The Avrum Rosensweig Show

MINDFUL SPIRIT: EXPLORING GERSHON MISKIN'S TRANSFORMATION (Audio)

In this episode, we’re joined by Gershon Miskin, a devoted husband, father of seven, as well as a successful businessman. Gershon’s life took a profound turn when he embarked on a spiritual journey that started in the framework of religious Judaism. His quest for deeper understanding led him beyond tradition into the realms of meditation, mindfulness, and past lives. Through these practices, Gershon discovered a new layer of self-awareness and inner peace that reshaped his life and perspective. Tune in to this fascinating discussion, as Gershon and I, explore how his journey transformed not only his own spiritual path but also his approach to family, business, and life as a whole.

MINDFUL SPIRIT: EXPLORING GERSHON MISKIN'S TRANFORMATION (Audio/Visual)

In this episode, we’re joined by Gershon Miskin, a devoted husband, father of seven, as well as a successful businessman. Gershon’s life took a profound turn when he embarked on a spiritual journey that started in the framework of religious Judaism. His quest for deeper understanding led him beyond tradition into the realms of meditation, mindfulness, and past lives. Through these practices, Gershon discovered a new layer of self-awareness and inner peace that reshaped his life and perspective. Tune in to this fascinating discussion, as Gershon and I, explore how his journey transformed not only his own spiritual path but also his approach to family, business, and life as a whole.

HENRY WOLFOND: HIS MAGNIFICENT SPACE FLIGHT IN JEFF BEZOS'S ROCKET FIGHTING ANTI-SEMITISM AND HATRED (Audio)

On November 22, 2024, Henry Wolfond, embarked on a historic mission to space aboard Jeff Bezos' New Shepard rocket, reaching an impressive altitude of 107 kilometers above Earth. The mission, which he described as a journey of peace, marked a personal milestone for Wolfond, who had long dreamed of becoming an astronaut. As the chairman and CEO of Bayshore Capital in Toronto, and the chair of the Confronting Antisemitism Committee of the UJA Federation of Greater Toronto, Wolfond's accomplishments extend far beyond space. Upon returning to Earth, he was visibly moved, expressing his awe with the words, “We’re all one people, we’re all on this very fragile small planet. It’s amazing.” His passion for space exploration began in his youth, where he was captivated by every Gemini and Apollo mission, as well as the 1969 moon landing. As a child, he was also enthralled by the movie 2001: A Space Odyssey, which he watched repeatedly, imagining a future where he would journey to the moon aboard a Pan Am rocket. Though he never became a fighter pilot due to vision limitations, Wolfond’s childhood love for space continued through his admiration for Star Trek and its iconic Captain Kirk and becoming a pilot at 17 years old. During his 12 minutes in space, Henry carried with him pictures of family members who had suffered in the Holocaust. Similarly, he carried pictures of his children and grandchildren.

HENRY WOLFOND: HIS MAGNIFICENT SPACE FLIGHT IN JEFF BEZOS'S ROCKET FIGHTING ANTI-SEMITISM AND HATRED (Audio/Visual)

On November 22, 2024, Henry Wolfond, embarked on a historic mission to space aboard Jeff Bezos' New Shepard rocket, reaching an impressive altitude of 107 kilometers above Earth. The mission, which he described as a journey of peace, marked a personal milestone for Wolfond, who had long dreamed of becoming an astronaut. As the chairman and CEO of Bayshore Capital in Toronto, and the chair of the Confronting Antisemitism Committee of the UJA Federation of Greater Toronto, Wolfond's accomplishments extend far beyond space. Upon returning to Earth, he was visibly moved, expressing his awe with the words, “We’re all one people, we’re all on this very fragile small planet. It’s amazing.” His passion for space exploration began in his youth, where he was captivated by every Gemini and Apollo mission, as well as the 1969 moon landing. As a child, he was also enthralled by the movie 2001: A Space Odyssey, which he watched repeatedly, imagining a future where he would journey to the moon aboard a Pan Am rocket. Though he never became a fighter pilot due to vision limitations, Wolfond’s childhood love for space continued through his admiration for Star Trek and its iconic Captain Kirk and becoming a pilot at 17 years old. During his 12 minutes in space, Henry carried with him pictures of family members who had suffered in the Holocaust. Similarly, he carried pictures of his children and grandchildren.

PARSHA & PROSE: MISHPATIM THROUGH THE LENS OF 'THE ADVENTURES OF HUCKLEBERRY FINN' WITH RABBI GEMARA (Audio)

The Torah portion of Mishpatim, which is focused on a collection of laws and ethical guidelines for social justice, finds a compelling parallel in Mark Twain's The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn. Mishpatim offers laws that cover a wide range of societal interactions, from the treatment of slaves to property rights, showing an overarching concern for justice and moral behavior. In Huckleberry Finn, Huck's journey down the Mississippi River represents a moral quest where he grapples with the ethical teachings of society, especially in regard to slavery and his relationship with Jim, a runaway slave. Just as the laws in Mishpatim aim to create a fair and just society, Huck’s internal conflict and ultimate decision to help Jim escape slavery mirrors the Torah’s call for compassion and moral clarity, even when the prevailing societal norms encourage actions that contradict justice. Both the Torah portion and Huck's story ask profound questions about what it means to do what is right, even in the face of societal pressure or injustice.

