"We were born into the opportunity to build this state. Whatever happens, how could I choose not to participate?" [Excerpt]

Israel from the Inside with Daniel Gordis · Dec 11, 2024 · 7m

Before we get to today’s podcast, I’m taking the liberty of remembering a treasured teacher, colleague and friend.

Rabbi Dr. David Ellenson, who served for many years as the President of the Hebrew Union College, died in New York one year ago this week, in the early months of the war. His death left me wordless, and though I’d intended to write something about him last year, I couldn’t.

A year later, I still feel his absence more than I might have imagined I would. I often recall the first time I met David, when as a Ph.D. student at USC, I signed up for a course with him. His warmth was…