Best IKAR Podcasts (2026)

Jacob’s farewell address in Parashat VaYechi features a vision of a snake and a cry for Divine salvation. As our world backslides into fear, anger, violence, and deceit, we nonetheless find hope in self-transformation. By caring for the needy and welcoming the stranger, we preserve the legacy of B’nei Yisrael, and become partners with God in redeem…

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Counting Sheep - Rabbi Morris Panitz 37:08

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6h ago37:08

37:08

Hidden within the broader narrative of exodus and redemption is a sub story about how a minority retains its distinctive culture. And the unlikely messengers of this story are… sheep.By IKAR

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Joseph Builds the Administrative State - Rabbi David Kasher | The Best Book Ever 1:00:17

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This is a recording from 12.23.2025 of Rabbi David Kasher's Weekly Parashah class, co-sponsored by Hadar and IKAR.By IKAR

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Why Fascists Fear Teachers - Randi Weingarten & Rabbi Sharon Brous in Conversation 1:03:05

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Lunch & Learn with American Federation for Teachers President Randi Weingarten and Rabbi Sharon Brous to discuss Weingarten's new book, Why Fascists Fear Teachers: Public Education and the Future of Democracy,which exposes the long-planned strategy to undermine education—and lifts up the powerful role educators play in protecting truth and democrac…

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After Bondi - Rabbi Sharon Brous 21:19

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1. We must be exactly who we are, only more so. 2. There is great geographical, ideological, political and religious distance between us. We must remember that we are responsible for one another. And 3. We must dramatically shift our approach to fighting antisemitism.By IKAR

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The Trappings of Power - the Best Book Ever with Rabbi David Kasher 58:15

13d ago58:15

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This is a recording of the Weekly Parashah with Rabbi David Kasher, a class co-sponsored by Hadar and IKAR from 12.18.2025 / Mikeitz 5786By IKAR

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On SURVIVAL: Playing Dead in Order to Live Gittin 56a-56b - Rabbi Sharon Brous 1:06:38

20d ago1:06:38

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This is a recording of Rabbi Sharon Brous's of For the Love of Learning. Every Tuesday morning, a new story from the Talmud. Taught by your rabbis in a monthly rotation, we’ll dig into the strange and compelling world of the Talmud, exploring the ways ancient dilemmas speak to modern questions. Join us in-person at the Event Space (coffee and nosh …

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Don't Tell Me It's Hopeless - Rabbi Sharon Brous 22:01

22d ago22:01

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The seeds of redemption were being planted—we were just too busy to notice.By IKAR

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On CAUTION, On COURAGE: Gittin 55b-56a - Rabbi Sharon Brous | For the Love of Learning 1:05:52

27d ago1:05:52

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By IKAR

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Heart of a Stranger: Rabbis Sharon Brous and Angela Buchdahl in conversation 45:24

27d ago45:24

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A conversation between Rabbi Angela Buchdahl and Rabbi Sharon Brous on faith, identity, leadership, and Buchdahl’s new book, Heart of a Stranger.By IKAR

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Embracing Exile - Dr. David Kraemer in Conversation with Rabbi Sharon Brous 59:03

29d ago59:03

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Dr. Kraemer focuses on the literary analysis of rabbinic literature, rabbinic ritual, the social and religious history of Jews in late antiquity, and Jewish diaspora ideologies. Since 2024, he has played a crucial role in forging policy and expanding the impact of the Library’s world-renowned collections and programs. His most recent book is Embrac…

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On SUFFERING: When We Reach the Outer Limits of Our Understanding - Rabbi Sharon Brous | For the Love of Learning 5786 1:02:28

1M ago1:02:28

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This is a recording of Rabbi Sharon Brous's third session of For the Love of Learning. Every Tuesday morning, a new story from the Talmud. Taught by your rabbis in a monthly rotation, we’ll dig into the strange and compelling world of the Talmud, exploring the ways ancient dilemmas speak to modern questions. Join us in-person at the Event Space (co…

