Not That Kind Of Rabbi with Ralph Benmergui: Recent Episodes
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Award winning broadcaster Ralph Benmergui brings his passion and curiosity to a brand new podcast. 'Not That Kind of Rabbi' lets you see people you thought you new and turns their story upside down by looking at them through a spiritual lens. Humble Howard and 'I Believe in Golf'. Michael Coren answers the question, How did the Buddha become a Garden Gnome. Laurie Brown on being spiritual but not religious. Hope you love it as much as we enjoy doing it.
Rabbi Beni Wajnberg has worked in Brazil, Argentina, Singapore, New York, Tennessee, California, Montana and beyond. When it came down to settle down with his family and put down roots, he chose Hamilton, Ont., where he's now the spiritual leader at Beth Jacob Synagogue.
Throughout his travels, he's found that one thing connects all those far-flung places' Jewish communities: they're all Jews by choice. They take the time to invest in their community and actively live Jewish lifestyles. That, he says, is the difference between being a stakeholder in a synagogue, as opposed to simply paying dues and rarely going to shul. As he puts it: "Never pay dues."
Rabbi Wajnberg joins Ralph Benmergui to share his own spiritual journey, the lessons he's learned and what God means to him on the latest episode of Not That Kind of Rabbi.
Credits
Not That Kind of Rabbi is hosted by Ralph Benmergui and produced by Michael Fraiman. We’re a member of The CJN Podcast Network. To support The CJN and receive a charitable tax receipt, please consider a monthly donation by clicking here.
Marsha Lederman is a catastrophizer. As the daughter of Holocaust survivors, the author and Globe and Mail columnist has gone through life worrying about everything that can go wrong, to the point that she wrote a book about things going wrong in her life. Kiss the Red Stairs, released August 2023, investigates the ramifications of intergenerational trauma as she navigates her own divorce while recalling her parents' stories of the Holocaust.
For Yom HaShoah 2024, Lederman joins Ralph Benmergui on Not That Kind of Rabbi, a podcast about personal lives and spiritual journeys, to share her story and explain why this solemn day of commemoration is actually a day she feels embraced by her community.
Credits
Not That Kind of Rabbi is hosted by Ralph Benmergui and produced by Michael Fraiman. We’re a member of The CJN Podcast Network. To support The CJN and receive a charitable tax receipt, please consider a monthly donation by clicking here.
You may not think of keeping Shabbat as environmental activism—but Jonathan Schorsch does. The founder of the Green Sabbath Project is on a mission to tackle climate change by adapting the biblical Jewish practice into something universally good for our planet. After all, in the Venn diagram of environmentalism and observant Judaism, "Not driving one day a week" falls right in the middle.
For Earth Day, Schorsch joins Not That Kind of Rabbi from his base in Berlin to explain his movement and pitch anyone who cares about environmentalism, Jewish and non-Jewish, on adopting the classical idea of Shabbat by simply relaxing every Saturday without technology, consumerism or an ecological footprint. As his organization puts it, "Make one day every week an Earth Day."
Credits
Not That Kind of Rabbi is hosted by Ralph Benmergui and produced by Michael Fraiman. We’re a member of The CJN Podcast Network. To support The CJN and receive a charitable tax receipt, please consider a monthly donation by clicking here.
Alan Zweig was on the road to becoming, like so many other midtown Toronto Jews, a lawyer. Instead, in his early 20s, he zigzagged off the course and wound up taking multiple lengthy trips to India, changing his perspective on life and work. He chose film school instead, propelling him into a decades-long documentary career that began all those years ago with semi-verité shorts made with his friends.
One of those friends was Ralph Benmergui. Now, ages after they first met, the pair reconnects to reflect on their shared origin story, spiritual journeys across the world, impending mortality and the next stage in both their careers: podcasting. Zweig will host a new one on the Canadaland network called The Worst, while Benmergui of course hosts his longstanding program, Not That Kind of Rabbi, here at The CJN.
Credits
Not That Kind of Rabbi is hosted by Ralph Benmergui and produced by Michael Fraiman. We’re a member of The CJN Podcast Network. To support The CJN and receive a charitable tax receipt, please consider a monthly donation by clicking here.
