In The Spotlight with Abigail Pogrebin

In The Spotlight with Abigail Pogrebin

“In the Spotlight” is an original conversation series with Abigail Pogrebin in dialogue with authors, innovators, communal and political leaders, and many other key figures from the Jewish world who shine a light on key issues of the day regarding American Jewry and the State of Israel.

Episodes

December 18, 2025 29 mins

Abigail Pogrebin speaks with Tony Award–winning actor Ari’el Stachel about his Off-Broadway solo show Other, in which he explores identity, anxiety, and the complexities of being an Arab Jew

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Abigail Pogrebin meets with author Miriam Udel, whose new book ("Modern Jewish Worldmaking Through Yiddish Children's Literature") reveals how contemporary Yiddish stories give voice to new forms of Jewish identity.

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December 3, 2025 27 mins

Author Aron Hirt-Manheimer joins Abigail Pogrebin to discuss "Sons of Survivors: Making Peace with Inherited Trauma," his moving dual memoir tracing two friends’ journeys to confront their parents’ Holocaust past and transform a legacy of trauma into one of love and understanding.

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November 24, 2025 25 mins

Abigail Pogrebin is joined by bestselling author, podcast host ("Unholy") and British journalist Jonathan Freedland to discuss his real-life thriller- "The Traitors Circle: The True Story of a Secret  Resistance Network in Nazi Germany- and the Spy Who Betrayed Them."

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November 14, 2025 26 mins

Abigail Pogrebin is joined by Zibby Owens - bestselling author, publisher, bookstore owner, and host of the hit podcast "Totally Booked with Zibby" - which is brought to life before a studio audience in a new series premiering on JBS this Thursday.

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November 6, 2025 26 mins

Abby Pogrebin welcomes Emmy Award-winning filmmaker and author Gayle Kirschenbaum to discuss "Bullied to Besties," her raw and uplifting memoir about transforming lifelong pain into forgiveness and healing in her tumultuous relationship with her mother.

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Abigail Pogrebin is joined by Ronald Leopold, longtime executive director of the Anne Frank House, one of Europe’s most visited museums, which he recreated and brought to New York City for the first time this year.

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American-born Israeli journalist, author, and the former Editor-in-Chief of The Jerusalem Post, Yaakov Katz, joins Abby to discuss his latest book, "While Israel Slept: How Hamas Surprised the Most Powerful Military in the Middle East."

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Donniel Hartman and Yehuda Kurtzer, presidents of the Shalom Hartman Institute, join Abigail Pogrebin to unpack the emotions, implications, and future stakes of the historic ceasefire.  
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Abby speaks with acclaimed journalist, author, and former editor-in-chief of The Forward, Jane Eisner about her new biography of Carole King and the Jewish roots that shaped both her identity and her artistry.

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September 19, 2025 28 mins

Vanessa M. Harper, Reform rabbi and author of "Loaves of Torah", joins Abby to discuss her passion for creating meaningful Jewish experiences for all ages and how she uses challah to interpret and teach Torah and the Jewish year.

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September 12, 2025 27 mins

Abby speaks with Menachem Z. Rosensaft, attorney, human rights advocate and Second Generation leader, about his book "Burning Psalms," a poetic reckoning with God, memory and moral responsibility in the aftermath of the Shoah.

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In this powerful and deeply personal conversation, spiritual teacher and author Yiscah Smith joins Abigail Pogrebin to discuss her new book, Planting Seeds of the Divine. With honesty and grace, Yiscah shares the transformative journey that led her to embrace her truest self — and how that journey is reflected in her spiritual teachings.

From reclaiming identity to nurturing inner holiness, Yiscah and Abigail explore what it means...

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Why Abraham? Why now?

In this compelling conversation on In The Spotlight with Abigail Pogrebin, acclaimed author and legal scholar Anthony Julius dives into his new book, Abraham: The First Jew.

Together, they explore Abraham not just as a biblical figure, but as a prototype of Jewish identity itself — a man who walked away from comfort, challenged power, and pioneered a life of faith, doubt, and moral courage.

Julius brings both ...

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In this powerful and timely conversation, acclaimed author and thinker Yossi Klein Halevi joins Abigail Pogrebin on In The Spotlight to reflect on the deepening complexities of the Israeli-Palestinian relationship. Drawing from his profound personal journey and his bestselling book, Letters to My Palestinian Neighbor, Halevi explores what it means to seek understanding across painful divides—especially in this fraught moment of his...

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What if exile isn't a curse — but a calling?

On In The Spotlight with Abigail Pogrebin, scholar and author David Kraemer discusses his bold and timely new book, Embracing Exile: The Case for Jewish Diaspora. In a world where connection to Israel is often seen as the centerpiece of Jewish identity, Kraemer makes a powerful case for valuing diaspora as a sacred and enduring part of Jewish life. A deeply thoughtful conversation about ...

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In this enlightening episode of In The Spotlight, Abigail Pogrebin sits down with Rabbi Adam Chalom, a leading voice in Humanistic Judaism and the Dean for North America of the International Institute for Secular Humanistic Judaism. Together, they explore the roots, relevance, and real-world application of Contemporary Humanistic Judaism — a movement that celebrates Jewish culture through a secular, non-theistic lens.

 

*** JBS is...

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In this compelling episode of In The Spotlight, journalist and author Yardena Schwartz joins Abigail Pogrebin to discuss her powerful new book, "Ghosts of a Holy War". With deep reporting and personal insight, Schwartz explores the generational trauma, religious fervor, and political fault lines that define the Israeli-Palestinian conflict today.

A former NBC News and TIME Magazine contributor, Schwartz brings a rare blend of on-th...

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On this powerful episode of In The Spotlight with Abigail Pogrebin, singer, dancer, and social media activist Montana Tucker shares the deeply personal story of her Holocaust survivor grandparents and how their legacy has shaped her identity and purpose. She discusses her rise as a digital voice for Jewish advocacy, the challenges of speaking out online, and why her new short film, The Children of October 7th, is one of the most im...

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In this powerful conversation, Hen Mazzig — Israeli writer, activist, and advocate — sits down with Abigail Pogrebin to share his journey and his crucial role in shaping today's Jewish conversation. As a proud Mizrahi Jew, Hen speaks about amplifying diverse Jewish voices, fighting antisemitism, and building bridges across cultures. Hear how his personal story and public work are helping to redefine what it means to belong in the J...

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