Common Faith

Park Avenue Synagogue:
https://www.pasyn.org

Jon Frankel:

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

The Last Twins: A Story of Humanity Inside Auschwitz for Holocaust Remembrance

Thu, 9 Apr 2026 08:00:00 +0000

What does it mean to remember the Holocaust—especially as we approach a world without survivors to tell the story?

In this powerful episode of Common Faith, Rabbi Elliot Cosgrove and Jon Frankel explore the meaning of Yom HaShoah and the evolving nature of Holocaust remembrance. From the origins of the day itself to the role of ritual, storytelling, and memory, the conversation asks urgent questions: How do we preserve history? Who gets to tell the story? And what happens when memory becomes something we inherit rather than witness?

The discussion then turns to The Last Twins, a deeply moving documentary that uncovers a remarkable and previously untold story from Auschwitz. Featuring filmmakers Perri Peltz and Matthew O’Neill, along with Judith Richter, daughter of Holocaust survivor Erno "Zvi" Spiegel, the episode brings listeners into a story not just of survival—but of moral courage.

At the heart of the film is a profound question: What does it mean to choose humanity in a system designed to strip it away? As the last generation of survivors fades, this episode challenges us to carry forward not only the memory of the Holocaust, but the values it demands of us today.

The Last Twins:
https://thelasttwinsfilm.com
https://www.pbs.org

The Last Twins will become available to stream on Monday, April 13 on pbs.org and the PBS App, with a broadcast premiere on Monday, June 15 at 10/9c.

Rabbi Elliot Cosgrove:

Park Avenue Synagogue:
https://www.pasyn.org

Jon Frankel:

https://usa.worldjewishrelief.org/

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Passover, Responsibility, and Repair: World Jewish Relief in Action

Thu, 2 Apr 2026 08:00:00 +0000

What does it mean to be Jewish in a world filled with suffering—especially when that suffering extends far beyond our own community?

In this Passover episode of Common Faith, Rabbi Elliot Cosgrove and Jon Frankel explore one of Judaism’s most enduring tensions: the balance between particularism and universalism. As the Passover story reminds us, we are commanded to remember our own liberation—but also to empathize with the stranger, the vulnerable, and the oppressed.

This conversation comes to life through a powerful interview with David Weisberg, Executive Director of World Jewish Relief USA, and Maurice Helfgott, Chair of Trustees of World Jewish Relief. Together, they share how an organization rooted in Jewish history and values now serves both Jews and non-Jews across the globe—from war-torn Ukraine to refugee communities worldwide.

Their work raises urgent questions: Where should our attention—and our resources—go? How do we prioritize in a world of endless need? And can we truly care for others without first caring for our own?

At a time when the Jewish world itself is in pain, this episode challenges listeners to consider whether compassion is a limited resource—or a defining feature of Jewish identity. With moving personal stories, moral clarity, and a deep sense of purpose, this conversation invites us to rethink what it means to live out our values in real time.

World Jewish Relief, USA:

David Weisberg and Maurice Helfgott:

https://www.worldjewishrelief.org/who-we-are/our-people/

Rabbi Elliot Cosgrove:

Park Avenue Synagogue:
https://www.pasyn.org

Jon Frankel:

https://history.pitt.edu/people/barbara-s-burstin

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Lessons from Pittsburgh: Resilience and Rebuilding with Tree of Life

Thu, 26 Mar 2026 08:00:00 +0000

In October 2018, the Tree of Life synagogue in Pittsburgh became the site of the deadliest antisemitic attack in American history. But the story of Pittsburgh’s Jewish community is not defined by tragedy alone.

In this episode of Common Faith, Rabbi Elliott Cosgrove and Jon Frankel explore the past, present, and future of Jewish life in Pittsburgh. First, they’re joined by historian Dr. Barbara Burstin, a leading authority on Pittsburgh Jewry, who reflects on the city’s unique Jewish community—its deep sense of unity, its history, and the profound shock that reverberated through the neighborhood of Squirrel Hill on that devastating day.

Then the conversation turns to the future with Carole Zawatsky, CEO of the Tree of Life organization, who is leading the effort to transform the site of the attack into a national memorial, museum, and education center. She shares how the new Tree of Life will honor the eleven victims, confront the history of antisemitism in America, and create a space for learning, remembrance, and Jewish life.

Together, the conversations ask urgent questions:
How should communities remember tragedy? How do we teach the next generation about hatred and resilience? And how can places marked by loss become sources of education, healing, and hope?

Dr. Barbara Burstin:

Carole Zawatsky:

https://www.thetreeoflife.org/chief-executive-officer

Tree of Life:

https://www.thetreeoflife.org/

Rabbi Elliot Cosgrove:

Park Avenue Synagogue:
https://www.pasyn.org

Jon Frankel:

https://www.jewishbookcouncil.org/naomi-firestone-teeter

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Inside the Jewish Book Council and Why Jewish Stories Matter

Thu, 19 Mar 2026 08:00:00 +0000

This week on Common Faith, Rabbi Elliot Cosgrove and Emmy Award-winning journalist Jon Frankel welcome Naomi Firestone-Teeter, CEO of the Jewish Book Council, to reflect on the power of Jewish literature and the work of nurturing Jewish voices in an ever-changing world.

Naomi brings a deep commitment to Jewish storytelling. Since joining the Jewish Book Council in 2006 — eventually becoming its executive director and now CEO — she has helped build out the organization’s digital presence, launched national initiatives like Unpacking the Book: Jewish Writers in Conversation and the Visiting Scribe series, and nurtured a network connecting authors to Jewish organizations across North America.