Toby Lloyd didn't grow up religious. But the British Jewish author became fascinated with Orthodoxy—how different people, even in the same family, can interpret biblical texts as either literal or metaphorical. Wanting to tap into the meaning and effects of people's belief systems, as well as reinterpreting stories from the Torah and wrapping it in the guise of horror, Lloyd wrote his debut novel, Fervour, out March 19.
The story blends difficult family dynamics, a critique of religion and intergenerational Holocaust trauma, when a patriarchal grandfather survivor dies, sparking his adult children to suspect their own daughter of falling deep into Jewish mysticism and becoming a witch. To explain how and why he wrote the book, Lloyd joins Ralph Benmergui on Not That Kind of Rabbi for a conversation about writing and the role of religion in modern British Jewry.
Credits
Not That Kind of Rabbi is hosted by Ralph Benmergui and produced by Michael Fraiman. We’re a member of The CJN Podcast Network. To support The CJN and receive a charitable tax receipt, please consider a monthly donation by clicking here.
Diane Flacks has always felt the power of Jewish guilt. But when when she decided she wanted a divorce, that guilt grew to a whole new level. She constantly questioned the process, even while she was going through it, thinking about whether it was the right move or not.
To process these thoughts and emotions, the theatre artist decided to transform this experience into her latest one-woman show, Guilt (A Love Story). Using humour and self-reflection, Flacks lays bare the story of what happened between her and her ex-wife, the impact of divorce on their kids and all the things she feels guilty about from a generational lens.
The show just finished its run at the Tarragon Theatre in Toronto, and is going to the Montreal's Centaur Theatre from Mar. 12-30 before heading to Winnipeg at the Royal Manitoba Theatre Centre from Apr. 3-20. Ahead of those tour dates, Flacks joins old friend Ralph Benmergui on Not That Kind of Rabbi, a show about personal journeys and spirituality, to describe the story behind the play and how Jews default to comedy to analyze life.
Credits
Not That Kind of Rabbi is hosted by Ralph Benmergui and produced by Michael Fraiman. We’re a member of The CJN Podcast Network. To support The CJN and receive a charitable tax receipt, please consider a monthly donation by clicking here.
Last month, the flagship Yuk Yuk's location in downtown Toronto hosted a stand-up comedy fundraiser for Friends of the Israel Defense Forces. Predictably, anti-Israel protesters swarmed it. The club's founder and owner, Mark Breslin—who organized the event—tried to get in through a back entrance, only to find more protesters waiting there for him and his family. Through cries of "Baby killer" and "Genocidal maniacs", they entered, got the police riot squad called in, and the show went on as planned.
It's not the first time Breslin has encountered hatred because of his identity—which is, he says, more founded in tradition than religion.
Breslin went into depth about his upbringing and beliefs in an engrossing sit-down interview with his old friend Ralph Benmergui, at the Prosserman JCC on Feb. 13, as part of a series of live tapings of The CJN's podcast Not That Kind of Rabbi.
Credits
Not That Kind of Rabbi is hosted by Ralph Benmergui and produced by Michael Fraiman. We’re a member of The CJN Podcast Network. To support The CJN and receive a charitable tax receipt, please consider a monthly donation by clicking here.
Rabbi Zelig Golden likes to describe Judaism as a religion of deep roots, interconnectivity, compassion and feminine divinity, reminding the world that Adam came from the adamah. It's this philosophy that inspired Wilderness Torah, an organization based in California that promotes "healing, belonging and resilience," in an attempt to reshape how Jews feel about their culture—and the planet.
But this is not eco-Judaism, or pantheism, or humanism. To better understand the philosophy, Rabbi Golden sits down with Ralph Benmergui for a deep conversation about earthly exile, Mother Nature and the panentheism inherent to his worldview.
Credits
Not That Kind of Rabbi is hosted by Ralph Benmergui and produced by Michael Fraiman. We’re a member of The CJN Podcast Network. To support The CJN and receive a charitable tax receipt, please consider a monthly donation by clicking here.
The climate crisis is the fault of no single person or country, but rather a widespread ideology of materialism and overwhelming lack of compassion for the natural world. What's worse—the crisis is intensifying each year.
These are some of the themes espoused by Rabbi Yonatan Neril, the founder and director of the Interfaith Center for Sustainable Development in Jerusalem, and the author of the Eco Bible series of books, which offer spiritual commentary on the Torah. In his telling, we need a spiritual transformation to reconnect with the world and stop suppressing the issue to confront it with more force.
