The Voices of Emanu El Podcast

What does it take to build a shared society when fear and mistrust run deep? In this episode of The Voices of Emanu El, recorded at Congregation Emanu El on October 15, 2026, Rabbi Oren Hayon welcomes Mohammed Darawshe of Givat Haviva for a candid discussion about relations between Jewish and Arab citizens of Israel after October 7. Drawing on his own family’s experiences of loss, belonging, and friendship, Darawshe explores the challenges of rebuilding trust and the practical work that makes partnership possible. From bringing Jewish and Arab students together to supporting mixed workplaces and placing teachers across communities, Darawshe describes an approach rooted in shared needs, equal citizenship, and sustained human connection. His message is an invitation to do the work of building a shared future.

Who are we beneath the stories we tell the world—and ourselves? In this episode of The Voices of Emanu El, guest Rabbi David Segal brings the story of Rebecca in Chayei Sarah into conversation with Elizabeth Holmes’s public persona and the demands of an always-online culture. Along the way, he explores how we present different versions of ourselves, why we need space away from the performance, and what Jewish tradition teaches about aligning our inner and outer lives. Through Shabbat rest and the practice of “self-midrash”—examining our own stories with the curiosity we bring to Torah—Rabbi Segal invites us to deepen our self-understanding and live with greater integrity.

What happens when a wish is overheard by a demon? In this episode of The Voices of Emanu El, Rabbi Josh Fixler shares three tales from Jewish folklore, traveling from Israel to Germany and Kurdistan. A wandering soul calls from a tree, an exhausted scribe receives unexpected help, and a midwife answers a mysterious summons. With humor and suspense, Rabbi Fixler brings these stories to life for a different kind of Halloween celebration. Content note: Includes a dark tale with an implied gruesome ending.

Your vote cannot fix everything. But that doesn’t mean it can’t change anything. In this episode of The Voices of Emanu El, Rabbi Josh Fixler draws a line from Abraham’s journey in Lech L’cha to a responsibility we share today: moving from good intentions to meaningful action. Through Torah, Jewish wisdom, and Congregation Emanu El’s nonpartisan voter-engagement efforts, he explores voting as an act of faith in a future we may not complete, but can help build.

What does it mean to love our neighbors—and help shape our country’s future—as people of faith? Recorded on Yom Kippur at Congregation Emanu El, this episode of The Voices of Emanu El brings Rabbi Oren Hayon into conversation with Bishop Tracey Breashears Schultz of the Texas-Louisiana Gulf Coast Synod and Imam Abdullah Antepli, president of the Rothko Chapel. As America marks 250 years of independence, they explore the promises and challenges of American life through Jewish, Christian, and Muslim perspectives. With candor, warmth, and humor, the panel considers religious freedom, antisemitism and Islamophobia, the dangers of exclusion, and the responsibility to confront prejudice within our own communities. Together, they ask how faith can move us beyond fear and division toward justice, compassion, and a more loving, connected America.