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Breathing with God - Rabbi Morris Panitz 18:49

1M ago18:49

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When it comes to speaking about the personal experiences we’ve had— or we yearn for— with God, we tend to retreat into self-consciousness and silence. I’d like for that to change. So, here’s my story.By IKAR

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On WORDS: And Their Power to Hurt and to Heal- Rabbi Sharon Brous | For the Love of Learning 5786 50:58

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This is a recording of our second session of For the Love of Learning. Every Tuesday morning, a new story from the Talmud. Taught by your rabbis in a monthly rotation, we’ll dig into the strange and compelling world of the Talmud, exploring the ways ancient dilemmas speak to modern questions. Join us in-person at the Event Space (coffee and nosh pr…

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History Doesn’t Repeat, But It Does Rhyme - Rabbi Sharon Brous 24:05

1M ago24:05

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Our ancestor, Isaac, repeated the pattern of his father’s failures—an expression of loyalty to the covenant. We, too, may feel trapped by the force of the past, as though we are powerless to the repetition of the worst chapters of our history. But we can—and must—choose agency over inevitability.By IKAR

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On LOVE: What Partnership Looks Like - Rabbi Sharon Brous | For the Love of Learning 5786 1:01:27

2M ago1:01:27

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Read the source sheet here. This is a recording of our first session of For the Love of Learning. Every Tuesday morning, a new story from the Talmud. Taught by your rabbis in a monthly rotation, we’ll dig into the strange and compelling world of the Talmud, exploring the ways ancient dilemmas speak to modern questions. Join us in-person at the Even…

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The Cane and the Pitcher - Rabbi Deborah Silver 19:03

2M ago19:03

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This week’s parashah is the fourth in a row to remind us that Abraham and Sarah are old. Imagine them in Los Angeles, 2025 - how would they age? And how can that help us imagine a new approach to aging for ourselves?By IKAR

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The Captain of the World - The Best Book Ever with Rabbi David Kasher 57:47

2M ago57:47

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This is a recording from 11.12.2025 of the Weekly Parashah with Rabbi David Kasher, a class co-sponsored by Hadar and IKAR.By IKAR

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When We Want to Look Away - Rabbi Sharon Brous 18:11

2M ago18:11

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Vayera 5786 The Rabbis warn of a society defined by its cruelty toward the most vulnerable. We must not become Sodom.By IKAR

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Two Kidappings - The Best Book Ever with Rabbi David Kasher 1:02:37

2M ago1:02:37

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This is a recording from 11.5.2025 of the Weekly Parashah with Rabbi David Kasher, a class co-sponsored by Hadar and IKAR.By IKAR

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Dr. Yasmeen Abu Fraiha in conversation with Rabbi Sharon Brous 58:35

2M ago58:35

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The audio recording of this conversation was compromised and you may need to adjust volume settings for certain portions of the recording. We are deeply sorry for the inconvenience. Dr. Yasmeen Abu Fraiha is a medical doctor with a specialty in internal medicine, currently completing a clinical fellowship in critical care at Beth Israel Deaconess M…

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Everything is Breaking. Is Healing Even Possible? - Rabbi Sharon Brous 23:47

2M ago23:47

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The case for the medium tent. Source sheet: https://ikar.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/Everythings-Breaking.-Can-We-Be-Fixed_.pdfBy IKAR

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The Rise of Kings - The Best Book Ever with Rabbi David Kasher 1:00:30

2M ago1:00:30

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This is a recording from 10.29.2025 of the Weekly Parashah with Rabbi David Kasher, a class co-sponsored by Hadar and IKAR.By IKAR

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The Journey Before The Journey - Rabbi Morris Panitz 20:10

2M ago20:10

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Hidden in the dry details of genealogy and geography is the actual beginning of Avraham’s story– a beginning that fundamentally changes how we understand the call he receives, the family he leaves, and the journey he undertakes.By IKAR