In the final episode of Hashivenu, Rabbi Deborah Waxman closes out her run as host, and thirteen years as president of Reconstructing Judaism, with her most frequent guest: incoming president Rabbi Elliott Tepperman. The two dig into what drew Tepperman to the role, tracing his path from a DIY, activist-shaped Jewish upbringing through decades of movement work alongside Waxman. Their conversation ranges from the tension between American individualism and communal life to the hard lessons of Pittsburgh and October 7th, landing on a shared conviction that a vibrant, resilient Judaism is itself the answer to antisemitism.

If you've been listening to Hashivenu from the beginning all the way back in 2017, thank you so much. It's been an honor sharing these conversations with you for so many years. If you're new to the show, welcome! It's not too late to explore our back catalogue of 60+ episodes.

We hope you stay connected with Reconstructing Judaism and follow what's next under Rabbi Tepperman's leadership. If you haven't already, sign up for our newsletter, and follow us on Facebook and Instagram.

Until next time, l'hitraot, and may we all go mihayil lehayil, from strength to strength.

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This podcast is produced by Reconstructing Judaism. Visit us at ReconstructingJudaism.org.

Special Guest: Rabbi Elliott Tepperman.

Just weeks before her tenure as President and CEO of Reconstructing Judaism comes to a close, Rabbi Deborah Waxman is joined by Hashivenu's longtime producer and editor Sam Wachs to look back on the podcast's evolution, from its 2017 launch and resilience-focused first season to its later exploration of covenantal community and racial equity. It's a warm, reflective, behind-the-scenes perspective on a project Rabbi Waxman calls one of the great blessings of her presidency.
Episodes Discussed:

@7:00 - Gratitude (11/8/2018)

@18:30 - How to become our fullest, most expressive selves? Practice, practice, practice with Yoshi Silverstein (10/24/2023)

@19:30 - Episode 1: Shabbat with Rabbi Jacob Staub (8/10/2017)

@20:00 - Humor with Rabbi Seth Goldstein (9/29/2017)
Follow @rabbi_360 on [Instagram](rabbi_360) and TikTok

@22:00 - Hineni - Being Present with Rabbi Miriam Klotz (2/13/2018)

@23:40 - Catching Our Breath (3/24/2020)

@27:20 - The Spiritual Activist with Claudia Horwitz (7/1/2019)

@28:00 - Activism with Rabbi Sharon Kleinbaum (12/5/2017)

@28:30 - Episode 10: "You Were Strangers in Egypt": Passover and Sanctuary with Rabbi Elliott Tepperman (3/19/2018)

Reconstructionist Values, Covenantal Community and War in the Middle East with Rabbi Rachel Weiss and Rabbi Elliott Tepperman (12/4/2024)

(Rabbi Teppermans' third appearance is coming soon!)

@30:20 - S2 Ep. 1: Trauma, Healing and Resilience with Rabbi Jessica Rosenberg (3/21/2019)

@31:00 - Finding Sustenance in Covenantal Community with Rabbi Sid Schwarz (12/10/2019)

@34:40 - Being an Ally with Empathy, Humility and Courage with Rabbi Sandra Lawson (12/28/2021)
Rabbi Sandra is currently Executive Director of Carolina Jews For Justice Follow her on Instagram and TikTok and subscribe to her newsletter

@40:00 - Why Voting for the Hatkivah Slate in the World Zionist Congress Matters: A Conversation Across Generations (4/21/2025)

Hope Is a Muscle: The Hatikvah Slate with special guest Rabbi Amichai Lau-Lavie (5/1/2025)

Rabbi Amichai Lau-Lavie returns to discuss Jewish chosenness, love, and his film Sabbath Queen (12/11/2025)

@41:00 - The Jewish Way to a Good Life: A Conversation with Rabbi Shira Stutman (1/30/2026)

The Joy of Camp With Rabbi James Greene (never aired). Follow Rabbi James' work at Jewish Family Service of Western MA

This podcast is produced by Reconstructing Judaism. Visit us at ReconstructingJudaism.org.

What does it really mean to live a good life and how can ancient Jewish practices help us get there? Rabbi Deborah Waxman sits down with her teacher, colleague, and friend Rabbi Shira Stutman, author of The Jewish Way to a Good Life, for a wide-ranging conversation about meaning, resilience, and loving kindness. Together, they explore how Jewish wisdom offers practical tools for universal human challenges: how to love, how to mourn, how to care for our bodies, how to build justice, and how to show up for one another imperfectly but persistently. At the center of their conversation is hesed, loving kindness, which Shira describes as more than emotion: It’s the courage to show up in daunting spaces and do the hard, sustained work of caring.

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This podcast is produced by Reconstructing Judaism. Visit us at ReconstructingJudaism.org.

Special Guest: Rabbi Shira Stutman.