In this episode of Jewish Crossroads, Tamar sits down with Rabbi Angela Buchdahl – Senior Rabbi of Central Synagogue in New York and one of the most influential spiritual leaders in America today. Rabbi Buchdahl leads one of the largest and most vibrant congregations in the country, but what truly sets her apart is her ability to connect across lines of age, identity, and ideology.

With honesty and grace, she tackles some of the most pressing questions facing Jews today: What does it mean to lead in a moment of profound crisis? How do we maintain Jewish unity in a time of growing fragmentation? And what role does faith play in coping with a world that can feel increasingly chaotic – and, at times, hostile?

In this wide-ranging conversation, Rabbi Buchdahl opens up about the responsibilities of leadership, the shifting terrain of American Jewish life, and how we can meet this moment with courage, compassion, and clarity.

* The episode was recorded in February 2025, and therefore any recent events, such as attacks, align with that timeline.

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In this episode of Jewish Crossroads, we sit down with Sarah Hurwitz—former chief speechwriter for First Lady Michelle Obama and senior speechwriter for President Barack Obama—to discuss her upcoming book, As a Jew: Reclaiming Our Story from Those Who Blame, Shame, and Try to Erase Us.

Sarah opens up about how a personal breakup sparked an unexpected intellectual and emotional journey into Judaism—not through traditional religious practice, but through a deep engagement with Jewish texts, history, and ideas. She challenges the concept of “cultural Judaism,” advocating instead for a more informed, substantive connection to Jewish heritage.

We also delve into how centuries of antisemitism have shaped Jewish self-perception, and hear Sarah’s candid and deeply disappointed reflections on how her alma mater, Harvard University, has responded to recent events.

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This special episode of Jewish Crossroads is released ahead of Passover — the holiday of freedom. But for 59 Israeli families, true freedom still feels painfully out of reach.

Tamar speaks with Rachel Goldberg-Polin, the American-Israeli mother of Hersh Goldberg-Polin, who was kidnapped and murdered by Hamas. Rachel has become one of the most powerful and persistent voices in the global campaign to bring the remaining hostages home.

In this conversation, we discuss her grief, the moral clarity that sustains her, and the strength she’s found in prayer, in community, and in her son’s own words — shared in captivity to help others survive.

Rachel speaks with honesty about Hersh’s life and death, while continuing to fight for those still living in darkness. She challenges the government’s refusal to act, honors the voices of the diaspora, and asks us all: What kind of people will we be in this moment?

If you would like to be in touch with us contact: jewishcrossroadspod@gmail.com

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