In this episode, the conversation moves between practical and philosophical: Why does Jewish culture place such importance on books? How can literature open doors into Jewish identity for readers of every background? What are the opportunities and challenges of sustaining Jewish storytelling in the 21st century? And what does it mean to read Jewishly — both within and beyond traditional religious frameworks?

Along the way, we explore how the Jewish Book Council supports authors, festivals, book clubs, and readers; how literary culture builds bridges across Jewish communities; and why the act of reading together remains one of the most fundamental ways Jews connect to our past and imagine our future.

Naomi Firestone-Teeter:

Jewish Book Council:
https://www.jewishbookcouncil.org/

https://www.jewishbookcouncil.org/pb-daily/75th-national-jewish-book-award-winners

Rabbi Elliot Cosgrove:

Park Avenue Synagogue:
https://www.pasyn.org

Jon Frankel:

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Tzedakah in Action: Andres Spokoiny on Jewish Philanthropy

Podcasts@siriusxm.com (Rabbi Elliot Cosgrove, Jon Frankel, Andres Spokoiny) — Thu, 12 Mar 2026 08:00:00 +0000

What does it mean to give—and why does Jewish tradition place such deep emphasis on tzedakah?

In this episode of Common Faith, Rabbi Elliot Cosgrove and Emmy-Award-winning journalist Jon Frankel explore the Jewish ethics of giving and the real-world challenges of philanthropy today. From childhood memories of the classic blue-and-white tzedakah box to questions about how we teach generosity to the next generation, the conversation examines how giving shapes both personal character and communal responsibility.

They’re joined by Andres Spokoiny, President and CEO of the Jewish Funders Network, who works with philanthropists around the world to expand and strengthen Jewish giving. Spokoiny shares insights from his global perspective on philanthropy—from the importance of strategic giving and collaboration to the challenges of fighting antisemitism, supporting Jewish education, and preparing the next generation of Jewish leaders.

Along the way, the conversation tackles big questions:
How should philanthropists decide where to give?
What makes charitable giving truly effective?
And in an age of crisis and rapid change, how can philanthropy help build a stronger future for Jewish life?

From ancient teachings to modern strategy, this episode explores how tzedakah isn’t just about charity—it’s about responsibility, leadership, and shaping the world we want to live in.

Jewish Funders Network
https://www.jfunders.org/

Andres Spokoiny:
https://www.andres-spokoiny.com/

Rabbi Elliot Cosgrove:

Park Avenue Synagogue:
https://www.pasyn.org

Jon Frankel:

https://bennettny.com/

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Half-Jew, Full Life: Georgette Bennett on Identity, Survival, and the American Dream

Podcasts@siriusxm.com (Georgette Bennett, Jon Frankel, Rabbi Elliot Cosgrove) — Thu, 5 Mar 2026 09:00:00 +0000

What does it mean to choose an identity — especially when that identity places you in danger?

This week on Common Faith, Rabbi Elliot Cosgrove and Emmy Award-winning journalist Jon Frankel sit down with sociologist, author, and humanitarian leader Dr. Georgette Bennett to discuss her moving new book, Half-Jew–Full Life: The Unlikely Journey of a Voluntary Jew from Nazi Persecution to the American Dream.

The book traces the life of Gary “Pips” Phillips — born to a Jewish father and Aryan mother in Berlin — who could have avoided deportation under Nazi racial laws. Instead, he insisted on embracing a Jewish identity. “Hitler made me a Jew,” he would later say. Pips went underground in Berlin, was arrested four times, escaped three times, and survived through a combination of ingenuity, unlikely mercy, and relentless will to live.

But this conversation goes deeper than biography.

Georgette Bennett shares her personal connection to Pips — who became a surrogate father to her after her own family escaped postwar Hungary — and reflects on the moral ambiguities she faced in telling his story. The episode explores survivor consciousness without romanticizing survival, the difference between survivor’s guilt and survival as resistance, and how trauma echoes across generations.

Rabbi Cosgrove and Jon Frankel also examine how Jewish identity today must be rooted in more than Holocaust memory — in dignity, responsibility, and the biblical commandment to care for the stranger. In a time of renewed antisemitism and polarized politics, Bennett argues that Jews are not defined only by victimhood, but by civilizational contributions and moral imagination.

A story of darkness, resilience, and full-hearted living.

Dr. Georgette Bennett:

Half-Jew – Full Life:
https://www.amazon.com/Half-Jew-Full-Life-Unlikely-Voluntary-Persecution-ebook/dp/B0FCG82D4Z

Rabbi Elliot Cosgrove:

Park Avenue Synagogue:
https://www.pasyn.org

Jon Frankel:

https://x.com/JGreenblattADL

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Purim and the ADL: Jonathan Greenblatt on Facing the Oldest Hatred

Podcasts@siriusxm.com (Rabbi Elliot Cosgrove, Jonathan Greenblatt, Jon Frankel) — Thu, 26 Feb 2026 09:00:00 +0000

Purim is known as Judaism’s most joyful holiday — costumes, hamantaschen, and celebration. But beneath the revelry lies a sobering truth: it is the story of an ancient antisemitic decree and the courage required to confront it.

In this powerful episode of Common Faith, Rabbi Elliot Cosgrove and Emmy Award-winning journalist Jon Frankel explore the enduring relevance of the Purim story in a post–October 7 world. From Esther’s hidden identity to Mordechai’s defiant faith, they examine what it means to live as Jews in the Diaspora at a moment when antisemitism feels both resurgent and relentless.

They wrestle with urgent questions: Are alliances protective or transactional? Is this a time to circle the wagons or build bridges? How should Jews balance compassion for others with vigilance for themselves?

