In this special episode of Search for Meaning, Rabbi Yoshi Zweiback sits down with Rabbi Steve Leder and Peter Himmelman for a wide-ranging conversation about friendship, faith, creativity, and the moment we are living in.

Together, they reflect on growing up Jewish in the Midwest, the quiet experiences of childhood that shape a life, and the distinct journeys that led one of them to the rabbinate and the other to music. Along the way, Steve and Peter share moments of intimate personal reflection and extraordinary creativity, exploring how Torah and song speak to one another—and how friendship can bridge different forms of spiritual expression.

The conversation also turns toward the challenges of our time: the rise of antisemitism, the pain and complexity surrounding Israel, and how to hold moral clarity, courage, and compassion without losing one’s soul.

In a powerful and unexpected closing, we witness a song come into being—born of the moment, shaped by honesty, hope, and shared humanity.

Learn more about Peter Himmelman and his music, writing, and creative work at
https://peterhimmelman.com

Learn more about Rabbi Steve Leder, his books, and teachings at
https://www.steveleder.com

Watch the conversation here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aNMxwC80aG8&t=1357s

In this episode of Search for Meaning, Rabbi Yoshi Zweiback is joined by his teacher, mentor, and friend, Rabbi Steve Leder, for a wide-ranging and deeply personal conversation recorded in January 2021, in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Their discussion centers on Rabbi Leder’s book, The Beauty of What Remains, written after the death of his father following a long journey with Alzheimer’s. Drawing on more than three decades of rabbinic experience and his own profound loss, Rabbi Leder reflects on the non-linear nature of grief, the limitations of the “stages” model of mourning, and what he has learned from accompanying thousands of people at the end of life.

Together, they explore how memory can be both painful and sustaining, what it truly means to show up for the dying and the bereaved, and how loss can awaken a deeper appreciation for time, touch, love, and connection. With wisdom, honesty, and moments of humor, this conversation offers guidance and comfort to anyone navigating grief—or seeking a more meaningful way to live in its shadow.

Search for Meaning invites listeners into conversations that challenge, console, and inspire. This episode is a reminder that even in loss, there is beauty in what remains.

https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/623578/the-beauty-of-what-remains-by-steve-leder/

In this solo episode of Search for Meaning, Rabbi Yoshi Zweiback reflects on a timely and challenging question facing the Jewish community today: How do we disagree without hating one another?

Prompted by recent remarks from Rabbi Elliot Cosgrove at the American Zionist Movement Biennial, Rabbi Yoshi explores the growing tensions within Jewish communal life — particularly around Israel — and the ways our conversations can become polarized, judgmental, and alienating, especially for younger Jews.

Turning to Parashat Vayeshev and the story of Joseph and his brothers, the episode uncovers a subtle but powerful distinction in the Torah between sin’ah (hatred) and kin’ah (envy). Drawing on the teachings of Rabbi Eliezer Davidovits, Rabbi Zweiback introduces the rabbinic concept of kin’at sofrim — the “envy of scholars” — a form of admiration that doesn’t fracture relationships but deepens wisdom and understanding.

This episode is an invitation to reimagine disagreement not as a threat, but as an opportunity for learning, curiosity, and growth — and to consider how Jewish tradition can guide us toward more loving, respectful, and constructive conversations, even in times of deep division.