Essential Questions with Rabbi Dan Levin

What’s Sacred About Private Equity? with Rodger Krouse

In this episode, Rabbi Dan Levin sits down with Rodger Krouse, co-founder and co-CEO of Sun Capital Partners, Inc., for an illuminating conversation about the world of private equity, and the values that guide it. Together, they explore what it means to “transform vision into reality,” and whether there’s something spiritual about helping people bring their ideas to life.

Rodger shares the story of what drew him and his partner to start a private equity firm, and how discipline, process, and purpose intertwine in his approach to business. The conversation delves into the balance between profitability and principle, how leaders make choices that honor both the company and the people behind it, and what happens when a company just doesn’t work out.

Through moments of reflection and candor, Rabbi Dan Levin and Rodger Krouse uncover how success, ethics, and even failure can reveal deeper truths about human character, responsibility, and the sacredness of enterprise itself.

How Has October 7 Changed What It Means to Be Israeli? with Abraham Silver

In this moving episode of Essential Questions, Rabbi Dan Levin speaks with Abraham Silver, an American who made Aliyah to Israel to help build the land and strengthen the Jewish people—spiritually and physically.

Abraham shares how his service in the IDF shaped his bond with the State of Israel and recounts his harrowing personal experience on October 7, 2023, when his home was destroyed, and he and his family were displaced. Together, they explore what it means to live in a nation at war, where every soldier is our child and every hostage our family.

Their conversation touches on the unity and resilience of Israelis who see themselves as “one people, one war,” the courage of the younger generation who stepped up to defend their country, and the challenges of raising teenagers as they approach military age. Abraham also reflects on the emotional return of hostages and how Israelis today view their leadership and future.

How Do I Welcome the New Year When My Heart Is So Heavy? with Rabbi Ashira Boxman and Rabbi Laila Haas

In this episode of Essential Questions, Rabbi Dan Levin sits down with Rabbis Ashira Boxman and Laila Haas for a conversation about preparing for the High Holy Days when their hearts feel heavy. Together, they reflect on how they enter the new year with intention, exploring who they are now compared to who they were last year, and how spiritual practices help guide them through that journey.

They share the impact of Temple Beth El’s meaningful Elul rituals that include inviting people into the sanctuary and writing their burdens on rocks to let them go, the importance of quiet reflection, and the shift from being head-focused to heart-focused. The conversation also touches on how ritual creates a structure to hold intention, including a powerful practice of releasing burdens through the symbolic use of stones. Rabbi Dan also opens up about an unexpected part of his High Holy Day preparation — watching Saving Private Ryan, a film that’s come to hold deep meaning for him during this season.

If you’re facing the new year with a heavy heart, this episode offers honesty, insight, and the comfort of shared experience.

What’s Jewish About Books? with Gayle Weiswasser

In this episode of Essential Questions, Rabbi Dan Levin speaks with Gayle Weiswasser—book blogger, podcast host, and bookstore owner—about the deep connections between literature and Jewish identity. Together, they explore how stories can cultivate empathy, mirror Torah values, and create powerful emotional bonds with characters whose lives are far from our own. From their favorite reads to the transformative magic of fiction, this conversation delves into how books shape who we are, how being Jewish can shape the way we read, and how the role of books continues to evolve in a world increasingly shaped by technology.

What is it Like to be Jewish on a College Campus? with Maya Harpaz, Rabbi Jonah Zinn and Rabbi Andrea Steinberger

What is it like navigating Jewish identity on a college campus in 2025? Rabbi Dan Levin speaks with Maya Harpaz, a senior at the University of Pennsylvania, Rabbi Jonah Zinn of University of Florida Hillel, and Rabbi Andrea Steinberger of University of Wisconsin Hillel about how Jewish campus life has shifted, especially after October 7th, 2023. They discuss changes in students' comfort expressing their Jewish identity, strained relationships with non-Jewish peers, and the broader challenges of navigating college life amid rising tensions.

What Makes Art Jewish? with artists Bonnie Cohen and Zachary Oxman

In this episode of Essential Questions, Rabbi Dan Levin sits down with artists Bonnie Cohen and Zachary Oxman, whose works Birkat HaLev and Soaring Wisdom are featured at Temple Beth El’s Schaefer Family Campus. They explore their creative paths, the meaning behind their art, and how Jewish values and identity shape their work—revealing that Jewish art isn’t defined solely by its audience or commissioners, but by the stories and spirit it carries.

What Can Wine Teach Us About Spirituality? with Rabbi Alan Litwak

In this episode of Essential Questions, Rabbi Dan Levin sits down with Rabbi Alan Litwick of Temple Sinai in North Miami Beach for a discussion about the deep connections between wine, spirituality, and Jewish tradition. They explore how wine reflects our partnership with God, why it plays such a central role in rituals like Kiddush, and how even beginners can engage with wine as a spiritual experience.

Where Do We Find Hope and Resilience? with Rabbi Naomi Levy and Rabbi Laila Haas

There are times when the challenges we confront in life can feel overwhelming, when the situations we face feel so difficult that we fall prey to the darkness of despair. Today, Rabbi Laila Haas and Rabbi Dan Levin sit down with noted author and teacher Rabbi Naomi Levy, whose remarkable work can show us how to find hope and cultivate resilience to move through life’s most challenging times.