PARSHA & PROSE: MISHPATIM THROUGH THE LENS OF 'THE ADVENTURES OF HUCKLEBERRY FINN' WITH RABBI GEMARA (Audio/Visual)

The Torah portion of Mishpatim, which is focused on a collection of laws and ethical guidelines for social justice, finds a compelling parallel in Mark Twain's The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn. Mishpatim offers laws that cover a wide range of societal interactions, from the treatment of slaves to property rights, showing an overarching concern for justice and moral behavior. In Huckleberry Finn, Huck's journey down the Mississippi River represents a moral quest where he grapples with the ethical teachings of society, especially in regard to slavery and his relationship with Jim, a runaway slave. Just as the laws in Mishpatim aim to create a fair and just society, Huck’s internal conflict and ultimate decision to help Jim escape slavery mirrors the Torah’s call for compassion and moral clarity, even when the prevailing societal norms encourage actions that contradict justice. Both the Torah portion and Huck's story ask profound questions about what it means to do what is right, even in the face of societal pressure or injustice.

ALAN SIMONS: AUTHOR, 8 BOOKS, JOURNALIST, PUBLIC SPEAKER, FORMER HONORARY CONSUL OF RWANDA TO CANADA (Audio)

Alan L. Simons was born, raised and educated in London, England, and worked for various newspapers in England as well as served for a number of years in the British Army. Alan immigrated to Canada during the Trudeau era, and resumed his career in the newspaper and magazine field. As a diplomat he served as the Honorary Consul of the Republic of Rwanda to Canada from 1999 to 2002. He has lectured and designed courses as well as been a moderator at numerous institutions in the areas of therapeutic management, communications and religion in politics. Currently he is publisher of a respected Internet international news and video service dealing with issues relating to terrorism, intolerance, antisemitism, hate and ethno-centric violence. After living for several years in Amsterdam, he returned to Toronto and is presently working on his eighth book. Simons is also a survivor of colorectal cancer and he speaks about tending to his second love for 18 months, who passed away from breast cancer. Alan is an author, Writer, Social & Allyship Advocate, and a Public Speaker. He is a Member of: Playwrights Guild of Canada, Alliance for Jewish Theatre (AJT), Canadian Children’s Book Centre, PAL Toronto.

ALAN SIMONS: AUTHOR, 8 BOOKS, JOURNALIST, PUBLIC SPEAKER, FORMER HONORARY CONSUL OF RWANDA TO CANADA (Audio/Visual)

Alan L. Simons was born, raised and educated in London, England, and worked for various newspapers in England as well as served for a number of years in the British Army. Alan immigrated to Canada during the Trudeau era, and resumed his career in the newspaper and magazine field. As a diplomat he served as the Honorary Consul of the Republic of Rwanda to Canada from 1999 to 2002. He has lectured and designed courses as well as been a moderator at numerous institutions in the areas of therapeutic management, communications and religion in politics. Currently he is publisher of a respected Internet international news and video service dealing with issues relating to terrorism, intolerance, antisemitism, hate and ethno-centric violence. After living for several years in Amsterdam, he returned to Toronto and is presently working on his eighth book. Simons is also a survivor of colorectal cancer and he speaks about tending to his second love for 18 months, who passed away from breast cancer. Alan is an author, Writer, Social & Allyship Advocate, and a Public Speaker. He is a Member of: Playwrights Guild of Canada, Alliance for Jewish Theatre (AJT), Canadian Children’s Book Centre, PAL Toronto.

FOR THE FIRST TIME, 20 YEAR-OLD ZIMBABWEAN TWINS, CONJOINED AT BIRTH, LEARN ABOUT BEING SEPERATED! (Audio)

In this episode, we dive into the incredible journey of Tinashe and Tinotendo, twin brothers born conjoined in late 2004 in Zimbabwe. Their story took a remarkable turn when, through the efforts of Ve'ahavta, a Canadian Jewish humanitarian organization, The Salvation Army, Dr. Michael Silverman and Dr. Rachel Spitzer, the conjoined babies were brought to Toronto, Canada and underwent a successful five-hour surgery at SickKids Hospital, where they were separated and given the chance to live independent lives. Now, at twenty years old, Tinashe and Tinotendo sit down with us to hear about their experiences for the first time, and talk about their bond, and the challenges and triumphs that have shaped their lives since that transformative surgery. This is a conversation about resilience, hope, and the incredible power of medical innovation and human compassion. Tinashe and Tinotendo do not speak English, so Padrina Thistle, a nurse and wife of Dr. Paul Thistle, translated, beautifully.

FOR THE FIRST TIME, 20 YEAR-OLD ZIMBABWEAN TWINS, CONJOINED AT BIRTH, LEARN ABOUT BEING SEPERATED! (Audio/Visual)

In this episode, we dive into the incredible journey of Tinashe and Tinotendo, twin brothers born conjoined in late 2004 in Zimbabwe. Their story took a remarkable turn when, through the efforts of Ve'ahavta, a Canadian Jewish humanitarian organization, The Salvation Army, Dr. Michael Silverman and Dr. Rachel Spitzer, the conjoined babies were brought to Toronto, Canada and underwent a successful five-hour surgery at SickKids Hospital, where they were separated and given the chance to live independent lives. Now, at twenty years old, Tinashe and Tinotendo sit down with us to hear about their experiences for the first time, and talk about their bond, and the challenges and triumphs that have shaped their lives since that transformative surgery. This is a conversation about resilience, hope, and the incredible power of medical innovation and human compassion. Tinashe and Tinotendo do not speak English, so Padrina Thistle, a nurse and wife of Dr. Paul Thistle, translated, beautifully.