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/] published in Sapir journal [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.

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

How do you navigate grief and find true comfort after a devastating loss? In this episode, we sit down with Rabbi Steven Exler, Senior Rabbi of the Hebrew Institute of Riverdale – The Bayit, to explore the raw human landscape of mourning, healing, and pastoral care.

As the calendar pivots from the heavy collective mourning of Tisha B'Av to the promise of Shabbat Nachamu (the Sabbath of Consolation), Rav Steven shares profound insights drawn from guiding countless families through tragedy from the inside out, as well as navigating deep personal loss.

Widely regarded as one of the most respected rabbinic leaders in the country, Rav Steven shares what it truly means to be a "shepherd" to a community. We discuss the everyday work of showing up for one another, the legacy of carrying the torch from his mentor Rabbi Avi Weiss, and why creating a radically inclusive, diverse community is the ultimate antidote to isolation and brokenness.

In this episode, we discuss:

• The human and psychological necessity of sitting with sorrow before rushing to comfort.

• How facing personal tragedy shapes the way a leader counsels others through loss.

• The weight and reality of modern pastoral care and how to be truly present.

• Turning shared loss into an active framework for community, kindness, and personal growth.

About Our Guest: Rabbi Steven Exler serves as Senior Rabbi of the Hebrew Institute of Riverdale – The Bayit, a large and welcoming Orthodox synagogue in the Bronx. He sits on the boards of the Plaza Jewish Community Chapel, UJA-Federation of NY, and the Rabbinic Advisory Boards of Eshel, Yeshivat Chovevei Torah, and Yeshivat Maharat.