What is it like navigating Jewish identity on a college campus in 2025? Rabbi Dan Levin speaks with Maya Harpaz, a senior at the University of Pennsylvania, Rabbi Jonah Zinn of University of Florida Hillel, and Rabbi Andrea Steinberger of University of Wisconsin Hillel about how Jewish campus life has shifted, especially after October 7th, 2023. They discuss changes in students' comfort expressing their Jewish identity, strained relationships with non-Jewish peers, and the broader challenges of navigating college life amid rising tensions.

In this episode of Essential Questions, Rabbi Dan Levin sits down with artists Bonnie Cohen and Zachary Oxman, whose works Birkat HaLev and Soaring Wisdom are featured at Temple Beth El’s Schaefer Family Campus. They explore their creative paths, the meaning behind their art, and how Jewish values and identity shape their work—revealing that Jewish art isn’t defined solely by its audience or commissioners, but by the stories and spirit it carries.

In this episode of Essential Questions, Rabbi Dan Levin sits down with Rabbi Alan Litwick of Temple Sinai in North Miami Beach for a discussion about the deep connections between wine, spirituality, and Jewish tradition. They explore how wine reflects our partnership with God, why it plays such a central role in rituals like Kiddush, and how even beginners can engage with wine as a spiritual experience.

In this episode of Essential Questions, Rabbi Dan Levin and Rabbi Laila Haas sit down with Rabbi Naomi Levy for a thoughtful and inspiring conversation. Together, they explore Rabbi Levy’s personal journey to the rabbinate, her unique approach to making prayer more accessible through the practice of “talking to God,” and how we can release self-judgment to embrace a more personal, authentic connection to prayer.

We find ourselves in a time of significant turmoil. The administration has imposed dramatic and sweeping change to longstanding norms and government policies on a wide range of issues. Antisemitism and anti-Zionism continues to roil college campuses and plague Jewish communities. Israel continues to fight the longest war in its history, with hostages languishing in captivity, and rifts in Israeli society grow ever wider. Considering the impact so much of this turmoil imposes on our individual lives, and the moral challenges we are facing, join Rabbi Dan Levin, Rabbi Greg Weisman and Rabbi Laila Haas for a conversation about how rabbis should meet the moment.

In this episode of Essential Questions, Rabbi Dan Levin speaks with Rabbi Nir Barkin and Rabbi David Azoulay of our sister Reform congregation, Kehillat YOZMA in Modi’in, Israel. They discuss their unique experiences and their congregation’s response to October 7th, the work they do to help their community, and what Reform Judaism contributes to Israeli society and Jewish life in Israel.

They also encourage everyone to VOTE REFORM in the World Zionist Congress election, which ends on Sunday, May 4. Your vote is a powerful way to support our Reform movement and strengthen the future of Reform Judaism in Israel. For $5 and 5 minutes of your time, you can advance the issues we care about – religious pluralism, freedom, peace, democracy and more – in Israel and beyond. If you haven’t voted already, please VOTE REFORM today at ZionistElection.org.

In this episode of Essential Questions, Rabbi Dan Levin speaks with Amanda Berman, CEO of Zioness. Zioness is a multiracial coalition of Jewish activists and allies that fight for the advancement of social, racial, economic and gender equality in America and for the inclusion of Zionists in social justice spaces. Rabbi Dan and Amanda discuss what it means to be a progressive Zionist, the history and definition of Zionism, and how the Zionist label affects Jewish Americans today

In this episode of Essential Questions, Rabbi Dan Levin speaks with two of Temple Beth El’s cantors, Cantorial Soloist Michelle Auslander Cohen and Cantor Jake Harris. They discuss their love of Jewish music and what led them to become cantors, how they engage a large congregation for an exceptional communal experience, what goes into preparing to lead the congregation for the High Holy Days, how they personally prepare for the High Holy Days, and more.