Ahead of Tu b’Shevat, and a few weeks after the United Nations' COP 28 climate conference, Not That Kind of Rabbi host Ralph Benmergui, who's working on a book about how climate as a spiritual crisis, sat down with Rabbi Neril to better understand the deep connection between spirituality, Judaism and our natural world—and where we go from here.
Credits
Not That Kind of Rabbi is hosted by Ralph Benmergui and produced by Michael Fraiman. We’re a member of The CJN Podcast Network. To support The CJN and receive a charitable tax receipt, please consider a monthly donation by clicking here.
If you're feeling anxious and afraid, you should know: you're not alone. Tensions are high everywhere across the Jewish community right now as Hamas and Israel engage in a violent war with ramifications across the world. But instead of doom-scrolling social media, finding horrible images and hate-filled comments, it's important to find time to step back—far away from social media—and assess your own mental health.
The CJN and the Prosserman JCC held a live event on Oct. 17, 2023, to bring together three specialists in the field of psychology to help the community better cope with these difficult times. Spiritual counsellor and podcast host Ralph Benmergui sat down with Lynda Fishman, author of Repairing Rainbows, a social worker who specializes in trauma; and Dr. Barbara Landau, a recipient of the Order of Canada, who is a conflict mediator and the co-chair of the Canadian Association of Jews and Muslims, an organization that builds interfaith understanding and empathy.
More tools to help navigate these difficult times:
- Read Lynda Fishman’s guide to help Canadian Jews support one another, especially anyone grieving
- Listen to Deanne Matlow's 10 tips for how parents can discuss the Israel-Hamas war with their kids on The CJN Daily
Credits
Not That Kind of Rabbi is hosted by Ralph Benmergui and produced by Michael Fraiman. We’re a member of The CJN Podcast Network. To support The CJN and receive a charitable tax receipt, please consider a monthly donation by clicking here.
Welcome to the newest season of Not That Kind of Rabbi! Ralph's spiritual deep-dive podcast is back, now joining The CJN Podcast Network. After more than three years and 80 guests, we'll be focusing on Jewish Canadians, exploring the inner lives of public figures.
To kick things off, we're hosting a special live taping on Tuesday, October 17, 2023, at the Prosserman JCC in Toronto. Ralph will sit down with his old friend and Yuk Yuks founder Mark Breslin. Get tickets here.
Many lifetimes ago I was a stand-up comic. There were a lot of great comics that started with me back then. Way funnier too. One was Lawrence Morgenstern. He loved the craft and put his heart and soul into it Lawrence passed away a little while ago . This time on NTKR I speak with his longtime partner Rosalynne Gelade as we swap stories about one very funny gentle giant.
Two of the top three Jewish holidays are about to happen. Jewish New Year, Rosh Hashanah and the day of atonement, Yom Kippur. They are referred to as the days of awe. Or, if you're fasting on Kippur for 25 hours with no food, water, cars, cell phones or even sex, then for some it's the days of awww.
Avrum and I will talk High Holidays and what they mean to us on this edition of Not That Kind of Rabbi. Dontae to keep us going at pateron.com/NTKR
This time on Not That Kind of Rabbi we begin a new chapter by welcoming friend ad wise person, Avrum Rosensweig to the podcast. We'll talk about God, the journey to and away from that G word and why Avrum threw out his yellow suede shoes.
This time on Not That Kind of Rabbi it's the Passover edition. I'm joined by one of Toronto's Rabbinic brightest lights. Rabbi Aaron Levy from Makom Creative Downtown Judaism. We talk freedom, slavery and what the heck the Passover meal (Seder) is really all about. We start by showing Charlton Heston (Moses) the door.
Brian Fraser is many things. A Minister, organizational development wizard, runner and tying it all together, a jazz lover. We talk about the whole darn mess in a jazzy kinda way on this episode of Not That Kind of Rabbi.
When I first saw Jeremy Hotz do stand-up, he looked nervous, very nervous. Turns out in the end he has extreme anxiety disorder, oh and he's very funny. After 30 years it's so great to reconnect.
