For the Love of Judaism

Rabbi Michael Pont
  • 5.0 (23)
  • JUDAISM
  • UPDATED WEEKLY

Rabbi Michael Pont, Senior Rabbi at Marlboro Jewish Center, shares his message of love, inspiration and Torah.

  1. JAN 30

    Dying with Dignity

    When a person is near the end of their life loved ones are often faced with some of the most difficult issues they will ever face as a family. No matter what the circumstance, all of us want those we care about to live, and to die, on their terms. Making that happen often the responsibility of people like Dr. Howard Stein, Medical Director of Bioethics at Centrastate Hospital in Freehold, who joined Rabbi Pont this week for a wide reaching conversation about bioethics, New Jersey's Medical Aid in Dying Act, and how to help families and patients go through these horrible moments with dignity.

    28 min

  2. JAN 19

    Arson in Mississippi

    By now all of us have heard about the brazen act of antisemitism that befell Congregation Beth Israel in Jackson, Mississippi. On Saturday, January 10th, an arsonist set this 166 year old Synagogue ablaze in an irrily similar attack to the one that this same Congregation experienced in 1967 from the Ku Klux Klan. As we celebrate the memory and legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King this week, Rabbi Pont sat down with Robyn Ringel Pollack, a former Board Member at Congregation Beth Israel whose family has been members there for four generations. To help Congregation Beth Israel rebuild visit https://www.bethisraelms.org.

    21 min

  3. JAN 11

    Issues of Interfaith Marriage

    Issues surrounding interfaith marriage and the roles clergy can or can’t play in these ceremonies have long been taboo within conservative Judaism. But in today's world, where nearly 75% of non-Orthodox married Jews are married to someone of a different faith, the status quo is no longer sustainable for the Conservative Movement. On this episode, Rabbi Pont is joined by the perfect guest to explore these issues—his friend and colleague, Rabbi Aaron Brusso. Rabbi Brusso is the Senior Rabbi at Congregation Bet Torah in Mount Kisco, New York, and co-chair of the Rabbinical Assembly’s Intermarriage Working Group. Rabbi Brusso is deeply involved in reshaping how the Rabbinical Assembly, in partnership with the Cantors Assembly and United Synagogue of Conservative Judaism, is rethinking interfaith marriage and the processes surrounding it for clergy, Jewish professionals, and communities. Whether interfaith marriage is part of your life now or might be in the future, this is an episode you won’t want to miss.

    41 min

  4. 11/28/2025

    What Louis Brandeis Knows

    Louis Brandeis was among the most prominent figures of his time. He was also the first Jewish person ever appointed to the Supreme Court. His life, his values and his Judaism offer important lessons which are detailed in a brand me childrens' book, What Louis Brandeis Knows by author Richard Michelson. Richard is a return guest to the podcast, having previously been interviewed about his book Next Year at the White House. This conversation offers a look at a unique figure in American Jewish history from his childhood through his appointment to the Supreme Court and focuses on Brandeis's fight for social justice, emphasizing lessons about equality, privacy, and workers' rights that he learned from his father and uncle.

    39 min

  5. 11/14/2025

    Judaism through Art

    Judaism can be expressed in many different ways. For someone with a creative soul, art can become a way to make the intangible—faith, history, ethics, resilience—visible. It reflects the Jewish impulse to question, to interpret, and then re-interpret, much like Torah study itself.  Enter Adar Darnov, a graphic artist who uses his art as a means to expressing the Jewish identity he has developed through a life long love of his faith. This week, he caught up with Rabbi Pont to chat about the way art and Judaism are forever intertwined.

    33 min

  6. 10/31/2025

    The Third Generation of Survivors

    More than 80 years since the end of World War II, we will soon reach a point when there are no more living Holocaust survivors. As we experience a surge in antisemitism in the United States and around the world, finding ways to keep their stories of perserverance and survival alive is more important now than ever before.  Enter Wendy Tepper, the Outreach Coordinator for 3GNJ, an organization that trains the grandchildren of Holocaust survivors to tell their grandparents stories. Wendy's grandfather Oscar Cukierman, survived five years in concentration camps before making his way to Italy and eventually to the United States.  In this episode, Wendy shares what it is like to tell her grandfather's story, why it is so important, and how she thinks stories like Oscar Cukierman's help stem the growing tide of antisemitism.

    34 min

  7. 10/17/2025

    The Confidence Blueprint for Teens

    Being a teenager has always been hard, but now it is harder than ever before. From the impact of COVID to social media and cell phone usage, teenagers are struggling to find their place in the world and grow the confidence they need to succeed. Enter Melissa Gohar, an educator and health care professional who has designed a workbook designed to help teenagers quiet their inner-critic, bounce back from failure, set boundaries, and embrace who they really are.  This week Rabbi Pont speaks to Melissa about the workbook in a must-listen episode for every parent or grandparent of a teenager.

    34 min

  8. 10/03/2025

    Trouble Finds Evie Lefkowitz

    Growing up as the Cantor's daughter is not easy. It is even harder when our father dies when you are very young, leaving an even larger shadow for a growing child. This week, Rabbi Pont speaks with author Diana Harmon Asher about her new book, Trouble Finds Evie Lefkowitz, in which the title character lives in the shadow that Diana grew up with. A wonderful book about resilience, childhoom, community and friendship, you will certainly understand why PJ Library chose this book for publication after hearing from Diana.

    36 min
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5
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23 Ratings

About

Rabbi Michael Pont, Senior Rabbi at Marlboro Jewish Center, shares his message of love, inspiration and Torah.

Information

  • Creator
    Rabbi Michael Pont
  • Years Active
    2021 - 2026
  • Episodes
    112
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2026 For the Love of Judaism
  • Show Website
    For the Love of Judaism