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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: https://beingjewishpodcast.com Rabbi Elliot Cosgrove: https://www.instagram.com/elliot_cosgrove https://x.com/RabbiCosgrove Park Avenue Synagogue https://www.pasyn.org https://www.instagram.com/parkavenuesyn/# Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

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):  https://jewishpublicaffairs.org Amy Spitalnick – CEO, JCPA:  https://jewishpublicaffairs.org/our-team/ Rabbi Elliot Cosgrove: https://www.instagram.com/elliot_cosgrove https://x.com/RabbiCosgrove Park Avenue Synagogue https://www.pasyn.org https://www.instagram.com/parkavenuesyn/# Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

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: https://holocaustremembrance.com/news/kathrin-meyer-2025-anne-frank-award Rabbi Elliot Cosgrove: https://www.instagram.com/elliot_cosgrove https://x.com/RabbiCosgrove Park Avenue Synagogue https://www.pasyn.org https://www.instagram.com/parkavenuesyn/# Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

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.wilf.org/en/home-en/ https://www.instagram.com/einatwilf/ Oz Party: https://ozparty.co.il/en/home/ Rabbi Elliot Cosgrove: https://www.instagram.com/elliot_cosgrove https://x.com/RabbiCosgrove Park Avenue Synagogue https://www.pasyn.org https://www.instagram.com/parkavenuesyn/# Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

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://www.amazon.com/Beyond-Dispute-Rediscovering-Constructive-Disagreement/dp/1399815067 https://rabbisacks.org/about-us/trustees/daniel-taub/ Rabbi Elliot Cosgrove: https://www.instagram.com/elliot_cosgrove https://x.com/RabbiCosgrove Park Avenue Synagogue https://www.pasyn.org https://www.instagram.com/parkavenuesyn/# Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

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: https://www.rabbimark.com/ Rabbi Elliot Cosgrove: https://www.instagram.com/elliot_cosgrove https://x.com/RabbiCosgrove Park Avenue Synagogue https://www.pasyn.org https://www.instagram.com/parkavenuesyn/# Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

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: https://archny.org/about/cardinal-dolan/ Rabbi Elliot Cosgrove: https://www.instagram.com/elliot_cosgrove https://x.com/RabbiCosgrove Park Avenue Synagogue https://www.pasyn.org https://www.instagram.com/parkavenuesyn/# Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

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.instagram.com/atrarabbis https://www.facebook.com/atrarabbis/?_rdr Rabbi Elliot Cosgrove: https://www.instagram.com/elliot_cosgrove https://x.com/RabbiCosgrove Park Avenue Synagogue https://www.pasyn.org https://www.instagram.com/parkavenuesyn/# Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

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://www.facebook.com/YossiKleinHalevi/ https://x.com/YKleinHalevi Rabbi Elliot Cosgrove: https://www.instagram.com/elliot_cosgrove https://x.com/RabbiCosgrove Park Avenue Synagogue https://www.pasyn.org https://www.instagram.com/parkavenuesyn/# Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

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: https://www.instagram.com/elliot_cosgrove https://x.com/RabbiCosgrove Park Avenue Synagogue https://www.pasyn.org https://www.instagram.com/parkavenuesyn/# Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

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: https://www.instagram.com/elliot_cosgrove https://x.com/RabbiCosgrove Park Avenue Synagogue https://www.pasyn.org https://www.instagram.com/parkavenuesyn/# Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

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.instagram.com/pastorharris/?hl=en 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: https://www.instagram.com/elliot_cosgrove https://x.com/RabbiCosgrove   Park Avenue Synagogue https://www.pasyn.org https://www.instagram.com/parkavenuesyn/#   Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

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://x.com/AdamSchefter?lang=en https://www.instagram.com/adamschefter/?hl=en   ESPN football: https://www.espn.com/nfl/   Rabbi Elliot Cosgrove: https://www.instagram.com/elliot_cosgrove https://x.com/RabbiCosgrove   Park Avenue Synagogue https://www.pasyn.org https://www.instagram.com/parkavenuesyn/# Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

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 https://www.sarahhurwitz.net/   Park Avenue Synagogue https://www.pasyn.org https://www.instagram.com/parkavenuesyn/#   Rabbi Elliot Cosgrove: https://www.instagram.com/elliot_cosgrove https://x.com/RabbiCosgrove Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

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 https://www.instagram.com/parkavenuesyn/#   Rabbi Elliot Cosgrove: https://www.instagram.com/elliot_cosgrove https://x.com/RabbiCosgrove Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.