Defining Moments

Rabbi David Fine
  • 5.0 (1)
  • JUDAISM
  • EVERY TWO WEEKS

We are living in a unique historical moment of great import, and experiencing defining moments every day. In this podcast, you will gain greater insight as to why this time in the history of Israel and the Jewish people is so significant by meeting the heroes who imbue us with pride, inspiration and optimism.

  1. 5 DAYS AGO

    Can the American Shul Model work in Israel?

    Rabbi Larry Rothwach is one of the most respected pulpit rabbis in America. He’s been the rabbi of Congregation Beth Aaron in Teaneck for over twenty-two years. During that time, he watched twenty percent of his community make aliyah. They’d call him from Israel and tell him the same thing: we love it here, but we miss having a shul that’s really a community, a rabbi who knows our names, a kehilla that’s there for us in moments of joy and crisis. Now he’s making aliyah himself to build exactly that - a new community called Meromei Shemesh in Ramat Beit Shemesh. He’s also the Director of Professional Rabbinics at RIETS, which means he’s been training the next generation of American rabbis in pastoral care and community leadership - work that overlaps deeply with what we do at Barkai for Israeli rabbis. Today we talk about what American communities have that Israeli ones often lack, whether that model can actually take root in Israeli soil, and what it means to start over and build something from nothing at a stage in life when most people are slowing down.   הפקה: DABRU לפרסום ושיתופי פעולה צרו קשר במייל- info@dabru.biz

    1h 1m

  2. 5 JAN

    Amit and Arik Baron - Two Languages, One Home | Ep 15

    Amit and Arik Baron are a “mixed” couple—one became religious, one didn’t. More common than you’d think. Ami Baram, founder of Hitkashrut Zugit—an organization that supports these couples—shared just before October 7th that about 20% of Israelis are moving closer to religious observance while 13% are moving further away. A full third of our people are in flux. In this clip from the upcoming Defining Moments podcast, Arik and Amit offer a surprising insight: their kids are the answer. Children from these marriages grow up bilingual—fluent in both religious and secular worlds. What if we learned from them? What if we trained ourselves to speak both languages? We’d all be better off. הפקה: DABRU לפרסום ושיתופי פעולה צרו קשר במייל- info@dabru.biz הפקה: DABRU

    59 min

  3. 27/11/2025

    Rabbi Josh Broide - Rolling Out the Red Carpet for Jewish Unity | Ep 14

    Welcome to Defining Moments. I’m Rabbi David Fine. Today’s guest is Rabbi Josh Broide, a walking contradiction in the best possible way. After 25 transformative years in Boca Raton—holding numerous important community positions—Josh made aliyah to Israel this past summer. He’s thrilled to be living his Zionist dream while remaining passionately committed to the community he served in South Florida. Josh has dedicated his life to a singular vision: bringing Jews closer to Jewish life and helping Jews of all backgrounds truly get along with one another. He’s the rabbi who literally rolls out a red carpet for first-time visitors to shul, who received the Jerusalem Unity Prize from the President of Israel for his work in bringing community together, and whose boundless warmth, energy, and creativity have touched thousands of lives.

    52 min

  4. 07/11/2025

    417 Days: Yona Brief’s Battle to Choose Life

    417. That’s how many days Yona Brief fought for his life after being shot 13 times on October 7th while trying to save his fallen friends in Kfar Aza. 417 days that his parents never left his side. 417 days that transformed a hospital room into a place of hope, filled with music, laughter, and an unshakeable will to live. 417 blood donation units collected in his memory on what would have been his 24th birthday.** Yona was defined as the most severely wounded soldier of the Iron Swords War. Yet in Room 11 of Sheba Medical Center - which the staff still calls “Yona’s room” - this 23-year-old combat medic with an infectious smile and boundless שמחת חיים taught everyone around him what it means to choose life, even when everything is collapsing. The doctors say they changed their protocols because of him and saved other soldiers because of what his battle taught them. Today, David and Hazel Brief share the story of their son - a fighter, a peacemaker, and a young man whose legacy teaches us all what it means to truly live. This is Defining Moments with Rabbi David Fine.

