Detours & Destinations

92NY's Rabbi David Ingber
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Wisdom gleaned from life’s twists and turns. “May all your detours be destinations.” Rabbi David Ingber received that blessing from a dear friend many years ago and never forgot it. The echo of those words continues to resonate and inspire today. Can we reframe obstacles as opportunities? How do we recognize when a stumbling block truly is a stairway? In this new podcast, Rabbi Ingber sits down with thought leaders, changemakers, and spiritual seekers, for heart-centered conversations about the winding paths we take, and the insights gleaned along the way. These are conversations about resilience, transformation, the beauty and messiness of being human — a touchstone for listeners seeking wisdom in perilous times.

  1. Jul 21

    Zalman Newfield – From Tradition to Transformation

    In this episode of Detours and Destinations, Rabbi David Ingber sits down with writer, educator, and thinker Zalman Newfield for a conversation about faith, identity, belonging, and the transformative power of asking difficult questions. Drawing on themes from his memoir Brooklyn Odyssey: My Journey Out of Hasidism, Newfield reflects on his upbringing in the Chabad-Lubavitch community of Crown Heights and the deeply personal journey that led him beyond the religious world in which he was raised. Together, they explore what happens when inherited certainty begins to crack, and how intellectual curiosity, spiritual searching, and emotional honesty can reshape a life. Newfield discusses the tension between loyalty and individuality, the costs and freedoms of leaving tightly bound communities, and the possibility of remaining connected to tradition while questioning its foundations. Drawing on his experiences as a teacher, thinker, and bridge-builder across worlds of tradition and modern life, Zalman reflects on the detours that shaped his path—and the discoveries that emerged along the way. Our guest is Zalman Newfield: https://zalmannewfield.com/ Learn more about Footsteps organization: https://www.footstepsorg.org/ Read Zalman’s book Brooklyn Odyssey: My Journey Out of Hasidism: https://a.co/d/0j22s1tE Follow Zalman on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/professorzalman Read Zalman’s thoughts on Facebook  https://www.facebook.com/p/Zalman-Newfield-author-of-Brooklyn-Odyssey-61587552245531/ Rabbi David Ingber’s IG https://www.instagram.com/rabbiingber 92NY Bronfman Center Events Producer: Efrat Bigger Content Editor: Maya Gayer  Video Editor: Sean Kennedy  Music By: Shimon Smith  Special Thanks: Eden Sidney Foster.

  2. Jul 7

    David Draiman - From Faith and Fury to Fame and Freedom

    In this episode of Detours and Destinations, Rabbi David Ingber sits down with David Draiman, lead singer of the multi-platinum metal band Disturbed, for a conversation about identity, resilience, faith, and the costs of speaking one's mind. Raised in an Orthodox Jewish world and once headed toward the rabbinate, Draiman reflects on a life shaped by religious tradition, intellectual curiosity, personal tragedy, and unexpected reinvention. He shares the story of his journey from yeshiva student to one of the most recognizable voices in modern heavy metal, exploring how music became a vehicle for processing grief, struggle, and meaning. The conversation also delves into Draiman's outspoken public advocacy on behalf of Israel and the Jewish people, the impact of October 7 on his sense of identity and purpose, and the challenges of navigating political polarization, antisemitism, and public controversy in an age of social media and cultural division. Along the way, Draiman reflects on fame, spirituality, resilience, and the enduring question at the heart of every detour: whether the paths we leave behind ever truly leave us. A candid and wide-ranging conversation about finding one's voice—and learning when to use it. Follow David Draiman on Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/davidmdraiman/?hl=en Read David Draiman’s thoughts on X https://x.com/davidmdraiman?lang=en Rabbi David Ingber’s IG https://www.instagram.com/rabbiingber 92NY Bronfman Center Events Producer: Efrat Bigger Content Editor: Maya Gayer  Video Editor: Sean Kennedy  Music By: Shimon Smith  Special Thanks: Eden Sidney Foster.