Joining the conversation is Jonathan Greenblatt, CEO and National Director of the Anti-Defamation League (ADL), who offers a clear-eyed analysis of today’s antisemitism — from political polarization and social media radicalization to foreign influence campaigns and campus unrest. He outlines what the ADL is doing to protect Jewish communities, defend civil rights, and confront hate in real time.

This episode asks a timeless question with renewed urgency: Who knows whether we are here for such a time as this?

Anti-Defamation League
https://www.adl.org

Jonathan Greenblatt

https://www.adl.org/who-we-are/leadership/staff/jonathan-greenblatt

Never is Now:

https://neverisnow.org/

Rabbi Elliot Cosgrove:

Park Avenue Synagogue
https://www.pasyn.org

https://x.com/zevi_eckhaus?lang=en

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Faith on the Field: Jewish Athletes in America

Thu, 19 Feb 2026 09:00:00 +0000

What happens when faith and Friday night lights collide?

In this episode of Common Faith, Rabbi Elliot Cosgrove and Jon Frankel explore what it means to live proudly Jewish lives at the highest levels of college athletics.

In the first segment, they speak with Zevi Eckhaus, Division I quarterback and NFL hopeful, who shares what it’s like to navigate locker rooms where he may be the only observant Jew — and how he honored Yom Kippur while preparing for a college football game. From wearing both Rashi and Rabbeinu Tam tefillin to training for his pro day, Zevi reflects on loyalty, identity, and what it means to be an ambassador for Judaism in a sport that rarely sees Jewish representation.

In the second segment, they’re joined by Elie Kligman, widely believed to be the first Orthodox Jewish player in Division I baseball. Ellie discusses navigating recruiting conversations about Shabbat observance, missing games for Jewish holidays, and explaining mezuzahs and kashrut to curious teammates. He reflects on what it means to represent not just himself, but the broader Jewish community — and why faith doesn’t have to be sacrificed for excellence.

Together, these conversations raise larger questions:
Can commitment to Jewish tradition coexist with elite athletic ambition? What does it mean to be visibly Jewish in spaces where few have encountered Judaism firsthand? And how do young leaders balance personal conviction with team culture?

In a world that often pressures people to choose between identity and success, Zevi and Elie offer a different model — one of integration, pride, and quiet courage.

Zevi Eckhaus:
https://wsucougars.com/sports/football/roster/zevi-eckhaus/14230

Elie Kligman:

https://mgoblue.com/sports/baseball/roster/elie-kligman/27514

https://www.instagram.com/eklig.6/?hl=en

Rabbi Elliot Cosgrove:

Park Avenue Synagogue
https://www.pasyn.org

https://centralsynagogue.org/

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Rabbi Angela Buchdahl: The Unlikely Voice of Faith and Belonging

Thu, 12 Feb 2026 09:00:00 +0000

What does it mean to belong—especially when you’ve spent much of your life feeling like an outsider?

This week on Common Faith, Rabbi Elliot Cosgrove and journalist Jon Frankel welcome one of the most influential Jewish leaders in America, Rabbi Angela Buchdahl, Senior Rabbi of Central Synagogue and author of the bestselling memoir Heart of a Stranger: An Unlikely Rabbi’s Story of Faith, Identity, and Belonging.

Born in Korea, raised in the United States, and long made to feel like an “unlikely” Jew, Rabbi Buchdahl reflects on a lifetime of navigating identity, faith, and difference—both inside and outside the Jewish community. In a deeply personal and wide-ranging conversation, she shares how feeling like a stranger ultimately shaped her theology, her leadership, and her understanding of what Jewish tradition demands of us today.

Together, the hosts explore the Jewish imperative to care for the outsider, the tension between belonging and exclusion, and how American Jews are once again grappling with feeling “othered” in spaces that once felt like home. The conversation also examines pluralism, political division within Jewish life, and the responsibility of religious leaders to hold diverse—and often conflicting—communities together with humility and moral clarity.

At a moment when so many people feel unmoored, Rabbi Buchdahl offers a powerful reframing: that knowing the heart of the stranger is not a weakness, but a core Jewish strength—and a blueprint for empathy, resilience, and shared humanity.

Rabbi Angela Buchdahl:

https://www.instagram.com/rabbibuchdahl/?hl=en

Her Book:

https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/697350/heart-of-a-stranger-by-angela-buchdahl/

Rabbi Elliot Cosgrove:

Park Avenue Synagogue
https://www.pasyn.org

https://beingjewishpodcast.com

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Being Jewish in Public: Jonah Platt on Identity, Advocacy, and Culture

Thu, 5 Feb 2026 09:00:00 +0000

In this episode of Common Faith, Rabbi Elliot Cosgrove and Emmy Award–winning journalist Jon Frankel sit down with Jonah Platt—actor, musician, producer, Jewish advocate, and host of the hit podcast Being Jewish—for an honest conversation about Jewish identity, pride, and public life in a post–October 7 world.

Jonah reflects on his journey from stage and screen to becoming one of the most visible Jewish voices online, explaining how advocacy became not just a choice, but a calling. He shares why he launched Being Jewish, the importance of normalizing Jewish conversations in public spaces, and what it means to create a welcoming, inclusive platform for Jews across the spectrum—as well as for non-Jewish allies.

The conversation explores the state of Jewish representation in Hollywood, the challenges and opportunities facing Jewish storytellers today, and the personal cost—or lack thereof—of speaking out unapologetically as a Jew. Jonah also addresses difficult questions about antisemitism, anti-Zionism, propaganda, and why so many Jews feel unprepared to defend their identity in today’s media landscape.

Jonah offers a compelling vision for the Jewish future, emphasizing Jewish education, intentional Jewish living, and the importance of modeling Jewish values at home. He also shares the weekly rituals that anchor his own Jewish life.

