Episode 55 of What Gives? the Jewish philanthropy podcast from Jewish Funders Network, hosted by JFN President and CEO Andrés Spokoiny. In this episode, Andrés speaks with Zvika Krieger, a dynamic figure who straddles the worlds of technology and spirituality. Zvika was the first ever Director of Responsible Innovation at Facebook, now Meta, though he has had an eclectic career, ranging from journalism in the Middle East to policy work in Washington, DC, before pivoting to technology. We delve into his journey, exploring the intersection of tech innovation and Jewish spirituality. We discuss the impact of social media on society, the search for meaning in the digital age, and how traditional practices can coexist with modern technology. Zvika's insights provide a unique perspective on how we can navigate the challenges and opportunities of our rapidly changing world.

Episode 54 of What Gives? the Jewish philanthropy podcast from Jewish Funders Network, hosted by JFN President and CEO Andrés Spokoiny. In this episode, Andrés speaks with Rabbi Sharon Brous, founder and senior rabbi IKAR, a vibrant Jewish community in Los Angeles known for its inclusive approach to Jewish life. Rabbi Brous delves into the themes of her new book, The Amen Effect: Ancient Wisdom to Mend Our Broken Hearts and World, which explores love, loss, community, and connection. She and Andrés touch on the current crises impacting the Jewish world, and how her insights are particularly relevant in these challenging times. Rabbi Brous shares her profound thoughts on the importance of building sacred community bonds and addressing the pervasive loneliness in our society, drawing from both ancient texts and contemporary experiences.

Episode 45 of What Gives? the Jewish philanthropy podcast from Jewish Funders Network. Dr. Mijal Bitton, Rosh Kehilla and co-founder of the Downtown Minyan, talks to JFN President and CEO Andres Spokoiny about being a translator for the stories of Sephardi, Mizrahi, and other non-Ashkenazi Jewish communities. Andres and Mijal talk about what the trajectory of those communities has been in the United States, and the misunderstandings that the larger American Jewish community has about the recent waves of immigrant Jews, politically and culturally. Mijal also gives insight into being a woman leader in an orthodox religious community, and witnessing the transcendence of god through parenthood.

Episode 44 of What Gives? the Jewish philanthropy podcast from Jewish Funders Network. Rabbi Leon Morris, President of the Pardes Institute of Jewish Studies, talks to JFN President and CEO Andres Spokoiny about his essay in Sources, "In Defense of Surrender in Liberal Jewish Life." Morris argues that a Jewish response to individual agency having eclipsed every other important value is necessary, and can be done through a sense of surrender (of our defenses, our time, and our notion of isolated individualism) to community, rather than submission to authority. Leon talks about what he finds exciting about pluralistic spaces, how thoroughly modern Jews are having trouble finding places for Jewishness in their lives, the enormous relevance that traditional texts still have for our modern time, and what gives him hope for the Jewish future.

Works referenced in this episode:

• In Defense of Surrender in a Liberal Jewish Life
• Kaddish, Leon Wieseltier (1998)
• Judaism in a Digital Age, Danny Schiff (2023)

Episode 42 of What Gives? the Jewish philanthropy podcast from Jewish Funders Network. Yotam Polizer, CEO of IsraAID, talks to JFN President and CEO Andres Spokoiny about how IsraAid is able to deploy to places where Israel doesn't have diplomatic relations, and the knock on effects of sending aid from Israel to unfriendly territories. Yotam spoke about how a humanitarian organization fundraises at times when there isn’t a disaster in the news, and about the steps that he and his team take to ensure that they stay mentally and emotionally happy in the face of this difficult work.

Episode 41 of What Gives? the Jewish philanthropy podcast from Jewish Funders Network. Casper ter Kuile, CEO of the Nearness, talks to JFN President and CEO Andres Spokoiny about Casper’s work in seeking to create a new structure of community experience that uses the ease and accessibility of the internet while also building local connections that become deep friendships. Casper and Andres dive into what the spiritual leadership of the post-COVID world looks like, which models of community we can learn from in creating spiritual belonging, and the importance of the Jewish community asking itself the hard, uncomfortable questions about where it’s going, like what the boundaries of Judaism should be.

Episode 40 of What Gives? the Jewish philanthropy podcast from Jewish Funders Network. Award-winning author, essayist, and professor of literature Dara Horn talks to JFN President and CEO Andres Spokoiny about her recent essay in the Atlantic, Is Holocaust Education Making Anti-Semitism Worse? They speak about this hallmark of Jewish education, and education about Jews, that has been so prevalent for the last 50 years. Dara talks about what she found in her research for the piece, her thoughts about identity, antisemitism, Jewish culture, and much, much more.

