What Gives? The Jewish Philanthropy Podcast

Jewish Funders Network
  • 4.8 (12)
  • JUDAISM

The issues, stories, and people changing the world in philanthropy and the Jewish community. If you like "What Gives?" be sure to check out "Outside the Tzedakah Box" (https://honeycomb.org/podcast-outside-tzedakah-box/) a podcast on Jewish youth philanthropy from JFN's Honeycomb.

  1. 5D AGO

    Zack Bodner - Reimagining the Jewish Town Square

    Episode 75 of What Gives?—the Jewish Philanthropy Podcast from Jewish Funders Network, hosted by JFN President and CEO Andrés Spokoiny. In this episode, Andrés speaks with Zack Bodner, CEO of the Oshman Family JCC in Palo Alto and founder of the Z3 Project. Zack has spent more than a decade reimagining what a Jewish community center can be in an era of polarization, loneliness, and rapidly shifting modes of belonging. Recorded in the aftermath of the Bondi Beach attack in Sydney, the conversation begins with a reflection on communal resilience and leadership in painful moments. Andrés and Zack explore what it means to build “town square” institutions that can hold difference without losing their core values, including how to think about boundaries, platforming, and creating brave spaces for hard conversations. They also discuss Silicon Valley’s culture of experimentation, the evolving role of JCCs, and how projects like Z3 aim to generate ideas, convene diverse voices, and help shape the Jewish future. Take a listen.

    49 min

  2. JAN 28

    Jay Ruderman - Representation, Responsibility, and Real Change

    Episode 74 of What Gives?—the Jewish Philanthropy Podcast from Jewish Funders Network, hosted by JFN President and CEO Andrés Spokoiny. In this episode, Andrés speaks with Jay Ruderman, President of the Ruderman Family Foundation and author of the book Find Your Fight: Make Your Voice Heard for the Causes that Matter. Jay has spent years pushing institutions, media, and communities to think more seriously about representation, access, and belonging for people with disabilities. Drawing on Jay's decades of advocacy and the ideas at the heart of his book, he reflects on how leaders and institutions can move from good intentions to meaningful action. Together, Jay and Andrés explore why authentic representation matters, how philanthropy can drive systemic change, and what it really takes to build a more inclusive Jewish and civic life. Take a listen.

    46 min

  3. 11/05/2025

    Ronen Koehler - From Command to Community: Leading in Times of Crisis

    Episode 73 of What Gives?—the Jewish Philanthropy Podcast from Jewish Funders Network, hosted by JFN President and CEO Andrés Spokoiny. In this episode, Andrés speaks with Ronen Koehler, a former submarine commander and a leader of Brothers and Sisters in Arms. We recorded this conversation during Israel’s war with Iran, with Ronen joining us from inside a public shelter in Tel Aviv. He reflects on the urgent, grassroots work of transforming neglected public shelters into safe and humane spaces, the evolution of Brothers and Sisters in Arms since October 7th, and the leadership lessons he carries from military service to civil society. It’s a conversation about resilience, responsibility, and the power of citizens to step up when systems falter. Take a listen.

    40 min

  4. 10/16/2025

    Dr. Keren Fraiman and Dr. Sivan Zakai - The Future of Israel Education

    Episode 72 of What Gives?—the Jewish Philanthropy Podcast from Jewish Funders Network, hosted by JFN President and CEO Andrés Spokoiny. In this episode, Andrés speaks with Dr. Keren Fraiman, Dean and Chief Academic Officer of Spertus Institute for Jewish Learning and Leadership, and Dr. Sivan Zakai, Professor of Jewish Education at Hebrew Union College–Jewish Institute of Religion and director of the Children’s Learning About Israel Project. Both are leading researchers in Jewish education whose work examines how young people form their understanding of Israel, identity, and Jewish life. And both are recent recipients of the Ilia Salita Excellence in Research Award for the work they’ve done in this field. In this conversation, we explore their latest findings, what Jewish children are really learning and feeling, and how funders and educators can better support honest, nuanced approaches to Israel education in today’s climate. Take a listen.

