Just For This

Welcome back to Just For This. Each week, host Rabbi Liz P.G. Hirsch (she/her) interviews women in leadership about women and leadership. Inspired by the story of Esther, we feature powerful stories of women who stand out in their fields, who have stepped up just for this moment.  Our season 4 finale guest is Rabbi Lea Mühlstein, former International Chair of Arzenu – the political voice of Reform, Progressive and Liberal Religious Zionists. As chair of Arzenu, Rabbi Mühlstein worked to represent the interests of ARZENU's constituent groups in 14 countries around the world. She is now the chair of the European Union for Progressive Judaism and one of the senior rabbis of The Ark Synagogue in the London suburbs. We discuss successes at the recent World Zionist Congress and what it means to step up and lead in Europe and around the world. Stay tuned for more Just For This moments next season. Follow Just For This on instagram: @justforthispodcast  

Welcome back to Just For This. Each week, host Rabbi Liz P.G. Hirsch (she/her) interviews women in leadership about women and leadership. Inspired by the story of Esther, we feature powerful stories of women who stand out in their fields, who have stepped up just for this moment.  Our guest this week is Shannon Sarna, author of The Modern Jewish Baker and Modern Jewish Comfort Food. She was also the founding editor of the Nosher. We discuss how food connects people, the power of coming together around a table, and the process of writing a cookbook, particularly as a mom.  Listeners can learn more about Shannon's recipes by following her on Instagram: @shasarna. Follow Just For This on Instagram: @justforthispodcast

Happy Hanukkah, Just For This listeners! Each week, host Rabbi Liz P.G. Hirsch (she/her) interviews women in leadership about women and leadership. Inspired by the story of Esther, we feature powerful stories of women who stand out in their fields, who have stepped up just for this moment.  Our guest this week is Ilana Kaufman, CEO of the Jews of Color Initiative. Ilana is a prominent thought leader advancing the communal field for Jews of Color and, by extension, the U.S. Jewish Community. We discuss the impossible prompt to choose between identities, the power of philanthropy within the Jewish community, and how tokenism can harm a welcoming environment. Follow Just For This on instagram: @justforthispodcast

Welcome back to Just For This. Each week, host Rabbi Liz P.G. Hirsch (she/her) interviews women in leadership about women and leadership. Inspired by the story of Esther, we feature powerful stories of women who stand out in their fields, who have stepped up just for this moment.  Our guest this week is Dr. Beth Oppenheim, newly appointed CEO to HIAS, the world's oldest refugee aid organization. HIAS draws on Jewish values and history to advocate for the rights of displaced people and helps them rebuild their lives. Oppenheim is HIAS' first female CEO in its over 120-year history.  Just For This listeners can also check out Jewish Women's Archive's Can We Talk. WRJ was recently mentioned in an episode focused on an exhibit at the Capital Jewish Museum on LGBTQ Jewish life and history. In 1965, WRJ was the first Jewish organization to call for the decriminalization of homosexuality, long before other Jewish organizations followed suit. Follow Just For This on instagram: @justforthispodcast

Welcome back to Just For This. Each week, host Rabbi Liz P.G. Hirsch (she/her) interviews women in leadership about women and leadership. Inspired by the story of Esther, we feature powerful stories of women who stand out in their fields, who have stepped up just for this moment.  Our guest this week is Amanda Berman, the founder and CEO of Zioness, where she works to empower and activate Zionists on the progressive left and fights for inclusion of Zionists in social justice spaces. We talk about the recent success of the Reform slate at the World Zionist Congress, creating a feminist Zionist space, and the power of Jewish pride. Follow Just For This on instagram: @justforthispodcast

Welcome back to Just For This. Each week, host Rabbi Liz P.G. Hirsch (she/her) interviews women in leadership about women and leadership. Inspired by the story of Esther, we feature powerful stories of women who stand out in their fields, who have stepped up just for this moment.  Our guest this week is Jamie Simon, the first female CEO of Foundation for Jewish Camp. Her organization is the only nonprofit whose singular mission is to grow, support, and strengthen the Jewish camp movement.  We discuss the power of camp, the formation of Jewish role models, and creating a safe, healing place for Jewish children. Follow Just For This on instagram: @justforthispodcast

Welcome back to Just For This. Each week, host Rabbi Liz P.G. Hirsch (she/her) interviews women in leadership about women and leadership. Inspired by the story of Esther, we feature powerful stories of women who stand out in their fields, who have stepped up just for this moment.  Our guest this week is Sarah Levin, Executive Director of JIMENA: Jews Indigenous to the Middle East and North Africa. Founded in 2002, JIMENA is the only organization in North America exclusively focused on educating and advocating on behalf of Jewish refugees and Mizrahi Jews from Arab countries. We discuss the reclaiming of the term "Mizrahi" in Judaism, Queen Esther's Persian background, and embracing the wholeness of your identity. Follow Just For This on instagram: @justforthispodcast