  3. Jul 2

    When We See You Again: Rachel Goldberg-Polin in Conversation with 92NY's Rabbi David Ingber

    The Bronfman Center for Jewish Life at the 92NY hosts Rachel Goldberg-Polin in conversation with Rabbi David Ingber. Discussing her new book, When We See You Again, a memoir of her experiences detailing her son Hersh's captivity and death in Gaza. This unforgettable conversation explores love, grief, and the continued search for meaning in the face of unimaginable loss. We are releasing this conversation to mark 1,000 days since October 7, honoring Hersh's memory and all those whose lives have been forever changed. We are honored to share it with our community. Recorded June 3, 2026, at the 92nd Street Y, NY. Your support helps us continue creating online content for our community.  Donate now: http://www.92NY.org/Donate More from the 92NY: https://www.92ny.org/archives

    When We See You Again: Rachel Goldberg-Polin in Conversation with 92NY's Rabbi David Ingber

  4. Jun 23

    Claudia Romo Edelman – From Survival to Service

    In this episode of Detours and Destinations, Rabbi David Ingber sits down with activist, entrepreneur, humanitarian, and “factivist” Claudia Romo Edelman for a conversation about identity, purpose, and the power of using stories to create social change. Born and raised in Mexico City, Claudia traces the experiences that shaped her worldview — from witnessing the devastation of the 1985 earthquake to navigating a global career spanning the United Nations, UNICEF, the World Economic Forum, and some of the world's most influential advocacy campaigns. Together, they explore reinvention, belonging, and the enduring possibility of creating change by helping people see one another more clearly and Claudia’s  journey from international diplomacy to becoming one of the leading voices for Latino visibility and inclusion in the United States. Claudia reflects on the origins of her activism, the philosophy behind her concept of “factivism,” and her belief that data and storytelling can work together to transform perceptions and inspire action.  The conversation also touches on spirituality, Jewish identity, bridge-building between communities, and the challenge of leading with both conviction and compassion in an increasingly polarized world. Learn more about Claudia’s work http://claudiaromoedelman.com/ We are all human https://www.weareallhuman.org/ Follow Claudia on IG https://www.instagram.com/claudiaromoedelman/ Rabbi Ingber’s IG https://www.instagram.com/rabbiingber 92NY Bronfman Center Events Producer: Efrat Bigger Content Editor: Maya Gayer  Video Editor: Sean Kennedy  Music By: Shimon Smith  Special Thanks: Eden Sidney Foster.

  5. Jun 9

    Maya Tevet Dayan – From A Jewish Home to Wandering Jewess

    In this episode, we sit down with poet Maya Tevet Dayan for a conversation about wandering, belonging, and the search for home. The conversation moves through formative detours, including her mother’s death, a family life lived across continents, and October 7 as a turning point experienced while teaching in the United States. Tevet Dayan speaks about encounters with Jewish communities after October 7, and the questions of exile, home, and responsibility that animate her forthcoming book The Wandering Jewess. She offers thoughtful reflections on identity, displacement, and what it means to imagine a destination in uncertain times. Learn more about Maya’s work www.mayatevetdayan.com Join Maya’s 6 Minutes on Friday, a weekly column with an insight or reflection  https://tinyurl.com/yc3zxkc7   Get Maya’s book  Wherever we float, that’s home Rabbi Ingber’s IG https://www.instagram.com/rabbiingber Maya was recorded at Shemma Studios Tel Aviv  https://www.shemma.co.il/ 92NY Bronfman Center Events