Then, with the Super Bowl approaching, the episode closes with a light, fun football segment featuring Adam Kupfer—Rabbi Cosgrove’s nephew—full of sports talk, Super Bowl predictions, and a playful head-to-head game.

Jonah Platt’s Podcast:

Rabbi Elliot Cosgrove:

Park Avenue Synagogue
https://www.pasyn.org

https://jewishpublicaffairs.org

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Amy Spitalnick on Jewish Safety, Democracy, and the Work of JCPA

Podcasts@siriusxm.com (Amy Spitalnick, Jon Frankel, Elliot Cosgrove) — Thu, 29 Jan 2026 09:00:00 +0000

In a moment when Jewish identity, democracy, and political loyalty feel increasingly put at odds, Common Faith asks a necessary and urgent question: Can Jewish safety and universal democratic values truly coexist?

Rabbi Elliot Cosgrove and Emmy Award–winning journalist Jon Frankel are joined by Amy Spitalnick, CEO of the Jewish Council for Public Affairs, for a wide-ranging conversation on antisemitism, democracy, Israel, and the false choices facing American Jews today. Drawing on history, personal experience, and the realities of post–October 7 politics, Spitalnick explains why antisemitism is not only a threat to Jews but a warning sign for democracy itself.

From coalition-building and campus culture to local elections and national politics, this episode challenges listeners to reject zero-sum thinking and embrace the complexity required to protect both Jewish safety and democratic values in a polarized age.

Jewish Council for Public Affairs (JCPA):

Amy Spitalnick – CEO, JCPA:

https://jewishpublicaffairs.org/our-team/

Rabbi Elliot Cosgrove:

Park Avenue Synagogue
https://www.pasyn.org

https://holocaustremembrance.com/news/kathrin-meyer-2025-anne-frank-award

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Kathrin Meyer on Holocaust Remembrance and Moral Responsibility

Podcasts@siriusxm.com (Kathrin Meyer, Jon Frankel, Elliot Cosgrove) — Thu, 22 Jan 2026 09:00:00 +0000

As the generation of Holocaust survivors dwindles and antisemitism resurges across the globe, the work of remembrance has never been more urgent—or more complex. On this episode of Common Faith, Rabbi Elliot Cosgrove and journalist Jon Frankel are joined by Kathrin Meyer, current Board Member for The Olga Lengyel Institute for Holocaust Studies and Human Rights (TOLI), former Secretary General of the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance (IHRA) and recipient of the 2025 Anne Frank Special Recognition Award. They share in a timely and essential conversation about Holocaust memory and moral responsibility today.

Meyer reflects on what Holocaust remembrance means in a rapidly changing world—one marked by historical distortion, political polarization, and the erosion of shared truth. She discusses the challenges of preserving accurate Holocaust education across borders, combating denial and trivialization, and helping younger generations understand why this history still matters.

The conversation moves beyond memory as commemoration alone, asking what remembrance demands of us now. How should the lessons of the Holocaust inform civic life, human rights, and the fight against antisemitism in the present? And how can remembrance remain meaningful when history feels increasingly contested?

This episode is a sober, thoughtful exploration of memory not as the past—but as a living moral obligation.

Dr. Kathrin Meyer:

https://www.toli.us/

The Anne Frank Award:

Rabbi Elliot Cosgrove:

Park Avenue Synagogue
https://www.pasyn.org

https://www.wilf.org/en/home-en/

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

What Israel Needs Now: A Conversation with Einat Wilf

Podcasts@siriusxm.com (Einat Wilf, Rabbi Elliot Cosgrove, Jon Frankel) — Thu, 15 Jan 2026 09:00:00 +0000

Since October 7, the meanings of Jewish identity, solidarity, and the future of Israel have been in flux. On this episode of Common Faith, Rabbi Elliot Cosgrove and journalist Jon Frankel sit down with Dr. Einat Wilf — former member of the Israeli Knesset, author, educator, and founder of the Oz Party — for a deep, provocative conversation about the state of Zionism, Israel’s existential challenges, and the ideas shaping Jewish life in Israel and the diaspora.

Wilf brings a unique lens shaped by history, policy, and political engagement. Together, they explore how Israel’s leaders and citizens are grappling with security, ideology, and identity after October 7. The discussion moves from diaspora solidarity and the moral complexities of presence and power to Wilf’s own political project: a vision that seeks to redefine peace as rooted in Arab and Palestinian embrace of Zionism, equal civic responsibility, and a transition from an “exile mindset” to sovereign conduct.

Wilf shares how her experiences in Israeli politics, academia, and strategic advisory roles inform her belief that Israel’s next chapter demands courage, clarity, and a reexamination of long-held assumptions about peace, power, and national purpose. This episode doesn’t offer easy answers — but it does offer essential, thoughtful engagement with some of the toughest questions facing Jews and Israel today.

Dr. Einat Wilf:

https://www.instagram.com/einatwilf/

Oz Party:

https://ozparty.co.il/en/home/

Rabbi Elliot Cosgrove:

Park Avenue Synagogue
https://www.pasyn.org

https://www.amazon.com/Beyond-Dispute-Rediscovering-Constructive-Disagreement/dp/1399815067

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Rediscovering Constructive Disagreement: A Jewish Perspective with Daniel Taub

Podcasts@siriusxm.com (Daniel Taub, Rabbi Elliot Cosgrove, Jon Frankel) — Thu, 8 Jan 2026 09:00:00 +0000

In an age of polarization, outrage, and echo chambers, how do we disagree without tearing one another apart?

In this episode of Common Faith, Rabbi Elliot Cosgrove and Emmy Award–winning journalist Jon Frankel are joined by Daniel Taub—Israeli diplomat, international lawyer, mediator, and former Israeli Ambassador to the United Kingdom—to explore the lost art of constructive disagreement through a Jewish lens.

