The Avrum Rosensweig Show

KAMLOOPS, ST. CATHARINES, FREDERICTON: SMALL CANADIAN JEWISH COMMUNITIES & THEIR AMAZING LEADERS (Audio)

If you want to enhance your pride in being a Jew, and a Canadian watch this interview with three leaders in small Jewish communities across the nation. Here, I interview Heidi Coleman from Kamloops, British Columbia; Howard Slepkov, of St. Catharines, Ontario and Marilyn Kaufman from Fredericton, New Brunswick. Listen to these three powerful Jewish leaders who talk about the history of their communities, leadership, extensive programming, relationship with the State of Israel and their relationship with non-Jews where they live. Hear too their views on the larger Jewish communities across Canada and the potential to create stronger and advantageous relationships with them. I am from Kitchener, Ontario where my father was rabbi, and therefore have a special place in my heart for the smaller Jewish communities. It is for this reason I embrace my guests and am honored to interview them. Am Yisrael Chai. Proud to be a Jew.

KAMLOOPS, ST. CATHARINES, FREDERICTON: SMALL CANADIAN JEWISH COMMUNITIES & THEIR AMAZING LEADERS (Audio/Visual)

If you want to enhance your pride in being a Jew, and a Canadian watch this interview with three leaders in small Jewish communities across the nation. Here, I interview Heidi Coleman from Kamloops, British Columbia; Howard Slepkov, of St. Catharines, Ontario and Marilyn Kaufman from Fredericton, New Brunswick. Listen to these three powerful Jewish leaders who talk about the history of their communities, leadership, extensive programming, relationship with the State of Israel and their relationship with non-Jews where they live. Hear too their views on the larger Jewish communities across Canada and the potential to create stronger and advantageous relationships with them. I am from Kitchener, Ontario where my father was rabbi, and therefore have a special place in my heart for the smaller Jewish communities. It is for this reason I embrace my guests and am honored to interview them. Am Yisrael Chai. Proud to be a Jew.

PARSHA & PROSE WITH RABBI SHLOMO GEMARA: PARSHAT PIKUDEI & 'THE EMPORERS NEW CLOTHES' (Audio)

This week's "PARSHA & PROSE" offers some deeply meaningful reflections. Rabbi Shlomo Gemara’s discussion of the Torah portion, Pikudei through the lens of 'The Emperor's New Clothes', is highly intriguing. The rabbi ties the intricate beauty of the Tabernacle to a more spiritual perspective, and that is emphasizing the importance of seeing God clearly through the magnificence of the structure and what lies within it. 💠The rabbi also speaks about the young boy in Hans Christian Anderson's story, who sees through the illusion of the emporers clothing (or lack thereof) and speaks the truth. It's interesting how the Rabbi highlights the spiritual intelligence and honesty of children—something he says, encourages him to think about particular questions and ideas in Torah he made not have considered otherwise. One can only imagine that kind of purity in thought could make teaching them especially meaningful. 💠The podcast begins with a trailor from "The Killing Roads" documentary created by Igal Hecht. Avrum had interviewed Igal the day before and wanted to highlight the podcast, the documentary and Igal's brilliance at capturing the tragedy of that day. The podcast concluded with prayers sent out to IDF soldiers, their families, and the hostages still in Gaza. 💠It was a powerful episode! Please share, subscribe to Avrum's channel and feel free to be in touch with any questions or ideas. Am Yisrael Chai. Proud to be a Jew.

PARSHA & PROSE WITH RABBI SHLOMO GEMARA: PARSHAT PIKUDEI & 'THE EMPORERS NEW CLOTHES' (Audio/Visual)

This week's "PARSHA & PROSE" offers some deeply meaningful reflections. Rabbi Shlomo Gemara’s discussion of the Torah portion, Pikudei through the lens of 'The Emperor's New Clothes', is highly intriguing. The rabbi ties the intricate beauty of the Tabernacle to a more spiritual perspective, and that is emphasizing the importance of seeing God clearly through the magnificence of the structure and what lies within it. 💠The rabbi also speaks about the young boy in Hans Christian Anderson's story, who sees through the illusion of the emporers clothing (or lack thereof) and speaks the truth. It's interesting how the Rabbi highlights the spiritual intelligence and honesty of children—something he says, encourages him to think about particular questions and ideas in Torah he made not have considered otherwise. One can only imagine that kind of purity in thought could make teaching them especially meaningful. 💠The podcast begins with a trailor from "The Killing Roads" documentary created by Igal Hecht. Avrum had interviewed Igal the day before and wanted to highlight the podcast, the documentary and Igal's brilliance at capturing the tragedy of that day. The podcast concluded with prayers sent out to IDF soldiers, their families, and the hostages still in Gaza. 💠It was a powerful episode! Please share, subscribe to Avrum's channel and feel free to be in touch with any questions or ideas. Am Yisrael Chai. Proud to be a Jew.