  6. Jun 2

    Julie Benko- From Standby to Standing Ovation

    In this episode, we sit down with Broadway actor and singer Julie Benko for a conversation about patience, timing, and the long road from the wings to center stage. Together with Rabbi David Ingber, Benko traces her journey from a childhood steeped in music and Jewish theater to years of training at NYU Tisch and working largely as an understudy in major productions. She reflects on the extraordinary turning point that made her Broadway lore — stepping into Funny Girl more than 180 times — and what it meant to suddenly navigate visibility, pressure, and acclaim. The conversation moves between theater and music, including her collaboration with her husband Jason Yeager and her new album Euphonic Gumbo, a love letter to New Orleans. Touching on Jewish identity, her current role as Emma Goldman in Ragtime, and the realities of balancing art, partnership, and motherhood, Benko offers thoughtful reflections on readiness, resilience, and what it truly means to arrive. Learn more about Julie’s work: https://www.juliebenko.com/ Stream Julie’s new album https://c44.lnk.to/EuphonicGumbo Follow Julie on IG https://www.instagram.com/jujujuliebee/ Rabbi Ingber’s IG https://www.instagram.com/rabbiingber 92NY Bronfman Center Events

  7. May 26

    Georgette Bennett- From Fractured Origins to Full Life

    In this episode, we sit down with award-winning sociologist, humanitarian leader, and author Dr. Georgette Bennett. In dialogue with Rabbi David Ingber, Bennett reflects on her detour-filled life as the daughter of Holocaust survivors, born into a bombed-out Hungarian apartment—a beginning that shaped her perspective on the world. She traces her winding path from a career in criminology and community policing in New York City to her transformative turn toward interreligious leadership. As the founder of the Tanenbaum Center and the Multifaith Alliance, Bennett shares how she mobilized hundreds of millions of dollars in aid for Syrian war victims by bridging divides between historical enemies, driven by the biblical mandate not to “stand idly by.” Exploring themes from her new book, Half-Jew – Full Life, the conversation dives into the extraordinary story of her cousin-in-law, Gary “Pips” Phillips, who chose to identify as Jewish as the Nazis rose to power. Together, they discuss the dangers of binary thinking and the resilience required to build a full life from the ashes of history. Learn more about Georgette’s work https://bennettny.com/ Rabbi Ingber’s IG https://www.instagram.com/rabbiingber 92NY Bronfman Center  Events

  8. May 19

    Dan Senor - From Strategist to Storyteller

    In this episode of Detours and Destinations, Rabbi David Ingber sits down with writer, political advisor, and podcaster Dan Senor to explore a life shaped by the intersection of identity, power, and ideas. Senor reflects on his path — from growing up in the shadow of Holocaust memory, to his time on the ground in Iraq during a defining moment in U.S. foreign policy, to becoming a bestselling author with Start-Up Nation and The Genius of Israel. Now, as the host of the successful podcast Call Me Back, he examines the role of narrative in shaping public understanding, particularly in the context of the U.S.–Israel relationship. Against the backdrop of October 7 and its aftermath, this episode grapples with questions of global instability, rising antisemitism, generational divides within American Jewry, and the future of Israel’s place in the world. Ultimately, it is a conversation about navigating uncertainty — personally and collectively — and about the destinations we are still struggling to define. Learn more about Dan’s work https://www.dansenor.com/ Check out Ark Media’s podcasts https://arkmedia.org/ Follow Dan on X https://x.com/dansenor?lang=en Dan Senor’s IG https://www.instagram.com/dansenor/ Rabbi Ingber’s IG https://www.instagram.com/rabbiingber 92NY Bronfman Center  Events

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About

Wisdom gleaned from life’s twists and turns. “May all your detours be destinations.” Rabbi David Ingber received that blessing from a dear friend many years ago and never forgot it. The echo of those words continues to resonate and inspire today. Can we reframe obstacles as opportunities? How do we recognize when a stumbling block truly is a stairway? In this new podcast, Rabbi Ingber sits down with thought leaders, changemakers, and spiritual seekers, for heart-centered conversations about the winding paths we take, and the insights gleaned along the way. These are conversations about resilience, transformation, the beauty and messiness of being human — a touchstone for listeners seeking wisdom in perilous times.

Information

  • Creator
    92NY's Rabbi David Ingber
  • Years Active
    2025 - 2026
  • Episodes
    28
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Detours & Destinations 2025
  • Show Website
    Detours & Destinations

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