Drawing on Jewish texts, lived experience, and Taub’s work facilitating difficult conversations across deep ideological divides, the conversation examines what it means to argue with integrity, curiosity, and care—and why disagreement itself can be a sacred act. Central to the discussion is the Jewish tradition of machloket l’shem shamayim—argument for the sake of heaven—and how debate rooted in humility and shared values can deepen understanding rather than fracture community.

From Talmudic wisdom to contemporary civic and political life, this episode challenges listeners to rethink how they engage with those who see the world differently, offering a hopeful reminder that learning how to disagree well may be essential to repairing our relationships, our communities, and our shared civic life.

Daniel Taub:

https://rabbisacks.org/about-us/trustees/daniel-taub/

Rabbi Elliot Cosgrove:

Park Avenue Synagogue
https://www.pasyn.org

https://www.rabbimark.com/

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Resolutions or Renewal: The Work of Change with Rabbi Mark Borowitz

Podcasts@siriusxm.com (Rabbi Mark Borowitz, Rabbi Elliot Cosgrove, Jon Frankel) — Thu, 1 Jan 2026 09:00:00 +0000

What’s the difference between a resolution and a wish—and why does it matter?

As the new year begins, Rabbi Elliot Cosgrove and Emmy Award–winning journalist Jon Frankel explore what it really means to change. From New Year’s resolutions to Jewish ideas of teshuva—return, repair, and renewal—they ask whether transformation comes through bold declarations or small, faithful steps.

The conversation deepens with a powerful guest: Rabbi Mark Borowitz, spiritual leader, author, and longtime head of Beit T’Shuvah, a pioneering residential recovery center in Los Angeles. Drawing on his own journey from addiction and incarceration to spiritual leadership, Rabbi Borowitz reflects on personal responsibility, recovery, and the courage it takes to confront the truths—and lies—we tell ourselves.

Together, they reflect on the wisdom of Rabbi Abraham Joshua Heschel, the idea of building a life as a work of art, and how everyday acts of kindness, discipline, and self-awareness can become brushstrokes on that canvas.

In a world that often feels stuck or divided, this episode is a reminder that renewal is possible—and that becoming a little better than we were yesterday may be holy work enough.

Rabbi Mark Borowitz:

Rabbi Elliot Cosgrove:

Park Avenue Synagogue
https://www.pasyn.org

https://archny.org/about/cardinal-dolan/

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Cardinal Dolan's Christmas Blessing: A Shared Journey

Podcasts@siriusxm.com (Cardinal Dolan, Rabbi Elliot Cosgrove, Jon Frankel) — Thu, 25 Dec 2025 09:00:00 +0000

What does Christmas mean beyond the lights, music, and traditions—and what can it teach us about faith, generosity, and shared humanity?

In this special holiday episode of Common Faith, Rabbi Elliot Cosgrove and journalist Jon Frankel are joined by His Eminence Timothy Cardinal Dolan for a rich and deeply human conversation recorded during the Christmas season. Together, they explore the spiritual heart of Christmas, the experience of being a religious minority in a majority culture, and the surprising places where Jewish and Catholic traditions meet.

From reflections on joy, reconciliation, and generosity to deeply personal stories of vocation, pastoral care, and interfaith friendship, Cardinal Dolan offers a moving portrait of Christmas as a celebration of light in dark times—one that resonates far beyond any single tradition. Rabbi Cosgrove reflects on the “December dilemma,” while Jon Frankel shares moments of navigating faith, friendship, and belonging across religious lines.

Thoughtful, warm, and often humorous, this episode is a reminder that in a divided world, shared values—faith, compassion, forgiveness, and hope—still have the power to bring us together.

Timothy Cardinal Dolan:

Rabbi Elliot Cosgrove:

Park Avenue Synagogue
https://www.pasyn.org

https://www.instagram.com/atrarabbis

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Exploring the Future of Rabbis: Insights from Atra

Podcasts@siriusxm.com (Shira Koch Epstein, Elliot Cosgrove, Jon Frankel) — Thu, 18 Dec 2025 09:00:00 +0000

What does the future of rabbinic leadership look like—and why does it matter for all of us?

In this episode of Common Faith, Rabbi Elliot Cosgrove and journalist Jon Frankel take on a question hiding in plain sight: Are we cultivating enough rabbis to meet the spiritual, communal, and moral needs of the Jewish future? Joined by Rabbi Shira Koch Epstein, Executive Director of Atra: Center for Rabbinic Innovation, the conversation moves from personal calling to systemic challenge.

Drawing on Atra’s landmark national study, Rabbi Epstein shares eye-opening data about the rabbinic pipeline—who is becoming a rabbi, who isn’t, and why. Together, they explore the realities of rabbinic life today: meaningful work, burnout, blurred boundaries, financial barriers, and the changing ways people seek connection, guidance, and faith.

Along the way, the episode weaves together humor, heart, and hard truths—asking what it means to serve, to lead, and to pass sacred tradition from one generation to the next in a rapidly changing world. In a time when so many are searching for meaning, this conversation reminds us why spiritual leadership still matters—and what it will take to sustain it.

Atra:
https://atrarabbis.org/

https://www.facebook.com/atrarabbis/?_rdr

Rabbi Elliot Cosgrove:

Park Avenue Synagogue
https://www.pasyn.org

https://www.facebook.com/YossiKleinHalevi/

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Hanukkah Unwrapped: From Brooklyn to Jerusalem with Yossi Klein Halevi

Podcasts@siriusxm.com (Yossi Klein Halevi, Jon Frankel, Elliot Cosgrove) — Thu, 11 Dec 2025 09:00:00 +0000

This week on Common Faith, Rabbi Elliot Cosgrove and Emmy Award–winning journalist Jon Frankel unwrap the deeper meaning of Hanukkah—beyond latkes, dreidels, and eight nights of gifts. Joining them is renowned writer and public intellectual Yossi Klein Halevi, whose personal journey from Brooklyn to Jerusalem illuminates the holiday’s layered history and its evolving place in Jewish identity.