Welcome back to Just For This. Each week, host Rabbi Liz P.G. Hirsch (she/her) interviews women in leadership about women and leadership. Inspired by the story of Esther, we feature powerful stories of women who stand out in their fields, who have stepped up just for this moment.  Our guest this week is Jaimie Krass, newly appointed President and CEO of Keshet. Keshet is a national organization that envisions a world in which all LGBTQ+ Jews and families can live with full equality, justice, and dignity. We talk about countering the rise in anti-LGBTQ bias and legislation in the United States and the work we all must do to build an inclusive and just future. We will take a two-week break from the show as Rabbi Hirsch travels to Israel for the World Zionist Congress. More Just For This moments to come later this month.  Follow Just For This on instagram: @justforthispodcast

Welcome back to Just For This. Each week, host Rabbi Liz P.G. Hirsch (she/her) interviews women in leadership about women and leadership. Inspired by the story of Esther, we feature powerful stories of women who stand out in their fields, who have stepped up just for this moment.  Our guest this week is Allison Tombros Korman. She is the founder and CEO of the Red Tent Fund, a nonprofit national abortion fund rooted in the Jewish values and teachings that affirm the right to abortion for all. The Red Tent Fund is a proud grantee of WRJ's philanthropic arm, the YES Fund. We discuss feeling comfortable in your identity in the workplace, reclaiming the faith-based perspective on abortion, and the importance of abortion funds themselves. Follow Just For This on instagram: @justforthispodcast You can also follow Chutzpod: @chutzpod_

Welcome back to Just For This. Each week, host Rabbi Liz P.G. Hirsch (she/her) interviews women in leadership about women and leadership. Inspired by the story of Esther, we feature powerful stories of women who stand out in their fields, who have stepped up just for this moment.  Our guest this week is Chelsey Goldberg. She is a professional American ice hockey player. She brought women's ice hockey to the Maccabiah Games in Israel and was captain of the United States team in 2022.  We talk about pursuing dreams, celebrating Jewish identity through athletics, and what it will take to achieve gender parity on and off the ice. Follow Just For This on instagram: @justforthispodcast You can also follow Chutzpod: @chutzpod_

Welcome back to Just For This. Each week, host Rabbi Liz P.G. Hirsch (she/her) interviews women in leadership about women and leadership. Inspired by the story of Esther, we feature powerful stories of women who stand out in their fields, who have stepped up just for this moment.  Our guest this week is Senator Jacky Rosen. She has served as the junior senator for Nevada since 2019. She is also the first member of the senate to previously serve as a temple president. We discuss the dilemma of security expenses for synagogues and other houses of worship, the need for bipartisan support to combat hate, and a story of hope as we enter the new Jewish year. Follow Just For This on instagram: @justforthispodcast

Welcome back to Just For This. Each week, host Rabbi Liz P.G. Hirsch (she/her) interviews women in leadership about women and leadership. Inspired by the story of Esther, we feature powerful stories of women who stand out in their fields, who have stepped up just for this moment.  Our guest this week is former Obama White House speechwriter and author Sarah Hurwitz. Her new book, "As A Jew," is now available for purchase. We discuss how Jewish history shapes our present moment and the power of owning our tradition and our legacy.  Follow Just For This on instagram: @justforthispodcast  

Welcome back to Just For This. Each week, host Rabbi Liz P.G. Hirsch (she/her) interviews women in leadership about women and leadership. Inspired by the story of Esther, we feature powerful stories of women who stand out in their fields, who have stepped up just for this moment.  Our season 4 premiere guest is Cantor Becky Mann. Becky serves as the Assistant Cantor at Temple Israel of Westport, CT, in addition to visiting Jewish communities across the country as an Artist in Residence. You can catch her on tour through Spring 2026. We discuss the power of mentorship, how songleading builds essential skills, and the evolution of egalitarianism in worship settings. Stay tuned for more Just For This moments as season 4 continues.  Follow Just For This on instagram: @justforthispodcast