    1h 2m

  5. 28/09/2025

    When the Tower Calls: From Pilot Dreams to Guiding Communities Through Turbulence

    In this episode I have the honor to speak with my Rav and Barkai partner, Rav Shlomo Sobol. We spoke just before Rosh Hashana, a very busy time for rabbis. We spoke about his own path to the rabbinate, his shlichut in Detroit which led to his envisioning Barkai, his time at Merkaz HaRav and the importance of Rav Kook’s Torah for our generation amongst many other topics. הפקה: DABRU לפרסום ושיתופי פעולה צרו קשר במייל- info@dabru.biz

    50 min

  6. 23/07/2025

    Defining Moments | Matthew Miller | ep 12

    Welcome to the Defining Moments podcast. Today we’re joined by Matthew Miller, publisher of Koren Publishers Jerusalem, one of the world’s leading Jewish publishing house. After growing up in a non-observant household and running a British multinational corporation, Matthew made aliyah in 1999. He later acquired Koren Publishers and transformed it from a company publishing just a handful of titles into a publishing powerhouse releasing new works every week. Under Matthew’s leadership, Koren has become synonymous with intellectual rigor and beautiful design, bringing us game-changing works like the Koren Sacks Siddur and the groundbreaking Koren Talmud Bavli. Today, we’ll get a behind-the-scenes look at Jewish book publishing. We’ll hear about working with Rabbis Sacks and Steinsaltz, learn how Koren differs from ArtScroll, discover why aesthetics matter in prayer, and explore Matthew’s remarkable journey from secular corporate executive to the publisher who has fundamentally changed how Modern Orthodox and Religious Zionist communities learn and pray.   produced by DABRU

    59 min

  7. 20/05/2025

    Rabbi Hayim Navon | ep 11

    Welcome to “Defining Moments.” Today I’m honored to be joined by Rabbi Hayim Navon, a distinguished Israeli rabbi, philosopher, and writer whose work has profoundly influenced modern Jewish thought. Rabbi Navon has recently published a deeply moving book titled “מעשה בצדיק ואלונקה” – “A Tale of a Righteous Man and a Stretcher.” This powerful work commemorates the students and graduates of Hesder yeshivas who fell in the first year of the war, documenting their lives, values, and extraordinary commitment to Torah study, Chessed, their hobbies, and the defense of Israel. We’ll explore what the significantly higher casualty rate among Hesder students reveals about religious Zionism today, and discuss how these young men heard the call of history and divine purpose in their service - a calling that some other sectors of religious society have responded to differently. And finally, we’ll touch on the unique contributions of the Anglo community in Israel and some of the challenges it faces, particularly regarding deeper integration with broader Israeli culture and society. Rabbi Navon’s book stands as a memorial and an inspiration, capturing the essence of these young men who embodied the highest ideals of religious Zionism. Rabbi Navon, thank you for joining us today to discuss this important work. produced by DABRU

    47 min

  8. 17/04/2025

    Community Resilience in Crisis: Gila Tolub on Healing Israel's Collective Trauma

    Don't miss our riveting new Defining Moments podcast featuring Gila Tolub, the visionary Executive Director of ICAR Collective! In response to October 7th's profound impact, ICAR coordinates experts across medicine, psychology, and public health to address Israel's trauma crisis where 60% of Israelis have experienced symptoms of PTSD. Our conversation explores both ICAR's vital work aligning hundreds of fragmented organizations and fascinating research on what truly drives recovery—including the surprising power of community structures and spiritual leadership in trauma healing. Gila shares insights on how coordinated clinical services combined with strong community networks create the most effective path to resilience. Join us for this essential discussion on addressing national trauma through integrated approaches that might not only heal wounds but potentially transform crisis into an opportunity for collective growth and renewed strength.​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​

    1h 6m
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About

We are living in a unique historical moment of great import, and experiencing defining moments every day. In this podcast, you will gain greater insight as to why this time in the history of Israel and the Jewish people is so significant by meeting the heroes who imbue us with pride, inspiration and optimism.

Information

  • Creator
    Rabbi David Fine
  • Years Active
    2024 - 2026
  • Episodes
    18
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    ©2024
  • Show Website
    Defining Moments