Together, they explore the many versions of the Hanukkah story: the miracle of the oil, the military victory of the Maccabees, the struggle against assimilation, and the celebration of reclaimed Jewish sovereignty. Yossi reflects on growing up as the son of Holocaust survivors, his early attraction to Jewish extremism, and the decades-long transformation that led him toward a more expansive, nuanced understanding of Judaism, Israel, and power.

From public menorahs in Israeli town squares to quiet candle-lighting in American homes, the conversation traces how Hanukkah is celebrated across cultures—and how October 7th has reshaped Jewish vulnerability, resilience, and collective memory worldwide. With candor, humor, and heart, Elliot, Jon, and Yossi hold space for the tensions, debates, and hopes pulsing through Jewish life today.

A moving and timely episode that reminds us: Hanukkah isn’t just a holiday—it’s a lens on identity, history, and the stories we choose to pass on.

Yossi Klein Halevi
https://www.yossikleinhalevi.com/

https://x.com/YKleinHalevi

Rabbi Elliot Cosgrove:

Park Avenue Synagogue
https://www.pasyn.org

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

The Light Within: Joel Mesler on Art, Faith & Recovery

Podcasts@siriusxm.com (Joel Mesler, Jon Frankel, Elliot Cosgrove) — Thu, 4 Dec 2025 09:00:00 +0000

In this deeply human and unexpectedly joyful episode of Common Faith, Rabbi Elliot Cosgrove and journalist Jon Frankel sit down with celebrated artist Joel Mesler, whose vibrant, pop-infused works have become synonymous with healing, humor, and Jewish identity. Through Mesler’s remarkable life story — from a turbulent childhood in Beverly Hills to an intense yeshiva experience, to addiction, recovery, and artistic rebirth — the trio explores what it means to wrestle with your past while still choosing light.

Mesler speaks candidly about nine years of sobriety, the lies we tell ourselves in our own voice, and the moment he realized he needed help. He shares how art became both expression and salvation, and how Judaism organically re-entered his life through painting anonymous old “rabbi portraits” that no one wanted — until he transformed them into sought-after pieces of contemporary Judaica.

An inspiring conversation about creativity, faith, identity, recovery, and choosing light in a world that doesn’t always make it easy.

Joel Mesler
https://www.joelmesler.com

https://www.instagram.com/joelmesler/?hl=en

Rabbi Elliot Cosgrove:

Park Avenue Synagogue
https://www.pasyn.org

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Faith, Food, and Phil Rosenthal: A Thanksgiving Special

Podcasts@siriusxm.com (Phil Rosenthal, Elliot Cosgrove, Jon Frankel) — Thu, 27 Nov 2025 09:00:00 +0000

It’s the season of gratitude — and good food. Rabbi Elliot Cosgrove and Emmy Award–winning journalist Jon Frankel welcome legendary creator and host Phil Rosenthal (Everybody Loves Raymond, Somebody Feed Phil) for a conversation that blends faith, food, and funny family traditions.

Rosenthal shares how his Jewish upbringing shaped his love of storytelling, how he reinvented himself from sitcom writer to world-traveling food host, and why laughter — like a good meal — brings people together. From goose instead of turkey to matzo-ball soup and carrot kugel, this episode celebrates how recipes carry identity and connection across generations.

Together, Elliot, Jon, and Phil explore what Thanksgiving teaches us about gratitude, reinvention, and finding humor — even when the turkey’s dry.

Phil Rosenthal
https://philrosenthalworld.com/

Everybody Loves Raymond
https://www.cbs.com/shows/everybody-loves-raymond/

Somebody Feed Phil
https://www.netflix.com/title/80151255

Rabbi Elliot Cosgrove:

Park Avenue Synagogue
https://www.pasyn.org

https://www.instagram.com/pastorharris/?hl=en

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Building Bridges: How Black and Jewish Communities Found Common Ground

Thu, 20 Nov 2025 09:00:00 +0000

In this powerful episode of Common Faith, Rabbi Elliot Cosgrove and Emmy Award–winning journalist Jon Frankel welcome Rabbi Michael Siegel of Anshe Emet Synagogue and Pastor Chris Harris of Bright Star Church and St. James Ministries in Chicago — two spiritual leaders who turned an unlikely friendship into a national model for faith-based partnership and healing.

Together, they trace the story of how a single lunch meeting 14 years ago blossomed into a thriving alliance between the Black and Jewish communities — one that has built playgrounds, inspired hundreds of interfaith exchanges, and even created a trauma counseling program modeled after Israel’s NATAL center.

The conversation ranges from mentorship and faith to violence, healing, and the sacred responsibility of leadership. Pastor Harris shares how visiting Israel reshaped his ministry on Chicago’s South Side, while Rabbi Siegel reflects on the power of humility, courage, and the simple idea that 'before you can help someone else’s trauma, you must face your own.'

It’s a moving portrait of faith in action — proof that when spiritual leaders listen, learn, and labor together, real change follows.