Episode 39 of What Gives? the Jewish philanthropy podcast from Jewish Funders Network. Daniel Smokler, Chief Innovation Officer of the Office of Innovation, talks to JFN President and CEO Andres Spokoiny about how the philosophy of l'chadaysh et ha'yashan, renewing the old, informs his practice of innovation, how his family history of philanthropy influences his own journey, the changes in rabbinical leadership, and the delayed awakening that could come out of the COVID-19 pandemic. 

Episode 38 of What Gives? the Jewish philanthropy podcast from Jewish Funders Network. David Bernstein, Founder and CEO of the Jewish Institute for Liberal Values, talks to JFN President and CEO Andres Spokoiny about the threat of illiberalism facing the Jewish community and the United States at large. They discuss what kind of America the Jewish community should be striving to live in and how that can be achieved. 

Episode 37 of What Gives? the Jewish philanthropy podcast from Jewish Funders Network. Businessman and social activist Eli Paley, talks to JFN President and CEO Andres Spokoiny about strategies for opening our communities to the Haredi sector.

Episode 36 of What Gives? the Jewish philanthropy podcast from Jewish Funders Network.

Ari Wallach, Founder and Executive Director of Longpath Labs, talks to JFN President and CEO Andres Spokoiny about the case for presenting a positive vision of the future. We discussed the long-term goal of a vibrant and meaningful Jewish future, and spoke about working backwards to determine what steps are necessary to get there

Episode 35 of What Gives? the Jewish philanthropy podcast from Jewish Funders Network.

Yohanan Plesner, President of the Israel Democracy Institute, talks to JFN President and CEO Andres Spokoiny about the consequences of the new Israeli government’s judicial reform initiatives, how today’s issues compare to existential threats of Israel’s past, and Yohanan's hopes and aspirations for the future of Israeli democracy.

Episode 53 of What Gives? the Jewish philanthropy podcast from Jewish Funders Network, hosted by JFN President and CEO Andrés Spokoiny.  In this episode, Andrés speaks with Joshua Foer. Josh is the co-founder of Sefaria, an open-source digital library of Jewish texts. Recently, he launched Lehrhaus, a "Jewish Tavern" in Boston aimed at making Torah study accessible in a welcoming environment. Josh discusses his journey from science journalism to Jewish entrepreneurship, the impact of Sefaria on Jewish learning, and his latest venture, Leviathan, a production company focused on the Jewish storytelling missing in today’s popular culture. Take a listen to this conversation, offering a look into Josh's innovative approach to Jewish education and community building.

Episode 34 of What Gives? the Jewish philanthropy podcast from Jewish Funders Network.

Carly Maisel, Global CEO of The Kirsh Foundation, talks to JFN President and CEO Andres Spokoiny about Shine a Light on Antisemitism, a new initiative that she is spearheading. They speak about offering a new take on an intractable problem, partnering among funders, and how to get competitive organizations to work together.

In Episode 33 of "What Gives," author and former Knesset member Einat Wilf talks to JFN President and CEO Andres Spokoiny about why so many people in the world misunderstand Israel and Zionism.

Episode 32 of What Gives? the Jewish philanthropy podcast from Jewish Funders Network.

Eric K. Ward, a nationally recognized expert on authoritarian movements, hate groups and preserving inclusive democracy, talks to JFN's Andres Spokoiny about the importance of fostering respectful and open debate.

Episode 31 of What Gives? the Jewish philanthropy podcast from Jewish Funders Network.

New York Times columnist and Sapir Editor-in-Chief Bret Stephens talks with JFN President and CEO Andrés Spokoiny about the importance and limits of civil debate and making room for a diversity of opinion in a time of polarization and echo chambers.

Episode 30 of What Gives? the Jewish philanthropy podcast from Jewish Funders Network.

Brother and sister Jonathan Goodman and Shawna Goodman Sone (a JFN board member), of the Morris and Rosalind Goodman Family Foundation, talk about growing up in a philanthropic family, Jewish summer camp, and their shared funding interests.

Episode 29 of What Gives? the Jewish philanthropy podcast from Jewish Funders Network.

In Episode 29 of "What Gives?", the Jewish philanthropy podcast, Amy Mandel of Tzedek Social Justice Fund talks about participatory grantmaking, her decision to cede power over her foundation's grantmaking, and what it was like growing up the daughter of Morton Mandel, a major American Jewish philanthropist.