Lara Rae is a comedian. A very good one. Lara Rae is Trans and a comedian. Lara Rae is deeply spiritual, Trans and a comedian. She is also someone I have had the pleasure of knowing for a very long time. Thing is, it's been years since we've had a chance to come together. Well, the time has come. Listen and enjoy.
Jaffa Road is a street name in Israel. It also happens to be the name of a wonderful group of musicians who bring elements of middle eastern, south asian and yes, even jazz together to make a wonderful soulful stew. They have a new album, Until When. I speak with Aaron Lightstone, the band leader, and we play some of this soulful music.
My dad used to love pointing at the TV when I was a kid when someone would appear and declare, "He'/She's Jewish. Most of the time he was right. But now a new book, Under The Radar, tells us about 30 Canadian artists who were.
Sometimes we become something, not because we get a degree, but because we simply, through our actions and intentions, become something. In this case after years of service and study, after mining his heart for the gold inside Avrum Rosensweig has done just that. Not a Rabbi but in every way that I can see, just that, a Rabbi. We could have talked all day.
Tucked way up on the northern tip of Africa is the place where I come from, Morocco. A few of us left that country after hundreds of years in the 50's and 60's. Luckily one of those is sacred singer, Cantor Aaron Bensoussan. His voice is magical, every song a prayer in itself. Luckily he ended up in Toronto and he is my guest on Not That Kind Of Rabbi this time.
Nettie Cronish is one hell of a foodie. She combines spirit, ethics, knowledge and passion to create fantastic vegetarian recipes. Her latest is a Fair Trade cookbook. Prepare yourself for a soulful journey into the art of eating and living right. Like Jalapeno Chocolate Chili, yum.
The Reverend Michael Coren has a way of seeing the world that combines wit, intelligence and compassion. His new book, The Rebel Christ, makes the case for equal marriage, the right to abortion and the scriptures that back up his argument. We have a chat.
What do Mary Tyler Moore, deep mystical Judaism and going to see a therapist have in common. Answer, they all reside in the person of Social Worker, Therapist, Kabbalist and Chinese medicine devotee Annette Poizner. We had a great conversation on this week's episode. Join us and take a turn around the diamond of your soul.
While doing my training to become a spiritually based counsellor, I met a fellow traveller, an American named Yesh. We've been friends since then. Now he's written a book, Unthinkable Dreams, that tells the tale of his mother’s passing just two days before 9-11. Both events have left their indelible mark.
Billy Newton Davis can sing. Has four Juno's. Billy had gospel at five, Motown at thirteen, Broadway by twenty and through it all he's been soulful and searching. This is great conversation.
Mackenzie Gray is an actor, director and theatre teacher. One day, not too long ago, he almost died. Six months later, he had one of his legs amputated. His response was one of joy and spirit. This is his story.
In this episode of Not That Kind of Rabbi Ralph spends some time with the Rev. Drew Jacques. Nothing too heavy, just the future of the Church, the wrongs of the past, the way some people talk about God. You know the usual stuff.
Peter Wood is a Sax Player. Loves Kansas Swing. Peter Woods is also the Reverend at Mackay United Church in Ottawa. These two Peter's are both getting it on with God. Come join us while we jam on that in this jazzy version of Not That Kind Of Rabbi.
Nakuset is an indigenous powerhouse that runs a Montreal Indigenous women's shelter. She was also scooped up in the 60's, taken from her Saskatchewan home and raised by a Jewish Family in Montreal. It didn't go well, except for the saving grace of her Bubby. She calls herself a Jewish Indian. I call her inspiring. Have a listen.
Jonathan Torrens has harvested his time in the Canadian spotlight and turned it in to a beautiful thing. Love, balance and creativity. We reconnect with an old CBC fellow traveler to see how the corn grows in Nova Scotia these days and where life has taken him.
Happy Capitalist Lou Schizas figures we're going through this life thing alone. Its just a matter of the choices you make, and if they suck, oh well. The neo-liberal approach to spirit-if that's what we're calling it...
He was a Buddhist teacher, an academic and in the legal parlance of the time, a drug smuggling kingpin. Fleet Maull got 14 years in prison and today brings mindful and compassionate service to inmates and correctional officers across North America. His new book is called Radical Responsibility. This is a great interview.
