Jewish Insights with Justin Pines

What if the 25 hours of Shabbat weren't just a break from your week, but the very engine of your spiritual growth?

Host Justin Pines sits down with Dr. Alan Morinis — founder of the Mussar Institute and a leading voice in the contemporary revival of Mussar, the Jewish tradition of character refinement — to explore his new book, The Shabbat Effect: Jewish Wisdom for Growth and Transformation.

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How do you turn 2,000-year-old prayers into modern hits?

For the 100th episode of Jewish Insights, Justin sits down with the world-renowned Hasidic folk-rock duo, Zusha. Shlomo Gaisin and Zachariah Goldschmiedt open up about their journey from wordless niggunim to electronic soundscapes, and the "idol smashing" required to keep their art authentic.

In this episode:

• The Creative Process: How Zusha bridges the gap between the a...

In this episode of Jewish Insights, Justin Pines welcomes Alana Rifkin Gelnick, founder and CEO of Dreamearly, for a deep dive into the "pedagogy of the Seder." As we navigate rising antisemitism and global uncertainty, Alana explores how the ancient rituals of Passover - from the Ma Nishtana to the Four Sons - provide a timeless framework for modern parenting and education, and healthier relationships ...

In this episode of Jewish Insights, Justin Pines sits down with one of the most celebrated Jewish historians of our time — Professor David B. Ruderman, the Joseph Meyerhoff Professor Emeritus of Modern Jewish History at the University of Pennsylvania and former founding Director of the Herbert D. Katz Center for Advanced Judaic Studies — for a rich and deeply personal conversation about a remarkable 50-year career, from growing up ...

In this episode of Jewish Insights, Justin Pines welcomes back Dr. Mijal Bitton for a raw and sophisticated look at the "new reality" facing the Jewish community on occasions of Purim and Shabbat Zachor. Two years after their conversation following October 7thhttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GzQrygsFtT0], they move past the initial shock to explore what it means to build resilience when the "clarity of evil" transitio...

Join Justin Pines for a special episode of Jewish Insights, recorded live at the Yeshiva University Seforim Sale! Justin welcomes renowned Tanakh scholar Dr. Yael Ziegler for a deep dive into the "writing revolution" of the Torah. Dr. Ziegler explores how ancient texts like the Epic of Gilgamesh illuminate Tanakh's unique values, the power of writing to process national tragedy, and the foundational themes of exile and redemption i...

Rabbi Dr. Ari Lamm, Chief Executive of BZ Media (www.bz-media.org) joins Jewish Insights with Justin Pines to reveal how Jewish ideas provided the "intellectual engine" for the American experiment. From figures like Ben Franklin to Yale’s Ezra Stiles, discover how the Hebrew Bible, rabbinic wisdom and unlikely friendships helped shape the spiritual and political soul of the United States, and the role faith is playing across Americ...

As we approach Tu BiShvat, the New Year for Trees, we traditionally look to the roots that sustain us. But in 2026, the most intensive growth on our planet will be found in the “silicon orchards” of data centers and artificial intelligence. How do we ensure that as our world gets smarter, our lives do not become less sacred?

In this episode of Jewish Insights, host Justin Pines sits down with Rabbanit Sara Wolkenfeld, Director of E...

How do you animate a story that is the cornerstone of a civilization? Join JBS for an exclusive look into the making of DAVID, the groundbreaking animated feature that is being called a 'love letter to Israel.'

Producer Phil Cunningham shares the incredible depth of research that went into this project — from walking the exact lines of the Valley of Elah to ensuring every flower and bird in the film is indigenous to the Judean wild...

Do you ever feel like you’re talking into a void? Whether you are navigating a difficult conversation in your marriage or seeking a deeper sense of purpose, the secret to being heard starts with learning how to truly listen.

Rabbi Dov Singer is the head of the renowned Makor Chaim Yeshiva and a primary leader in the modern revival of emotional and religious intelligence. He is the author of the life-chan...

In an era of digital distraction, how do we pass our deepest values to the next generation? Discover how to move beyond "dumbing things down" and instead invite children into a lifelong journey of curiosity, complexity, and growth?

Rabbi Effy Unterman is the Senior Director of Content at the Hadar Institute and a pioneer in sophisticated Jewish education. He is the lead developer of the new Devash Jr. edition of Shemot (Exodus), a ...

In a world of constant stress and uncertainty, how do we build a life of purpose and emotional stability? Discover how a former combat commander uses ancient wisdom to build modern resilience and unbreakable character.

Rabbi Binny Freedman is the Rosh Yeshiva of Orayta in Jerusalem and a former Company Commander in the IDF. Having survived the 2001 Sbarro bombing, Rabbi Binny’s teachings on gratitude and leadership aren't just theo...

We think we know the story of Hanukkah: The weak few against the mighty many, the oil that lasted eight days. But the historical records tell a much wilder, deeper, and more miraculous story.

In Part 2 of this special Hanukkah series on Jewish Insights, Dr. Malka Simkovich returns to reveal the "real" story of the Maccabean revolt. From the "passive-aggressive" letters sent between Jerusalem and Egypt to the dramatic (and sometimes...

What does it mean to be a Jew outside of Israel? Long before the Maccabees, the Jewish people faced a crisis that would shape their identity forever: the choice to remain in the Diaspora.

In Part 1 of this special Chanukah series on Jewish Insights, Justin is joined by Dr. Malka Simkovich to explore the "Second Temple Era" not just as a time of rebuilding, but as the birth of a global Jewish people. Together, they explore exile, Di...

From the Teddy Bear to Barbie, Superman to Star Wars action figures, the American toy industry was largely built by first-generation Jewish immigrants. In this special Chanukah episode of Jewish Insights, Justin Pines sits down with sociologist and author Michael Kimmel (Playmakers: The Jewish Entrepreneurs Who Created the Toy Industry in America) to uncover how Jewish entrepreneurs created the modern concept of a "happy childhood....

If truth is one of the foundational pillars of any stable society, how do we navigate a world which often feels post-truth?

In this special JI episode in honor of Jewish Book Month’s 100th anniversary, Justin sits down with Tali Rosenblatt Cohen, host of The Five Books podcast.

They begin by exploring Tali’s own mission for The Five Books Podcast: the profound power of Jewish literature to fos...

We spend most of our lives living in the past or worrying about the future. But what if the deepest spiritual connection—and the greatest psychological relief—can only be found right here, right now?

In this episode of Jewish Insights with Justin Pines, Justin sits down with Rabbi Dr. Benjy Epstein, a clinical psychologist and author of Living in the Presence: A Jewish Mindfulness Guide for Everyday Life. They explore the fascinati...

How does the largest local Jewish philanthropy in the world navigate a decade defined by crisis?

In this episode of Jewish Insights, Justin sits down with Eric Goldstein, the outgoing CEO of UJA-Federation of New York, for a candid and profound reflection on his 12-year tenure. From leaving a prestigious legal career to leading the Jewish community through the 2014 Gaza War, the COVID-19 pandemic, the war in Ukraine, and the afterm...

What’s holding Israel together after so much pain and division? Rabbi David Stav, founder of Tzohar, joins Justin to share how faith is helping Israelis reconnect — and how a new spirit of unity is reshaping the nation’s soul. In a time of war, loss, and rebuilding, few voices speak more powerfully about Jewish unity than Rabbi David Stav — founder and chairman of Tzohar, one of Israel’s most influential Modern Orthodox movements. ...