Behind the Bima

Why does Jewish music feel so different today?

Chaim Ghoori goes Behind the Bima for a fascinating conversation about the rise of a new style of Jewish music, one marked by vulnerability, authenticity, emotional honesty, and a deep yearning for connection.

Chaim reflects on his journey from early life, to his days at the Yeshiva of Waterbury, to becoming part of a new wave of Jewish music marked by vulnerability, authenticity, and emotional honesty. He explores why so many young people are connecting to music that speaks openly about struggle, growth, belonging, and a relationship with Hashem. 

The conversation also explores mentorship, community, recovery work, emotional vulnerability, October 7th, and the power of feeling truly seen.

This season of Behind the Bima is sponsored by Julie Charlestein & Darryl Benjamin in honor of their grandparents, Morton & Malvina Charlestein, and their children, Ruby and Maccabi Benjamin.

In this episode:

The story behind his hit song, “Yidden”

Why Jewish music feels different today

Vulnerability, authenticity, and songwriting

Waterbury's impact on a generation

Community, belonging, and being seen

Music as a spiritual language

October 7th and the unexpected journey of Yidden

Recovery, mentorship, and the Living Room

The search for deeper connection

Chaim's creative process and musical journey

Why do so many teenagers push away the people who care about them most?

Rabbi Yossi Bensoussan joins Behind the Bima for one of the most emotionally honest and practically grounded parenting conversations the podcast has had in years. Drawing from decades of crisis intervention, addiction counseling, and working with struggling teens and families, Rabbi Bensoussan argues that many children aren’t rebelling because they want to destroy relationships… but for a deeper reason.

The conversation explores shame, vulnerability, emotional safety, addiction, expectations, masculinity, therapy culture, and the hidden fear driving so much teenage behavior: the fear of disappointing the people they love most.

This season of Behind the Bima is sponsored by Julie Charlestein & Darryl Benjamin in honor of their grandparents, Morton & Malvina Charlestein, and their children, Ruby and Maccabi Benjamin.

In this episode:

Why teenagers test relationships

The fear of disappointing parents

Emotional safety and vulnerability

Parenting through addiction and crisis

Expectations vs. validation

Therapy culture and trauma identity

Boys, masculinity, and emotional openness

Rebuilding trust with struggling children

Technology and modern adolescence

Rebecca Lieberman goes Behind the Bima for a deeply personal conversation about the life and legacy of her father, Senator Joe Lieberman.

The episode moves from the chaos of the 2000 presidential campaign to the quieter moments that defined him most: Shabbat dinners untouched by politics, long walks with family, deep listening, bipartisan friendships, and an unusual ability to remain grounded inside public life. Rebecca reflects on what it was like growing up inside one of America’s most recognizable political families while watching her father navigate politics with moral clarity, religious conviction, and genuine humility.

The conversation also explores the state of American culture today: rising antisemitism, social media polarization, performative politics, and whether the kind of leadership Joe Lieberman represented can still survive in modern America.

This season of Behind the Bima is sponsored by Julie Charlestein & Darryl Benjamin in honor of their grandparents, Morton & Malvina Charlestein, and their children, Ruby and Maccabi Benjamin.

In this episode:

Joe Lieberman’s 2000 vice presidential campaign

Growing up in a national political family

Shabbat as an anchor in public life

Bipartisanship and political friendship

Rising antisemitism in America

Social media and political polarization

Joe Lieberman’s resilience after defeat

Orthodox Judaism in national politics

John McCain and cross-party relationships

Leadership, integrity, and public service

Rabbi Josh Broide returns to Behind the Bima!

After decades helping build Jewish life in Boca, Rabbi Broide reflects on what it’s actually been like starting over in Modi’in during one of the most volatile periods in Israel’s recent history. The conversation moves from missile sirens and wartime uncertainty to the quieter parts of Israeli life that rarely make headlines: crowded kiddushes, spontaneous Torah learning, one-seder Pesach, and the feeling of waking up every morning in a Jewish state.

The Rabbis also tackle one of the most emotionally charged conversations in the Jewish world right now: how should aliyah actually be discussed? Does fear motivate people — or push them away? Funny, personal, and thoughtful, this episode explores the emotional reality of building a life in Israel while remaining deeply connected to the Jewish world in America.

This season of Behind the Bima is sponsored by Julie Charlestein & Darryl Benjamin in honor of their grandparents, Morton & Malvina Charlestein, and their children, Ruby and Maccabi Benjamin.

In this episode:

Rabbi Josh Broide’s transition from Boca to Modi’in

Living through missile sirens and wartime Israel

The emotional reality of aliyah after October 7

Israeli resilience and community culture

The “aliyah snob” debate

One seder vs. two sedarim

Israeli shul culture and late-night learning

El Al travel stories and airplane-seat debates

On this episode of Behind the Bima, the Rabbis sit down with Shlomo Levinger, a professional mentalist whose work blends performance, psychology, and precision.

What looks impossible on stage isn’t about supernatural ability. It’s about structure, timing, and understanding how people think. Shlomo pulls back the curtain on what mentalism actually is, and why the experience matters more than the method behind it.

At the same time, he shares what it takes to build this into a real career—from early gigs to larger stages—and the decisions that come with it. That includes the opportunities he’s walked away from, and how being an observant Jew shapes the way he approaches his work, his image, and his boundaries.

This season of Behind the Bima is sponsored by Julie Charlestein & Darryl Benjamin in honor of their grandparents, Morton & Malvina Charlestein, and their children, Ruby and Maccabi Benjamin.

In this episode, we discuss:

What mentalism actually is (and what it isn’t)

Why performance matters more than the method

The psychology behind how audiences experience mentalism

Building a career from small gigs to larger stages

Turning down opportunities that didn’t align with Torah values

Navigating the industry as a frum performer