In Conversation…

Abigail Pogrebin

Abigail explores Jewish identity through books, essays, and podcasts that thoughtfully explore Jewish identity and contemporary Jewish life. Her book My Jewish Year: 18 Holidays, One Wondering Jew is a wonderful companion for anyone interested in engaging more intentionally with the Jewish calendar.

You can also watch our conversation on In the Spotlight as part of our ongoing dialogue about SHAVUA.

Blu Greenberg

Blu Greenberg is the founding president of the Jewish Orthodox Feminist Alliance (JOFA) and one of the pioneering voices of Modern Orthodoxy. One of the pioneering voices of Modern Orthodoxy, her writing and leadership have helped shape contemporary conversations about Jewish life, women's leadership, and the relationship between tradition and change.

Chaya Bina-Katz

Chaya Bina-Katz serves as CEO of Matan, one of Israel's leading institutions for advanced Torah learning. Under her leadership, Matan continues to expand opportunities for serious, thoughtful Jewish study, empowering women of all backgrounds to engage deeply with Torah and helping shape the next generation of Jewish educators and leaders.

Elana Stein Hain

Elana Stein Hain is a scholar and educator at the Shalom Hartman Institute whose teaching invites readers to engage deeply with Jewish texts and the enduring questions they raise. Her book Circumventing the Law: Rabbinic Perspectives on Legal Loopholes and Integrity is a wonderful example of her ability to illuminate complex Jewish ideas with clarity, nuance, and relevance.

Ilana Kurshan

Ilana Kurshan's writing beautifully blends Torah, Talmud, literature, and personal experience. Her acclaimed books If All the Seas Were Ink and Children of the Book demonstrate her remarkable ability to illuminate timeless Jewish texts through the lens of everyday life. SHAVUA is deeply grateful for Ilana's generous support and is honored to feature her words of encouragement on its slipcover.

Julie Silverstein

Julie Silverstein is the co-creator of Chutzpah Girls, an initiative dedicated to inspiring Jewish pride, courage, and identity through the stories of remarkable Jewish women. Her book Chutzpah Girls: 100 Tales of Daring Jewish Women encourages women and young adults to discover their own inner chutzpah while celebrating the strength, resilience, and leadership of those who came before them.

Rabbi Dr. Benji Levy

Rabbi Benji Levy is an educator, innovator, and spiritual entrepreneur who serves as CEO of SHARE. Through his teaching, writing, and leadership, he inspires people to live with greater purpose, deepen their Jewish identity, and bring timeless Jewish wisdom into everyday life.

Rabbi Yosef Kanefsky

Rabbi Yosef Kanefsky is the rabbi of B'nai David-Judea Congregation in Los Angeles and a respected teacher whose writing and leadership encourage thoughtful, compassionate engagement with Jewish tradition and contemporary life. His voice reflects a deep commitment to Torah, community, and the ethical challenges of our time.

Rabba Tamar Elad-Appelbaum

Rabba Tamar Elad-Appelbaum is the founder of Zion: An Eretz Israeli Congregation in Jerusalem and serves as Director of the Rabbanut Yisraelit Network and Co-Director of the Shalom Hartman Institute's Ritual Center. Her teaching and leadership bridge tradition and innovation, inspiring a renewed vision of Jewish spiritual life, community, and human dignity.

Shira Lankin Sheps

Shira Lankin Sheps is the founder and executive director of the SHVILLI Center, a center dedicated to Jewish women's stories, spirituality, and well-being. Through writing, learning, publishing, and community, SHVILLI creates space for honest reflection, meaningful connection, and the sharing of Jewish women's voices rooted in Torah and lived experience. Shira is also the author of LAYERS: Personal Narratives of Struggle, Resilience, & Growth of Jewish Women.