Search for Meaning with Rabbi Yoshi

In this episode of Search for Meaning, Rabbi Yoshi Zweiback sits down with speaker, author, and advocate Brandon Farbstein for a deeply honest and moving conversation about identity, resilience, and what it truly means to belong.
Born with a rare form of dwarfism, Brandon shares what it was like growing up facing bullying and exclusion — and how those early experiences shaped his sense of self. With candor and insight, he reflects on the inner work it took to move from feeling defined by others’ perceptions to embracing his own voice and purpose.
Together, they explore the difference between visibility and belonging, the emotional reality of resilience, and the responsibility that comes with being seen as an inspiration. Grounded in questions of dignity and human connection, this conversation challenges us to reconsider how we see one another — and ourselves.
This is a conversation about turning pain into purpose, and about discovering strength in the very places we once felt most vulnerable.
https://brandonfarbstein.com/

In this episode, Mandana Dayani joins Rabbi Yoshi Zweiback for a candid and wide-ranging conversation on maintaining a sense of purpose within an increasingly complex world.
Drawing on her personal history as an Iranian-born Jewish refugee, Mandana provides a vital human perspective on the impact of regime change and the nuances of Iranian history that often go overlooked. Together, they explore the core values—gratitude, creativity, and community—that anchor her work and life.
Key highlights of their discussion include:
The "One Mitzvah a Day" Initiative: Exploring how a simple call to action, rooted in Jewish tradition, serves as a practical framework for purposeful living.
Identity and Authenticity: A look at the importance of embracing one's full self and finding the courage to navigate significant life transitions.
Meaning Amidst Uncertainty: Insights into how we can find opportunities for growth and connection, even when the world feels unpredictable.
This conversation is an invitation to live with greater intention and to discover that meaning is often found not by avoiding uncertainty, but by engaging with it. It is a thoughtful reflection on how individual actions can foster a deeper sense of global community.
https://www.mandanadayani.com/
One of Mandana's favorite recipes for lemon saffron chicken 
More Persian Jewish Food
One Mitzvah a Day

In this episode of Search for Meaning, Rabbi Yoshi Zweiback sits down with a colleague and friend, Rabbi Angela Buchdahl, senior rabbi of Central Synagogue and author of the powerful new memoir Heart of a Stranger: An Unlikely Rabbi’s Story of Faith, Identity, and Belonging.
Together, they explore what it means to live between worlds — culturally, spiritually, and personally — and how the experience of feeling like an outsider can become a source of compassion, resilience, and connection.
Drawing on Angela’s story of growing up as the daughter of a Korean Buddhist mother and a Jewish American father, the conversation touches on identity, belonging, music, leadership, and the evolving nature of Jewish life in America today.
Framed by the timeless question from the Book of Esther — “מי יודע אם לעת כזאת הגעת למלכות” (“Who knows? Perhaps you have come to this moment for just such a time”) — this episode reflects on how our lives, even the parts that feel uncertain or painful, may be preparing us for something meaningful.
It’s a conversation about faith, courage, and the sacred work of becoming who we are.
To learn more about the book, visit https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/697350/heart-of-a-stranger-by-angela-buchdahl/

In the second installment of this wide-ranging conversation, Rabbi Yoshi continues his dialogue with Rabbi Ed Feinstein and Rabbi David Woznica — turning from personal story to the larger questions pressing on the Jewish community today.
Recorded on International Holocaust Remembrance Day, at a moment marked by the return of Ran Gvili, the last hostage, and amid rising antisemitism, deep national division, and growing concern about the health of American democracy, this episode engages the moral and spiritual challenges of our time.
The rabbis speak candidly about loving Israel while struggling with its government, about what it means to lead during anxious and polarized times, and about events unfolding in places like Minneapolis that have sparked national debate about law enforcement, immigration policy, and human dignity.
They also confront hard questions about the future of the rabbinate — the challenges facing seminaries, the so-called pipeline issue, and what kind of leadership the next generation of Jews will need.
This is not a conversation of slogans or simple answers. It is a thoughtful, honest exchange shaped by decades of experience, deep commitment to the Jewish people, and enduring hope for the future.
Stay tuned and be inspired.

In this first installment of a special two-part conversation, Rabbi Yoshi sits down live with Rabbi Ed Feinstein, longtime senior rabbi of Valley Beth Shalom, and Rabbi David Woznica, who has served Stephen Wise Temple for more than two decades.
Recorded on International Holocaust Remembrance Day — just one day after the return of Ran Gvili, the last hostage — this dialogue unfolds at a moment of profound weight for the Jewish community and for American society.
Rather than beginning with politics, the conversation begins with story.
Rabbi Feinstein and Rabbi Woznica reflect on growing up Jewish in Los Angeles, unexpected and sometimes rebellious paths into the rabbinate, and how their understanding of God has evolved over decades of spiritual leadership. They speak candidly about what sustains a life in the rabbinate — and what it costs. About faith and doubt. About calling and responsibility. About the quiet, unseen burdens and the profound privileges of serving a Jewish community.
Honest, searching, and at times unexpectedly tender, this episode invites listeners into a deeply personal exploration of what it means to lead — and to live — with meaning.
Part II of this conversation explores Israel, antisemitism, America, and the future of Jewish leadership.
Stay tuned and be inspired.