Pastor Chris Harris

https://www.facebook.com/Pastor.Chris.Harris.Sr/
https://www.brightstarchurchchicago.com/

https://www.stjamesministrieschicago.com/pastorchrisharris

Rabbi Michael Siegel
https://www.ansheemet.org/welcome/clergy/rabbi-michael-siegel/

American Friends of Natal
https://www.afnatal.org/

Rabbi Elliot Cosgrove:

Park Avenue Synagogue
https://www.pasyn.org

https://x.com/AdamSchefter?lang=en

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

The NFL: America’s Religion Explored with Adam Schefter

Thu, 13 Nov 2025 09:00:00 +0000

Is football America’s true religion? Rabbi Elliot Cosgrove and Emmy Award–winning journalist Jon Frankel sit down with ESPN’s Adam Schefter—who they dub as the “Pope” of NFL information—to explore the game’s unmatched hold on American life. From the gridiron to the pulpit, they discuss how football has eclipsed baseball as the nation’s pastime, what it says about our shared culture, and how faith, fandom, and identity intertwine every Sunday.

Schefter reflects on his unlikely rise from a rejected Michigan freshman to one of sports media’s most trusted voices, and opens up about his deeply personal book *The Man I Never Met*, honoring his wife’s late husband who perished on 9/11.

The conversation moves from locker rooms to life lessons—touching on ethics in sports, personal faith, and the ways football mirrors both our values and our vices. The episode closes with a visit from former Michigan defensive back Jeff Cohen, who revisits his now-legendary decision to play on Yom Kippur under Bo Schembechler, proving once again that faith and football often share the same field.

Adam Schefter

https://www.instagram.com/adamschefter/?hl=en

ESPN football:

https://www.espn.com/nfl/

Rabbi Elliot Cosgrove:

Park Avenue Synagogue
https://www.pasyn.org

https://www.sarahhurwitz.net/

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Cultural to Committed: A Journey of Jewish Identity with Sarah Hurwitz

Podcasts@siriusxm.com (Sarah Hurwitz, Rabbi Elliot Cosgrove, Jon Frankel) — Thu, 6 Nov 2025 09:00:00 +0000

What does it mean to reclaim Jewish identity in a world that often misunderstands or maligns it? In this episode of Common Faith, Rabbi Elliot Cosgrove and journalist Jon Frankel welcome author Sarah Hurwitz, former speechwriter for Michelle Obama and Hillary Clinton, to discuss her new book As a Jew: Reclaiming Our Story from Those Who Blame, Shame, and Try to Erase Us.

Hurwitz shares her transformation from a self-described “cultural Jew” to a deeply engaged student of Jewish thought and tradition. Together, they explore how antisemitism has shaped Jewish self-perception, what it means to live as a proud Jew in modern times, and why genuine learning and connection—not apology or erasure—are the path forward.

With honesty, humor, and heart, this conversation unpacks the struggle between assimilation and authenticity, the intersection of faith and identity, and how study itself can be a profound act of spirituality.

Sarah Hurwitz

Park Avenue Synagogue
https://www.pasyn.org

Rabbi Elliot Cosgrove:

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Proudly Jewish, Proudly American: Lessons from the Revolution

Podcasts@siriusxm.com (Jon Frankel, Elliot Cosgrove) — Thu, 30 Oct 2025 08:00:00 +0000

On Common Faith, Rabbi Elliot Cosgrove and Emmy Award–winning journalist Jon Frankel explore what it means to live as a proud Jew in today’s divided world. This episode features Rabbi Cosgrove’s powerful Rosh Hashanah sermon about Jonas Phillips—the Revolutionary War–era patriot who proved that Jewish identity and American ideals could thrive side by side.

Through Phillips’ story, the rabbi reflects on the freedoms and responsibilities of American Jews today, confronting the rising challenges of antisemitism, polarization, and self-censorship. Together, he and John discuss how to balance faith, freedom, and identity—and why two things can be true at once: that we can love both America and Israel, debate passionately and still stay united, and express faith proudly while embracing diversity of thought.

It’s a conversation about courage, conscience, and the ongoing American Jewish experiment—and a call to live out faith in both the private and public square.

Park Avenue Synagogue
https://www.pasyn.org

Rabbi Elliot Cosgrove:

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

When Faith Meets Politics: Navigating Jewish Concerns in Elections

Podcasts@siriusxm.com (Rabbi Elliot Cosgrove, Jon Frankel) — Thu, 23 Oct 2025 08:00:00 +0000

In this powerful and deeply personal episode of Common Faith, Rabbi Elliot Cosgrove and journalist Jon Frankel step into rarely charted territory—the intersection of faith and politics. Following a sermon that went viral, Rabbi Cosgrove reflects on why he felt compelled to speak out during New York City’s mayoral race, addressing what he calls a “moment of moral urgency” for the Jewish people with concerns about the anti-Zionist rhetoric of candidate Zohran Mamdani and its implications for the Jewish community. The discussion delves into personal stories, community connections, and the importance of voting, all while exploring the complexities of Jewish identity in a rapidly changing world.

Together, the rabbi and Jon unpack the sermon’s impact, the response it ignited, and the complex balance between spiritual leadership and civic engagement. They explore how faith communities navigate political tensions, the blurry line between anti-Zionism and antisemitism, and why love—for Israel, for community, for humanity—sometimes demands difficult choices.

It’s an episode that challenges, provokes, and ultimately asks: when does faith require us to raise our voices, even when it’s uncomfortable?

Park Avenue Synagogue
https://www.pasyn.org

Rabbi Elliot Cosgrove:

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

From Hostages to Hope & When Two Things Can Be True: A Conversation on Israel and Empathy

Podcasts@siriusxm.com (Elliot Cosgrove, Jon Frankel) — Thu, 16 Oct 2025 08:00:00 +0000

In a historic week for Israel and the Jewish people, Common Faith hosts Rabbi Elliot Cosgrove and Emmy Award–winning journalist Jon Frankel pause their planned programming to reflect on the emotional return of hostages and what this moment means for Jewish identity, faith, and unity.