    53 min

  5. 09/17/2025

    Sarah Hurwitz - Reclaiming Jewish Identity and Peoplehood

    Episode 71 of What Gives?—the Jewish Philanthropy Podcast from Jewish Funders Network, hosted by JFN President and CEO Andrés Spokoiny. In this episode, our guest is Sarah Hurwitz, former speechwriter for President Barack Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama, and the author of two widely discussed books about Jewish life and identity. Her newest book, As a Jew: Reclaiming Our Story from Those Who Blame, Shame, and Try to Erase Us, challenges us to rethink how centuries of prejudice have shaped Jewish self-understanding, and why now is the time for a more confident and substantive embrace of Jewish tradition and peoplehood. Sarah spoke about what it means to live as a Jew “without apology,” why shallow or self-deprecating Jewish identities aren’t enough in this moment, and how young Jews especially can ground themselves in real content and community. Take a listen.

    52 min

  6. 07/29/2025

    Elias Saratovsky - Immersive Israel Travel and the Future of Jewish Identity

    Episode 70 of What Gives?—the Jewish philanthropy podcast from Jewish Funders Network, hosted by JFN President and CEO Andrés Spokoiny. In this episode, we speak with Elias Saratovsky, President and CEO of the Birthright Israel Foundation. As Birthright turns 25, we reflect not just on the nearly 900,000 young Jews who’ve visited Israel through this transformative program, but on how immersive travel, identity, and belonging are being reimagined for a new generation. Elias shares his personal story, from growing up in a family of Soviet Jewish immigrants with little Jewish identity, to going on the very first Birthright trip in 1999, to now stewarding the future of the most ambitious Jewish educational initiative of our time. Elias and Andrés explore how Birthright adapted through a pandemic and a war, why pride and not propaganda is its most powerful product, and how a second trip to Israel might be even more important than the first. Take a listen.

    54 min

  7. 07/09/2025

    Shai Held - Judaism is About Love

    Episode 69 of What Gives?—the Jewish philanthropy podcast from Jewish Funders Network, hosted by JFN President and CEO Andrés Spokoiny. In this episode, we speak with Shai Held, President and Dean of the Hadar Institute and author of the new book Judaism Is About Love: Recovering the Heart of Jewish Life. Shai returns for his second appearance on this podcast to talk about the enduring caricature of the “Old Testament God,” and how that distortion has shaped both Jewish and Christian imaginations. Shai and Andrés explore why many rabbis feel ill-equipped to support spiritual seekers, how the trauma of October 7 has intensified theological yearning, and what role funders can play in revitalizing Jewish conversations about God. You’ll hear why Shai believes that real love, the kind rooted in justice, compassion, and mutual responsibility, is the most powerful force we can bring to a fractured world. Take a listen.

    52 min

  8. 06/25/2025

    Josh Miller - How Great Grants Get Made (and What Happens When They Don’t)

    Episode 68 of What Gives?—the Jewish philanthropy podcast from Jewish Funders Network, hosted by JFN President and CEO Andrés Spokoiny. In this episode, we speak with Josh Miller, Chief Program Officer at the Jim Joseph Foundation. Over the past 17 years, Josh has helped shape some of the most significant philanthropic investments in Jewish education and talent development. In this episode, we talk about how the field of Jewish philanthropy has professionalized, why general operating and multi-year grants are smarter bets, and what it really takes to support meaningful innovation, whether inside legacy institutions or bold new ventures. Josh also reflects on the “accidental” path that led him into Jewish professional life, the critical importance of field experience for funders, and how October 7 has reshaped our sense of urgency, purpose, and possibility. Take a listen.

    51 min
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Ratings & Reviews

4.8
out of 5
12 Ratings

About

The issues, stories, and people changing the world in philanthropy and the Jewish community. If you like "What Gives?" be sure to check out "Outside the Tzedakah Box" (https://honeycomb.org/podcast-outside-tzedakah-box/) a podcast on Jewish youth philanthropy from JFN's Honeycomb.

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