Learn more about the Weitzman Museum: [https://theweitzman.org/] 🏛️ Learn more about the Congregation Mikveh Israel: [https://www.mikvehisrael.org/]

Stuart Weitzman: Shoes, American Jewish Pride & Philanthropy

What do a ping-pong paddle, a global shoe empire, and Independence Mall in Philadelphia have in common? Stuart Weitzman. One of America's most celebrated designers, Stuart built a brand worn by Taylor Swift, Beyoncé, and Kate Middleton — and then went on to compete in the Maccabiah Games in Israel, carrying the American flag into the opening ceremony. He also made a transformative gift to save the Weitzman National Museum of American Jewish History in Philadelphia. In this conversation, Stuart talks about his Jewish identity, his love of the Maccabiah, his passion for philanthropy, and what it means to leave a lasting Jewish legacy in America's 250th anniversary year. Don't miss this inspiring conversation on Jewish Insights with Justin Pines.