In Episode 28 of "What Gives?", the Jewish philanthropy podcast, Maimonides Fund COO and Sapir Managing Editor Felicia Herman talks about "geeking out" in Jewish historical archives, Jewish giving circles, and the impact of the pandemic on Jewish giving.

In Episode 27 of "What Gives?", Danny Hakim, a board member of the Azrieli Foundation talks about the power of sports to solve social problems and bring disparate groups together. The founder of Budo for Peace (now called One Team – Sports for Social Change), Danny recently launched the Sports for Social Change Coalition, a growing movement of sports for peace stakeholders in Israel.

Mapping of Sports for Peace Coalition (in Hebrew)

Sports for Peace Coalition Info (in English)

In episode 26 of Jewish Funders Network's "What Gives?" philanthropy podcast, Fay Twersky, the president and director of the Atlanta-based Arthur M. Blank Family Foundation (and former vice president of the William and Flora Hewlett Foundation) discusses everything from the critical role philanthropy played in the LGBTQ rights movement to participatory grantmaking, to strengthening grantmaker-grantseeker relationships,

In Episode 25 of JFN's Jewish philanthropy podcast, former JFN Board Chair Georgette Bennett talks about her new book, "Thou Shalt Not Stand Idly By," her experience growing up the child of Jewish refugees, and how to forge multifaith coalitions.

Episode 52 of What Gives? the Jewish philanthropy podcast from Jewish Funders Network. Amy Spitalnick, CEO of the Jewish Council for Public Affairs, joins JFN President and CEO Andrés Spokoiny to explore the resurgence of antisemitism, the intersection of Jewish safety and democratic integrity, and the importance of building strong, inclusive coalitions. Amy shares insights from her extensive experience in policy and advocacy, highlighting the critical work needed to protect and strengthen our communities in these challenging times. 

In episode 24 of "What Gives?" the Jewish philanthropy podcast from Jewish Funders Network, JFN President and CEO Andrés Spokoiny talks to renowned Israeli fighter pilot Eytan Stibbe about his philanthropy, impact investing, and how his friend Ilan Ramon inspired him to travel to outer space.

In Episode 23 of "What Gives?" the Jewish philanthropy podcast from Jewish Funders Network, JFN Board Member Adina Shapiro and Israeli Entrepreneur/Philanthropist Reem Younis talk about Qudra, a new network for Israel's growing community of Arab philanthropists.

Episode 23 of What Gives? the Jewish philanthropy podcast from Jewish Funders Network.

JFN members and impact investors Michael Lustig and Vanessa Bartram share what you need to know about this exciting tool for expanding impact and ensuring your investments align with your values. Michael is the author of JFN's new Greenbook, "A Guide to Jewish Impact Investing," and Vanessa facilitates JFN's monthly impact investing roundtable series.

Episode 22 of What Gives? the Jewish philanthropy podcast from Jewish Funders Network.

Freshman Rep. Kathy Manning (D-North Carolina) — a former JFN board member and the first woman president of the Jewish Federations of North America — talks about why and how she got into politics and her tumultuous first month in office.

In Episode 21 of What Gives? the Jewish philanthropy podcast from Jewish Funders Network, philanthropist, author, and JFN member Lisa Greer talks to host Andréws Spokoiny about philanthropic strategy, some common mistakes fundraisers and philanthropists make, and ways to strengthen relationships between funders and nonprofits.

Lisa is the author of the 2020 book, “Philanthropy Revolution: How to Inspire Donors, Build Relationships and Make a Difference,” (Harper Collins), the first such book written from the perspective of a philanthropist.

In Episode 20 of "What Gives?" the Jewish philanthropy podcast from Jewish Funders Network, Dena Libman of the Azrieli Foundation and Jack Wertheimer of Jewish Theological Seminary talk about findings from Wertheimer's 2020 "Grantees and Their Funders" report, one of the catalysts for GrantED: Stronger Relationships, Greater Impact, a joint project of JFN and UpStart.

In Episode 19 of "What Gives?" The Jewish philanthropy podcast from Jewish Funders Network. Cintra Pollack, an investor, philanthropist and JFN board member, talks about impact investing, generational differences, and balancing her family philanthropy with her Jewish Federation involvement.

Episode 18 of What Gives? the Jewish philanthropy podcast from Jewish Funders Network.

Israeli-American behavioral economist, Wall Street Journal columnist, and best-selling author Dan Ariely is an advisor to Keshet, the new donor-advised fund JFN and its partners brought to Israel. In this episode, he talks to JFN President and CEO Andrés Spokoiny about strategies for promoting positive social outcomes, including getting people to be more philanthropic. They also discuss uniquely Israeli approaches to problem-solving, how Dan's personal history shaped his career, the cookbook he wants to write -- and much more.

Watch Dan Ariely's two special lectures for JFN here and here. 

Episode 17 of "What Gives?" the Jewish philanthropy podcast from Jewish Funders Network. 

Ilana Kaufman, executive director of the Jews of Color Initiative, and host Andrés Spokoiny discuss the Black Lives Matter movement, how Covid is impacting Jews of color, and how the Jewish community can do a better job of including and serving Jews of color. 

Episode 16 of "What Gives?" the Jewish philanthropy podcast from Jewish Funders Network.

Guest: Rabbi Shai Held, President, Dean, and Chair in Jewish Thought at Hadar

Episode 51 of What Gives? the Jewish philanthropy podcast from Jewish Funders Network. We bring you an episode recorded last year, before October 7th. Rabbi Danny Schiff joins JFN President and CEO Andrés Spokoiny to discuss how far Judaism allows us to push technological advances. If medicine makes it possible, should Jews be allowed to increase their lifespan indefinitely? Or does that violate what it means to be human and Jewish. They discuss the immediate need to begin discussing and finding consensus around the issues of artificial intelligence, social media, and rapidly developing medical breakthroughs. 

Episode 15 of What Gives? the Jewish philanthropy podcast from the Jewish Funders Network, hosted by Andrés Spokoiny.

Guest: Professor Lila Corwin Berman, Director of the Feinstein Center for Jewish History at Temple University and author of "The American Jewish Philanthropic Complex."

Music credits

"Believer" by Silent Partner

"Panda Clan" by DJ Williams

"Sunny Looks Good on You" by Midnight North

"Ex Boxer" by Riot

"Blue Skies" by Silent Partner

"Rainy Sundays" by the 126ers

Episode 14 of "What Gives?" the Jewish philanthropy podcast from Jewish Funders Network.

Guests: Jay and Shira Ruderman, of the Ruderman Family Foundation

Music Credits:

"Believer" by Silent Partner

"Bellissimo" by Doug Maxwell

"Web Weaver's Dance" by Asher Fulero

"Plenty Step" by Freedom Trail Studio

"This is a Jazz Space" by Midnight North

"No Slope" by Freedom Trail Studio

"Mysteries" by Dan Lebowitz

"Mama's Whisper" by The 126ers

"Keep Dreaming" by Topher Mohr and Alex Elena

"Heartland" by Silent Partner

"Rainy Sundays" by The 126ers

Episode 13 of "What Gives?" the Jewish philanthropy podcast from Jewish Funders Network.

Guest: Professor James Loeffler, Director of the Jewish Studies Program at the University of Virginia and author of "Rooted Cosmopolitans: Jews and Human Rights in the 20th Century."

He is also the organizer of "How the Law Treats Hate: Antisemitism and Anti-Discrimination Reconsidered," an online conference on September 10 from 12:15-5:30 p.m. ET.

Music Credits

• "Believer" by Silent Partner
• "Web Weaver's Dance" by Asher Fulero
• "Bellissimo" by Doug Maxwell
• "Unknown Longing" by Asher Fulero
• "Summer Breeze" by Nate Blazer
• "Peaceful Conclusion" by Asher Fulero

Episode 12 of What Gives? The Jewish philanthropy podcast from Jewish Funders Network.

Guest: Jay Sanderson, President and CEO of the The Jewish Federation of Greater Los Angeles.

Music credits:

"Believer" by Silent Partner

Episode 11 of What Gives? The Jewish philanthropy podcast from Jewish Funders Network.

Guest: Jodi Rudoren, Editor in Chief of The Forward

Music credits:

• "Believer" by Silent Partner • "Total Totality" by The 126ers • "Follow the Shadows" by The 126ers • "Bit Coin" by Otis McDonald • "Wish You'd Come True" by The 126ers • "Black Moon" by The 126ers • "Don't Turn Back" by Silent Partner

Watch Jodi Rudoren in a JFN webinar on New Models for Funding Jewish Media. 

Episode 10 of What Gives? the Jewish philanthropy podcast from Jewish Funders Network.

Guest: Journalist and Author Yossi Klein Halevi

Watch Yossi Klein Halevi in conversation with Rabbi Noa Kushner at JFN's 2019 conference.

Season 2, Episode 3 of What Gives?, the Jewish philanthropy podcast from Jewish Funders Network.

Guest: Rabbi Rick Jacobs, president of the Union for Reform Judaism

Music credits:

• "Believer" by Silent Partner • "Wishful Thinking" by Dan Lebowitz • "Station 22" by The 126ers • "Heartland" by Silent Partner • "Jeremiah's Song" by Dan Lebowitz • "Land of My Fathers" by The 126ers

Season 2, Episode 2 of What Gives? The Jewish philanthropy podcast from Jewish Funders Network.

Guest: Rokhl Kafrissen, a New York-based cultural critic, playwright and Tablet Magazine columnist. Follow her on Twitter at @RokhlK

Music credits:

• "Believer" by Silent Partner  
• "Kosher Style" by Michael Winograd
• "South Brooklyn Bulgars"  by Michael Winograd
• "Theme from David & Goliath" by Michael Winograd
• "International Hora" by Michael Winograd
• "The Wedding Sher"  by Michael Winograd

Season 2, Episode 1 of What Gives? The Jewish philanthropy podcast from Jewish Funders Network.

Guest: Barry Finestone, President & CEO of the Jim Joseph Foundation.

Music credits:

• "Believer" by Silent Partner • "Where I Am From" by Topher Mohr and Alex Elena • "Wishful Thinking" by Dan Lebowitz • "To the Top" by Silent Partner • "Sunday Plans" by Silent Partner • "Bleeker Street Blues" by Chris Haugen

Episode 6 of What Gives? The Jewish philanthropy podcast from Jewish Funders Network.

Guest: Naomi Adler, President & CEO of the Jewish Federation of Greater Philadelphia.

Music credits:

• "Believer" by Silent Partner
• "The Wrong Time" by Silent Partner
• "Keep Dreaming" by Topher Mohr and Alex Elena
• "Mama's Whisper" by The 126ers
• "North" by Silent Partner
• "Rainy Sundays" by The 126ers

Episode 50 of What Gives? the Jewish philanthropy podcast from Jewish Funders Network. We continue our series of messages from the stage of the 2024 JFN International Conference. This week, IsraAid CEO Yotam Polizer is joined by Prof. Nava Levit-Binnun to talk about IsraAid's transition to working within Israel in the wake of October 7th, and how much we need adaptability, care, and post-traumatic growth. 

Tonight begins the holiday of Sukkot, so I wanted to drop into your podcast feeds for a bonus episode to share a word about the holiday, and how I’m feeling about it this year.

Music credits:

• "Believer" by Silent Partner
• "Beth" by VYEN

Episode 5 of What Gives? The Jewish philanthropy podcast from Jewish Funders Network.

Guest: Yossi Prager, executive director of the AVI CHAI Foundation.

Music credits:

• "Believer" by Silent Partner
• "Bleeker Street Blues" by Chris Haugen
• "This is a Jazz Space" by Midnight North
• "Quarter Mix" by Freedom Trail Studio
• "Bridges" by Dan Lebowitz
• "Sunny Looks Good on You" by Midnight North

Episode 4 of What Gives? The Jewish philanthropy podcast from Jewish Funders Network.

Guest: Gali Cooks, inaugural President & CEO of Leading Edge, the Alliance for Excellence in Jewish Leadership.

Music credits:

• "Believer" by Silent Partner
• "Ex Boxer" by Riot
• "No Slope" by Freedom Trail Studio
• "Mint Chocolate 2a" by Vibe Mountain
• "Grand Avenue" by Text Me Records/Bobby Renz
• "Lullaby" by Yung Logos
• "Memory Rain" by Yung Logos
• "Clover" by Vibe Mountain

Episode 3 of What Gives? The Jewish philanthropy podcast from Jewish Funders Network.

Guest: Rabbi David Wolpe, renowned writer and speaker and senior rabbi of Sinai Temple in Los Angeles.

Music credits:

• "Believer" by Silent Partner
• "Aurora Borealis Expedition" by Asher Fulero
• "Bike Sharing to Paradise" by Dan Bodan
• "Gymnopedie No. 3" composed by Erik Satie, performed by Wahneta Meixsell
• "Little Prelude and Fugue" by Sir Cubworth
• "C Major Prelude" composed by Johann Sebastian Bach, performer unknown