Welcome back to Just For This. Each week, host Rabbi Liz P.G. Hirsch (she/her) interviews women in leadership about women and leadership. Inspired by the story of Esther, we feature powerful stories of women who stand out in their fields, who have stepped up just for this moment.  Our season 3 finale guest is Mandy Gonzalez, Broadway actress and recording artist. Mandy originated the role of Nina Rosario in the Off-Broadway and Broadway productions of the musical In the Heights. You can currently see her on Broadway as the alternate Norma Desmond in the Tony-winning revival of Sunset Boulevard. We discuss the importance of representation in the arts, how best to bring depth of yourself to every role you play, and how bravery and diversity can drive acceptance. Stay tuned for more Just For This moments next season. Follow Just For This on instagram: @justforthispodcast

Welcome back to Just For This. Each week, host Rabbi Liz P.G. Hirsch interviews women in leadership about women and leadership. Inspired by the story of Esther, we feature powerful stories of women who stand out in their fields, who have stepped up just for this moment.   This week, we are joined by both Yochi Rappeport and Hallel Silverman. Yochi Rappeport is Executive Director of Women of the Wall, where she advocates for the right of Jewish women of all denominations to pray, wear prayer shawls, and read from the Torah at the Western Wall (Kotel). Women of the Wall is also a long-time grantee through the YES (Youth, Education, Special Projects) Fund, WRJ's philanthropic arm. Hallel Silverman is a leading content creator for Liberal Zionism across social media as @justhallel and a prominent figure in Israel's protest movement for democracy. In this moment when Israel is under continued threat, we stand with the people of Israel and must remember that the Jewish people are one people.   We discuss the journeys that led Yochi and Hallel to Women of the Wall, the parallels between the fight for women's inclusion in religious spaces in Israel and the United States, and the importance that personal connections play in organizing.   Follow Just For This on Instagram: @justforthispodcast  

Welcome back to Just For This. Each week, host Rabbi Liz P.G. Hirsch (she/her) interviews women in leadership about women and leadership. Inspired by the story of Esther, we feature powerful stories of women who stand out in their fields, who have stepped up just for this moment.  Our guest this week is Ruth Messinger, Global Ambassador for American Jewish World Service and former Manhattan Borough President. Ruth is also a past recipient of the Dr. Jane Evans "Pursuit of Justice" Award, Women of Reform Judaism's highest honor. We discuss the importance of moral courage when it comes to activism, female leadership within the Jewish world, and the current necessary work on immigration and refugee services. Follow Just For This on instagram: @justforthispodcast

Welcome back to Just For This. Each week, host Rabbi Liz P.G. Hirsch (she/her) interviews women in leadership about women and leadership. Inspired by the story of Esther, we feature powerful stories of women who stand out in their fields, who have stepped up just for this moment.  This week we welcome return guest Elana Arian. Elana is a composer, multi-instrumentalist, and prayer leader. Her new album, "If We Loved Like That," is available on all streaming platforms. We discuss the comfort of community through song and how songs can inspire bravery and hope. We also get a live preview of the new album. Follow Just For This on instagram: @justforthispodcast  

Welcome back to Just For This. Each week, host Rabbi Liz P.G. Hirsch (she/her) interviews women in leadership about women and leadership. Inspired by the story of Esther, we feature powerful stories of women who stand out in their fields, who have stepped up just for this moment.  Our guest this week is Jen Fisher, wellness expert and founder and CEO of the Wellbeing Team. Her new book, "Hope IS the Strategy," will be available in early 2026. We discuss personal reflections on wellbeing in and outside of the office, the importance of flexible work environments, and the subjectivity of productivity. Follow Just For This on instagram: @justforthispodcast

Welcome back to Just For This. Each week, host Rabbi Liz P.G. Hirsch (she/her) interviews women in leadership about women and leadership. Inspired by the story of Esther, we feature powerful stories of women who stand out in their fields, who have stepped up just for this moment.  Our guest this week is Rachel Gildiner, Executive Director of SRE (Safety Respect Equity) Network. SRE encourages Jewish workplaces and communal spaces in becoming safe, respectful, and equitable through network building, resource sharing, and community investments. WRJ is a proud member organization and grantee of the network.  We discuss the power of relationship-based engagement, different ways to address power-based abuse in the Jewish community, and what it takes to be committed to doing this challenging systemic work. Follow Just For This on instagram: @justforthispodcast

Welcome back to Just For This. Each week, host Rabbi Liz P.G. Hirsch (she/her) interviews women in leadership about women and leadership. Inspired by the story of Esther, we feature powerful stories of women who stand out in their fields, who have stepped up just for this moment.  Our guest this week is Annie Sklaver Orenstein, cultural researcher and author of "Always a Sibling: The Forgotten Mourner's Guide to Grief." Her book explores the deep and often diminished experience of sibling loss. We discuss the false correlation of closeness with grief, how grief is a true expression of love, and the power of shiva in Jewish tradition. Follow Just For This on instagram: @justforthispodcast