'THE KILLING ROADS' ABOUT OCTOBER 7TH: A POWERFUL INTERVIEW WITH SUPERB DOCUMENTARIAN, IGAL HECHT (Audio)

Watch/listen to this powerful interview with Igal Hecht, a documentarian who created, 'The Killing Roads', about Route 232 and Highway 32 in southern Israel where marauding gunmen from Gaza mowed down 250 people in cold blood on OCTOBER 7th. Igal discusses the process of filming this most difficult footage, with mothers, sons and daughters, wives and friends who lost their loved ones during this day of carnage. Igal expresses his passion for Israel and the Jewish people. He encourages the Jewish people In Canada and around the world to fight against anti-Semitism and stand tall and proud as Jews. The documentarian can be found at: www.thekillingroads.com. Please watch it and share it far and wide, so nobody will be able to deny the atrocities that happen to our people and others on OCTOBER 7TH. Am Yisrael Chai!!!

'THE KILLING ROADS' ABOUT OCTOBER 7TH: A POWERFUL INTERVIEW WITH SUPERB DOCUMENTARIAN, IGAL HECHT (Audio/Visual)

Watch/listen to this powerful interview with Igal Hecht, a documentarian who created, 'The Killing Roads', about Route 232 and Highway 32 in southern Israel where marauding gunmen from Gaza mowed down 250 people in cold blood on OCTOBER 7th. Igal discusses the process of filming this most difficult footage, with mothers, sons and daughters, wives and friends who lost their loved ones during this day of carnage. Igal expresses his passion for Israel and the Jewish people. He encourages the Jewish people In Canada and around the world to fight against anti-Semitism and stand tall and proud as Jews. The documentarian can be found at: www.thekillingroads.com. Please watch it and share it far and wide, so nobody will be able to deny the atrocities that happen to our people and others on OCTOBER 7TH. Am Yisrael Chai!!!

AN INTERVIEW WITH RASHI ROSENZWEIG: A SCHMOOZE WITH A CITIZEN OF ISRAEL (Audio)

If you would like to understand Israeli Jews, to get to know someone who made aliyah from Queens, New York (move to Israel) close to thirty years ago, then have a listen to this schmooze with Rashi Rosenzweig. He lives in Raanana, Israel, is married with four boys, and just yesterday found himself, like all other Israelis in the region, running down to a bomb shelter once again, as a ballistic missile made its way from Yemen. In this interview, we learn about the genesis of his first name (Rashi was a famous rabbi found in the Talmud and the Torah), the spelling of his last name (which is different than mine), his passion for acting and knowledge of the city he made aliyah to. Rashi is your classic Israel citizen who share a small country and is deeply in love with the Jewish people. This is an hour and half spent with a man who decided to make Israel his home, and despite the wars and Intifadas never once thought about leaving it. Am Yisrael Chai.

AN INTERVIEW WITH RASHI ROSENZWEIG: A SCHMOOZE WITH A CITIZEN OF ISRAEL (Audio/Visual)

If you would like to understand Israeli Jews, to get to know someone who made aliyah from Queens, New York (move to Israel) close to thirty years ago, then have a listen to this schmooze with Rashi Rosenzweig. He lives in Raanana, Israel, is married with four boys, and just yesterday found himself, like all other Israelis in the region, running down to a bomb shelter once again, as a ballistic missile made its way from Yemen. In this interview, we learn about the genesis of his first name (Rashi was a famous rabbi found in the Talmud and the Torah), the spelling of his last name (which is different than mine), his passion for acting and knowledge of the city he made aliyah to. Rashi is your classic Israel citizen who share a small country and is deeply in love with the Jewish people. This is an hour and half spent with a man who decided to make Israel his home, and despite the wars and Intifadas never once thought about leaving it. Am Yisrael Chai.

PARSHA & PROSE: VAYAKHEL & 'MY NAME IS ASHER LEV' (Audio)

The Torah portion Vayakhel focuses on the communal effort to build the Tabernacle, emphasizing the importance of individual contributions to a collective, sacred goal. Viewed through the lens of My Name is Asher Lev, this theme resonates with the protagonist’s struggle to reconcile his personal artistic vision with the expectations of his religious community. Just as the Israelites are called to contribute their unique skills to create a space for God’s presence, Asher’s art becomes his personal, albeit contentious, means of seeking divine understanding. However, like the voluntary sacrifices made in Vayakhel, Asher's commitment to his art comes at a personal cost—alienating him from his family and community. Both Vayakhel and Asher’s journey reflect the tension between individual expression and communal belonging, and the painful sacrifices that come with pursuing one’s calling in the face of collective expectations.

PARSHA & PROSE: VAYAKHEL & 'MY NAME IS ASHER LEV' ‪(Audio/Visual)

The Torah portion Vayakhel focuses on the communal effort to build the Tabernacle, emphasizing the importance of individual contributions to a collective, sacred goal. Viewed through the lens of My Name is Asher Lev, this theme resonates with the protagonist’s struggle to reconcile his personal artistic vision with the expectations of his religious community. Just as the Israelites are called to contribute their unique skills to create a space for God’s presence, Asher’s art becomes his personal, albeit contentious, means of seeking divine understanding. However, like the voluntary sacrifices made in Vayakhel, Asher's commitment to his art comes at a personal cost—alienating him from his family and community. Both Vayakhel and Asher’s journey reflect the tension between individual expression and communal belonging, and the painful sacrifices that come with pursuing one’s calling in the face of collective expectations.