With compassion and candor, they explore the deep mix of relief, grief, and moral reckoning that defines this chapter of Jewish life—asking how a people can celebrate freedom while confronting loss.. At the heart of their conversation is a profound truth: two things can be true at once. Love of Israel can coexist with critique; pride can live alongside pain; faith can hold both resilience and doubt.

Rabbi Cosgrove shares his Yom Kippur sermon, Of Silver Platters and Mirrors, a stirring meditation on love for Israel, moral conscience, and the enduring call to hold empathy and self-defense in the same heart. Together, he and Jon offer a deeply human conversation on resilience, responsibility, and what it means to remain connected—to Israel, to community, and to common faith—in a divided world.

Park Avenue Synagogue
https://www.pasyn.org

Rabbi Elliot Cosgrove:

https://arbernardnews.com/

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

From Torah to Today: Celebrating Scripture with Rev. A.R. Bernard

Podcasts@siriusxm.com (Rev A.R. Bernard, Rabbi Elliot Cosgrove, Jon Frankel) — Thu, 9 Oct 2025 08:00:00 +0000

In this episode of Common Faith, Rabbi Elliot Cosgrove and journalist Jon Frankel dive into the meaning of Simchat Torah—the joyful festival that celebrates completing the annual Torah reading cycle. Together, they explore how rereading sacred texts each year reveals new layers of meaning and shapes Jewish identity and community.

They are joined by Reverend A.R. Bernard, founder of the Christian Cultural Center and one of New York’s most influential faith leaders. Reverend Bernard shares his remarkable spiritual journey—from banking to ministry, Catholicism to Protestantism, even a period in the Nation of Islam—and reflects on the power of scripture, curiosity, and bridge-building across faith traditions. The conversation ranges from the shared scriptural roots of Judaism and Christianity to the challenges of identity in modern society, the impact of technology on community, and what it means to live with dignity, purpose, and faith in a divided world.

Reverend A.R. Bernard

Christian Cultural Center
https://www.cccinfo.org/

Park Avenue Synagogue
https://www.pasyn.org

Rabbi Elliot Cosgrove:

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Welcoming All: Sukkot and Interfaith Dialogue with Father Salvo

Podcasts@siriusxm.com (Father Enrique Salvo, Jon Frankel, Rabbi Elliot Cosgrove) — Thu, 2 Oct 2025 08:00:00 +0000

On this episode of Common Faith, Rabbi Elliot Cosgrove and journalist Jon Frankel mark the festival of Sukkot — a time of joy, hospitality, and welcoming all to the table. They are joined by Father Enrique Salvo, Rector of St. Patrick’s Cathedral, who reflects on his own journey of faith, the role of the Cathedral in New York and beyond, and the importance of building bridges between traditions. Together, they explore how Sukkot’s themes of openness and connection resonate across faiths and the importance of welcoming others during the Jewish festival, reminding us that what unites us is often greater than what divides us.

St. Patrick's Cathedral
https://www.saintpatrickscathedral.org/

Park Avenue Synagogue
https://www.pasyn.org

Rabbi Elliot Cosgrove:

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Finding Meaning in Yom Kippur with Rabbi Shira Stutman

Podcasts@siriusxm.com (Rabbi Shira Stutman, Rabbi Elliot Cosgrove, Jon Frankel) — Thu, 25 Sep 2025 08:00:00 +0000

On this episode of Common Faith, we’re joined by Rabbi Shira Stutman, a nationally recognized spiritual leader and teacher, for a thoughtful conversation about Yom Kippur—the holiest day on the Jewish calendar. Together, we explore what it means to pause, reflect, and seek forgiveness in a world that rarely slows down.

Rabbi Stutman shares insights on the power of atonement, the beauty of community prayer, and how the lessons of Yom Kippur reach beyond Judaism to offer wisdom for anyone searching for renewal and reconnection. With warmth and depth, she helps us see how this sacred day is less about guilt and more about growth.

Whether you’re observing Yom Kippur or simply curious about its universal themes of honesty, healing, and hope, this conversation invites you to reflect on what it means to begin again.

Links:

Rabbi Shira Stutman
[Aspen Jewish Congregation](https://www.aspenjewish.org)

[Chutzpod Podcast](https://www.chutzpod.com)

Park Avenue Synagogue
https://www.pasyn.org

Rabbi Elliot Cosgrove:

https://www.instagram.com/jakecohen

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

A Sweet New Year with Chef Jake Cohen

Podcasts@siriusxm.com (Jake Cohen, Jon Frankel, Rabbi Elliot Cosgrove) — Thu, 18 Sep 2025 08:00:00 +0000

This week on Common Faith, we welcome bestselling author and culinary innovator Jake Cohen to the table for a conversation as rich and flavorful as his recipes. With Rosh Hashanah just around the corner, Jake shares how food brings tradition, memory, and modern creativity together in celebrating the Jewish New Year. From brisket and gefilte fish to contemporary twists on holiday classics, we explore how meals can be more than sustenance—they can be rituals of connection, resilience, and joy.

Join us as we talk about Jake’s own journey of blending heritage with his cooking, what Rosh Hashanah means to him, and how food becomes a language of faith, family, and community. Whether you’re preparing your own holiday table or simply curious about the deeper meaning behind these traditions, this conversation will leave you inspired—and maybe a little hungry.

Links:

Jake Cohen
https://www.wakeandjake.com/

https://www.tiktok.com/@jakecohen

Dinner Party Animal
https://www.wakeandjake.com/dinner-party-animal

One Table
https://www.onetable.org

Park Avenue Synagogue
https://www.pasyn.org

Rabbi Elliot Cosgrove: