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Artwork for The College Commons Podcast

The College Commons Podcast

HUC-JIR
Judaism
Holocaust
Israel
Zionism
The Last Dekreptizer
Reform Judaism
Hebrew Union College
Bullying
Hasidism
American Judaism
Identity
October 7th
Yohanan Ben-Zakai
Orthodox Judaism
Empathy
Pragmatism
Coming-Of-Age Literature
Community Support
Language
Diversity Principle

The College Commons Podcast, passionate perspectives from Judaism's leading thinkers, is produced by Hebrew Union College, America's first Jewish institution of higher learning.

PublishesTwice monthlyEpisodes245Founded10 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
Society & CultureJudaismReligion & Spirituality

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Artwork for The College Commons Podcast

Latest Episodes

Description: The historian behind the history of HUC: Michael Meyer takes us on a sesquicentennial journey of American Judaism.

Biography: Michael A. Meyer received his B.A. from UCLA and his doctorate from Hebrew Union College in Cincinnati. From 1... more

Description: Professor Emeritus David Mendelsson looks back at a half-century of momentous change for HUC in Israel.

Biography: David Mendelsson recently stepped down as Director of the Year-in-Israel program at Hebrew Union College/Jerusalem where ... more

Soundscape of the Soul

Jewish Music transplanted from Europe to American, via Hebrew Union College.

Judah M. Cohen, Ph.D. is the Jack, Joseph and Morton Mandel Provost at Hebrew Union College. Cohen previously served as the Lou & Sybil Professor of... more

Jessica Roda: Sacred Drugs - Jews, Psychedelics, and Healing (An HUC Connect Crossover Episode)

2026 Fritz A. Bamberger Lecture

As interest in psychedelics grows once again, people from many backgrounds—biomedical researchers, religious leaders, sp... more

Key Facts

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Recent Guests

Michael A. Meyer
Adolph S. Ochs Professor of Jewish History Emeritus, Hebrew Union College
Hebrew Union College
Episode: Michael Meyer: Hebrew Union College at 100 Years – 50 years ago!
David Mendelsson
Senior Lecturer of Israel Studies and Modern Jewish History Emeritus on the Tobey Family Campus of the Hebrew Union College in Jerusalem
Hebrew Union College, Jerusalem
Episode: David Mendelsson: Looking at 56 Years of HUC in Israel
Judah M. Cohen
Professor and Provost at Hebrew Union College; author of The Making of a Reform Jewish Cantor
Hebrew Union College
Episode: Judah Cohen: Soundscape of the Soul
Rabbi Raphael Smarler
Rabbi who published on alternative medicine in alacha and participated in a related panel
Religious authority in Jewish law
Episode: Jessica Roda: Sacred Drugs - Jews, Psychedelics, and Healing (An HUC Connect Crossover Episode)
Charlie Scheidt
Chairman Emeritus of Roland Foods; author of Inheritance, Love, Loss and the Legacy of the Holocaust
Roland Foods; Auschwitz Institute for the Prevention of Genocide and Mass Atrocities
Episode: Charlie Scheidt - Hidden in the Armoire: Living History of the Shoah
David B. Oppenheimer
Clinical professor of law; co-director of the Pro Bono Program; director of the Berkeley Center on Comparative Equality and Anti-discrimination Law at UC Berkeley
University of California, Berkeley
Episode: David B. Oppenheimer: Great Minds, It Turns Out, Think Differently
Rabbi Shira Koch Epstein
Executive Director of Atra, Center for Rabbinic Innovation
Atra, Center for Rabbinic Innovation
Episode: Rabbi Shira Koch Epstein: The rabbinate is changing faster than it’s shrinking (but it’s also shrinking)
Michael Zedek
Rabbi Emeritus and author of People Are Like
Emanuel Congregation (Chicago); Temple B'nai Yehudah (Kansas City)
Episode: Rabbi Michael Zedek: Sit by the Fire and Tell a Story
Hannah L
Author of Mussar in Recovery
Author, Mussar in Recovery
Episode: Hannah L. and Rabbi Harvey Winokur: Jewish and Twelve-Step Traditions at the Crossroads of Addiction

Host

Joshua Holow
Host of The College Commons Podcast

Reviews

4.8 out of 5 stars from 28 ratings
  • Give the guest some space

    The host means well but simply can’t let the show be about the guest. He dominates the conversation. I felt sorry for the guest who could hardly get a word in; or at least he should be allowed to respond in full. The best host knows about tzimtzum. Less is more.

    Apple Podcasts
    2
    Ravgah
    United States7 years ago
  • Very interesting topics and discussion; too much cross-talk

    Excellent, stimulating topics, host and guests. I think the podcast could be improved if it was talking over the guests by host - in podcast i.e. an audio format, it is difficult to hear what both people are saying at once.

    Apple Podcasts
    4
    nicknamethatisnttaken!
    United States7 years ago
  • Intellectually stimulating AND heart warming

    If you enjoy in-depth interviews of interest to the Jewish community that both stimulate the mind AND warm the heart, this is the podcast for you. Love it!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Punkmouse
    United States7 years ago
  • Professor

    This podcast is one of the most stimulating and relevant I have ever listened to.

    Everybody should follow the College Commons PodCast.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Hurwitz Reuben
    United States7 years ago

Listeners Say

Key themes from listener reviews, highlighting what works and what could be improved about the show.

Audience tends to value thoughtful exploration of Jewish thought and memory studies.
Listeners appreciate deep, intellectually stimulating conversations.
Some reviews note the host dominates discussions and could improve balance.

Chart Rankings

How this podcast ranks in the Apple Podcasts, Spotify and YouTube charts.

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

David Mendelsson: Looking at 56 Years of HUC in Israel
Q: Your sense of the Year in Israel as a gendered experience, from 1970 to now, and how it has changed.
Initially all-male cohorts gave way to a majority of women and, more recently, include diverse gender identities; this shift reflects broader social changes and has altered the program's dynamics, mentoring, and the kinds of experiences students pursue in Jerusalem and across Israel.
David Mendelsson: Looking at 56 Years of HUC in Israel
Q: I'm curious to hear your thoughts about how it's changed to feel the need to educate our rabbis in Israel, both the motivations you described as related to 1970, and perhaps the consequences and effects.
The move to educate rabbis in Israel was driven by a broader commitment within American Judaism to Israel and a recognition that experiential learning in Israel deepens both religious practice and civic engagement; over time, the program has evolved to emphasize broader linguistic, cultural, and field experiences, while also confronting shifts in demography and political attitudes among students.
Judah Cohen: Soundscape of the Soul
Q: What is music's unique power to ignite the soul?
Music transcends words by expressing meanings and identities, enabling simultaneous communication of complex ideas and emotions, while still complementing spoken language and religious ritual.
Jordan D. Rosenblum: You Are What You Eat
Q: Could you explain the idea of transgression around pigs in different historical periods and what that reveals about Jewish identity?
Transgressive pig imagery and actions appear across eras—from poster symbolism in the 20th century to autobiographical accounts in post-Hasidic narratives—showing that rebellion against or negotiation of Jewish norms can still be framed within a Jewish framework, thereby redefining what it means to be Jewish.
Jordan D. Rosenblum: You Are What You Eat
Q: So how do wine and the pig serve as a byword for Jewish identity and how do they function differently from one another?
Wine has a ritual and liturgical role that can be interpreted as kosher or not, connecting Jewish identity to ritual practice, whereas pig lacks a redeeming option and thus serves as a stark symbol of boundary-marking and exclusion, highlighting deeper social tensions around assimilation and identity.

Audience Metrics

Listeners, social reach, demographics and more for this podcast.

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Frequently Asked Questions About The College Commons Podcast

What is The College Commons Podcast about and what kind of topics does it cover?

A thoughtful, intellectually rigorous program that centers on Jewish thought, history, and practice through in-depth interviews with rabbis, theologians, historians, and cultural commentators. Recurring threads include modern Jewish leadership, liturgy and ritual innovation, the interplay between tradition and reform, and how memory—be it Holocaust memory, diaspora narratives, or linguistic revival—shapes contemporary Jewish life. Guests span authors, scholars, religious leaders, and journalists, offering nuanced perspectives on how Judaism evolves in dialogue with culture, politics, and society. The show often blends scholarly analysis with personal storytelling, making complex topics accessible while inviting serious contemplation. A nota... more

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Which podcasts are similar to The College Commons Podcast?

These podcasts share a similar audience with The College Commons Podcast:

1. Identity/Crisis
2. SAPIR Conversations
3. For Heaven's Sake
4. Being Jewish with Jonah Platt
5. What Matters Now

How many episodes of The College Commons Podcast are there?

The College Commons Podcast launched 10 years ago and published 245 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

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What guests have appeared on The College Commons Podcast?

Recent guests on The College Commons Podcast include:

1. Michael A. Meyer
2. David Mendelsson
3. Judah M. Cohen
4. Rabbi Raphael Smarler
5. Charlie Scheidt
6. David B. Oppenheimer
7. Rabbi Shira Koch Epstein
8. Michael Zedek

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