In this episode, Tamar reflects on a Friday night dinner that took an unexpected turn — a conversation about how one podcast has become a lifeline for American Jews navigating an era of upheaval. Call Me Back, hosted by Dan Senor, is no longer just a podcast. It’s a ritual, a cultural touchstone, and for many, a new pillar of Jewish identity.

Dan Senor joins Tamar to unpack how Call Me Back rose to prominence in the American Jewish world, and why its impact goes far beyond politics or news. It’s about belonging, about searching for clarity in chaos, and about the dialogue between Israel and the diaspora that now feels more urgent than ever.

If you’d like to be in touch with us, contact: jewishcrossroadspod@gmail.com

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In this episode, Tamar sits down with Guri Alfi and Moshe Samuels – the creative minds behind The New Jew, a groundbreaking Israeli documentary series exploring Jewish life in America. Guri, one of Israel’s most beloved comedians, and Moshe, an acclaimed director and producer, aren’t American Jews themselves. But over the last few years, they’ve immersed themselves in the hopes, challenges, and transformations of American Jewry.

Their journey began with a mission: to bridge the growing gap between Israeli and American Jews. That mission took shape in The New Jew, a humorous, heartfelt exploration of Jewish identity across the ocean. Now, after October 7, they’ve returned to the U.S. to ask deeper, harder questions – filming a new season in a very different world.

Tamar speaks with them about what’s changed since their first trip, what surprised them most in Jewish America after October 7, and what Israelis still don’t understand about their American cousins. With insight and candor, they reflect on the shifting relationship between the two largest Jewish communities in the world – and what it means to be part of a global Jewish story in a time of crisis and reconnection.

This episode was recorded in March 2025, and reflects events and sentiments from that time.*

If you’d like to be in touch with us, contact: jewishcrossroadspod@gmail.com

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In this episode of Jewish Crossroads, Tamar sits down with Rabbi Angela Buchdahl – Senior Rabbi of Central Synagogue in New York and one of the most influential spiritual leaders in America today. Rabbi Buchdahl leads one of the largest and most vibrant congregations in the country, but what truly sets her apart is her ability to connect across lines of age, identity, and ideology.

With honesty and grace, she tackles some of the most pressing questions facing Jews today: What does it mean to lead in a moment of profound crisis? How do we maintain Jewish unity in a time of growing fragmentation? And what role does faith play in coping with a world that can feel increasingly chaotic – and, at times, hostile?

In this wide-ranging conversation, Rabbi Buchdahl opens up about the responsibilities of leadership, the shifting terrain of American Jewish life, and how we can meet this moment with courage, compassion, and clarity.

* The episode was recorded in February 2025, and therefore any recent events, such as attacks, align with that timeline.

If you would like to be in touch with us, contact: jewishcrossroadspod@gmail.com

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