Once again, violence has become the language of the Israel/Palestine reality. Who do I turn to for a grounded conversation? Not who's right and who's wrong, but a mind that sees the gray, instead of the ribal black and white. Who? How about comedian Simon Rakoff. He's taking the chance of being serious on this one.
Welcome to the first encore guest on Not That Kind of Rabbi. The Reverend Michael Coren. I always enjoy his thoughtful and deeply knowledge based approach to the sacred. This time we'll talk post-COVID, Israel and Palestine and the big question... Is Capitalism a proper container for Christian thought? Support us at patreon.com/NTKR
Gary Barwin is, well, a lot of things. Aurthor, poet, composer, artist, Phd, teacher. Basically, so talented that I find myself mildly annoyed by his talent. His latest book is called Nothing the Same-Everything Haunted, (The Ballad of Motl the Cowboy). It has Jews, Lthuanians, Nazis, fake Indians, fake cowboys and many brilliant and heart arresting plot twists. Please enjoy, if there is such a thing.
Alan Doyle has had a great big life. The pride of Petty Harbour Nfld. Sings, plays, writes and most importantly lives and loves his family. Have a listen.
Jeffrey Koffman is a Canadian whose war reporting took him around the world. He is passionate, insightful and here to talk with the Rabbi.
Jazz Music is a spiritual jam. Adrean Farrugia knows that and through his fingers flows a beautiful sound. Have a listen.
What do you get when you take a Canadian Rabbi and drop him into the American stew? A good dash of spirit, faith and social justice. Rabbi Shawn Zevit is my guest.
Yakir Englander is building a bridge from his ultra-orthodox past to a profoundly liberating Jewish future. Listen and learn his wisdom.
From Hockey Night in Canada to another night in Lockdown. The next chapter in the play by play of Paul Romanuk's playbook.
What do you get when you take 13 soul traits and pick one a week to work on? That's easy, it's called Mussar. Alan Morinis is here to explain.
Cantor Paula Baruch started off as a Christian farm girl. Now she co-leads a synagogue community. What? Only on Not That Kind of Rabbi.
First Canadian Hip Hop artist to sign with a major label. First lady of hip hop in Canada, proud Candian/Jamaican and a soulful presence. Michie Mee on NTKR.
Emm Gryner always knew that she was destined to write songs, play music and be her own woman. Listen in as Rabbi Ralph spends time with one of Canada's most original singers and songwriters. They throw in a little God talk too.
How do we come together with our First Nations brothers and sisters? A Mohawk heart to Jewish Heart to Heart.
Untold Stories: The Early Years is Michael Posner's collection of stories about poet, musician, lover and icon, Leonard Cohen. We have a good shmooze to share with you.
Sometimes it is what afflicts us that reveals our true character. In broadcaster Michael Landsberg's case it reveals a true mensch.
Robert Priest has written poetry, rock songs, fantasy novels and lived to tell the tale. The Rabbi meets the Priest as we explore a life well lived.
What do you do when your father punches you in the face, a few times? You have a chat with your soul, get dumped and hang out with the Beatles at an ashram for a week. Pauls Saltzman on life lessons and the Beatles in India.
Michael Wex is on a mission to save yiddish and so far he's doing pretty well. 7 or 8 books later we have a shmooze on the latest edition of Not That Kind of Rabbi. What's it gonna kill you to listen?
Travel through time with me from post-holocaust Hungary to 1960's Israel and back, and forth, and back. Author Sharon Hart-Green joins me with Come Back For Me.
Smoked meat, boutique mustard, and an atmosphere of love and latkes, Zane Caplansky has done it all. He joined me for a Rosh Hashanah (Jewish New Year) edition of Not That Kind Of Rabbi. Come, sit, enjoy.
Jazz singer, broadcaster and always busy. This summer she put all that away to stay with her loving father. To join her family in walking John Bambrick's home. He's passed and she will be forever changed.
This time I get to spend some time with one if my favourite artists. Harry Manx talks about letting go and being at peace. Beautiful.
He's a rasta inspired and deeply spiritual singer and songwriter. Jay Douglas shares a bit of what makes his reggae world go round.
From leading bands to creating great music with his son, Bill King loves life. He's up now on this episode of Not That Kind of Rabbi.
His parents survived the Holocaust and he is creating beautiful music. How do you get from here to there? Ron Davis is a first class composer, pianist and Jewish guy. He's worth a serious listen.
