Penultimate Episode: Looking Back at Hashivenu Through the Years with Producer Sam Wachs
Episode 607 · August 17th, 2026 · 49 mins 59 secs
About this Episode
Just weeks before her tenure as President and CEO of Reconstructing Judaism comes to a close, Rabbi Deborah Waxman is joined by Hashivenu's longtime producer and editor Sam Wachs to look back on the podcast's evolution, from its 2017 launch and resilience-focused first season to its later exploration of covenantal community and racial equity. It's a warm, reflective, behind-the-scenes perspective on a project Rabbi Waxman calls one of the great blessings of her presidency.
Episodes Discussed:
@7:00 - Gratitude (11/8/2018)
@18:30 - How to become our fullest, most expressive selves? Practice, practice, practice with Yoshi Silverstein (10/24/2023)
@19:30 - Episode 1: Shabbat with Rabbi Jacob Staub (8/10/2017)
@20:00 - Humor with Rabbi Seth Goldstein (9/29/2017)
Follow @rabbi_360 on [Instagram](rabbi_360) and TikTok
@22:00 - Hineni - Being Present with Rabbi Miriam Klotz (2/13/2018)
@23:40 - Catching Our Breath (3/24/2020)
@27:20 - The Spiritual Activist with Claudia Horwitz (7/1/2019)
@28:00 - Activism with Rabbi Sharon Kleinbaum (12/5/2017)
@28:30 - Episode 10: "You Were Strangers in Egypt": Passover and Sanctuary with Rabbi Elliott Tepperman (3/19/2018)
(Rabbi Teppermans' third appearance is coming soon!)
@30:20 - S2 Ep. 1: Trauma, Healing and Resilience with Rabbi Jessica Rosenberg (3/21/2019)
@31:00 - Finding Sustenance in Covenantal Community with Rabbi Sid Schwarz (12/10/2019)
@34:40 - Being an Ally with Empathy, Humility and Courage with Rabbi Sandra Lawson (12/28/2021)
Rabbi Sandra is currently Executive Director of Carolina Jews For Justice Follow her on Instagram and TikTok and subscribe to her newsletter
@40:00 - Why Voting for the Hatkivah Slate in the World Zionist Congress Matters: A Conversation Across Generations (4/21/2025)
Hope Is a Muscle: The Hatikvah Slate with special guest Rabbi Amichai Lau-Lavie (5/1/2025)
Rabbi Amichai Lau-Lavie returns to discuss Jewish chosenness, love, and his film Sabbath Queen (12/11/2025)
@41:00 - The Jewish Way to a Good Life: A Conversation with Rabbi Shira Stutman (1/30/2026)
The Joy of Camp With Rabbi James Greene (never aired). Follow Rabbi James' work at Jewish Family Service of Western MA
This podcast is produced by Reconstructing Judaism. Visit us at ReconstructingJudaism.org.
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