Creativity pours out of Tom Wilson, catch some of it as we go deep on Not That Kind of Rabbi.
Can you imagine picking up a phone and talking to random people and making them feel like a million bucks? And all that during a pandemic. It takes a special kind of person... I found one, Jamie Campbell.
Some people you meet just strike you the right way, right away. Hawksley Workman is that person. Check out our first meeting.
Mike Wilner has his dream job as the voice of the Jays on radio. Throughout his rise he has always been proud of his Jewish heritage and never shy to give a mazel tov shout out. We'll talk to Mike the mensch on the mic. (This episode was recorded in pre-pandemic late-February.)
Yogi Shivendra Kumar takes us on a journey to Goa where we can experience the deeper meaning of Yoga. The Veda’s (teachings) the Ayurveda ( healing practices) and the great story of the four wives/husbands we all carry with us.
Time to talk the Divine or whatever it is with musician, poet, artist and the fabulously spiritual Sarah Slean.
Toronto Mike's on Not That Kind of Rabbi so that the Rabbi can be on Toronto Mike'd. One of us is religious.
Mary Darling, co-creator of Little Mosque on the Prairie in conversation about this dynamic religious community.
Tweet wrangler, scientist and slayer of climate deniers Gerald Kutney addresses the physical and spiritual hole in our climate change heads.
A trumpeter, community builder, composer and seeker, he is a jazz musician, founder of the Ashkenaz Festival and community builder. Enjoy David Buchbinder in conversation with Ralph Benmergui.
Tara Slone travels the country with co-host Ron MacLean with Hometown Hockey, she fronts kick ass rock band and, oh yeah, she's a nice Buddhist person too. Loved this chat.
Bob Rae... such a nice Jew-ish boy. Who knew? Do politics and spirituality mix? Apparently, yes.
Ralph reconnects with old friend Steven Page. Page has tasted arena sized fame, written orchestral arrangements and penned a new musical. Time to take a deep breath and catch up on Not That Kind of Rabbi.
Yuk Yuks founder and CEO Mark Breslin talks all things Jewey and funny with lifelong friend and one time comic Not That Kind of Rabbi host Ralph Benmergui.
The COVID-19 crisis is a spiritual opportunity to change how we think this gift of life. Sing along if you know this one.
Ojibway writer and lapsed traditionalist, Hayden Taylor keeps his eye on the truth telling ball as he turns on the literary garden hose to tend to the First Nations flowers.
Erin Davis had everything. A great radio career in Toronto, a good husband and a new grandchild. Then, her only daughter died. Her Lauren, at 24 with a baby and husband, died. How do we grieve? Why are we so unable to let that happen for our selves and others. Erin shares her hard earned wisdom with us on Not That Kind of Rabbi.
Michael Coren has always been outspoken, articulate and conservative. Then I realized he supported Gay Marriage among other things. He got fired, left the Catholic Church and is now an Anglican Clergymen. Wow!
From celtic to pop, from running on empty to picking up the kids, Damhnait has found her spiritual sweet spot and is ready to hit the road again, clear eyed and in fine voice.
What came first, the calling or coming out? What does he say to those that think the bible says he's wrong to be gay? Why on earth would he risk everything by coming out and becoming a priest? I'll ask him.
Take my life please! Stand-up comedian and poet John Wing takes us on a tour of laughs and tears on the way to becoming John.
Canadian indie icon Bif Naked tells her spiritual tale hiding nothing as she calws her way out of the mosh pity if life and heads for new horizons. Oh yeah and she brings Samantha, daighter of Picasso with her for the ride.
Kathleen Wynne made history. First women Premier of Ontario. First openly Gay Premier. First politician to talk spirituality and, God forbid, religion on Not That Kind Of Rabbi. Have a listen to Kathleen Wynne.
Happy Capitalist Lou Schizas figures we're going through this life thing alone. Its just a matter of the choices you make, and if they suck, oh well. The neo-liberal approach to spirit-if that's what we're calling it...
Everyone's saying it, "I'm spiritual but not religious." What the hell does that mean? A nice walk? Trying to meditate? Pondercast host Laurie Brown has some insights.
Legendary broadcaster Humble Howard goes through the station of the golf course cross. Patron Saints, missed shots and replacing all divets.